Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After (Graphic Novel)

After I noticed this comic was part of The Rivers of London series I was hopeful I’d get the opportunity to read it.

I really enjoyed the story and the twist to classic fairytales. I liked the graphics and found it to be a really engaging read. The foxes were funny and there was some good wit throughout. I look forward to continuing my journey through this author and World.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

This art style was really cool! I enjoyed the story and I’m really hoping to read more from this author!!!

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

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

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

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

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

My thanks to both NetGalley and Titan Books and Comics for an advance copy of this graphic novel adventure filled to the brim with mystical spirits, fairy creatures, monsters and revenge.

A city as old (olde) as London has a lot of ghosts. With these ghosts are creatures whose thoughts and spirits are older in many ways, than the city itself. With their own ways of doing things and ways of getting back at those who have done them wrong. Whose feelings about right and wrong can switch like a teenager's mood. And these are the heroes of the story. Deadly Ever After is the tenth volume in the Rivers of London graphic novel series, which is a companion to the popular book series. Author Ben Aaronovitch is joined by Andrew Cartmel and Celeste Bronfman, along with illustrator José María Beroy in a story filled with dark creatures, family secrets and a bit of the fae to make things difficult.

Twins Olympia and Chelsea, daughters of Mama Thames are messing around in the woods while watching campers have fun, when they decide to do what they think is a nice deed, which as no good deed goes unpunished, does not work out. Soon their friends are under attack from fairy tale illustrations from a Victorian artist who disappeared over a 150 years earlier, and does not like the look of the modern world, nor those who want to keep him from his revenge. The twins take up the case traveling all over London trying to make things right. However no one seems to be telling the truth and some magic is just to old and powerful for even these twins to fight.

A good story set in the Rivers of London universe dealing with characters who don't usually get a chance to be in the spotlight. These stories are good as they expand the universe, filling in facts and providing fresh views to the books, and giving new stories to readers both new and old. The main characters I think are in the book for maybe 3 pages, which can be disappointing for some, but I still enjoyed the tale. The twins are interesting, and the plot moves well, never bogging down, and being pretty clear once the story is explained and the motivations made clear. I'm sure having the author as an active participant helped keep the story in line. The art was good with clear and consistent art featuring the characters, making the monsters look disturbing, and in making London seem like a city where stuff like these happens all the time.

Recommended for fans of the series. Again it doesn't have the main characters, but is still a good story and using other characters quite well with a little filling out of their stories. Familiarity will help, but Titan is very good about putting in character guides and having little bits to explain who people are, their relations and why things are going the way they are which is very helpful. A very good story and perfect for people who will have holiday gift cards in their pockets.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After coming out January 24, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Drawings from a mysterious fairy tales book created in the late 1800s are having a big effect in the 21st century. The illustrations were painted by a Victorian artist named Jeter Day. One night he disappeared in an enchanted forest when he was spirited away by tree nymphs. Due to magic, stories like Little Red Riding Hood and The Little Mermaid are coming to life in modern times. 

Olympia and Chelsea are the daughters of the river goddess Mama Thames. They accidentally break the enchantment. Jeter has become twisted by his time spent with the nymphs. He doesn’t like the new century and will do anything to get back.

With Peter and Nightingale busy on another case, it’s up to the sisters Olympia and Chelsea with the help of the Foxes to stop Jeter. Will this story end happily ever after? Or will they be stuck in a fairy tale forever?

First of all, I love graphic novels! I’ve read several in this series and I think they’re really fun. This one did feel different than the other ones I’ve read in the series, but I still loved it! I love the fairy tales coming to life aspect. The two sisters were funny and I enjoyed their banter. The story was pretty straightforward. I thought the graphics were well done.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tales and graphic novels!

I have been a fan of Ben Aaronovitch’s adult fantastic books (and What Abigail did that Summer for younger readers) , and have ravenously consumed them all. So this comic setting is very familiar. It doesn’t quite have the same feel as the books, maybe a little/lot softer. Which isn’t a bad thing as I’m sure younger readers can dip right in. But as an adult I enjoyed the comic; good story with the usual layers of fantasy and humour. It’s also neat that the leads are Chelsea and Olympia, who so far have been mainly minor side characters in the books. I’ll be back to consume the other comics in this series that from the art work seem to be in the planning. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.