Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
Mar. 21st, 2021 06:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iaria+ Lesley's defection to the Faceless Man took me completely by shock. Like Peter I didn't see it coming and it's pretty upsetting. I'd like to believe Zach's theory that she's going undercover but, again, like Peter I'm not sold. The fact that Peter had him captured and almost uncovered, that they could have ended him right there, speaks against it. Still fingers crossed that Zach's right and it's both - that she's using the Faceless Man to get back her face (and maybe learn more magic) as well as to help take his entire organisation down from the inside. I really want this option to be right.
+ On the one hand, I would totally get it because Lesley's situation with her face and the struggles she has with it, both physically (so terrible and debilitating) and with the reactions of those around her (the goblin market scene was painful), make it completely understandable that she would desperate grab at any relief. Hell, the entire reason she worked to learn magic in the first place was to find a way to get her face back. Though trusting a killer like the Faceless Man, especially in consideration of his chimeras, seems suspect.
On the other hand, this is Lesley the cop-iest cop, by the books, cares about justice and doing the job right and the Faceless Man is a killer and a terrorist and all around terrible. It would mean abandoning her job, her life, her family, her partner and friends. Of betraying all of them. It's hard to believe. Which makes me think it has to be an undercover operation. But then this book gave us that scene where she shows bitterness/cynicalness about whether what they're doing as cops matters if the supernatural world just bypasses human laws. So - who knows.
+ I'm really going to miss Lesley as Peter's partner. Her common sense approach and their banter and ease with each other really add something great to the series. But I'm also excited to see how their next interaction plays out and where their relationship goes from here.
+ Nightingale's rescue at the farm and showdown with Varvara was amazing. Very badass and the most impressive show of magic and skill we've had from him yet. I loved it.
+ I really loved Varvara's reaction to Nightingale during the interview. The way she calls him 'the Nightingale' like it's his call sign/magical name; her awe in his ability/power and how impressed she was (the grin!); the fact that she heard rumours about him (I want to know more about those!) and the info about him having a price on his head was all great.
+ Peter's take down, and ride down, of the Faceless Man was impressive. But I thought him figuring out the bombs was even moreso. Good Sherlock Holmesing.
+ I liked that bit at the end about a bunch of people asking Zach about Peter.
+ Varvara was really interesting. I loved her attitude during the interview. I loved the whole Night Witches thing and would love to get more of them. It would be great if she actually did become a teacher for Peter.
+ I found the boring/cutting of the trees and Sky's death really upsetting. It's just so infuriating that companies can do that - order people to kill trees like that in order to get around some legal blockade and not only get no repercussions but often actually get the exact result they wanted.
+ When did Lesley start working with the Faceless Man? Her urging Peter into hooking up with Beverly and her relationship with Zach both seem in hindsight clear signs, as was her urging Varvara to call him. Was it only this book or does the betrayal extend further back?
+ I actually thought a couple times in this book that maybe the series was going to go in the direction of Peter -> Lesley. It was only a couple very small moments like when Peter asked about her dating Zach and then thought to himself that he wasn't sure why. Something like that, and possibly another moment I can't think of. It seemed to hint to deeper feelings Peter wasn't acknowledging.
+ Peter not wanting to pursue a relationship with Beverly without making sure he knows what he's getting into makes complete sense after what happened in his last relationship.
+ I'm guessing the Mr. Nolfi side story is further evidence of how much magic is returning to the world? The series showing the transition into a full on magical world could be very cool. I eagerly await the 'normal' cops being forced to further interact with the magical and their horror over it and Peter being forced to take a lead position, if that's where this is going. I also like the glimpses of magic/supernatural in the wider world we got and hope that continues.
+ Varvara said she started deaging in 1966 so was that the beginning of the revival of magic or was it something else? Was there a reasoning behind who got affected by it and who didn't?
+ Could there be an actual demon behind that secret door? Because that could be fun!
+ I wasn't clear but when the Stadtkrone opened it released all of that captured magic out right? I guess even if it didn't there is no way the Faceless Man is getting his hands on those batteries regardless.
+ My biggest issue with the book was that it annoyed me so much that Peter/the other cops didn't follow up on County Gard sooner. Basically as soon as they opened that storage room and saw the not-demon boxes they should have visited County Gard's offices immediately. He'd noticed the newly covered additions even if he didn't know what they were, had noticed they circled the building, saw the not-vents, and he knew the Faceless Man's interest in the building and then to discover what was hidden? Investigate immediately! The fact that it got put off was aggravating.
+ On the one hand, I would totally get it because Lesley's situation with her face and the struggles she has with it, both physically (so terrible and debilitating) and with the reactions of those around her (the goblin market scene was painful), make it completely understandable that she would desperate grab at any relief. Hell, the entire reason she worked to learn magic in the first place was to find a way to get her face back. Though trusting a killer like the Faceless Man, especially in consideration of his chimeras, seems suspect.
On the other hand, this is Lesley the cop-iest cop, by the books, cares about justice and doing the job right and the Faceless Man is a killer and a terrorist and all around terrible. It would mean abandoning her job, her life, her family, her partner and friends. Of betraying all of them. It's hard to believe. Which makes me think it has to be an undercover operation. But then this book gave us that scene where she shows bitterness/cynicalness about whether what they're doing as cops matters if the supernatural world just bypasses human laws. So - who knows.
+ I'm really going to miss Lesley as Peter's partner. Her common sense approach and their banter and ease with each other really add something great to the series. But I'm also excited to see how their next interaction plays out and where their relationship goes from here.
+ Nightingale's rescue at the farm and showdown with Varvara was amazing. Very badass and the most impressive show of magic and skill we've had from him yet. I loved it.
+ I really loved Varvara's reaction to Nightingale during the interview. The way she calls him 'the Nightingale' like it's his call sign/magical name; her awe in his ability/power and how impressed she was (the grin!); the fact that she heard rumours about him (I want to know more about those!) and the info about him having a price on his head was all great.
+ Peter's take down, and ride down, of the Faceless Man was impressive. But I thought him figuring out the bombs was even moreso. Good Sherlock Holmesing.
+ I liked that bit at the end about a bunch of people asking Zach about Peter.
+ Varvara was really interesting. I loved her attitude during the interview. I loved the whole Night Witches thing and would love to get more of them. It would be great if she actually did become a teacher for Peter.
+ I found the boring/cutting of the trees and Sky's death really upsetting. It's just so infuriating that companies can do that - order people to kill trees like that in order to get around some legal blockade and not only get no repercussions but often actually get the exact result they wanted.
+ When did Lesley start working with the Faceless Man? Her urging Peter into hooking up with Beverly and her relationship with Zach both seem in hindsight clear signs, as was her urging Varvara to call him. Was it only this book or does the betrayal extend further back?
+ I actually thought a couple times in this book that maybe the series was going to go in the direction of Peter -> Lesley. It was only a couple very small moments like when Peter asked about her dating Zach and then thought to himself that he wasn't sure why. Something like that, and possibly another moment I can't think of. It seemed to hint to deeper feelings Peter wasn't acknowledging.
+ Peter not wanting to pursue a relationship with Beverly without making sure he knows what he's getting into makes complete sense after what happened in his last relationship.
+ I'm guessing the Mr. Nolfi side story is further evidence of how much magic is returning to the world? The series showing the transition into a full on magical world could be very cool. I eagerly await the 'normal' cops being forced to further interact with the magical and their horror over it and Peter being forced to take a lead position, if that's where this is going. I also like the glimpses of magic/supernatural in the wider world we got and hope that continues.
+ Varvara said she started deaging in 1966 so was that the beginning of the revival of magic or was it something else? Was there a reasoning behind who got affected by it and who didn't?
+ Could there be an actual demon behind that secret door? Because that could be fun!
+ I wasn't clear but when the Stadtkrone opened it released all of that captured magic out right? I guess even if it didn't there is no way the Faceless Man is getting his hands on those batteries regardless.
+ My biggest issue with the book was that it annoyed me so much that Peter/the other cops didn't follow up on County Gard sooner. Basically as soon as they opened that storage room and saw the not-demon boxes they should have visited County Gard's offices immediately. He'd noticed the newly covered additions even if he didn't know what they were, had noticed they circled the building, saw the not-vents, and he knew the Faceless Man's interest in the building and then to discover what was hidden? Investigate immediately! The fact that it got put off was aggravating.
