Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Unwept (The Nightbirds #1) by Tracy and Laura Hickman

Series: The Nightbirds #1
272p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review
Gamin, Maine, is a remote seaside town where everyone seems to know Ellis Harkington better than she knows herself—but she doesn’t remember any of them. 
Unknown events have robbed Ellis of her memory. Concerned individuals, who purport to be her friends and loved ones, insist that she simply needs to recuperate, that her memories may return in time, but refuse to divulge what has brought her to this state. For her own sake, so they say. 
Ellis finds herself adrift in a town of ominous mysteries, cryptic hints, and disturbingly familiar strangers. The Nightbirds, a clique of fashionable young men and women, claim her as one of their own, but who among them can she truly trust? And what of the phantom suitor who visits her in her dreams? Is he a memory, a figment of her imagination, or a living nightmare beyond rational explanation?
Only her lost past hold the answers she seeks—if she can uncover its secrets before she fall prey to an unearthly killer.
My thoughts:
This is book 1 of a trilogy. It is also a book I think people will love or hate. It has horror elements to it, but it really seems more of a twisty dark mystery to me. The main character is sympathetic but you want her to stand up for herself more, but it is understandable why she is that way throughout the book. The secondary characters are quite interesting but you probably won't figure out who is good or evil by the end. It is confusing there is a dark nightmarish quality about it. And just as you start to get some answers...

it ends.

Yes, that I why I think people will love or hate the book. I enjoyed it and really did like the writing. The ending however was another story. I think that it being only 272p. it could have added the next book onto this one. Make it a duology. :) But then I hate being left hanging in any way in a book. The ending isn't quite a cliffie nor is it too abrupt, but it keeps your answers just out of reach.

I give this one 3 1/2 stars. I am looking forward to the next book and I really do already want to read the third book as well. I hope that the next 2 covers rock as much as this one does. I recommend it to those that like a very dark twisty tale!

26 comments:

  1. I used read their fantasy books way back

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  2. "but you probably won't figure out who is good or evil by the end."

    Challenge accepted. lol. This actually does sound pretty good.

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    1. LOL! I would love to see if you can tell for absolute sure... :)

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  3. Ah yes the end is difficult, I was surprised as well but I'm curious to see what will happen now.

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    1. I know! It felt as if we just started to sort things out...

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  4. I've been waiting to see some reviews of this book and your is the first I've seen. I love the Dragonlance books Tracy Hickman used to write so I was excited to see this book on the horizon but now I have my doubts whether to read this or not...... hmmmmmmmm!

    http://gizzimomosbookshelf.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. You might wait until the next one comes out. Then the ending might not be so bad for you. :)

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  5. This one's at the top of my TBR list. I just hope I like it a bit more than you did, but at least I'll be prepared if I don't ;)

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    1. You might not like the ending... but I did enjoy the journey. :)

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  6. Yeah, that's a huge letdown. Especially with such a short story. Sounds like the trilogy's being forced a bit -- sometimes a duology's the best way to go. But at least the story was good (up until that abrupt ending).

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  7. I don't mind being teased with the promise of answers, but I better get at least a few before a book ends. I don't need all of them if a book is part of a series, but I need something to tide me over for sure. It's frustrating you don't get any answers here, but hopefully the next book will be overflowing with them:)

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    1. You start to get a few... but not enough. For some reason it didn't bother me as it usually does...

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  8. Not sure if I will love it, but I'm willing to give it a go now.

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  9. I am not at ALL a fan of cliffhangers, so I'm definitely going to be skipping this one until the sequels are all released. Thanks for the heads-up, Melissa!

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    1. That might be best... especially if that ending would bother you.

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  10. I started this and just couldn't slip into ..it might have been my mood. I will probably try again Melissa.

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  11. Sounds like one to have book two waiting in the wings for when you finish. lol. Thank you. :)

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  12. Dark and twisty sounds great, hope you enjoy the next ones

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  13. From your review I have a feeling I might well fall into the category of those hating this book as I'm afraid I'm put off by ill defined characters. For goodness sake, I NEED to know who are the goodies, who the baddies.
    Great cover though, really atmospheric.

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  14. I read another review of this one that was kind of similar (they liked it less though). I think it's one I should probably skip. It sounds nice and twisty but that end would drive me nuts!

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  15. I am hoping I like this one. I can handle the abrupt ending, but I know I will be frustrated. Still I like the sound of the world.

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  16. I'm trying to be more patient with characters and cliffhangers. I have to realize that sometimes character growth plays out over the series and not right away but I do tend to get frustrated.

    Sounds interesting though and I like the sound of the darker elements.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  17. Loving the cover so dark and myserious!!

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!