Apparently this is my week to read Hawk books. H is for Hawk earlier in the week and now I finish off the Jane Hawk series from Dean Koontz. I may notApparently this is my week to read Hawk books. H is for Hawk earlier in the week and now I finish off the Jane Hawk series from Dean Koontz. I may not have had a glowing review for H is for Hawk, but the Jane Hawk series ended with a big and spectacular bang!
Thanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC – I think this is one of the few times I am actually getting to an ARC while it is still “Advanced”. And, again, a standing ovation for Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting another book giveaway!
This whole series was great! There is so much to be found here, including: • Lots and lots and lots of chases • Very creepy bad guys • Mind control • Brain fried zombie monsters • Espionage • Corruption • Computer hacking • Black market deals • Triumphant heroics • Heroes you love to love • Teeth-grinding, intensely perilous, suspenseful moments • Events in the United States from coast to coast • Characters losing touch with reality • And, since it is Koontz, dogs!
I have read parts or all of a couple of Koontz’s other series (Odd Thomas and Frankenstein) and I think this one is his best so far. It does not have quite as much of the horror/supernatural creepiness that many expect from Koontz. So, if that is what you love about him, this may not be the series for you. But, if you love edge of your seat techno-thrillers, you cannot go wrong here!
Here are some links to my other reviews from the series – all of them very strong and worth reading, but read them in order or you will be very confused!
Now, Koontz has brought a little bit of horror into the Jane Hawk mix!
This series is pretty darn good. Each book is a breaknMore action!
More suspense!
Now, Koontz has brought a little bit of horror into the Jane Hawk mix!
This series is pretty darn good. Each book is a breakneck thrill ride – and the rate at which he is releasing them I am guessing he sat down one day and the words just started pouring out. The intensity and speed with which they poured out have translated very vividly into the delivery. Each time I start reading I take a big breath because I know I am going to be holding it until I finish.
I am pretty sure I mentioned this in one of my previous Jane Hawk reviews (I know, I could go back and double check if I did, but that would involve too many clicks . . . #bookreviewerproblems), but the feelings I have for the characters is very vivid. And, even if I did say it before, it is worth mentioning again. I am very passionate when cheering for the good guys. Koontz has created all of them in such a way that I whole-heartedly want them to succeed and I chew my nails as I worry about their fate. On the other side of the coin, I hate the bad guys with the very deepest of loathing. They are so twisted and despicable I actually grin with dark satisfaction when they finally meet their fate. Bravo to Koontz for this!
Oh, and I mentioned horror making an appearance. Up until now, the series has been basically a techno-action-suspense-chase-thriller. But, without saying too much to spoil it, things start getting out of control in the most horrific of ways. It actually kind of reminds me a bit of his Frankenstein series. So, if you are a Koontz fan because of his horror and have been missing it in this series, you can rest assured it makes a triumphant return!
Say goodbye to peaceful reading and get ready for your heart to race if you give the Jane Hawk series a try!
Thanks once more to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also, thanks again to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting another book giveaway! ...more
Thanks once more to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC (sorry I am getting to it a little late!). Also, I can never thank Dustin Crazy little browThanks once more to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC (sorry I am getting to it a little late!). Also, I can never thank Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - enough for hosting another book giveaway!
You want suspense, you got suspense!
If you are in book three, the techno-terrorists probably have you in their grasp.
You are definitely being pursued - the paranoia is real . . . listen to it . . . you will obey.
Oh, but wait, Jane Hawk is on the case - yeah, you're gonna be just fine!
Thanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also thanks to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz GoodrThanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also thanks to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting the giveaway. I say ARC even though it came out two weeks ago, but I got it just a couple of days before the release so I am late to the party.
The Jane Hawk adventure continues as she takes her bad-ass-ery all over America in search if truth an justice. There is so much stuff happening in this book and it was very suspenseful. Page after page I was fully entertained. I cannot wait for this saga to continue.
For Koontz fans: this series is unlike anything I have read by Koontz before. If you are look for a story and writing like early Koontz, you will not find it here. That is not a bad thing, just different. This series is more espionage and corporate/government corruption instead of horror and supernatural. But, it does have dogs - so it is definitely Koontz!
Important note: as you may already know this is the second book in the series. While you might be able to read this without reading the first one and still be entertained and catch up with what is going on, I highly recommend starting with the first....more
A lukewarm entry in the Odd series. More silly than scary - which is sometimes the case with Odd Thomas. Obviously a graphic novel cannot be quite as A lukewarm entry in the Odd series. More silly than scary - which is sometimes the case with Odd Thomas. Obviously a graphic novel cannot be quite as developed as a full novel, but this one felt pretty one dimensional. Not really any character or story development at all. To me, it seemed like the final climax was developed and then a hasty back story was added to get it there.
The artwork is okay - Manga style like the last two Odd graphic novels - but I was not blown away by it. Usually I include a few images in my review of graphic novels, but I have not been able to find any really good ones online for this volume.
If this was a stand alone, I might give it 3 stars. But, given that I have other graphic novels and regular novels to compare it to, this one is the weakest opposing so far, so I have to go with 2 stars.
What I do really like is Stormy! (view spoiler)[With her death at three end of the original Odd Thomas novel, this graphic novel series head been the o muy way to get to know her. I want more stories worth Stormy! (hide spoiler)]...more
Another Manga graphic novel featuring Koontz's Odd protagonist in his earlier years. I like this one much better than the first graphic novel. This onAnother Manga graphic novel featuring Koontz's Odd protagonist in his earlier years. I like this one much better than the first graphic novel. This one felt complete and untrusted. Also, it felt a little more true to the original Odd Thomas novel.
Even though this are prequels, I continue to believe it is better appreciated after reading a few of the books.
Also (view spoiler)[this series of graphic novels makes me sad we only get Stormy in the first novel of the main storyline (hide spoiler)]
In working my way through the Odd series, I discovered that there are 3 graphic novels right in the middle. I decided to check these out between Odd HIn working my way through the Odd series, I discovered that there are 3 graphic novels right in the middle. I decided to check these out between Odd Hours and Odd Interlude. When I first picked up In Odd We Trust, I was surprised to find not the traditional graphic novel, but a Manga-style book.
The comics are prequels to the series. However, I think reading these after knowing the events of the first few books (publication order) adds to the experience by adding points of referrence. In fact, I kind of wonder what it would be like reading these first.
I enjoyed the artists concept of the characters. Not that I hadn't already had a picture of them in my mind, but it was cool to see someone else's ideas.
The story was typical Odd and had a lot of the same themes and explanations (every book, Odd interjects into the story background about himself and why things are happening around him the way they do). My biggest complaint is that I think trying to fit one whole story into one volume of graphic novel made the story feel rushed. When certain climatic points were reached I thought "wait, we can't be here already!?" I will be reading the next one soon, it will be interesting to see if the storyline from this one continues or if each volume in the graphic novel trilogy is a different story....more
Thanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also thanks to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz GoodrThanks to Bantam Books/Random house for this ARC. Also thanks to Dustin Crazy little brown owl - moderator of Koontzland - the definitive Koontz Goodreads group - for hosting the giveaway where I won this book.
Right away in the intro to the ARC, Koontz says this is not like his normal writing. I have not read all of his books yet, but of what I have read, this it a very true statement. This is not horror. This is not supernatural. There are no oddly named demons or maniacal serial killers. But, he does mention Golden Retrievers a couple of times!
I am going with 4.5 stars on this one rounding up to 5 (since GR doesn’t do the half stars). I was quite impressed with this book - it kept me interested and on the edge of my seat throughout. Also, it did a good job of both telling a whole story while also introducing what will be a new ongoing series (ARC has the into for the next book already).
I like this type of book anyway, so it was great to see this style from an author I like to read - and see it done well!
If you like espionage, government corruption, technological terrorism, and edge of your seat action sequences where you aren't sure how our heroine is going to succeed - this is the book for you. Even if you aren't a Koontz fan, I think you will like this.
Only two shades of Koontz stuck out to me. The first was the occasional (and, in my opinion, unnecessary) use of large vocabulary words to describe simple things - words that probably the most academic person wouldn't even use in conversation. He does this all the time in his books! The second is, of course, the aforementioned Golden Retrievers....more