Unseen World by Sean Cummings
January 1, 2011
Urban Fantasy
Paperback
Snowbooks

Reviewed by Mandi

Marshall Conrad is a superhero – well, a reluctant superhero. After being sexually assaulted as a teenager, he discovered when in the presence of evil, he can use that power to do good. He can fly, and his eyes glow, another side-effect of siphoning off the evil power. Because of all this he is socially a recluse, creating websites and other odd jobs from his house. He does get visions of future crimes to be committed, which allows him to thwart the bad guys on most attempts.

But his small town of Greenfield is about to become a very scary place. A possible serial killer is on the loose and Marshall’s visions related to this spree are blocked. He soon befriends Stella, and she opens his eyes to an entire new world of supernatural beings, some that will help him bring down this being that threatens to destroy the world.

Unseen World is a quirky little book about a hermit superhero. The book has a strong start – mostly because we meet our hero Marshall Conrad and his character is the strength of this book. He is a little older, doesn’t really like people, yet because he has been offered this “gift” of visions of violence and flying to save the day, he usually finds himself out in the skies of Greenfield at night thwarting the bad guys. When his neighbor Marnie comes into his life with a stalker hot on her tail, his life turns upside down. Marnie doesn’t just come into his life, she comes INTO HIS LIFE. She is in his stuff, asking questions and just a full force of nature. I was a little surprised Marshall just lets Marnie intrude like she does. He is such a recluse, and he doesn’t get upset when she is in his closet and going through his mail. Marnie eventually turns into a love interest for Marshall, yet I was never quite sold on the match. Marnie is in the book a lot at the beginning and then we don’t see her for awhile and apparently it is during this time that Marshall realizes he is in love with her. I wanted to see them fall in love – not just be told that is how Marshall feels.

As the story progresses, more and more supernatural aspects are introduced. We eventually meet Stella and Ruby. I won’t say what they are but they really add some nice things to this book.  At some points there is a lot of information dumping that weighs the story down. At other points the action is quite fascinating and the pace picks up. The book overall is a little uneven in its pacing. I think I would have just been happy with Marshall and more Marnie, and not the many other creatures we are introduced to. It all becomes a bit convoluted – but there are more books to be written in this series so it will be fun to see how everything plays out.

I think Unseen World has a really strong beginning. The middle is a little tough to get through, but Marshall’s voice throughout is entertaining.

Rating: C

Recent Reviews:
Melanie’s Book Addiction – 5/5
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