Stand Alone Novels 2008-2020: Devoted (Group Read - April/May 2020)

[K.L.]

Finished this morning and must say while I enjoyed the early parts quite a bit, in the end I was left feeling a bit dissatisfied. IMO things kind of fizzled toward the end. And like everyone else, I can't help be hear the echoes of Watchers...and I think it may well be because of that very fact that I feel somewhat dissatisfied. Did I enjoy it? Yes, more or less. Will I read it again down the road? Yes, probably, but for me I think it will forever feel like a shadow of Watchers.

That being said....bring on the next!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I haven't even started :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

K.L. wrote: "That being said....bring on the next!."

Elsewhere 10/20/20

[Mary]

OK, well I can't believe I am giving a Koontz book a two-star rating! It makes me feel sad. The problem that I had was that not one character (not even the dog! seemed fresh. It seemed like he brought out old characters, dusted them off a bit, and recycled them. They seemed diluted, somehow. The story also felt like I had read it before. The villain was devolving into a vicious animal and the increasing gore was a bit hard to take and even that felt old. I kept thinking "ok, He'll be eating the dog next starting with a bloodletting!" Oh well, I will still wait for the next book.
I was really disappointed

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Thanks for your honesty Mary :-) I still haven't read Devoted yet, but I've been known to give some 2-3 star ratings to Koontz books.

Next Koontz Book will be released in October! Elsewhere

[Mary]

I found this review of Devoted. They were much kinder than I was. Maybe I'll take a second look at it.
It also has a good interview with Koontz.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-amb...

And still rockin the wig. :-)

[Matthew]

I know this board is a few months old but I started Devoted today and plan to read earnestly. Some folks in this group didnt like this book much but Im optimistic by nature so here I go!

[Willa]

I LOVED "Devoted." It's like the old Dean Koontz in "The Face" and his other works that are suspense with a touch of supernatural. And this one with the dog, well, it was a joy to read after some of his recent clunkers (sorry Dean, but "Ashley Bell" was a bore).

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Matthew wrote: "I know this board is a few months old but I started Devoted today and plan to read earnestly. Some folks in this group didnt like this book much but Im optimistic by nature so here I go!"

I haven't even started yet. Lots of mixed reception to Devoted and my library closed so I put it off, but I do own the book and audiobook now. Soon. July for sure! :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Willa wrote: "I LOVED "Devoted." It's like the old Dean Koontz in "The Face" and his other works that are suspense with a touch of supernatural. . .(sorry Dean, but "Ashley Bell" was a bore).
"

I rather enjoyed Ashley Bell :-) especially compared to some of his other releases around that time. I've only read AB once, but plan to re-read it when chosen as a Koontzland Group Read.

I hope enjoy Devoted as much as you did!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Mary wrote: "And still rockin the wig. :-)"

Do you think Dean wears a wig? I always thought it was expensive hair transplant - that's what the internet told me. He was looking in the mirror and started seeing his father in the reflection.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

K.L. wrote: "Finished this morning and must say while I enjoyed the early parts quite a bit, in the end I was left feeling a bit dissatisfied. IMO things kind of fizzled toward the end. And like everyone else, ..."

I completely agree. I finally got around to reading the book in July. Devoted was clearly a Watchers Sequel, although the timeline of 50 years legacy doesn't quite add up to our time.
I was immediately intrigued, but the story lost me in the last 30 chapters. Devoted won't be among my favorites and I don't think it represents Dean's best work, still I gave it 4 stars. Might have given it 3 stars if it wasn't Dean Koontz :-)
I'm glad overall that people are receiving the book well, average Goodreads ratings have stayed extremely high - above 4 stars.
I was

[Matthew]

I'm just posting to wake this bored up again a bit...I've gotta be honest and admit I'm stuck at the mid-way point on this one. I like it but have been easily distracted the past month or so. I DO plan to finish!! :o /

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Thanks Matthew. Good luck finishing Devoted so you'll be able to read Dean's newest book Elsewhere, released this Fall!
I'll be honest, I was initially enthralled with Devoted but felt it fizzled toward the end. Devoted certainly won't be among my favorites. I hope I like Elsewhere better.

[Mary]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Mary wrote: "And still rockin the wig. :-)"

Do you think Dean wears a wig? I always thought it was expensive hair transplant - that's what the internet told me. He was looking in the mirror and st..."

I would think it would be nice for him to have a wig...that way he could pop it off and go anywhere incognito! :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Great idea. When I get famous, I'll keep that in mind to help with my disguise.