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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Don't let the movie taint your opinion. This was one of the first Koontz books I read. I was probably 13, and it was spooky as hell!
dark
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Spoilers ahead for Phantoms!
Dean Koontz yet again succeeds at mixing lingering dread and grotesque body horror with a closed door mystery. Every page turn brings more dread, and as Jenny and Lisa uncover more of the mystery of Snowfield, the dread morphs into outright terror. Whatever caused hundreds to be killed in mere minutes isn't finished.
Jenny, Lisa, and Sheriff Hammond's squad are well written, each with their own insecurities and beliefs. Not everyone believes in the Devil, but it's that slightly religious upbringing that plants the seed of something supernatural. I wasn't a huge fan of the romantic undertones, but trauma-bonding is an effective aphrodisiac. Their sense of safety ebbs and flows with each clue to the aggressor's true nature, and you are right there with the characters as they drop one by one.
I really liked the integration of Timothy Flyte. Connecting the creature to historical disappearances made it more tangible, despite its alien abilities. When describing the book, I likened the creature to "a terrestrial mix of the Thing and The Blob". I loved how Koontz described its oozing and transforming. It was gross and all too fascinating.
That being said, I felt Kane's serial killer storyline felt half-hearted. I forgot he existed until halfway through the book when he returns. The fact that he dies, not from the creature, but from spotted fever, feels anticlimactic. Warranted, but meh. And not to be a bummer, but I really didn't like the happy ending. Bryce and Jenny running off into the sunset was cliche. Not all horror needs to end in pain and death, but it seemed too perfect.
Phantoms was a really neat concept that kept me hooked until the very end. There are some weaknesses in its execution, but Koontz is a Master of Horror for a reason.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #horror #horrorreads
Dean Koontz yet again succeeds at mixing lingering dread and grotesque body horror with a closed door mystery. Every page turn brings more dread, and as Jenny and Lisa uncover more of the mystery of Snowfield, the dread morphs into outright terror. Whatever caused hundreds to be killed in mere minutes isn't finished.
Jenny, Lisa, and Sheriff Hammond's squad are well written, each with their own insecurities and beliefs. Not everyone believes in the Devil, but it's that slightly religious upbringing that plants the seed of something supernatural. I wasn't a huge fan of the romantic undertones, but trauma-bonding is an effective aphrodisiac. Their sense of safety ebbs and flows with each clue to the aggressor's true nature, and you are right there with the characters as they drop one by one.
I really liked the integration of Timothy Flyte. Connecting the creature to historical disappearances made it more tangible, despite its alien abilities. When describing the book, I likened the creature to "a terrestrial mix of the Thing and The Blob". I loved how Koontz described its oozing and transforming. It was gross and all too fascinating.
That being said, I felt Kane's serial killer storyline felt half-hearted. I forgot he existed until halfway through the book when he returns. The fact that he dies, not from the creature, but from spotted fever, feels anticlimactic. Warranted, but meh. And not to be a bummer, but I really didn't like the happy ending. Bryce and Jenny running off into the sunset was cliche. Not all horror needs to end in pain and death, but it seemed too perfect.
Phantoms was a really neat concept that kept me hooked until the very end. There are some weaknesses in its execution, but Koontz is a Master of Horror for a reason.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #horror #horrorreads
I legit just couldn't care about anything happening in this book!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Kicking myself over the fact I didn’t know about this Koontz book earlier! It is now my second favourite book by this author