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Odd Thomas #7
Saint Odd
* Includes Dean Koontz’s short story “You Are Destined to Be Together Forever” *
In a perilous journey across a landscape of beauty and terror, an unassuming but quite extraordinary young man has crossed paths with the living and the dead, the innocent and the evil. Now at last for Odd Thomas, the wandering is over.
Drawn back to where it all began, to his beloved Pico Mundo, the dauntless fry cook seeks to fulfill the promise that has steered his quest since the devastating loss of his soul mate: "You are destined to be together forever."
But he hasn't come back to the small California town alone. A murderous, chaos-worshipping cult has a deadly score to settle with the unlikely hero and an apocalyptic fate to unleash upon the world. For Odd Thomas, born to serve a purpose far greater than himself, one last challenge - vast and dreadful - must be met before he can find whatever fate awaits him.
In a perilous journey across a landscape of beauty and terror, an unassuming but quite extraordinary young man has crossed paths with the living and the dead, the innocent and the evil. Now at last for Odd Thomas, the wandering is over.
Drawn back to where it all began, to his beloved Pico Mundo, the dauntless fry cook seeks to fulfill the promise that has steered his quest since the devastating loss of his soul mate: "You are destined to be together forever."
But he hasn't come back to the small California town alone. A murderous, chaos-worshipping cult has a deadly score to settle with the unlikely hero and an apocalyptic fate to unleash upon the world. For Odd Thomas, born to serve a purpose far greater than himself, one last challenge - vast and dreadful - must be met before he can find whatever fate awaits him.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Dean Koontz
902 books41k followersAcknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,158 reviews
March 2, 2018
Odd Thomas has been all over - saving people, adventuring in strange places and doing his best to do what is right.
And after all the adventures, Odd Thomas returns to Pico Mundo. The small town that he started it all in.
But he soon learns that what he left behind is not what he returned to...and this might be the greatest adventure yet.
I ultimately rather enjoyed this series - they were quick, enjoyable reads. Odd Thomas was a charming main character and I just want to give him a hug.
This last book was...okay for me. I liked it just fine, but I think that the overall story stretched across the seven novels and probably could have been condensed a bit.
But, I do like Odd Thomas so I can't really complain...except about
Audiobook Comments
Read by David Aaron Baker - having a consistent reader throughout an entire series makes my heart happy.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
And after all the adventures, Odd Thomas returns to Pico Mundo. The small town that he started it all in.
But he soon learns that what he left behind is not what he returned to...and this might be the greatest adventure yet.
I ultimately rather enjoyed this series - they were quick, enjoyable reads. Odd Thomas was a charming main character and I just want to give him a hug.
This last book was...okay for me. I liked it just fine, but I think that the overall story stretched across the seven novels and probably could have been condensed a bit.
But, I do like Odd Thomas so I can't really complain...except about
Audiobook Comments
Read by David Aaron Baker - having a consistent reader throughout an entire series makes my heart happy.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
October 18, 2014
I was bummed when the publishing date moved and anxiously awaited the arrival of "Saint Odd" only to find it to be a huge let down. If you have followed the series, the big reveal that awaited you was 'Will they be together forever?" To be honest by the end of this meandering book, I no longer cared. And trying not to spoil it, the ending seemed hurriedly tacked on. I waited through 8 books to get to an ending that left me empty and just a wee bit angry. All the paranormal aspects of the series must have been mistakenly left on the editing floor and replaced with a plot that should have been in another book all together. There were really no answers here, which really would be fine, if they weren't so many damn questions. The story drags and there are chase scenes that are 10 pages too long and to add to that you have characters that are so enigmatic as to cause a reader headaches.
I was hoping for a really great finish to a series that I mostly enjoyed, instead I got a 'meh'.
I was hoping for a really great finish to a series that I mostly enjoyed, instead I got a 'meh'.
January 16, 2015
So, so sad that this is the last in the series. I have loved Odd since the first page of the first book and really regret having to let him go. This probably is not the best book in the series but I gave it four stars for readability (I finished it in one day) and for closure. Odd Thomas has left the building and is in his happy place. The ending turned out to be a little rushed but that's okay as I read it twice anyway. Good bye Odd and thanks for such a fun ride:)
February 27, 2015
I don't know why I am surprised. Dean Koontz has done this to me so many times I should not be shocked that I ended up disliking this book and gave it a 1.5 stars. Now I am wishing that I had left things alone after reading, You Are Destined to be Together Forever.
The evolution of Odd. We don't have Odd running around using "Odd speak" that much. He only lapses into it a time or two, for the most part we have him acting like an actual grown up that has aged internally and externally due to the events of the past almost two years. I liked that Odd acknowledges he has transformed into someone that is hard and though he hates killing, knows it has to be done to protect the innocent. However his total willingness to die so he can be back with Stormy was mentioned like every couple of paragraphs.
Return to Pico Mundo. I was happy to return to Pico Mundo. However, I was not thrilled that we don't have Odd visiting with his former friends like Terri and Rosalia. Even when Odd meets up with Chief Porter and Ozzie it is not a really happy reunion since Odd has returned from stopping the satanists/cultists from the first book from bringing about a bigger tragedy than the mall shooting that occurred. And Ozzie just worked my nerves the whole time. Apparently even feeling worried about Odd wasn't enough for him to stop eating his food (eyeroll).
The plot. It zigs-zags all over the place. We have Odd trying to figure out what plans the bad guys are up to, while also trying to discover the meaning behind a dream he had the night before he returned to Pico Mundo, and is also stopping subsequent plots to harm others, along with trying to figure out who Annamaria is, what the Amaranth flower means, etc. the whole thing was just too much which shows since some things were just tossed there in the end that really didn't make a whole lot of sense based on the previous books.
The pacing. Sometimes it is crisp, but towards the last 50 percent of the book it drags. I don't need several chapters describing Odd hiding and listening to people and/or him killing people either. I don't know what was going on there and if Mr. Koontz needed to pad or what. The beginning part of the book was moving at a pretty fast clip. The slow down makes no sense and started taking me out of the story. It also didn't help that in between every chapter in the present we have it go back to Odd's dream written in italics. A better idea would have been to start off with a prologue which was Odd's dream in it's entirety and then move into the present. Readers would get cued up by certain things as we were reading instead of having Odd say why this was in my dream every five minutes.
The locations. The location of Pico Mundo didn't feel like the Pico Mundo we read about in books one and two. I think that was because we have Odd tracking down the bad guys and thwarting them that we don't get a sense of the town.
The safe house where Odd stays at with the Bullocks was described quite well and I wish we had him interacting more with the Bullocks.
The carnival returning was a bit much for me and by then if you didn't already guess the end before it shows up you do at that point.
The other characters.
The Bullocks. They just were not written consistently. At first, they seem to be pretty savvy people with a southern background of some sort and then they just turn full southern which was a bit much. They were cryptic about so many things and I was just sick of them by the end of the book. Since this is the last Odd Thomas book I wanted things explained. Not more questions or riddles, thank you.
Edie Fischer. Seriously. We kind of sort of finally figure out what does the exclamation mean and it was just so dumb. She also still didn't answer much of anything for Odd and when she shows up and disappears again I just felt like it was a waste to even have her show up. It makes no sense at all. Why in the world didn't she and Annamaria stay? I guess I can throw up my hands and yadda yadda destiny, but it makes no strategic sense at all when you have Odd trying to stop something that has the opportunity to destroy an entire town. Do not even get me started at the reveal that Edie had knowledge of Stormy.
Annamaria. UGH. I am so mad about the final ridiculous reveal of who Annamaria is that I wanted to kick something.
The bad guys. They were just a non-entity. You don't get a sense of them since there is no big bad to thrawt. Just random evil people doing evil things. You needed to have at least one head bad guy or someone to give a face to the 'evil' that Odd is facing.
The ending. The final reveals and the ending were so lackluster and disappointing. Everything was crammed in and not very well done at all. I read something today that mentions he may revisit Odd again and I am going to pass on that book. I really don't want to read about our fry cook anymore. I just wish that the ending had lived up to the beginning.
And really there was so much that didn't work in the ending that I am going to include in a spoiler for those that really want to know.
The evolution of Odd. We don't have Odd running around using "Odd speak" that much. He only lapses into it a time or two, for the most part we have him acting like an actual grown up that has aged internally and externally due to the events of the past almost two years. I liked that Odd acknowledges he has transformed into someone that is hard and though he hates killing, knows it has to be done to protect the innocent. However his total willingness to die so he can be back with Stormy was mentioned like every couple of paragraphs.
Return to Pico Mundo. I was happy to return to Pico Mundo. However, I was not thrilled that we don't have Odd visiting with his former friends like Terri and Rosalia. Even when Odd meets up with Chief Porter and Ozzie it is not a really happy reunion since Odd has returned from stopping the satanists/cultists from the first book from bringing about a bigger tragedy than the mall shooting that occurred. And Ozzie just worked my nerves the whole time. Apparently even feeling worried about Odd wasn't enough for him to stop eating his food (eyeroll).
The plot. It zigs-zags all over the place. We have Odd trying to figure out what plans the bad guys are up to, while also trying to discover the meaning behind a dream he had the night before he returned to Pico Mundo, and is also stopping subsequent plots to harm others, along with trying to figure out who Annamaria is, what the Amaranth flower means, etc. the whole thing was just too much which shows since some things were just tossed there in the end that really didn't make a whole lot of sense based on the previous books.
The pacing. Sometimes it is crisp, but towards the last 50 percent of the book it drags. I don't need several chapters describing Odd hiding and listening to people and/or him killing people either. I don't know what was going on there and if Mr. Koontz needed to pad or what. The beginning part of the book was moving at a pretty fast clip. The slow down makes no sense and started taking me out of the story. It also didn't help that in between every chapter in the present we have it go back to Odd's dream written in italics. A better idea would have been to start off with a prologue which was Odd's dream in it's entirety and then move into the present. Readers would get cued up by certain things as we were reading instead of having Odd say why this was in my dream every five minutes.
The locations. The location of Pico Mundo didn't feel like the Pico Mundo we read about in books one and two. I think that was because we have Odd tracking down the bad guys and thwarting them that we don't get a sense of the town.
The safe house where Odd stays at with the Bullocks was described quite well and I wish we had him interacting more with the Bullocks.
The carnival returning was a bit much for me and by then if you didn't already guess the end before it shows up you do at that point.
The other characters.
The Bullocks. They just were not written consistently. At first, they seem to be pretty savvy people with a southern background of some sort and then they just turn full southern which was a bit much. They were cryptic about so many things and I was just sick of them by the end of the book. Since this is the last Odd Thomas book I wanted things explained. Not more questions or riddles, thank you.
Edie Fischer. Seriously. We kind of sort of finally figure out what does the exclamation mean and it was just so dumb. She also still didn't answer much of anything for Odd and when she shows up and disappears again I just felt like it was a waste to even have her show up. It makes no sense at all. Why in the world didn't she and Annamaria stay? I guess I can throw up my hands and yadda yadda destiny, but it makes no strategic sense at all when you have Odd trying to stop something that has the opportunity to destroy an entire town. Do not even get me started at the reveal that Edie had knowledge of Stormy.
Annamaria. UGH. I am so mad about the final ridiculous reveal of who Annamaria is that I wanted to kick something.
The bad guys. They were just a non-entity. You don't get a sense of them since there is no big bad to thrawt. Just random evil people doing evil things. You needed to have at least one head bad guy or someone to give a face to the 'evil' that Odd is facing.
The ending. The final reveals and the ending were so lackluster and disappointing. Everything was crammed in and not very well done at all. I read something today that mentions he may revisit Odd again and I am going to pass on that book. I really don't want to read about our fry cook anymore. I just wish that the ending had lived up to the beginning.
And really there was so much that didn't work in the ending that I am going to include in a spoiler for those that really want to know.
July 23, 2019
'Amazement is an emotional response, astonishment a intellectual one'.
Well here we are at the end of the Odd Thomas series, am I amazed or astonished? Tricky question, I think I'm both amazed and astonished to have reached the end.
I started off adoring this series, and while I've adored Odd Thomas right the way through I did fall out with Dean Koontz mid way. However, these last two books have been decent, I'm glad I pulled myself through.
And there we are, no more Odd, but it's been fun, such a quirky character and while I think the series could have been two books shorter I have enjoyed it overall.
And that's it for me now with this author, having now done ten of his books (this series and some standalones) I can honestly say while I like his characters I'm just not loving his writing style so I shall leave it there.
Three stars.
Well here we are at the end of the Odd Thomas series, am I amazed or astonished? Tricky question, I think I'm both amazed and astonished to have reached the end.
I started off adoring this series, and while I've adored Odd Thomas right the way through I did fall out with Dean Koontz mid way. However, these last two books have been decent, I'm glad I pulled myself through.
And there we are, no more Odd, but it's been fun, such a quirky character and while I think the series could have been two books shorter I have enjoyed it overall.
And that's it for me now with this author, having now done ten of his books (this series and some standalones) I can honestly say while I like his characters I'm just not loving his writing style so I shall leave it there.
Three stars.
January 17, 2015
So very much about our strange and deeply layered world remained mysterious to me, but my experiences had taught me, among other things, that there were no coincidences.
I've been a fan of this series and these characters for almost ten years, so it is with a strong mixture of sadness and joy that I bid them all farewell.
It's going to take me a while to construct a proper review of this book. I'm too emotional over it right now, which is of course a good thing and a bad thing. :)
I've been a fan of this series and these characters for almost ten years, so it is with a strong mixture of sadness and joy that I bid them all farewell.
It's going to take me a while to construct a proper review of this book. I'm too emotional over it right now, which is of course a good thing and a bad thing. :)
July 31, 2013
After waiting so long to finally get my hands on the finale to this series, I ended up being surprisingly underwhelmed. It was very promising most of the way through, but seemed to wind down some time before getting to what should have been the climax of the series. It was a satisfying conclusion, but not one that lived up to the direction the previous books had taken. It could probably almost be read as a stand alone book, as Koontz describes all the important things that had happened up til this point - something I was glad for as my memory of the last book was slightly hazy by now and that was able to jump start it back up. And if I had read just this one I probably would have thoroughly enjoyed it. But for the end of such a complex series, it just didn't pack the punch that I was expecting.
May 30, 2013
A fitting end to a favorite series. I will miss Oddie, he was wonderful.
I can't say too much about this, I don't want give anything away. But if you've been reading these, you know where it's been headed, back to Pico Mundo, back to the scene of the original crime that started this whole ball rolling.
Odd rolls back into town and stops at the Green Moon Mall which is now abandoned after the horrific killing spree that took Odd's one and only love, Stormy Llewelyn. He is wandering through looking for some clue as to why he has been drawn back to Pico Mundo when he hears some voices. The voices belong to three members of the cult that Odd has been fighting and he overhears them discussing plans for "something big" that will go down later that day.
Odd sets off to fulfill his destiny and all the people who love him make an appearance in this final book. Some questions are answered, most are not, but in the end you know Odd is happy. And that is all that mattered to me.
I can't say too much about this, I don't want give anything away. But if you've been reading these, you know where it's been headed, back to Pico Mundo, back to the scene of the original crime that started this whole ball rolling.
Odd rolls back into town and stops at the Green Moon Mall which is now abandoned after the horrific killing spree that took Odd's one and only love, Stormy Llewelyn. He is wandering through looking for some clue as to why he has been drawn back to Pico Mundo when he hears some voices. The voices belong to three members of the cult that Odd has been fighting and he overhears them discussing plans for "something big" that will go down later that day.
Odd sets off to fulfill his destiny and all the people who love him make an appearance in this final book. Some questions are answered, most are not, but in the end you know Odd is happy. And that is all that mattered to me.
March 6, 2015
3.5 Stars A great ending for Odd Thomas.
November 23, 2014
I cannot believe this one was so bad, I would never have expected that.
I love any other Odd book, also both Moonlight Bay.
All of them have a quest involved in magical Mystery and developing secrets.
Saint Odd: Nothing. No Magic at all.
At 50%, nothing had happened.
You know that secret you want to know about that special character: I'm a (insert any magical name here). No more than that.
Every other Odd book, had a continuous narrative, but a surprise plot that was greatly all over the place: Aliens, Ghosts, Time Travel, Mad Scientists.
Here? Recycled premise. Bad recycled premise.
By 89% he had only run after or run away from killers. Because they are bad and ... just it, we know they are bad, killing them in the process, sure.
It was like a generic Die Hard.
To finish we even have another recycled setting.
Some recurring characters we love and wished for more, they do not even speak.
Others only appear in dream sequences. That also spanned too much chapters.
at 92% he join the clues and solves the problem in a Eureka moment.
I wish Koontz, pull a Patrick Duffy and make a better finish.
or I will write myself a fanfic instead.
edit:
things that this book lacked
EDIT:
as promised some of my lamish fanfic chapters have been published:
Odd Double
I love any other Odd book, also both Moonlight Bay.
All of them have a quest involved in magical Mystery and developing secrets.
Saint Odd: Nothing. No Magic at all.
At 50%, nothing had happened.
You know that secret you want to know about that special character: I'm a (insert any magical name here). No more than that.
Every other Odd book, had a continuous narrative, but a surprise plot that was greatly all over the place: Aliens, Ghosts, Time Travel, Mad Scientists.
Here? Recycled premise. Bad recycled premise.
By 89% he had only run after or run away from killers. Because they are bad and ... just it, we know they are bad, killing them in the process, sure.
It was like a generic Die Hard.
To finish we even have another recycled setting.
Some recurring characters we love and wished for more, they do not even speak.
Others only appear in dream sequences. That also spanned too much chapters.
at 92% he join the clues and solves the problem in a Eureka moment.
I wish Koontz, pull a Patrick Duffy and make a better finish.
or I will write myself a fanfic instead.
edit:
things that this book lacked
EDIT:
as promised some of my lamish fanfic chapters have been published:
Odd Double
December 20, 2016
Hmmm... I thought this was a really good story, but I felt the ending was anticlimactic to the series. I felt that Odd deserved something...more. Obviously, I don't want to give anything away, so I won't explain that in detail. I will simply say that the end of this book had a good build up, but then ended too quickly and too simply in my opinion. I suppose that is the point, since it is the story of a fry cook at heart.
More importantly, there is a part that was unbelievable even for Odd and I didn't like the way it was added in the last two chapters. Sorry, but only those that have read the book will know what I'm referring to. I felt that the end should have been the end and Koontz shouldn't have tried to go there. There were ways to get around doing it the way he did and the reader would have known what happened without being told in that manner.
I'm still going to give this book 4 stars because I enjoyed this series and the book was really good, last two chapters aside. I love Odd and the humor in these books. It was nice to see him go home to Pico Mundo and reconnect with long lost characters.
More importantly, there is a part that was unbelievable even for Odd and I didn't like the way it was added in the last two chapters. Sorry, but only those that have read the book will know what I'm referring to. I felt that the end should have been the end and Koontz shouldn't have tried to go there. There were ways to get around doing it the way he did and the reader would have known what happened without being told in that manner.
I'm still going to give this book 4 stars because I enjoyed this series and the book was really good, last two chapters aside. I love Odd and the humor in these books. It was nice to see him go home to Pico Mundo and reconnect with long lost characters.
October 22, 2017
❝I came home to die and to live in death❞
Although I have enjoyed the Odd Thomas series, I always find them so hard to review. Odd just isn't everyone's cup of tea. His stories are, well, ... odd.
If you are into ghosts and other supernatural entities, then this book is for you.
But if you're into good guys vs. bad guys, then this book is for you, too.
If you're into enigmatic questions concerning the meaning of life and our existence in the universe, then this book is definitely for you.
But if you're into race-against-time close calls and satanic bad guys with automatic weapons, then this book is also definitely for you, too.
This is the final book in the Odd Thomas series, so if you're not familiar with him, I would recommend starting with book 1 in order to get his gist first.
But if you have grown with Oddie in Pico Mundo and outside of it, then this story is a fitting final chapter for his eccentric adventures.
★★★★
Although I have enjoyed the Odd Thomas series, I always find them so hard to review. Odd just isn't everyone's cup of tea. His stories are, well, ... odd.
If you are into ghosts and other supernatural entities, then this book is for you.
But if you're into good guys vs. bad guys, then this book is for you, too.
If you're into enigmatic questions concerning the meaning of life and our existence in the universe, then this book is definitely for you.
But if you're into race-against-time close calls and satanic bad guys with automatic weapons, then this book is also definitely for you, too.
This is the final book in the Odd Thomas series, so if you're not familiar with him, I would recommend starting with book 1 in order to get his gist first.
But if you have grown with Oddie in Pico Mundo and outside of it, then this story is a fitting final chapter for his eccentric adventures.
★★★★
November 22, 2014
Such a wonderful, fitting end to the series. I had really thought this series was getting too long and drawn out. I'm glad Koontz decided to end it and did it in such a way that was honoring to the characters we've all come to know and love over the years.
January 15, 2015
Without giving anything away, I'll just say I had hoped for more.
December 17, 2014
A beautiful ending to a wonderful and thrilling set of books! I won't give out any spoilers- this is better than I had expected!
May 30, 2017
Endings are hard, especially with a series. I've put off writing this review for a few days, because I wasn't sure exactly how I felt. I'm going to give it a 4, because I enjoyed it more than the last few and we're back in Pico Mundo. As I mentioned, I am unsure of my feelings, but for sentimental reasons I must go with a 4 even though the ending was not as sweet as the beginning.
In the first book, Koontz created a character that many of us fell in love with. A young eccentric with a complicated and often dark life, Odd still managed to maintain a certain innocence and sense of humor. Much of that was due to his anchor of life in Pico Mundo and his girlfriend, Stormy. He loses that anchor, of course. The series covers less than two years of Odd's life, but by the end he is desperate to hold on to the young man he was and we are as well. It is sad and often frustrating, but Odd can never go back to being a fry cook with a passing interest in the tire business.
In the final installment, Odd returns to Pico Mundo and it is bittersweet. We get to see quite a bit of some old characters and not enough (or any) of others.
Personally, I am still campaigning for a prequel series or tv show about pre-book 1 Odd. I mention this any time I get a chance, hoping Koontz will get a bug in his ear. Okay, okay... I believe there are some graphic novels, but that's never been my thing. I don't think I'd get enough meat out of it, but perhaps I should give them a go. The point is I - and probably many others - want more of book 1 Odd. Koontz teased us so much with possible stories (Odd getting beat up by Carnies, tied to dead mobsters and dumped in a lake, etc).
I'll leave off with the intro from the first book that hooked me in.
"MY NAME IS ODD THOMAS, though in this age when fame is the altar at which most people worship, I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist.
I am not a celebrity. I am not the child of a celebrity. I have never been married to, never been abused by, and never provided a kidney for transplantation into any celebrity. Furthermore, I have no desire to be a celebrity.
In fact I am such a nonentity by the standards of our culture that People magazine not only will never feature a piece about me but might also reject my attempts to subscribe to their publication on the grounds that the black-hole gravity of my noncelebrity is powerful enough to suck their entire enterprise into oblivion.
In the first book, Koontz created a character that many of us fell in love with. A young eccentric with a complicated and often dark life, Odd still managed to maintain a certain innocence and sense of humor. Much of that was due to his anchor of life in Pico Mundo and his girlfriend, Stormy. He loses that anchor, of course. The series covers less than two years of Odd's life, but by the end he is desperate to hold on to the young man he was and we are as well. It is sad and often frustrating, but Odd can never go back to being a fry cook with a passing interest in the tire business.
In the final installment, Odd returns to Pico Mundo and it is bittersweet. We get to see quite a bit of some old characters and not enough (or any) of others.
Personally, I am still campaigning for a prequel series or tv show about pre-book 1 Odd. I mention this any time I get a chance, hoping Koontz will get a bug in his ear. Okay, okay... I believe there are some graphic novels, but that's never been my thing. I don't think I'd get enough meat out of it, but perhaps I should give them a go. The point is I - and probably many others - want more of book 1 Odd. Koontz teased us so much with possible stories (Odd getting beat up by Carnies, tied to dead mobsters and dumped in a lake, etc).
I'll leave off with the intro from the first book that hooked me in.
"MY NAME IS ODD THOMAS, though in this age when fame is the altar at which most people worship, I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist.
I am not a celebrity. I am not the child of a celebrity. I have never been married to, never been abused by, and never provided a kidney for transplantation into any celebrity. Furthermore, I have no desire to be a celebrity.
In fact I am such a nonentity by the standards of our culture that People magazine not only will never feature a piece about me but might also reject my attempts to subscribe to their publication on the grounds that the black-hole gravity of my noncelebrity is powerful enough to suck their entire enterprise into oblivion.
June 6, 2014
I need an Odd Thomas support group...is there one available??? I can't even handle this right now, I will have to regroup and come back to write my full review, but suffice it to say this was a fitting end to what was an incredible series...Odd Thomas is probably my favorite fictional character ever.
That I had come full circle shouldn't have surprised me, for we are born into time only to be born out of it, after living through the cycles of the seasons, under stars that turn because the world turns, born into ignorance and acquiring knowledge that ultimately reveals us to our enduring ignorance: The circle is the essential pattern of our existence.
Not even the power of love, as intense a love as any a man had ever felt for a woman, could open a door in the barrior between Stormy and me.
Besides, I have no choice but to believe that all our lives are woven through grace, because only then could the promise made to me and Stormy come true.
Often it seemed to me that my psychic gifts ought to have been bestowed upon someone with a higher IQ than mine.
On our side of this war, one didn't leave a friend unsupported. You never, never left a friend to die alone.
...If they had taken her away on their yacht, if I had never met her, there would be no weight to carry-and no memories to sustain me.
In the court of Odd, even the most preposterous suspicion was admissable.
That I had come full circle shouldn't have surprised me, for we are born into time only to be born out of it, after living through the cycles of the seasons, under stars that turn because the world turns, born into ignorance and acquiring knowledge that ultimately reveals us to our enduring ignorance: The circle is the essential pattern of our existence.
Not even the power of love, as intense a love as any a man had ever felt for a woman, could open a door in the barrior between Stormy and me.
Besides, I have no choice but to believe that all our lives are woven through grace, because only then could the promise made to me and Stormy come true.
Often it seemed to me that my psychic gifts ought to have been bestowed upon someone with a higher IQ than mine.
On our side of this war, one didn't leave a friend unsupported. You never, never left a friend to die alone.
...If they had taken her away on their yacht, if I had never met her, there would be no weight to carry-and no memories to sustain me.
In the court of Odd, even the most preposterous suspicion was admissable.
December 29, 2014
To quote a previous reviewer: "meh". I REALLY wanted to like this and given my hatred of "Odd Hours," with the subsequent volumes not being much better, that was probably my mistake. The story lacks focus, takes too long, and the main conflict ends hurriedly. It reminded me of how Stephen King finished "The Stand" - like he got tired of writing. Truly it feels like Koontz had run out of ideas for Odd, adding volumes for pressure from fans or money or whatever. He has never met the quality of the first book, but at least it took more than a paragraph and the fiery hand of God. He had King beat there. He also did not stay true to all of his story arc details. In an earlier volume, Odd previews his own ending. I won't spell it out but if you've been following the series (and it is likely you have, as most people don't start with the LAST) and you remember what that is, don't hold your breath. It's not there. As a story, it cannot stand on its own, apart from the series. Several details are forgotten after a bit, and SO many questions remain. I am just ... Disappointed.
December 13, 2014
“You are Destined to be Together Forever,” --the Gypsy Mummy prophecy
In SAINT ODD, our hero again returns to his hometown, Pico Mundo. Unfortunately for that town, however, the satanic cult, overcome so recently, has also returned in force. This time, the satanists are ready to wreak havoc on the town's inhabitants in an even more violent way.
Like the other books in the series, SAINT ODD involves evil forces versus good. In SAINT ODD, our hero makes a return to the carnival setup at Pico Mundo, where he and Stormy first got the fortune teller card. You might recall that it was the "gypsy mommy" who handed them that very special card--a card that would change both their lives forever. Now standing at that same place again, Odd chooses to receive another card from the same gypsy mommy. But the message he receives is not at all what he expected.
SAINT ODD completes the Odd Thomas series. SAINT ODD reprises some of the curious characters who appeared in the prior books. Do you remember Edie Fischer, the rich lady driving the limo? (Recall that she hired Odd briefly as her chauffeur.) Edie again makes a timely appearance, and we learn a lot more about her--as well as her connection to Stormy. Also, Odd's best friend, the rotund author, Ozzie Boone, makes his appearance. You might also remember the mysterious, perpetually 8-months pregnant Annamaria from the prior installment. She's quite a mysterious figure, and we will learn more about her. And of course, what would a Dean Koontz book be without a special passage regarding a beloved dog? This touching encounters takes place near the very end of the book.
In all of modern literature, I think Odd Thomas might be the most endearing, likeable character. Odd is a modest fellow, as he again declares, "I'm a fry cook, at my best when working the griddle, master of the spatula, maker of pancakes so light they seem about the float off your plate." Of course, we readers know very well that Odd Thomas is anything except JUST a fry cook. We all know by now that Thomas can see the spirits of the recently dead, and that he has an assortment of very unusual psychic/spiritual abilities. Most of his encounters with the newly dead are peaceful encounters. He reminds us, in Saint Odd, however, that sometimes a vengeful ghost can create havoc: I had lost a perfectly good stereo system to a poltergeist when I was 17."
In SAINT ODD, the reader is again treated to imaginative descriptions of unusual situations. Here's one: Odd Thomas finds himself in a bit of a bind, and he worries about being bitten by a vampire bat. He notes that "people were rarely bitten by vampire bats, which mostly drink the blood of chickens, cattle, horses, and deer." And then here's the kicker--He notes that "I didn't find the word RARELY as comforting as the word NEVER." Likewise, when Odd admits he is afraid that he might get eaten by beetles, he remarks: "It was not my fate to be BEETLED to death." [my caps]
√ All in all, SAINT ODD is an outstanding work, a fitting cap to this wonderful, endearing series. Of all the books written by this master author, this book might just be one of his best. If you have not yet read the other books in the series, I strongly encourage you to stop--do not read this book yet. You will thank me for it later. Much of the intricacy of this book depends upon readers understanding what has come before.
Like all of the other Odd Thomas books in the series, SAINT ODD is a pleasure to read--so don't rush it. Especially as you near the finish of this book, slow down, and savor every word. The second to last chapter, Chapter 52, is one of the finest, most meaningful chapters in all of Koontz' books. All I can say is, the author is a wonderfully gifted writer, and this review does not do justice to this work.
TRIVIA FOR LOVERS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
As many readers probably already know, the author was an English teacher before he achieved fame as an author. Thus, the author is a master of the English language. For example, I was delighted to see that the author knew precisely how to use the word "balustrade." Many writers do not use this word properly, but of course Dean Koontz gets it exactly right when he uses the word in chapter 2. Yes, I admit this is a rather slight observation, but it shows you how careful the author is when he constructs his narratives--he is a master of DETAIL.
NEW VOCABULARY WORDS
I frequently read books by Dean Koontz with a dictionary close by. Then, I like to make a list of all the new vocabulary words I have learned. In SAINT ODD, I learned 14 new words. Here they are: PURLING, ASPERGILLUM, RECONDITE, TAINTER, GREENSWARD, CRENELLATED, MELANGE, VOLPLANED, CELADON, JACARANDA (tree), FINIAL, ANTIMACASSAR, AMARANTH, TRAVERTINE.
SERIES NOTE
Depending upon how you count the books, this is actually the 7th or 8th book in the series. Some fans consider ODD INTERLUDE not really part of the main series, and refer to that book as book #4.5. Using that numbering system, this is the seventh book. If you include ODD INTERLUDE as a separate book in the series, then this is actually #8 in the series. In the last chapter, Odd Thomas himself notes that he penned seven memoirs before this book, thus making SAINT ODD number eight.
Note: I have no connection to either the author or the publisher.
In SAINT ODD, our hero again returns to his hometown, Pico Mundo. Unfortunately for that town, however, the satanic cult, overcome so recently, has also returned in force. This time, the satanists are ready to wreak havoc on the town's inhabitants in an even more violent way.
Like the other books in the series, SAINT ODD involves evil forces versus good. In SAINT ODD, our hero makes a return to the carnival setup at Pico Mundo, where he and Stormy first got the fortune teller card. You might recall that it was the "gypsy mommy" who handed them that very special card--a card that would change both their lives forever. Now standing at that same place again, Odd chooses to receive another card from the same gypsy mommy. But the message he receives is not at all what he expected.
SAINT ODD completes the Odd Thomas series. SAINT ODD reprises some of the curious characters who appeared in the prior books. Do you remember Edie Fischer, the rich lady driving the limo? (Recall that she hired Odd briefly as her chauffeur.) Edie again makes a timely appearance, and we learn a lot more about her--as well as her connection to Stormy. Also, Odd's best friend, the rotund author, Ozzie Boone, makes his appearance. You might also remember the mysterious, perpetually 8-months pregnant Annamaria from the prior installment. She's quite a mysterious figure, and we will learn more about her. And of course, what would a Dean Koontz book be without a special passage regarding a beloved dog? This touching encounters takes place near the very end of the book.
In all of modern literature, I think Odd Thomas might be the most endearing, likeable character. Odd is a modest fellow, as he again declares, "I'm a fry cook, at my best when working the griddle, master of the spatula, maker of pancakes so light they seem about the float off your plate." Of course, we readers know very well that Odd Thomas is anything except JUST a fry cook. We all know by now that Thomas can see the spirits of the recently dead, and that he has an assortment of very unusual psychic/spiritual abilities. Most of his encounters with the newly dead are peaceful encounters. He reminds us, in Saint Odd, however, that sometimes a vengeful ghost can create havoc: I had lost a perfectly good stereo system to a poltergeist when I was 17."
In SAINT ODD, the reader is again treated to imaginative descriptions of unusual situations. Here's one: Odd Thomas finds himself in a bit of a bind, and he worries about being bitten by a vampire bat. He notes that "people were rarely bitten by vampire bats, which mostly drink the blood of chickens, cattle, horses, and deer." And then here's the kicker--He notes that "I didn't find the word RARELY as comforting as the word NEVER." Likewise, when Odd admits he is afraid that he might get eaten by beetles, he remarks: "It was not my fate to be BEETLED to death." [my caps]
√ All in all, SAINT ODD is an outstanding work, a fitting cap to this wonderful, endearing series. Of all the books written by this master author, this book might just be one of his best. If you have not yet read the other books in the series, I strongly encourage you to stop--do not read this book yet. You will thank me for it later. Much of the intricacy of this book depends upon readers understanding what has come before.
Like all of the other Odd Thomas books in the series, SAINT ODD is a pleasure to read--so don't rush it. Especially as you near the finish of this book, slow down, and savor every word. The second to last chapter, Chapter 52, is one of the finest, most meaningful chapters in all of Koontz' books. All I can say is, the author is a wonderfully gifted writer, and this review does not do justice to this work.
TRIVIA FOR LOVERS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
As many readers probably already know, the author was an English teacher before he achieved fame as an author. Thus, the author is a master of the English language. For example, I was delighted to see that the author knew precisely how to use the word "balustrade." Many writers do not use this word properly, but of course Dean Koontz gets it exactly right when he uses the word in chapter 2. Yes, I admit this is a rather slight observation, but it shows you how careful the author is when he constructs his narratives--he is a master of DETAIL.
NEW VOCABULARY WORDS
I frequently read books by Dean Koontz with a dictionary close by. Then, I like to make a list of all the new vocabulary words I have learned. In SAINT ODD, I learned 14 new words. Here they are: PURLING, ASPERGILLUM, RECONDITE, TAINTER, GREENSWARD, CRENELLATED, MELANGE, VOLPLANED, CELADON, JACARANDA (tree), FINIAL, ANTIMACASSAR, AMARANTH, TRAVERTINE.
SERIES NOTE
Depending upon how you count the books, this is actually the 7th or 8th book in the series. Some fans consider ODD INTERLUDE not really part of the main series, and refer to that book as book #4.5. Using that numbering system, this is the seventh book. If you include ODD INTERLUDE as a separate book in the series, then this is actually #8 in the series. In the last chapter, Odd Thomas himself notes that he penned seven memoirs before this book, thus making SAINT ODD number eight.
Note: I have no connection to either the author or the publisher.
November 21, 2013
Saint Odd (Group Read - February 2021)
A second reading made it nicer. Odd Thomas, and his psychic powers return to his “desert town of Pico Mundo, California”.
Pico Mundo’s been attacked by “cultists.” In a SUV, a crazy crash killed many. Cultists Killing many continues, like at “The Green Moon Mall” (memoirs of the death of Stormy).
Odd stops the floods by the Cultists but he is killed by a fatal gunshot.
Stormy Llewellyn (Burke & Bailey’s ice-cream shop manager, Odd’s girlfriend) is already dead.
At Odd’s death, he’s “reincarnated” with Stormy.
She explains what their happy “after life” will be....together with her.
What I missed in my first read? - Is merely how to connect the story to the book’s title?
Odd Thomas’ first name is “Odd”, it’s Odd seeing someone able to help so many, at death this made him a “Saint” - thus the title “Saint Odd”....
Make sense? Am I right?
Odd Thomas Series > Saint Odd (Group Read - July 2016)
Odd’s "polite" psychic manner escaping the villains & cultists continues - Woolfgang, Johanthan & Selene - as he goes from Nevada to the deserted Green Moon Mall (in Pico Mundo, California).
I liked other books in the Odd Thomas series better.
A second reading made it nicer. Odd Thomas, and his psychic powers return to his “desert town of Pico Mundo, California”.
Pico Mundo’s been attacked by “cultists.” In a SUV, a crazy crash killed many. Cultists Killing many continues, like at “The Green Moon Mall” (memoirs of the death of Stormy).
Odd stops the floods by the Cultists but he is killed by a fatal gunshot.
Stormy Llewellyn (Burke & Bailey’s ice-cream shop manager, Odd’s girlfriend) is already dead.
At Odd’s death, he’s “reincarnated” with Stormy.
She explains what their happy “after life” will be....together with her.
What I missed in my first read? - Is merely how to connect the story to the book’s title?
Odd Thomas’ first name is “Odd”, it’s Odd seeing someone able to help so many, at death this made him a “Saint” - thus the title “Saint Odd”....
Make sense? Am I right?
Odd Thomas Series > Saint Odd (Group Read - July 2016)
Odd’s "polite" psychic manner escaping the villains & cultists continues - Woolfgang, Johanthan & Selene - as he goes from Nevada to the deserted Green Moon Mall (in Pico Mundo, California).
I liked other books in the Odd Thomas series better.
February 3, 2015
I gave 5 stars more for the series than this book, but I did like it as well.
By this time we have traveled a long way with Odd and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Consistently good and sometimes great, this series has taken this completely engaging character through 7 novels and 3 novellas. Funny, tense, and even scary at times, Odd Thomas is a thoroughly original character with a never ending wit and wisdom and one of my all time favorites.
Don't want to say much about plot because this is the last in the series. All you need to know is that he goes back home and that all the loose ends get resolved. Oddie takes his well deserved victory lap.
If you have not read the series, get Odd Thomas and start a very enjoyable journey.
By this time we have traveled a long way with Odd and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Consistently good and sometimes great, this series has taken this completely engaging character through 7 novels and 3 novellas. Funny, tense, and even scary at times, Odd Thomas is a thoroughly original character with a never ending wit and wisdom and one of my all time favorites.
Don't want to say much about plot because this is the last in the series. All you need to know is that he goes back home and that all the loose ends get resolved. Oddie takes his well deserved victory lap.
If you have not read the series, get Odd Thomas and start a very enjoyable journey.
January 13, 2015
No review, no commentary, just a heartfelt thank you to Dean Koontz.
I believe this was my all-time favorite series. I'm sad that this was the last book but enjoyed how it all wrapped up. David Aaron Baker's narration throughout the series was outstanding and as listeners we are fortunate that he was able to read the entire series. Good job Dean Koontz and David Aaron Baker.
I believe this was my all-time favorite series. I'm sad that this was the last book but enjoyed how it all wrapped up. David Aaron Baker's narration throughout the series was outstanding and as listeners we are fortunate that he was able to read the entire series. Good job Dean Koontz and David Aaron Baker.
January 18, 2015
I doubt I'm telling tales out of school if I mention that things don't end well for Odd. Koontz tells us several times that this is the final book in the Odd series but I wonder. Never say never, Mr. Koontz but unless you can come up with a better story line, don't bother...please.
September 22, 2018
and Odd's saga is finished. All the holes are filled. Although in the end a couple of the plot holes are not fulfilled enough. It is like Koontz had to end it and just made up a couple of things. Just did not jive but in all it was a wonderful story
September 10, 2024
Ohhhhhhhh. As usual, I loved Oddie. Sad that the series is over. Even the best things must end.
July 28, 2013
The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility. . . .
-T. S. Eliot, East Coker
My personal favorites in the Odd Thomas Series are:
1. Odd Interlude
2. Brother Odd
3. Odd Thomas
Saint Odd is not the best and not the worst book in the series. I thought the story was fine, the conclusion was fine, but I felt the story lacked a lot of the meaningful depth that many Koontz stories contain. I feel that as with the case of the Frankenstein series, perhaps the Odd Thomas story was drawn out further that it should have been. I feel that within 8 volumes, we shouldn't be left with so many unanswered questions and the answers given shouldn't be quite so cryptic. Annamarie is an interesting character - I loved her in Odd Hours, but I've grown rather tired of her.
Koontz has created so many great characters in his writing career and I wouldn't mind meeting them again, but perhaps it's better this way given the history of the few series Koontz has done. It always fun to see the characters from different Koontz novels make a cameo here and there, and perhaps that is the best way for me to meet them again.
What I noticed most while reading Saint Odd was the evidence of the interconnectedness of the Koontz Universe. There are bats playing a big role in this novel, reminding me of The Vision, of Koontz's earlier works, which now I would like to re-read. The carnival setting brings back the stories of The Funhouse, Twilight Eyes and Hideaway. Koontz has also done the Jimmy Stewart/ It's a Wonderful Life comparison in his books before - most recently I noticed this when I re-read The Bad Place.
Alrighty, how about that third Chris Snow, Ride the Storm?
Favorite Passages from Saint Odd:
Life had taught me to believe in omens.
I knew one when I saw it.
The bats were an omen, and whatever they might portend, it would not be an event marked by benevolence, harmony, and joy.
______
I came home to die and to live in death.
______
. . . I have no choice but to believe that all our lives are woven through with grace, because only then could the promise made to me and Stormy come true.
______
"This is where you belong, Oddie. With those who love you most."
______
. . .I sensed a looming horror more blood-freezing than a corpse.
______
The source of magic in this world is more mysterious than all the explanations that sorcerers and wizards have given for it, and it is more prevalent than can be understood by those who live according to the constricted form of reason so prevalent in our time.
______
"Had to figure you for another of them bastards," Mr. Bullock said. "Sorry if maybe I just about killed you dead."
"That's all right, sir."
"Call me Deke, why don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
______
"Don't mourn the death of monsters, dear. Celebrate the saving of the innocents."
Is the wisdom of humility. . . .
-T. S. Eliot, East Coker
My personal favorites in the Odd Thomas Series are:
1. Odd Interlude
2. Brother Odd
3. Odd Thomas
Saint Odd is not the best and not the worst book in the series. I thought the story was fine, the conclusion was fine, but I felt the story lacked a lot of the meaningful depth that many Koontz stories contain. I feel that as with the case of the Frankenstein series, perhaps the Odd Thomas story was drawn out further that it should have been. I feel that within 8 volumes, we shouldn't be left with so many unanswered questions and the answers given shouldn't be quite so cryptic. Annamarie is an interesting character - I loved her in Odd Hours, but I've grown rather tired of her.
Koontz has created so many great characters in his writing career and I wouldn't mind meeting them again, but perhaps it's better this way given the history of the few series Koontz has done. It always fun to see the characters from different Koontz novels make a cameo here and there, and perhaps that is the best way for me to meet them again.
What I noticed most while reading Saint Odd was the evidence of the interconnectedness of the Koontz Universe. There are bats playing a big role in this novel, reminding me of The Vision, of Koontz's earlier works, which now I would like to re-read. The carnival setting brings back the stories of The Funhouse, Twilight Eyes and Hideaway. Koontz has also done the Jimmy Stewart/ It's a Wonderful Life comparison in his books before - most recently I noticed this when I re-read The Bad Place.
Alrighty, how about that third Chris Snow, Ride the Storm?
Favorite Passages from Saint Odd:
Life had taught me to believe in omens.
I knew one when I saw it.
The bats were an omen, and whatever they might portend, it would not be an event marked by benevolence, harmony, and joy.
______
I came home to die and to live in death.
______
. . . I have no choice but to believe that all our lives are woven through with grace, because only then could the promise made to me and Stormy come true.
______
"This is where you belong, Oddie. With those who love you most."
______
. . .I sensed a looming horror more blood-freezing than a corpse.
______
The source of magic in this world is more mysterious than all the explanations that sorcerers and wizards have given for it, and it is more prevalent than can be understood by those who live according to the constricted form of reason so prevalent in our time.
______
"Had to figure you for another of them bastards," Mr. Bullock said. "Sorry if maybe I just about killed you dead."
"That's all right, sir."
"Call me Deke, why don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
______
"Don't mourn the death of monsters, dear. Celebrate the saving of the innocents."
July 25, 2015
Saint Odd by Dean Koontz is a 2015 Bantam publication.
Oddie has had such a melancholy life, and is such a sweet guy, I fell in love with him right away. Every time I read an Odd Thomas novel , I just wanted to reach through the pages and hold him. But, after the the third or fourth book in the series, I stopped making an effort to pick it back up again.
I noticed this one in the overdrive library, and it's obvious from the title and cover which way the series was headed. So, with no patience for hunting up the fifth and sixth books, I decided not to go back and catch up with the series, opting to dive right in with this, the seventh and last book in the series.
While I am sure I missed a few harrowing adventures by passing on the last two books, I had no problems understanding what was happening with this story.
Odd has returned home knowing it's his time and that Pico Mundo needs him as it is about to face yet another major crisis. Odd is plagued by nightmares and vivid dreams as he tries to figure out a way to keep his hometown from being lost forever.
But, for most of us the burning question is whether or not Odd and Stormy's future will unfold as it was foretold in the first book of the series. Will they be together forever?
The truth is, I didn't go into this book with super high expectations. The reason I had lost track of the series in the first place was because it had gotten way off track, so I was more cautiously optimistic than anything else.
I was happy to see Odd touching base with old familiar faces, but once more he has a big job to do. However, for the bulk of the book Odd discusses dreams, reflects upon the past, shares his rambling musings and then from time to time gets down and dirty and serious about figuring out what he needs to do next. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the pacing begin to pick up. Once it got rolling the story began to move along too quickly and the really big finale was pretty anti-climatic.
My heart quickened at once spot toward the end, and I thought a lump might actually be forming in the back of my throat, but, when I saw nothing more was going to come from it, I was pretty let down. It goes without saying that Oddie will have a quirky and unconventional happy ever after, which fits in with Odd and his experiences up to this point.
But, for me the conclusion was pretty weak and what should have been a huge emotional, pull on the heart strings, grab that box of tissues, as the credits start to roll kind of ending fell horribly flat. I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. It was disappointing to see the conclusion turn out like this when Oddie deserved a much bigger send off. Overall, two starts is the best I can give this one.
Oddie has had such a melancholy life, and is such a sweet guy, I fell in love with him right away. Every time I read an Odd Thomas novel , I just wanted to reach through the pages and hold him. But, after the the third or fourth book in the series, I stopped making an effort to pick it back up again.
I noticed this one in the overdrive library, and it's obvious from the title and cover which way the series was headed. So, with no patience for hunting up the fifth and sixth books, I decided not to go back and catch up with the series, opting to dive right in with this, the seventh and last book in the series.
While I am sure I missed a few harrowing adventures by passing on the last two books, I had no problems understanding what was happening with this story.
Odd has returned home knowing it's his time and that Pico Mundo needs him as it is about to face yet another major crisis. Odd is plagued by nightmares and vivid dreams as he tries to figure out a way to keep his hometown from being lost forever.
But, for most of us the burning question is whether or not Odd and Stormy's future will unfold as it was foretold in the first book of the series. Will they be together forever?
The truth is, I didn't go into this book with super high expectations. The reason I had lost track of the series in the first place was because it had gotten way off track, so I was more cautiously optimistic than anything else.
I was happy to see Odd touching base with old familiar faces, but once more he has a big job to do. However, for the bulk of the book Odd discusses dreams, reflects upon the past, shares his rambling musings and then from time to time gets down and dirty and serious about figuring out what he needs to do next. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the pacing begin to pick up. Once it got rolling the story began to move along too quickly and the really big finale was pretty anti-climatic.
My heart quickened at once spot toward the end, and I thought a lump might actually be forming in the back of my throat, but, when I saw nothing more was going to come from it, I was pretty let down. It goes without saying that Oddie will have a quirky and unconventional happy ever after, which fits in with Odd and his experiences up to this point.
But, for me the conclusion was pretty weak and what should have been a huge emotional, pull on the heart strings, grab that box of tissues, as the credits start to roll kind of ending fell horribly flat. I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. It was disappointing to see the conclusion turn out like this when Oddie deserved a much bigger send off. Overall, two starts is the best I can give this one.
August 13, 2014
I write this review with equal parts happiness and sadness.Happiness for the fact that i know Odd Thomas complete story now.Sadness because for me the journey is over.I would be doing a incredible injustice to fellow readers to give away any of the plot of this final volume but for those of you who have arrived at the end of this magnificent ride i leave you with this i now know the true meaning of FULLY SMOOTH AND TOTALLY BLUE.
Thank you Mr. Koontz for creating two characters Odd and Stormy who in my heart and in the hearts of many rejoice that they are destined to be together forever.
Thank you Mr. Koontz for creating two characters Odd and Stormy who in my heart and in the hearts of many rejoice that they are destined to be together forever.
January 13, 2015
Hmmm...for the most part a good story, but i have to say i'm a bit let down with how the whole "Odd Thomas" saga came to an end. I expected the outcome, but the way it was accomplished was a little lacking.
I rated it 4 stars, but the real rating would be 3 and a half stars.
I rated it 4 stars, but the real rating would be 3 and a half stars.
May 9, 2016
Touching, Complex, Amusing, Charming, Memorable & Beautifully Written Series! I Loved It!
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