TDSOH: And done ...

[Redrosevertigo0]

I just finished this book and struggled a bit to get through the last half.

My first issue with the book is the cover art. It shows who I assume is Bobby Dollar with a cigarette in his hand. It says in the book that he doesn't smoke. Don't cover artists read the book before they design the cover?

I found the explanation of the politics of Heaven and Hell interesting and would have liked more background on the characters. Hopefully later books will give more insight into the "I'll tell you later" stories Bobby kept mentioning. I enjoyed Bobby's voice and liked him as a character. Except for one thing.

He is a sap. His mooning over Caz was ridiculous. I understand she was really, really pretty and probably had supernatural powers of attraction. But he was an ANGEL. Shouldn't he have been sort of immune to her charms? And they spend 1 night together and another hurried session in a hotel room and he is in love with her?!?! It just seemed sort of silly and contrived. And really, really girly. This might be the first relationship I have read written from a male perspective and I expected a little less emotion and a little more love 'em and leave 'em bravado. I found the whole thing between Caz and Bobby rushed and unrealistic. Other than hot sex what do they like about each other?

I will probably read the following books in the series just to see how things develop between Caz and Bobby.

[David Sven]

Redrosevertigo0 wrote: "But he was an ANGEL. Shouldn't he have been sort of immune to her charms?"

He was an angel in a physical body with all its physical needs and urges.

[George]

Redrosevertigo0 wrote: "I just finished this book and struggled a bit to get through the last half.

My first issue with the book is the cover art. It shows who I assume is Bobby Dollar with a cigarette in his hand. It s..."

First of all -- there is an expression: "Don't judge a book by it's cover." It's a valid criticism if the cover doesn't fit the book, but I wouldn't make a huge deal about it.

Second, on the subject of Casimira, I could see myself going along exactly the same relationship track. Maybe I'm a sap or immature (both possible), but it happens. And if you are really thinking "He is an angel, why is he falling in love," then you are not paying attention. He states CONSTANTLY throughout the book that the human bodies angels wear on earth are subject to all the failings and urges of regular mortals: including addictions and physical attraction. There's even mention of romance happening *in Heaven* (but without sex), so his soul is capable of love as well. You may not necessarily like these human-like, flawed angels, but that is how they work in the world of Bobby Dollar. I think it makes for a more interesting character. If Tad Williams had chosen to make his angels more alien and perfect, I imagine it would be better to tell the story from the perspective of a human or a demon.

[Joyce]

I like the noir-style of this book. It moved fast and was light. After Cloud Atlas I needed a light book. I do agree that the relationship with the Countess moved too fast. If this is meant to be a series maybe it should have waited until book two or three.

[Dave]

Redrosevertigo0 wrote: "I just finished this book and struggled a bit to get through the last half.

My first issue with the book is the cover art. It shows who I assume is Bobby Dollar with a cigarette in his hand. It s..."
You summed up my exact problem with the book and far more eloquently than I was able to put into words. The pace of their relationship completely took me out of the narrative and his pining after Caz was one character flaw that just didnt fit with the rest of the characters make-up. To be honest, the whole thing felt a bit forced and I dont think it was needed in the book.

[Dazerla]

Dave wrote: "The pace of their relationship completely took me out of the narrative and his pining after Caz was one character flaw that just didnt fit with the rest of the characters make-up. To be honest, the whole thing felt a bit forced and I dont think it was needed in the book"

I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt that part of the relationship with Cz was forced. I totally bought him using her for information and as allies, but not the romantic aspect. Otherwise as a noir paranormal I thought it did a good job.

[Jute]

I'm all done!

I enjoyed the book, though there were a couple of annoyances for me. I really got tired of him telling me he didn't know how things worked, or that he wasn't going to tell me something. I felt there was just way too much of that.

And a second annoyance was how he screwed with geography. I wonder how many people not from this area are going to think there really is a San Judas. I didn't quite understand why he mixed real stuff with made up stuff. Why not make it all one or the other?

[Joe]

I wasn't really impressed by this book. The demons where cartoon like and the angels seemed kind of clueless.

It wasn't terrible, but I dont think I will be reading anymore Bobby Dollar adventures.

[Gabe]

It was definitely fun. However, I could not help but compare it to The Dresden Files because of the noir and urban fantasy feel. It didn't quite match that series.

For one, I hated the romance in the book. It was way too fast and way too ridiculous. It was just too cheesy for me.

Also, I really enjoyed some of his similes and parentheticals but after a while I wish he would give them a rest and take a breath.

The book was definitely a fun read though.

[Redrosevertigo0]

David Sven wrote: "Redrosevertigo0 wrote: "But he was an ANGEL. Shouldn't he have been sort of immune to her charms?"

He was an angel in a physical body with all its physical needs and urges."

I am not saying he shouldn't have desired her just used a little more sense. He knew what she was and that she could have been trying to kill him! He just fell for her so fast despite knowing she could have been manipulating him.

[Redrosevertigo0]

George wrote: "Redrosevertigo0 wrote: "I just finished this book and struggled a bit to get through the last half.

My first issue with the book is the cover art. It shows who I assume is Bobby Dollar with a cig..."

I had no issue with him being an angel and falling in love but him falling in love with Caz after 1 day. It seemed hurried and unrealistic. I get she was beautiful but she was also the ENEMY and he kept reminding himself of that fact while mooning over her. I thought it could have been written better. Maybe with Caz showing some kindness and there being more interaction between them besides sex. Maybe I just like to see a relationship develop before sex happens not because of sex.

[Brandon]

I really enjoyed this book, I wasn't sure about it at first, but it has a great protagonist, interesting ideas about heaven and hell, and the writing is really enjoyable.

[Karl]

About the book cover: the UK book cover is much nicer than the US one :)

[Lindsay]

Jute wrote: "And a second annoyance was how he screwed with geography. I wonder how many people not from this area are going to think there really is a San Judas."

I've never visited the states, so I was wondering if there really was a San Judas and where Stanford actually is etc. A fun half hour with google maps ensued.

[Christopher]

I finished this a few days ago and overall I'm fairly ambivalent about the book. It was an enjoyable light read but it didn't really draw me into the world. The characters where entertaining moment to moment but lacked any depth or development. Like some others have mentioned I found the relationship with Caz to be very rushed and totally out of character for Bobby, who often talks about never trusting demons, then falls in love with one tells her everything and trusts her completely, basically because she's hot.

I also found the imaginary San Judas location to be very strange a bit off-putting. I don't know the San Francisco bay area very well, but I found it very distracting, and a bit confusing early on when Bobby kept talking about San Judas (because it feels like he mentions it every second page) but then visiting real places. I don't understand the motivation for this rather than just using the real place names or a completely imaginary city.

Unless I hear great things I don't think I will be back for the next book in the series.

[Gina]

Redrosevertigo0 wrote: I had no issue with him being an angel and falling in love but him falling in love with Caz after 1 day.

I'm a few days late to the Caz discussion, but here's my take:

Yes, it was really strange that Bobby fell for Caz SO quickly. Yeah, she was very pretty, but he went way beyond physical attraction; he was obsessed with her. It made me wonder if the author was hinting at something.

After his night with Caz, we get this quote: "It hadn't just been lust, or even simply love - as if that could ever be simple. We had felt right together. We were twin souls separated by a million years' history of war and hatred and treachery."

I could be reading too far into it, but the separated souls bit made me wonder if Bobby and Caz knew each other in life. Bobby can't remember anything from his past. Caz can, but presumably Bobby would be unrecognizable since he is given a random body in the afterlife.

Anyone else have the same thought?

[Carolina]

I finished it yesterday. I liked it, but I haven't read anything from Williams before, so I have no way to compare it to his previous work. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I will look for the second part of the series since I want to know more about Caz :).
My official review will be posted at A Girl that Likes Books next week.

[Rob]

Finished reading it yesterday. The first 15 pages was likena breath of fresh air after slogging all the way through cloud atlas. Very light read that doesn't take itself seriously. My only other exposure to William's work was Otherland.

If I tooknthe author's name off the covers of both I would not realized it was the same author.

I agree with the comment that this felt like the Dresden files a little.

Character's were ok. I don't think it was the author's intent to have us like Bobby at all.

I do have to say it kept me on my toes permutating outcomes while keeping it mostly light and humorous.

Not nearly my fav book of all time, but fun enough to want to read the sequel.

[Rob]

fwiw I was able to get it from the library system pretty easily. The earlier the next months book can be determined the better for us library users in case there are holds. For example I didn't get my copy of cloud atlas until October was almost over and took most of November to read it.

[Scott]

Much like some others I thought the second half kind of dragged. I did the audiobook version and the reader was great! The performance was spot on and his tone of reading was such that I couldn't imagine Bobby Dollar sounding any different. Still the second half just went a bit to predictable and pat. The angels and demons twist to the noir style was interesting in the first half but it seemed to move away from that in the second to be a detective story. Quick read just not sure I'd go looking for the next one.

[Walter]

::whew:: My first Sword & Laser book read. Coming in late, library here in Fayetteville didn't have it available until the other day. This was my second Tad Williams novel (Tailchaser's Song was the first).

I could be reading too far into it, but the separated souls bit made me wonder if Bobby and Caz knew each other in life. Bobby can't remember anything from his past. Caz can, but presumably Bobby would be unrecognizable since he is given a random body in the afterlife.

Anyone else have the same thought?

I agree, Gina. My first instinct is that these two have a history, and that they're reacting to a subconscious recognition of one another. Chemistry can be a powerful thing (I know), but their situation smacked of more than that with a 'To Be Continued' tattooed on both their foreheads.

I'm a Chandler fan and enjoy good noir, particularly for its dialogue ("A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window.") I did find myself rewriting some of Dollar's similes in my head, which one can attribute either to criticism or to hubris (take your pick), as some of them fell a bit flat for me. As did the ending.

But there were some good things in it. Caz was a memorable character, and the action and sex scenes had an intensity Dollar's dialogue occasionally lacked.

Overall, not a bad read, light and humorous. I can see myself picking up the second in the series, primarily to see what direction Williams takes the Dollar/Caz thing in.

[Carolina]

And here is my review, finally up: A Girl that Likes Books

[Hunter]

As to this versus the Dresden files, I think this is a better book than Stormfront. Stormfront lacked a lot of scope for me, and I personally thought that Bobby Dollar was a more likable character than Dresden, but I'm still up for Fool Moon (after Game of Thrones and the Magicians, of course, as I'm sitting next to them right now) and the sequel to DSoH has become highly anticipated for me.

I think I agree with what's been said: It's a fast, easy read, fairly light on the fantasy, not very offensive or heavy handed in any philosophical issues. I can wholeheartedly recommend it as a detective story, but if you're desperate for high fantasy, this just isn't it.