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spr's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Sexual content
sawowza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
jeffaudio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.0
Graphic: Gore and Sexual content
blamelucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction, Suicide, Trafficking, and Murder
a_k_lennard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Peter Grant felt more like a fully fledged character in this book and less like a middle aged white man pretending to be a black guy in his late 20’s. We get to know Peter Grant and his family a lot more in this book and it fleshes him out in such a nice way. However, the many sex scenes were not conducive to the plot and gave me the unwanted picture of a middle aged man leering as he wrote them on his laptop.
The plot itself is quite predictable but there is a big boss villain introduced that begins to make the following books more interesting and less about Peter Grant’s future dick.
Writing all of these points really makes me realise how much I like the funny comments and easy-to-read style and the lovely gory murders — otherwise I would have put this book down. My dad recommended this series to me and I never want to read a sex scene again thinking ‘my dad read this’, our relationship is complicated enough.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
2.5
But despite the moments of creepy, odd and ignorant inner monologue of the narrator-protagonist, the other characters, world-building and action are good. While some of my feelings on it are mixed (hence the rating), I definitely enjoy the adventure this book takes you on.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Classism
Minor: Suicide
adliteracy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series, generally, is a contemporary paranormal crime mystery in London told with dry humor and a rapidly evolving plot.
This was actually my second read of this novel; the first time, I read it via audiobook, and I got to the end feeling very confused because I'd zoned out through some of the details. I read it again and paid closer attention, which yielded two benefits: I understood and was emotionally affected by the shocking ending (no spoilers), and I was able to write down some really great quotes.
The humor of this book is perfect for me, and these are a couple examples of quotes (not exhaustive by a long shot - the entire novel is full of witticisms and satire) that especially made me laugh:
- "Last time I'd been there, I'd been sworn in as an apprentice wizard. This time I suspected it was going to be mostly swearing."
- "The notoriously savvy Henry VIII discovered an elegant way to solve both his theological problems and his personal liquidity crisis - he dissolved all the monasteries and nicked their land."
Overall, I recommend this series very much. I'm enjoying it a lot and can't wait to read the third book!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
hjcomic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Police brutality, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery and Trafficking
Minor: Genocide and Violence
This book isn't my favourite among the Rivers series, as the characters and their relationships are still developing. However the A and B plots are gripping and haunting and disturbing in a way that really stays with you.asourceoffiction's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The second book in this series is fun, engaging, easy to read and really clever. But I have found with both books so far, there are so many characters, sub-plots and mysteries (which often connect and intertwine) that my head is swimming a bit by the end. I followed along ok, but felt at times like I could do with my own investigatory notepad to keep everything straight in my head.
That said, this has a great ending and the makings of several long-gestating stories to come. I'm utterly hooked and have already ordered a secondhand copy of Whispers Underground!
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
ineffablebob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content