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neo_ultraIt was quite funny and easy to read, but not that memorable.
I quite liked the urban fantasy aspect, all those ghosts and wizards, and water nymphs living alongside the normal world, and those who know - they know.
The main character being brought into this secret world was a good way to introduce the reader into the rules of how magic worked and all that. But unfortunately I didn't find the main character very likeable. He could be funny on occasion, but mostly he felt just too cynical, he lacked wonder. I mean, he just found out that wizards and ghost were real, a bit more of a reaction surely was warranted?! Well, maybe he was just British so he had to keep a stiff upper lip.
And from the looks of it, that was not the only stiff thing, since he just could not stop noticing breasts, butts and legs of every female he came across. For crying out loud, man, there is a supernatural killer on the loose, now was clearly not the time for yet another detailed account of exactly how jiggly were the breasts of Ms. Beverly Brooks.
The personifications of the Thames and the tributaries were interesting, at least - sufficiently colourful and alien. And the crime investigation itself was not bad - an interesting mix of fantasy methods and traditional police work.
The fact that the evil spirit actually had been possessing one of the main characters all along felt a bit out of the blue to me. And the way it took so long for the characters to make a connection between the events and the typical plot of a Punch and Judy show seemed a bit odd - aren't these shows a part of the British cultural heritage that every child knows?
All in all, the book was entertaining, but I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series. From what I understand, the main character will at some point in future quit his wizarding job and the police officer he worked with will turn evil, I don't like such turns of events.
And in general I wish there were more in-depth world-building details and less mildly funny quips. This is not Marvel.
I quite liked the urban fantasy aspect, all those ghosts and wizards, and water nymphs living alongside the normal world, and those who know - they know.
The main character being brought into this secret world was a good way to introduce the reader into the rules of how magic worked and all that. But unfortunately I didn't find the main character very likeable. He could be funny on occasion, but mostly he felt just too cynical, he lacked wonder. I mean, he just found out that wizards and ghost were real, a bit more of a reaction surely was warranted?! Well, maybe he was just British so he had to keep a stiff upper lip.
And from the looks of it, that was not the only stiff thing, since he just could not stop noticing breasts, butts and legs of every female he came across. For crying out loud, man, there is a supernatural killer on the loose, now was clearly not the time for yet another detailed account of exactly how jiggly were the breasts of Ms. Beverly Brooks.
The personifications of the Thames and the tributaries were interesting, at least - sufficiently colourful and alien. And the crime investigation itself was not bad - an interesting mix of fantasy methods and traditional police work.
The fact that the evil spirit actually had been possessing one of the main characters all along felt a bit out of the blue to me. And the way it took so long for the characters to make a connection between the events and the typical plot of a Punch and Judy show seemed a bit odd - aren't these shows a part of the British cultural heritage that every child knows?
All in all, the book was entertaining, but I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series. From what I understand, the main character will at some point in future quit his wizarding job and the police officer he worked with will turn evil, I don't like such turns of events.
And in general I wish there were more in-depth world-building details and less mildly funny quips. This is not Marvel.
