The second novel in Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series takes the police constable cum apprentice magician into Soho and the world of jazz, where somebody seems to feed of the musician's vibes, while a black magician is expanding his territority.
I liked this better than the first book. Peter Grant was a little more likeable, he had a girlfriend which distracted him a bit from sexualizing every other woman he met. There was finally a bit of magic and a few explanations. There was a better built-up than last time and no constant, frustrating failing like in the first book. The final was a bit dissappointing but less confusing than last time which I appreciated.
I requested this book from the library, and got an email telling me it was ready for pickup. From time of email to time of finishing the book was probably about six hours.
I don't think this book does anything special, but it's just solidly well done, and engaging.
I can't help comparing this book to Butcher's Dresden Files, still. Harry Dresden does this thing where he bemoans his luck with women, and at first the reader thinks, "Well, that's because you're an idiot, Harry, and think women are some kind of magical creature with special women-logic and women-wants." And then the reader, several books in, starts to realize that apparently it's not just Harry that thinks that, but Butcher as well, and then generally the reader gives up and goes looking for the good Dresden Files fanfiction.
(For values of "the reader" which are equal to "me.")
In …
I requested this book from the library, and got an email telling me it was ready for pickup. From time of email to time of finishing the book was probably about six hours.
I don't think this book does anything special, but it's just solidly well done, and engaging.
I can't help comparing this book to Butcher's Dresden Files, still. Harry Dresden does this thing where he bemoans his luck with women, and at first the reader thinks, "Well, that's because you're an idiot, Harry, and think women are some kind of magical creature with special women-logic and women-wants." And then the reader, several books in, starts to realize that apparently it's not just Harry that thinks that, but Butcher as well, and then generally the reader gives up and goes looking for the good Dresden Files fanfiction.
(For values of "the reader" which are equal to "me.")
In this book, Peter Grant bemoans his luck with women, and perhaps I am too generous to Aaronovitch, but I really feel like although Peter doesn't know, Aaronovitch does, that Peter would have better luck at maintaining longer relationships if he gave slightly more weight to women as conversational partners in his selection of romantic prospects.
(Peter's main criteria appears to be "are they willing to fuck him and unemcumbered?" which granted, important criteria, but I feel he could do better.)
Ben Aaronovitch isn't really breaking new ground with his Rivers of London urban fantasy series. We have most if not all of the standard trappings after all. But perhaps more important he's doing the genre with style.
Of course we have our mysterious wizards, now including some black... ahem ethically challenged wizards. And our hero quips and gets beaten up in a suitably stoic manner. But the majority of the magical creatures we get to see are refreshingly different, so this certainly doesn't feel like a re-tread.
Aaronovitch picks up a number of hints that he dropped in the first book in the series Midnight Riot, but while he expands on them, he keeps them trailing. And this story doesn't have the same complete feel that the first did. Yes, the immediate case is resolved, but not all of the villains are caught and there are a lot more unanswered …
Ben Aaronovitch isn't really breaking new ground with his Rivers of London urban fantasy series. We have most if not all of the standard trappings after all. But perhaps more important he's doing the genre with style.
Of course we have our mysterious wizards, now including some black... ahem ethically challenged wizards. And our hero quips and gets beaten up in a suitably stoic manner. But the majority of the magical creatures we get to see are refreshingly different, so this certainly doesn't feel like a re-tread.
Aaronovitch picks up a number of hints that he dropped in the first book in the series Midnight Riot, but while he expands on them, he keeps them trailing. And this story doesn't have the same complete feel that the first did. Yes, the immediate case is resolved, but not all of the villains are caught and there are a lot more unanswered questions.
That's not a bad thing from my perspective, since I'm really enjoying the series and want to read more, but it does mean you should start with book 1.
It was also nice to see both the author and the characters address some of the nastier aspects of what happened in the first book head on. Again not resolved, but then... this was something that wouldn't be resolved so quickly.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series. I think this is probably right up there with the Harry Dresden books for favorite urban fantasy.
Suspense, interesting characters, danger, love, magic, humor and -- perhaps best of all -- police procedural mockery of the highest order. Here's a sample:[return][return]"Are you the SIO on this, ma'am?" I asked. The senior investigating officer on a serious crime was usually at the very least a detective inspector, not a sergeant.[return][return]"Of course not," said Stephanopoulis. "We have a DCI on loan from the Havering CID but he's adopted a loose collaborative management approach in which experienced officers undertake a lead role in areas where they have the greatest expertise."[return][return]In other words, he'd locked himself in his office and let Stephanopoulis get on with it.[return][return]"It's always gratifying to see senior officers adopt a forward-looking posture in the vertical relationships," I said and was rewarded with something that was almost a smile.
