"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

 Giving Gaiman a whirl -- 4 stars

To the best of my recollection, I’d never read any books by Neil Gaiman. Since I love fantasy and Gaiman is much beloved by his fans, I decided to give him a try with “American Gods.”

“American Gods” is based around the concept that religious belief systems and philosophies have undergone great transformations over time, and whether they want it or not, the various gods from all our collective yesteryears have experienced similar changes. Now, mere shadows of their former selves, these gods struggle to survive in a realm of accumulated, assorted beliefs.

Endangered by the emergence of the strange new “gods” of the modern era, the old ones depend on Wednesday (a.k.a. Odin) for their redemption. And Shadow, an ex-convict who is grappling with his wife’s death, becomes entangled within this supernatural conflict.

“American Gods” is both entertaining and amusing, and Gaiman delivers these doses of cleverness and humor while also imparting a touch of melancholy. The book takes you on a journey across America (circa 2001), visiting diners, motels, and small towns. This reader noted the contrasts, and everything felt familiar and yet foreign simultaneously, as if “America” is both an old acquaintance AND a mystery. And just when Shadow finally feels at ease in a particular small town, he uncovers a harsh reality.

Shadow was an interesting character. He remains haunted by the terrible mistake that sent him to prison. And yet, through this, he learns the importance of sacrifice and bravery. He begins thoughtful and introspective, but somewhat naive. As he eventually uncovers “the truth,” Shadow grows bolder in his actions.

While not one of my favorites, I found “American Gods” to be, overall, an enjoyable book. As it went on, it strayed from its main plot a bit, but by the end, Gaiman pulled it all together. I think I may check out more of Neil Gaiman’s work in the future.

"Dark State" by Jack Slater

 A solid, entertaining read -- 4 stars

After finishing “Forever Odd,” I asked Amazon to recommend an author similar to Dean R. Koontz. I’m not 100% sure that author Jack Slater quite fits that bill, but I did enjoy his Jason Trapp thriller, “Dark State.” This book’s intricate twists and turns made it a compelling read.

The story revolves around both foreign and domestic terrorists executing a series of sophisticated attacks on U.S. soil (reminiscent of the events of 9/11). Agencies like the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, NSA, and the military find themselves at a loss, with no leads or suspects, and questioning who could orchestrate such precise attacks. Initially, they suspect all the typical adversaries -- Russia, North Korea, China -- but they soon realize none were responsible for this elaborate scheme.

And then Jason Trapp enters the scene.

Trapp was presumed dead after a CIA mission went awry, resulting in the actual death of his best friend and partner. Trapp returns to the U.S. under a new identity to uncover what went wrong with the operation, and so he accidentally stumbles upon a link between the domestic terrorist attacks and his own failed mission.

Determined to find answers and seek revenge against those responsible for this betrayal, Trapp uncovers a shocking conspiracy. The mastermind behind the plot surprises everyone, as their ultimate goal is not only orchestrating terrorist attacks but also carrying out multiple assassinations at the highest levels of government.

Will Trapp be able to stop them in time?

“Dark State” held my attention from start to finish. While it didn’t quite match the craving I had for something similar to Koontz’s work, it was a strong beginning to a series, and I enjoyed it enough that I’m considering trying the next installment at some point. So I can definitely recommend this book.

"Forever Odd" by Dean Koontz

 “Forever Odd” is even better than the first book! -- 5 stars

I know, I know, it’s been another long dry spell since I’ve written any reviews. I haven’t been reading as much, and so I just fell out of the habit. Again! But now that I’m more or less retired, I hope to return to reading AND to writing book reviews.

For my return, I decided to revisit one of my favorite authors again: Dean R. Koontz. And the book I chose is the next in his “Odd Thomas” series: “Forever Odd”

First, let me say that I thought this book was a step up from the first one. I found myself a lot more charmed by Odd in this installment, drawn to his quirky mannerisms. In “Odd Thomas,” I didn’t always care for his odd (pun intended) sense of humor. But now I love this character! He’s nice, funny, and very genuine.

I thought the plot of this second book was far more engaging, unlike the first book where I sometimes felt that Koontz was “padding the run time.” The settings Koontz established in this one were a significant factor in this.

Odd’s journey begins in the vast, cavernous drainage system beneath Pico Mundo (Koontz’s fictitious town), stretching on for what feels like miles. This environment immediately created a sense of foreboding and anticipation that persisted throughout most of the book. The eerie surroundings were unsettling for both Odd AND the reader, adding to the tension of the story.

Next up was the run down Panamint Resort and Casino, which is essentially a deserted hotel, partially ruined by an earthquake and subsequent fire, but neither restored nor demolished. As soon as Odd began recounting its history, it exuded an eerie vibe. I, personally, have always been captivated by places like this, and whenever I drive past an old abandoned house, barn, or building, I feel a strong urge to go exploring, even if (or especially!) it has an ominous DO NOT ENTER sign hanging outside. This is probably why this setting captivated me so much, and contributed to my enjoyment of the book.

The villain, Datura, was truly wicked and downright malicious, and I definitely wouldn’t want to cross paths with her, EVER. Her madness was compelling to this reader, though, because it seemed so genuine!

Overall, I found “Forever odd” extremely enjoyable, and I’m eager to dive into the next installment of this series, without waiting so long! Hopefully, I’ll keep up the reading, and reviewing, habit this time!