Customer Reviews

Undead: Haunted Lands, Book II (Forgotten Realms)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a hopeless fangirl of Szass Tam ever since I read Jean Rabe"s "Red Magic" 12 years ago in high school, and I was thrilled to discover a new Tam-centric triogy, written by the talented Richard Lee Byers, coming out in the Forgotten Realms universe. Volume I, "Unclean," was satisfying and entertaining despite the cliche romantic subplot, and the latest installment in the trilogy is even better. Byers also writes Szass Tam much better than Jean Rabe, portraying the character as highly intelligent and charismatic, with genuinely devious schemes.

This book takes place ten years after the first, and every character has improved for the better. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but both Tammith and Mirror are MUCH improved in this volume, and Szass Tam gets plenty of lines as his evilly charming self. I have always been intrigued by the evil society of Thay, as well as its would-be regent Szass Tam, and Byers does a great job with his grey-area characters of the battle mage Aoth and the bard Bareris -- "good" guys from an evil world. I think both Aoth and Bareris are improved for the better in "Undead," and I can't wait for volume III in 2009.

I had heard that this volume was more action-focused, which made me worry about endless boring fight scenes, but there was nothing of the kind. "Undead" is great blend of action scenes and character development, and I never felt like either element was lacking. As in the first book, there are a lot of vignettes from minor characters that add to the poignancy or interest of a scene, and there are a lot of female warrior characters who are treated with dignity and respect, to my pleasant surprise. 4 and a half stars rounded up to 5.

Undead by Richard Lee Byers is the second book of the Haunted Land trilogy set in the Forgotten Realms. The first book is titled Unclean (Forgotten Realms: The Haunted Lands, Book 1) and the third book, scheduled for release in March 2009, is titled Unholy. This trilogy is the second trilogy penned by Mr. Byers in the Forgotten Realms, the first trilogy was titled Year of the Rogue Dragons. Mr. Byers also has several other stand alone books, or books apart of other series, set in the Forgotten Realms such as; Dissolution (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 1), The Black Bouquet (Forgotten Realms: The Rogues, Book 2), The Shattered Mask: Sembia: Gateway to the Realms, Book III (Forgotten Realms), and Queen of the Depths (Forgotten Realms: The Priests).

The plot of this book is a direct continuation of Unclean, so if you have not read the first book, then you really need to do so before reading this novel. There are many plot elements that occur in this book that are set up in the first novel. The main plot of this book is the continued civil war that is occurring in the realm of Thay. There are several sub plot scattered throughout the novel as well such as; numerous political aspects. Things such as who is on who's side, and will that person betray the side they are currently on to help the other side. The romantic sub plot from the first part continues into this novel as well. A sub plot involving Szass Tam's army and what it takes to keep an army, such as his, moving and `happy'. There are also a couple other sub plots, but I won't talk about those for fear of spoiling things for some people. Overall, the plot seems a little more developed, which is to be expected, from the first book.

The characters in this book are mostly the same as the first book, but there are a few more added that help the story progress. The main characters remain largely the same. Characters such as Aoth, Bareis, Tammith, and Szass Tam headline the character cast. Much like I felt with the first book, the characters of this book seem to really be an aspect that keeps things interesting. While I enjoyed these same characters in the first book, I was unsure just how much character development would take place in this book. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of character development that did take place. There is even at least one instance that the character development goes beyond normal expectations and adds an interesting touch to what should be a very interesting character in the third book. The thing I like most about the characters, is that they really aren't flashy, they just are. They seem normal, and real. Even the lich Szass Tam has some character development, which surprised me because he has been around in the realms for a long time.

My only real criticism with this novel is how the chapters are setup. They are organized as several small `snap shots' of scenes featuring different points of view. To me, setting up chapters like this causes them to feel disjointed and as though they are jumping around. I would have much preferred slightly longer scenes, and smaller chapters. The way it is right now it is very hard to develop any continuity and consistency. As a reader, it seemed like just as I was getting into the story I was jerked out and thrust into a different plot line. It made for difficulty following things and I am almost positive I missed things due to this.

Some things I really enjoyed about this book.

As I said above, I enjoyed the characters quite a bit more. In fact, I enjoyed them even more with this book, since Mr. Byers did not have to spend as much time setting things up. He was allowed more liberties with them and it really showed.

Also, I have always been interested in Thay, as I am sure many other readers have been. This book, and trilogy, allows us a glimpse into the intrigue and cut throat nature that Thay is.

Overal, I enjoyed the book however, I am still left with the impression that if it was written differently (style wise) I would have enjoyed it more. I don't feel as though I was able to get the full experience and see the full vision that Mr. Byers had. With that said, I think this trilogy is a must read for Forgotten Realms fans as there is one event in this book that will certainly have an impact throughout the entire Forgotten Realm landscape. This is a book I will recommend to hard core Forgotten Realms fans, but aside from that I am not sure how often I will be recommending this one.

I am not a professional reviewer by any means, but when I came to add my review for Undead I was shocked that it didn't average 4 1/2 or 5 stars. I am wondering if perhaps I read a different copy of Undead by Richard Lee Byers than a few others here? Because for me, it is 5/5 without question!

I found this book to be absolutely spectacular for a variety of reasons. One is that I feel as if this trilogy is truly epic, as it is greatly affecting and changing one of the more popular regions of Forgotten Realms, the Red Mage realm of Thay. For better or worse, the Realms are evolving. And after reading 100s of novels over 20+ years, I can say I am slightly depressed to see many things I have known for so long changing, but at the same time I have to admit that shaking things up and evolving isn't necessarily such a horrible thing.

This book also contained many "Wow" moments, I can count three or four where I literally dropped the book! Without giving away any spoilers whatsoever, one was a major event that is shaking the very core of the Realms, and it was introduced in such a sudden yet subtle way I literally didn't see it coming. *nor did the characters in the realms, which I think was part of the point, which made the way the author introduced it even more genius* Another was the interaction between a certain undead archmage and a villainous god, where not only the action but the dialogue was superb.

One of the criticisms about this book from a prominent reviewer was that the book "jumped" from one scene to another in rapid succession. However, I had every intention of raising the review because of it, certainly not lowering it! What is affecting Thay in this trilogy is an epic event, and one thing I dislike in novels is an epic event focusing on only a small handful of individuals or happening at a slow pace. I want to see some of the greater picture! Spice it up a little! The way the author introduced us to a variety of scenes from different locales was excellent, and was part of what kept me reading.

Just to throw in another point that came to mind before I'm finished, another important thing I liked about Undead is that the characters are extremely diverse in both class and personality. Primary characters contain combinations of Mage, Bard, Warrior, and Monk just as a few examples. Going hand in hand, the book also introduced truly new and creative undead instead of the generic staple, and the imagination put into the new undead aspects is quite splendid. If you like character and monster diversity, you will no doubt appreciate this book.

In Summary, Undead is easily in my top 10% of Realms novels. Interesting characters, epic plot, a wide cast, jaw dropping moments, excellent action and dialogue... it is hard to find a better formula. 5/5, no doubt in my mind whatsoever.

I was a bit disappointed with this second installment. On the plus side, there are few new characters so the story is better able to find its footing and begin to develop. The action takes off and there is some resolution to the war that rages inside Thay. On the other hand, the adventure happens in broad strokes and lacks the personal touch of the second half of the first book. There is also some rather poor editing and there are times when phrases stick out as unfitting (the wizard was decked out) and times when pronouns are confused and thus the section has to be re-read. I am looking forward to reading the third installment. Szass Tam is a tough villain and I hope there is more about his story and that he gets some time in the third novel. All in all a decent enough read that, while it wasn't a page turner, didn't require me to force myself to finish.

Ah! AH!

Dead things!

AH! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Good read. Be sure to pick up Book 1 and 3 though or else this one is worthless, unless you need fire starter. Then it's very handy.

RLB's 2nd Haunted Lands book was a pleasant surprise to me. The series is definately gaining momentum as it goes along. I wasn't very impressed with the first 75 pages or so. The characters from the first novel didn't leave me with a strong impression, so it took a while to remember who everyone was and what their motivations were. I'm glad I decided to stick with it. The action picks up and never relents.
Can't wait to go out and get the 3rd in the series this month!

Richard Lee Byers, Undead (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)

(warning: this review contains spoilers for Unclean. If you haven't read that one yet, don't read this review.)

Byers continues with his Haunted Lands trilogy, and the second book is a worthy successor to the first. Undead picks up ten years after Unclean left off, with that book's main characters scattered around doing the things they normally do. Szass Tam, however, has spent the last decade quietly researching a few tricks that could, if everything goes right, give him unimaginable power and allow him to win the war for control of Thay at last. All that stands in his way are a number of squabbling ex-heroes, a turncoat vampire, and a dream.

Since we already know the characters, Byers dispenses with most of the setup and throws us right into the action. If it's been a while since you read Unclean, this may prove a minor drawback, as there is such a thing as too little reminder of what came before. You'll be back up to speed quickly enough, however, and Byers never lets the pace flag here. Like a number of other reviewers, I think this one is a bit better than Unclean, in part because of the hike in average pace, but also because we get to know some of these characters a lot better than we did in the previous book. Byers manages to fit in small bits of character development that really do add up to something, and in genre writing, that can be pretty impressive. I like this series a great deal, and can't wait for book three. ****

I looked forward to this next book in the series and it didn't disappoint. It had everything you expect in a good Forgotten Realms novel. Sure the battles against Szass Tamm are a little lopsided and seem hopeless but it'll make the third book worth the wait.

This is a good story with a different style than most novels of the Forgotten Realms. I especially liked the use of the gods in this book. The ten year gives a little confusion at first, but you eventually overcome that and get a good book. I would give it a 4.5 overall.

Years ago, the second Forgotten Realms novel I read was by Richard Lee Byers, and it got me hooked on Realms fiction, which I had mostly avoided until then. I have found his books to be consistently good: well-constructed with vivid characterizations. "Undead," however, is so incredibly bad that I could not finish the second chapter. By page 70 the poorly-written hackwork was so awful that I literally had to force myself to glance at the last two pages of the chapter -- which were even worse than what I had read on page 70.

Oh, page 70! What a sparkling trove of brilliant, well-polished prose:



° "I'm unsettled because the Lady of Mysteries is dead."

° "Do you mean the goddess of magic?" he asked, sounding more intrigued than alarmed. But then, he wasn't a magic-user and didn't understand the implications.

° "Yes. And for the moment, her destruction taints the well from which all mages draw their power."



WTH?!?!?!? A Thayan zulkir, someone who has lived her entire life wrapped in magic, just matter-of-factly says to her henchman, "The Lady of Mysteries is dead" and proceeds to go about her business as if nothing worse had happened than that her familiar had farted during a dinner party? Did she learn this by receiving a telegram or something during the battle which had been the subject of the preceding twenty-six pages of the book and merely glance at it without reading it? And Malark Springhill, centuries old Monk of the Long Death that he is, "didn't understand the implications" of the death of the goddess of magic or the consequences of magic going awry? What?!? Was he in a coma or something during 1358 DR (seventeen years previously) when the previous goddess of magic died ... but not until after the world witnessed such horrors as healing spells withering limbs, boiling black rain falling from the sky, the sun rising to the zenith and then going backwards to set in the east ... among other things?

When wizardry failed in the world of Dragonlance, people had to struggle to discover sorcery and other forms of magic to cope with the calamity. In "Undead" powerful wizards whose very lives depend upon magic go on with their Realms-shaking magewar as if the tearing of the Weave was no more inconvenient than an ill-timed hiccup!

That was merely the straw which broke my suspension of disbelief. The whole book up the that point seemed more like a ghosthack rewrite than anything of Byers I had previously read. The events were formulaic, the characterizations (what little there was of them) were jejune, and page after page read as if the author was just describing a D&D session -- and a particularly bad one, too! Szass Tam, zulkir of necromancy, would-be king of Thay, makes a joke in the prologue. Szass Tam. The lich. Architect of a thousand evil plots - slayer of tens of thousands - demonologist and assassin of countless Good mages ... makes a joke. The thud of its landing might have been heard across Toril. Byers wrote that?

The biggest (yawn) "encounter" in the beginning of the book is with some sort of skeletal serpent-thing in a graveyard. As I was reading it I had the unwelcome sensation of holding a book which was nothing but shreds and patches stapled to the skeleton of a story concocted by a committee of the same buffoons at Hasbro who thought that it would be fun to rewrite ALL of the rules to D&D, destroy the Forgotten Realms, and (not incidentally) kill off any characters currently being run by players in Forgotten Realms games. "Undead" REEKS of corporate hack writing -- some corporate schmuck, not Byers, apparently dictated what would be in this book: "Mystra must die before the end of the second chapter" - "Epilogue must open door for sequel set in 4th edition Realms" -- "Do not use the words 'New Coke' in the text" -- "fnord." ...

I tried to skim through the rest of the book and find someplace -- anyplace! -- that looked interesting, but the book just seemed to roll steadily downhill. The Epilogue bore such similarity to the end of Paul S. Kemp's Shadow War trilogy -- which I had finished yesterday -- that I honestly believe that much -- if not most -- of the text of "Undead" was written by some corporate hack whose job it has been to conform all post-February-2008 Realms fiction with the glorious world of Hasbro's DnD.New.Coke.

Just to prove that it wasn't the constant battle scenes which turned me off of "Undead:" the day after putting this hackwork aside, I took up "Nagash the Sorcerer (Time of Legends)" by Mike Lee -- a Tomb Kings novel for Warhammer's Black Library -- and swept through about 150 pages in the first day's reading, most of it devoted to a single battle and its immediate aftermath. I also finished Byers's "The Rage (Forgotten Realms: The Year of the Rogue Dragons, Book 1) yesterday, so it's not him I dislike -- I just think "Undead" is a piece of garbage.

If you want to read something by Byers about Thay, read Unclean (Forgotten Realms: The Haunted Lands, Book 1) (Bk. 1) and stop there. Don't waste your time or your money on "Undead," because you won't get either back. I'm giving it one star because Amazon doesn't allow half-stars.