The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement. Boston police call in Connor Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual.
And if Connor can't figure out the killer's M. Previews available in: English. Add another edition? Copy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help? Unshapely Things Mark Del Franco. Donate this book to the Internet Archive library. If you own this book, you can mail it to our address below. Borrow Listen. Want to Read. I like that goodreads has a button that says "I'm finished" because I am definitely finished with this book.
I'm not surprised that I didn't like Unshapely Things since I tend to dislike male led urban fantasy books, but I didn't dislike it for the reasons I normally do. Usually the main character annoys me to no end in male led urban fantasy, and that was not the case here. Connor Grey isn't too much of a swaggering idiot, but he isn't very deep or complex either. His sidekick detective is also I like that goodreads has a button that says "I'm finished" because I am definitely finished with this book.
His sidekick detective is also not immediately appealing as a character. The problem is, nothing drew me into Unshapely Things. Connor's backstory isn't immediately given, so there was no draw there. The characters aren't impressive, so that didn't help. The world presented is similar to many other urban fantasy novels I've read, no points gained there. The mystery isn't jaw dropping or though provoking. In short, there is no reason to read this. On top of that, everything is really bogged down by an overdose of explanation.
Many urban fantasies can fall into the over explanation trap, and that is the case here. I get that the authors want to explain the world to us, but let it unfold from the characters and the surroundings, don't have every being the character runs into explain what they are and where they came from, especially when all they are is an elf. Seriously, I find the urban fantasy genre to be hit or miss for me.
A book has to have realistic dynamic characters or a page turning mystery to be successful, and this has neither. I don't care how much action there may be in the last pages or who is killing prostitutes, because the author didn't make me care. The dialogue is simplistic and boring, the mystery is lackluster, the characters are made of cardboard, and it's just not worth wasting time on for me.
I'm sure others may like it, as many others enjoy many urban fantasy books out there, but I need substance, not filler, and Unshapely Things is a whole lot of nothing to me. Apr 13, Elizabeth rated it did not like it Shelves: urban-fantasy , boys , detective , stars. I immediately realized this would not be the most original urban fantasy I'd ever read - Connor Grey is more than a little reminiscent of Harry Dresden.
Grey is a Druid who has lost his magic mojo and most of his high-powered magic-using friends. He consults with the police on cases involving magic, magic-users or other strangeness sound familiar? But I decided to stick with it. I love Harry Dresden, and I hoped that Franco would at least provide me with a few hours of entertainment.
But that I immediately realized this would not be the most original urban fantasy I'd ever read - Connor Grey is more than a little reminiscent of Harry Dresden. But that was not to be. Halfway through the book, I nearly stopped reading. It was what I call the Horror Movie Moment - a plot device so screamingly obvious that you can't help but wish the character would figure out that they are in a horror movie and therefore should not go into the dark basement.
In this case, it was our admitted bran damaged hero who forgot to look after the human decoys he sent into danger to draw out the murderer because he got distracted by the most untrustworthy characters in the book.
Yes, that's right - he had been complaining for pages already about how untrustworthy those Guild folk were but immediately followed them when they said they found the murderer. Predictably, his human decoy was killed, he felt guilty and swore to find the murderer to avenge this senseless death, yada yada yada.
It was a predictable snorefest thereafter, devolving into cliche after cliche, and the end came as no surprise to anyone. What a disappointment. Read this review and others on my blog. Sep 14, Kathy Davie rated it liked it Shelves: fantasy , urban.
First in the Connor Grey urban fantasy series revolving around a powerless Druid in Boston. My Take It's okay. Del Franco has an interesting concept with a different perspective on the fae. Unfortunately, it's just a little too same-same. I do like the twist del Franco has given it with Connor beginning to see how arrogant and unfeeling he was when he did have all his powers.
It could be interesting to read if only to watch him become aware and humble. Certainly a lesson we could all absorb in som First in the Connor Grey urban fantasy series revolving around a powerless Druid in Boston.
Certainly a lesson we could all absorb in some fashion! Del Franco initiates this series very nicely, setting the scene, establishing the characters, and introducing the issues swirling around the supernaturals and the humans. He provides all this seamlessly as part of the storysuch a treat to not be treated to the info dump!
It's a touch of real with Connor struggling to survive on his disability check. An interesting change from the usual financial level of storybook supes with their tremendous wealth. Nor does one expect to encounter drunken fairies who work in this world as prostitutes. Connor does whine on about his loss of power, but I do like that he's not letting it get him down.
He's still out there trying. I did like the quote at the end: "Never question life. Question its point all you want, but not life itself".
The Story There's a serial killer out there murdering fairies. Not leaving anything behind by which the Boston PD or the Guild can track him or her. It's typical investigative work. Digging, following clues that don't add up, which lead to clues that do. But it's all so nebulous and impossible. Until suddenly the clues do start to make a horrible kind of sense.
Some true, most not. The end result, however, if Connor and Murdock can't stop the murderer, could well end the world. The Characters Connor Grey is technically a Druid, just a powerless one. He's on a disability pension after a fiasco with an elf, Bergen Vize , and a nuclear reactor. He currently supplements his income by putting his knowledge of the supernatural in aid of the Boston PD.
He's definitely come down in the world, living in his loft apartment in the Weird. Detective Lieutenant Leo Murdock of the Boston PD hires Connor as a consultant on any cases involving fey that the Guild doesn't want to handlemost of 'em. Commissioner Scott Murdock is Leo's father. He doesn't like Connor, but does seem to have an appreciation. The Murdock family gets together every Sunday for dinner along with a slew of guests. Captain Emilio Ruiz is Murdock's boss and generally cool with whatever Murdock's up to.
Stinkwort , a. Belgor is an elf who runs a magic shop in the Weird. It's best to avoid most of his waresthey're fakes, but he does tend to hear things. Tansy is, was, Gamelyn's flit. Shay and Robin are a human couple working the streets in the Weird. Briallen verch Gwyll ab Gwyll is "one of the most powerful beings" Connor knows and she's a friend, a Druid, leader for the Druidic College, and an advisor to world leaders.
She's one of the very few who have stood by Connor. Gillen Yor is Connor's healer at Avalon Memorial. He and Briallen have trying to get Connor to do his therapy.
The Guild is a policing agency and diplomatic corps for the fey in all the major cities. The Weird is a downtrodden neighborhood by an abandoned pier that is home to a lot of supernaturals. It's where humans go slumming. Connor describes her as carnivorous; macDuin hates him. Meryl Dian works at the Guild maintaining the archives. Seems she's had a few negative encounters with Connor. Dealle is a fairy with a mentally challenged son, Corcan , who is half-fairy, half-elf.
Gerda Alfheim lives in Germany with her half-fairy, half-elfin son Gethin. Maeve is High Queen of the Seelie Court. The Cover The cover is certainly prickly with that strong bolt of lightning in the background as we catch Connor squatting on a rooftop overlooking Boston. In a black leather jacket and jeans, he's definitely got his eye on something. I really don't know where the title comes from. Jul 15, Brooke rated it liked it. What's it about?
In The Weird, a neighborhood in Boston, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. Their hearts have all been taken and left in their place - magical stones. The Guild, uninterested in these murders leaves the solving up to the humans. Working with the humans is Connor Grey, a druid who was left crippled when he lost almost all of his power What's it about? Working with the humans is Connor Grey, a druid who was left crippled when he lost almost all of his powers in an accident with a radical terrorist elf.
He was taken off The Guild, and put on disability. Connors got a lot to deal with while trying to solve this case: Not being respected by the fey community, not being liked by the humans, and not having his full magical abilities to put to use.
By trading information with a few of his close allies Connor figures out that these aren't random murders, that the dead prostitutes are a part of a ancient ritual that will open a portal and destroy the world. My thoughts? First of all this book was released in , and it has taken me this long to catch up on it! I love getting a taste of a guys perspective in Urban Fantasy, a genre where women reign supreme. You gotta love him. He's on the outs without his powers, and many times hearing how he acted previously when he had his powers make it nice to see him knocked down a peg.
He's surrounded by a great cast of characters. Maybe a possible love interest in one? I vote for Meryl. Also, his friend Stinkwort, aka Joe, a Flit, is one of the best characters. What is it with small characters and their fantastic attitudes. Absolutely loved him Joe! His human partner and friend Murdock is straight forward, and is content to put Connor in his place whenever necessary. The case, hearing the back story on the Fae races, and about Connor's past were all interesting.
Although, sometimes the descriptiveness got to be a bit much. I'm on the side where there is such a thing as TOO much detail, and it seemed like since this was the first book in a series Mark wanted to set up The Weird so that he didn't have to do it in future books.
At least I hope that's what he did. I'd compare the characterization in this series to the Dresden Files, and the world building to Kim Harrison's Hollows. Both very good series, so Connor Grey is in good company, but maybe not on the same level yet. Overall this was an enjoyable read for when I found myself in a reading slump. Now I'm back on the reading train and chugging right along!
Oct 24, Richard rated it liked it. So, to start off I liked the sound of this book, from the description of the story and while it sticks to what it says it felt a little lacklustre and didn't quite work for me. Connor Grey is a ex superstar druid who is down on his luck after being attacked by a Radical Elf and losing most of his power in the bargain, leaving him for the intent and purpose of the magical community a cripple, he finds his superficial magical friends leave him high and dry now he's disabled and he scrapes by, by do So, to start off I liked the sound of this book, from the description of the story and while it sticks to what it says it felt a little lacklustre and didn't quite work for me.
Connor Grey is a ex superstar druid who is down on his luck after being attacked by a Radical Elf and losing most of his power in the bargain, leaving him for the intent and purpose of the magical community a cripple, he finds his superficial magical friends leave him high and dry now he's disabled and he scrapes by, by doing consulting work for the police and hanging out with the few friends he still has and whinging about his own bad luck.
Now I think my problem is that the book tried to be too many things to too many people and I could draw comparison to a dozen or so other Urban Fantasy books that this book tries to take idea's from and make them its own but doesn't quite succeed.
Connor Grey is also a consultant for the normal Metropolitan police, but doesn't get along with his own kind or their authorities, and has a friend whose a Tiny Fairy Dresden Files Anyone? Ok this third ones a long shot but The Main character is whiney as hell about his own situation every dozen pages or so Cal Leandros anyone?
Now to be fair on Connor while he's not exactly a druid as the Iron druids Atticus is, to be honest for a druid Connor's not much of one at all, he doesn't seem to follow any rituals or religion and he was in an accident that leaves him with close to no special druidic powers to flex to prove his druidicness.
The book feels a little stale but as a first book it doesn't hold up too badly, I was crying out for a bit more explanation about how all these supernatural people arrived, what the specific kind of abilities creatures might have, and a bit more interaction with the world at large but my wish wasn't answered here.
The murder mystery storyline tends to hold up but I think the book was aiming for a Noir type feel and falls down a bit there. I also felt that most of the actual sleuthing feels done by other characters that Connor just reads about on his PC. So while I do sound negative about this book and reading what I've written it sounds bad even to me, I wouldn't take my personal opinions as a definitive slate against it.
In reality I've just read a lot better Urban Fantasies, and most of my current reading is from series' that have developed a lot over time and probably started out similar to this one hence the 3 stars, because that's what this book is really, an interesting but not inspiring start that we can hope improves over the series, I've seen there's more books out and ill keep them on my to read list and hope I'm right about them getting stronger as we go on.
Feb 25, Naiya rated it really liked it Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-favorites. Connor Gray had been on the fast track in the Druidic Ward Guild think magic Interpol —right up until he chased down an neo-environmentalist elf terrorist in a nuclear reactor. That day, Connor lost his magic, condo, and career.
What he gained was a dark shadow in his brain on an MRI and a certain lack of job prospects. Now he serves as a washed out consultant for the Boston PD, having gone from running high-profile investigations to an hourly, minimum rate. But what Connor still has is his inst Connor Gray had been on the fast track in the Druidic Ward Guild think magic Interpol —right up until he chased down an neo-environmentalist elf terrorist in a nuclear reactor.
But what Connor still has is his instinct for the weird. Written from a first person POV, Unshapely Things pairs its sardonic narrator with some great world building that will tickle the fancy of lovers of alternative history and magic speculative.
A word of warning though: do not go into this book looking for romance. In overall feel, Dresden Files Butcher meets the Hollows series Harrison and then get dunked into the real detective genres a la Agatha Christie. Me, I loved it. But why only three and a half stars? Unshapely Things is a intriguing debut novel with a solid plot and a solid series premise and promise. You can read the full review here. Re-read 12 Jan As part of my effort to eventually actually review the fourth book in the series, I'm reading all the currently published books.
I noticed what looked like it was the groundwork for something that happened in the fourth book, and started looking for clues about the timeline to confirm my suspicions.
I think they're correct, and I wonder how long that loose end is going to be left dangling, and how many other readers have noticed. I'm probably building that up to sound more e Re-read 12 Jan I'm probably building that up to sound more exciting than it is. It's the kind of plotline I thought was exciting and creative when I was 14 and writing fanfiction; I'm just trying to avoid being specific. Anyway, I'd say the world is well-developed and mildly interesting.
After all, I've been buying these books since they were being published. Should note that if they went to HC-first, though, I'd probably stop.
I feel like this particular book is like a read-once thing. It's not all that enjoyable on its own, but mostly as something that lays the groundwork. Also there's a Disposable Woman thing that kind of annoys me. Oh, I almost forgot. There's a gargoyle named Virgil. That didn't click until this re-read, but it made me chuckle.
Dec 22, Angela rated it liked it Shelves: urban-fantasy , ebooks. I have to admit that these days it is a refreshing change of pace to read an urban fantasy in which the protagonist is male; such thing are few and far between. I also have to admit that while male-protagonist urban fantasies have to work really, really hard for me to compete with the Dresden Files, Mark Del Franco's Unshapely Things gave it a good college try.
The book didn't entirely work for me. It's got issues with pacing and with what needs to get shown to the reader and what doesn't; for ex I have to admit that these days it is a refreshing change of pace to read an urban fantasy in which the protagonist is male; such thing are few and far between.
It's got issues with pacing and with what needs to get shown to the reader and what doesn't; for example, I could have done without long stretches of our hero, Connor Grey, looking stuff up on his computer. The dialogue didn't work for me entirely either; parts of it felt stiff and forced. Yet the story was interesting enough to keep me going to the end, and I will give it points for coming together fairly well at the end.
I'll probably be checking out book 2. Three stars. Oct 08, Lorelle rated it liked it Shelves: series-to-finish-by-end , uf-keen-as. Every time I spy a book with a lower rating, Im hopeful ive just come upon a little unexplored gem Theres lots of info dumps, its an uninteresting world ill endure the hard yards for a really cool world , and Connor Grey is dull.
There was not one secondary character that I was clinging onto for dear life I like I normally do. I skimmed the last 50 pages, but at least I almost made it, so a 3. I dont think Ill rush to go for number 2 unless I have a load of encou Every time I spy a book with a lower rating, Im hopeful ive just come upon a little unexplored gem I dont think Ill rush to go for number 2 unless I have a load of encouragement.
View 1 comment. Apr 15, Lauren Stoolfire rated it liked it Shelves: urban-fantasy , fantasy , fairy-tales. I'm always in the lookout for new to me urban fantasy and I'm glad I just happened to stumble upon this series opener, Unshapely Things Connor Grey 1 by Mark Del Franco.
It's a little too slow at times, but otherwise it's worth jumping into Connor's world. I'm looking forward to the sequel because I think this has the potential to become a great series. Nov 08, Shelley rated it liked it. Synopsis: Connor Grey is a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf named Bergin Vize. Images Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape Donate Ellipses icon An illustration of text ellipses.
Unshapely things Item Preview. EMBED for wordpress. Want more? Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement.
Boston police call in Conner Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual.
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