#Winter's Gifts

[sixth-light]

Hey sixth-light! My local bookshop has just gotten copies of Winters Gifts delivered, and for reasons I can’t quite pin down I quickly went from excited to not particularly excited at all upon reading the blurb.

I was wondering if you have any thoughts about how the novella looked leading up to the release, and if you’re planning to read this one?

I read it a while back and reviewed it on my Dreamwidth. I hadn't paid any attention at all before its release because I was too busy having and then parenting a small child, but I was intrigued by the idea of a Kim Reynolds novella and as I said, I like it the best of all the RoL non-Peter novellas so far. There's a genuine sense of threat without being outside the skill level of the characters, and Kim's internal voice is great. I also think it's very easy for authors to go astray when they try to expand their worldbuilding outside of their local milieu in the urban fantasy space, and in general I think Aaronovitch tries very hard to avoid the obvious pitfalls and mostly does.

That said, it IS very much outside his local milieu - easily the best thing about RoL as a series is its strong sense of place informed by the author being a native Londoner - and I can absolutely believe that it might seem off to someone who was more closely connected to the setting. I'd probably approach a RoL NZ-set story with a lot of trepidation, lol. And of course if you're mostly in the series for Peter & co then you're not going to get any of them except a quick Peter cameo. I really do think it is a nice addition to the wider canon though.

[birdylion]

Peter Grant talking about Kimberley Reynolds: my contact in the FBI

Kimberley Reynolds talking about Peter Grant: my friend Peter from England

Is that

a cultural thing of US American vs English (I'm part of neither culture and can't tell)

due to different imaginary audiences (to whom are they telling their stories)

a disconnect in how close they view their relationship

something else?

I honestly can't tell and would appreciate some discussion.

[travellingwiththedead]

I’ve been in a couple of difficult situations before where I’ve found it useful to ask myself, ‘What would Peter Grant say?’ Not ‘What would he do?’ because I’m never going to be that desperate.

Oh the shade xD (from "Winter's Gifts", by Ben Aaronovitch)

Kimberley clearly knows Peter too well lol

[a-ramblinrose]

“I’ve been in a couple of difficult situations before where I’ve found it useful to ask myself, ‘What would Peter Grant say?’ Not ‘What would he do?’ because I’m never going to be that desperate. But his advice has proved useful in the past. And he is the only practicing magician I actually trust.”

― Ben Aaronovitch, Winter's Gifts

[the-head-in-the-clouds]

Last read: 'Winter's gifts' by Ben Aaronovitch

What I wanted: another book set in the Rivers of London universe- this time from Kimberly Reynolds perspective

What I got: I'm not sure reading this novella outside in the hot summer sun while Agent Reynolds tries to not freeze to death is the best way to immerse in the story, but I couldn't wait till winter. Overall I enjoyed this short detour into the American side of paranormal police/agency work, but wasn't as invested as in some of the other books. Might be connected with the cold I'm currently having and that I read half of it while I couldn't sleep thanks to continuous coughing.

[fenrirsfangs]

"I’ve been in a couple of difficult situations before where I’ve found it useful to ask myself, ‘What would Peter Grant say?’ Not ‘What would he do?’ because I’m never going to be that desperate." -Ben Aaronovitch, "Winter's Gifts"

[betterthanapokeintheeye]

30 gifts for 30 days of November - Day 28

This is the twenty eighth of thirty Better Than a Poke in the Eye recommended gifts for the book lover in your life, even if that book lover is YOU!

Today’s recommendation is a novella: Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch.

Jason has been a fan of Ben’s books ever since he picked up a copy of the Rivers of London in 2014.  The Rivers of London books tell of a special police branch that deals with supernatural events and a young policeman named Peter Grant who, at the start, shows some magical ability.  The stories are a wonderful mix of supernatural, mixed with grit, fantastical creatures and an orange Ford Focus ST known as the ASBO.

The novellas allow Ben to write about different characters but in the same universe.  Jason’s not read Winter’s Gifts yet but he suspects he may be getting it for Christmas!

You can purchase it through our online bookshop or through any of our affiliate links.  

Winter's Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch R.R.P. £14.99

Better Than a Poke in the Eye Bookshop .org

Amazon UK

Foyles

Waterstones

WHSmith

Blackwells

Forbidden Planet

To purchase any of Ben’s books, we have a dedicated section on our Bookshop. 

[gollancz]

NEW BOOK ALERT! From bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch comes a brand new RIVERS OF LONDON Novella, taking us from the UK to North America....

You can pre-order it here!

[margysmusings]

“My decision to apply to be a special agent crept up on me some time between the case of the spontaneously exploding tractor and the cows that ate Paris, Arkansas.” ― Ben Aaronovitch, Winter's Gifts

[notsotinyblob]

April, discovering an entire Hidden City beneath NYC and going up against a fish-man making, warring warrior scientist:

[pichiicake]

[thatwritererinoriordan]

[a-ramblinrose]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge || August 13 || Published This Year:  Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch

[kernelscorner]

These dazzling covers for the new books by Ben Aaronovitch, James Dashner and John Scalzi are all yours for oggling! Rejoice as a new batch ...

[dutchs-blog]

Christmas Is Coming

[canisalbus]

May I offer a little drawing of your dogs?

.