lightreads: a partial image of a etymology tree for the Indo-European word 'leuk done in white neon on black'; in the lower left is (Default)
lightreads ([personal profile] lightreads) wrote2011-04-30 09:17 pm

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

Rivers of LondonRivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Now this was a breath of fresh air. Which I guess sounds funny if I mention it’s an urban fantasy about a somewhat bumbling cop who takes a witness statement from a ghost and ends up as the apprentice to the last wizard in England. But seriously, this was a breeze of competence and sanity in a welter of bad books.



I think the most important thing is that it’s funny. Not like first person urban fantasy funny, but actually funny. And our protagonist (first person, natch) is great: he’s one of those smart guys who comes across as pretty loopy most of the time, and I completely believed the way he talked about women and his mixed race and just. *hand gestures*.



Also, the mystery is cool and creative and genuinely horrifying, and there’s this whole thing with the personified rivers that is just great. I’m bubbling, I know, but goddamn I needed a good book.



I am a leetle bit worried about how some consequences and complications will be handled in the sequel, but that's just because I'm a suspicious cuss.



Note: Book sold as Midnight Riot in the U.S.



View all my reviews

Post a comment in response:

This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting