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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I haven’t read a Koontz novel in years. This was pretty good. Cleverly written and so descriptive. It made me want more dog/Woody scenarios.
I really loved this one!
This story has such a unique twist to it. Great story and I love the characters! Another great one from Dean!
This story has such a unique twist to it. Great story and I love the characters! Another great one from Dean!
Devoted was a hard book to read in places. It was mostly successful in the theme of genetic mutation. I really enjoy Dean Koontz books but, in this occasion, it was neither a favourite or one that I disliked. It’s very much a book that gets very strange, very quickly. It’s a case of constantly reminding yourself that this is SCI-FI. I’ve noticed other reviewers likening it to Koontz’ other work – The Watchers, which I haven’t read, not sure if that is to my detriment or not? The book to me, felt like it just moved too slowly, and I did feel myself getting bored.
The story in Devoted focusses around Woody Bookman, an autistic child, super genius that is limited by his inability to speak. He lost his father three years previously and has compiled an expose on how killed his father through the means of hacking within the dark web. He plans to hand this over to his mother before events take a walk-through crazy town and my brain wants to give up at multiple different points. One of my problems with Devoted is the amount of characters that we are introduced to, it’s not really what I had come to expect from Koontz.
Now I get that Devoted is largely a science fiction novel and anything can more or less happen within its pages but some of it was quite hard for me to get my head around. SPOILER ALERT – when Woody was suddenly cured of his inability to speak, although his mother was overjoyed with this seemingly amazing miracle, I really got the feeling that it made her immensely happy. It allowed her to move forward. It just didn’t sit right with me that she was happier with her son changed, would you really want to change the very being your child was?
My other problem was the character Lee Shacket. I think some of the scenes were both unnecessary and unwanted from a reader’s standpoint. I enjoyed the actual plotline and the road that Koontz was attempting to go down with Shacket, but I don’t think that the execution was nailed. Being in this individuals head was extremely unpleasant. As a seasoned reader of thriller, I have come to learn what goes on in a psychopath’s head, but we don’t need to know every depraved thought. If the author had cut more than a few of his chapters, the book would have moved along at a timelier pace.
Devoted wasn’t an awful book but it could have been executed so much better. I loved Kipp but then I’m a total dog person. His interactions with Woody was pure and wholesome and it gave me a warm feeling inside. The writing as always with Koontz was excellent but I feel that the content needed a bit of polishing.
The story in Devoted focusses around Woody Bookman, an autistic child, super genius that is limited by his inability to speak. He lost his father three years previously and has compiled an expose on how killed his father through the means of hacking within the dark web. He plans to hand this over to his mother before events take a walk-through crazy town and my brain wants to give up at multiple different points. One of my problems with Devoted is the amount of characters that we are introduced to, it’s not really what I had come to expect from Koontz.
Now I get that Devoted is largely a science fiction novel and anything can more or less happen within its pages but some of it was quite hard for me to get my head around. SPOILER ALERT – when Woody was suddenly cured of his inability to speak, although his mother was overjoyed with this seemingly amazing miracle, I really got the feeling that it made her immensely happy. It allowed her to move forward. It just didn’t sit right with me that she was happier with her son changed, would you really want to change the very being your child was?
My other problem was the character Lee Shacket. I think some of the scenes were both unnecessary and unwanted from a reader’s standpoint. I enjoyed the actual plotline and the road that Koontz was attempting to go down with Shacket, but I don’t think that the execution was nailed. Being in this individuals head was extremely unpleasant. As a seasoned reader of thriller, I have come to learn what goes on in a psychopath’s head, but we don’t need to know every depraved thought. If the author had cut more than a few of his chapters, the book would have moved along at a timelier pace.
Devoted wasn’t an awful book but it could have been executed so much better. I loved Kipp but then I’m a total dog person. His interactions with Woody was pure and wholesome and it gave me a warm feeling inside. The writing as always with Koontz was excellent but I feel that the content needed a bit of polishing.
C’est clairement un livre écrit par et pour les amoureux des chiens et on sait que l’auteur à un Golden et qu’il en est fou. Il a même écrit un livre rien que pour son chien. Pour en revenir à Dévotion, l’auteur nous plonge dans un univers entre polar, science-fiction et fantastique, avec des tueurs tout à fait classiques, des expériences sur la transhumanité et des chiens télépathes. L'histoire est originale, les personnages sympas, mais la fin un peu baclée, un peu facile et un peu bisounours du coup. Comme tout lecteur, je pense, j’aime quand c’est un peu difficile, quand la bataille est ardue et dans ce roman, entre les méchants et les gentils, il n’y a qu’une seule scène redoutable. C’est dommage, mais d’un autre côté, je pense Dean Koontz tout à fait capable de massacrer un humain avec sa plume, mais incapable de faire le moindre mal à un chien.
An alright story, but far from a really good Dean Koontz story.
Well scripted horror/fantasy book. Koontz is the master of creating a feeling of dread, an impending doom that the protagonists are unaware of while the reader can see it coming. Though at times a little over the top, overall a well written thriller.
This story is so weirdly thrilling and inspiring. It is surely a story for all who are devoted to their paws-footed companions.
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
The storyline was ok, although some sections felt formulaic and many characters were shallow stereotypes. The author told what characters motivations were so there was little character development. I wasn’t on a journey of discovery with them. I found the many long passages describing the perp’s overly dark, sexually charged and bloodthirsty thoughts unnecessary and overly repetitive/disturbing. A more ruthless editor would have been a blessing!
Some of the ideas surrounding human-dog community and communication were well observed and heart-warmingly described. Koontz is obviously a dog person! Ideas and developments around these kept me reading. I’m glad I made it to the end, some sections were worthwhile, but many were very forgettable (or I aim to forget them asap!)
All in all, some good ideas, but not one of Konnt’z best executed novels.
Some of the ideas surrounding human-dog community and communication were well observed and heart-warmingly described. Koontz is obviously a dog person! Ideas and developments around these kept me reading. I’m glad I made it to the end, some sections were worthwhile, but many were very forgettable (or I aim to forget them asap!)
All in all, some good ideas, but not one of Konnt’z best executed novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gun violence, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Typical Dean Koontz - long winded. I think he likes to hear himself rattle on about not much of anything. There was only about 100 pages of the book that held my interest and didn’t bore me to tears. Again, his desire to use “big” words sidetracks me and I lose momentum. The theory in his book is interesting, but that is all.