Mark Del Franco

We know more about the Weird, more about elves and fairies, more about the pre-Convergence world. We get some neat insight into Connor by way of meeting his brother (!) and learning about his family. We get a lot about druidism in this universe, which, for a magic junkie like me, was awesome.

What we don't get is any sort of progress at all about Connor's magical ability. He seems very resigned to it now, and while that's good it doesn't do much to add tension to the book. He can't spend all show more his time going on about what he's lost and how he wants to kill Bergin Vize, but I'd like to see him trying more things. Especially with Leo having this new and strange aura and abilities, it would seem that Connor would be giving a bit more thought to his own issues. I don't want him to get his powers back with a snap of his fingers or anything, but I do want him to try, to struggle, to do anything. Saluting the sun is great, but it isn't enough. Give me something.

There was a really cool little moment when Joe tells Connor that he knew Carda (the troll woman) back before the Convergence and that she "used to eat baby rabbits like popcorn." Joe said it with affection, and it was treated as a normal thing, which, I guess, it was. Connor acknowledged this same thing. I like this about del Franco's books--he accepts things.

A weird thing that struck me was that at the end of the battle Connor left with Meryl, and they left Leo lying there unconscious. That's out of character for Connor and I have to wonder if it was some sort of editing mistake where del Franco and his editors just forgot to mention "and after they settled Leo comfortably in the ambulance and bought him a lollipop and a romance novel..." because it's totally weird.

Meryl Dian is just cool. Seriously. And the Marchgrafin Eorla Kruge is badass. More, please. show less

I really liked this book. Connor Grey is kind of an asshole, but he's aware he's been an asshole and he's actively changing. He had privilege in his world, the kind of privilege that was innate--it came with his druidic power. Now that he's lost that power he's getting a great look at how the rest of the world lives, and at the person he used to be. Then there's The Weird, which is a bad Boston neighborhood inhabited by fairies, dwarves, elves, and everyone else who's not quite welcome in show more society. It's perfectly plausible that a neighborhood like this would spring up if all of a sudden The Convergence happened and we were faced with these new magical races.

I like the plot, the murders, the people Connor knows. I especially liked Shay, the androgynous human, who ends up being a vehicle for Connor to understand himself and the murderer, and maybe a little bit about the world around him. I wish Shay would stick around, and maybe he'll show up in some future book. Or maybe he'll get out of The Weird and make a great life for himself. Joe the flit is a particular favorite of mine. He is never exactly what I think he is, and what I think that means is he never falls into a stereotype but is a very well-rounded character.

Reading this book along with the other urban fantasy I've been reading--especially The Dresden Files--showed just how different this book was. You know, because you're told, that Connor has had relationships with certain women, you know he's sexually attracted to women he meets, but it never feels oppressive or icky. Maybe some of that is because Del Franco himself is gay, or maybe it's just because he's a good writer with a healthy respect for everyone.

I heartily recommend this to you all. You'll get a healty dose of elves, fairies, and magic, but you'll also get a man looking for his place in the world by recognizing his own privilege and being conscious of and caring about the differences of others. show less

How deep can you fall when you once were a hero-druid, solving the most interesting crimes and being rewarded for it with money, star-dom and all kinds of pleasures? What if your powers get taken away from you and no one, no one, knows how to give them back to you? Connor knows. Connor lives in the Weird. If you can call waking up, being depressed and going to sleep 'living'...' Ive always been drawn to fantasies that break down the barriers between worlds, and this one does it with grit, show more grime and magic intact. Seriously, do yourself a favor and grab a copy. A perfect read for a cold, rainy night. One with a moon that shouldn't be in the sky. show less

Connor's police detective friend, Leonard Murdock, calls him in to assist on a murder case. It seems that a dead Dead guy (that is NOT a typo) has been found headless in the sewers. Now as odd as this may seem, this is the neighborhood of The Weird we're talking about, so naturally things end up getting progressively worse. Loved it. I couldnt put it down and am anxious to see what next adventure of Connor Gray is all about.