The House at the End of the World by Dean Koontz (review)

From Amazon: 

In retreat from a devastating loss and crushing injustice, Katie lives alone in a fortresslike stone house on Jacob’s Ladder island. Once a rising star in the art world, she finds refuge in her painting.The neighboring island of Ringrock houses a secret: a government research facility. And now two agents have arrived on Jacob’s Ladder in search of someone—or something—they refuse to identify. Although an air of menace hangs over these men, an infinitely greater threat has arrived, one so strange even the island animals are in a state of high alarm.Katie soon finds herself in an epic and terrifying battle with a mysterious enemy. But Katie’s not alone after all: a brave young girl appears out of the violent squall. As Katie and her companion struggle across a dark and eerie landscape, against them is an omnipresent terror that could bring about the end of the world.

My thoughts:

I have read a very few of Koontz's novels in the past. I grabbed this one because the description obviously pulled me in. I liked Katie. She's a badass but not a Linda Hamilton in the Terminator movies type of badass. She knows her limits, but she works with what she has to keep herself safe. I loved how Koontz wove her backstory in slowly, bit by bit. You get a feel for her as a person before you learn her history and what made her the way that she is. 

Also, I'm kind of envious of her set up. She's got her own island, she's got solitude but she's also got peace..or at least it seems she does. Something she relishes, until something happens that changes that. 

Her peace is disrupted in a very startling and scary way. Instead of fleeing in terror, she kicks into badass overdrive and gets ready. Digging in her heels for whatever is coming. 

I liked the odd mix of genres in this book. There's the overarching story of a woman dealing with her past trauma, an almost crime drama (in the past) and a very fun scifi/horror element thrown in the mix too. And I have to say it is blended together perfectly! 

This was a fun read, quick (which says a lot considering who I am) and very engaging. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something a bit different that straight up horror!