rizzykaye's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this novel. It was bizarre and original. I cried a lot reading this book. I was incredibly drawn to the fact that Koontz used imagination as a theme instead of religion. Or, I suppose imagination was religion in this story? Either way, all the stars from me. I will be reading again.
xxertz's review against another edition
3.0
BLUF: Good book for those who like to love their characters and for those who are able to remove their Dean Koontz expectations. (Good book, but not the Dean Koontz most of us adore.)
**I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review**
My Background: I love Dean Koontz. He is all I read during high school and I kept reading him until Relentless, which I fully believe wasn’t written by the bestseller and turned me off enough that I have been fearful to read Dean Koontz since. (Then, after five years, I picked up By the Light of the Moon, which made me even more fearful to revisit the books I absolutely adore from him.) I’m trying to say that, while Koontz is my first love, or relationship has been distant for quite some time now. Yet, I couldn’t resist wanting to revisit our relationship.
Plot: Ashley Bell follows the story of Bibi Blair. Bibi (pronounced BeeBee) is a lover of life and an avid writer. Bibi suffers a stroke, which leads to a diagnosis of a very rare, very malicious strain of cancer. Two days and a visit from an unknown being later, and Bibi is inexplicably clear of cancer. As a gift, her parents present her a reading from a psychic, who soon shares that Bibi was spared in order to safe the life of another, Ashley Bell.
Review: Ashley Bell is a good book, but it doesn’t live up to the standards we hold for Dean Koontz. Although one could argue that there are too many run-on sentences, Ashley Bell is well written and keeps the reader entranced. The story itself is interesting, but it lacks the suspense, horror, and mystery that we love and have come to expect from Koontz.
Bibi should be a likeable character, but I wasn’t a big fan. That said, I can’t pinpoint what exactly bothered me. Honestly, it could even be the fact that every character was focused on her and her only. I realize this is stupid of me. Given that we are taken through this book on her thoughts, it’s not a surprise and is very realistic that everything is about her, and I understand that. Like I said, I can’t quite explain my feeling. I felt that she thought she was smarter than everyone else and that she expected information from other people without offering anything in return (even when they asked). My tweaks aren’t likely to be your tweaks though and, which it bothered me in certain portions of the book, it didn’t take away from my fondness of the story.
Like I mention above, the story doesn’t have the suspense, horror, or mystery that a reader would expect when picking up a book by Dean Koontz. This book isn’t a thriller and it won’t scare you. There are times were your heart is paused, hoping that the characters will soon know what we know, but overall, there is little suspense. There is mystery in Ashley Bell, but there is nothing for the reader to guess about – we can only continue through the story and be directed through the mystery.
For all these complaints against the “Dean Koontz Standard”, I found the story itself is intriguing. I dreaded the face that I only had an hour or two at a time to read this story – I wanted to finish it all in one sitting. I enjoyed the few twists in the book and, for the most part, I enjoyed the balance between realism and paranormal.
Overall, I think this is a compelling read and good for those who like to love their characters.
**I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review**
My Background: I love Dean Koontz. He is all I read during high school and I kept reading him until Relentless, which I fully believe wasn’t written by the bestseller and turned me off enough that I have been fearful to read Dean Koontz since. (Then, after five years, I picked up By the Light of the Moon, which made me even more fearful to revisit the books I absolutely adore from him.) I’m trying to say that, while Koontz is my first love, or relationship has been distant for quite some time now. Yet, I couldn’t resist wanting to revisit our relationship.
Plot: Ashley Bell follows the story of Bibi Blair. Bibi (pronounced BeeBee) is a lover of life and an avid writer. Bibi suffers a stroke, which leads to a diagnosis of a very rare, very malicious strain of cancer. Two days and a visit from an unknown being later, and Bibi is inexplicably clear of cancer. As a gift, her parents present her a reading from a psychic, who soon shares that Bibi was spared in order to safe the life of another, Ashley Bell.
Review: Ashley Bell is a good book, but it doesn’t live up to the standards we hold for Dean Koontz. Although one could argue that there are too many run-on sentences, Ashley Bell is well written and keeps the reader entranced. The story itself is interesting, but it lacks the suspense, horror, and mystery that we love and have come to expect from Koontz.
Bibi should be a likeable character, but I wasn’t a big fan. That said, I can’t pinpoint what exactly bothered me. Honestly, it could even be the fact that every character was focused on her and her only. I realize this is stupid of me. Given that we are taken through this book on her thoughts, it’s not a surprise and is very realistic that everything is about her, and I understand that. Like I said, I can’t quite explain my feeling. I felt that she thought she was smarter than everyone else and that she expected information from other people without offering anything in return (even when they asked). My tweaks aren’t likely to be your tweaks though and, which it bothered me in certain portions of the book, it didn’t take away from my fondness of the story.
Like I mention above, the story doesn’t have the suspense, horror, or mystery that a reader would expect when picking up a book by Dean Koontz. This book isn’t a thriller and it won’t scare you. There are times were your heart is paused, hoping that the characters will soon know what we know, but overall, there is little suspense. There is mystery in Ashley Bell, but there is nothing for the reader to guess about – we can only continue through the story and be directed through the mystery.
For all these complaints against the “Dean Koontz Standard”, I found the story itself is intriguing. I dreaded the face that I only had an hour or two at a time to read this story – I wanted to finish it all in one sitting. I enjoyed the few twists in the book and, for the most part, I enjoyed the balance between realism and paranormal.
Overall, I think this is a compelling read and good for those who like to love their characters.
dyerra's review against another edition
2.0
I normally like Dean Koontz but I just didn't care for this book very much. I think this is the first book of his that I've read with a female protagonist and I'm not sure if the issue was that she wasn't convincing or what. I just didn't love this book.
ericaregina's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of this book in return for writing an honest review. For some reason, against my better judgement I chose to look at some of the other reviews prior to reading. If I had gone strictly on that information I may have missed out on a great read.
Luckily I'm a fan of the author and in his typical fashion he did not disappoint! The premise revolves around a young woman who has everything she wanted in life; the career, family and the amazing fiance. Suddenly she finds herself trying to accept the news that she has a terminal cancer too far gone for successful treatment. Through what appears to be a medical miracle she seems to suddenly be in full remission with one catch. Her life has been spared for the sole purpose of her saving a young woman with little information to go on.
In typical Dean Koontz style you are taken on twists and turns of fantasy proportions as she sets forth on this journey. A journey to save someone else and learn a lot more about herself in the process.
Luckily I'm a fan of the author and in his typical fashion he did not disappoint! The premise revolves around a young woman who has everything she wanted in life; the career, family and the amazing fiance. Suddenly she finds herself trying to accept the news that she has a terminal cancer too far gone for successful treatment. Through what appears to be a medical miracle she seems to suddenly be in full remission with one catch. Her life has been spared for the sole purpose of her saving a young woman with little information to go on.
In typical Dean Koontz style you are taken on twists and turns of fantasy proportions as she sets forth on this journey. A journey to save someone else and learn a lot more about herself in the process.
elinacre's review against another edition
4.0
classic koontz... bizarre, intense, fantastical. great characters, twists that knock everything sideways and make you go "whaaa?!" while i feel a little disappointed at the ending, i can say it's definitely not what i was expecting, which rounds it up to 4 stars for me.
apomponio21's review against another edition
I just couldn’t keep going, too drawn out
rachael_amber's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rjsthumbelina's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jldowd11's review against another edition
3.0
I still very torn and dazed by this book. I feel as though I've gotten whiplash. The book compelled me forward as though obsessed. Hmmm I have to think on this one a bit.