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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This started out really fun. It got progressively less coherent unfortunately, and by the end it really felt a bit too much like a patchwork of inconsistent story threads. Without spoiling the book, the mystery is actually pretty well done, including the twist. Everything else though, fell short. Especially in terms of character growth. I'm not a prude, but the eroticism seemed pretty forced in all cases. The fact that most actions had zero consequences from chapter to chapter also made this a hard book to really like.
That said, it was a fun single sitting read. Good weekend fodder, and an excellent recommendation from Amrita as always!! ^_^
That said, it was a fun single sitting read. Good weekend fodder, and an excellent recommendation from Amrita as always!! ^_^
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think I've read too many murder mysteries in a row and that's maybe why this one didn't quite hit? There's nothing majorly wrong with the writing - Aaronovitch is clearly a practiced writer, especially good at banter and puns and funny descriptions. The story is well-plotted; and I simply must mention Molly the maid, who is delightfully creepy. Aaronovitch clearly is enamored with London and its history (actually, for those of us who don't hail from the UK, a map and a vocabulary list with all the police abbreviations would've been great additions to this book). And still I managed to get to the big reveal, which I didn't anticipate at all, and feel nothing but the vaguest implication of surprise.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Gore, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
I wanted badly to like this but unfortunately I didn't.
Its not that the writing is bad, this book does have a unique storyline which is refreshing to see. However, the chapters are incredibly long (for my taste). I always prefer books with shorter chapters (10 pages maximum) and this book had chapters where they were 30 pages long, which isn't necessarily bad I know some people prefer long chapters, but it makes the book feel like it is lasting longer than it is. I feel like a lot of these chapters could have been cut in the middle as some followed multiple days which baffled me as usually chapters stop after a certain sequence of scenes and most of the time definitely after that day has finished.
I liked the aspects of magic in this book as people know I love fantasy, but I felt myself cringing a lot. The magic as stupid as this sounds felt very unrealistic. It felt like the main character had suddenly out of no where was able to conduct magic despite not believing in it a few chapters ago. Which I also realise happens in other books but it felt weird to me.
I also know the author was born in London, I know this as I had to google while reading as the amount of "British" phrases was driving me insane (I am British) and I was convinced this was someone who hasn't ever been to the UK and thinks this is how we speak. I am from up North so maybe in the South you guys speak like that but I know we up North do not haha.
I am happy for those who enjoyed this book but sadly it wasn't for me.
Its not that the writing is bad, this book does have a unique storyline which is refreshing to see. However, the chapters are incredibly long (for my taste). I always prefer books with shorter chapters (10 pages maximum) and this book had chapters where they were 30 pages long, which isn't necessarily bad I know some people prefer long chapters, but it makes the book feel like it is lasting longer than it is. I feel like a lot of these chapters could have been cut in the middle as some followed multiple days which baffled me as usually chapters stop after a certain sequence of scenes and most of the time definitely after that day has finished.
I liked the aspects of magic in this book as people know I love fantasy, but I felt myself cringing a lot. The magic as stupid as this sounds felt very unrealistic. It felt like the main character had suddenly out of no where was able to conduct magic despite not believing in it a few chapters ago. Which I also realise happens in other books but it felt weird to me.
I also know the author was born in London, I know this as I had to google while reading as the amount of "British" phrases was driving me insane (I am British) and I was convinced this was someone who hasn't ever been to the UK and thinks this is how we speak. I am from up North so maybe in the South you guys speak like that but I know we up North do not haha.
I am happy for those who enjoyed this book but sadly it wasn't for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For the writing style, the story itself five stars!!! Although it’s rather gruesome, but I’m very easily scared.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced