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Rivers of London Graphic Novels #8
Rivers of London: The Fey and the Furious
Detective Inspector Peter Grant is back in an all-new comic miniseries from author Ben Aaronovitch!
Trouble never lies far from the race track. When a flash car belonging to a young boy racer from England washes up in the Netherlands with a bagload of unusual cargo, it's evident there is more than meets the eye happening at street races held in an Essex car park.
Enter Detective Inspector Peter Grant. Fresh from suspension, he takes to the track in his orange 'asbo' Ford Focus to try and infiltrate the big leagues. But Peter soon finds himself sucked back into an Otherworld - a real-life fairyland!
Trouble never lies far from the race track. When a flash car belonging to a young boy racer from England washes up in the Netherlands with a bagload of unusual cargo, it's evident there is more than meets the eye happening at street races held in an Essex car park.
Enter Detective Inspector Peter Grant. Fresh from suspension, he takes to the track in his orange 'asbo' Ford Focus to try and infiltrate the big leagues. But Peter soon finds himself sucked back into an Otherworld - a real-life fairyland!
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2020
62 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Ben Aaronovitch
158 books13.4k followersBen Aaronovitch's career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 6, 2020
This is easily the best Rivers of London comicbook spin-off to date. It was exciting and heartfelt and contained a character moment that I really hope isn’t just forgotten about in future books. The artwork really stepped up a gear about halfway through this collection and I hope they manage to maintain that standard in future collections.
September 16, 2023
Another adventure with Peter, a strange bag and ALOT of fast cars. Would say that it would've helped to read the novels as there are quite a few references to them in this book.
August 23, 2020
I love the River of London book series and the comics are a delight as they add to the story . Very often what happens in the comic makes it into the books with a side inference or characters. Just adds to the fun. Street Racing and Unicorns? There are new characters that I am sure will show up in the future. if you are a fan of the book series, the comics are a must read.
September 1, 2024
It took me some time to get the title 🤷♀️
January 5, 2021
The latest Rivers of London comic is a mash-up of street racing and the fey.
The street-racing aspect of the comic is beautifully illustrated, but otherwise dull, which is a shame because it takes up an entire issue (#2) and then some.
The fey aspect is a neat extension of the series' world, but it gets pretty shallow attention here.
Overall, one of the less-important books in the series: a quick and forgettable read.
The street-racing aspect of the comic is beautifully illustrated, but otherwise dull, which is a shame because it takes up an entire issue (#2) and then some.
The fey aspect is a neat extension of the series' world, but it gets pretty shallow attention here.
Overall, one of the less-important books in the series: a quick and forgettable read.
January 13, 2021
Well much to my chagrin I discovered that the latest installment in the Rivers of London was released and I missed it (in my defence they had moved the date several times due to the pandemic). So you as you can imagine I had to go out and get a copy - and here it is.
I have to admit even though the whole series of stories are set in the fantastical world of the Demi-monde it is more recognizable than most for its depiction of the real (read our) world. So as a result this I felt was probably the most grandiose and wild of the stories so far (although thinking about it does reference back to previous stories which in hindsight were just as wild). I think sometimes leaving things to your imagination have a greater impact.
However this is a minor thing compared to the fun the story has and it furthers the overall story arc of Peter Grant as it fits directly in to the sequence of stories and books.
The only problem now is I have to wait for the next installment and I have to say things are getting interesting.
I have to admit even though the whole series of stories are set in the fantastical world of the Demi-monde it is more recognizable than most for its depiction of the real (read our) world. So as a result this I felt was probably the most grandiose and wild of the stories so far (although thinking about it does reference back to previous stories which in hindsight were just as wild). I think sometimes leaving things to your imagination have a greater impact.
However this is a minor thing compared to the fun the story has and it furthers the overall story arc of Peter Grant as it fits directly in to the sequence of stories and books.
The only problem now is I have to wait for the next installment and I have to say things are getting interesting.
December 27, 2020
Full review to follow!
December 17, 2020
Didn't enjoy this as much as the others in the series. Still a decent read if you're a Peter Grant fan. There are quite a few references here to novels in the series, notably 'Foxglove Summer' so it may not make a lot of sense if you have not read those.
June 18, 2025
4.5 stars ✨️ this was another bop
February 11, 2021
One of the better RoL graphic novels, IMO. Good tie-in with novel plots, but also fun in itself. I'm feeling exclamatory, so: Peter gets to drive the Ferrari seized from Martin Chorley's estate! Sahra--AKA "the Muslim Ninja"--gets to drive in the race! Bev is particularly fabulous! Unicorn tragedy! Unicorn triumph! Peter outwits the fae! Expansion of the story world to the Netherlands and introduction of an interesting new cop character!
Good choice to have the art in the 'fairyland' section look different from the rest of the story.
There's also a particularly cute/touching "Tale from the Folly" involving Molly watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and some interesting essays about street racing, aspects of the fae and unicorns included as extras.
I did wonder why Bev needed scuba gear at one point during the search, though. Unless a river goddess’ power isn’t strong enough to sustain her in the deep ocean?
Good choice to have the art in the 'fairyland' section look different from the rest of the story.
There's also a particularly cute/touching "Tale from the Folly" involving Molly watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and some interesting essays about street racing, aspects of the fae and unicorns included as extras.
I did wonder why Bev needed scuba gear at one point during the search, though. Unless a river goddess’ power isn’t strong enough to sustain her in the deep ocean?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 22, 2021As the title suggests, this is the one where Peter Grant gets to be an undercover cop among street racers who are using the illegal street racing as a cover for even illegaler things. The twist is...well, also in the title. It knits together various Folly bits and pieces pretty well, without seeming like mere box-ticking; the new artist is perfectly acceptable in most respects, but not one of that tiny number who can altogether make car chases work on the comics page.
January 26, 2023
3.5 stars.
A dead street racer with a bag of unicorn horns found in Amsterdam alerts the Folly to a smuggling operation. So Peter poses as a racer and wouldn’t you know it, the Fae are involved.
Peter participates in a race, and ends up driving into the Fae’s world, where he discovers where the smuggled objects are originating. It’s bloody and awful, and I liked the callback to “Foxglove Summer” in this fairly light story*.
*The wonderful Bev and Guleed make appearances.
A dead street racer with a bag of unicorn horns found in Amsterdam alerts the Folly to a smuggling operation. So Peter poses as a racer and wouldn’t you know it, the Fae are involved.
Peter participates in a race, and ends up driving into the Fae’s world, where he discovers where the smuggled objects are originating. It’s bloody and awful, and I liked the callback to “Foxglove Summer” in this fairly light story*.
*The wonderful Bev and Guleed make appearances.
September 17, 2020
Is it weird that the Fey I pictured in my head were much much more terrifying and I'm disappointed about that?
Honestly, I enjoyed this volume more than Action at a Distance and less than Water Weed. But none of them compare to the glory of Lies Sleeping.
Maybe I should stick to reading the novels from now on?
Honestly, I enjoyed this volume more than Action at a Distance and less than Water Weed. But none of them compare to the glory of Lies Sleeping.
Maybe I should stick to reading the novels from now on?
December 26, 2023
This book is a lot of fun and another great addition to the "Rivers of London" series. As the title indicates, this book is essentially, "Fast and Furious" with faeries. Expect the usual Fey shenanigans, unicorn farming at its grossest and most distasteful, otherworldly racing, Bev saving the day - again and an avenging fairy queen.
August 18, 2024
Meh. After enjoying the last graphic novel in the ROL universe, this one is a disappointment. No further character development and so-so storyline revolving around car racing. There are only so many ways that car revving can be drawn!
December 13, 2020
Alongside the excellent pun in the title, this is probably one of the better recent Peter Grant graphic novels, as the Folly is called to investigate a drowned boy racer with a boot full of very unusual cargo. Once again, Peter finds himself entangled with the fey, reliant only on his wits to help him through.
Moreso than even usual, this graphic novel was Grant-heavy, with minimal appearances from Nightingale and Guleed (and none whatsoever from Molly, boo). There was an incident with Guleed that I think would have been interesting to expand upon, although with space restrictions, they made do with what they could, and the visual medium does help here, with facial expressions and body language.
The artist has changed again for this story. They're good, and handle the fast action of the car racing well, but I still miss Lee Sullivan.
The story is very plot-heavy, with little character development, and possibly the most interesting snippet in that area comes right at the end, with some internal captions from Beverley musing on her relationship with Peter which is both sweet and kind of ominous.
Like the last volume, there's some articles at the end discussing the historical background to some of the story elements, including street racing and fairy myth. These are interesting, but I'd have preferred it if the text were in straight columns rather than at an angle. It might look cool, but it does make it a bit harder to read.
All in all, a fun, standalone story. Not essential, but a good read for fans of Peter Grant and his world.
Moreso than even usual, this graphic novel was Grant-heavy, with minimal appearances from Nightingale and Guleed (and none whatsoever from Molly, boo). There was an incident with Guleed that I think would have been interesting to expand upon, although with space restrictions, they made do with what they could, and the visual medium does help here, with facial expressions and body language.
The artist has changed again for this story. They're good, and handle the fast action of the car racing well, but I still miss Lee Sullivan.
The story is very plot-heavy, with little character development, and possibly the most interesting snippet in that area comes right at the end, with some internal captions from Beverley musing on her relationship with Peter which is both sweet and kind of ominous.
Like the last volume, there's some articles at the end discussing the historical background to some of the story elements, including street racing and fairy myth. These are interesting, but I'd have preferred it if the text were in straight columns rather than at an angle. It might look cool, but it does make it a bit harder to read.
All in all, a fun, standalone story. Not essential, but a good read for fans of Peter Grant and his world.
February 21, 2023
After accidentally starting the graphic novel series on the most recent volume, I decided to check out the rest of the series. We mainly follow Peter Grant and Thomas Nightingale as they investigate a series of strange and supernatural cases. The cases they investigate range anywhere from homicidal cars to supernatural mold. From what I’ve gathered, these graphic novels are spin-offs from the main series, which I plan on checking out. I can say that one can read and enjoy these graphic novels without having read the other books before, since I had no problem following the plot lines and enjoying the books. It also turns out I read one of the books some years ago, as I discovered when I got a few pages into it and remembered the story. It didn’t hurt to reread it, though, as I enjoyed it the first time around!
All in all, I’ve been enjoying these graphic novels and plan to start the main series at some point in the near future. It’ll be interesting to see how this graphic novel series fits into the main series, as some of these are clearly connected to an ongoing story. However, every one of these eight books I read are able to stand on their own without confusion, and I’ve been enjoying following this great cast of characters and some of their more interesting investigations.
All in all, I’ve been enjoying these graphic novels and plan to start the main series at some point in the near future. It’ll be interesting to see how this graphic novel series fits into the main series, as some of these are clearly connected to an ongoing story. However, every one of these eight books I read are able to stand on their own without confusion, and I’ve been enjoying following this great cast of characters and some of their more interesting investigations.
July 23, 2020
- Tai, vadinasi, egzistuoja dar ir pačios upės deivė? - paklausiau.
- Taip, Motina Temzė, - kantriai paaiškino mano mokytojas. - yra dar ir upės dievas - Temzės Tėvas.
<...>
- O jie išties dievai?
- Teologinė šio klausimo pusė manęs niekad nedomino, - ištarė Nightingale. - Jie egzistuoja, turi galios ir gali pažeisti viešąją tvarką - vadinasi, jau patenka į policijos akiratį.
///
Perskaičiau seniai turėtą Ben Aronovitch "Rivers of London" (2011) - tikra gerulė fantastikos bačka, pilna neblogo humoro. Kiek primenanti N. Gaimano "Amerikos dievus" tik besikivirčijančius, žinoma, Londone.
O šis epizodas kiek primena brolių Strugackių "Vabalą skrudėlyne" - ten jau saugumiečiai manosi neturį jokios teisės paslaptį telaikyti paslaptimi, ne - jie visada pirmiausia regi pavojų.
"...klysti negalime. Mums leidžiama pagarsėti tamsuoliais, mistikais, prietaringais kvailiais. Mums neatleis vieno: jei nepakankamai įvertinsime pavojų. Ir jei mūsų namuose ūmai padvelkė siera, paprasčiausiai neturime teisės postringauti apie molekulines fliuktuacijas - privalome tarti, jog kažkur greta pasirodė velnias su ragais, ir imtis atitinkamų priemonių, gal net organizuoti pramoninę švęsto vandens gamybą".
- Taip, Motina Temzė, - kantriai paaiškino mano mokytojas. - yra dar ir upės dievas - Temzės Tėvas.
<...>
- O jie išties dievai?
- Teologinė šio klausimo pusė manęs niekad nedomino, - ištarė Nightingale. - Jie egzistuoja, turi galios ir gali pažeisti viešąją tvarką - vadinasi, jau patenka į policijos akiratį.
///
Perskaičiau seniai turėtą Ben Aronovitch "Rivers of London" (2011) - tikra gerulė fantastikos bačka, pilna neblogo humoro. Kiek primenanti N. Gaimano "Amerikos dievus" tik besikivirčijančius, žinoma, Londone.
O šis epizodas kiek primena brolių Strugackių "Vabalą skrudėlyne" - ten jau saugumiečiai manosi neturį jokios teisės paslaptį telaikyti paslaptimi, ne - jie visada pirmiausia regi pavojų.
"...klysti negalime. Mums leidžiama pagarsėti tamsuoliais, mistikais, prietaringais kvailiais. Mums neatleis vieno: jei nepakankamai įvertinsime pavojų. Ir jei mūsų namuose ūmai padvelkė siera, paprasčiausiai neturime teisės postringauti apie molekulines fliuktuacijas - privalome tarti, jog kažkur greta pasirodė velnias su ragais, ir imtis atitinkamų priemonių, gal net organizuoti pramoninę švęsto vandens gamybą".
June 23, 2021
2021 bk 171. Welcome to the edge of the world - where Fey/Fae and the world of night time street car races exist. Problem is participating can end you up dead if you take the wrong turn. When a person who has never left England is found in a Netherlands estuary, Peter Grant is called in to confirm that magic was involved. Returning to England, Peter and Beverly, Sahra and Michael take to street racing in order to flush out the dealer in unicorn horns with a fae collection. While doing so, Peter is cut off from the others, landing in the world of fae. When the Fae Queen who believes she still holds Peter hostage returns, Peter figures out how to tie a lot of loose ends together and escape the world of the fae once again (not a spoiler - you know it has to happen - what you don't know is how).
August 27, 2021
MUCH better than the previous volume. Peter helps investigate a murder that's associated with road racing...being run by the fey. Great illustrations, lots of action, unique characters, and a fun conclusion. LOVED this one!
If you're coming across this review and haven't heard of Ben Aaronovitch, you need to go & start this series with Rivers of London (also titled "Midnight Riot"). Fortunately/unfortunately, it's comprised of graphic novels, novellas, and novels. Aaronovitch clearly had more material than would fit in his novels, so he inserted his 'extra' stories using other means, and references them. Decide just to read the novels? You'll wonder about some of the references from the graphic novels. Want to just read the graphic novels? No, no, no. The GOOD news is that it's worth it to read all of them. You can find the overall reading order for all 3 types of stories HERE. Overall, this is a fantastic series & I love them.
If you're coming across this review and haven't heard of Ben Aaronovitch, you need to go & start this series with Rivers of London (also titled "Midnight Riot"). Fortunately/unfortunately, it's comprised of graphic novels, novellas, and novels. Aaronovitch clearly had more material than would fit in his novels, so he inserted his 'extra' stories using other means, and references them. Decide just to read the novels? You'll wonder about some of the references from the graphic novels. Want to just read the graphic novels? No, no, no. The GOOD news is that it's worth it to read all of them. You can find the overall reading order for all 3 types of stories HERE. Overall, this is a fantastic series & I love them.
December 13, 2022
Peter Grant goes undercover to discover where, who, how unicorn horns appeared in a fast car that washed up on the shore of the Netherlands. He and Beverly manage to get invited to a street race that leads to Peter back in Fairyland and Bev having to figure out how to get him out this time. Will his ploy work or will he end up drowned? A fun adventure!
December 31, 2020
Delightful, as always. I particularly enjoyed the Beverley in this one, and a wonderful glimpse of the ur-River (that really put me in mind of the ur-Forest of Emily Tesh's Silver in the Wood/Drowned Country).
December 31, 2021
The Folly gets involved in street racing as a car gets washed up in the Netherlands with magical cargo.
A great little graphic novel, with plenty of links back to the books, if you look for them. And as always the short little one page stories are funny and excellent.
A great little graphic novel, with plenty of links back to the books, if you look for them. And as always the short little one page stories are funny and excellent.
April 3, 2021
Fairies and drag racing combine in this fun installment of the Peter Grant series. I especially enjoyed the informational articles on the back of the book about drag racing, Hollywood stunt driving (with a nod to Baby Driver, a surprisingly violent movie that I quite enjoyed—great soundtrack too), fairy lore, and unicorns. My only complaint is not always being able to tell what was happening during the races.
Looking forward to the next full-length novel!
Looking forward to the next full-length novel!
February 14, 2021
Peter is on the hunt for whoever is killing unicorns. Some how it relates to special street races put on my the Fey. Can he resolve this issue safely. Great illustrations in this graphic novel.
February 23, 2021
Fairy street racing and unicorn horn smuggling.
September 8, 2025
gut wie immer, aber das Thema war diesmal nicht ganz so meins.
January 6, 2020
Always a fun series to follow!
January 21, 2021
I liked this a bit better than some of the last graphic novel tie-ins to the Rivers of London series.
This volume combines street racing with elements from Foxglove Summer (hence the title of the book), even though actually handling a much deeper problem, and reintroduces a few familiar faces from before.
Very entertaining and recommended for fans of the setting and series.
This volume combines street racing with elements from Foxglove Summer (hence the title of the book), even though actually handling a much deeper problem, and reintroduces a few familiar faces from before.
Very entertaining and recommended for fans of the setting and series.
December 21, 2020
A fun story; but comics might not be the most effective medium for a car racing story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews