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blamelucy's review
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
The audiobook I listened to is excellently read/performed. Wouldn’t recommend listening to it before bed if you’re a vivid dreamer, but any other time is perfectly manageable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide, Trafficking, Murder, and Addiction
a_k_lennard's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
While I enjoyed reading this book overall, man was the author horny when he wrote it! Again the women are sexualised far more than they have to be but also Peter Grant shows some shoddy police work by focusing, not on the case or the murders, but having a nut.
Peter Grant felt more like a fully fledged character in this book and less like a middle aged white man pretending to be a black guy in his late 20’s. We get to know Peter Grant and his family a lot more in this book and it fleshes him out in such a nice way. However, the many sex scenes were not conducive to the plot and gave me the unwanted picture of a middle aged man leering as he wrote them on his laptop.
The plot itself is quite predictable but there is a big boss villain introduced that begins to make the following books more interesting and less about Peter Grant’s future dick.
Writing all of these points really makes me realise how much I like the funny comments and easy-to-read style and the lovely gory murders — otherwise I would have put this book down. My dad recommended this series to me and I never want to read a sex scene again thinking ‘my dad read this’, our relationship is complicated enough.
Peter Grant felt more like a fully fledged character in this book and less like a middle aged white man pretending to be a black guy in his late 20’s. We get to know Peter Grant and his family a lot more in this book and it fleshes him out in such a nice way. However, the many sex scenes were not conducive to the plot and gave me the unwanted picture of a middle aged man leering as he wrote them on his laptop.
The plot itself is quite predictable but there is a big boss villain introduced that begins to make the following books more interesting and less about Peter Grant’s future dick.
Writing all of these points really makes me realise how much I like the funny comments and easy-to-read style and the lovely gory murders — otherwise I would have put this book down. My dad recommended this series to me and I never want to read a sex scene again thinking ‘my dad read this’, our relationship is complicated enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Gore, and Body horror
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.5
Listening to the audiobook of this book was like listening to a really long voice note from a guy who is particularly ridiculous and quite sexist.
After the last book I thought the main character might grow on me but my mind has been changed. I just kinda … get irritated by him?
But despite the moments of creepy, odd and ignorant inner monologue of the narrator-protagonist, the other characters, world-building and action are good. While some of my feelings on it are mixed (hence the rating), I definitely enjoy the adventure this book takes you on.
But despite the moments of creepy, odd and ignorant inner monologue of the narrator-protagonist, the other characters, world-building and action are good. While some of my feelings on it are mixed (hence the rating), I definitely enjoy the adventure this book takes you on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
adliteracy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the second book in its series, and you have to read book 1 first for the context to make any sense; that said, it is a self-contained story.
This series, generally, is a contemporary paranormal crime mystery in London told with dry humor and a rapidly evolving plot.
This was actually my second read of this novel; the first time, I read it via audiobook, and I got to the end feeling very confused because I'd zoned out through some of the details. I read it again and paid closer attention, which yielded two benefits: I understood and was emotionally affected by the shocking ending (no spoilers), and I was able to write down some really great quotes.
The humor of this book is perfect for me, and these are a couple examples of quotes (not exhaustive by a long shot - the entire novel is full of witticisms and satire) that especially made me laugh:
- "Last time I'd been there, I'd been sworn in as an apprentice wizard. This time I suspected it was going to be mostly swearing."
- "The notoriously savvy Henry VIII discovered an elegant way to solve both his theological problems and his personal liquidity crisis - he dissolved all the monasteries and nicked their land."
Overall, I recommend this series very much. I'm enjoying it a lot and can't wait to read the third book!
This series, generally, is a contemporary paranormal crime mystery in London told with dry humor and a rapidly evolving plot.
This was actually my second read of this novel; the first time, I read it via audiobook, and I got to the end feeling very confused because I'd zoned out through some of the details. I read it again and paid closer attention, which yielded two benefits: I understood and was emotionally affected by the shocking ending (no spoilers), and I was able to write down some really great quotes.
The humor of this book is perfect for me, and these are a couple examples of quotes (not exhaustive by a long shot - the entire novel is full of witticisms and satire) that especially made me laugh:
- "Last time I'd been there, I'd been sworn in as an apprentice wizard. This time I suspected it was going to be mostly swearing."
- "The notoriously savvy Henry VIII discovered an elegant way to solve both his theological problems and his personal liquidity crisis - he dissolved all the monasteries and nicked their land."
Overall, I recommend this series very much. I'm enjoying it a lot and can't wait to read the third book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
hjcomic's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, War, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Trafficking and Slavery
Minor: Genocide and Violence
This book isn't my favourite among the Rivers series, as the characters and their relationships are still developing. However the A and B plots are gripping and haunting and disturbing in a way that really stays with you.asourceoffiction's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Peter Grant; he's green and slightly bumbling so he's easy to relate to, but he's also incredibly insightful which makes for interesting revelations. Throw in the occasional idiotic mistake (particularly when it comes to his romantic partners) and you've got a winning protagonist.
The second book in this series is fun, engaging, easy to read and really clever. But I have found with both books so far, there are so many characters, sub-plots and mysteries (which often connect and intertwine) that my head is swimming a bit by the end. I followed along ok, but felt at times like I could do with my own investigatory notepad to keep everything straight in my head.
That said, this has a great ending and the makings of several long-gestating stories to come. I'm utterly hooked and have already ordered a secondhand copy of Whispers Underground!
The second book in this series is fun, engaging, easy to read and really clever. But I have found with both books so far, there are so many characters, sub-plots and mysteries (which often connect and intertwine) that my head is swimming a bit by the end. I followed along ok, but felt at times like I could do with my own investigatory notepad to keep everything straight in my head.
That said, this has a great ending and the makings of several long-gestating stories to come. I'm utterly hooked and have already ordered a secondhand copy of Whispers Underground!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
ineffablebob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another enjoyable urban fantasy mystery read. Clearly a setup for the rest of the series as the mystery isn't totally resolved (one of them, anyway).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
a_muggle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I LOVED the first book in this series, and the third (I read it first because the library had it), but I was really let down by this one. I still love Peter and Nightingale, but this one's plot was just meh for most of the book.
And the kinda random sexual scenes added nothing really except for a sorta plot twist at the end. (Which I saw coming way before the end.) They kinda threw me off because I didn't expect there to be any explicit content.
If you don't like this book, I highly recommend that you move on to the third and give it a try. I found that one went back to the magic of the first.
And the kinda random sexual scenes added nothing really except for a sorta plot twist at the end. (Which I saw coming way before the end.) They kinda threw me off because I didn't expect there to be any explicit content.
If you don't like this book, I highly recommend that you move on to the third and give it a try. I found that one went back to the magic of the first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Torture, Ableism, and Slavery
ishinnatelleth's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
3.5
Enjoyed this idea that the first book in the series
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
purplepenning's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Trafficking, Violence, Grief, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Drug abuse, and Homophobia