[polishgenius]

It's a London-set urban fantasy, with the mildly interesting (although probably not startlingly original) hook that this is modern magic (the author refers to the potential series as 'Urban Magic'), working via the rythms of the city rather than nature or mystical beyond-ness- so you get powerful spirits based on the crazy lady around town, for example.

What really sets it aside, though, is quite simply the writing and execution - this, the first adult-aimed book of a 22 year old writer (really Catherine Webb) who's been writing since she was 14, is about as good a book of this type as I've read. There are strong hints of Neil Gaiman about the writing (particularly American Gods, for me, despite the obvious Neverwhere comparisons), with just a touch of China Mieville too - London and the magic of it is very well realised, and there's a pleasing grimyness about it all that keeps it grounded.
The other thing is the main character- the writer avoids cliche by making his motives murky (despite it being first-person), and we're never really sure whether he's actually a nice person or just out for revenge. Plus (and it probably helps here that this is a girl writing a guy) she doesn't feel the need to make him a raging badass who always gets the girl (again the Gaiman comparison showing through).


In summary, then... it's very good, give it a try, even if the urban fantasy tag usually puts you off.