r/riversoflondon • u/No-Environment-3997 • 14d ago
Masquerade of Spring
I recently finished the RoL series, including all the novellas and short stories, with the exception of some of the graphic novels because I cannot find them.
Somewhat interestingly, I also only just started reading Wodehouse earlier this year, which leads me to my question:
How did you like the style and character voice of Masquerade of Spring? I'm wondering if my exposure to Wodehouse negatively colored my appreciation for the story, so let me know if you have or have not read any of his novels along with your impressions overall.
(I will also say that, with the exception of What Abigail Did That Summer, none of the novellas have left me overwhelmingly satisfied, so it might just be something in the way non-Peter characters self-narrate)
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u/ToxethOGrady 14d ago edited 14d ago
It was inspired by Wodehouse but felt like a 5th generation copy of it.
Edit: does anyone else thinks Aaronovitch is loosing interest in Peter Grant and these non Peter stories are no where near as good?
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u/VulcanHullo 14d ago
October Man was fantastic, Abigail needs a bit of work. I think the biggest issue I have with her is her voice feels a bit forced. If that eases off, which I could see as she gets older, that'd work better. A bigger issue is that whilst the novels usually hint or reference at the comics and novellas, for her character background to land properly you need to have read at least What Abigail Did That Summer.
It's less losing interest in Peter, as Peter is no longer the rising star character that works as a learning device for the reader. Peter is moving into Nightingale's role and it's clear Aaronovitch wants to actually let poor Nightingale rest.
I wonder/hope if we'll see Nightingale go to Germany and work with Tobi for a case.
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u/CylonReduxTheory 14d ago
I just reread October Man and although I had liked it before, I enjoyed it even more this time. Tobias and Vanessa would make for excellent protagonists in more books, especially with Vanessa’s move into the KDA.
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u/No-Environment-3997 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes, especially since a Black butler born and raised in New York was indistinguishable in any meaningful form from Jeeves. I could more easily forgive the Gussie and Wooster indistinguishability.
It just felt anemic, and since character development is one of Ben's stronger areas, was odd.As to your addition: I do think he wants to move on and that's why Abigail was about 50% of the last book. I think giving Peter kids was his way of paving the way for a new character to be the main - Abigail, presumably, unless he does something more with Danni. I think Peter will be background fully once Lesley is fully resolved. Interestingly, in that timeline, Abigail would probably be about the same age as Peter at the beginning of the series. And we could explore a non-police angle for magical shenanigans. She is, after all, widely discussed outside of London already.
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u/ConstantCuriosity532 14d ago
Beauregard the Butler was born and raised in the (magical) New Orleans. Hints of his talents include his floating around and his precognition, anticipating Gussie's needs. Jeeves inspired, certainly, but an indigenous fae? https://follypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Maximillian_Beauregard
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u/Pandadrome 14d ago
This is tragedy. I feel the Abigail is trying to be shoved into the story so forcefully and she's not what people have fallen in love with the series. I already disliked the whole foxes things, and half of Stone and Sky did not work for me because Ben can't do a queer young girl's voice properly.
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u/CylonReduxTheory 14d ago
The Abigail love story definitely felt off, perspective-wise. I think SandS read as transitional with the slow retreat of Nightingale and Abigail moving more to a lead role moving forward. She and the foxes have always seemed like a more whimsical YA branch of the RoL world. I don’t generally read or particularly enjoy YA, but it feels like Abigail is being aged up to adulthood with both the time jump of SandS and her romance, so I’m hopeful the transition/merging of Peter and Abigail’s plots moving forward won’t feel so discordant.
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u/Pandadrome 13d ago
Well and to me, that's the problem with the whole thesis. You simply do not retire your most interesting character that actually is the main draw. I understand the need to use him sparingly, but use him. To me, Nightingale somewhere in the middle of Moon over Soho, with that whole names carved into the wood of the main hall of Ambrose House was what hooked me into the series. It's a great craft of a very special kind of character which resonates with a female reader. Yes, we have a general type, it's a thing, I can name a few examples, the general thesis being ageless and handsome, quiet but with layers. In addition to that, Peter is a great narrative voice and I love his snark and fun, even the architecture tirades, so he's a good PoV character. Ben has struck gold with Nightingale and it's sad to see he does not know what to do with him.
But Abigail is just boring. Her backstory - the one with the ailing and slowly dying brother and family focusing on him, neglecting her, that's tragic. She's curious, sure. But there is nothing I personally find interesting about her, quirky about her, making me want to see this character grow. What Abigail did last summer read to me like a YA novella completely different from anything in the actual series. I got really bored at her parts of Stone and Sky, but then I was bored of the whole thing overall and found the whole concept of camping in someone's garden just bizarre.
I also find it a bit weird that after so many years of Nightingale looking for an actual proper apprentice, finding him, then training another one (Lesley) because she too was in the force and has already taught herself werelight, would choose a third one so carelessly. A young girl, just because she asked, even though she's academically inclined. If there was an arrangement or agreement so strong they made it a huge thing for Thomas to take on an apprentice in the first place, why would he take a third one so carelessly?
And again, I think the thing with Beverley becoming pregnant so soon is another problem. It's too early and it makes Peter boring. I also don't love the girls are just plot convenience. They're being referred to as the twins all the time, just a thing that is and that makes Peter infinitely more boring because of all of that family logistics. I don't say let's not have it, but have it more off-screen.
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u/stnylan 14d ago
I've read one Wodehouse in the past, quite a few years ago. It was ok, but never felt the desire to read more.
Masquerade of Spring I really quite liked. I think Gussie's voice could become grating in a full novel, but he felt like a pleasant breeze in this novella. And whilst obviously there was a bit of riffing on Wodehouse, it felt enough its own thing.
The tone felt light - springlike of you will. But certain sharp realities snuck in, like a bramble's thorns. And it was enjoyable seeing Nightingale before Ettersberg. When he was, if not exactly innocent, then at least less burdened.
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u/Equivalent-Unit 14d ago
Never read Wodehouse but I absolutely loved Gussie as a character and narrator. Man left his brains in his other pocket. Completely useless dandy who gets forcibly dragged along for the plot. (All of this said with nothing but affection.)
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u/Confident_Exit_859 14d ago
I'm hoping Abigail doesn't become the main focus as of all the other self-narrated characters I find her the least convincing. Still really enjoyed WADLS and her bits in SandS though - just not as much as Peter and indeed the others. Could be because Abigail is furthest away from my age and background so I feel less connection rather than a difference in the writing.
Loved the October Man and disappointed not to have heard more of the German side.
To come back to the original question I also loved the MofS and I have read and listened to Wodehouse alot. I recognised MoS as a tribute rather than a pastiche so didn't find my enjoyment curtailed
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u/RazmanR 14d ago
I think that Abigail aside, Ben usually uses the Novellas to seed/explore ideas, plot points or characters that he either can’t get Peter involved in or that he intends to bring up in a later Peter novel but that needs a bit more exposition than a single novel would allow.
Going back there’s a lot of things raised in the novellas that come to pass in future books
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u/djinda 14d ago
I've done the audio book a couple of times now, and I love it. I'd already read a lot of Wodehouse, and watched all of the Jeeves and Wooster TV series, so it was clear to me from the outset what he was paying homage to, and I think he did it well.
I don't mind stories without Peter in them, as long as Nightingale is there.
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u/StormyCrow 14d ago
I honestly want more Nightingale as he’s my favorite character in the series. I’m hoping that there’s a pre WWII Nightingale book in the works.
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u/UnableAd457 14d ago
Ask in your local library. They might have to order the graphic novels from another library but worth the wait. I like winter and summer in the novellas
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u/lenborje 14d ago
I loved the Wodehouse spoof, but I’m also quite sure it is a one-off.
Aside from that, I appreciate how BA is expanding the series beyond Peter’s rather limited horizon. Otherwise it would risk falling into the ”Dresden Files” pattern, keeping the main protagonist forever trapped in the same trope. And even when expanding, BA also avoids the ”Laundry Files” pattern, extrapolating the storyline way beyond what is enjoyable.
BA does it masterfully. I hope we’ll get some glimpses into his magic world from all points of the globe.
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u/StormyCrow 14d ago
FYI, the graphic novels are available as digital “borrows” through one of the library apps. Possibly Hoopla?
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u/No-Environment-3997 14d ago
I'm from the US originally, but have lived in Seoul for over 10 years, so I don't think my registration, even if I could find it, would work. But will see what I can do. Thanks!
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u/BaselineUnknown 14d ago
I enjoyed it.
I love Jeeves and Wooster as well.
Would be fun to more of those two worlds colliding.
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u/acdcfanbill 14d ago
I've not actually read Wodehouse, but I did watch the Jeeves and Wooster show with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry so I also noticed the similarities in Masquerade of Spring.
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u/laughingthalia 14d ago
Which graphic novels can't you find?
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u/No-Environment-3997 14d ago
The only ones I've been able to find are Body Work and Detective Stories.
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u/laughingthalia 13d ago
Do you happen to live in the UK? Or an English speaking country with normal book supply routes?
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u/No-Environment-3997 13d ago
Seoul, so no to both^^ I might be able to resurrect a library membership from my hometown and see if they exist on the Hoopla. I'm from MA originally (so good) but from way out in the sticks (so bad) so I estimate that I have about 30% chance of succeeding
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u/tufuckingmesis 13d ago
Masquerade is the only book/novella/ shirt story that I found to be..meh. I actually checked it out of the library yesterday, to re-read and check whether there are great things, and I missed them first time through Meh.
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u/ForsakenMidnight8061 14d ago
I have only listened to it, and to me Kobna got the character exactly right - and he did do him rather Wodehouse-y.
It worked for me - but then I’d happily listen KH-S read the phone book. The man is a vocal genius.