What Abigail Did That Summer

Abigail talks with foxes. And in the London of a summer somewhere around 2015 (2013 apparently), young people are disappearing. So with her friends (vulpine and human), she investigates. I thought this was an enjoyable read - it fits in with the general Rivers of London 'verse where magic is real but closely guarded. I like the universe of Ben Aaronovitch's London underpinned by river spirits. Good characters, helpful footnotes to decipher youth slang, a believable London that made me nostalgic for when I lived there, and a story that bowls along to a satisfying conclusion.

"What Abigail Did That Summer" by Ben Aaronovitch is a refreshing novella set in the Rivers of London universe, shifting the spotlight from Peter Grant to his spirited cousin, Abigail. This delightful divergence from the main series follows Abigail through a fateful summer adventure, offering readers a captivating and magical tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, which showcases Abigail's intelligence, bravery, and unyielding spirit. The story is packed with clever twists, spooky elements, and a rich dose of magic, featuring a troupe of talking foxes, a river god, and other fey creatures. Abigail shines as a ghost hunter, fox whisperer, and all-around troublemaker. She’s not one to sit back and let the world pass her by; instead, she dives headfirst into action, using her wits to navigate and overcome perilous situations.

Abigail’s character is undeniably smart and sensible, yet she possesses a daring streak that leads her to explore places she perhaps shouldn’t. Her courage and resourcefulness are admirable, and she proves to be a formidable protagonist. I especially enjoyed seeing her handle the challenges that came her way, demonstrating both maturity and a youthful exuberance for adventure.

This novella is not only a fun read but also a significant expansion of the Rivers of London universe. It’s a joy to spend time with Abigail, and her narrative brings a fresh perspective to the series. I eagerly anticipate more of her adventures, ideally with her joining Peter and Nightingale at the Folly to further hone her magical abilities.

In essence, "What Abigail Did That Summer" is an entertaining and engaging addition to the series, providing a delightful mix of magic, mystery, and character-driven storytelling. It’s a must-read for fans of the Rivers of London series, as well as anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, whimsical adventure.

4.0 The first Abigail poin-of-view novella is not bad, but a little too much horror and a little to much internal monologue to reach top-tier. I like how we learn more about Abigail's family and how the cast continues to diversify, but I don't like how the new characters like Simon are mostly side-lined. It's clear that this is Abigail's show and the only one who comes close is not Simon, but Simon's mom, who is amazing in her own right, though. It's good to see a stout, non-action-oriented character portrayed in this way. Sometimes it feels a little as if the author are checking boxes with representation, but not with this character.

The foxes are charming as always, but it gets a little repetitive at times and they are quite ancillary to the story. I liked heavy lesbian subtext (no, it doesn't really involve Abigail) and the stories within the story, but sometimes it felt a little disconnected, because of that. The first part is definitely more fun than the others. What I do like is the 'villain' of the story. It's quite a nice change from the usual.

I don't quite know what I think of this one. Abagail is nice enough and the foxes are charming.

I like the concept of the situation/big bad that Abagail is facing in theory maybe more than I like it in practice. I like the idea of it, but I don't think it plays out the right way. I'm trying to keep this spoiler free and I suspect that I shouldn't.

My major bugbear was two things, first I was unclear who Abagail is writing this for. Postmartin is making notes for someone (it may have been pointed out early on who for, but I may have forgotten) on Abagail's prose and this mostly feels like it's an excuse to explain Britishisms to Americans, because presumably American readers can't be bothered to google things when they hit a word that they don't know. But also to explain some youf speak which is fairly easy to decipher from context.

But it's a light quick read and expands the Rivers world somewhat, so... yeah.