After discovering the lovable psychic boy Odd in Koontz's prequel, Odd Thomas, I was ecstatic to find that there was a sequel on the horizon. My excitement was shortlived. Not long into this book I realized that my reunion with Odd would hold none of the excitement and originality as encountered it its predecessor. Quite literally, 50% of this novel describes Odd's journey to find/save his childhood friend. 50% of nothing but descriptions of scenery, underground topography, and casino ruins. When the action finally begins, readers are still left wondering,"Huh?" One simply cannot deny this author's command of the English language, but it could be suggested that he revels in it...resulting in long, belabored thoughts and sentences by Odd that seem ridiculously inappropriate in times of crisis.Clearly, there will be another tale in this series. One can only hope that this author is more kind to both Odd and his readers in the next installment.DYB