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Rivers of London #8
False Value
Now in paperback, the eighth book of the bestselling Rivers of London series returns to the adventures of Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, as he solves magical crimes in the city of London.
Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with �migr� Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner's brand new London start up--the Serious Cybernetics Company.
Drawn into the orbit of Old Street's famous 'silicon roundabout', Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant's favourite son.
Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological--and just as dangerous.
Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with �migr� Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner's brand new London start up--the Serious Cybernetics Company.
Drawn into the orbit of Old Street's famous 'silicon roundabout', Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant's favourite son.
Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological--and just as dangerous.
319 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 20, 2020
About the author
Ben Aaronovitch
156 books12.8k followersBen Aaronovitch's career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,824 reviews
March 26, 2022
Delivered as advertised.
Oh yes; you heard right. The founder of Goodreads’ Folly Irregulars and long-time fan of the Peter Grant novels, has found one of the books to be over-rated and boring. I daresay even badly written. Hopefully, a second listen-through can redeem it, but there is no way that should be a thing for an Aaronovitch book.
Narrative is from Peter, but this feels like an older, even more serious Peter. There’s a few humorous observations along the way, and some waxing emotional over Bev, but for the most part, I found the tone straight-forward and serious. I’m looking to Kobna’s reading to redeem this for me, as my preferred form for this series has been listening. It makes sense; Aaronovitch tends to be light on descriptives, so a good actor can bring the character to life.
Still, most of the humor that I associate with the series seems to come from the tech-mogul’s conceit of naming his corporation and referencing all the roles within from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I will be first to say I love Hitchhiker’s in many forms (excepting the movie, really), but even I found this overkill. I can’t imagine what people who actively or indifferently responded will think. There were three or four lines that really stood out; otherwise I’d say it felt rather humorless, and much more like The October Man, with Tobias of the German police.
Bev felt like a baby-making adjunct this time. I did appreciate the explanation Peter gives at one point about how ‘magic’ might force he and Bev’s relationship into different places, but I think that one’s out of the barn, so to speak. I also felt like there was a lot of ret-conning about Bev’s Russian thug who is now her one (and only–parenthetical always added) acolyte. I think it pulls the teeth of the genus locii to say they don’t act with self-indulgence. I get it: it’s the eighth book in a series, but I’m seriously getting the feel that it’s getting out of Aaronovitch’s hands. I suggest he have more beta-readers who might read for series continuity. I did like the comment from his dad that the only time he doesn’t think about playing is when he’s playing.
What really killed it for me was the storyline, which was unnecessarily convoluted through a chopped-up timeline. When an author jumps back and forth in time, they risk losing both coherency and tension, and both end up suffering here. In a feeble effort to regain suspense, Aaronovitch frequently had Peter saying things like, “I was looking forward to enjoying my night at home with Bev. I should know better than to say things like that.” Once we reach page 200 or so (give or take; I can’t be bothered to review for accuracy), the timeline settles down and the story becomes more linear. But by then, I’m not sure it helps. It’s sort of a spy vs. spy vs. spy vs. McGuffin objective, and I just wasn’t sold anymore on the urgency.
Oh, and that ending! I’m of two minds. For how slow the build was, it’s a quick flash-bang. I won’t say any more for risk of spoilers, but I found myself annoyed and impressed in equal measures.
Two and a half stars, rounding up out of nostalgia.
Initial DNF update from page 113
Characterization, absent. World-building, not branching out at all. Plot, slow and meandering.
Narrative, disjointed.
Update after listening to the audio:
(Whispers Underground= The Hanging Tree) > Broken Homes > Rivers of London > Lies Sleeping > False Value > Foxglove Summer >> Moon Over Soho
Oh yes; you heard right. The founder of Goodreads’ Folly Irregulars and long-time fan of the Peter Grant novels, has found one of the books to be over-rated and boring. I daresay even badly written. Hopefully, a second listen-through can redeem it, but there is no way that should be a thing for an Aaronovitch book.
Narrative is from Peter, but this feels like an older, even more serious Peter. There’s a few humorous observations along the way, and some waxing emotional over Bev, but for the most part, I found the tone straight-forward and serious. I’m looking to Kobna’s reading to redeem this for me, as my preferred form for this series has been listening. It makes sense; Aaronovitch tends to be light on descriptives, so a good actor can bring the character to life.
Still, most of the humor that I associate with the series seems to come from the tech-mogul’s conceit of naming his corporation and referencing all the roles within from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I will be first to say I love Hitchhiker’s in many forms (excepting the movie, really), but even I found this overkill. I can’t imagine what people who actively or indifferently responded will think. There were three or four lines that really stood out; otherwise I’d say it felt rather humorless, and much more like The October Man, with Tobias of the German police.
Bev felt like a baby-making adjunct this time. I did appreciate the explanation Peter gives at one point about how ‘magic’ might force he and Bev’s relationship into different places, but I think that one’s out of the barn, so to speak. I also felt like there was a lot of ret-conning about Bev’s Russian thug who is now her one (and only–parenthetical always added) acolyte. I think it pulls the teeth of the genus locii to say they don’t act with self-indulgence. I get it: it’s the eighth book in a series, but I’m seriously getting the feel that it’s getting out of Aaronovitch’s hands. I suggest he have more beta-readers who might read for series continuity. I did like the comment from his dad that the only time he doesn’t think about playing is when he’s playing.
What really killed it for me was the storyline, which was unnecessarily convoluted through a chopped-up timeline. When an author jumps back and forth in time, they risk losing both coherency and tension, and both end up suffering here. In a feeble effort to regain suspense, Aaronovitch frequently had Peter saying things like, “I was looking forward to enjoying my night at home with Bev. I should know better than to say things like that.” Once we reach page 200 or so (give or take; I can’t be bothered to review for accuracy), the timeline settles down and the story becomes more linear. But by then, I’m not sure it helps. It’s sort of a spy vs. spy vs. spy vs. McGuffin objective, and I just wasn’t sold anymore on the urgency.
Oh, and that ending! I’m of two minds. For how slow the build was, it’s a quick flash-bang. I won’t say any more for risk of spoilers, but I found myself annoyed and impressed in equal measures.
Two and a half stars, rounding up out of nostalgia.
Initial DNF update from page 113
Characterization, absent. World-building, not branching out at all. Plot, slow and meandering.
Narrative, disjointed.
Update after listening to the audio:
(Whispers Underground= The Hanging Tree) > Broken Homes > Rivers of London > Lies Sleeping > False Value > Foxglove Summer >> Moon Over Soho
January 17, 2022
As a series wends on, satisfying the readerly demand of "each one different from all the others" grows almost as hard to satisfy as "each one better than all the others." Aaronovitch refreshes the well here by sending London police detective Peter Grant undercover at a high tech corp with questionable dealings of a possibly supernatural nature. Hijinks ensue, relayed in first-person narrator Peter's shrewd snark.
As ever, start the series at the beginning with Rivers of London, inexplicably retitled in the US as Midnight Riot. The rest Peter will explain to you as it goes.
Ta, L.
April 11, 2022
The story definitely improved with Kobna's reading. It took me a long, long time to get to the audio version, having bounced so hard off the hardcover.
The narrative time shifts that make up the first third of the book remain challenging in audio, but having read the book previously, I was prepared and this time, they made more sense. Still, it is worth noting that I found myself consulting Audible's 'chapters' page more than ever before, double-checking the time period
In terms of audio quality, in parts Kobna's normally smooth voice sounded a little rough and gravely. I think the timing on this one happened right after he was on stage as Ike Turner, and I wonder if he was suffering from vocal strain. It didn't seem to impair his accent abilities, as I thought Reynold's American had notably improved, and a couple of brief appearances by the Irish were delightful. Ben seems to be getting a little annoying, however--at one point, he says something about a 'mid-Atlantic' accent. Ben, I live in the States, and even I'm not sure how you would tell that one. Stop fucking with Kobna.
Near the end of the book, I started to alternate again between book and audio. I can see again why the book was such a struggle: even in the ending chapters, there are long passages of description about computer rooms, or warehouse districts, and I find myself wondering, where's the dialogue? The actual battle is over in three, four pages. Where's the editing? Honestly, someone needs to keep Ben in check on description, because this story had a lot of false value. Still, utterly redeemed with Kobna.
Whispers Underground= The Hanging Tree) > Broken Homes > Rivers of London > Lies Sleeping > False Value > Foxglove Summer >> Moon Over Soho
The narrative time shifts that make up the first third of the book remain challenging in audio, but having read the book previously, I was prepared and this time, they made more sense. Still, it is worth noting that I found myself consulting Audible's 'chapters' page more than ever before, double-checking the time period
In terms of audio quality, in parts Kobna's normally smooth voice sounded a little rough and gravely. I think the timing on this one happened right after he was on stage as Ike Turner, and I wonder if he was suffering from vocal strain. It didn't seem to impair his accent abilities, as I thought Reynold's American had notably improved, and a couple of brief appearances by the Irish were delightful. Ben seems to be getting a little annoying, however--at one point, he says something about a 'mid-Atlantic' accent. Ben, I live in the States, and even I'm not sure how you would tell that one. Stop fucking with Kobna.
Near the end of the book, I started to alternate again between book and audio. I can see again why the book was such a struggle: even in the ending chapters, there are long passages of description about computer rooms, or warehouse districts, and I find myself wondering, where's the dialogue? The actual battle is over in three, four pages. Where's the editing? Honestly, someone needs to keep Ben in check on description, because this story had a lot of false value. Still, utterly redeemed with Kobna.
Whispers Underground= The Hanging Tree) > Broken Homes > Rivers of London > Lies Sleeping > False Value > Foxglove Summer >> Moon Over Soho
March 24, 2020
“What have we got to lose?’ I said.By book 8 in any series, you’re either a fan or are wasting your time.
Nightingale looked up and gave me a strange, sad smile.
‘Oh, everything, Peter,’ he said. ‘But then, such is life.”
I’m a fan. Enough of a fan to finally 5-star the previous installment, Lies Sleeping, which was the first 5-star for me in this series. And sadly, so far the only one.
The previous book wrapped up a long-running Faceless Man arc of this series; this one is setting up a new arc. New supporting characters (I loved Stephen and hope to see more of him, and more of Tyrel seems to be a given); new family ties (Peter’s domesticity and impending twins with his river-goddess girlfriend Beverley Brook); a promise of new locations (please, dear Ben Aaronovitch, if I’m really really good, can we please visit the secret supernatural world of New York Public Library???); but most of all the new Big Bad (I guess magic and technology do mix just a bit).
After the initial bumpy 25% of the book I managed to get into the story and got a kick out of it - but it did take the seven books worth of acquired fandom to get through the rough beginning, and had I not been a fan, I probably would have put it down.
Some gripes duly ensue:
- No reason for the jumpy timeline in the first part of the book. It doesn’t add much; without it the story would have been just as, or actually more, enjoyable. The reveal of Peter’s undercover role was actually quite obvious and did not warrant a jagged confusing setup.
- I love ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ and jumped with excitement at the first 4-5 Hitchhiker references. Then they just kept coming. And coming. And coming. And coming. I begged for them to stop - and for context, here are a couple of shirts that I actually own and proudly wear:
- Has Peter always been this... well... emotionally underdeveloped? I’ve always got a kick out of his dry humor and a healthy dose of self-deprecation and his Millenial-ness (yup, that’s a word, I swear) - but once I think about it there has not been much emotional growth there since the first book in the series. I suspect it’s this emotional detachment that had me rooting for Stephen and Mrs. Chin over Peter and Nightingale here.
“He’d obviously wanted to tell someone about it for a long time and I was a convenient ear.———————-
I get that a lot. Stephanopoulos calls it my secret weapon.
‘It’s that vacant expression,’ she’d said. ‘People just want to fill the empty void.”
Yes, I finished it. Yes, I enjoyed it. But I found more and more that I enjoyed the execution of it over the story itself: the writing, the banter, the one-liners and repartees, the action and the police procedural bits. But the story itself - the stakes, the set-up, the actual plot - did not speak to me the same way as the previous books did. I could not care less about the actual investigation - to me those were just the scenes that set up the Peter-ness of the narration. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.
3.5 stars, rounding up based on the long- standing fan status, I guess.
“Stop, police!’ I shouted, on the basis that one of these days it was going to have the right effect.”
April 15, 2020
Another brilliant episode in this great series. And as usual I must compliment the narrator on his excellent work. He really makes these books come alive.
A long running story arc came to an end in the previous book so this one started afresh. Peter is soon to become the father of twins, who may or may not be magic beings, and we see a softer side of his character occasionally. Of course he is still cynical and prone to making smart comments which make the book entertaining.
Peter is working under cover for this story - as a policeman. An ordinary policeman of course when actually he is tracking down a particular magical artefact and the people responsible for it. Nightingale is still his real boss and he breezes in and out of events in his usual style. He even gets to display his abilities in one really major magical battle with another Master. It is noticeable too that Peter's own magic skills are not to be underestimated any more. He does some really good stuff!
Light, funny, entertaining and easy to read. Just what I expect from this author and he never fails to deliver.
A long running story arc came to an end in the previous book so this one started afresh. Peter is soon to become the father of twins, who may or may not be magic beings, and we see a softer side of his character occasionally. Of course he is still cynical and prone to making smart comments which make the book entertaining.
Peter is working under cover for this story - as a policeman. An ordinary policeman of course when actually he is tracking down a particular magical artefact and the people responsible for it. Nightingale is still his real boss and he breezes in and out of events in his usual style. He even gets to display his abilities in one really major magical battle with another Master. It is noticeable too that Peter's own magic skills are not to be underestimated any more. He does some really good stuff!
Light, funny, entertaining and easy to read. Just what I expect from this author and he never fails to deliver.
October 24, 2023
The weird shift in timings at the beginning really threw me off. Maybe because I was listening to the audiobook.
I love the world of Peter Grant but the plot really didn’t do it for me unfortunately.
I love the world of Peter Grant but the plot really didn’t do it for me unfortunately.
June 25, 2020
I’m a big fan of the Canadian progressive rock band Rush. I’ve got all of their studio albums, 19, and know all the songs and a lot of detail about the band. If you asked me what my favorite top three Rush albums are, I would reply: Moving Pictures, 2112, and Signals. If you asked me what my least favorite was I would first state that I like them all, they are all excellent and I enjoy listening to them all. But, for the sake of the question I would have to say Rush, their 1974 eponymous first album because it lacks the songwriting of Neil Peart. Then I would again state that I like them all, and very much enjoy listening to the first album also.
I’m a big fan of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series. I’ve read all the books and all the short stories as well as the graphic novels. I’ve read about him and know a lot of detail about the series. If you asked what was my favorite, I’d have to say Rivers of London since it got this amazing world building started. If you asked me what my least favorite was I would first state that I like them all, they are all excellent and I enjoy reading them all. But, for the sake of the question I would have to say False Value, his 2020 entry in the series. Then I would again state that I like them all, and very much enjoyed False Value also.
Aaronovitch’s magnificent world and magic building is again center stage, Peter Grant is again investigating a crime and doing so amidst an attractive urban fantasy setting. Nightingale is still the baddest man on the planet (sorry Mike Tyson). We still have mention of all the river gods and goddesses and an underground history of magic practitioners.
Aaronovitch changes things up by having Peter go undercover and the author may have been inspired by Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as we have a ghost in the machine, a complicated AI story made all the better by being in the Rivers of London universe.
There’s also something missing, something intangible, some of the magic is gone. Fans of Jim Butcher’s fabulously well to do Harry Dresden series may have noticed that some of the books wore thin and lost some of the early charm, but were still good books, still fun, still drawing on and expending the magic world building. Just some books are better than others. So too, does Aaronovitch produce here a good book, still fun and entertaining, just not the best.
I’ll keep reading as long as he keeps writing.
I’m a big fan of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series. I’ve read all the books and all the short stories as well as the graphic novels. I’ve read about him and know a lot of detail about the series. If you asked what was my favorite, I’d have to say Rivers of London since it got this amazing world building started. If you asked me what my least favorite was I would first state that I like them all, they are all excellent and I enjoy reading them all. But, for the sake of the question I would have to say False Value, his 2020 entry in the series. Then I would again state that I like them all, and very much enjoyed False Value also.
Aaronovitch’s magnificent world and magic building is again center stage, Peter Grant is again investigating a crime and doing so amidst an attractive urban fantasy setting. Nightingale is still the baddest man on the planet (sorry Mike Tyson). We still have mention of all the river gods and goddesses and an underground history of magic practitioners.
Aaronovitch changes things up by having Peter go undercover and the author may have been inspired by Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as we have a ghost in the machine, a complicated AI story made all the better by being in the Rivers of London universe.
There’s also something missing, something intangible, some of the magic is gone. Fans of Jim Butcher’s fabulously well to do Harry Dresden series may have noticed that some of the books wore thin and lost some of the early charm, but were still good books, still fun, still drawing on and expending the magic world building. Just some books are better than others. So too, does Aaronovitch produce here a good book, still fun and entertaining, just not the best.
I’ll keep reading as long as he keeps writing.
June 2, 2022
The next book in one of my favorite series with a cover done in my favorite color scheme.
* * * * *
Release date now FEBRUARY of 2020...
*side-eyeing every single comic book Ben Aaronovitch worked on this year instead on this book*
* * * * *
Really good. So good that I'm no longer side-eyeing all those other things Ben Aaronovitch worked on last year instead of this book. He can work on whatever he wants from now on and I won't make snide comments as long as he keeps on producing this level of quality.
Everything in this installment of the series is exactly what I'd been missing from the last two books, The Hanging Tree and Lies Sleeping, and it's such a breath of fresh air to see the arch moving away from Lesley May and the Faceless Man mystery and see it heading into something new and exciting.
Rereading immediately.
* * * * *
There were so many things I enjoyed about this installment, and those things brought back all the good feelings I had when I first started the series all those years ago. My mistake was reading it too quickly the first time, so I had to read it again slower the second time and was able to savor all the finer points that made this book such a great addition to the series as a whole.
So this isn't a review per se, just a list of things I thought were interesting and would like to remember.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
* * * * *
Release date now FEBRUARY of 2020...
*side-eyeing every single comic book Ben Aaronovitch worked on this year instead on this book*
* * * * *
Really good. So good that I'm no longer side-eyeing all those other things Ben Aaronovitch worked on last year instead of this book. He can work on whatever he wants from now on and I won't make snide comments as long as he keeps on producing this level of quality.
Everything in this installment of the series is exactly what I'd been missing from the last two books, The Hanging Tree and Lies Sleeping, and it's such a breath of fresh air to see the arch moving away from Lesley May and the Faceless Man mystery and see it heading into something new and exciting.
Rereading immediately.
* * * * *
There were so many things I enjoyed about this installment, and those things brought back all the good feelings I had when I first started the series all those years ago. My mistake was reading it too quickly the first time, so I had to read it again slower the second time and was able to savor all the finer points that made this book such a great addition to the series as a whole.
So this isn't a review per se, just a list of things I thought were interesting and would like to remember.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
September 9, 2021
Re-read 9/9/21:
I think I may have enjoyed this better the second time around. No spoilers, but I am reminded quite heavily of a Seanan McGuire October Daye novel. Those who know, know. That being said, I got even more into all the nerdy references this time and it was good. Very good.
Original Review:
On sheer enjoyment level, I'm always very enthusiastic about Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series, and this one is no exception. I dug in and dug it well, indeed.
From the very start, we get knee-deep in many Douglas Adams homages almost immediately after getting a very emotional reference bot Bowie. I LOVE the whole idea of the Sirius Corporation. From first-day employees wearing a towel around their heads to Vogon management to a dozen other great London High-Tech Field goodies. You know, like Seattle tech goodies but LONDON.
Peter Grant, a magical investigator for the London police force, goes undercover, and this book is a pretty awesome mix of magic, intrigue, and high-tech mystery. I like it almost automatically. By default. But my main concern hearkened back to the earlier novels when it was established that technology tends to fry around magic. A bit of wrangling needed to happen and the full interesting import of later spoiler territory plot items comes to fruition nicely.
Did I have some issues? Perhaps. But the fact remains I still had a very good time and I really loved the twist. It may not be all that surprising, but the fact that it happened and could very well happen again makes my mind sparkle with the possibilities. :)
I think I may have enjoyed this better the second time around. No spoilers, but I am reminded quite heavily of a Seanan McGuire October Daye novel. Those who know, know. That being said, I got even more into all the nerdy references this time and it was good. Very good.
Original Review:
On sheer enjoyment level, I'm always very enthusiastic about Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series, and this one is no exception. I dug in and dug it well, indeed.
From the very start, we get knee-deep in many Douglas Adams homages almost immediately after getting a very emotional reference bot Bowie. I LOVE the whole idea of the Sirius Corporation. From first-day employees wearing a towel around their heads to Vogon management to a dozen other great London High-Tech Field goodies. You know, like Seattle tech goodies but LONDON.
Peter Grant, a magical investigator for the London police force, goes undercover, and this book is a pretty awesome mix of magic, intrigue, and high-tech mystery. I like it almost automatically. By default. But my main concern hearkened back to the earlier novels when it was established that technology tends to fry around magic. A bit of wrangling needed to happen and the full interesting import of later spoiler territory plot items comes to fruition nicely.
Did I have some issues? Perhaps. But the fact remains I still had a very good time and I really loved the twist. It may not be all that surprising, but the fact that it happened and could very well happen again makes my mind sparkle with the possibilities. :)
September 22, 2020
3.5* rounded down.
I love this series, but this book felt much weaker compared to the rest of it. Main investigation is interesting, unfortunately there is too much sidetracking and rather mundane stuff: dinners, family picnics, looking after pregnant girlfriend, mildly amusing conversations with random new people Peter meets. Secondary cast is getting too huge too. I hope the next one will have more focus.
I love this series, but this book felt much weaker compared to the rest of it. Main investigation is interesting, unfortunately there is too much sidetracking and rather mundane stuff: dinners, family picnics, looking after pregnant girlfriend, mildly amusing conversations with random new people Peter meets. Secondary cast is getting too huge too. I hope the next one will have more focus.
February 28, 2020
For the first time I finished a book in the series, and went eh. I thought the series had been getting stronger right up til the point that the Faceless Man gets shot last book, and was wondering where the series would go. At the end of this book, you kind of have an idea, but also there's a lot more "law and order" going on, when at this point it would be the intelligence organizations stepping in. My long anticipation was disappointed. Partly because Ben is now referencing so much from other sources, that it's affecting the main novels. Things are popping up that the reader has no idea where they came from, and not in the "First time the characters see it" sort of way, but in the "We encountered this previously" way. No, no we didn't. The constant referencing on Hitchhikers didn't help any. It went from slightly cute to laborious by the end.
The Librarians...I couldn't figure out if it was an homage to the TV show, or there was something else going on. It was nice that he has expanded on wizardry in America, but it's haphazard and doesn't make much sense. It might get cleared up in the future, but Peter's FBI friend is seriously out of the loop, which is something that sort of seemed likely when he kept positioning her as the One Woman Magic Squad. It's unfortunate, and sort of sidelines the character for me.
The last thing is that someone needs to seriously sit down with Ben and explain military units, sizes and compositions from WW II. He keeps talking about Company when referring to units. The Brits sent 2 over in the raid, but there was an SS Armored Company to oppose them. A company had roughly 75-150 men in it. Over 2,000 wizards were killed in the engagement. This was a brigade/regiment sized clash that happened, not company sized. Is it a small thing? Yes, but it's seriously annoying when it would take 30 seconds to look up and get right.
The Librarians...I couldn't figure out if it was an homage to the TV show, or there was something else going on. It was nice that he has expanded on wizardry in America, but it's haphazard and doesn't make much sense. It might get cleared up in the future, but Peter's FBI friend is seriously out of the loop, which is something that sort of seemed likely when he kept positioning her as the One Woman Magic Squad. It's unfortunate, and sort of sidelines the character for me.
The last thing is that someone needs to seriously sit down with Ben and explain military units, sizes and compositions from WW II. He keeps talking about Company when referring to units. The Brits sent 2 over in the raid, but there was an SS Armored Company to oppose them. A company had roughly 75-150 men in it. Over 2,000 wizards were killed in the engagement. This was a brigade/regiment sized clash that happened, not company sized. Is it a small thing? Yes, but it's seriously annoying when it would take 30 seconds to look up and get right.
September 19, 2022
This one just didn't do it for me at all - to the point that I was on the verge of DNFing it. It's just so incredibly dull, with Peter removing himself from everything that makes this series fun and interesting (the Folly, Nightingale and the demi monde) to work for a tech company. And there's some small plot involving Ada Lovelace and a machine. There's no development involving all that mess with Lesley, and it also felt like I was missing something plot wise even though I've read all of the novels and novellas to date. There's certain comments from Peter that elude to past investigations and characters that I'd never heard of. And it got really irritating.
Here's hoping the newest book, Amongst Our Weapons returns to the original spirit of the Rivers of London stories.
Here's hoping the newest book, Amongst Our Weapons returns to the original spirit of the Rivers of London stories.
February 25, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so glad I kept up with this series! As I said in my review of the last novel in the series, Lies Sleeping, I had gone through a slump with this series for a few in the middle. I had to catch up to get to my ARC of Lies Sleeping, and the book didn't disappoint. It made it worth it.
Well, this one keeps up the quality!
We've got technology and magic colliding in this one. While the beginning can be a tad bit confusing (it jumps back and forth between months), the opening really sucks you into the story. The new characters introduced in this one, while most are probably only going to be in this one, were deep and developed and interesting.
My favorite part of this one, though, was a little more development of Foxglove and a lot more of Beverley.
I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling things, but highly recommend this series. Again, the caveat that you should have read the prior books in the series applies here.
Four out of five stars.
I'm so glad I kept up with this series! As I said in my review of the last novel in the series, Lies Sleeping, I had gone through a slump with this series for a few in the middle. I had to catch up to get to my ARC of Lies Sleeping, and the book didn't disappoint. It made it worth it.
Well, this one keeps up the quality!
We've got technology and magic colliding in this one. While the beginning can be a tad bit confusing (it jumps back and forth between months), the opening really sucks you into the story. The new characters introduced in this one, while most are probably only going to be in this one, were deep and developed and interesting.
My favorite part of this one, though, was a little more development of Foxglove and a lot more of Beverley.
I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling things, but highly recommend this series. Again, the caveat that you should have read the prior books in the series applies here.
Four out of five stars.
September 21, 2021
Wow. This was so tedious. Nothing happens in this book it seems. Maybe Aaronovitch having Peter deal with "The Faceless Man" in the last book meant we would get filler, but geez this is boring. And I still don't buy Peter or Beverly as a couple and the whole pregnancy thing was not interesting to read about. I think the hints of wizards and whatnot in America could have been interesting, but nope. This whole book read like Aaronovitch was treading water.
"False Values" follows Peter as he goes undercover to discover what tech genius Terrence Skinner is up to. Skinner is in London via Silicon Valley about to launch something that he says is going to be a game changer. Peter and Nightingale investigate.
Ehh. The characters were so boring in this. I love Nightingale and even he didn't save this book for me.
The dialogue got boring and so did the overly descriptive explanation about everything and places. I just mentally checked out at the 50 percent mark to just finish this book to have it count towards a book bingo I am doing.
The ending leaves things on a cliffhanger I guess and I just went meh about it. It's not a negative cliffhanger. Just brings things back to Beverly and her being pregnant.
I read this for Halloween Bingo 2021, the "Magical Realism" square.
"False Values" follows Peter as he goes undercover to discover what tech genius Terrence Skinner is up to. Skinner is in London via Silicon Valley about to launch something that he says is going to be a game changer. Peter and Nightingale investigate.
Ehh. The characters were so boring in this. I love Nightingale and even he didn't save this book for me.
The dialogue got boring and so did the overly descriptive explanation about everything and places. I just mentally checked out at the 50 percent mark to just finish this book to have it count towards a book bingo I am doing.
The ending leaves things on a cliffhanger I guess and I just went meh about it. It's not a negative cliffhanger. Just brings things back to Beverly and her being pregnant.
I read this for Halloween Bingo 2021, the "Magical Realism" square.
March 5, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/03/05/...
You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this book. We’re now on the eighth installment of the Rivers of London series, and as much as I’ve enjoyed my time with the Faceless Man arc, I also felt it was high time we moved onto something new. Still, while we may be at the dawn of a new chapter in Peter Grant’s life here in False Value, there are still a few mysteries left over from the previous books. Certainly, the novel still contains a lot of references and connections to past events so this might not be the best point to jump on board, and the following review may also discuss those things, so only proceed if you’re caught all up!
With his impending fatherhood in mind (twins on the way!) and his current standing with the Metropolitan Police on shaky ground, it’s pretty safe to say our protagonist is keen for some new work right about now. And as luck would have it, an ex-cop at an organization called Serious Cybernetics Company has caught wind of Peter’s suspension and is interested in offering him a job in their security department. A new start-up by Silicon Valley rising star and billionaire Terrence Skinner, the SCC is heavily involved in artificial intelligence research and development, employing a bunch nerds and geeks, meaning Peter should fit right in. And a good thing too, because his job is to infiltrate the personnel and root out the identity of the employee trying to gain forbidden entry into the company’s most classified project.
As a police officer, Peter thinks finding the “rat” among the “mice” while blending in with the civvies should be a cinch. But then the job grows complicated when he uncovers a fellow magic practitioner during his investigation of the recent break-ins, and realizes the two of them have a history. Next, an attempt is made on Terrence Skinner’s life. Someone appears to be targeting the company founder, but the more he digs, the more Peter is convinced that everything comes down to the mysterious work being done on the top-secret floor at the SCC known as Bambleweeny.
Just as all the previous novels have been filled with pop-culture related in-jokes referencing everything from Harry Potter to Doctor Who, False Value is a geek heaven for sci-fi fans with a love of Douglas Adams, Battlestar Galactica, and even some tech history—like the achievements of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. It’s nice to see that even with the new storyline, Ben Aaronovitch has retained his cleverness and good sense of humor. These Rivers of London books have never ceased to make me crack up, and ultimately that’s what keeps me coming back and why this is one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
But it’s also undeniable that, for the last few books, the story had been getting increasingly complicated and confusing. With this fresh start though, Peter Grant is back in detective mode, rather than being too busy getting tangled up in Faceless Man and Lesley May drama. I loved the undercover aspect of his role, as it truly brings out his dedication to police work as well as his intellect and skill. False Value also shows a lot more of Peter’s relationships with the people around him including Nightingale, his mentor, and Beverly Brook, his girlfriend and soon-to-be mother of his children. While the relationship between Peter and Bev is clearly special, there’s hints of a conflict brewing as he finally realizes the full implications of being involved with a river goddess. She’s more benevolent than a lot of genius loci, but she’s still unpredictable in her power and knows exactly the effect she has on others. Not to mention, being a new father is intimidating enough without having to wonder if your kids will turn out to be minor deities like their mother.
With this volume, we also see an expansion of the magical community beyond the United Kingdom. Peter has had dealings with agents from across the pond in the past, but False Value brings the Americans quite literally onto the Folly’s doorstep, and one of them is even powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with Nightingale. This particular thread is an intriguing one so I don’t want to reveal much more, but Peter does come to appreciate that magical schools around the world have their own traditions and also not all of them view the spirits of place as kindly as the Brits do.
All in all, I thought False Value was a great read, considering it’s the first book to move beyond the Faceless Man story arc. We’re in the early stages of something new, so of course there is still this sense that things are developing, but on the whole, I enjoyed the new direction and dynamics introduced here. Big things are clearly coming for Peter Grant and I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book will take us.
You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this book. We’re now on the eighth installment of the Rivers of London series, and as much as I’ve enjoyed my time with the Faceless Man arc, I also felt it was high time we moved onto something new. Still, while we may be at the dawn of a new chapter in Peter Grant’s life here in False Value, there are still a few mysteries left over from the previous books. Certainly, the novel still contains a lot of references and connections to past events so this might not be the best point to jump on board, and the following review may also discuss those things, so only proceed if you’re caught all up!
With his impending fatherhood in mind (twins on the way!) and his current standing with the Metropolitan Police on shaky ground, it’s pretty safe to say our protagonist is keen for some new work right about now. And as luck would have it, an ex-cop at an organization called Serious Cybernetics Company has caught wind of Peter’s suspension and is interested in offering him a job in their security department. A new start-up by Silicon Valley rising star and billionaire Terrence Skinner, the SCC is heavily involved in artificial intelligence research and development, employing a bunch nerds and geeks, meaning Peter should fit right in. And a good thing too, because his job is to infiltrate the personnel and root out the identity of the employee trying to gain forbidden entry into the company’s most classified project.
As a police officer, Peter thinks finding the “rat” among the “mice” while blending in with the civvies should be a cinch. But then the job grows complicated when he uncovers a fellow magic practitioner during his investigation of the recent break-ins, and realizes the two of them have a history. Next, an attempt is made on Terrence Skinner’s life. Someone appears to be targeting the company founder, but the more he digs, the more Peter is convinced that everything comes down to the mysterious work being done on the top-secret floor at the SCC known as Bambleweeny.
Just as all the previous novels have been filled with pop-culture related in-jokes referencing everything from Harry Potter to Doctor Who, False Value is a geek heaven for sci-fi fans with a love of Douglas Adams, Battlestar Galactica, and even some tech history—like the achievements of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. It’s nice to see that even with the new storyline, Ben Aaronovitch has retained his cleverness and good sense of humor. These Rivers of London books have never ceased to make me crack up, and ultimately that’s what keeps me coming back and why this is one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
But it’s also undeniable that, for the last few books, the story had been getting increasingly complicated and confusing. With this fresh start though, Peter Grant is back in detective mode, rather than being too busy getting tangled up in Faceless Man and Lesley May drama. I loved the undercover aspect of his role, as it truly brings out his dedication to police work as well as his intellect and skill. False Value also shows a lot more of Peter’s relationships with the people around him including Nightingale, his mentor, and Beverly Brook, his girlfriend and soon-to-be mother of his children. While the relationship between Peter and Bev is clearly special, there’s hints of a conflict brewing as he finally realizes the full implications of being involved with a river goddess. She’s more benevolent than a lot of genius loci, but she’s still unpredictable in her power and knows exactly the effect she has on others. Not to mention, being a new father is intimidating enough without having to wonder if your kids will turn out to be minor deities like their mother.
With this volume, we also see an expansion of the magical community beyond the United Kingdom. Peter has had dealings with agents from across the pond in the past, but False Value brings the Americans quite literally onto the Folly’s doorstep, and one of them is even powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with Nightingale. This particular thread is an intriguing one so I don’t want to reveal much more, but Peter does come to appreciate that magical schools around the world have their own traditions and also not all of them view the spirits of place as kindly as the Brits do.
All in all, I thought False Value was a great read, considering it’s the first book to move beyond the Faceless Man story arc. We’re in the early stages of something new, so of course there is still this sense that things are developing, but on the whole, I enjoyed the new direction and dynamics introduced here. Big things are clearly coming for Peter Grant and I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book will take us.
January 22, 2023
[7/10]
The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
- Anonymous
I put back the series after book seven, thinking I have arrived both at a sort of closure for the main storyline [the chase after a rogue magical practitioner] and at saturation point with a given setting [I got lost among one too many tie-in novellas].
A vacation in London induced me to come back to the investigations of Peter Grant, as a backdrop to my own rambling walks through the city, and I must say some of the old charm of the series is back. I can think of few better guides for my steps than Peter’s passionate and funny asides about architectural oddities, his multicultural references, jazz soundtrack and interest in exotic foodstuffs.
The fact that the present book is actually a police procedural dealing with a hot issue in today’s computer controlled world is an added bonus.
“Somebody has to watch the machines,” said Mrs. Chin. “We are the people at the Library who do that.”
“Watch the machines for what?”
“Signs of life,” she said.
The debate about how we define, develop, deploy and control Artificial Intelligence is one that should have all of us involved. Peter Grant, following clues about the theft of some ancient punch-card music tiles, examples of the earliest form of mechanical calculator developed by Charles Babbage, lands an undercover job as a security consultant for the Serious Cybernetic Organization, a Silicon Valley transplant into London.
SCO is led by one of those proverbial American tech billionaires cast in the mould of Elon Musk et Co. This Terrence Skinner has a secret project in development at the isolated upper floor of Serious Cybernetics Organization, but he also feels the need for personal bodyguards around his person.
Peter Grant feels quite at home among the geek population of software developers at SCO, and hopes the job will allow him a less dangerous pastime while he offers support to the Bulge, as the abode of his growing twins inside lovely river goddess Beverley became known.
But the job of hunting for spooks and other magic practitioners is never safe, so Peter must rely on his whole support team from previous books, starting with his boss Thomas Nightingale, his contacts in the Metropolitan police force and his contacts with the faeries and river deities.
I wish these secondary characters could have played a bigger role in the current episode, but it was good enough with Peter in the lead role and with several new faces introduced. Mostly because the theme of Artificial Intelligence interest me deeply [I started writing code on punch cards in the 80s], but also because Peter is up to his old tricks as a tongue-in-cheek narrator, always spot on with a pop-culture reference, even if some of them leave me baffled. Zebedee, anyone?
You can always tell when a geek is making a knowing reference, and this was definitely one of those. Although what it was a reference to, I would have to look up later.
Anyway, there’s a lot of Douglas Adams and 2001: A Space Odyssey and table-top role playing games to satisfy me on this point. Although I don’t think I saw Japanese tentacle manga referenced as cephalophilia before. One of my favourite moments is meeting again with Molly and with her artistic fae sister at the Folly, one busy cooking, the other following her models around with an easel and paints.
Pale-skinned, she had a narrow face with sharp features and black, almond-shaped eyes. She would have looked like something from ‘Downton Abbey’ but only if they’d had a Halloween special directed by Guillermo del Toro.
The last Easter Egg for me appeared during a picnic in Regent Park, organized by Beverley and filled with all sorts of ethnic culinary goodies, among them staples of Romanian cuisine brought by my compatriots to the shores of Albion: zacusca, telemea and papara.
>>><<<>>><<<
In conclusion, a good return to the series, not quite as gripping as the earlier books but with a good plot about Deep Thought, an A. I. with a twist.
The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
- Anonymous
I put back the series after book seven, thinking I have arrived both at a sort of closure for the main storyline [the chase after a rogue magical practitioner] and at saturation point with a given setting [I got lost among one too many tie-in novellas].
A vacation in London induced me to come back to the investigations of Peter Grant, as a backdrop to my own rambling walks through the city, and I must say some of the old charm of the series is back. I can think of few better guides for my steps than Peter’s passionate and funny asides about architectural oddities, his multicultural references, jazz soundtrack and interest in exotic foodstuffs.
The fact that the present book is actually a police procedural dealing with a hot issue in today’s computer controlled world is an added bonus.
“Somebody has to watch the machines,” said Mrs. Chin. “We are the people at the Library who do that.”
“Watch the machines for what?”
“Signs of life,” she said.
The debate about how we define, develop, deploy and control Artificial Intelligence is one that should have all of us involved. Peter Grant, following clues about the theft of some ancient punch-card music tiles, examples of the earliest form of mechanical calculator developed by Charles Babbage, lands an undercover job as a security consultant for the Serious Cybernetic Organization, a Silicon Valley transplant into London.
SCO is led by one of those proverbial American tech billionaires cast in the mould of Elon Musk et Co. This Terrence Skinner has a secret project in development at the isolated upper floor of Serious Cybernetics Organization, but he also feels the need for personal bodyguards around his person.
Peter Grant feels quite at home among the geek population of software developers at SCO, and hopes the job will allow him a less dangerous pastime while he offers support to the Bulge, as the abode of his growing twins inside lovely river goddess Beverley became known.
But the job of hunting for spooks and other magic practitioners is never safe, so Peter must rely on his whole support team from previous books, starting with his boss Thomas Nightingale, his contacts in the Metropolitan police force and his contacts with the faeries and river deities.
I wish these secondary characters could have played a bigger role in the current episode, but it was good enough with Peter in the lead role and with several new faces introduced. Mostly because the theme of Artificial Intelligence interest me deeply [I started writing code on punch cards in the 80s], but also because Peter is up to his old tricks as a tongue-in-cheek narrator, always spot on with a pop-culture reference, even if some of them leave me baffled. Zebedee, anyone?
You can always tell when a geek is making a knowing reference, and this was definitely one of those. Although what it was a reference to, I would have to look up later.
Anyway, there’s a lot of Douglas Adams and 2001: A Space Odyssey and table-top role playing games to satisfy me on this point. Although I don’t think I saw Japanese tentacle manga referenced as cephalophilia before. One of my favourite moments is meeting again with Molly and with her artistic fae sister at the Folly, one busy cooking, the other following her models around with an easel and paints.
Pale-skinned, she had a narrow face with sharp features and black, almond-shaped eyes. She would have looked like something from ‘Downton Abbey’ but only if they’d had a Halloween special directed by Guillermo del Toro.
The last Easter Egg for me appeared during a picnic in Regent Park, organized by Beverley and filled with all sorts of ethnic culinary goodies, among them staples of Romanian cuisine brought by my compatriots to the shores of Albion: zacusca, telemea and papara.
>>><<<>>><<<
In conclusion, a good return to the series, not quite as gripping as the earlier books but with a good plot about Deep Thought, an A. I. with a twist.
May 14, 2024
Catching up…
For those who are fans of the Rivers of London series, this is one in which it is much easier if you continue along with it on a regular basis, because the author has a tendency to leave stories hanging from one book to another. And his character arcs are continuing so readers do become vested in what is happening.
So, for those of us who may have taken a break, (like me) we may have forgotten the who is who, and feel a bit adrift and need reminding.
Still, in order for this series to effectively work, it needs to be read from the beginning. It is a bit of a fantasy police procedural read, and the characters do develop from one book to another, which allows the readers to find themselves evolving with the characters and the stories.
The adventures become fun, well-paced and interestingly somewhat original. Making this one a "reluctantly" well-received addition to the series.
3.5 stars rounded up
For those who are fans of the Rivers of London series, this is one in which it is much easier if you continue along with it on a regular basis, because the author has a tendency to leave stories hanging from one book to another. And his character arcs are continuing so readers do become vested in what is happening.
So, for those of us who may have taken a break, (like me) we may have forgotten the who is who, and feel a bit adrift and need reminding.
Still, in order for this series to effectively work, it needs to be read from the beginning. It is a bit of a fantasy police procedural read, and the characters do develop from one book to another, which allows the readers to find themselves evolving with the characters and the stories.
The adventures become fun, well-paced and interestingly somewhat original. Making this one a "reluctantly" well-received addition to the series.
3.5 stars rounded up
March 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this. I liked the beginning chapters which meant the reader had to work harder to work out what was going on. I liked the fact that so many of the characters we’ve already met played their part too. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the technological side, but I pretty much did.
April 18, 2020
It pains me so much to give the latest adventures of Peter Grant a mere 3 stars...
But alas, I must.
(I still adore this series, I promise. It would take a lot to shake that, and this didn't cause a dent in my love for the characters, the settings, the general overall joy of being in this version of London.
False Value just... wasn't amazing. It took me a solid week to read, in the middle of a complete pandemic lockdown. My thesis was briefly on hold, or at least allowed a pause; there was nowhere to go, no one to see, nothing to distract me from sitting down with a damn good book. I should have torn through it in a day! And it is good - but not great, when what I really wanted was to finally be able to 5-star a book in this now-beloved series. Next time, perhaps..?)
But alas, I must.
(I still adore this series, I promise. It would take a lot to shake that, and this didn't cause a dent in my love for the characters, the settings, the general overall joy of being in this version of London.
False Value just... wasn't amazing. It took me a solid week to read, in the middle of a complete pandemic lockdown. My thesis was briefly on hold, or at least allowed a pause; there was nowhere to go, no one to see, nothing to distract me from sitting down with a damn good book. I should have torn through it in a day! And it is good - but not great, when what I really wanted was to finally be able to 5-star a book in this now-beloved series. Next time, perhaps..?)
April 3, 2020
Oh, this just is not a five-star outing for Peter & the gang. (Those sky-high ratings must be from wishful voting.) I actually *like* player pianos and other musical punch-card automata, but this by-the-numbers mystery still wore out its welcome with even nerdy ol' me.
The regular check-ins with Beverly aaand the regular updates on the Folly renovations felt pretty darned rote as well.
Although I was charmed by Molly's super-tiny pastries. How pathetic a commentary is that on the rest of the book?
p. s. (spoiler)
The regular check-ins with Beverly aaand the regular updates on the Folly renovations felt pretty darned rote as well.
Although I was charmed by Molly's super-tiny pastries. How pathetic a commentary is that on the rest of the book?
p. s. (spoiler)
August 17, 2021
3.5 stars.
Good, but I hope that in future stories Aaronovitch will write more about the Folly and that we'll see more of Nightingale, Molly, Leslie and some of the other characters we've come to know and love. The author has built a wonderful, magical world with almost endless possibilities for adventures. I look forward to reading them.
Good, but I hope that in future stories Aaronovitch will write more about the Folly and that we'll see more of Nightingale, Molly, Leslie and some of the other characters we've come to know and love. The author has built a wonderful, magical world with almost endless possibilities for adventures. I look forward to reading them.
September 9, 2021
This 8th volume has a kick-ass glow-in-the-dark cover (see pictures in the comments) and neither Lesley nor any further Faceless Man. *lol* To make up for it, we get ... a lot more.
Peter is living with the more and more pregnant Bev and working at Serious Cybernetics Company, an IT company. Yep, you read that correctly. Almost gave me a heart attack. But never fear, as becomes apparent almost immediately, it's an undercover job for the Folly (which is currently under some serious reconstruction!).
The reason for the undercover stint is that there's a rich boy who either is a practitioner or is influenced by magic or someone tries to kill him using magic - in any case, something is severely wrong about the company, its boss and the attempts on his life.
Thrown in are our favourite FBI agent as well as a seriously kick-ass American librarian and her side-kick. I mean, that duel with Nightingale ... sheesh! And it's all about this mysterious magic device that seems to be like the magical equivalent of a nuke.
I was very entertained by Peter's description of the company when he was the new guy there and all the delicious references to Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker - very rewarding for us geeks. ;) Also very apt for describing corporate life and IT companies in particular.
But I also very much enjoyed the deepening of Bev's and Peter's relationship and their handling of the pregnancy, the deism and divinity, the family life etc.
Since I love everything about the Folly, I also very juch enjoyed seeing how it's adapting to modern times - not to mention that I'm always here for some Nightingale goodness (I might have a small crush on the old man). *lol*
The magic was wonderful, the Mary Engine, the rose jars, the further exploration of magic in other countries (both throughout history and right now), what we learned from Patricia Chin and Stephen (shouldn't it be Steven though?) Higgins but also the stuff about Foxglove and her "effects".
While this didn't really fit in with the supposedly big arch that we had so far, it was very fast-paced and interesting and after how the last installment ended, we did need a bit of a redirection or some new stuff that might tie back into the overall tale only later (who knows what the author is up to - maybe the point of the series simply is to tell of the Folly and the cops/wizwards working for it as well as their exploits). In any case, I was invested in the case as well as the inter-personal stuff. Not to mention the "political" stuff!
And just look at how beautiful this hardcover is!
Peter is living with the more and more pregnant Bev and working at Serious Cybernetics Company, an IT company. Yep, you read that correctly. Almost gave me a heart attack. But never fear, as becomes apparent almost immediately, it's an undercover job for the Folly (which is currently under some serious reconstruction!).
The reason for the undercover stint is that there's a rich boy who either is a practitioner or is influenced by magic or someone tries to kill him using magic - in any case, something is severely wrong about the company, its boss and the attempts on his life.
Thrown in are our favourite FBI agent as well as a seriously kick-ass American librarian and her side-kick. I mean, that duel with Nightingale ... sheesh! And it's all about this mysterious magic device that seems to be like the magical equivalent of a nuke.
I was very entertained by Peter's description of the company when he was the new guy there and all the delicious references to Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker - very rewarding for us geeks. ;) Also very apt for describing corporate life and IT companies in particular.
But I also very much enjoyed the deepening of Bev's and Peter's relationship and their handling of the pregnancy, the deism and divinity, the family life etc.
Since I love everything about the Folly, I also very juch enjoyed seeing how it's adapting to modern times - not to mention that I'm always here for some Nightingale goodness (I might have a small crush on the old man). *lol*
The magic was wonderful, the Mary Engine, the rose jars, the further exploration of magic in other countries (both throughout history and right now), what we learned from Patricia Chin and Stephen (shouldn't it be Steven though?) Higgins but also the stuff about Foxglove and her "effects".
While this didn't really fit in with the supposedly big arch that we had so far, it was very fast-paced and interesting and after how the last installment ended, we did need a bit of a redirection or some new stuff that might tie back into the overall tale only later (who knows what the author is up to - maybe the point of the series simply is to tell of the Folly and the cops/wizwards working for it as well as their exploits). In any case, I was invested in the case as well as the inter-personal stuff. Not to mention the "political" stuff!
And just look at how beautiful this hardcover is!
June 6, 2023
Like other reviewers, I found False Value much harder to read than the previous entries in the series - I have no issues with multiple timelines or being dropped right into the middle of the action, usually, but something about the way it was deployed here made this exceptionally hard to follow. Three stars still, because the elements that make this an awesome series are still here (Bev is too pregnant to be carrying things as much as she did), but it was a definite dip in a series that's usually so good.
Other than the messy timelines and fragmented feeling, when you get about a third in things do start getting better (not quite universally - there's still little fragments of weirdness, like telescopium being mentioned multiple times and getting defined on the last mention). From a multitude of new characters, a few start standing out, and I maintain hope they'll become part of a rotating cast of "extras" who pop up here and there. The plot started being much easier to follow, and ultimately does wrap up making sense, if a little quick (I swear I'm not just poking holes for the hell of it).
Definitely not enough of a stumble to put me off the series, but one I think I'd skip on a series reread.
Other than the messy timelines and fragmented feeling, when you get about a third in things do start getting better (not quite universally - there's still little fragments of weirdness, like telescopium being mentioned multiple times and getting defined on the last mention). From a multitude of new characters, a few start standing out, and I maintain hope they'll become part of a rotating cast of "extras" who pop up here and there. The plot started being much easier to follow, and ultimately does wrap up making sense, if a little quick (I swear I'm not just poking holes for the hell of it).
Definitely not enough of a stumble to put me off the series, but one I think I'd skip on a series reread.
February 24, 2020
One for sci-fi fans. This book widens the Rivers universe, moving on from the Faceless Man storyline. This gives the series a new lease of life but loses its focus. It’s not got that vivid London vibe.
Once you get into it, the historical tech world is fascinating but the story is pretty confusing for the first few chapters. There’s such a huge cast of characters that they started to blur.
It’s a transitional tale where almost everyone who has ever appeared seemed to pop up or be referenced, in addition to a vast number of new people, new organisations and new places. And when was Peter suspended?
Plus there’s a noticeable change in tone as Ben Aaronovitch shows his true sci-fi geekery colours. Too many overt nods to Hitchhikers’ Guide and gaming for my taste.
I still like the series, and Kobna narrates this book beautifully, but I hope the next instalment is more measured.
Once you get into it, the historical tech world is fascinating but the story is pretty confusing for the first few chapters. There’s such a huge cast of characters that they started to blur.
It’s a transitional tale where almost everyone who has ever appeared seemed to pop up or be referenced, in addition to a vast number of new people, new organisations and new places. And when was Peter suspended?
Plus there’s a noticeable change in tone as Ben Aaronovitch shows his true sci-fi geekery colours. Too many overt nods to Hitchhikers’ Guide and gaming for my taste.
I still like the series, and Kobna narrates this book beautifully, but I hope the next instalment is more measured.
February 27, 2020
I've loved this series from the beginning but I hate to admit it, I really struggled with this one. The start confused me, I didn't like Peter undercover, and it was ages before we saw anything of the Folly or Nightinglale. And worse of all, hardly any Toby!
My main problem was the central tech heavy plot. I love the darkly magical stories where Peter explores wonderful hidden parts of London. This plot felt very far away from that and it bored me. The constant Hitchhiker references got old fast, I didn't really see the point of the Librarians, and I was longing for more magic.
It finally came alive for me in the last quarter, and I fell back in love with Peter and the gang, but just as I was getting interested it ended. And now the long wait for the next book begins ..
I can tell by the number of 4 and 5 star reviews that I am certainly in the minority with my opinion of this book, but it didn't click for me and left me wanting much more.
My main problem was the central tech heavy plot. I love the darkly magical stories where Peter explores wonderful hidden parts of London. This plot felt very far away from that and it bored me. The constant Hitchhiker references got old fast, I didn't really see the point of the Librarians, and I was longing for more magic.
It finally came alive for me in the last quarter, and I fell back in love with Peter and the gang, but just as I was getting interested it ended. And now the long wait for the next book begins ..
I can tell by the number of 4 and 5 star reviews that I am certainly in the minority with my opinion of this book, but it didn't click for me and left me wanting much more.
February 15, 2021
Obviously, I wouldn't be reading book 8 of this series if I didn't seriously enjoy Peter Grant and his magickal London. I even spent my own moolah to buy a copy to permanently accession into my personal library.
I understand Peter moving in with Beverley, he bloody better if she's expecting his twin children. But I do miss the Folly, Toby, Molly, and more downtime with Nightingale. Aaronovitch has developed so many characters that I'm fond of that he can't possibly shoehorn them all into every book he writes, so I am getting used to enjoying them when they do appear. However Peter retains his cheeky outlook on policing and I enjoy his observations on humanity.
Do I perhaps detect a desire in Nightingale to retire? Please, Ben, say it ain't so! How can magical crime be fought without the Nightingale to back up our brash Peter? Unfortunately for me, things will be very different soon, since Bev can't stay pregnant forever and those twins will change Peter's life in oh so many ways.
It seems that this book is setting up a new story arc to be the scaffolding for the next books. At least I'm hoping that's the plan. Developments that I would like to see include more of the Guleed/Michael relationship, more Molly if there's a way to accomplish that, more than a scant paragraph about Toby, and maybe Bev's mother inspecting those twins, with complications ensuing. My copy of The October Man has just arrived in the mail, so that will keep me going, along with Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, until such time as the new Abigail adventure is fully cooked.
I'm relieved that Mr. Aaronovitch has recovered from his bout of Covid-19 and wish him good heath and good writing!
Cross posted at my bl9g:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
I understand Peter moving in with Beverley, he bloody better if she's expecting his twin children. But I do miss the Folly, Toby, Molly, and more downtime with Nightingale. Aaronovitch has developed so many characters that I'm fond of that he can't possibly shoehorn them all into every book he writes, so I am getting used to enjoying them when they do appear. However Peter retains his cheeky outlook on policing and I enjoy his observations on humanity.
Do I perhaps detect a desire in Nightingale to retire? Please, Ben, say it ain't so! How can magical crime be fought without the Nightingale to back up our brash Peter? Unfortunately for me, things will be very different soon, since Bev can't stay pregnant forever and those twins will change Peter's life in oh so many ways.
It seems that this book is setting up a new story arc to be the scaffolding for the next books. At least I'm hoping that's the plan. Developments that I would like to see include more of the Guleed/Michael relationship, more Molly if there's a way to accomplish that, more than a scant paragraph about Toby, and maybe Bev's mother inspecting those twins, with complications ensuing. My copy of The October Man has just arrived in the mail, so that will keep me going, along with Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, until such time as the new Abigail adventure is fully cooked.
I'm relieved that Mr. Aaronovitch has recovered from his bout of Covid-19 and wish him good heath and good writing!
Cross posted at my bl9g:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
February 24, 2020
Two cups of tea later, I'd really like to be excited about this, but while there were some very good parts, the overall theme did not work for me the way I was expecting it to right now.
February 25, 2020
False Value je poslednji i vrlo svež roman Bena Aronoviča, koji prati doživljaje pozornika Pitera Granta u borbi protiv londonskog polusveta, što je inače nezvanično zvanični naziv za sve ljude i bića koji su po prirodi magični ili se na neki način dotiču magije.
Moram priznati da je ovaj roman obećavao više dok je postojala samo najava za njega. Aronovičeva najveća mana je što ume da detektivske delove svojih romana rastegne za dvadesetak stranica previše, taman da čitalac izgubi interesovanje za taj element radnje, ali nastavi da čita zbog character developmenta i world buildinga.
Tako se i sada desilo.
False Value nije dramatična nadgradnja prethodnih sedam romana, nekoliko novela i grafičkih romana, ali jeste postepeni pomak ka zrelijem i odgovornijem protagonisti, kao i prema širenju sveta. Možda je Aronovič u pravu što to radi na kašičicu - napokon, između prvog i osmog romana u serijalu prošlo je u internoj hronologiji tek tri godine - ali voleo bih da baci kosku (da se poslužim tim starosrpskim idiomom) čitaocima koji bi voleli da polusvet u njegovim romanima bude malo zastupljeniji raznoraznim fantazijskim živuljkama nego što je do sada slučaj. Ipak, mora se priznati da i ovozemaljsko i onostrano igraju sasvim pristojnu ulogu u radnji, a jedan matori gik ne može a da ne oseti toplinu oko srca na silne omaže stonim RPGovima, od D&D-a pa do Call of Ctulhu (za koji bi se moglo reći da je čitav ovaj roman zapravo veliki omaž... mu).
Sve u svemu, 4* uz podsećanje da je ovo najbolje napisana i najmaštovitija urbana fantastika još od zlatnih vremena Džima Bučera i Lorel Hamilton pre njega.
Moram priznati da je ovaj roman obećavao više dok je postojala samo najava za njega. Aronovičeva najveća mana je što ume da detektivske delove svojih romana rastegne za dvadesetak stranica previše, taman da čitalac izgubi interesovanje za taj element radnje, ali nastavi da čita zbog character developmenta i world buildinga.
Tako se i sada desilo.
False Value nije dramatična nadgradnja prethodnih sedam romana, nekoliko novela i grafičkih romana, ali jeste postepeni pomak ka zrelijem i odgovornijem protagonisti, kao i prema širenju sveta. Možda je Aronovič u pravu što to radi na kašičicu - napokon, između prvog i osmog romana u serijalu prošlo je u internoj hronologiji tek tri godine - ali voleo bih da baci kosku (da se poslužim tim starosrpskim idiomom) čitaocima koji bi voleli da polusvet u njegovim romanima bude malo zastupljeniji raznoraznim fantazijskim živuljkama nego što je do sada slučaj. Ipak, mora se priznati da i ovozemaljsko i onostrano igraju sasvim pristojnu ulogu u radnji, a jedan matori gik ne može a da ne oseti toplinu oko srca na silne omaže stonim RPGovima, od D&D-a pa do Call of Ctulhu (za koji bi se moglo reći da je čitav ovaj roman zapravo veliki omaž... mu).
Sve u svemu, 4* uz podsećanje da je ovo najbolje napisana i najmaštovitija urbana fantastika još od zlatnih vremena Džima Bučera i Lorel Hamilton pre njega.
April 19, 2020
“If there was ever a candidate to be patron saint of computers then it would be Alan Turing. Mathematician, war hero and tragic victim of homophobia.”
And the above quotation is pretty much the only redeeming quality of this entire uninspired mess of a book.
As seems almost mandatory among “hip” authors these days, we have completely unnecessary jumps in the narrated time between chapters. Why can’t people tell their story linearly?! It’s not that hard and Aaronovitch stops jumping around the middle of the book and nothing of value is lost. So, why do it in the first place?
There’s no character development, no furthering any story arc, nothing. Not even the mediocre story of mixing magic, the generally supernatural and technology is fully explored but lacklustrely told and unconvincingly at that.
Even worse: Apart from countless allusions to the Hitchhiker’s Guide, “False Value” alludes to other works of Aaronovitch (probably those graphic “novels”) which I’m not in the least interested in reading.
This book was so boring, I’m surprised I managed to finish it. If you’ve been a fan so far, skip this one and hope for better times. If you haven’t read any “Rivers of London” yet, start at the beginning instead and, if you get that far, pretend this turd doesn’t exist.
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And the above quotation is pretty much the only redeeming quality of this entire uninspired mess of a book.
As seems almost mandatory among “hip” authors these days, we have completely unnecessary jumps in the narrated time between chapters. Why can’t people tell their story linearly?! It’s not that hard and Aaronovitch stops jumping around the middle of the book and nothing of value is lost. So, why do it in the first place?
There’s no character development, no furthering any story arc, nothing. Not even the mediocre story of mixing magic, the generally supernatural and technology is fully explored but lacklustrely told and unconvincingly at that.
Even worse: Apart from countless allusions to the Hitchhiker’s Guide, “False Value” alludes to other works of Aaronovitch (probably those graphic “novels”) which I’m not in the least interested in reading.
This book was so boring, I’m surprised I managed to finish it. If you’ve been a fan so far, skip this one and hope for better times. If you haven’t read any “Rivers of London” yet, start at the beginning instead and, if you get that far, pretend this turd doesn’t exist.
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March 10, 2020
I think I've reached peak Aaronovitch, I'm afraid. The plot is quite clever although the twists and turns didn't all make sense. The subsidiary characters were a bit flat and in places hard to tell apart and probably superfluous. (And there's a glitch right at the beginning about Victor which was irritating: was it poor copy editing or something more subtle?)
The magic remains interesting but I preferred the earlier books where Molly, Toby, the Rivers and the Folly all played a larger part. The tech stuff seemed too derivative and I didn't think it meshed well with the magic.
It can obviously be difficult to maintain the quality in a long series of books but there is the danger that loyal readers will feel a bit exploited if it dips. I assume that there will be at least one more book featuring Peter and Beverley's children but I don't think I'll be rushing to read it.
The magic remains interesting but I preferred the earlier books where Molly, Toby, the Rivers and the Folly all played a larger part. The tech stuff seemed too derivative and I didn't think it meshed well with the magic.
It can obviously be difficult to maintain the quality in a long series of books but there is the danger that loyal readers will feel a bit exploited if it dips. I assume that there will be at least one more book featuring Peter and Beverley's children but I don't think I'll be rushing to read it.
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