annieb123's Review of Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After (Graphic Novel)

by Ben Aaronovitch

CSI meets Harry Potter in this graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch - writer of the bestselling Rivers of London supernatural police procedural crime novel series, Andrew Cartmel author of The Vinyl Detective and Celeste Bronfman.

Ben Aaronovitch’s ‘Rivers of London’ Set For Adaptation By See-Saw, Pure Fiction Television

Illustrations from a mysterious book of fairy tales drawn in the late 1800s are coming to life in the 21st Century and causing havoc. The illustrations were originally painted by a Victorian artist called Jeter Day who disappeared one night in an enchanted forest when he was spirited away by tree nymphs never to be seen again…

Now, with the enchantment accidentally broken by Olympia and Chelsea, daughters of the river goddess Mama Thames, Jeter, twisted by his time spent with the nymphs, has returned to our world bitter and resentful. It is a world he neither recognises nor likes. All he wants is his life returned to him and woe betide any man who stands in his way.

With Peter and Nightingale busy on another case, it falls to sisters Olympia and Chelsea with the help of the Foxes to stop Jeter and save the day.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After is the 10th Rivers of London graphic novel, adapted from the RoL series by Ben Aaronovitch. Released in comiXology/ebook format in Nov 2022, this paperback format from Titan is 112 pages and will be released 24th Jan 2023.

This is a worthy addition to the canon. The graphic novel format is different than the longer book-form novels, but add an interesting background depth in the side stories. The writing in this volume is by Celeste Bronfman, and she has an appealing knack with the rapid fire sarcastic humour and intelligent, sometimes absurd, repartee. Fans of Aaronovitch will feel at home. The art, with pencils by José María Beroy is detailed and intricate and captures the fantasy element well. I can believe that these foxes can talk.

For readers unfamiliar with the series, this is the 10th graphic novel based on the original urban fantasy Rivers of London books which are up to (*checking online*) 9 main books plus assorted novellas and shorter stories. This particular graphic novel is well scripted and readers coming into the read without prior exposure will not be lost, but will also not get the full background.

Four stars. These graphic novels are satisfying intermezzos between the main series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

4 January, 2023: Started reading

4 January, 2023: Finished reading

4 January, 2023: Reviewed