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The Unseen II
Six months after losing everything that once mattered to her, Allison Cook’s life is mired in a grim downward spiral. The otherworldly entity known only as The Visitor still haunts her, still feeds on her emotions and desires, leading her to the brink of madness and despair. In the beginning, the creature’s impossible gifts from other realms made the erosion of her humanity an acceptable sacrifice, but now they’re no longer enough. The all-consuming darkness growing within her becomes too much to bear, and she begins to yearn for a restoration of what was lost.
Unfortunately, the granting of this wish only leads her down even darker and stranger paths from which she may never return.
Deeper than ever into…THE UNSEEN.
Unfortunately, the granting of this wish only leads her down even darker and stranger paths from which she may never return.
Deeper than ever into…THE UNSEEN.
- GenresHorror
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2022
22 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Smith
105 books763 followersBryan Smith is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of more than forty horror and crime books, including 68 Kill, the cult classic Depraved and its sequels, as well as The Killing Kind, Slowly We Rot, The Freakshow, and many more. Bestselling horror author Brian Keene called Slowly We Rot, "The best zombie novel I've ever read."
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 25, 2022
We are back with Allison Cook, and she is still a hot mess. An even bigger one, if that is even possible. She is more entrenched with The Visitor to the point where she barely has any human emotions left. This time around, we get a glimpse of other timelines and alternate versions of people in those timelines, which is fun. As usual, this read is a bloody good time. A wonderful followup to the first installment.
January 18, 2022
Fan-fucking-tastic follow up to the first book.
If anyone out there is getting bored with the same old themes and tired tropes in horror then I implore you to read this series. This has got to be one of the most fun and interesting series I've read in a long time. I just hope that Bryan Smith keeps writing these books until the wheels fall off, cause I'm already itching for more.
If anyone out there is getting bored with the same old themes and tired tropes in horror then I implore you to read this series. This has got to be one of the most fun and interesting series I've read in a long time. I just hope that Bryan Smith keeps writing these books until the wheels fall off, cause I'm already itching for more.
January 12, 2022
As a big fan of Bryan Smiths, I’m genuinely excited by his output right now. The last few years have seen him wrap up his most beloved series (‘Depraved 4’), dabble in the murder mystery genre (‘Invitation To Death’), deliver a heavy metal infused grindhouse novel (‘Racing With The Devil’) and create one of horrors most unique new villains in ‘The Unseen’. Smith continues his hot streak with a follow-up to the latter, just over six months after its publication.
The Unseen II picks up six months after the events of the first book, Allison Cook’s life has begun to stagnate. Turns out getting want you want isn’t good for the soul, particularly when you do some truly horrible stuff to get it, and Allison’s mental state is fast deteriorating as she struggles to cope with life with The Visitor, who remains a constant but unseen presence.
When Allison begins to pine for a return to how things used to be, she unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that will drive her deeper into the dark and dangerous world of The Visitor and push her closer towards the precipice of madness.
If you’re expecting a re-tread of the same basic plot of the first book, prepare to be pleasantly surprised, as while it does carry on Allison’s story, the sequel goes to some unexpected and very different places than its predecessor. If the first book were about the discovery and obsession of Allison’s newfound addiction, The Unseen II is far more concerned with what addiction looks like after months of unfettered indulgence and what that does to a person’s mental state. It’s an intriguing direction as, on the face of it, Allison got her wish at the end of book one, and it’s interesting to see her come to the realisation that what you want and what you need are two different things, and come to terms with the fact that she gave up what truly mattered to her in order to give in to her baser desires.
I shouldn’t paint this entirely as a serious, psychological deep dive into the effects of addiction, because this is a Bryan Smith book, and it is a hell of a lot of fun. With almost forty books under his belt, there are certain things you’ve come to expect from one of his novels. Copious amounts of violence? Absolutely. The Unseen II really ups the ante from the first book in this regard. Fast-paced? Check. This book was unputdownable, as it bounced Allison from one crisis to another, each more wild than the last. The story may go in unexpected directions, but it is unmistakably a Bryan Smith story and fans will be more than satisfied.
The Unseen was perhaps my favourite Bryan Smith book since 2015’s ‘Slowly We Rot’ and I was thrilled a sequel was announced so soon after the first book's release. With the follow-up boasting one of the best endings Smith has ever written, hinting at some fantastic directions the series could go, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that an announcement about a third book is not too far behind.
The Unseen II picks up six months after the events of the first book, Allison Cook’s life has begun to stagnate. Turns out getting want you want isn’t good for the soul, particularly when you do some truly horrible stuff to get it, and Allison’s mental state is fast deteriorating as she struggles to cope with life with The Visitor, who remains a constant but unseen presence.
When Allison begins to pine for a return to how things used to be, she unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that will drive her deeper into the dark and dangerous world of The Visitor and push her closer towards the precipice of madness.
If you’re expecting a re-tread of the same basic plot of the first book, prepare to be pleasantly surprised, as while it does carry on Allison’s story, the sequel goes to some unexpected and very different places than its predecessor. If the first book were about the discovery and obsession of Allison’s newfound addiction, The Unseen II is far more concerned with what addiction looks like after months of unfettered indulgence and what that does to a person’s mental state. It’s an intriguing direction as, on the face of it, Allison got her wish at the end of book one, and it’s interesting to see her come to the realisation that what you want and what you need are two different things, and come to terms with the fact that she gave up what truly mattered to her in order to give in to her baser desires.
I shouldn’t paint this entirely as a serious, psychological deep dive into the effects of addiction, because this is a Bryan Smith book, and it is a hell of a lot of fun. With almost forty books under his belt, there are certain things you’ve come to expect from one of his novels. Copious amounts of violence? Absolutely. The Unseen II really ups the ante from the first book in this regard. Fast-paced? Check. This book was unputdownable, as it bounced Allison from one crisis to another, each more wild than the last. The story may go in unexpected directions, but it is unmistakably a Bryan Smith story and fans will be more than satisfied.
The Unseen was perhaps my favourite Bryan Smith book since 2015’s ‘Slowly We Rot’ and I was thrilled a sequel was announced so soon after the first book's release. With the follow-up boasting one of the best endings Smith has ever written, hinting at some fantastic directions the series could go, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that an announcement about a third book is not too far behind.
January 24, 2022
The Psychic Vampire Part 2
I wanted to love this sequel, but to me it fell flat. I’m not sure what turned me off from part 2 of ‘The Unseen’, but it just plodded along. Great concept for a story and I am a massive fan of Bryan Smith. However, I just wasn’t as invested in the sequel as I was the original, nor did I feel that the whole series was equal in quality to Bryan’s other work. To be brutally honest, I think the first half of the book was the most problematic. It felt like reading the adventures of a “devil” worshipping drunk with psychological issues, but with no real drive on plot. The second half of the book was better, as that is when the best action and storyline took place, but it still felt flimsy and one-dimensional (pun intended!).
I wanted to love this sequel, but to me it fell flat. I’m not sure what turned me off from part 2 of ‘The Unseen’, but it just plodded along. Great concept for a story and I am a massive fan of Bryan Smith. However, I just wasn’t as invested in the sequel as I was the original, nor did I feel that the whole series was equal in quality to Bryan’s other work. To be brutally honest, I think the first half of the book was the most problematic. It felt like reading the adventures of a “devil” worshipping drunk with psychological issues, but with no real drive on plot. The second half of the book was better, as that is when the best action and storyline took place, but it still felt flimsy and one-dimensional (pun intended!).
June 1, 2022
Are You Familiar With Multiverse?...
No spoilers. 4 stars. Like THE UNSEEN, the first installment, this novel is not WAR AND PEACE but it is definitely as good as the first story if not better...
This story takes up where the first story left off...
Allison Cook is gifted with several horror movies from alternate universes by an entity known as The Visitor...
... a psychic vampire feeding on Allison's emotions and desires and making her less and less human...
The multiverse gifts she asked him for included another Cassie, a friend who blew her brains out in the first installment,...
... who Allison tortured and eventually killed. Allison no longer had a moral compass...
Nothing about the gifts was easy...
While on the run from The Law, Allison begged The Visitor to rescue her, which he did by placing her in another parallel universe...
Where she was in constant danger...
and...
She came face-to-face with an Allison from yet another alternate reality...
If you liked the first UNSEEN you'll like this second installment. It is action packed and very different from the first although there are some cross-over characters from the first story.
Warning to some readers: sexual encounters and excessive f-bombs as well as graphic violence and gore.
No spoilers. 4 stars. Like THE UNSEEN, the first installment, this novel is not WAR AND PEACE but it is definitely as good as the first story if not better...
This story takes up where the first story left off...
Allison Cook is gifted with several horror movies from alternate universes by an entity known as The Visitor...
... a psychic vampire feeding on Allison's emotions and desires and making her less and less human...
The multiverse gifts she asked him for included another Cassie, a friend who blew her brains out in the first installment,...
... who Allison tortured and eventually killed. Allison no longer had a moral compass...
Nothing about the gifts was easy...
While on the run from The Law, Allison begged The Visitor to rescue her, which he did by placing her in another parallel universe...
Where she was in constant danger...
and...
She came face-to-face with an Allison from yet another alternate reality...
If you liked the first UNSEEN you'll like this second installment. It is action packed and very different from the first although there are some cross-over characters from the first story.
Warning to some readers: sexual encounters and excessive f-bombs as well as graphic violence and gore.
February 2, 2022
Really enjoyed this one. Preferred it to book 1.
April 2, 2025
4.5 rounded down
Allison Cook is back again. It’s six months later and she has completely spiraled out of control. She has no self respect, has let herself and her life go to shambles and only cares about being a drunk recluse at home with her Visitor gifts (mostly movies). But then she finds herself in a jam and calls upon the Visitor to help her out of it.
~MY THOUGHTS~
This is definitely a story about the self-destruction of Allison. She’s a complete menace. She’s ruthless, rude, unhinged and honestly pretty disgusting.
We hear more mentions of the Visitor and find out more about them and their special connection to Allison. The “why” is still unclear however and we may never get that answer but it is clear he is kinda behind everything.
This book was more gruesome than the previous book with more violence and brutality shown from Allison.
I enjoyed this book a lot more even though the plot was slow moving and more basic. We know it’s about Allison but I was wondering where it was going and what the point of it was. There is a part 3 so I can’t wait to see what the finale has in store!
Allison Cook is back again. It’s six months later and she has completely spiraled out of control. She has no self respect, has let herself and her life go to shambles and only cares about being a drunk recluse at home with her Visitor gifts (mostly movies). But then she finds herself in a jam and calls upon the Visitor to help her out of it.
~MY THOUGHTS~
This is definitely a story about the self-destruction of Allison. She’s a complete menace. She’s ruthless, rude, unhinged and honestly pretty disgusting.
We hear more mentions of the Visitor and find out more about them and their special connection to Allison. The “why” is still unclear however and we may never get that answer but it is clear he is kinda behind everything.
This book was more gruesome than the previous book with more violence and brutality shown from Allison.
I enjoyed this book a lot more even though the plot was slow moving and more basic. We know it’s about Allison but I was wondering where it was going and what the point of it was. There is a part 3 so I can’t wait to see what the finale has in store!
March 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
January 17, 2022
What A Sequel!
Smith's original novel, The Unseen, is a decidedly tough act to follow, but the author handles it with an unrivaled tenacity and flair.
Smith's original novel, The Unseen, is a decidedly tough act to follow, but the author handles it with an unrivaled tenacity and flair.
April 7, 2022
It did not go in the direction I was hoping for (learning more about the transdimensional parasite!). No matter. It's brilliant. Far darker than the first; the misery at times is unbearable. Totally unpredictable, thoroughly enjoyable. The ending is quite bizarre, it gave me pause: it gives food for thought on what might count as justice in the multiverse.
March 25, 2023
*As this is a direct sequel, this review (and all others that discuss the plot) will have spoilers for the first book*
When we left Allison Cook, she was pledging her fidelity to "The Visitor", offering herself fully to this psychic vampire (?) in exchange for him providing gifts from other universes. In particular - movie sequels made in other versions of Earth that are better than those made here.
We begin 6 months onward and Allison is a bit of a wreck. The VHS from the first book gave us an insight into these "gifts". Somehow, on a subconscious level, items from other universes cause people to go a bit crazy. Now she has a lot more than a single tape and Allison's mind has been clearly impacted by being surrounded by these "gifts".
Unable to really keep a job, friends, even basic grooming and hygiene, she's a different person than we met in the first book. Hardly a conspicuous person at this point, she finds herself on the wrong side of the law and asks "The Visitor" to help her escape. Without getting into spoilers, for someone who is so passionate about horror stories/movies/series/characters, she really needs to brush up on her memory of the old "Monkey's Paw" story though.
Similar to the first, this is a pretty tame affair for Bryan Smith. It's short and never feels boring, but didn't click quite as well as most of his books have for me. It does a good job of adding details to the "multiverse" concept, but keeps its cards to it's chest for who/what "The Visitor" is and why it does what it does. On a positive note, the way Allison has changed since book one made sense and provided a sense of bizarro that was sorely missing from the first book.
In the end, I did enjoy this one more than the first book, but probably not enough to fully recommend it, in particular since you still really need to read the first book anyway to get to this point. That said - if you enjoyed the first book already, this is an improvement, with larger stakes, crazier scenarios and better twists, so by all means continue reading in that case.
When we left Allison Cook, she was pledging her fidelity to "The Visitor", offering herself fully to this psychic vampire (?) in exchange for him providing gifts from other universes. In particular - movie sequels made in other versions of Earth that are better than those made here.
We begin 6 months onward and Allison is a bit of a wreck. The VHS from the first book gave us an insight into these "gifts". Somehow, on a subconscious level, items from other universes cause people to go a bit crazy. Now she has a lot more than a single tape and Allison's mind has been clearly impacted by being surrounded by these "gifts".
Unable to really keep a job, friends, even basic grooming and hygiene, she's a different person than we met in the first book. Hardly a conspicuous person at this point, she finds herself on the wrong side of the law and asks "The Visitor" to help her escape. Without getting into spoilers, for someone who is so passionate about horror stories/movies/series/characters, she really needs to brush up on her memory of the old "Monkey's Paw" story though.
Similar to the first, this is a pretty tame affair for Bryan Smith. It's short and never feels boring, but didn't click quite as well as most of his books have for me. It does a good job of adding details to the "multiverse" concept, but keeps its cards to it's chest for who/what "The Visitor" is and why it does what it does. On a positive note, the way Allison has changed since book one made sense and provided a sense of bizarro that was sorely missing from the first book.
In the end, I did enjoy this one more than the first book, but probably not enough to fully recommend it, in particular since you still really need to read the first book anyway to get to this point. That said - if you enjoyed the first book already, this is an improvement, with larger stakes, crazier scenarios and better twists, so by all means continue reading in that case.
August 19, 2024
Byran Smith is an author whose work often feels like reading fun and sometimes insane horror movies that are wonderfully violent, humorous, and original. The Unseen is one of my favorite books from him such a brilliant and unique idea executed incredibly well, so when I saw he had written a sequel I knew I had to pick it up!
It's been six months since she lost everything that once mattered to her, Allison Cook is depressed and she only has a prisoner of an old friend of hers from another reality for company. But the nightmare isn't yet over Allison Cook is about to show just how different she is now and what she's willing to do. The Visitor hasn't yet revealed the extent of his powers and he'll do anything to keep her on his side.
Bryan Smith has written a sequel that's insane but wonderfully develops upon the ideas the first novella established. The first half of this novella very much highlights just how depraved and cruel Allison has become at the hand of such a being who can give her anything she'd ever want, in the second half, she's thrown into another universe where she finds out the sheer horror of what life could be if she stays in it. This is a brilliant continuation full of ideas, action, and plenty of violence and gore. It's both fascinating and heartbreaking to see the person Allison has now become and what she's more than willing to do, this isn't the person we initially met at the start of the previous novella.
Overall: It's hard to discuss much about this story without giving away any spoilers, but it's a terrific continuation that concludes with a fucked up and insane finale. 10/10
It's been six months since she lost everything that once mattered to her, Allison Cook is depressed and she only has a prisoner of an old friend of hers from another reality for company. But the nightmare isn't yet over Allison Cook is about to show just how different she is now and what she's willing to do. The Visitor hasn't yet revealed the extent of his powers and he'll do anything to keep her on his side.
Bryan Smith has written a sequel that's insane but wonderfully develops upon the ideas the first novella established. The first half of this novella very much highlights just how depraved and cruel Allison has become at the hand of such a being who can give her anything she'd ever want, in the second half, she's thrown into another universe where she finds out the sheer horror of what life could be if she stays in it. This is a brilliant continuation full of ideas, action, and plenty of violence and gore. It's both fascinating and heartbreaking to see the person Allison has now become and what she's more than willing to do, this isn't the person we initially met at the start of the previous novella.
Overall: It's hard to discuss much about this story without giving away any spoilers, but it's a terrific continuation that concludes with a fucked up and insane finale. 10/10
March 2, 2023
I enjoyed this read! I had no idea this second book was even out. So that came as a pleasant surprise ☺️ 3.5 rounded up.
I know this book is really out there with the alternate reality stuff, but the way it rapped up bothered me. It was just TOO unbelievable that someone can just step into the life of another version of themself, and fool anyone. Allie Cook was healthy, sober, a director and a married lesbian. How in the eff could drunk, unemployed, straight Allison Cook fool the wife, the crew on the movies and anyone close to Allie? They had one conversation and Allison knows nothing about making movies let alone Allie Cook's movies! Plus, Allie even said Allison only looked like Allie when she was still an alcoholic.
Alternate realities are already such a mind stretch, that imagining this working out felt insane. I did like how they left off where Allie Cook went. No real justice, but it was entertaining.
I know this book is really out there with the alternate reality stuff, but the way it rapped up bothered me. It was just TOO unbelievable that someone can just step into the life of another version of themself, and fool anyone. Allie Cook was healthy, sober, a director and a married lesbian. How in the eff could drunk, unemployed, straight Allison Cook fool the wife, the crew on the movies and anyone close to Allie? They had one conversation and Allison knows nothing about making movies let alone Allie Cook's movies! Plus, Allie even said Allison only looked like Allie when she was still an alcoholic.
Alternate realities are already such a mind stretch, that imagining this working out felt insane. I did like how they left off where Allie Cook went. No real justice, but it was entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2022
The Unseen Two is told from one perspective, unlike the first one which cycled narrators. It took me about half of the book to really get interested and feel like there was a plot, before that it felt like senseless violence. Once the story did pick up I had a hard time putting it down, I really enjoyed the mid book twist & I needed to find out what was gonna happen to the not so lovable protagonist, Allison. I felt like there could have been a little more to the ending, and want to know more about what happened to a couple characters but all in all I enjoyed this book. Read the first one before you read this for sure, and probably don't read if you have a weak stomach.
February 9, 2022
Great new Bryan smith book
This is one of smiths best books in a while. No more short stories or team ups the unseen series is the best smith offering I've got this year and I read all his stuff. Its filled with all the great twists and turns in the plot smiths known for. Its completely unpredictable with the fucked up pathological characterization I've come to know and love. Do yourself a favor and grab it on kindle unlimited asap.
This is one of smiths best books in a while. No more short stories or team ups the unseen series is the best smith offering I've got this year and I read all his stuff. Its filled with all the great twists and turns in the plot smiths known for. Its completely unpredictable with the fucked up pathological characterization I've come to know and love. Do yourself a favor and grab it on kindle unlimited asap.
March 7, 2025
A worthy sequel
The Unseen was a truly unique story and love letter to slasher movies of the past. With The Unseen II, Bryan Smith takes an already wild idea and drives it even further into the realm of insanity as only he can. It’s a non-stop bloody ride and the story goes places I didn’t see coming. The ending sets up the final book in the trilogy perfectly, and I can’t wait to read part III.
The Unseen was a truly unique story and love letter to slasher movies of the past. With The Unseen II, Bryan Smith takes an already wild idea and drives it even further into the realm of insanity as only he can. It’s a non-stop bloody ride and the story goes places I didn’t see coming. The ending sets up the final book in the trilogy perfectly, and I can’t wait to read part III.
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March 25, 2022HOLY HUH?
Wow!
What a ride!
Bryan Smith is amazing! And this two book series is WHACKED!
Alternate realities, "I'm me, and you're you, but we're not really who we say we are. But wait...yes we are! We just aren't HERE. We're THERE. AND here. I think, anyway."
Got it? Yeah, me either! Just read it. In order is best!
Wow!
What a ride!
Bryan Smith is amazing! And this two book series is WHACKED!
Alternate realities, "I'm me, and you're you, but we're not really who we say we are. But wait...yes we are! We just aren't HERE. We're THERE. AND here. I think, anyway."
Got it? Yeah, me either! Just read it. In order is best!
April 21, 2022
As good, if not better than Unseen. This short novel has it all. Horror, of course, but also mind-bending multi-universes, humor, and even a touch of romance. I don't know how I've never heard of Bryan Smith until this point in my life! I'm currently tracking down the rest of his books, and a bunch are available on Kindle Unlimited so go get 'em!
March 8, 2024
NOT ONLY IS THIS BOOK DELICIOUSLY META... it's also such a great story! For peak enjoyment I would suggesting reading the Unseen first before you dive into this sequel, but there are some moments that recap the most important details just in case you picked this one up first.
The kills are disgusting, the characters are even more evil, and you'll never see the deranged ending coming!
The kills are disgusting, the characters are even more evil, and you'll never see the deranged ending coming!
November 13, 2025
Somehow even better than the first book. Fun, pulpy, and propulsive. I devoured this book in one day and I'm about to be on to the last one in the trilogy. Allison Cook becomes more deranged in the sequel and The Vistor's hold on her intensifies. She crosses the line, gets in trouble, and a huge shift happens that's truly unexpected. I love this series so much.
February 13, 2022
Loved this book! Just as fun as the first one.
March 17, 2022
great ending to the series. little gory in spots but ending is a real surprise read on.
June 23, 2022
I enjoyed The Unseen but I think I dig this sequel even more. I always have fun with a Bryan Smith novel.
July 13, 2023
2.5 stars
August 5, 2023
Great follow up chapter to the original
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the original. It take the original premise and cranks everything up a notch. Brutal and mean and written for horror fans.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the original. It take the original premise and cranks everything up a notch. Brutal and mean and written for horror fans.
September 29, 2025
not as good as the first book. the main character got kind of annoying. I liked the plot and storyline though
January 19, 2022
I’d put this in the middle as far as Smith’s books are concerned. I just didn’t think The Unseen needed a sequel and I don’t think this one will stay with me very long.
May 7, 2024
What even was this book? 🤷🏻♀️💩🔥
January 22, 2024
Like the first, most definitely horror. But stretching a little further into sci-fi/twilight zone territory this time. Still no likeable characters, but I gobbled this up too.
A very enjoyable read. Mr B. Smith, I'm very much looking forward to digesting more of your work 😄
A very enjoyable read. Mr B. Smith, I'm very much looking forward to digesting more of your work 😄
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews