Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch: review

3/5 stars on Goodreads

Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovich

This is already book 10 in the main Rivers of London series, on top of which there are some in-between books and comics that I haven’t all read. There’s a two-year time jump between this and book 9, and Peter’s twins that were born at the end of the previous book are now two years old and a handful.

Peter and Bev are on a holiday in Aberdeen of all places, and they’ve taken half the Folly, his parents and his dad’s jazz band with them. They end up camping in the garden of a colleague of Dr Walid, who has sent Walid samples of a dead sheep killed by something that’s not native to Scotland. Walid’s there to investigate.

Peter’s holiday starts well, with beach days with his family while Nightingale and Abigail investigate the mysterious animal and his dad performs with his band. But when an assault victim turns out to have gills, he’s called in to consult the local police. It leads to a full-blown investigation of not only a murder but a missing person, a summoner of weird creatures, a crooked oil company, and forced labour of people who are not quite human.

Meanwhile, Abigail and Nightingale investigate what turns out to be a black leopard, but not quite. They’re not the only people after the creature. A young woman is hunting it too. Abigail is instantly attracted and the two end up having a nice holiday romance. And it turns out, Ione isn’t quite human either.

This was a nice holiday read but not among the best Rivers of London books. I’m not entirely sure it was even a very good book. For one, the structure where both Peter and Abigail had their POV chapters left both their stories lacking. Admittedly, neither of them had enough to do to fill the entire book, but the separation of the storylines didn’t form a satisfying whole. Abigail is also in mourning of someone, but since I haven’t read the book where the death took place, I wasn’t entirely invested, though the grief felt real.

There were too many characters with nothing to do. Peter’s dad and his band were probably supposed to be the comic relief, but all their scenes turned out to be fillers. I don’t think Richard said a word, at least not in direct dialogue. Peter’s mom at least was given a role as a cook and a babysitter, but she didn’t contribute much to the story either. Nightingale, likewise, was underused. Abigail would ditch him constantly, and then call him to help, after which his contribution was covered with a couple of lines. The solutions to the mysteries were mostly accidental.

The narrative as a whole was heavy on telling and not showing, which gave it a slightly distant feel. It was bogged down by description of everything in Aberdeen, but like always, not the main characters. I always find this irking. I read a lot and can’t remember what the main characters of a series I’ve last read three years ago look like, and as six years has gone since the start of the series, there must’ve been changes. Abigail, for one, is no longer a little girl. The stakes were low throughout, the bad guys were mostly human, and nothing blew up. Peter had almost no role in solving things. And there were a few plot holes that were ignored.

The rest is very spoilery, so stop reading here if you haven’t read the book yet.

Here are some plot holes that bugged me after I’d finished. Who ransacked the home and office of the missing woman and why, if they thought she was dead and her contribution for the work was done already? Why did the people who rescued her lock her up when it would’ve been in their interest to let her go to the police? How were the selkies captured when they appeared to be very powerful and also so secretive that other water creatures didn’t even know about them? Why did the panther roam the forests if it was summoned in the city? If it was summoned by using the circle in the forest, why was it covered in a century’s worth of soil? If it was the same panther that had roamed there for centuries, why would they assume that it would go away once the summoner was dealt with?

These aren’t necessarily serious issues, but combined with the narrative as a whole, it gives a notion that the book was a holiday work for the author too. Nevertheless, it entertained me enough to give it three stars, maybe even 3,5 rounded down. And I’m not ready to give up Peter and his gang. But I’m hoping for a more substantial story next time round.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

June reading recap

Once again, I’ve read so much manga this month that writing this recap took forever. In contrast, I only managed to finish three novels of the six I meant to read, and only one of those was a review copy, leaving three review copies for next month.

The only review copy novel I read was A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons by J. Penner, which I unfortunately didn’t like at all, so much so that if it hadn’t been a review copy, I wouldn’t have finished it. Luckily, the two novels I read for myself were better. There was vol. 5 of Case File Compendium by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou, where things got heated, literally. And I read Peerless vol. 4 by Meng Xi Shi where things are heating up a little too.

In comparison, I read 15 review copies of manga. To save space, I’ll simply list them here. Links lead to my reviews on Goodreads, if you’re curious.

Kill Blue, Vol. 1 by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. An assassassin returns to school as a teenager. Great fun.

A Star Brighter than the Sun, Vol. 2 by Kazune Kawahara. Still no closer to confession.

Senpai is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate 1 by Pom. This was great story of a boy who likes to dress up like a girl at school.

Shout Loud, My Heart by Youga Rayri. Very good BL romance.

Radio Storm, Vol. 1 by 팀S&S. Gloomy but good.

Outsiders Vol 1 by Akira Kanou. Confusing. I didn’t like it much.

The Hitman Stans, Vol. 1 by Rintarou Ohshima. Really funny story of a hitman supporting his favourite girl idol.

Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite, Vol. 4 by Julietta Suzuki. Still good and funny.

Nue’s Exorcist, Vol. 1 by Kōta Kawae. Good start to a series.

The Demon Prince of Momochi House: Succession, Vol. 1 by Aya Shouto. A spin-off that wasn't very good.

Ask and You Will Receive, Vol. 2 by Niyama. A good follow-up.

Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life, Vol. 1 by Miyu Morishita. A good start to a series about acceptance.

Veil Volume 2: Calming Noir by Kotteri. Art is great.

Cosmic Censorship Vol. 1 by Ryuuichi Sadamatsu. Action-packed.

Therapy Game Restart, Vol. 5 by Meguru Hinohara. Gah! So frustrating, but the men are getting there.

I also read 17 manga volumes for myself, most of that taken by eight volumes of Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki. I didn’t review all of them, but all were at least 4 star reads. I’ll list a couple here. I also read three volumes of I’m the Catlords’ Manservant by Rat Kitaguni, which turned out to be fun. One volume to go.

Here are the manga I read this month:

I’m the Catlords’ Manservant, vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3 by Rat Kitaguni.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity 7 by Saka Mikami. My go-to good-feel manga.

On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance 01 by Shinnosuke Kanazawa. Really pretty, with a sweet story.

The Otaku Love Connection 02 by Chu Amairo. As zany as the first vol.

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint vol 7 by singNsong. I gave this 5 stars, but didn’t review it. It’s been too long since I read it for real, but the paperback came out this month so it’s in this month’s tally.

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture, Vol. 6 by Mikage Sawamura. This is the last manga, but light novels continue.

SANCTIFY, Lost Paradise by Godstation. Angsty and good.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, vol. 3, vol. 4, vol. 5, vol. 9 by Izumi Tsubaki. The whole long series is silly and fun.

All in all, another satisfying reading month.

Peerless Vol. 4 by Meng Xi Shi: review

5/5 stars on Goodreads

Peerless vol 4 by Meng Xi Shi

Volume 4 continues where the cliffhanger ending of the previous book left things: Cui Buqu injured at the hands of Feng Xiao who has seemingly become a member of the Thirteen Floors conspiracy group. But things are never as they seem with the two espionage masters. In no time at all, they’ve created chaos and fled the caves.

They were lured there with the promise that they get to meet the leader of the group, but that person never shows up. All is not lost though, because they learn the leader’s identity anyway, someone they’ve met already, though someone neither of them thought much of.

Safety is fleeting. On Empress’s orders, Cui Buqu heads to a region pestered with floods. He’s accompanying an imperial censor who suspects foul play in distribution of aid. What looks like a simple matter of embezzlement turns out to be more sinister. And once again, the men are in mortal peril.

This was an excellent book. The number of times Cui Buqu almost died is incredible, yet he soldiered on. And Feng Xiao finally decides that Cui Buqu is the only person worthy of his attention. Too bad he has great trouble making the other man take him seriously. But the banter is spot on.

The volume doesn’t conclude the flood case, but it’s not a cliffhanger as such, merely it leaves the wrapping up unfinished. But the men now know who they’re fighting against and the rope is tightening. And of course, there’s the romance to root for. Looking forward to reading more.

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (Manga), Vol. 6 by Mikage Sawamura & Toji Aio: review

5/5 stars on Goodreads

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (Manga), Vol. 6 by Mikage Sawamura & Toji Aio

Manga editions catch up with the light novels out in English so far (five volumes) here. According to the author and the manga artist, there’s a pause in the adaptations after this one, but both express a hope that there will be more manga after this, as the story continues in light novels.

This is a turning point in the story. Professor Takatsuki and Naoya return to the festival of the dead where Naoya gained his ability to hear lies. They’re not welcome to the village though, especially after an old neighbour of his grandmother’s discovers that Naoya can hear lies.

The men go to investigate anyway, and stumble on a real supernatural event for the first time, landing in the realm of the dead. Problem is, Naoya isn’t meant to escape it for a second time. Luckily, they have unexpected help.

During their time in the spirit world, both Naoya and the professor remember things from their past. In his case, the professor remembers what happened when he was spirited away. Unfortunately, his mind refuses to retain the memory, and it wipes away the entire visit to the spirit world too. He remains philosophical though. He’ll just have to keep Naoya around to remember for him.

This was a good recap of the events in the light novel vol 5, though very much compacted. It’s always interesting to see a visualisation of complicated events. This is a good place to end the manga, even if it doesn’t resolve anything. But I hope there will be more adaptations, even if Goodreads only lists the six volumes so far. At least there are more light novels to come (there are eight in Japanese.) Looking forward to reading them all.

Case File Compendium Vol. 5 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou: review

5/5 stars on Goodreads

Case File Compendium vol 5 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou

The series is gearing towards the end with this fifth volume, but the story didn’t slow down at all. The contrary. After the cliffhanger ending of the previous book, the start of this one was a bit of a let-down. It skipped the action scene straight to the aftermath. Unsurprisingly, He Yu and Xie Qingcheng survive. The plotline in the remote village, which was mostly diversion anyway, is dropped and the men return home.

Xie Qingcheng believes that he and He Yu should stay apart from now on. The upset triggers another mental episode in He Yu, and this time he finally tells Xie Qingcheng that it’s caused by emotional turmoil. He confesses his love to Xie Qingcheng who doesn’t believe him. But it has the benefit of calming He Yu. He claims he’ll win Xie Qingcheng’s heart and proceeds to date him. It’s no use.

They still need to find cure for Xie Xue’s illness. A death of yet another actress involved in the movie production points clearly at the producer whose name has popped up several times in their investigation. Convinced that the source of the drug that caused Xie Xue’s illness is the producer, the men set out to break into his compound. They find many surprises there and get unexpected help too. That leads to a great showdown. But the mysterious organisation acts before their secrets are revealed.

Not all is lost for the men though. They have the drug and can create the antidote to cure Xie Xue. And the events at the compound make Xie Qingcheng realise that He Yu might be serious about his declaration of love. The book ends before we learn if it has permanent impact on him. At any rate, it might be too late. Xie Qingcheng is holding several secrets from He Yu—and the reader.

This was a good volume, with the plot advancing on all fronts. There were no sex scenes of questionable consent or otherwise; the men got along, and the impossible, Xie Qingcheng having a change of heart about He Yu, happened. There was a good twist about the identity of one villain, and some good diversion about the identity of another. But they aren’t any closer to catching the mastermind. There are at least two more books to come, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough to unravel the final mystery.