Reviews

This book is significantly better compared to [b:Fool Moon|91477|Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, #2)|Jim Butcher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345556849s/91477.jpg|855288] (#2 in the series), but still has a bit too much going on and everything is just a bit too over the top.

Its not as bad as [b:Fool Moon|91477|Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, #2)|Jim Butcher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345556849s/91477.jpg|855288], but not quite good enough. You are always acutely aware of the comic-book like unrealism which makes it hard to relate to the characters in a meaningful way. No matter the danger, no matter the gravity of the situation, you don't feel concerned or excited because you know Dresden will always find a way out of it with everything and everyone important ending up safe and happy. This happens all the time. Even though he is tired and weak and all out of juice, he finds the last bit of will to fight and then after a while the last, last bit of it. And then when he is finally done and it is now all and truly lost and everything is hopeless, he finds the now really, truly last bit of courage to pull a metaphorical rabbit out of his hat. It gets a bit tiring after a while.

I listened to the audiobook version with narration by James Marsters who does an excellent job with it. Overall, a fun read in a comic-book sort of way but could have been better.

samanthanoel's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

4.75

timinbc's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Meh. I've read quite a few similar but better. To be fair, this one's from 2001 and the others may have been influenced by early Butcher. Still, to name two, I like Sandman Slim and Stross's Laundry series better, and Paul Cornell's urban-police books WAY better.

I was put off early when Michael put what was explicitly described as a five-foot sword into a gym bag. Unless Michael uses the gym to practise pole-vaulting, that's a heckuva gym bag.

Also agreed with the others who noted that the book's just repetitions of don't go in there / but I have to / omigosh my power is drained / uh-oh, I'm in trouble / (digs deeper) Aha! I win! And sometimes he wins by remembering one more thing we hadn't known about magic.

As happens so often in urban fantasy even now, Harry seems to face an unending stream of opponents who are vastly more powerful than he is. One gets tired of them finding little reasons not to splatter him. Especially his evil godmother either. Too strong, too nasty, forces the plot to make up reasons to keep Harry alive/intact.

cate07luna's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Favorite book of the three so far, I think.

beachybookstack's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Much more personal and professional disaster happens in this book than the previous 2 novels. Harry is up against the repercussions of earlier actions in a bad way. Something is lurking around Chicago and there's no indication of what it could really be until about halfway into the book. From there, things take a turn, drawing in familiar characters and new ones. Michael is a newer addition to Butcher's cast. Faith magic goes a long way here and Harry will take what he can get to survive their troubles. Vampires overflow out of this one and naturally someone will get turned. The ending really leaves Dresden in a hell of a spot for the next book.

More...