Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

[lightreads]

Rivers 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.



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Comments

[kate_nepveu]

I have a review of both in progress and liked them both a lot, though I think both have plot problems. (If you understand how the two plot threads in this came together, please do explain, because I got nothing.)

I was pretty happy that there _were_ complications and consequences in the sequel, and thought upon due consideration that they were handled well, but it's not an area that my antennae are always as good at as they should be, so I will be curious to see what you think.