Je n’ai pas pu terminer ma lecture. ( )

A re-read for me as part of a book clearance.
Perfectly plotted with an antagonist worthy of the Resident Evil franchise, the one flaw in this supernatural thriller of the kind Koontz is best known for is its length. I would call it well-written but also over-written. Although there’s nothing wrong with all the information, there’s too much of it. I can’t help feeling trimming a few passages of character background would make for faster pacing. It’s like Koontz including all the details an author needs to know but a reader doesn’t. This didn’t bother me too much as I’m used to reading epic fantasies, but I can imagine some readers finding it a bit of a slog. Plenty will love this, though, for it’s still a tense thriller with some wonderful characters. ( )

Let me start off by saying that I love reading Dean Koontz books and I like what he writes. Plus whenever he comes out with a new book, I almost always buy it, so obviously the guy is doing something right to keep getting me to spend money on his books. Now with that said, his books have a very obvious pattern to them. Set in Orange County, California, a strong female character teams up with not quite as strong male character to battle some villain/foe/monster. Usually the male character appears as less but ends up surprising the female character with some unknown talent: ex-Vietnam vet, expert at killing, black belt in martial arts, ... During the battle/chase/pursuit, the male and female fall in love and together they defeat the villain/foe/monster, sometimes with the help of an outside character, sometimes not. Add some character analysis and insights to the backgrounds of the characters and you've now got a Dean Koontz book. It's a pattern that works well because he still sells his books, but it is also an easy way to sum up some of his books. This book follows that pattern. Characters that I liked: Jerry Peake, DSA agent that wants to be a legend; and Felsen Kiel, otherwise known as The Stone. Like I said before, even though this follows Koontz's pattern, it is still a good book and I would recommend ( )

This wasn't a bad book, took me a bit to get interested, then it moved pretty quickly. I like most of Koontz older books, and this one did not dissapoint. ( )

Despite the bad, Shadowfires is still a great read. With a tangle of characters and a rapidly mutating story, this will be difficult to put down. This book is exciting, with just enough romance, along with a couple of sub-stories that pull you in. Just don't expect an answer to all your questions at the end. Very few are even hinted at.

*Spoiler Alert*
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shadowfires. It was exciting almost the whole way through, from when Eric first disappeared from the morgue to the death of the mutant monster at the end. The main characters not only had to deal with Eric throughout the book, hunting and being hunted by him, but they also had one Anson Sharp from the DSA to avoid as well.

One of the biggest things that kept me reading was wanting to see the progression of Eric's mutation. It disappointed me though, because for the most part, the book remained a little too vague on that aspect for my liking. It would have been nice to have a little bit more detail throughout the book of his physical transformation.

Another was the characters. It seemed to me that most of the characters in this book leaned towards an extreme side of personalities. They were either very bad, or very good. Very loud, or very quiet. Very ethical, or very unethical. Sometimes it's nice to read a book when the characters are all extreme in their personalities, and not trying to seem balanced. It can make for interesting interactions between them. Like Jerry Peake and his insights of his boss Sharp.

One of the biggest let downs for me, in addition to the vagueness on Eric's transformations, was the lack of wrapping up at the end. Sure, Eric was killed and Sharp was killed (the bugger deserved it), and Rachael said yes to Ben, but that didn't exactly answer the rest of the plot. What about Wildcard? What happens with Jerry? Did Reese and Teddy ever get together? I guess stories can't just give away the answers to plot questions at the end. But it would be nice if the answers were hinted at, giving my imagination something to work with. ( )

In a word: corny. This is the sort of story that B-rate horror movies are made from. ( )

Not one of Koontz best works. The story, and I do like the unnatural and weird, was incredibly far fetched. If it had been presented as something that was just out there it would have been better. However, the whole story line was based on a scientific line and it made it even that more incredulous. Specifically, the villain in the story shouldn't have been able to remain as coherent as presented and I felt like it was just a cat and mouse story at the end of it. On top of it (even though I did not read them in chronological order)- Mr. Murder revisits a similar story line and was much better executed and believable. Shame on the use of the same plot device twice. ( )

(unabridged audiobook read by Jonathan Marosz): As Rachel and Eric leave the offices of their divorce lawyers, they are arguing viciously about the settlement. Eric gets so angry he storms off directly into oncoming traffic, where he is killed by a garbage truck. After the initial shock wears off, Rachel gets incredibly paranoid and hangs out with her boyfriend Ben, actively not telling him things. When Eric's body disappears from the morgue, her paranoia becomes a reality: Eric's not really dead! It gets a little silly from there, blending unlikely genetic theory with bizarre theology on the afterlife. It's a chase story through and through, with Ben and Rachel spending the bulk of the book not telling each other things while fleeing Eric, the local cops, and the feds. Koontz is usually good for quirky characters having bizarre adventures, but this time he was a little short on the adventure part. It was really nothing more than one big chase scene, that didn't even tie up the majority of the issues it raised by the end (namely, the consequences of the characters' actions, the mental waffling over which had been a big part of the plot). So yeah: dig Koontz, not so big on Shadow Fires. (Interestingly, this is the last novel he wrote using a pseudonym. Maybe that should have been a clue.) ( )

An interesting premise about a man who decides to tamper with his own genetic material to cheat death was marred by subpar writing. I could definitely have done with about half of the gooey relationship between the oh-so perfect hero and heroine. ( )

This is a very good read although a bit drawn out in places. Eric Leben has used his research into immortality to experiment on himself and upon his death and disappearance from the morgue of his body descends into mutation and madness. Seeking revenge on his wife for her rejection of him he threatens not only her life but the life of everyone around him.

Rachael Leben has found a new lover, Benny, who is not the quiet, backward looking person she thought he was. They run a race against time to find and kill the 'beast' Eric has become in his relentless stalking of Rachael.

There are also Anson Sharp and Jerry Peake, two DSA agents. Two totally different personalities. Sharp has his own reasons for wanting Benny dead and Jerry sees his ambitions in the DSA falling by the wayside as he tries to please both his boss and his inner 'moral' voice.

Joining the hunt are two Orange County cops, Reese Hagerstrom and Julio Verdad. They must reach Rachael and Benny before Anson Sharp 'disposes' of them, not knowing about the beast Eric has become, only aware that the case of the murdered women they are investigating is somehow connected to the Leben case.
Two sets of heroes for the price of one.

This is a book which is very imaginitive and well worth reading. ( )

I'm currently reading this book because I am finding it very difficult to finish. The story line is very predictable and the characters are very shallow. Usually, I enjoy this author which is why I'm giving it a chance, but the book is sitting next to me and I'm on the computer. I am giving it 2 stars only because I will finish it, but I doubt the ending will be a surprise. ( )

I hate superlatives, but I must say this is one of the best horror stories I've read. It was hard to put down. ( )

http://malaysianatheist.blogspot.com ( )

Not one of my favorites by this author. In fact, I think when I read it, it was published under his psuedonym Leigh Nichols. A woman's violent ex-husband is killed in an automobile accident . . . only when his body disappears from the morgue, she starts to wonder if he's really dead. ( )