Tag Archives: Urban Fantasy

Body Work

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Ben Aaronovitch, Lee Sullivan, Andrew Cartmel. Titan Books. (128p) ISBN: 9781782761877

 

Body Work

Body Work

Another graphic novel in the River of London Universe and after reading this I realised that I hadn’t read everything before.

Though not essential the graphic novels and short stories clarify a lot of the references and asides in the main storyline, this one clarified a reference that included Guleed in a book I’ve just finished.

This had a very “Christine” feel to it though adapted for the way magic works in this universe.

Killer cars are always fun, and this also added more back history to The Folly and Nightingale.

Well paced and great art made this a nice quick read with another semi-regular character added to the growing roster.

Foxglove Summer

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Ben Aaronovitch. Orion Publishing. (384p) ISBN: 9780575132528

 

Foxglove Summer

Foxglove Summer

Poor Peter has to leave the city for the COUNTRYSIDE!

There is a case of some missing children in the Herefordshire countryside and as there is a retired practitioner living nearby standard operational procedure for The Folly is to have a look at them to see if they may be involved.

After Peter has a chat with Hugh Oswald and ruling him out he volunteers to help the local police if he can.

and this is where the wheels come off once more…

Not much to do with the Faceless Man arc but building more history for Nightingale, showing Peter’s development, strengthening his and Bev’s relationship and having a great deal of fun we are introduced to things which reflect on Molly and her possible origin.

and as always the demi monde is expanded with links, obligations, and possible genesis for a River being part of the story.

This story went at a cracking pace and I sort of want to see more of this part of British magic.

Another great read in my marathon reread of The Rivers of London universe.

Whispers Under Ground

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Ben Aaronovitch. Orion Publishing. (432p) ISBN: 9780575097667

 

Whispers Under Ground

Whispers Under Ground

Continuing my Ben Aaronovitch reread/read marathon and I’m really enjoying it as I think it’s been at least three years since I tries this last and I can’t remember a lot of it.

Peter gets himself and The Folly mixed up in another murder with a ‘Falcon’ aspect with much wider implications to the supernatural community of London and how they are viewed in that community.

A murder in the Underground sets of a quite intricate chain of events involving the history of navvies in London, goblin markets, the rapacious nature of the modern art scene, and much more.

Lesley returns in this story, but due to the nature of her accident and her own sheer determination she is now an apprentice at The Folly learning magic from Nightingale and keeping Peter and Nightingale focused on best practice in modern policing.

Loved this and sets up quite a lot for later books but it is here that we really start to see Peter’s reputation get cemented and his roles as an apprentice and police officer firms up nicely.

Another great read in the Rivers of London series and looking forward to continuing this and trying to get as much read before the New Year as possible.

The Masquerades of Spring

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Ben Aaronovitch. Orion Publishing. (192p) ISBN: 9781473224407

 

The Masquerades of Spring

The Masquerades of Spring

Set in the 20s in New York, we see Thomas Nightingale on a quest from Molly to find the roots of an enchanted saxophone.

OK that’s the nub of the story but what we do get is a wonderful insight into the Harlem Renaissance, 20s queer culture, more about Jazz, and as always some of the history of characters that we know little about and are gradually being fed more and more on.

This is another novella outside the main Peter Grant storyline and as always cracks along at a wonderful pace and filling out characters so well in such a limited space , and not only that opening up other worlds for us to explore.

This is the main introduction to Augustus Berrycloth-Young, though he was in a short story in a newsletter not long before this, bit of a fop, but determined and living in New York away from The Folly for a few minor indiscretions with public magic.

We find out more about the Fae in this story as well, set at a great pace and easily read in one sitting, another Ben Aaronovitch book I really enjoyed.

A Madness of Angels

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Kate Griffin. Little Brown. (496p) ISBN: 9781841497334

 

A Madness of Angels

A Madness of Angels

I have several books I reread if I get into a bit of a rut and find myself unable to read, A Madness of Angels is one of them.

Familiarity is one of the main reasons, but this is such a great example of urban fantasy with a great original premise that it still grabs me and excites me after all this time (2009).

We are introduced to a world where sorcerers and other magic users tap into the magic around them in the urban environment, a world of litterbugs, neon demons, personifications of an idea, and hunger…

Matthew Swift was killed two years ago and is out for vengeance, maybe even justice. And he has very powerful friends/symbiotes/angels to help him achieve this.

A fast-paced urban fantasy which has a great twist on the genre. This first book is a brilliant setup for the rest of the series but doesn’t feel like just pure world building and exposition.

It develops the magic of the world perfectly, showing various different factions, various powers, and hints at so much more.

Some brilliant set pieces including a pit fit, dragons, aluminium fairies, Jeremy the Troll, and so much more make this one of my favourite re-reads.

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