Reviews

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

popcornparadise's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

5.0

ehms's review

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

timinbc's review

4.0

Aha, so THIS is where the series started. I read #3 first.

I liked this partly because a lot of the action is in and aronud Covent Garden, where I happen to have been recently.

As with #3, there are considerable similarities to Charlie Stross's Laundry series, but on investigation I find that they are both fine with it and have discussed doing one together. If you like or dislike the Laundry, you may well feel the same about this.

Peter is inexperienced but not stupid, and it's refreshing to see a magic story in which the hero(ine) isn't obviously going to become a Top Wizard if he/she doesn't blow up the world first, or open a door to the Dungeon Dimensions.

The inter-group politics are well done, and the resolution of the "what's going on here?" part of the plot is good.

The ending sorta went "pfffft" so I withhold one star.

I'll read #2, then decide whether to do them all.

naturally's review against another edition

liked: interesting characters, descriptions of the city
disliked: the plot really DRAGS. certain comments and jokes about nigerian culture feels overfamiliar and disrespectful, especially factoring in that aaronovitch is a white man...

tregina's review against another edition

3.0

I loved, loved, all of the characters in this book. Loved. The plot, a little less so, and I think the worldbuilding is about halfway there. But it is totally and completely my kind of thing, and I'm excited to move on to the next book.

wirthaa's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

testaroscia's review against another edition

4.0

Went into this with lowish expectations, but wanted a short book to tide me over till I embark on Stephenson's latest tome. In reality it fully deserves it's four stars - i really enjoyed it. It has the same atmosphere of American Gods - the juxtaposition of mythical figures in a stark contemporary world but even though it does not have the refinement and lyricism of Gaiman, it makes up for it with humour and great one liners. I think i have time to read book # 2...

phi222's review

dark funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ash397's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

veraann's review against another edition

3.0

The characters are great. The setting of London was written in a way that it almost felt like a character itself. The book made me think police procedural with a PI feel even though the MC was part of the police force and it had supernatural elements. When I first heard about this I thought I would like it and it would be right up my alley. Yet, I was bored. Even though it was nicely written and had some great characters and concepts I just could not get into this one. Nothing really held my interest and other than those things I mentioned above I probably will not remember much about this book. There was nothing that made me want to pick up the next one. I guess it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.