Ben AaronovitchWinter's Gifts: A Rivers Of London Novella

Ben Aaronovitch has developed one of his minor characters further in the hope, maybe, that she can play a wider role in a forthcoming novel in this highly entertaining magical take on a police/crime drama. As usual the story-telling draws you in and the plot, in so far as a fantasist fable can be, is credible with a pleasing conclusion. His main protagonist is likeable and it is to be seen how well she blends in with Peter Grant and Inspector Nightingale in coming episodes!

A good story well told. Took a while to get started but plot unfolded naturally. Good characters with several competing sides.

The Rivers of London series sells itself, and this novella was much anticipated by those needing another Rivers fix. Sadly, it didn't deliver as well and expected. It also seems to have been rushed out for sales, with noticeable typos making it through the process, and a glaring astronomical mistake going unchecked. The story was very slow to get going and only really became engaging in the last few chapters.Also, sadly, the lead character was not written well, with a male author yet again failing to get us into the head of the female protagonist.Ben's continued and annoying use of unexplained acronyms continues in this work. Had to tab out to Google them numerous times.This story really needed novel length and suffered greatly from being cut to a novella. Yes, buy it to keep your Rivers collection up to date and complete, but don't expect too much of it. The story idea was good, just not carried well in this curtailed format. That said, I really hope you enjoy it more than I did.

One of the Rivers of London novellas, it's not as long as the main stream novels but well worth reading. Set in the US, this book takes readers through a very different set of supernatural happenings with a different protagonist (Agent Kimberley Reynolds) at the helm. Ben Aaronovitch's masterly and suspenseful storytelling is as sharp as ever, and the humour is still very much on point.

Excellent story based on one of the side characters from the Rivers of London series

Sited in the USA using the American Equivalent of the Wise

Overall this is a nice addition to the mythos, extending the world building to North America.But, while the cover is lovely and innovative the text inside is laid out like some 1970's pulp YA novel - ugly and hard to read.Looking forward to a full length novel tbh.

Rivers of London books can be a bit formulaic, this one has the merit of a new setting and a new central character. I read it in one sitting. Although the outcome is never quite in doubt, how we get there is, and the chance for new Genus Locii to manifest is absorbing. Agent Reynolds is a promising new character, and I look forward to seeing how she reconciles her Christian faith with the old magic.