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Matthew Swift #4
The Minority Council
Matthew Swift, sorcerer, Midnight Mayor, is in charge. Or so he'd like to think. And London, being London, is having its issues. Drug use is rampant. Teenage vandalism is driving away business. Violent crimes are on the rise. Once upon a time, Matthew Swift wouldn't have given a toss. Now it's his mess to clean up.
Especially when the new drug on the market is fairy dust and the production process involves turning humans into walking drug labs. And when the teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature. And when the petty criminals of London start dying by magical means.
It becomes clear that not only is this Swift's mess to clean up, but someone is trying to tell him how to do his job. Now he has to sort out who's behind the crime wave and who's interfering in his business. Swift has a lot of old enemies and few friends. If he's going to save London from a rising tide of blood -- he's going to have to learn his lessons and fast.
Especially when the new drug on the market is fairy dust and the production process involves turning humans into walking drug labs. And when the teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature. And when the petty criminals of London start dying by magical means.
It becomes clear that not only is this Swift's mess to clean up, but someone is trying to tell him how to do his job. Now he has to sort out who's behind the crime wave and who's interfering in his business. Swift has a lot of old enemies and few friends. If he's going to save London from a rising tide of blood -- he's going to have to learn his lessons and fast.
414 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
58 people are currently reading
1528 people want to read
About the author
Kate Griffin
20 books829 followersKate Griffin is the pen name under which Catherine Webb writes fantasy novels for adults. She also uses the pen name Claire North.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 13, 2014
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.
Well, sort of. Take two dislikeable tropes, refrigerator females and the drug scourge, and put them in the hands of a fine storyteller, set it a city with a millennia of history, and fill it with fascinating characters, particularly a reincarnated schizophrenic sorcerer, and you get something pretty amazing with a little side helping of ambivalence.
**********************************************************
The rest of my crabbypants review will be posted at my favorite, undeletable places:
http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/0...
OR
http://carols.booklikes.com/post/8523...
Well, sort of. Take two dislikeable tropes, refrigerator females and the drug scourge, and put them in the hands of a fine storyteller, set it a city with a millennia of history, and fill it with fascinating characters, particularly a reincarnated schizophrenic sorcerer, and you get something pretty amazing with a little side helping of ambivalence.
**********************************************************
The rest of my crabbypants review will be posted at my favorite, undeletable places:
http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/0...
OR
http://carols.booklikes.com/post/8523...
November 29, 2021
I am the Midnight Mayor, the protector of the city, the guardian of the night, the keeper of the gates, the watcher on the walls. We turned back the death of cities, we were there when Lady Neon died, we drove the creature called Blackout into the shadows at the end of the alleys, we are light, we are life, we are fire and, would you believe it, the word that best describes our condition right now is cranky.
As much as I hate finishing a series and having to leave that world, I only held out a couple of months. When it comes to this series, it's hard to pause too long, but given this appears to also be the last book focussing on Matthew, it's especially daunting.
After an uncommon moment of connection, this is a book mostly focussed on aftermath - vengeance, and cleanup, in two separate but intertwining storylines. Rather than an apocalyptic threat, the stakes are more personal, more local, more urgent. The writing is still all gorgeous, run-on sentences, and I don't know how the author knows London so comprehensively, but it comes to life for the reader (sometimes almost too vividly, given there's a sewers sequence, but it's convincingly accurate).
Those little touches of humour are preserved, too, and Kelly the PA is an absolute delight - hopefully she makes the crossover into the next series, but either way it seems like Matthew might finally be in safe hands.
As much as I hate finishing a series and having to leave that world, I only held out a couple of months. When it comes to this series, it's hard to pause too long, but given this appears to also be the last book focussing on Matthew, it's especially daunting.
After an uncommon moment of connection, this is a book mostly focussed on aftermath - vengeance, and cleanup, in two separate but intertwining storylines. Rather than an apocalyptic threat, the stakes are more personal, more local, more urgent. The writing is still all gorgeous, run-on sentences, and I don't know how the author knows London so comprehensively, but it comes to life for the reader (sometimes almost too vividly, given there's a sewers sequence, but it's convincingly accurate).
Those little touches of humour are preserved, too, and Kelly the PA is an absolute delight - hopefully she makes the crossover into the next series, but either way it seems like Matthew might finally be in safe hands.
March 4, 2019
This series is quite possibly my favorite series in all of genre fiction, and I love Matthew Swift with the intensity of a bajillion burning landlines. So review, should there be one, will be very biased.
Series ratings:
A Madness of Angels: 5 STARS
The Midnight Mayor: 10 STARS
The Neon Court: ALL THE STARS
The Minority Council:tbd but I'm fairly certain it's gonna be at least 5 STARS
(Currently undecided, but definitely more than 5 stars)
* * * * *
I'm not crying. You're crying.
Review to be added once I stop crying. I mean, once you stop crying.
(I'm not really crying... but everything inside me is.)
Series ratings:
A Madness of Angels: 5 STARS
The Midnight Mayor: 10 STARS
The Neon Court: ALL THE STARS
The Minority Council:
(Currently undecided, but definitely more than 5 stars)
* * * * *
I'm not crying. You're crying.
Review to be added once I stop crying. I mean, once you stop crying.
(I'm not really crying... but everything inside me is.)
May 15, 2012
Fourth book about Matthew Swift, recently-dead sorcerer and secret servant (or something) of magical London. This volume is considerably more sedate than the first three; we actually get to see Swift patrol, plan, negotiate, recover, rest, and maneuver in between bouts of getting the absolute crap beaten out of him. In fact, he gets nearly a third of the way through the book before something overpoweringly awful gets on his tail, and he has significant respites after that too. Somebody even brings him coffee and sandwiches a couple of times.
With this leisure, we get to see a story told without the all-fireworks-all-the-time mode. Good news: it's even better this way. The author continues to demonstrate a fine grasp of what makes magic work, the emotional roots which get metaphored (from one side) and reified (from the other) into a convincing fantasy theme. (In this case: adolescent temper, and the logic of addiction -- finally putting right what Buffy season 6 got wrong.) The supporting cast sparkles (yes, sometimes literally) and then lands with a solid or delicate impact when needed; nobody is underdrawn. I was already sold on this series, but now I am sold on it continuing as long as the author wants to write it.
With this leisure, we get to see a story told without the all-fireworks-all-the-time mode. Good news: it's even better this way. The author continues to demonstrate a fine grasp of what makes magic work, the emotional roots which get metaphored (from one side) and reified (from the other) into a convincing fantasy theme. (In this case: adolescent temper, and the logic of addiction -- finally putting right what Buffy season 6 got wrong.) The supporting cast sparkles (yes, sometimes literally) and then lands with a solid or delicate impact when needed; nobody is underdrawn. I was already sold on this series, but now I am sold on it continuing as long as the author wants to write it.
July 11, 2016
3 Stars
The Minority Council by Kate Griffin is the fourth and final book in the Matthew Swift series. This was a let down to me and it did not compare to the previous three books. But I will not spend much time with my negatives as the Matthew Swift series is a must read...A must read for urban fantasy fans. Heck, Griffin worked her magic over on me in book one A Madness of Angels and rekindled my love the for the genre. That book changed my reading habits and they are still that way today.
The Matthew Swift series is magic made real written by a poetic genius. It is the writing style and word play of Kate Griffin that fleshes out this series into a truly high Def world. She has created an Urban Fantasy world that really showcases how amazing the genre can be. Yes it shares similarities with many of the genre greats but does so in an adult oriented fashion with a truly literary style.
Griffin has created a magical world including everything under the kitchen sink. I love Urban Fantasy for adults and this is the pinnacle of the genre. Living in the USA, I am especially taken by stories of London and all of its histories. The Matthew Swift series is London and it is nearly a character of its own. This series is made magical by the lyrical, rhythmic, and staccato styled writing of Griffin. There is nothing like it out there. Griffin has filled these pages with words that make you want to read more…
One example :
"“It’s the cooking fats, the congealed remnants of washed-away meats, the scrubbed-down rotting husks of vegetables, and yesterday’s mashed potatoes. It’s sanitary towels flushed into a toilet prone to blockages, it’s old tissue paper never quite disintegrating, and it’s human hair that tangles like spider silk and doesn’t break. It’s detergent from the washing machine and soap from the dishwasher, it’s baked-bean grease and uneaten leek soup that has grown mould on its surface from being left in a broken fridge. It’s the fat they fast-fried the chips in, and the remains of old rotting onion. It’s pregnancy tests that gave the wrong answer and the condom that split; it’s used nappies and puke and the bleach they tried to use to take away the smell. It’s everything you’ve ever not wanted it to be, running busily away downhill through brick-built tunnels, towards pits of rotating slime or the wide open sea.”"
Another :
"“I screamed a city. I turned my face towards him and I screamed from that place inside where all the light and the dark and the shadows went; I screamed the echo of a gunshot in the night and the look in Nabeela’s closing eye, the taste of concrete and fear, the smell of streetlight and shadows, the touch of night and the cold of day; I screamed the rolling drops of blood running down the back of my neck, the straight pattern of the streets pressed against my back, the pain in my legs and the ice in my fingers, the shriek of the culicidae and chitter of slate legs on brick, the memory of a bridge on the river and the sound of falling paper; I screamed everything, so long and so loud that the lights began to go out in the streets beneath me and the red beacons on the spires behind grew to a point and burst into black. I screamed until the streetlight spun on the surface of the clouds and I kept on screaming because my friend was at my feet,”"
I absolutely love this series. I will surely reread them all again. Poetic, imaginative, and a freaking lot of fun. The series is filled with great characters, cool monsters, and awesome places. The streets of London, the center of the story are almost a character in itself. But after all these amazing things, it is the writing that shines for me. It is unlike anything else out there..
A must read series.
The Minority Council by Kate Griffin is the fourth and final book in the Matthew Swift series. This was a let down to me and it did not compare to the previous three books. But I will not spend much time with my negatives as the Matthew Swift series is a must read...A must read for urban fantasy fans. Heck, Griffin worked her magic over on me in book one A Madness of Angels and rekindled my love the for the genre. That book changed my reading habits and they are still that way today.
The Matthew Swift series is magic made real written by a poetic genius. It is the writing style and word play of Kate Griffin that fleshes out this series into a truly high Def world. She has created an Urban Fantasy world that really showcases how amazing the genre can be. Yes it shares similarities with many of the genre greats but does so in an adult oriented fashion with a truly literary style.
Griffin has created a magical world including everything under the kitchen sink. I love Urban Fantasy for adults and this is the pinnacle of the genre. Living in the USA, I am especially taken by stories of London and all of its histories. The Matthew Swift series is London and it is nearly a character of its own. This series is made magical by the lyrical, rhythmic, and staccato styled writing of Griffin. There is nothing like it out there. Griffin has filled these pages with words that make you want to read more…
One example :
"“It’s the cooking fats, the congealed remnants of washed-away meats, the scrubbed-down rotting husks of vegetables, and yesterday’s mashed potatoes. It’s sanitary towels flushed into a toilet prone to blockages, it’s old tissue paper never quite disintegrating, and it’s human hair that tangles like spider silk and doesn’t break. It’s detergent from the washing machine and soap from the dishwasher, it’s baked-bean grease and uneaten leek soup that has grown mould on its surface from being left in a broken fridge. It’s the fat they fast-fried the chips in, and the remains of old rotting onion. It’s pregnancy tests that gave the wrong answer and the condom that split; it’s used nappies and puke and the bleach they tried to use to take away the smell. It’s everything you’ve ever not wanted it to be, running busily away downhill through brick-built tunnels, towards pits of rotating slime or the wide open sea.”"
Another :
"“I screamed a city. I turned my face towards him and I screamed from that place inside where all the light and the dark and the shadows went; I screamed the echo of a gunshot in the night and the look in Nabeela’s closing eye, the taste of concrete and fear, the smell of streetlight and shadows, the touch of night and the cold of day; I screamed the rolling drops of blood running down the back of my neck, the straight pattern of the streets pressed against my back, the pain in my legs and the ice in my fingers, the shriek of the culicidae and chitter of slate legs on brick, the memory of a bridge on the river and the sound of falling paper; I screamed everything, so long and so loud that the lights began to go out in the streets beneath me and the red beacons on the spires behind grew to a point and burst into black. I screamed until the streetlight spun on the surface of the clouds and I kept on screaming because my friend was at my feet,”"
I absolutely love this series. I will surely reread them all again. Poetic, imaginative, and a freaking lot of fun. The series is filled with great characters, cool monsters, and awesome places. The streets of London, the center of the story are almost a character in itself. But after all these amazing things, it is the writing that shines for me. It is unlike anything else out there..
A must read series.
June 4, 2015
The Matthew Swift series involves one of the most fantastical and whimsically creative worlds I've encountered, one of the most fascinatingly broken protagonists that I follow, and a style that sucks me into the narrative. I accept that this series is not for everyone; it's written in lush stream-of-consciousness, and there are certain tropes utilized again and again which may be a turnoff for some readers. But if you haven't at least tried the books, you don't know what you're missing.
So why is this series so very addictive?
Part of it is the world that Griffin creates. This is my fifth book in this world and she still has the power to surprise, to delight, to horrify me with her creativity and the richness of her imagination. Throughout the series, one theme is constant: that "Life is magic." Griffin's delight and wonder in the life of the city makes the magic of her world nearly tangible. From women who crumble into dust to imps who colonize vacuum cleaner bags and take vacations in the dumpsters,Griffin's world is extraordinary and yet familiar. Her London is detailed with something deeper than mere affection; when Griffin's characters speak of souls rooted in the stones at the heart of London, I think she speaks from experience.
Part of it is the writing style. I know I originally complained about it, and I'm not sure if it has grown more elegant or simply grown on me, but I find all of it--the stream-of-consciousness, the heavily dialectic speech, the lush descriptions--oddly compelling. It draws me into the narrative so deeply that I can hear each character's unique voice and cadence. Even in the darkest moments, Griffin inserts insanely wacky little tidbits that you can't help but laugh at. Take this little scene:
At the same time, one issue I discuss in all of my other reviews still hold: I can't think of a single series in which the average sidekick lifespan is this short. Do not get attached to characters; they most likely won't make it past the first chapter of the next book. Honestly, at some point, the cheap shocks stop working, even on me. Again, I think the cardinal sin is not just this facile attempt to tug at the emotions of the readers, but the fact that the high death count means that very few characters' personalities are allowed to develop, to grow, adapt, change, mature. Worse still, the characters die in a TV-show style, with no one left in permanent grief, no real thought given to friends and families and lovers left behind. In each book, we restart with a similar set of stock characters, often easy slot-in replacements for the all-too-recently deceased. If the deaths meant more to the other characters--if Matthew was more haunted by their absence--then I think I could forgive the deaths more.
All to often, it seems that Matthew's Right Thing is to protect the things that are important to him personally, however arbitrary his definition of importance might be. He saves the individual at the cost of the many, and because they are a nameless grey multitude to him, their lives do not weigh heavily on his shoulders. This type of quest-- to Save The Child, to Rescue the Princess, to Avenge The Family, to Bring Justice, to achieve this at all costs and with any sacrifice necessary-- is one of the most central tropes in the fantasy genre. I think it captures the world that we want to live in, a world where, truly, no one is ever left behind, where the daring rescue risks everything yet costs nothing. Griffin subverts the trope; personal is apparently the same thing as important, but the sacrifice is not an empty one. As one character tells Matthew,
In the end, the destruction wrought by both Matthew and his antagonists demonstrate that the distinction between personal and important must remain a tenuous one, a liminal space in which humanity resides. It is all to easy to become "forward-thinking," to act "proactively", to dehumanize the world into a machine to be optimized, to lose the people in the process.
The section titles-- from "You can't be everything to everyone" through "You can't save those who don't want to be saved", and finally, to "...but you might as well try"--create a fitting end to Matthew Swift's tale. Like these phrases, repeated over and over within the narrative, Matthew is trapped in a cycle of destruction; the harder he tries to hold onto his humanity, the faster it is subsumed into the madness of the angels. He is a powerful character, a gloriously imperfect one, yet one of his tragedies is his inherently static nature, his inability to pull himself out of the abyss. It is fitting, then, that the story of Matthew's world is continued by another narrator in the next book, Stray Souls. It provides a new potential for hope, for change. Matthew Swift's story may no longer take centre stage, but Urban Magic lives on.
Excerpted from my review on Booklikes, which contains additional quotes, comments, and spoilers that I was too lazy to copy over.
So why is this series so very addictive?
Part of it is the world that Griffin creates. This is my fifth book in this world and she still has the power to surprise, to delight, to horrify me with her creativity and the richness of her imagination. Throughout the series, one theme is constant: that "Life is magic." Griffin's delight and wonder in the life of the city makes the magic of her world nearly tangible. From women who crumble into dust to imps who colonize vacuum cleaner bags and take vacations in the dumpsters,Griffin's world is extraordinary and yet familiar. Her London is detailed with something deeper than mere affection; when Griffin's characters speak of souls rooted in the stones at the heart of London, I think she speaks from experience.
Part of it is the writing style. I know I originally complained about it, and I'm not sure if it has grown more elegant or simply grown on me, but I find all of it--the stream-of-consciousness, the heavily dialectic speech, the lush descriptions--oddly compelling. It draws me into the narrative so deeply that I can hear each character's unique voice and cadence. Even in the darkest moments, Griffin inserts insanely wacky little tidbits that you can't help but laugh at. Take this little scene:
"'You know how vampires are allergic to garlic?'
'Yes...'
'And werewolves to silver?'
'Yessss...'
'And banshees to ginger?'
'You're making this up.'
'I'm sorry, seven years medical training,' she replied, 'and you're just some git with fractured ribs, so whatever. Only, you see, bloodhounds...'
'You are kidding me.'
'Bloodhounds...'
'No, seriously.'
'Bloodhounds just can't take their garam masala.'"
At the same time, one issue I discuss in all of my other reviews still hold: I can't think of a single series in which the average sidekick lifespan is this short. Do not get attached to characters; they most likely won't make it past the first chapter of the next book. Honestly, at some point, the cheap shocks stop working, even on me. Again, I think the cardinal sin is not just this facile attempt to tug at the emotions of the readers, but the fact that the high death count means that very few characters' personalities are allowed to develop, to grow, adapt, change, mature. Worse still, the characters die in a TV-show style, with no one left in permanent grief, no real thought given to friends and families and lovers left behind. In each book, we restart with a similar set of stock characters, often easy slot-in replacements for the all-too-recently deceased. If the deaths meant more to the other characters--if Matthew was more haunted by their absence--then I think I could forgive the deaths more.
All to often, it seems that Matthew's Right Thing is to protect the things that are important to him personally, however arbitrary his definition of importance might be. He saves the individual at the cost of the many, and because they are a nameless grey multitude to him, their lives do not weigh heavily on his shoulders. This type of quest-- to Save The Child, to Rescue the Princess, to Avenge The Family, to Bring Justice, to achieve this at all costs and with any sacrifice necessary-- is one of the most central tropes in the fantasy genre. I think it captures the world that we want to live in, a world where, truly, no one is ever left behind, where the daring rescue risks everything yet costs nothing. Griffin subverts the trope; personal is apparently the same thing as important, but the sacrifice is not an empty one. As one character tells Matthew,
'You've survived a lot of things that most wouldn't have; I respect that. But how'd you survive?'
I shrugged.
'You let others die for you.'
In the end, the destruction wrought by both Matthew and his antagonists demonstrate that the distinction between personal and important must remain a tenuous one, a liminal space in which humanity resides. It is all to easy to become "forward-thinking," to act "proactively", to dehumanize the world into a machine to be optimized, to lose the people in the process.
The section titles-- from "You can't be everything to everyone" through "You can't save those who don't want to be saved", and finally, to "...but you might as well try"--create a fitting end to Matthew Swift's tale. Like these phrases, repeated over and over within the narrative, Matthew is trapped in a cycle of destruction; the harder he tries to hold onto his humanity, the faster it is subsumed into the madness of the angels. He is a powerful character, a gloriously imperfect one, yet one of his tragedies is his inherently static nature, his inability to pull himself out of the abyss. It is fitting, then, that the story of Matthew's world is continued by another narrator in the next book, Stray Souls. It provides a new potential for hope, for change. Matthew Swift's story may no longer take centre stage, but Urban Magic lives on.
Excerpted from my review on Booklikes, which contains additional quotes, comments, and spoilers that I was too lazy to copy over.
March 26, 2012
Kate Griffin's writing style is very distinctive - you're either love it with a passion or hate it with exact intensity. Fortunately, I'm in a former group.
I like her style, I really love setting (you can tell that the author loves London, and that love is reflected in her novels). But it's not all rosy with this series. As for UF genre goes, series with male protagonist are rarity, and lack of romance as main narrative focus is refreshing. But - I feel like the series are starting to repeat same tired plot formulae. 1) Some big bad showes up; 2) Mathew acts clueless, makes mistakes; 3) mistakes lead to danger to his friends; 4) then he gets help from external sources and defeats the big bad, but the price of victory is payed by the people close to him; 5) The end. To be frank, I think that the author should step away from this formulae, otherwise the series will become too boring in their predictability.
I like her style, I really love setting (you can tell that the author loves London, and that love is reflected in her novels). But it's not all rosy with this series. As for UF genre goes, series with male protagonist are rarity, and lack of romance as main narrative focus is refreshing. But - I feel like the series are starting to repeat same tired plot formulae. 1) Some big bad showes up; 2) Mathew acts clueless, makes mistakes; 3) mistakes lead to danger to his friends; 4) then he gets help from external sources and defeats the big bad, but the price of victory is payed by the people close to him; 5) The end. To be frank, I think that the author should step away from this formulae, otherwise the series will become too boring in their predictability.
March 4, 2012
There's a drug on the streets of London destroying magicians and a shadow killing children and it's going to be up Matthew Swift to do something about about it, but can he trust his own council to help? Matthew has been settling into the job of Midnight Mayor in his own unique way, but it's not one which has gained him many allies among his own staff, or so he thinks.
I'm continuing to enjoy this series, though I think this installment was much darker in many ways than previous books. Also, the author's writing style seems to have changed a little in that it doesn't seem to be quite as witty as the earlier books. Matthew is at his most interesting in many ways when interacting with characters such as Penny who we already know and I'll be glad when this series gains a few more regular characters again after the events in The Neon Court. Overall, the ending makes me look forward to the next book in the series next year when I get my yearly dose of Matthew Swift. This is still one of the best urban fantasy series out there.
I'm continuing to enjoy this series, though I think this installment was much darker in many ways than previous books. Also, the author's writing style seems to have changed a little in that it doesn't seem to be quite as witty as the earlier books. Matthew is at his most interesting in many ways when interacting with characters such as Penny who we already know and I'll be glad when this series gains a few more regular characters again after the events in The Neon Court. Overall, the ending makes me look forward to the next book in the series next year when I get my yearly dose of Matthew Swift. This is still one of the best urban fantasy series out there.
October 31, 2012
In summary: This Matthew Swift story is a bit different from the others, but benefits from the change of pace.
Recommended for: As with the third, people who are deeply familiar with the earlier books.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Detailed summary: Rather unlike the first three books, this one does not start with Matthew being thrown into some danger or another. Instead, we are treated to a short but ultimately non-life threatening adventure he shares with another magical practitioner, Meera.
The story properly kicks off with a wry description of Matthew's more mundane responsibilities as the leader of the Aldermen, such as paperwork and meetings with various councils (as much as he tries to resist this). He find himself saddled with the most enthusiastic PA on this side of the universe and an apprentice who thinks he's anti-cool.
There are two threads to this story, bound by a single string. The first thread is Matthew's vendetta against the dusthouses (where a drug called fairy dust is peddled and then extracted from users), which is set in motion by Meera's death. The Aldermen will not take on the dusthouses because it is not within their job scope, so Matthew acts largely alone.
The second thread relates to the sudden depersonalisation of teenagers in council housing. Nabeela, a social worker, comes seeking the help of the Midnight Mayor after suspicious marks appear on the walls after ASBO kids start dying.
The strand tying these threads together is the Minority Council. Headed by Templeman, it is a secret circle of Alderman elected to ensure that the Midnight Mayor's duties are done, regardless of the wishes of that particular Mayor.
The writing, as ever, remains witty, evocative and beautiful. 4 books on, and I can still get goosebumps from Kate Griffin's descriptions of old London. I have no greater praise than to say that she is a wordsmith of the highest calibre.
This book is much better than the third. Having shed quite a few regulars, Kate Griffin does not squander her opportunity to introduce new characters. This does not happen at the expense of the remaining regulars.
Templeman, with his almost psychic ability to predict Matthew's moves, is the best of these additions. For a good three-quarters of the story, the reader is left to second-guess his allegiances. When (SPOILER) he is revelaed to be the antagonist, Templeman remains sympathetic. I was very sorry to see the last of him, which is a first with Swift's antagonists.
Kelly Shiring, Matthew's PA, caused me some difficulty. Not a single one of Kate Griffin's characters are mere caricatures or tropes, but Kelly comes dangerously close. I kept waiting for her to be revealed as the evil mastermind, simply because I could not believe that any real person could be as cheerful and somewhat oblivious as her. She's a manic pixie dream PA turned up to eleven. In time, though, I warmed to her.
Nabeela (seriously, can we name Muslim women in fiction something other than Nabeela/Nabilah/whatever variation thereof already?) was also good. It was a smart update of the Medusa legend, and her quiet bravery during her kidnapping was well-written.
Penny continues to grow as a character, and gets quite a few smile-inducing lines. Her strength of will is admirable, and I'm beginning to see how she could well have summoned the Death of Cities in anger.
The pacing of this story is less manic than the earlier ones. Matthew's leash is not as short as it normally is, and he has minions to do his bidding, so more of his time is spent strategising. That's not to say that he does not get his arse kicked (wouldn't be a Swift story if he didn't), but that he gets more time and space to recover from it than he normally does.
The humdinger in this book has to be the part where Matthew is drugged with an altered version of fairy dust and loses control of the angels. Bloodshed ensues, all captured in a form where the pages are split in two, with the angels' narrative on one side and Matthew's on the other. It does not flow quite as well as the form used earlier to show their overlapping thoughts and emotions, but I suppose it does capture the drug-addled state of Matthew and the angels. I don't know if anybody else experienced the same thing, but the formatting drew me away from the story, so I was less immersed in that part than any other.
As for Matthew, well, Matthew's grown. There's less angel in his actions now, but these changes feel natural. And in case there is anyone wondering, yes, it appears that he did sleep with Meera. How this would work when the angels have constantly been described as "children" and "infants", I do not know. I also haven't the faintest idea why Kate Griffin would choose to establish their connection this way, rather than have her share an ice-cream with him (or something similarly non-sexual), because it would not have affected his desire for revenge against the dusthouses.
Apart from that one little niggle, though, this is an excellent book. I shall miss Matthew Swift and the angels.
EDIT: Also - and I cannot believe I nearly forgot to mention this - was that a reference to BBC's Sherlock that I picked up towards the end, where Penny, Kelly and Matthew watch telly and eat ice-cream? That thing about the detective with the big hair and the cabbie who dunnit and the final shot at the end? I know it's vague enough to be anything else with detectives and cabbies and guns, but a girl can dream. Oh, what a beautiful collision of fandoms :)
Recommended for: As with the third, people who are deeply familiar with the earlier books.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Detailed summary: Rather unlike the first three books, this one does not start with Matthew being thrown into some danger or another. Instead, we are treated to a short but ultimately non-life threatening adventure he shares with another magical practitioner, Meera.
The story properly kicks off with a wry description of Matthew's more mundane responsibilities as the leader of the Aldermen, such as paperwork and meetings with various councils (as much as he tries to resist this). He find himself saddled with the most enthusiastic PA on this side of the universe and an apprentice who thinks he's anti-cool.
There are two threads to this story, bound by a single string. The first thread is Matthew's vendetta against the dusthouses (where a drug called fairy dust is peddled and then extracted from users), which is set in motion by Meera's death. The Aldermen will not take on the dusthouses because it is not within their job scope, so Matthew acts largely alone.
The second thread relates to the sudden depersonalisation of teenagers in council housing. Nabeela, a social worker, comes seeking the help of the Midnight Mayor after suspicious marks appear on the walls after ASBO kids start dying.
The strand tying these threads together is the Minority Council. Headed by Templeman, it is a secret circle of Alderman elected to ensure that the Midnight Mayor's duties are done, regardless of the wishes of that particular Mayor.
The writing, as ever, remains witty, evocative and beautiful. 4 books on, and I can still get goosebumps from Kate Griffin's descriptions of old London. I have no greater praise than to say that she is a wordsmith of the highest calibre.
This book is much better than the third. Having shed quite a few regulars, Kate Griffin does not squander her opportunity to introduce new characters. This does not happen at the expense of the remaining regulars.
Templeman, with his almost psychic ability to predict Matthew's moves, is the best of these additions. For a good three-quarters of the story, the reader is left to second-guess his allegiances. When (SPOILER) he is revelaed to be the antagonist, Templeman remains sympathetic. I was very sorry to see the last of him, which is a first with Swift's antagonists.
Kelly Shiring, Matthew's PA, caused me some difficulty. Not a single one of Kate Griffin's characters are mere caricatures or tropes, but Kelly comes dangerously close. I kept waiting for her to be revealed as the evil mastermind, simply because I could not believe that any real person could be as cheerful and somewhat oblivious as her. She's a manic pixie dream PA turned up to eleven. In time, though, I warmed to her.
Nabeela (seriously, can we name Muslim women in fiction something other than Nabeela/Nabilah/whatever variation thereof already?) was also good. It was a smart update of the Medusa legend, and her quiet bravery during her kidnapping was well-written.
Penny continues to grow as a character, and gets quite a few smile-inducing lines. Her strength of will is admirable, and I'm beginning to see how she could well have summoned the Death of Cities in anger.
The pacing of this story is less manic than the earlier ones. Matthew's leash is not as short as it normally is, and he has minions to do his bidding, so more of his time is spent strategising. That's not to say that he does not get his arse kicked (wouldn't be a Swift story if he didn't), but that he gets more time and space to recover from it than he normally does.
The humdinger in this book has to be the part where Matthew is drugged with an altered version of fairy dust and loses control of the angels. Bloodshed ensues, all captured in a form where the pages are split in two, with the angels' narrative on one side and Matthew's on the other. It does not flow quite as well as the form used earlier to show their overlapping thoughts and emotions, but I suppose it does capture the drug-addled state of Matthew and the angels. I don't know if anybody else experienced the same thing, but the formatting drew me away from the story, so I was less immersed in that part than any other.
As for Matthew, well, Matthew's grown. There's less angel in his actions now, but these changes feel natural. And in case there is anyone wondering, yes, it appears that he did sleep with Meera. How this would work when the angels have constantly been described as "children" and "infants", I do not know. I also haven't the faintest idea why Kate Griffin would choose to establish their connection this way, rather than have her share an ice-cream with him (or something similarly non-sexual), because it would not have affected his desire for revenge against the dusthouses.
Apart from that one little niggle, though, this is an excellent book. I shall miss Matthew Swift and the angels.
EDIT: Also - and I cannot believe I nearly forgot to mention this - was that a reference to BBC's Sherlock that I picked up towards the end, where Penny, Kelly and Matthew watch telly and eat ice-cream? That thing about the detective with the big hair and the cabbie who dunnit and the final shot at the end? I know it's vague enough to be anything else with detectives and cabbies and guns, but a girl can dream. Oh, what a beautiful collision of fandoms :)
February 8, 2013
The finale for the Matthew Swift series is probably the most epic ever, and encapsulates everything that made this an amazing series. The last ~30% I just devoured in one sitting, unable to stop.
Kate Griffin addresses a major issue I had with the previous book: Matthew's lack of understanding with the Aldermen. I understood his reasons, but maintaining that behavior would have felt artificial, and so in this book we see a gradual development in terms of co-operation. This also brings the series to a logical conclusion, while the theme remains in the Magicals Anonymous sequel series.
The story I don't really have much to say about. It's brutal, it's dark, but there's always a flicker of light, a beacon of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. The titles for the chapters also reinforce this:
- You can't save everyone
- You can't save those who don't want to be saved
- You can't save yourself
and so on.
I have no clue as to how Matthew goes through all this, and still remains mostly sane. I'm personally quite certain I left behind some of my sanity among the pages.
This world Kate Griffin has created, the depth she managed to paint it with is no less than astounding. These books are not, by any stretch of imagination, light reads. They will weigh your soul down, and will teach you how to bear the burden. While reading them, you will see things that you probably couldn't ever even imagine, and you will read thoughts that you have never thought. And when you're done, you'll get up, and you'll see the world in a slightly different way, and your soul will have grown with the life, magic and death Kate Griffin trapped in these pages.
Book rating: 5.5/5.0 stars
Series rating: 9.6/10.0
I'll make sure to re-read this series at some point in the future, because I'm certain I missed half the messages, ideas and thoughts it has to offer. I'll probably also read the sequel series Magicals Anonymous, although the change of tone and point of view is discouraging.
This is one of the books I have ever read, and the series stands right next to The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher as some of the best fantasy titles in existence.
Thank you, Kate Griffin!
Kate Griffin addresses a major issue I had with the previous book: Matthew's lack of understanding with the Aldermen. I understood his reasons, but maintaining that behavior would have felt artificial, and so in this book we see a gradual development in terms of co-operation. This also brings the series to a logical conclusion, while the theme remains in the Magicals Anonymous sequel series.
The story I don't really have much to say about. It's brutal, it's dark, but there's always a flicker of light, a beacon of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. The titles for the chapters also reinforce this:
- You can't save everyone
- You can't save those who don't want to be saved
- You can't save yourself
and so on.
I have no clue as to how Matthew goes through all this, and still remains mostly sane. I'm personally quite certain I left behind some of my sanity among the pages.
This world Kate Griffin has created, the depth she managed to paint it with is no less than astounding. These books are not, by any stretch of imagination, light reads. They will weigh your soul down, and will teach you how to bear the burden. While reading them, you will see things that you probably couldn't ever even imagine, and you will read thoughts that you have never thought. And when you're done, you'll get up, and you'll see the world in a slightly different way, and your soul will have grown with the life, magic and death Kate Griffin trapped in these pages.
Book rating: 5.5/5.0 stars
Series rating: 9.6/10.0
I'll make sure to re-read this series at some point in the future, because I'm certain I missed half the messages, ideas and thoughts it has to offer. I'll probably also read the sequel series Magicals Anonymous, although the change of tone and point of view is discouraging.
This is one of the books I have ever read, and the series stands right next to The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher as some of the best fantasy titles in existence.
Thank you, Kate Griffin!
March 16, 2014
I am sad that I have finished this four book series because it was just so good. I managed to read this book while I was staying in London which made it even more meaningful. Kate Griffin writes such superb descriptions of London that I felt I could almost taste the history of the city just like Matthew does. I read this series on Kindle but it was so good I plan to buy the paper copies now just so I can admire them on my shelves.
June 11, 2012
I've been lapping up this series by Kate Griffin, which is an incredibly fresh-seeming and imaginative urban fantasy. I think this book isn't quite as strong as the previous three, but it still delivers evocative writing, a loving portrait of London, a wonderfully quirky protagonist, strong action and a solid story. Yummy stuff!
November 29, 2015
Last we saw of Matthew Swift, he’s just solved the mystery of The Blackout with heartbreaking consequences. The Midnight Mayor’s duties still have to be carried out, however, no matter how devastated our hero is. He does everything in his power to ignore everyone in the office, most of all The Aldermen whom he loathes, but that is proven to be difficult with the addition of a new giddy but quite lovely PA named Kelly, who never, ever, stops moving and rambling. A random meeting on a boat, however, makes Swift, for once, dive into the murky waters of politics. He meets a woman named Meera and they have an instant connection – of the magical kind. She is practicing magic nobody should ever even dabble in, and Swift tries to stop her. Then a strange woman shows up at his office and tells him that the kids in her local borough are acting “soulless” because some creepy shadow murdered their friend. His old friend The Beggar King also asks him for help – some of his charges are disappearing.
The common factors between those events? The Aldermen. More specifically, their relationship with magical drug dealers.
When Swift finds Meera dead in one of the dusthouses where fairy dust, a strong magical drug, is produced, he is enraged and ready to go to war with The Fairy Godmother (yes, that is the dealer’s alias). However, The Aldermen are being absolute, utter asshats politicians about that, and only one of them, Richard Templeton, agrees to help Swift. But can The Midnight Mayor trust him and make sure that his lovely Penny stays safe? And who is The Fairy Godmother? And who is the monster disguised as “The Neighbourhood Watch”?
Those of you who were there wil me on my Matthew Swift journey will be pleased to know that Swift’s sass and wit has not changed a bit, and he continues to be too sassy for his own good (literally). The fourth book may have more of a thriller vibe than other three, but it’s still written as a Matthew Swift installment – i.e. it involves wordy descriptions, side characters constantly reminding Swift that he’s a total git and either loving or hating him in spite of it, beloved characters of London magic doing their thing, and above all, Swift struggling with a bunch of entities within him (thankfully, no Robert Bakker in him anywhere this time!). This installment is particularly brutal on Swift vs angels and the reader. Thanks to the biggest asshole in this series villain, he pretty much acquires a split personality for a while (not sure how to better explain what happened). No more “I am we and we are me” for poor Matthew – the shift, the dissonance is rather sinister to read about. What happened to him(them), delivered a strong blow to Swift’s already fragile humanity. Which is dangerous for those who made him that way – the person that was the reason for Swift going after the dusthouses in the first place, was someone who made them feel human. London is what saves Matthew Swift. Nair was right to pick Swift as the Mayor for the reason he did – he would never be the city’s enemy. They are a part of London, and it is their city.
I hope my readers forgive me, but I’m about to make a Harry Potter analogy and apply it to Matthew Swift’s books.
“AMOA” is like “Philosopher’s Stone” – we get to know the world for the first time.
“TMM” is like “Prisoner of Azkaban” – main character-centric, and we meet a person who is going to be very important for him. Also my favourite installments of both series.
“TNC” is like “Chamber of Secrets” – focused equally on the main character and the villain.
“TMC” is “The Order of the Phoenix” of the Matthew Swift series. Politics, emotional turmoil, a villain I’d like to punch in the face and death of a beloved character.
“PoA” is my favourite Harry Potter book, but “OotP” comes a close second. The same is with Matthew Swift – “The Midnight Mayor” is my favourite of them all, but “The Minority Council” is a fascinating look into the way the system works in Matthew’s London. For once, Swift is not abruptly thrown into the middle of the action, but he actually chooses to pull The Midnight Mayor rank in relation to the “drug problem”. Needless to say, The Aldermen are not too happy with that – “It would be a shame for our latest Midnight Mayor to die starting a war he cannot win. After all you’ve only just started coming to the meetings”. We are introduced to the Minority Council – the Aldermen government body responsible for electing The Midnight Mayor – and we get answers as to why and how Matthew Swift, a dead sorcerer walking the earth together with the blue electric angels, ended up being one. The Council’s member, Richard Templeman, reluctantly agrees to help Swift take down the dusthouses where the drug is made. And that is when the real problems begin.
So yeah – this book features a lot of politics. But what struck me the most is the unexpected emotional turmoil the author put me through. I so should have expected that after the last book – and she did kill off another beloved character who could have been the perfect Midnight Mayor after Swift, but that’s not even the worst part. The Beggar King sums it up perfectly – “You’re a self-destructive infant with the power of a giant, but you’ve got respect for the little guy, for the f*ck-ups like yourself, and I like that”. This characterisation of Matthew Swift has caused me to tear up on a couple of occasions during certain moments. Most of the time though, I was too engrossed into the plot and too shocked by certain revelations to really cry, until I read the last line – “I sighed, shoved my hands in my pockets, bent my head down against the wind, and kept on walking”. The magic of London may not be real, but my emotions certainly were. Certainly are – it’s been three days, and I’m still experiencing a Matthew Swift hangover! And not just because of the plot and awesome characters. Magical London is an amazing setting, but my heart beat so hard when I was reading about the places I visited and fallen in love with time and time again. In this part of the series, it’s the Inns of Court, “a spacious lost world of paved courtyards, wind-tossed antique fountains, and cobbled streets, and of wide enclosed grounds with wrought-iron benches, gravel walks and perfect lawns”. Griffin is right – not many Londoners know about this little oasis in Central London. I, however, did visit it on several occasions when I was in law school, and it is absolutely stunning. Seriously, somebody should organise a Matthew Swift tour of London, finishing it off with a dinner featuring little cocktails sausages on sticks at a restaurant on Aldermanbury Square!
Of course, the book has its fair share of moments where I had to put it down and leave the room because I was laughing too hard. Sometimes, it was Swift’s sass, but most of the time, it was Penny, Dr Seah and Kelly. Who doesn’t love Penny, “sorceresss, ex-traffic warden, looking for the dream kick-ass job for a dream kick-ass girl”? She is the perfect best friend for Swift who can almost match his levels of sass. The Aldermen hate her for summoning the Death of the cities, which makes her even more awesome in Swift’s mine book. Also, Swift and Penny have my favourite literature-related argument – FRANKENSTEIN WAS THE DOCTOR NOT THE MONSTER! And I do love Penny’s take on it – “I can see how being called ‘Monster’ might’ve sucked – like kinda not leaving you many career options, is it?” Can Penny be my best friend already?! We even love doing the same things – “sitting in front of the TV, in a blanket, with the fire on, eating ice cream”.
Aaaaaaaaaaand I just realised Penny’s reason for doing that at that time. It’s been THREE DAYS Kate, stop crying already!
Lastly, I would just like to add that Penny Ngwenya, a badass sorceress, a kick-ass lady and practically Matthew Swift’s bodyguard, named a Tower of London raven Dave. How can you not love her?!
There’s also Dr Seah, a medical professional for the magical community with a peculiar relationship with the NHS. In every book, Swift ends up bruised and battered, but Dr Seah, albeit very reluctantly, patches him up. Not that he ever listens to her – “now, when I said ‘bed rest’, did you take this as, like, meaning the bed should get a rest, because I think we both know that wasn’t what I was getting at”. Oh that Matthew Swift… Although he does listen to her in this book when she says that bloodhounds “just can’t take their garam masala”. Yeah… I HATE hellhounds, psi-hounds, bloodhounds, etc. in literature and TV, but I sympathise with them in terms of garam masala.
And last but not least, we’ve got Kelly Shiring, the PA. Oh Kelly. How I love you. How you remind me of myself five years ago, at my first assistant job. Don’t let your undead sorcerer with a thing attached boss get you down! Swift’s reactions to Kelly’s… eagerness were hilarious, and I loved that she got her own backstory. I’ll always want Nabeela for the next Midnight Mayor, but give it a few years and Kelly will be perfect for it. She’s incredibly English in her appraoch, honest, determined and clearly knows what she’s doing. Her straightforward delivery matches Swift’s, but unlike him, she has no trace of meanness about her. She’s just that way.
It appears that I’m barely able to gather my thoughts to write a concise review for “TMC”. All I can say is – it is an amazing conclusion to the series, it introduces us to even more badass ladies and it will leave you inexplicably sated. That is, until you pick up the spinoff series, Magicians Anonymous. My rating for this installment is 8/10, but it is my firm belief that the entire series deserves at least a 9/10.
The common factors between those events? The Aldermen. More specifically, their relationship with magical drug dealers.
When Swift finds Meera dead in one of the dusthouses where fairy dust, a strong magical drug, is produced, he is enraged and ready to go to war with The Fairy Godmother (yes, that is the dealer’s alias). However, The Aldermen are being absolute, utter asshats politicians about that, and only one of them, Richard Templeton, agrees to help Swift. But can The Midnight Mayor trust him and make sure that his lovely Penny stays safe? And who is The Fairy Godmother? And who is the monster disguised as “The Neighbourhood Watch”?
Those of you who were there wil me on my Matthew Swift journey will be pleased to know that Swift’s sass and wit has not changed a bit, and he continues to be too sassy for his own good (literally). The fourth book may have more of a thriller vibe than other three, but it’s still written as a Matthew Swift installment – i.e. it involves wordy descriptions, side characters constantly reminding Swift that he’s a total git and either loving or hating him in spite of it, beloved characters of London magic doing their thing, and above all, Swift struggling with a bunch of entities within him (thankfully, no Robert Bakker in him anywhere this time!). This installment is particularly brutal on Swift vs angels and the reader. Thanks to the biggest asshole in this series villain, he pretty much acquires a split personality for a while (not sure how to better explain what happened). No more “I am we and we are me” for poor Matthew – the shift, the dissonance is rather sinister to read about. What happened to him(them), delivered a strong blow to Swift’s already fragile humanity. Which is dangerous for those who made him that way – the person that was the reason for Swift going after the dusthouses in the first place, was someone who made them feel human. London is what saves Matthew Swift. Nair was right to pick Swift as the Mayor for the reason he did – he would never be the city’s enemy. They are a part of London, and it is their city.
I hope my readers forgive me, but I’m about to make a Harry Potter analogy and apply it to Matthew Swift’s books.
“AMOA” is like “Philosopher’s Stone” – we get to know the world for the first time.
“TMM” is like “Prisoner of Azkaban” – main character-centric, and we meet a person who is going to be very important for him. Also my favourite installments of both series.
“TNC” is like “Chamber of Secrets” – focused equally on the main character and the villain.
“TMC” is “The Order of the Phoenix” of the Matthew Swift series. Politics, emotional turmoil, a villain I’d like to punch in the face and death of a beloved character.
“PoA” is my favourite Harry Potter book, but “OotP” comes a close second. The same is with Matthew Swift – “The Midnight Mayor” is my favourite of them all, but “The Minority Council” is a fascinating look into the way the system works in Matthew’s London. For once, Swift is not abruptly thrown into the middle of the action, but he actually chooses to pull The Midnight Mayor rank in relation to the “drug problem”. Needless to say, The Aldermen are not too happy with that – “It would be a shame for our latest Midnight Mayor to die starting a war he cannot win. After all you’ve only just started coming to the meetings”. We are introduced to the Minority Council – the Aldermen government body responsible for electing The Midnight Mayor – and we get answers as to why and how Matthew Swift, a dead sorcerer walking the earth together with the blue electric angels, ended up being one. The Council’s member, Richard Templeman, reluctantly agrees to help Swift take down the dusthouses where the drug is made. And that is when the real problems begin.
So yeah – this book features a lot of politics. But what struck me the most is the unexpected emotional turmoil the author put me through. I so should have expected that after the last book – and she did kill off another beloved character who could have been the perfect Midnight Mayor after Swift, but that’s not even the worst part. The Beggar King sums it up perfectly – “You’re a self-destructive infant with the power of a giant, but you’ve got respect for the little guy, for the f*ck-ups like yourself, and I like that”. This characterisation of Matthew Swift has caused me to tear up on a couple of occasions during certain moments. Most of the time though, I was too engrossed into the plot and too shocked by certain revelations to really cry, until I read the last line – “I sighed, shoved my hands in my pockets, bent my head down against the wind, and kept on walking”. The magic of London may not be real, but my emotions certainly were. Certainly are – it’s been three days, and I’m still experiencing a Matthew Swift hangover! And not just because of the plot and awesome characters. Magical London is an amazing setting, but my heart beat so hard when I was reading about the places I visited and fallen in love with time and time again. In this part of the series, it’s the Inns of Court, “a spacious lost world of paved courtyards, wind-tossed antique fountains, and cobbled streets, and of wide enclosed grounds with wrought-iron benches, gravel walks and perfect lawns”. Griffin is right – not many Londoners know about this little oasis in Central London. I, however, did visit it on several occasions when I was in law school, and it is absolutely stunning. Seriously, somebody should organise a Matthew Swift tour of London, finishing it off with a dinner featuring little cocktails sausages on sticks at a restaurant on Aldermanbury Square!
Of course, the book has its fair share of moments where I had to put it down and leave the room because I was laughing too hard. Sometimes, it was Swift’s sass, but most of the time, it was Penny, Dr Seah and Kelly. Who doesn’t love Penny, “sorceresss, ex-traffic warden, looking for the dream kick-ass job for a dream kick-ass girl”? She is the perfect best friend for Swift who can almost match his levels of sass. The Aldermen hate her for summoning the Death of the cities, which makes her even more awesome in Swift’s mine book. Also, Swift and Penny have my favourite literature-related argument – FRANKENSTEIN WAS THE DOCTOR NOT THE MONSTER! And I do love Penny’s take on it – “I can see how being called ‘Monster’ might’ve sucked – like kinda not leaving you many career options, is it?” Can Penny be my best friend already?! We even love doing the same things – “sitting in front of the TV, in a blanket, with the fire on, eating ice cream”.
Aaaaaaaaaaand I just realised Penny’s reason for doing that at that time. It’s been THREE DAYS Kate, stop crying already!
Lastly, I would just like to add that Penny Ngwenya, a badass sorceress, a kick-ass lady and practically Matthew Swift’s bodyguard, named a Tower of London raven Dave. How can you not love her?!
There’s also Dr Seah, a medical professional for the magical community with a peculiar relationship with the NHS. In every book, Swift ends up bruised and battered, but Dr Seah, albeit very reluctantly, patches him up. Not that he ever listens to her – “now, when I said ‘bed rest’, did you take this as, like, meaning the bed should get a rest, because I think we both know that wasn’t what I was getting at”. Oh that Matthew Swift… Although he does listen to her in this book when she says that bloodhounds “just can’t take their garam masala”. Yeah… I HATE hellhounds, psi-hounds, bloodhounds, etc. in literature and TV, but I sympathise with them in terms of garam masala.
And last but not least, we’ve got Kelly Shiring, the PA. Oh Kelly. How I love you. How you remind me of myself five years ago, at my first assistant job. Don’t let your undead sorcerer with a thing attached boss get you down! Swift’s reactions to Kelly’s… eagerness were hilarious, and I loved that she got her own backstory. I’ll always want Nabeela for the next Midnight Mayor, but give it a few years and Kelly will be perfect for it. She’s incredibly English in her appraoch, honest, determined and clearly knows what she’s doing. Her straightforward delivery matches Swift’s, but unlike him, she has no trace of meanness about her. She’s just that way.
It appears that I’m barely able to gather my thoughts to write a concise review for “TMC”. All I can say is – it is an amazing conclusion to the series, it introduces us to even more badass ladies and it will leave you inexplicably sated. That is, until you pick up the spinoff series, Magicians Anonymous. My rating for this installment is 8/10, but it is my firm belief that the entire series deserves at least a 9/10.
September 12, 2016
3.25 STARS
Matthew Swift meets a woman Meera one night, who charms him by weaving an immensely powerful sorcery that she should not be able to perform, which takes them bodily into the history of London. They connect and spend a night together. Sometime later, he receives a phone call from her, clearly in trouble.
As usual, Matthew stumbles about, making himself conspicuous and stirring up trouble. In his search, he runs into Templeman, a powerful Alderman who runs the Minority Council, a sub-committee that makes those necessary decisions that the Matthew, as an unusual Midnight Mayor, didn't have the patience for. Meanwhile, Nabeela, a young social worker, petitions the Midnight Mayor to deal with troubled teenagers somehow losing their "badness" and with it their souls.
The plot itself verges on meandering, episodic, massive destruction sequences going nowhere -- ultimately, there seems no point to all the proceedings. The true villain is ... not so villainous, with only the vaguest motivation. Why cause all that havoc? Still can't figure it out.
Recommended for fans of the series, but this is starting to get repetitive.
Matthew Swift meets a woman Meera one night, who charms him by weaving an immensely powerful sorcery that she should not be able to perform, which takes them bodily into the history of London. They connect and spend a night together. Sometime later, he receives a phone call from her, clearly in trouble.
As usual, Matthew stumbles about, making himself conspicuous and stirring up trouble. In his search, he runs into Templeman, a powerful Alderman who runs the Minority Council, a sub-committee that makes those necessary decisions that the Matthew, as an unusual Midnight Mayor, didn't have the patience for. Meanwhile, Nabeela, a young social worker, petitions the Midnight Mayor to deal with troubled teenagers somehow losing their "badness" and with it their souls.
The plot itself verges on meandering, episodic, massive destruction sequences going nowhere -- ultimately, there seems no point to all the proceedings. The true villain is ... not so villainous, with only the vaguest motivation. Why cause all that havoc? Still can't figure it out.
Recommended for fans of the series, but this is starting to get repetitive.
March 14, 2012
Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift series is one of my favourite urban fantasy series around at the moment. The biggest strength of the series for me is the central character. Matthew Swift is a sorcerer who was resurrected and inhabited by a supernatural force called The Blue Electric Angels. Matthew and the Angels have combined to form a unique personality, one who is not always sure who it is exactly. It's a very unique bit of characterisation which makes Matthew a very interesting character to read.
Matthew Swift is also The Midnight Mayor, the protector of London. In this book there is a new drug on the streets called Fairy Dust which is killing magicians so Matthew has to go up against "The Fairy Godmother". I think the subject matter of this book is a little darker than the others in the series. Kate Griffin has a very descriptive writing style with the nastier parts of the city of London described in vivid detail. As a counterbalance though I thought this time she wrote with a slightly lighter touch. The characters and dialogue seemed wittier to me and made this probably the most enjoyable read of the series so far.
I also think The Minority Council has a faster pace to it. This is the fourth in the series so a lot of the world building has already been done which means here we can just jump straight into the story. I did think there was a little too much retelling events of previous novels but I suppose that it's necessary for new readers. The supporting characters get plenty of attention this time, in particular Matthews apprentice Penny is developing very nicely from book to book. We also get a more in depth look at the Alderman organisation, their uneasy relationship with Matthew really comes to a head here and pays off much of the groundwork laid in previous books.
Towards the end we get some very intriguing hints about where things may be going in the future which has me excited to pick up the next one. Four books in this series is only getting better and it's well worth jumping on board.
For more of my reviews please visit http://www.scruffyfiction.co.uk
Matthew Swift is also The Midnight Mayor, the protector of London. In this book there is a new drug on the streets called Fairy Dust which is killing magicians so Matthew has to go up against "The Fairy Godmother". I think the subject matter of this book is a little darker than the others in the series. Kate Griffin has a very descriptive writing style with the nastier parts of the city of London described in vivid detail. As a counterbalance though I thought this time she wrote with a slightly lighter touch. The characters and dialogue seemed wittier to me and made this probably the most enjoyable read of the series so far.
I also think The Minority Council has a faster pace to it. This is the fourth in the series so a lot of the world building has already been done which means here we can just jump straight into the story. I did think there was a little too much retelling events of previous novels but I suppose that it's necessary for new readers. The supporting characters get plenty of attention this time, in particular Matthews apprentice Penny is developing very nicely from book to book. We also get a more in depth look at the Alderman organisation, their uneasy relationship with Matthew really comes to a head here and pays off much of the groundwork laid in previous books.
Towards the end we get some very intriguing hints about where things may be going in the future which has me excited to pick up the next one. Four books in this series is only getting better and it's well worth jumping on board.
For more of my reviews please visit http://www.scruffyfiction.co.uk
May 3, 2012
The voice is tricky to slip into, both Swift's plurality and the Beat poet run ons that paint the city around him. I don't think reading earlier books would have helped, other than giving me more pages to acclimate myself to the style. Over the course of THE MINORITY COUNCIL, lots of details regarding past events come to light, none of which can sum up Swift's eerie point of view.
Matthew Swift is immersed in the moment, a stream of consciousness pan of the city around him. I have a hard time differentiating between his own turn of a phrase and British colloquiums, and in long sentences that often means I get lost. Luckily, for both slow, careful savoring and regular reading, the flavor of Swift's experience comes through. Eventually I just relaxed into narrative, let it flow around me, but this slower read than my usual UF fare.
Swift emerges as an unlikely white knight, fighting for and alongside the women in this story. His apprentice, a social worker, and a one night stand... though our protagonist is male THE MINORITY COUNCIL is filled with kick-ass heroines that are by turns silly and ferocious. Ultimately, however, with as much raw power that is thrown around, the virtue being promoted in this story is competence. Attention to detail. Perseverance. Swift's MacGyver approach to magic is impressive for it's cleverness, and provides an accessible counter balance to his mystic perception of the city. One third common sense, two thirds raw power, Swift treads the line between being a puzzle that can be solved and being completely unpredictable.
I definitely recommend reading an excerpt before starting this series, and caution that THE MINORITY COUNCIL shouldn't be gulped down in an afternoon. Swift took a little while to adjust to, and even once his cadence, he carries an entire city along in his narrative. The weight of this point of view is best savored. If you take the time to slip into Swift's skin, become one more piece to his "We", you won't be disappointed.
Sexual Content: References to sex.
Full review to follow.
Matthew Swift is immersed in the moment, a stream of consciousness pan of the city around him. I have a hard time differentiating between his own turn of a phrase and British colloquiums, and in long sentences that often means I get lost. Luckily, for both slow, careful savoring and regular reading, the flavor of Swift's experience comes through. Eventually I just relaxed into narrative, let it flow around me, but this slower read than my usual UF fare.
Swift emerges as an unlikely white knight, fighting for and alongside the women in this story. His apprentice, a social worker, and a one night stand... though our protagonist is male THE MINORITY COUNCIL is filled with kick-ass heroines that are by turns silly and ferocious. Ultimately, however, with as much raw power that is thrown around, the virtue being promoted in this story is competence. Attention to detail. Perseverance. Swift's MacGyver approach to magic is impressive for it's cleverness, and provides an accessible counter balance to his mystic perception of the city. One third common sense, two thirds raw power, Swift treads the line between being a puzzle that can be solved and being completely unpredictable.
I definitely recommend reading an excerpt before starting this series, and caution that THE MINORITY COUNCIL shouldn't be gulped down in an afternoon. Swift took a little while to adjust to, and even once his cadence, he carries an entire city along in his narrative. The weight of this point of view is best savored. If you take the time to slip into Swift's skin, become one more piece to his "We", you won't be disappointed.
Sexual Content: References to sex.
Full review to follow.
February 25, 2020
The ending was a bit lacklustre compared to what I know the author is capable of, per the other books in the series. But I will never stop marveling at how Kate Griffin turns London into a character unto itself; how she weaves magic into every crease and gutter we know and ignore; how she makes you laugh with the perfect description of the mundane; how she brings life to everything, be it a snarky all-powerful Electric Angel mega-sorcerer or a rumpled plastic bag holding a couple of shattered disks.
April 25, 2012
This is probably my favourite current urban fantasy series by some way for a variety of reasons - I love the way Griffin evokes London, the plots are usually nicely dark and splattered with inventively high body counts and there is none of that irritating romance (especially of the being-torn-between-two-options rubbish that everyone's doing). However with that does come some issues and I began this installment well aware that the cast of recurring characters had undergone what can only be described as a savaging due to previous events. So a load of new characters (or cannon-fodder) need to be introduced. Knowing that only about 10% are likely to see book 5, it was hard to really invest in them (apart from Kelly who was a new grade of awesome - like plutonium-grade awesome). Equally I felt similar apprehension with the plot. After the frankly apocalyptic finale of Neon Court - where was there left to go? Who in their right mind would be stupid enough to take on someone with Swift's track record? Drugged up magicians it seems - which I found slow to engage with but it did lead to a very satisfyingly messed up showdown as Swift's psyche undergoes a small meltdown in probably my favourite sequence of the novel so far. So yes, though it didn't pack the emotional punch of previous installments, it still served up action and sheer invention in spades. I'll be preordering the next one.
December 23, 2014
I love the Matthew Swift books. I find them consistently solid, peppered with fascinating insights into the human psyche, and interwoven with that British sense of humor I've always enjoyed.
Our hero, Matthew, is flawed and reluctant to assume the mantle of his job responsibilities. His apprentice, Penny, is one kick ass sorceress with a heart of tarnished gold who is the perfect counter to Matthews often dark outlook. The supporting cast of characters are varied and multifaceted, the monsters we meet are fascinating, an the setting of a city rife with modern magic of electricity/garbage/graffiti is a nice change from the usual pointy eared elves and woodland magic. I love the urban grittiness.
I also appreciated how Matthew's character develops in this book. He has to begin to take ownership of his responsibilities. He is forced to step up to the plate and BE the Midnight Mayor. He has to accept a little help from his friends. He steps up his mentoring Penny. And, along the way, he makes new friends. Can I just add here that Kelly was wonderful? I love Kelly as much as I love Penny.
And through everything that is thrown, hurled, sicc'd , injected, or fired at Matthew, he still remains true to himself despite what the Electric Blue Angels want.
Highly recommend this whole series.
Our hero, Matthew, is flawed and reluctant to assume the mantle of his job responsibilities. His apprentice, Penny, is one kick ass sorceress with a heart of tarnished gold who is the perfect counter to Matthews often dark outlook. The supporting cast of characters are varied and multifaceted, the monsters we meet are fascinating, an the setting of a city rife with modern magic of electricity/garbage/graffiti is a nice change from the usual pointy eared elves and woodland magic. I love the urban grittiness.
I also appreciated how Matthew's character develops in this book. He has to begin to take ownership of his responsibilities. He is forced to step up to the plate and BE the Midnight Mayor. He has to accept a little help from his friends. He steps up his mentoring Penny. And, along the way, he makes new friends. Can I just add here that Kelly was wonderful? I love Kelly as much as I love Penny.
And through everything that is thrown, hurled, sicc'd , injected, or fired at Matthew, he still remains true to himself despite what the Electric Blue Angels want.
Highly recommend this whole series.
November 2, 2012
Matthew Swift was one of many mediocre city sorcerers living in London until he was murdered.
Then, of course, he was a dead mediocre city sorcerer.
And then he came back.
And with him came the blue electric angels, magical beings created by all the emotional energy and power we pour into the telephone lines. Matthew Swift, now a "we" instead of a "me", is charged with protecting the city of London. He's stopped the Death of Cities, he's stopped Blackout, he's stopped the Neon army (the modern version of fairy) from tearing London apart. But now, it seems someone doesn't trust him to do his job. London's hoodlums are getting murdered and brainwashed, and Matthew doesn't know why.
I absolutely loved this book, so rife with energy and emotion and great dialog. Buuut then there's a whole section near the end where Penny (Matthew's foul-mouthed apprentice) relays a story of what she's been up to lately, and it takes about 15 pages and it's told in the most self-consciously colloquial style, and in revenge I have to take one star off this book and merely give it a "it was great!" rating instead of "it was transcendently perfect!"
Then, of course, he was a dead mediocre city sorcerer.
And then he came back.
And with him came the blue electric angels, magical beings created by all the emotional energy and power we pour into the telephone lines. Matthew Swift, now a "we" instead of a "me", is charged with protecting the city of London. He's stopped the Death of Cities, he's stopped Blackout, he's stopped the Neon army (the modern version of fairy) from tearing London apart. But now, it seems someone doesn't trust him to do his job. London's hoodlums are getting murdered and brainwashed, and Matthew doesn't know why.
I absolutely loved this book, so rife with energy and emotion and great dialog. Buuut then there's a whole section near the end where Penny (Matthew's foul-mouthed apprentice) relays a story of what she's been up to lately, and it takes about 15 pages and it's told in the most self-consciously colloquial style, and in revenge I have to take one star off this book and merely give it a "it was great!" rating instead of "it was transcendently perfect!"
April 22, 2012
Still not reaching the heights of "A madness of angels" but it's certainly better than "Neon Court." There's at least more than one plot, it doesn't seem utterly predictable from the very start and by the end you feel that there's at least some evolution in the characters. Also the introduction of Kelly in particular is a spot of brilliance. She's funny and a good contrast to the cynicism of the general cast. The "clever new magic" parts are a little less infrequent than in the earlier books but some of them still pack a punch. Even having guessed the truth behind the fairy dust, it was still a powerful moment when it was confirmed for Matthew.
Overall, certainly very readable. Not ground breaking but enjoyable nevertheless.
Overall, certainly very readable. Not ground breaking but enjoyable nevertheless.
July 22, 2016
Another breathtaking addition to the series, perfect on all counts. It lived up to all of my high expectations from the previous books (this is my favorite series after all) and surpassed them. I was doubtful after the last book of what there was still left to say about this terrible, wonderful world and set of characters that Griffin has created. For though it all holds endless fascination and mystery to be unravelled, the previous books arced so perfectly that the story seemed complete. But, as it turns out, you can improve a masterpiece, and I don't see the story of Matthew Swift and the dark, magical city of London running out of words any time soon.
December 4, 2012
Urban fantasy with a capital U. Also, frequently, a capital F. Reverse the order, add SNA before that, and you have arrived at hero Matthew Swift's basic existence as his most excellent and frequently royally messed up Midnight Mayor of London.
Start with the first book and cheerfully explore London with Matthew. Be thankful that you are not an all powerful sorcerer with angels singing in your blood. Be thankful that you can get bed rest when you need it. Be thankful that Kate Griffin keeps writing. So looking forward to her next one.
Start with the first book and cheerfully explore London with Matthew. Be thankful that you are not an all powerful sorcerer with angels singing in your blood. Be thankful that you can get bed rest when you need it. Be thankful that Kate Griffin keeps writing. So looking forward to her next one.
March 28, 2015
Toujours aussi passionnant même si les descriptions de Londres semblent un peu répétitives après deux tomes(difficile de trouver des angles d'approche originaux quand l'action se déroulent toujours dans la même ville) ... mais j'adore et j'adhère au principe du Blue Electric Angel et si l'auteur se décide pour un 4e épisode, je suivrai avec grand plaisir les démêlés du Midnight Major avec le monde obscur
Read
August 27, 2013Reluctantly calling this a did not finish, because it's been sitting on the kindle unfinished for too long. Love a lot about this series, but the lack of actual character development from Matthew over the course of the books is a killer for me. At this stage, though I still love the setting, I don't care about Matthew enough to keep reading.
April 22, 2012
Amazing series - an auto buy for me. I've lived in or near London my whole life and this book introduces me to parts even I only know as tube or train stations. A love affair with London but with dark magic elements thrown in. Better than the Dresden books in my view.
May 19, 2012
Still pretty good. I'm not completely comfortable with the way the main character has been accumulating friends and then they've all been getting killed to show how dangerous various badguys are. I think it would be less annoying if 90% of them weren't female.
July 16, 2015
Domine dirige nos
September 11, 2021
3.0 out of 5 stars
Finally Got Rid of Most of the Purple Prose, But…
September 10, 2021
On one hand, I was very pleased as I started reading Kate Griffin's 2012 novel [[ISBN:9780316194129 "Matthew Swift, Book 4: Minority Council, The"]]. Simply put, she removed the purple prose that was really grating with the earlier books. Yes, she's still got quite a bit of travelogue going on. But, the purple prose is gone until near the end of the book. Unfortunately, there's still an awful lot of the plot predicated on her having the protagonist being an idiot. Specifically, being an idiot about being the actual Midnight Mayor. It's been 2 or 3 years in the real world (and I assume a similar amount of book time) since Matthew became Midnight Mayor and from then until late in this book, he's adamantly refused to deal with his bureaucratic responsibilities. That refusal has led directly to what's happening in this book (it can't even be a surprise – any child would realize that something like this would be bound to happen with no leadership at the top). But, even that pales in comparison to what Griffin's been doing to him on a personal level. He's the Midnight Mayor, yet he's not getting any kind of payment or perks for holding that office and performing the non-bureaucratic functions of the office. IOW, he has no money and can barely scrape together money for things like food. Similarly, he's literally homeless. At one point, he mentions that he'd normally just find a doorway someplace to sleep in. Also, he's constantly traveling about the city doing the physical job he sees as being necessary. But, he has no transportation. He uses a public transport pass he's somehow found the money for. But, even in emergencies, he can't just pop into an official vehicle to get him someplace he needs to be. And, he's apparently wearing clothing that he's picked up from something similar to the Salvation Army or something. Every piece of clothing he wears is falling to pieces and has been given to him by someone else (including from the Beggar King). That's just ridiculous. He's the Midnight Mayor. The official Protector of the city. Theoretically, he's also the personification of the city itself. Yet, he gets nothing to help him do the job (or even reflect positively on the city, itself). And, then, for the biggest helping of idiocy, he finds that certain of the Aldermen are doing Very Bad Things. And, after telling them that he knows what they're doing, he just lets it slide and says something like "Nah, it'll be fine" (and of course, it's not). So, even though the writing has gotten technically better, I'm still rating this book at a mere OK 3 stars out of 5.
Finally Got Rid of Most of the Purple Prose, But…
September 10, 2021
On one hand, I was very pleased as I started reading Kate Griffin's 2012 novel [[ISBN:9780316194129 "Matthew Swift, Book 4: Minority Council, The"]]. Simply put, she removed the purple prose that was really grating with the earlier books. Yes, she's still got quite a bit of travelogue going on. But, the purple prose is gone until near the end of the book. Unfortunately, there's still an awful lot of the plot predicated on her having the protagonist being an idiot. Specifically, being an idiot about being the actual Midnight Mayor. It's been 2 or 3 years in the real world (and I assume a similar amount of book time) since Matthew became Midnight Mayor and from then until late in this book, he's adamantly refused to deal with his bureaucratic responsibilities. That refusal has led directly to what's happening in this book (it can't even be a surprise – any child would realize that something like this would be bound to happen with no leadership at the top). But, even that pales in comparison to what Griffin's been doing to him on a personal level. He's the Midnight Mayor, yet he's not getting any kind of payment or perks for holding that office and performing the non-bureaucratic functions of the office. IOW, he has no money and can barely scrape together money for things like food. Similarly, he's literally homeless. At one point, he mentions that he'd normally just find a doorway someplace to sleep in. Also, he's constantly traveling about the city doing the physical job he sees as being necessary. But, he has no transportation. He uses a public transport pass he's somehow found the money for. But, even in emergencies, he can't just pop into an official vehicle to get him someplace he needs to be. And, he's apparently wearing clothing that he's picked up from something similar to the Salvation Army or something. Every piece of clothing he wears is falling to pieces and has been given to him by someone else (including from the Beggar King). That's just ridiculous. He's the Midnight Mayor. The official Protector of the city. Theoretically, he's also the personification of the city itself. Yet, he gets nothing to help him do the job (or even reflect positively on the city, itself). And, then, for the biggest helping of idiocy, he finds that certain of the Aldermen are doing Very Bad Things. And, after telling them that he knows what they're doing, he just lets it slide and says something like "Nah, it'll be fine" (and of course, it's not). So, even though the writing has gotten technically better, I'm still rating this book at a mere OK 3 stars out of 5.
March 24, 2019
The Minority Council is the fourth and final book in the Matthew Swift series written by Kate Griffin and centered on Matthew Swift, a murdered Londoner sorcerer, who was resurrected and now shares his body with an angel.
Matthew Swift, sorcerer, Midnight Mayor, is in charge or so he'd like to think. London, being London, is having its issues. Drug use is rampant. Teenage vandalism is driving away business. Violent crimes are on the rise. Once upon a time, Matthew Swift wouldn't have given a toss. Now it's his mess to clean up.
Especially when the new drug on the market is fairy dust and the production process involves turning humans into walking drug labs and when the teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature and when the petty criminals of London start dying by magical means it becomes clear that not only is this Swift's mess to clean up, but someone is trying to tell him how to do his job. Now he has to sort out who's behind the crime wave and who's interfering in his business. Swift has a lot of old enemies and few friends. If he's going to save London from a rising tide of blood – he's going to have to learn his lessons and fast.
The Minority Council is written rather well. It continues the wonderful story of London's new Midnight Mayor and his political inadequacies. There is the requisite magical threat to the city that Swift has to deal with. This time, however, the threat isn't an external power but rather a magic drug problem.
However, the real story is found in Swift's dealings with his staff and his new position as Midnight Mayor to the city of London. Some authors have a real gift with characters, and putting those characters in humorous situations that they simply do not belong in – especially when those situations are everyday situations like political or council responsibilities. Matthew Swift is not a man to deal well with others, above or below him.
Overall, the Matthew Swift series was wonderfully written. Griffin has written an innovating magic system that puts the magic in everyday things – she really puts the urban in urban fantasy. Her descriptions of the griminess of the streets of London have brought a nostalgic feeling to some of the streets of London that I remember in the past. Matthew Swift is a likable protagonist and to see him in a position that he never wanted was rather entertaining to read.
All in all, The Minority Council is written rather well and is a good conclusion to a wonderful series.
Matthew Swift, sorcerer, Midnight Mayor, is in charge or so he'd like to think. London, being London, is having its issues. Drug use is rampant. Teenage vandalism is driving away business. Violent crimes are on the rise. Once upon a time, Matthew Swift wouldn't have given a toss. Now it's his mess to clean up.
Especially when the new drug on the market is fairy dust and the production process involves turning humans into walking drug labs and when the teenage vandals are being hunted by a mystical creature and when the petty criminals of London start dying by magical means it becomes clear that not only is this Swift's mess to clean up, but someone is trying to tell him how to do his job. Now he has to sort out who's behind the crime wave and who's interfering in his business. Swift has a lot of old enemies and few friends. If he's going to save London from a rising tide of blood – he's going to have to learn his lessons and fast.
The Minority Council is written rather well. It continues the wonderful story of London's new Midnight Mayor and his political inadequacies. There is the requisite magical threat to the city that Swift has to deal with. This time, however, the threat isn't an external power but rather a magic drug problem.
However, the real story is found in Swift's dealings with his staff and his new position as Midnight Mayor to the city of London. Some authors have a real gift with characters, and putting those characters in humorous situations that they simply do not belong in – especially when those situations are everyday situations like political or council responsibilities. Matthew Swift is not a man to deal well with others, above or below him.
Overall, the Matthew Swift series was wonderfully written. Griffin has written an innovating magic system that puts the magic in everyday things – she really puts the urban in urban fantasy. Her descriptions of the griminess of the streets of London have brought a nostalgic feeling to some of the streets of London that I remember in the past. Matthew Swift is a likable protagonist and to see him in a position that he never wanted was rather entertaining to read.
All in all, The Minority Council is written rather well and is a good conclusion to a wonderful series.
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