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48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Shape of Things to Come, April 11, 2007
Got to admit, this title has great timing. With the Dresden Files just kicking off on television there's some public interest in paranormal style sleuths who are tracking the kinds of critters that go bump in the night. A lion's share urban paranormals tend to feature female Buffy slayer types, and their male counterparts are a bit harder to find. I wasn't sure what to expect from this debut novel about a druid in a fairy-ridden Boston, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised.
Connor Grey is a druid, one of the magical creatures that make up the fey that have lived side by side with humanity since an even called the Convergence. Magically disabled by a recent run-in, Connor's life has spiraled downhill and forced him to eat more than a little humble pie. To supplement his disability checks, he takes part time work with the police force. But now a case has really got him rattled. Fairies are turning up dead in the Weird with their hearts cut out and Connor is sure more is going on than just a few random killings. Soon Connor is up to his eyeballs in trouble, and if he can't find his way out it just might mean the end of the world, as he knows it! The washed out, cynical detective doggedly pursuing a case against his better judgment is nothing new in fiction, fantasy or otherwise. Debut author Mark Del Franco manages to take on the storyline with some fresh twists, and some well-crafted characterization. Despite Connor fitting the mold of the private investigator, he's also got the glimmers of the hero he could become that creep through the cynicism and depression. And while Connor's spiral downward obviously is a tragedy for him, he wasn't a very nice guy in his former position--something he has to own up to. That aspect makes for a more interesting transformation as our jaded hero heads towards the potential of being a hero in truth. Most of the characters are three-dimensional and appropriately complex. Perhaps one of the liveliest characters is Stinkwort, a.k.a. Joe, a tiny winged "flit" who is not to be taken lightly despite his pink wings. Joe isn't just comic relief, which is a nice touch since it would have been relatively easy to put the character in that role. Del Marco manages to make Joe not only funny, but also poignant and powerful.
The story takes place on the streets Boston, albeit one populated with elves and magic, and it's clear the author has familiarity with the setting, which is a benefit when dealing with cityscapes. The way fairy and mundane world combine is fascinating, and Del Franco's descriptions and details indicate some thought-out world building. However, despite the details some of the mechanics of this urban fantasy are still hazy and Connor's own paranormal status a bit puzzling. Connor is a druid, and therefore a part of the fey, but other than his intuitive powers he seems basically human. It's unclear in the book if druids are essentially the term for humans with magic or if they are truly a different race from humans. While such creatures as the elves and fairies and trolls fall nicely into what is classically considered fey, druids don't traditionally get classified as fey, so the reader needs more clarification. While "druid" title versus "wizard" or "sorcerer" is unusual, there isn't much to distinguish why Connor is a druid rather than a wizard or sorcerer. Some kind of clarification would have helped to understand Connor's own position in the fey community as well as clarify what druids exactly were that was different from wizards or sorcerers. Despite these concerns, this wasn't a bad kickoff for a debut author; the opening tends to drag a bit and some of the characterization descriptions become redundant, but overall the story kept moving and kept things interesting all the way through a rewarding conclusion. Clearly the Connor's investigations aren't done yet and I'll be looking forward to seeing where the next cast takes his readers.
If you like murder mysteries tied with magic, this will likely be your cup of tea. Especially if you're looking for something with a stronger male voice and none of the romance/eroticism that inhabits for those who enjoy Unshapely Things, you might want to try Fool Moon by Jim Butcher or Stalking the Unicorn by Michael Resnick.
Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad
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40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
New novelist starts off with a bang, February 20, 2007
Someone's killing fae prostitutes in the Weird, a fringe neighborhood of Boston where the poor and the fae intersect.
Connor Grey, who used to live in much nicer environs, is seeing the effects in his new neighborhood--and he's been called in by his friend Murdock on the Boston Police Department to help with the investigation. Once upon a time, he'd have headed his own investigation on the part of the Guild, which serves as the Fae equivalent of a peace-keeping authority in this newly converged world. But after his injury at the hands of an eco-terrorist elf, his own druidic essence is blocked and the posh Guild office and status are gone. He's just a pensioner drawing disability and trying to get himself back together.
Now, Grey's getting his dose of excitement by helping the humans. He quickly discovers that the deaths are magically based and if someone doesn't stop them--the world could have another event similar to the Cataclysm, which brought Human and Fae worlds together back in 1900.
"Unshapely Things" is one of the best new novels I've read in a long time. Del Franco's world is well-realized, he's got both strong male and female characters, and he really knows how to keep the reader engaged and interested.
If you like Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files," Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan, and Anita Blake before the books turned to erotica, you're going to love "Unshapely Things."
Very good start, Mr. Del Franco, I hope to see many more books from you in the future!
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting trip into the paranormal..., July 27, 2007
Admit it ladies... while we love our tough chicks who run around showing up the guys, once in a while we need to enjoy a man who can do the same thing. Enter Connor Grey. The ex-Druid introduces us to The Weird, the Boston neighborhood where the odd and unexplainable are the norm. Throw in a handful of slain faery hookers and you've got yourself an interesting premise for this novel.
So why the 3 star rating? Well, while this has an interesting plot and setting, likable characters and a good mystery, I found myself constantly bored. There was just something not there that I look for in a good can't-put-it-down book. Del Franco's writing style is alright though at times I felt as if he was forcing the ideas into the reader.
If you enjoyed Nightlife by Rob Thurman or enjoyed this book and haven't tried Nightlife yet these two are quite comparable. Though I myself didn't love this book as much as hoped I am happy to add it to my growing shelf of guys who can hold their own in the female dominated paranormals genre.
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