Deadly Ever After is the 10th Rivers of London graphic novel and the 2nd one I have read* - although I have read all the 'regular' novels. It is a story that features side characters of the series as the regulars, Peter Grant, Nightingale and co are on another case so I don't feel a deep understanding of the series is essential if this is your first RoL tale.
So, the story . . .
Back in 1897 there was a painter, Jeter, and his daughter, Rose. Life is tough for them but they have the fairy tales Jeter tells Rose at night and a belief they will get their Happy Ever After one day. Then one day Jeter doesn't come back home.
Back to the present and Olympia and Chelsea Brook the river goddess Mama Thames' twin daughters are at a gathering in the woods and, when showing off a little they break the enchantment on a magical mulberry bush and Jeter comes back from the realms of the tree nymphs where he has been for the last 100+ years - and he is not happy. Other friends at the gathering take on aspects of fairy tales in the worst possible way and it is up to the twins to right their wrongs before more fall victim and before Beverley Brook finds out and gives them all the hell they deserve.
Deadly Ever After is, it has to be said, a cracking story made all the better for it's truly lush illustrations. With it not being a Peter Grant story (although he does make a couple of short appearances) it is a nice change to spend some time in the RoL world with characters we don't usually see much of. Olympia and Chelsea are a likeable pair who you just know will have trouble following them around but my favourites were the two foxes who report the initial incident . . . eventually.
I also enjoyed the 'extras' in the back of the book which gives you a kind of insight into how the graphic novel is created.
Many thanks to Alexandra Iciek and Titan Comics for inviting me to review this title and providing the review copy - all views and opinions are my own.
*Although this will be changing first chance I get!
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