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The Vicious Circuit #2
The Empty Ones
Following on the heels of Robert Brockway's comedic horror novel The Unnoticeables, The Empty Ones reveals the next chapter in the lives of a few misfits attempting to fight back against the mysterious Unnoticeables. The Empty Ones follows Carey and Randall to London where they go to rescue Gus and fight more of these mysterious angel-like creatures, and stumble on a powerful and unexpected ally. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn, who was very nearly beat when last we saw her, continues her fight into the desert of Mexico and the Southwest US, seeking the mysterious gear cult. Once there, she discovers what the gear cult is really up trying to 'pin' the angels to Earth, focus their attention here, and get as much of humanity as possible "solved"--which, in their minds, is akin to being saved--and in the process discovers something incredible about herself. With a snarled lip, The Empty Ones incorporates everything that made The Unnoticeables incredible, but like any good punk band, when you don't think they can get any louder, they somehow turn it up a notch. It's terrifying and hilarious, visceral and insane, chaotic and beautiful.The Vicious Circuit Trilogy The UnnoticeablesThe Empty OnesKill All Angels At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2016
63 people are currently reading
1488 people want to read
About the author
Robert Brockway
16 books495 followersI am Robert Brockway. I wrote The Vicious Circuit trilogy from Tor Books. I wrote Rx: A Tale of Electronegativity. I wrote Everything is Going to Kill Everybody. I am but a man.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 9, 2016
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/09/09/...
I think it’s incredibly awesome that The Empty Ones is a lot like punk rock but in book form—loud, fast-moving, aggressive. It does its own thing, all the while being shamelessly, wickedly unapologetic about it. Better yet, I loved that this sequel was even better, funnier, and more entertaining than the first book!
The story picks up again not long after the events of The Unnoticeables, for both timelines—because as you’d recall, we follow two major points of view in the previous volume—one in 1977 featuring a young New York punk named Carey and a second one in 2013 featuring Kaitlyn, a stuntwoman in Los Angeles. The Empty Ones is once again using this structure of going back and forth between these two points-of-view, using the battle against the monsters to link up past and present.
For Carey, 1978 has become all about seeking revenge. He and his friend Randall survived last year’s secret war against the savage cult of Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, angels and tar men, but many more of their fellow punks weren’t so lucky. Carey is determined to hunt down the immortal Empty One who killed several of his friends, tracking him all the way to London, England where the punk scene is really rockin’. As it happens, it’s also crawling with Faceless, the British punks’ own term for the strange kids with unnoticeable, forgettable faces. Carey and Randall end up meeting Meryll, a one-woman wrecking crew who is also part of an underground London punk resistance group against the monsters.
In 2013, the situation is a lot different, though the plot also revolves around the hunt for an Empty One, a B-list actor and former teen heartthrob named Marco Luis. The first book saw Carey (now an aging hobo) team up with Kaitlyn and her friend Jackie to thwart an angel, sending Marco packing. However, the monsters still won’t leave Kaitlyn alone, forcing the trio to go on the run, eating at cheap diners and staying in sleazy motels in order to keep a low profile. Finally, Kaitlyn can’t take it anymore, and decides to take the fight straight to Marco, hoping that killing him will end this once and for all. Last she heard, the psychopathic actor was filming a new show in Mexico, which means time for a road trip!
I really can’t stress how much of a blast I had with this book. It’s gory, gross and just damn great. It’s also very funny, much more so than the first book. The type of humor in this is dark and cutting, but in spite of that, I laughed out loud more times than I could count.
In my review of The Unnoticeables, I also mentioned how much I enjoyed the characters, especially Kaitlyn, but in The Empty Ones it was definitely Carey who stole the show. I just adore this nutty young punk turned nutty old hobo, whose brain is permanently tuned to sex, beer, and punk rock whether he’s 20-something or 50-something. Still, as vulgar as he is, I couldn’t help but find the guy compelling. His propensity to think with what’s between his legs rather than what’s in his head is somewhat redeemed by all the times he reacts to situations with his heart—which proves he’s really just a big ol’ softie. Brockway has created characters who aren’t just one-trick ponies, and Kaitlyn is proof of that as well, showing lots of growth in this sequel. No longer content with running and hiding, this badass stuntwoman has taken it upon herself to face her fears head-on, so that no one else would ever have to live through her terror.
Furthermore, The Empty Ones introduces a ton of new elements to the mix. The trilogy surely would not be complete without a visit to the British punk scene, and we get to check that one off with style as Carey and Randall rock and drink their way across London, fighting Faceless at a Ramones concert and evading tar men in the Underground. Meryll is also an interesting wildcard, the addition of her character changing the game completely, so there’s really no telling where things will go from here. Finally, this book expands the lore of the monsters, building upon what we know about the angels, Empty Ones, Faceless, and tar people, and how their roles are all connected. Brockway even offers us a glimpse into the horrifying, inhuman existence of an Empty One by giving us a few chapters written in the perspective of Marco, or “this thing” as he calls himself, and it is truly some downright fucked up disturbing shit.
Technically, new readers can start here since Robert Brockway does a fine job catching us up, but I do strongly recommend starting with The Unnoticeables. I’m pleased at how much I’m enjoying this series. It has a little bit of everything, a mishmash of elements from urban fantasy, metaphysical science fiction and cosmic horror. The tone can be describe as vulgar, violent, fast-paced and hilarious. Bottom line though, The Empty Ones was simply incredible, just one hell of a great read. It takes everything from the first book to a new level, and assuming things keep going this way, the third book promises to be amazing and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
I think it’s incredibly awesome that The Empty Ones is a lot like punk rock but in book form—loud, fast-moving, aggressive. It does its own thing, all the while being shamelessly, wickedly unapologetic about it. Better yet, I loved that this sequel was even better, funnier, and more entertaining than the first book!
The story picks up again not long after the events of The Unnoticeables, for both timelines—because as you’d recall, we follow two major points of view in the previous volume—one in 1977 featuring a young New York punk named Carey and a second one in 2013 featuring Kaitlyn, a stuntwoman in Los Angeles. The Empty Ones is once again using this structure of going back and forth between these two points-of-view, using the battle against the monsters to link up past and present.
For Carey, 1978 has become all about seeking revenge. He and his friend Randall survived last year’s secret war against the savage cult of Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, angels and tar men, but many more of their fellow punks weren’t so lucky. Carey is determined to hunt down the immortal Empty One who killed several of his friends, tracking him all the way to London, England where the punk scene is really rockin’. As it happens, it’s also crawling with Faceless, the British punks’ own term for the strange kids with unnoticeable, forgettable faces. Carey and Randall end up meeting Meryll, a one-woman wrecking crew who is also part of an underground London punk resistance group against the monsters.
In 2013, the situation is a lot different, though the plot also revolves around the hunt for an Empty One, a B-list actor and former teen heartthrob named Marco Luis. The first book saw Carey (now an aging hobo) team up with Kaitlyn and her friend Jackie to thwart an angel, sending Marco packing. However, the monsters still won’t leave Kaitlyn alone, forcing the trio to go on the run, eating at cheap diners and staying in sleazy motels in order to keep a low profile. Finally, Kaitlyn can’t take it anymore, and decides to take the fight straight to Marco, hoping that killing him will end this once and for all. Last she heard, the psychopathic actor was filming a new show in Mexico, which means time for a road trip!
I really can’t stress how much of a blast I had with this book. It’s gory, gross and just damn great. It’s also very funny, much more so than the first book. The type of humor in this is dark and cutting, but in spite of that, I laughed out loud more times than I could count.
In my review of The Unnoticeables, I also mentioned how much I enjoyed the characters, especially Kaitlyn, but in The Empty Ones it was definitely Carey who stole the show. I just adore this nutty young punk turned nutty old hobo, whose brain is permanently tuned to sex, beer, and punk rock whether he’s 20-something or 50-something. Still, as vulgar as he is, I couldn’t help but find the guy compelling. His propensity to think with what’s between his legs rather than what’s in his head is somewhat redeemed by all the times he reacts to situations with his heart—which proves he’s really just a big ol’ softie. Brockway has created characters who aren’t just one-trick ponies, and Kaitlyn is proof of that as well, showing lots of growth in this sequel. No longer content with running and hiding, this badass stuntwoman has taken it upon herself to face her fears head-on, so that no one else would ever have to live through her terror.
Furthermore, The Empty Ones introduces a ton of new elements to the mix. The trilogy surely would not be complete without a visit to the British punk scene, and we get to check that one off with style as Carey and Randall rock and drink their way across London, fighting Faceless at a Ramones concert and evading tar men in the Underground. Meryll is also an interesting wildcard, the addition of her character changing the game completely, so there’s really no telling where things will go from here. Finally, this book expands the lore of the monsters, building upon what we know about the angels, Empty Ones, Faceless, and tar people, and how their roles are all connected. Brockway even offers us a glimpse into the horrifying, inhuman existence of an Empty One by giving us a few chapters written in the perspective of Marco, or “this thing” as he calls himself, and it is truly some downright fucked up disturbing shit.
Technically, new readers can start here since Robert Brockway does a fine job catching us up, but I do strongly recommend starting with The Unnoticeables. I’m pleased at how much I’m enjoying this series. It has a little bit of everything, a mishmash of elements from urban fantasy, metaphysical science fiction and cosmic horror. The tone can be describe as vulgar, violent, fast-paced and hilarious. Bottom line though, The Empty Ones was simply incredible, just one hell of a great read. It takes everything from the first book to a new level, and assuming things keep going this way, the third book promises to be amazing and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
February 27, 2018
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
It is difficult to find sequels that are better than the original. Sure, a few are out there, but those are the exception to the rule — at least, in my opinion. But, now, I am happy to have uncovered one of those rare sequels in The Empty Ones, because Robert Brockway has delivered a follow-up to The Unnoticeables that delivers a swift kick to reader’s proverbial asses — but only in the best of ways.
Picking up shortly after the conclusion of book one, the tale again follows along behind foul-mouthed, punk Carey in New York City circa 1978 and kick-ass stunt woman Kaitlyn in 2013 California. The narrative seamlessly switching back and forth between these characters and their different time periods, as both our protagonists take serious road trips.
After surviving his encounters with the world of the Tar Men, Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, and sibilant angels, Carey is a wiser punk but a pissed off one: the deaths of more than a few of his friends the cause of his venom. And, now, he has decided to head on over to London, England to take in the punk music scene, while he also hunts down the Empty One responsible for 1977 sucking so much and painfully kills it.
Meanwhile, decades away, Kaitlyn hits the road for a similar reason: to kill former teen heartthrob Marco. Not because she is upset he got old and out of shape. Not because he won’t take photos with fans anymore. Not because he is a terrible actor. But because he just happens to be a soulless, psychopathic creature in need of a quick death. The fact that Kaitlyn and her friends continue to be hounded by his unearthly monsters giving her the encouragement necessary to strike out across the American Southwest for Mexico, where Marco is filming a new show on location and where he will soon die for real!
My favorite thing about The Unnoticeables was Mr. Brockway’s blending of genres. There were dark laughs, sarcastic humor, maniacal mystery, ample gore, fantastical creatures, and pure action. No matter your tastes, there was something in that book for everyone. Well, The Empty Ones not only duplicates that amazing feat it exceeds it, adding even more humor, more gore, more . . . you get the idea. The book is just really good, bro. Just saying.
If I had to point out the greatest strength of The Empty Ones, then I would have to say the evolution of the characters. No, Carey and Kaitlyn are not totally different people here, but they have evolved. Carey is still a smart ass, girl chasing punk who is as happy chasing down his next beer, his next woman, and his next tickets to a Ramone concert as he is fighting off other dimensional angels and their horrifying minions. And Kaitlyn is still a tough minded, smart woman who is willing to face down her greatest fears and stare certain death directly in the eyes to keep others safe from unspeakable things like Marco the soulless nihilist. But now these two have grown up from book to book; the situations they survived changing them subtly into more mature, less naive people than they were before.
And if that alone isn’t enough of a selling point for you, then let me mention the ever widening mythos of our creepy villains. The Tar Men, Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, and angles slowly being developed by Mr. Brockway into epic antagonists. The creepy creatures even getting their own point-of-view chapters. The more that is revealed about them the more interesting these horrid and heartless monsters become, especially mortifying how they drift invisibly through human society with a purpose more insidious than anyone could ever realize.
As for criticisms, I don’t have any to speak of. Going into this read, I knew exactly what I wanted out of this second installment of the Vicious Circuit, and Mr. Brockway met and exceeded my expectations in every way. So, for once, I cannot bitch about anything. I know everyone is glad to see me type that.
If I haven’t already made it abundantly clear, The Empty Ones is a great sequel, worthy of a read by all fans of genre blending stories filled with violence and graphic humor. Obviously, you would enjoy this novel better if you have already devoured The Unnoticeables, but you can get by without having read it if you’d prefer: Mr. Brockway summarizing prior events succinctly and very clearly. So go pick this one up and have some horrifying fun!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
It is difficult to find sequels that are better than the original. Sure, a few are out there, but those are the exception to the rule — at least, in my opinion. But, now, I am happy to have uncovered one of those rare sequels in The Empty Ones, because Robert Brockway has delivered a follow-up to The Unnoticeables that delivers a swift kick to reader’s proverbial asses — but only in the best of ways.
Picking up shortly after the conclusion of book one, the tale again follows along behind foul-mouthed, punk Carey in New York City circa 1978 and kick-ass stunt woman Kaitlyn in 2013 California. The narrative seamlessly switching back and forth between these characters and their different time periods, as both our protagonists take serious road trips.
After surviving his encounters with the world of the Tar Men, Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, and sibilant angels, Carey is a wiser punk but a pissed off one: the deaths of more than a few of his friends the cause of his venom. And, now, he has decided to head on over to London, England to take in the punk music scene, while he also hunts down the Empty One responsible for 1977 sucking so much and painfully kills it.
Meanwhile, decades away, Kaitlyn hits the road for a similar reason: to kill former teen heartthrob Marco. Not because she is upset he got old and out of shape. Not because he won’t take photos with fans anymore. Not because he is a terrible actor. But because he just happens to be a soulless, psychopathic creature in need of a quick death. The fact that Kaitlyn and her friends continue to be hounded by his unearthly monsters giving her the encouragement necessary to strike out across the American Southwest for Mexico, where Marco is filming a new show on location and where he will soon die for real!
My favorite thing about The Unnoticeables was Mr. Brockway’s blending of genres. There were dark laughs, sarcastic humor, maniacal mystery, ample gore, fantastical creatures, and pure action. No matter your tastes, there was something in that book for everyone. Well, The Empty Ones not only duplicates that amazing feat it exceeds it, adding even more humor, more gore, more . . . you get the idea. The book is just really good, bro. Just saying.
If I had to point out the greatest strength of The Empty Ones, then I would have to say the evolution of the characters. No, Carey and Kaitlyn are not totally different people here, but they have evolved. Carey is still a smart ass, girl chasing punk who is as happy chasing down his next beer, his next woman, and his next tickets to a Ramone concert as he is fighting off other dimensional angels and their horrifying minions. And Kaitlyn is still a tough minded, smart woman who is willing to face down her greatest fears and stare certain death directly in the eyes to keep others safe from unspeakable things like Marco the soulless nihilist. But now these two have grown up from book to book; the situations they survived changing them subtly into more mature, less naive people than they were before.
And if that alone isn’t enough of a selling point for you, then let me mention the ever widening mythos of our creepy villains. The Tar Men, Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, and angles slowly being developed by Mr. Brockway into epic antagonists. The creepy creatures even getting their own point-of-view chapters. The more that is revealed about them the more interesting these horrid and heartless monsters become, especially mortifying how they drift invisibly through human society with a purpose more insidious than anyone could ever realize.
As for criticisms, I don’t have any to speak of. Going into this read, I knew exactly what I wanted out of this second installment of the Vicious Circuit, and Mr. Brockway met and exceeded my expectations in every way. So, for once, I cannot bitch about anything. I know everyone is glad to see me type that.
If I haven’t already made it abundantly clear, The Empty Ones is a great sequel, worthy of a read by all fans of genre blending stories filled with violence and graphic humor. Obviously, you would enjoy this novel better if you have already devoured The Unnoticeables, but you can get by without having read it if you’d prefer: Mr. Brockway summarizing prior events succinctly and very clearly. So go pick this one up and have some horrifying fun!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
January 8, 2019
Number 2 in this 3 book punk rock horror series is gorier and goofier than the last installment and if you liked the first one, you'll find yourself delighted by this one too. Looking forward to seeing how it all ends.
September 2, 2016
As someone who has a seriously broken mind's eye, and has the hardest time imagining anything that's happening in the books I read, Brockway has blown the hell out of my neural eccentricities and I had an actual world in my head, including the parts that don't even exist. He's that good at describing what is happening, the characters, and the non-existentent purely psychological aspects of the human psyche.
Damn good book. I meant to wait it out until I bought some cheap beer & a leather jacket but I "accidentally" read THE EMPTY ONES in one sitting. A mix of Terry Pratchett if he'd had a rougher childhood and a penchant for whiskey, a philosophy textbook by one of the weirder blokes, and Junji Ito's comics. I loved the first book more, but the amount of background plot covered in THE EMPTY ONES really excites you into what's going to happen in book three rather than answering all the questions and leaving you sated, so it's a different love, like choosing between puppies.
Bring on the next. I'll have a leather jacket by then.
Damn good book. I meant to wait it out until I bought some cheap beer & a leather jacket but I "accidentally" read THE EMPTY ONES in one sitting. A mix of Terry Pratchett if he'd had a rougher childhood and a penchant for whiskey, a philosophy textbook by one of the weirder blokes, and Junji Ito's comics. I loved the first book more, but the amount of background plot covered in THE EMPTY ONES really excites you into what's going to happen in book three rather than answering all the questions and leaving you sated, so it's a different love, like choosing between puppies.
Bring on the next. I'll have a leather jacket by then.
May 24, 2020
The sophomore novel in the trilogy shines, but not quite as brightly as the first. Three POVs alternate throughout the book-- Carey in 1978 London, Kaitlyn in 2013 Mexico, and Meryll in a variety of times/places between the two. Carey is still thankfully a lovable asshole and still his unrepentant self even with Kaitlyn. Something bigger is up, however, as every 36 years the unnoticeables try to summon angels to do their bidding or something like that and Carey and Kaitlyn are in the think of it. If you liked the first novel in the trilogy, you will not be disappointed, are we are being geared up for a killer finale. 4.5 stars
January 1, 2017
3.5 - Full video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4fHr...
December 28, 2016
It's probably not a great idea to jump into a series with the second book, so maybe I'm not being entirely fair to The Empty Ones, but I didn't like this book very much. Its punk sensibility feels like it's wearing air quotes the entire time, and the mythology behind the plot machinations never coheres into anything really interesting. I spent most of the time wondering why I should care. Brockway writes well enough, and I'd consider reading something different from him, but I don't feel any real desire to go back and read the first book.
Read
August 22, 2017Won in the Goodreads Giveaways - not read, passed to another reader.
December 27, 2017
Thank you to Tor Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
Picking up right where THE UNNOTICEABLES left off, I dove right into THE EMPTY ONES by Robert Brockway. It's always such a treat when a series continues just as strong as the first book. It's arguable that this one is better than the first - it's got the wicked humor, it moves fast and aggressive, and there are new elements added to the mix!
It's 1978, Carey's main mission in life is now revenge. He and Randall survived the war against the cult of the Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, angels, and the Tar Men. They lost more of their friends in the battle, but Carey has become determined to hunt down the immortal Empty One. His mission brings him to London, England. As he quickly discovers, London's punk scene is also plagued by the same kids with unnoticeable and undefinable features, but they call them the Faceless. Carey and Randall are introduced to Meryll and she is a force to be reckoned with. She is part of an underground resistance group against the Faceless and recruits the boys to help.
It's 2013, and Kaitlyn is struggling again. In the first book, she, Carey (who is now a hobo in his older age), and her friend Jackie all worked together to fight an angel. In this timeline, Kaitlyn is also trying to track down an Empty One - Marco, her former childhood celebrity crush, and the man who tried attacking her. The trio tries to keep a low-profile and are on the run, but when she finds out that Marco is filming in Mexico, they head south of the border to find him.
I loved that this continued with the two perspectives and timelines. I think that in this installment, Carey really stole the show as a standout character. Seeing him in the present and then experiencing his past events in tandem was a unique approach and really helped build his character. Just like with book one, this one was full of dark humor, gritty, and scary.
Overall, if you like the punk scene, angels and demons, and want some humor with your horror, then you need to get the Vicious Circuit series! I'm going straight into book three - the concluding chapter to the trilogy!
I give this one 4.5/5 stars!
Picking up right where THE UNNOTICEABLES left off, I dove right into THE EMPTY ONES by Robert Brockway. It's always such a treat when a series continues just as strong as the first book. It's arguable that this one is better than the first - it's got the wicked humor, it moves fast and aggressive, and there are new elements added to the mix!
It's 1978, Carey's main mission in life is now revenge. He and Randall survived the war against the cult of the Unnoticeables, Empty Ones, angels, and the Tar Men. They lost more of their friends in the battle, but Carey has become determined to hunt down the immortal Empty One. His mission brings him to London, England. As he quickly discovers, London's punk scene is also plagued by the same kids with unnoticeable and undefinable features, but they call them the Faceless. Carey and Randall are introduced to Meryll and she is a force to be reckoned with. She is part of an underground resistance group against the Faceless and recruits the boys to help.
It's 2013, and Kaitlyn is struggling again. In the first book, she, Carey (who is now a hobo in his older age), and her friend Jackie all worked together to fight an angel. In this timeline, Kaitlyn is also trying to track down an Empty One - Marco, her former childhood celebrity crush, and the man who tried attacking her. The trio tries to keep a low-profile and are on the run, but when she finds out that Marco is filming in Mexico, they head south of the border to find him.
I loved that this continued with the two perspectives and timelines. I think that in this installment, Carey really stole the show as a standout character. Seeing him in the present and then experiencing his past events in tandem was a unique approach and really helped build his character. Just like with book one, this one was full of dark humor, gritty, and scary.
Overall, if you like the punk scene, angels and demons, and want some humor with your horror, then you need to get the Vicious Circuit series! I'm going straight into book three - the concluding chapter to the trilogy!
I give this one 4.5/5 stars!
May 12, 2017
3 stars
reviews.metaphorosis.com
Robert Brockway's The Empty Ones has character, at least. It hits you over the head with character, pokes it in your eyes, drags it through your brain, and pulls it out your ears, hoping that you'll wipe away the blood and come back for more.
The plot is interesting enough - there are several kinds of dark, part-human (or ex-human) creatures, and they cause havoc - though apparently only selectively. The book shifts among several viewpoints and timeframes of characters trying to fight the creatures.
The book is a sequel, and Brockway does a fair job of setting out the backstory without getting in the way. The concept unfolds gradually as well, with some tantalizing hints left toward the end, just begging you to be interested in the sequel. In terms of plot, I might well have been.
Unfortunately, character is were the book begins to come apart. One of the lead characters is a lowlife punk who likes to drink and fight and fuck. There's not really much more to him than that, with the result that he comes across not as a character, but as a parody. It's deliberately over the top, but Brockway misjudged the balance, and simply took it too far to be interesting. Rather than invest in real character building, he put his effort into shock value - lots of violence and shit and blood. That might have worked in a shorter piece, but in a novel, it lost its flavor quickly. Overall, the book is intriguing, but too affected to take seriously.
reviews.metaphorosis.com
Robert Brockway's The Empty Ones has character, at least. It hits you over the head with character, pokes it in your eyes, drags it through your brain, and pulls it out your ears, hoping that you'll wipe away the blood and come back for more.
The plot is interesting enough - there are several kinds of dark, part-human (or ex-human) creatures, and they cause havoc - though apparently only selectively. The book shifts among several viewpoints and timeframes of characters trying to fight the creatures.
The book is a sequel, and Brockway does a fair job of setting out the backstory without getting in the way. The concept unfolds gradually as well, with some tantalizing hints left toward the end, just begging you to be interested in the sequel. In terms of plot, I might well have been.
Unfortunately, character is were the book begins to come apart. One of the lead characters is a lowlife punk who likes to drink and fight and fuck. There's not really much more to him than that, with the result that he comes across not as a character, but as a parody. It's deliberately over the top, but Brockway misjudged the balance, and simply took it too far to be interesting. Rather than invest in real character building, he put his effort into shock value - lots of violence and shit and blood. That might have worked in a shorter piece, but in a novel, it lost its flavor quickly. Overall, the book is intriguing, but too affected to take seriously.
February 6, 2017
Even better than the first one! If the first one had one major flaw (upon reflection), it would be the lack of a really good villain. This book introduces a truly menacing and at the same time sympathy-inspiring villain in an ingenius way.
I am very excited for the next (Final, I believe) entry of this story.
I am very excited for the next (Final, I believe) entry of this story.
November 5, 2016
Review coming soon to HorrorTalk.com. For now, suffice it to say that the mayhem and hilarity that commenced with The Unnoticables continues in full force in The Empty Ones. Brockway delivers bleeding edge fear heavily laced with pure, unadulterated fun.
March 5, 2017
Book 2 in a series. Although I made myself finish this book, it wasn't very good. I doubt anyone could identify with the characters and the back and forth between time with the chapters doesn't help the story except to make it more confusing. Save yourself some trouble and don't read this book.
May 7, 2020
The cosmic, gory madness continues as Kaitlyn and Carey travel from L.A. to Mexico in a give-and-take pursuit of Marco the husk.
And more of Carey’s colourful punk rock misadventures are filled in as we learn more of his own vengeful pursuit of Gus through the 70’s London punk scene.
Fun, gripping, witty, and filled with some grisly-awesome body-horror.
And more of Carey’s colourful punk rock misadventures are filled in as we learn more of his own vengeful pursuit of Gus through the 70’s London punk scene.
Fun, gripping, witty, and filled with some grisly-awesome body-horror.
June 22, 2022
Great Bodyhorror with some dark humor mixed in. A great improvement over The Unnoticables. Breakneck pacing, not to much exposition, recommended. Eventually even start the series with book 2 as the first one suffers under some pacing issues.
August 2, 2017
The Lovecraftian Feelings
Read this book to know how universal monsters might see us.
Brilliant work from the singular genius of Robert Brockway.
Read this book to know how universal monsters might see us.
Brilliant work from the singular genius of Robert Brockway.
September 7, 2016
It's rare that I remember anything more than a general outline of the plots of the books I've read some time ago. This is especially troubling when I'm about to jump into the next entry of a saga, when I happened to have read the previous one last year and can't remember jack of the all-important details.
Now then, my usual M.O. is to think "screw it" and go at it anyway. After all, if it's self-contained stories it won't matter, and if it's a sequential story, the continued plot will become clear after some chapters. Probably.
This one, though, was an exception.
Not to the forgetting part; that I cannot escape. But right about when On further introspection, that was one shitty feeling to have, and one that could be easily remedied by going back into The Unnoticeables and flpping through a chapter or three.
I'm glad I did that. Because Mr. Brockway keeps on adding awesome details to his already amazing mythology of angels and other assorted nightmares, and I'd be missing out big time if I didn't stop to try and make sense of what was going on.
One hell of a ride, that's what's going on.
While the previous entry is a tad more hectic and chaotic, this one goes into the deep end of the mythos surrounding those things obsessed (if that word can even be applied to them) with "solving" humans and applying the resulting energy to the continued existence of the universe. Noble goal, that one. If only it didn't involve the utter annihilation of the solved ones. Or those pesky, immortal, nightmarish residues left behind from bad code who insist on preying on humanity. And the whole reproduction-by-using-some-poor-bastard-as-template thing.
Add some additional POVs, intriguing details about mutations and powers, rituals and sacrifices, rising numbers of immortal beings and their influence on past history, and you're all set.
Can't wait for the conclusion to this epic, intricate, mind-blowing trilogy!
Now then, my usual M.O. is to think "screw it" and go at it anyway. After all, if it's self-contained stories it won't matter, and if it's a sequential story, the continued plot will become clear after some chapters. Probably.
This one, though, was an exception.
Not to the forgetting part; that I cannot escape. But right about when On further introspection, that was one shitty feeling to have, and one that could be easily remedied by going back into The Unnoticeables and flpping through a chapter or three.
I'm glad I did that. Because Mr. Brockway keeps on adding awesome details to his already amazing mythology of angels and other assorted nightmares, and I'd be missing out big time if I didn't stop to try and make sense of what was going on.
One hell of a ride, that's what's going on.
While the previous entry is a tad more hectic and chaotic, this one goes into the deep end of the mythos surrounding those things obsessed (if that word can even be applied to them) with "solving" humans and applying the resulting energy to the continued existence of the universe. Noble goal, that one. If only it didn't involve the utter annihilation of the solved ones. Or those pesky, immortal, nightmarish residues left behind from bad code who insist on preying on humanity. And the whole reproduction-by-using-some-poor-bastard-as-template thing.
Add some additional POVs, intriguing details about mutations and powers, rituals and sacrifices, rising numbers of immortal beings and their influence on past history, and you're all set.
Can't wait for the conclusion to this epic, intricate, mind-blowing trilogy!
July 15, 2022
At some point, I'll have to re-read The Unnoticeables so that I can give it a proper review. I know that I picked it up a few years ago because I had just finished What the Hell Did I Just Read and I was looking for something similar. Brockway, like Pargin, is a former editor at Cracked.com and, unsurprisingly, they have a similar style: The Empty Ones is another horror/comedy hybrid with lots of dick jokes.
I gotta say, I'm really hooked by the wholly unique, terrifying, and fascinating world that Brockway has created here. The horror elements are stronger than you might initially think, with some genuinely freaky body horror scenes and existential concepts. The humor is light but there are definitely a few laugh-out-loud moments and the pace never drags.
Be warned, though: If you find the objectification of women to be off-putting, you're going to have a hard time getting through the POV chapters for Carey. He's essentially Beavis, if Beavis & Butthead grew up in the '70s and hung out in the punk rock scene. Okay, and if he had about 50 more IQ points. But he somehow manages to remain likeable - if only just.
“Nah, that’s not what you need. Your generation and your bullshit ‘processing’ and ‘emotional awareness.’ What you need is six beers, a good fuck, and a fistfight. And I can offer you two out of the three right now. You pick which.”
This was a great follow-up to the first book. Usually, I take a break in-between books of a series and have a "palate cleanser" but I'm anxious to see how this story wraps up so I'll be jumping right into Kill All Angels next.
I gotta say, I'm really hooked by the wholly unique, terrifying, and fascinating world that Brockway has created here. The horror elements are stronger than you might initially think, with some genuinely freaky body horror scenes and existential concepts. The humor is light but there are definitely a few laugh-out-loud moments and the pace never drags.
Be warned, though: If you find the objectification of women to be off-putting, you're going to have a hard time getting through the POV chapters for Carey. He's essentially Beavis, if Beavis & Butthead grew up in the '70s and hung out in the punk rock scene. Okay, and if he had about 50 more IQ points. But he somehow manages to remain likeable - if only just.
“Nah, that’s not what you need. Your generation and your bullshit ‘processing’ and ‘emotional awareness.’ What you need is six beers, a good fuck, and a fistfight. And I can offer you two out of the three right now. You pick which.”
This was a great follow-up to the first book. Usually, I take a break in-between books of a series and have a "palate cleanser" but I'm anxious to see how this story wraps up so I'll be jumping right into Kill All Angels next.
September 23, 2020
The second instalment of the vicious circuit series, The Empty Ones is not for the faint of heart. It follows the premise of the first book, by intertwining the past and present times, with a lot of gore and horror to boot. At the same time the book is humorous throughout mostly at the expense of the central character, Carey. Its a unique reading throughout.
September 9, 2016
4.5 stars from Marion and 4 stars from Jana, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
The Empty Ones (2016) is suspenseful, scary, action-packed and occasionally gross. This is the second book in Robert Brockway’s THE VICIOUS CIRCUIT series, following 2015’s The Unnoticeables. The Empty Ones crackles with tension, and I found that several of the questions that plagued me at the end of Book One are answered here. By the end of this one, I am even more worried about young stuntwoman Kaitlyn than I was before.
The Empty Ones picks up the 2013 storyline just shortly after The Unnoticeables ended. Kaitlyn, her friend Jackie and the aging punk Carey are headed to Mexico, pursuing the D-list Hollywood celebrity who is an Empty One. However, only half the story is hers; in 1978, young punk Carey and his friend Randall have gone to London, tracking down an Empty One who killed their friend in New York. Basically, the forces they are fighting consist of several types of entities; there are “angels,” balls of light; there are Unnoticeables or “faceless,” people who look like regular people, but the rest of us immediately forget we saw them; there are the sludges or “tar people,” made of a sticky oily substance that burns flesh and bone; and the Empty Ones, who behave like folks we sometimes call psychopaths or sociopaths. The “angels” exist to simplify, by “solving” people or reducing them to their simplest mathematical equations; in short, destroying all personality or identity...read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
The Empty Ones (2016) is suspenseful, scary, action-packed and occasionally gross. This is the second book in Robert Brockway’s THE VICIOUS CIRCUIT series, following 2015’s The Unnoticeables. The Empty Ones crackles with tension, and I found that several of the questions that plagued me at the end of Book One are answered here. By the end of this one, I am even more worried about young stuntwoman Kaitlyn than I was before.
The Empty Ones picks up the 2013 storyline just shortly after The Unnoticeables ended. Kaitlyn, her friend Jackie and the aging punk Carey are headed to Mexico, pursuing the D-list Hollywood celebrity who is an Empty One. However, only half the story is hers; in 1978, young punk Carey and his friend Randall have gone to London, tracking down an Empty One who killed their friend in New York. Basically, the forces they are fighting consist of several types of entities; there are “angels,” balls of light; there are Unnoticeables or “faceless,” people who look like regular people, but the rest of us immediately forget we saw them; there are the sludges or “tar people,” made of a sticky oily substance that burns flesh and bone; and the Empty Ones, who behave like folks we sometimes call psychopaths or sociopaths. The “angels” exist to simplify, by “solving” people or reducing them to their simplest mathematical equations; in short, destroying all personality or identity...read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
January 30, 2017
More punk rock, more empty shells of former humanity, more balls of light seeking to "solve" the problem of the human race.
This sequel to The Unnoticeables once again follows the parallel story structure of the first. This time around, Carey in 1978 is going to Britain to seek revenge against Gus, an Empty One who killed most of Carey's friends. In 2013, Kaitlyn, Carey, and Jackie are trying to find Marco, the Empty One that nearly killed Jackie in a similar fashion to all of Carey's friends.
Much like the first, this is a good blend of gruesome, B movie gore, "screw you" humor, and cosmic horror that all meshes together really well. It's fast paced, filled with action, and develops the lore of the universe more than the first book did, which did a lot to clear up some of the confusion caused by the ending sequence of the first book. So, basically, if you enjoyed the first part of this supposed trilogy, you're going to enjoy its second outing.
I will say that Kaitlyn's storyline takes a little while to get going and that some of the new elements introduced to the lore can be a bit confusing. Thankfully, it's not quite as obtuse as the stream of consciousness sections from the end of the first book.
That's about all there is to say. I can't say too much more without spoiling things since it is such a fast read, but I can say that this one has me looking forward to the final entry.
This sequel to The Unnoticeables once again follows the parallel story structure of the first. This time around, Carey in 1978 is going to Britain to seek revenge against Gus, an Empty One who killed most of Carey's friends. In 2013, Kaitlyn, Carey, and Jackie are trying to find Marco, the Empty One that nearly killed Jackie in a similar fashion to all of Carey's friends.
Much like the first, this is a good blend of gruesome, B movie gore, "screw you" humor, and cosmic horror that all meshes together really well. It's fast paced, filled with action, and develops the lore of the universe more than the first book did, which did a lot to clear up some of the confusion caused by the ending sequence of the first book. So, basically, if you enjoyed the first part of this supposed trilogy, you're going to enjoy its second outing.
I will say that Kaitlyn's storyline takes a little while to get going and that some of the new elements introduced to the lore can be a bit confusing. Thankfully, it's not quite as obtuse as the stream of consciousness sections from the end of the first book.
That's about all there is to say. I can't say too much more without spoiling things since it is such a fast read, but I can say that this one has me looking forward to the final entry.
October 31, 2016
I received this book via goodreads first reads.
If punks, monsters, gore, swearing, sarcastic humour and non-stop action is your thing, then this book is for you. There are also frequent sexual references, which goes without saying for setting the scene for punk rock, but I am just putting this out there as I know some people don't like it.
As I said above I won a copy of this book and when I received it, I realised it was the second in a series so I ordered the first one as I have a thing about reading books in order. The first book was okay and I enjoyed it but this second one is a lot more fun. If you haven't read the first one I think you would be missing out a bit on the backgrounds of the main characters but you can probably get away with it.
My main advice is to make sure you take note of the date and 'speaker' at the top of each new chapter as the plot shifts between the 1970s and 2010s. But don't let that put you off because it works.
Kaitlyn and Carey's encounters with Unnoticeables, empty ones and 'angels' continue. Carey and Randall have gone to London and we meet some new characters included the awesome Meryll (think Supergirl gone bad with a huge attitude). I won't go into the plot as I don't like to do spoilers but it is good! The more I read, the more I think this series would make a REALLY good graphic novel series.
If punks, monsters, gore, swearing, sarcastic humour and non-stop action is your thing, then this book is for you. There are also frequent sexual references, which goes without saying for setting the scene for punk rock, but I am just putting this out there as I know some people don't like it.
As I said above I won a copy of this book and when I received it, I realised it was the second in a series so I ordered the first one as I have a thing about reading books in order. The first book was okay and I enjoyed it but this second one is a lot more fun. If you haven't read the first one I think you would be missing out a bit on the backgrounds of the main characters but you can probably get away with it.
My main advice is to make sure you take note of the date and 'speaker' at the top of each new chapter as the plot shifts between the 1970s and 2010s. But don't let that put you off because it works.
Kaitlyn and Carey's encounters with Unnoticeables, empty ones and 'angels' continue. Carey and Randall have gone to London and we meet some new characters included the awesome Meryll (think Supergirl gone bad with a huge attitude). I won't go into the plot as I don't like to do spoilers but it is good! The more I read, the more I think this series would make a REALLY good graphic novel series.
September 13, 2016
I listened to the audiobook of the unnoticeables not that long ago, looking for something to read since I had nothing left in queue and it was a nice surprise. Original, funny in parts, nice action sequences and the voices of the characters were unique enough to make you care (of course when it comes to audio books the voice actors play a big part too). So I didn't know exactly where the book would go after part one but I definitely wanted to read or listen the second part. When it finally came out I found two things, first is that the second book is not that different from the first one, the whole "history repeats itself" thing makes the books history be much alike the one on the first. Second, I didn't care one bit. It had the same fresh feeling the first had and was very enjoyable. The Change of setting was good and had some answers to some of the questions that the first book made. A very enjoyable fast paced book.
In regards to the Audio book itself, I need to give props to Scott Merriman, I just feel like buying the guy a drink and then joining him in a epic bar fight, really brought the character to life.
definitely will get the third Audio when it comes out!.
In regards to the Audio book itself, I need to give props to Scott Merriman, I just feel like buying the guy a drink and then joining him in a epic bar fight, really brought the character to life.
definitely will get the third Audio when it comes out!.
January 5, 2017
This is the second of a three-part series. In addition, the author follows three timelines so I found it to be a little tough sledding. It is urban fantasy and the author has created a world of monsters that appear to be threatening humanity - or at least a part of it. There were several classes of monsters and since there were some cross cultural differences among the protagonists, different names were used for the same class of monster by different individuals. That was a little off-putting as well. However the good news is that this is a fast-paced rip-roaring story with plenty of blood and guts, fighting, betrayals and lots of desire although precious little sex. One of the timelines is also set in the world of punk around 1977 so there were plenty of references that were incomprehensible to me. Still I consider it worth my time reading it and I may go back and read the first and then the third volume - maybe - haven't actually decided that yet.
January 23, 2017
The first book, I thought it took some time find its flow and that the portrayal of punk was a few years ahead of its time, but I ended up really enjoying it. I still have the latter complaint this time around. Misfits LPs in 1978 just weren't a thing. But I'm not gonna let that ruin it for me. I dug the hell out of part 2 of the Vicious Circuit trilogy. We're in London and Mexico this time around, chasing not-Iggy Pop in one era and not-AC Slater in another. This part of the trilogy really fleshes out what they're up against and gives you a real shot in the gut over what this fight needs the good guys do. I'm really looking forward to Kill All Angels.
October 4, 2016
Is it fair to review a book when I've read only half? I loved the first book in this series, but this second book just isn't grabbing me. The new British characters are all interesting, but it feels like the book is just rehashing what we already knew, but with a British accent with UK slang. Maybe it get better later, but I found reading The Empty Ones to be a chore. Don't let my two star review stop you from reading this, perhaps my reading brain was just not in the right place for this.
March 11, 2017
Simply put completely bonkers in the very best way.
Robert Brockway's second book featuring the misadventures of cantankerous NYC punk Carey, his best (and possibly only friend), Randall and former stuntwoman Kaitlyn who find themselves caught up in a nightmarish scenario is just as good if not better than first book The Unnoticeables.
Recommended.
Robert Brockway's second book featuring the misadventures of cantankerous NYC punk Carey, his best (and possibly only friend), Randall and former stuntwoman Kaitlyn who find themselves caught up in a nightmarish scenario is just as good if not better than first book The Unnoticeables.
Recommended.
January 1, 2017
I loved the representation of crude punk culture but I also appreciated the further explanation of what is going on with the Angels. The ending just raised more questions so I look forward to the next book in the series.
September 7, 2016
Loved it. Great sequel.
September 20, 2016
All I am going to say about this book is that it is awesome and I cannot wait til the next one comes out. And also if it gets made into a film/miniseries I am auditioning.
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