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A review by saritaroth
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
4.0
This book is in a genre all its own. It is a crime novel . . . but it's not. It is a supernatural fantasy . . . but it's not. In my opinion, it is an amalgamation of both, kind of a confusing, overwhelming, awe-inspiring combination of both genres.
The book centers around Peter Grant, a constable just starting out on the London police force. When beginning to investigate a murder, however, he finds that not everything is as it seems. He encounters such beings as ghosts, vampires, wizards, and river goddesses that he'd never known existed. In so doing, he also releases his inner wizard lurking below the surface.
At first, I was not only impressed by the range of genre that the author is endeavoring to cover but also the humor with which the author tells the story. In parts, I couldn't keep from laughing out loud. Aaronovitch's views on the human condition are quite humorous. For example, at one point, the author writes, "nothing builds character like being abused, spat at, and vomited on by members of the public." When Peter Grant is on the trail of a ghost, he muses, "Equipment for ghost-hunters: thermal underwear, very important; warm coat; thermos flask; patience; ghost." And, early on in his relationship with Nightingale, when he realizes that Nightingale is in fact a wizard, there is the following interesting exchange:
"'So magic is real [. . .] which makes you a . . . what?'
'A wizard.'
'Like Harry Potter?'
Nightingale sighed, 'No,' he said, 'Not like Harry Potter.'
'In what way?'
'I'm not a fictional character,' said Nightingale."
Although the book is comedic in parts and kept my interest to the very end, I decided to give it only four stars, because parts of it confused me and because the author seemed to be attempting to cram in as many supernatural elements into one book. Usually, a fantasy or supernatural book has one supernatural element, be it wizards, ghosts, or vampires. This book has all of the aforementioned elements and throws in river goddesses as well. Sometimes, I just wanted to scream, "Pick a lane!"
The book centers around Peter Grant, a constable just starting out on the London police force. When beginning to investigate a murder, however, he finds that not everything is as it seems. He encounters such beings as ghosts, vampires, wizards, and river goddesses that he'd never known existed. In so doing, he also releases his inner wizard lurking below the surface.
At first, I was not only impressed by the range of genre that the author is endeavoring to cover but also the humor with which the author tells the story. In parts, I couldn't keep from laughing out loud. Aaronovitch's views on the human condition are quite humorous. For example, at one point, the author writes, "nothing builds character like being abused, spat at, and vomited on by members of the public." When Peter Grant is on the trail of a ghost, he muses, "Equipment for ghost-hunters: thermal underwear, very important; warm coat; thermos flask; patience; ghost." And, early on in his relationship with Nightingale, when he realizes that Nightingale is in fact a wizard, there is the following interesting exchange:
"'So magic is real [. . .] which makes you a . . . what?'
'A wizard.'
'Like Harry Potter?'
Nightingale sighed, 'No,' he said, 'Not like Harry Potter.'
'In what way?'
'I'm not a fictional character,' said Nightingale."
Although the book is comedic in parts and kept my interest to the very end, I decided to give it only four stars, because parts of it confused me and because the author seemed to be attempting to cram in as many supernatural elements into one book. Usually, a fantasy or supernatural book has one supernatural element, be it wizards, ghosts, or vampires. This book has all of the aforementioned elements and throws in river goddesses as well. Sometimes, I just wanted to scream, "Pick a lane!"