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The Nightbirds #2
Unhonored
A spellbinding tale by the bestselling cocreators of Dragonlance and Ravenloft and the exciting sequel to Unwept
Ellis Harkington is trapped in limbo between life and death, struggling to escape the domination of an evil force masquerading as her friend, Merrick. Only Ellis has ever escaped him, and now that she has discovered the truth, he wants to make sure she can never escape again.
Merrick's dark power has turned the seaside town of Gamin, Maine, into a place of nightmares. The town is transformed into a decaying succession of infinite rooms, bottomless stairwells, and boundless corridors filled with never-ending masquerades, balls, and banquets. Each pageant is about the life Ellis lived before her return—each revelation more terrifying than the last.
Ellis is desperate to find her missing cousin and leave, but there is no exit from the House of Dreams except, perhaps, through a séance to contact the living.
Ellis Harkington is trapped in limbo between life and death, struggling to escape the domination of an evil force masquerading as her friend, Merrick. Only Ellis has ever escaped him, and now that she has discovered the truth, he wants to make sure she can never escape again.
Merrick's dark power has turned the seaside town of Gamin, Maine, into a place of nightmares. The town is transformed into a decaying succession of infinite rooms, bottomless stairwells, and boundless corridors filled with never-ending masquerades, balls, and banquets. Each pageant is about the life Ellis lived before her return—each revelation more terrifying than the last.
Ellis is desperate to find her missing cousin and leave, but there is no exit from the House of Dreams except, perhaps, through a séance to contact the living.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
3 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Hickman
452 books2,726 followersNYT Best-selling fantasy authors Tracy Hickman, with his wife Laura, began their journey across the 'Sea of Possibilities' as the creators of 'Dragonlance' and their voyage continues into new areas with the 'Drakis' trilogy, 'Wayne of Gotham', a Batman novel for DC Comics and his
'Dragon's Bard' collector's series
. Tracy has over fifty books currently in print in most languages around the world. A record of both Tracy and Laura's DNA currently orbits on the international space station and he is the writer and editor of the first science-fiction movie actually filmed in space. Follow us on
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 29, 2017
2 Stars
Unhonored was an impulse grab from the new release shelf at the library. I did not look that closely, but a glance at the description intrigued me. I probably should have looked a little closer though, because there were a couple of things that I overlooked.
The first thing was that I thought the title said Dishonored not Unhonored. I mean, unhonored is technically a word, but it is an awkward one. It also did not seem to tie to the story in any way. The only reason for the title appeared to be that the first book started with an Un- word.
Which brings me to the second point, that this was a sequel. The cover description did not mention anything about being a sequel (which is a huge pet peeve of mine). The first book has terrible ratings and did not sound like it was necessary to read before reading the sequel, so I decided to continue with Unhonored anyway.
I also did not realize that this was coauthored. That was my fault for not looking closer. But coauthored books tend to lack cohesion, and Unhonored was not an exception.
The premise of the story is that the main character, Ellis, is caught in some sort of purgatory limbo which has been masterminded by Merrick into the form of a nightmarish house from which no one can escape. It reminded me a lot of Labyrinth . (So much so that I kept picturing Merrick as David Bowie particularly during the masquerade scene.) I like the premise of the story and some of the ideas, but overall the story felt sloppy and incomplete. I was just plunked into the story with no idea what was going on. I could not tell what lack of information was from not reading the first book and what was from slapdash writing. The main character has almost no memories at the beginning of the book, so she was just as clueless as the reader. So Ellis and I wandered around Nightmare House with no idea what the hell was happening.
The world came with strict rules which were constantly referenced but never explained. Over and over the characters repeated some variation of this line of dialogue: "You have to know the rules before you can win the game." But I had no idea what the hell the rules were. It does not explain anything until over half way through the book and even then it was not a satisfactory explanation. The story kept adding new elements and characters with no explanation. There were things that I think were supposed to be twists but felt more like sloppy changing of the rules probably due to the authors not having a clear enough handle on their own world building. It was bad enough when the main character was as clueless as me, but later in the book Ellis had an epiphany, got her memories back, and suddenly knew exactly what was going on and what to do. Does she share any of that with the audience? NO. I was still standing in the dark, awkwardly clearing my throat and shuffling my feet waiting for someone to change the damn lightbulb.
It really felt like the dialogue was constantly rubbing it in my face that I didn't know the rules. It kept coyly referring to things usually trying to turn them into proper nouns such as the Game, the Day, the Book. The most unfortunate was that they referred to their in between world as The Tween which made me roll my eyes every single time I read it. Seriously, The TWEEN?? It made me picture being stuck in a room with a bunch of preteen girls obnoxiously giggling and using awful phrases like "Totes for realz." Which sounds hellish for sure but not exactly scary. The world was already falling flat on the scary front, and then they had to snort with derision by calling it THE TWEEN. So terrible.
The whole story felt rushed and a little hollow. At one point Ellis says that the House they are stuck in is like a dollhouse, and I find that to be an apt parallel to the story itself. At first glance, it looks good. But the closer you look, the more you see that it lacks depth and richness of detail. It is a hollow false front rather than an immersive world. And keeping with that theme, Ellis seemed more like a marionette. She had no character development, most of her actions were driven by other characters, and she seemed as hollow and disingenuous as her world.
too chaotic - don't know the characters
If the main character was underdeveloped, then the rest of the characters barely went beyond cardboard cutouts. In trying to sustain suspense about characters' true motives, the other characters were prevented from revealing anything that might have clarified anything about who they really were. Between the sloppy world building, the massive plot holed, and the lack of character development, the whole story was chaotic. Characters conveniently disappear and reappear (both literally and figuratively) in order to suit the authors' whims with no explanation or reason. I certainly would never have guessed the these authors have multiple publications under their belt or (according to the cover) are best selling authors.
To top it all off, the story ends with a messy cliff hanger to set up for the next book. I won't bother reading the next book. This one was a major disappointment.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 2 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 1 Star
Plot Structure and Development: 1 Star
Level of Captivation: 2 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars
Unhonored was an impulse grab from the new release shelf at the library. I did not look that closely, but a glance at the description intrigued me. I probably should have looked a little closer though, because there were a couple of things that I overlooked.
The first thing was that I thought the title said Dishonored not Unhonored. I mean, unhonored is technically a word, but it is an awkward one. It also did not seem to tie to the story in any way. The only reason for the title appeared to be that the first book started with an Un- word.
Which brings me to the second point, that this was a sequel. The cover description did not mention anything about being a sequel (which is a huge pet peeve of mine). The first book has terrible ratings and did not sound like it was necessary to read before reading the sequel, so I decided to continue with Unhonored anyway.
I also did not realize that this was coauthored. That was my fault for not looking closer. But coauthored books tend to lack cohesion, and Unhonored was not an exception.
The premise of the story is that the main character, Ellis, is caught in some sort of purgatory limbo which has been masterminded by Merrick into the form of a nightmarish house from which no one can escape. It reminded me a lot of Labyrinth . (So much so that I kept picturing Merrick as David Bowie particularly during the masquerade scene.) I like the premise of the story and some of the ideas, but overall the story felt sloppy and incomplete. I was just plunked into the story with no idea what was going on. I could not tell what lack of information was from not reading the first book and what was from slapdash writing. The main character has almost no memories at the beginning of the book, so she was just as clueless as the reader. So Ellis and I wandered around Nightmare House with no idea what the hell was happening.
The world came with strict rules which were constantly referenced but never explained. Over and over the characters repeated some variation of this line of dialogue: "You have to know the rules before you can win the game." But I had no idea what the hell the rules were. It does not explain anything until over half way through the book and even then it was not a satisfactory explanation. The story kept adding new elements and characters with no explanation. There were things that I think were supposed to be twists but felt more like sloppy changing of the rules probably due to the authors not having a clear enough handle on their own world building. It was bad enough when the main character was as clueless as me, but later in the book Ellis had an epiphany, got her memories back, and suddenly knew exactly what was going on and what to do. Does she share any of that with the audience? NO. I was still standing in the dark, awkwardly clearing my throat and shuffling my feet waiting for someone to change the damn lightbulb.
It really felt like the dialogue was constantly rubbing it in my face that I didn't know the rules. It kept coyly referring to things usually trying to turn them into proper nouns such as the Game, the Day, the Book. The most unfortunate was that they referred to their in between world as The Tween which made me roll my eyes every single time I read it. Seriously, The TWEEN?? It made me picture being stuck in a room with a bunch of preteen girls obnoxiously giggling and using awful phrases like "Totes for realz." Which sounds hellish for sure but not exactly scary. The world was already falling flat on the scary front, and then they had to snort with derision by calling it THE TWEEN. So terrible.
The whole story felt rushed and a little hollow. At one point Ellis says that the House they are stuck in is like a dollhouse, and I find that to be an apt parallel to the story itself. At first glance, it looks good. But the closer you look, the more you see that it lacks depth and richness of detail. It is a hollow false front rather than an immersive world. And keeping with that theme, Ellis seemed more like a marionette. She had no character development, most of her actions were driven by other characters, and she seemed as hollow and disingenuous as her world.
too chaotic - don't know the characters
If the main character was underdeveloped, then the rest of the characters barely went beyond cardboard cutouts. In trying to sustain suspense about characters' true motives, the other characters were prevented from revealing anything that might have clarified anything about who they really were. Between the sloppy world building, the massive plot holed, and the lack of character development, the whole story was chaotic. Characters conveniently disappear and reappear (both literally and figuratively) in order to suit the authors' whims with no explanation or reason. I certainly would never have guessed the these authors have multiple publications under their belt or (according to the cover) are best selling authors.
To top it all off, the story ends with a messy cliff hanger to set up for the next book. I won't bother reading the next book. This one was a major disappointment.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 2 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 1 Star
Plot Structure and Development: 1 Star
Level of Captivation: 2 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars
January 5, 2019
I’m not sure I’ve ever one-starred a book before, but if one ever deserved it, that is this book for sure.
Good Lord, it’s just bad. There is barely a plot, so I can’t even say execution of said plot was terrible. The characters may as well be nameless spirits aimlessly wandering the pages of this story because they are just voices that ask each other questions. Questions, I might add, that don’t get answered. Reading this made me feel like the third wheel: these ‘characters’ are trying to piece together bits of a puzzle and running for their lives. But from what exactly? And what exactly is the puzzle? The characters get the answers to these questions eventually and then carryon with their new found knowledge, but leave you, the reader, completely out of it. I had no idea what the hell was going on in either book from this duology.
I’m super disappointed. The synopsis was intriguing, but all it did was lure me into a house made of candy where I met my eventual death.
Good Lord, it’s just bad. There is barely a plot, so I can’t even say execution of said plot was terrible. The characters may as well be nameless spirits aimlessly wandering the pages of this story because they are just voices that ask each other questions. Questions, I might add, that don’t get answered. Reading this made me feel like the third wheel: these ‘characters’ are trying to piece together bits of a puzzle and running for their lives. But from what exactly? And what exactly is the puzzle? The characters get the answers to these questions eventually and then carryon with their new found knowledge, but leave you, the reader, completely out of it. I had no idea what the hell was going on in either book from this duology.
I’m super disappointed. The synopsis was intriguing, but all it did was lure me into a house made of candy where I met my eventual death.
July 10, 2019
I read both of these to satisfy two categories in a reading challenge: A book with two authors; and A book with a one-word title. Thankfully they are quick reads. Both books in the series are repetitive and puzzling. This book was very much like being lost in a house of mirrors, which I assume was the intent. Neither book has any sort of real climax or resolution.Not recommended unless you like that sort of thing.
July 18, 2017
Tracy Hickman is best known for his high fantasy with Margaret Weis, but “Unhonored” (Tor, $24.99, 268 pages), the second of the Nightbirds’ novels, has little in common with his previous work. Instead, “Unhonored,” co-written with his wife Laura, is a psychological novel that brings the inner demons – and angels – of the protagonist to life in a strange dreamlike world.
As with most volume twos, there’s more setup than resolution, and clearly there are plot twists that need to be unraveled down the road, but I think most readers who are expecting a more traditional Tracy Hickman book will take some time to adjust. In addition, “Unhonored” is far from a perfect book, and the idea that Ellis Harkington and the men in her life work through their issues in a magic-driven limbo while desperately searching for a way out didn’t kindle an insistent desire to read the next installment – and in fact, I doubt I’ll be on board as the Nightbirds’ series plays out.
As with most volume twos, there’s more setup than resolution, and clearly there are plot twists that need to be unraveled down the road, but I think most readers who are expecting a more traditional Tracy Hickman book will take some time to adjust. In addition, “Unhonored” is far from a perfect book, and the idea that Ellis Harkington and the men in her life work through their issues in a magic-driven limbo while desperately searching for a way out didn’t kindle an insistent desire to read the next installment – and in fact, I doubt I’ll be on board as the Nightbirds’ series plays out.
January 28, 2019
Fantastic book, very gripping to read. A little bit heavy on the teenage-style love-triangle, but as teen women are the biggest reading demographic why not. As an adult I still throughout enjoyed this book, the story was very engaging and the mystery unfolded with plenty of juicy jellybeans for the readers! I'm very excited for when the next one comes out :)
February 2, 2023
where is the rest of the story?
January 15, 2024
How did tracy hickman write this his dragon lance books are great maybe tracy hickman and laura hickman make a terrible writing partnership or maybe tracy hickman cant write at all and Margaret weis is the great writer in the dragonlance partnership. But this book is random makes no sense is not well planned out at all and does not seem like they had any idea what they wanted to do with it and or they were high as a kite writing this book. Its a great idea tho maybe he should have Margaret weis rewrite it. Terrible book to start the year out on hope the next book i read is better.
July 19, 2024
Reading this book was like being stuck in a bizarre, ever-morphing dream. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 27, 2025
If I thought the first book was confusing. This one definitely took the cake. By the end of the book, I had no idea what even happened at the beginning let alone where the characters ended up.
March 7, 2017
I can't wait for the next one!!
November 23, 2016
Another boring slog through a book lacking in adventure or originality. Creating worlds in the extreme here, and yet my attention wandered because the world was sooooooo boring.
I read the first two books of the series. Book 3 I will not pursue. In fact I suggest the authors abandon this series post haste lest they destroy their literary reputations. This series leads me to think they've run out of creativity and now work with the same formulas that word grinders use.
I read the first two books of the series. Book 3 I will not pursue. In fact I suggest the authors abandon this series post haste lest they destroy their literary reputations. This series leads me to think they've run out of creativity and now work with the same formulas that word grinders use.
Read
January 31, 2017I have enough nightmares and this book is like reading a bad nightmare. I can see how some may like it. Well written, just not my style.
January 29, 2017
The Nightbirds books are wonderfully written gothic mysteries. Never has the trip through purgatory been so classy! I eagerly await the next entry in this series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews