Review of Jim Butcher's Skin Game

Skin Game

The Dresden Files: Book 15

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 464

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him might want him to do.  Usually it's something awful.

He doesn't know the half of it...

Mab has just traded Harry's skills to pay off one of her debts.  And now he must help a group of supernatural villains--led by one of Harry's mos dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone--to break into the highest-security vault in town, so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.

It's a smash and grab job to recover the liter Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure hoard in the supernatural world--which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character.  Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about.  And he's dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience.  Especially Harry.

Dresden has always been tricky, but he's going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess--assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before his enemies get the chance...


Review:

Not only does Dresden think that something evil has infested his brain--he also has been led to believe that it will kill him.  The only person that can help is Molly, whom Mab has been keeping away.  If Harry helps Mab, she will hopefully let Molly see him in time to save him.  Meanwhile, Dresden has to find someone he trusts to watch his back in the Underworld.  After one friend gets injured before the true descent has begun, one has to wonder if Dresden will be able to get out of the Underworld alive.

For now, this is all... but there will be more!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Cold Days

Cold Days

The Dresden Files: Book 14

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 640

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
After being murdered and then brought back to life, Harry Dresden soon realizes that maybe death wasn't all that bad.  Because he is no longer Chicago's only professional wizard.

He is now Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness.  Her word is his command.  And her first command is the seemingly impossible: kill an immortal.  Worse still, there is a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could mean the deaths of millions.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent an apocalypse, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his new found infinite powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own...

His soul.


Review:

All in all, this is just another day in the life of Harry Dresden!  Harry has to try to follow his commands all while figuring out a case of his own, involving Demonreach, and trying to find more information about whether or not he should follow threw with Mab's request.  While he may technically serve Mab, Dresden works hard to keep his own morals intact.

Book 14 gives you a taste of exactly what Harry's life may be like, now that he is the Winter Knight.  Read book 15 for more amazing adventures!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Ghost Story

Ghost Story

The Dresden Files: Book 13

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 608

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
When an unknown someone shoots him and leaves him to die, Harry Dresden hopes he might be heading to a better place.  Unfortunately, being dead doesn't make Harry's life any easier.

Trapped between life and death, he learns that his friends are in serious trouble.  Only by finding his murderer can he save his friends and move on--a feat which would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers.  Worse still are the malevolent shadows that roam Chicago, controlled by a dark entity that wants Harry to suffer even in death.

Now the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic--or face an eternity as just another lost soul...

Review:

You will see this book got three stars.  This is my absolute least favourite of all the Dresden File books out to date.  It isn't that the book doesn't seem to have a solid ending, or that there isn't enough plot.  It isn't even that Harry is so removed from the action.  Everything seems to go so slowly, and it takes so long to get into the crux of the story, while Harry is not too overly involved.  While I know that some same "kill your darlings" and that others state that people/characters change, I was quite glad that there was another book to start right after this one.

While this book isn't my favourite, definitely go read book 14 because it gets so much more interesting!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Changes

Changes

The Dresden Files: Book 12

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Number of Pages: 560

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Long ago, Susan Rodriquez was Harry Dresden's lover- until she was attacked and left struggling with the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court.  Now, she needs Harry's help.  Harry's enemies have found the secret she has hidden for so long, and he will have to unleash the full fury of his untapped power.

Review:

I've omitted the last line of the Amazon review, as I don't want to spoil Susan's secret the way a certain individual had for me while I was still on book 7.

Not only does Dresden have a sudden reconciliation with Susan, but he is immediately thrust into a rescue mission, while simultaneously trying to figure out what the kidnappers intended to use the kidnapped for.  Emotions will run high as you get involved in this thriller, with stakes for most of the participants, even those he otherwise would have left home.

Book 12 is great, and really makes you wonder what could possibly happen in book 13.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Turn Coat

Turn Coat

The Dresden Files: Book 11

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 576

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council- and there's only one final punishment for that crime.  He's on the run, he wants his name cleared, and he needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.  Like Harry Dresden.  Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself.  And a single mistake could cost Harry his head...

Review:

The Minority Report- met the Wizards of the White Council.  Sometimes, even if what you found isn't what the truth is, it's easier to push than to find and deal with reality- which is, you can't always trust the first result you find.  For those of you who have come to hate Morgan, this book sheds a lot of light on the Warden, and may even result in a few tears.

Book 11... continue on!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Small Favor

The Dresden Files: Book 10

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 560

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Harry Dresden's life finally seems to be calming down, until a shadow from the past returns.  Mab, monarch of the Sidhe Winter Court, calls in an old favor from Harry, one small favor that will trap him between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and that will strain his skills, and loyalties, to their very limits.

Review:

Imagine needing to protect someone you absolutely detest.  That doesn't matter, because Harry can't exactly say no.  Once Harry realizes the real problem, he isn't much better off.  Do you sacrifice the work of many years for one girl?  What if that girl was also the most powerful girl in the world, and could ultimately tip the scales of good and evil?  After all, chivalry is quite alive in Dresden.

Book 10 is great!  It is a must read, just like all the others.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's White Night

White Night

The Dresden Files: Book 9

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 528

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
In Chicago, someone has been killing practitioners of magic, those incapable of becoming full-fledged wizards.  Shockingly, all the evidence points to Harry Dresden's half-brother, Thomas, as the murderer.  Determined to clear his sibling's name, Harry uncovers a conspiracy within the White Council of Wizards that threatens not only him, but his nearest and dearest, too...

Review:

Not only does Dresden need to keep his own friends and family safe, but he now needs to protect all of the magical practitioners in Chicago as well.  Though he isn't exactly sure, at first, why someone would go after practitioners, he surely doesn't want to lose any of the wizards he knows before he pieces everything together.

Book 9 in The Dresden Files.  I love this series.  If you've gotten this far, you should read the rest, too.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Proven Guilty

Proven Guilty

The Dresden Files: Book 8

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 576

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
The White Council of Wizards has drafted Harry Dresden as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in Chicago.  Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in the Windy City, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob.

Review:

What would you do if someone you knew chose to make one gigantic mistake?  While Dresden can understand, he isn't the only one who gets to decide the fate of a young wizard who ignored the fourth law, because it was not yet known.  This book contains a lesson that everyone should be able to resonate with.  No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes.  Sometimes, having a guiding hand helps set us on the right path.

Book 8 leaves you craving more!  A must read!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.