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Fool Moon
10 hours, 6 minutes
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is Chicago's only openly practicing wizard. He is also dead broke. His vast knowledge and magical skills are unfortunately matched by his talent for making powerful enemies and alienating friends. With little more than his integrity left, he accepts an offer of work from Lt. Karin Murphy of Chicago's Special Investigations Unit. He wants to redeem himself in Murphy's eyes and make enough money to quiet his rumbling stomach.
Soon he finds himself pinned between trigger-happy FBI agents, shape-shifiting motorcycle gang members, a threatened mobster boss, and an heir to an ancient curse along with his primal fiance. Throw in environmental activists and a pair of young werewolves in love and you have something of Fool Moon.
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is Chicago's only openly practicing wizard. He is also dead broke. His vast knowledge and magical skills are unfortunately matched by his talent for making powerful enemies and alienating friends. With little more than his integrity left, he accepts an offer of work from Lt. Karin Murphy of Chicago's Special Investigations Unit. He wants to redeem himself in Murphy's eyes and make enough money to quiet his rumbling stomach.
Soon he finds himself pinned between trigger-happy FBI agents, shape-shifiting motorcycle gang members, a threatened mobster boss, and an heir to an ancient curse along with his primal fiance. Throw in environmental activists and a pair of young werewolves in love and you have something of Fool Moon.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
203 books51.2k followersJim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
January 9, 2023
Did you know there are 4 different types of "werewolves"? Well, there certainly are in Harry Dresden's world.
Still licking his wounds from what happened in the previous book, especially since Karrin hasn't taken any business to him so he's in financial trouble, Harry is finally approached by the Chicago PD about a homicide. In fact, it's not the first of this kind but it is so incredibly gruesome that it cannot have been perpetrated by a (mundane) human.
Turns out, it must have been some kind of werewolf and maybe even more than one.
But while Harry finds a number of suspects, they grow more and more numerous so Harry has to risk his own neck to sift through the swamp.
In between, Marcone makes another (this time much less arrogant) appearance and even Bob's research skills fail so Harry is forced to summon a demon.
That, however, is far from everything. When the threads come together, it's one hell of a helter-skelter, in a good way.
Not sure Harry's schtick to always be broke, to always be tired, and to not letting a woman help him might get old within the next 14 books. *lol* For now, though, I didn't mind except for when he didn't want to call Susan for help because she's a woman.
What I definitely loved about this volume was the question of what makes one human. Be it in the context of our world or if you through supernatural creatures in the mix. And it was also nice to examine all kinds of relationships - from toxic co-dependencies to true love.
It's telling, I think, that this volume was so dark. It's not just that the stakes are high (and probably getting higher), but that it sets the tone. This isn't bright and colourful and playful. In fact, I doubt it ever will be. The closest we'll come to comedic scenes are snarky remarks on socio-political events or Bob making fun of Harry. This could become a problem because I like the quirky UFs better but since I have that in other series I'm currently reading (two, in fact), this might actually make a very nice counterpart. So far, it has been an interesting and almost refreshing difference.
On to the next(s)!
Still licking his wounds from what happened in the previous book, especially since Karrin hasn't taken any business to him so he's in financial trouble, Harry is finally approached by the Chicago PD about a homicide. In fact, it's not the first of this kind but it is so incredibly gruesome that it cannot have been perpetrated by a (mundane) human.
Turns out, it must have been some kind of werewolf and maybe even more than one.
But while Harry finds a number of suspects, they grow more and more numerous so Harry has to risk his own neck to sift through the swamp.
In between, Marcone makes another (this time much less arrogant) appearance and even Bob's research skills fail so Harry is forced to summon a demon.
That, however, is far from everything. When the threads come together, it's one hell of a helter-skelter, in a good way.
Not sure Harry's schtick to always be broke, to always be tired, and to not letting a woman help him might get old within the next 14 books. *lol* For now, though, I didn't mind except for when he didn't want to call Susan for help because she's a woman.
What I definitely loved about this volume was the question of what makes one human. Be it in the context of our world or if you through supernatural creatures in the mix. And it was also nice to examine all kinds of relationships - from toxic co-dependencies to true love.
It's telling, I think, that this volume was so dark. It's not just that the stakes are high (and probably getting higher), but that it sets the tone. This isn't bright and colourful and playful. In fact, I doubt it ever will be. The closest we'll come to comedic scenes are snarky remarks on socio-political events or Bob making fun of Harry. This could become a problem because I like the quirky UFs better but since I have that in other series I'm currently reading (two, in fact), this might actually make a very nice counterpart. So far, it has been an interesting and almost refreshing difference.
On to the next(s)!
January 19, 2013
Fool Moon – It’s got to be about werewolves right? Yes it is! Lots of werewolves. And different types of werewolves – You got your regular werewolf, then you have your Hexenwolf and then you got the biggest baddest mother of all werewolves the dreaded Lup-Garou.
Warning -these are not the cute and cuddly fluffy Twilight variety werewolf. Think more like claw your face off, disembowelment and, a personal favourite of mine, the good old rip the spine out the back trick. Yes, this book has a much higher body count than the last book as Butcher lives up to his name and racks up the Butcher’s bill. Not as great a variety of Fae creatures from the Never Never – but hey, werewolves beat pizza eating fairies any day of the week.
The Full Moon’s up and people are dropping like flies as a killer or killers stalks the streets and Dresden is called in to provide advice on all things weird.
I enjoyed this at least as much as the first book (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) – The audio narration was good and I think James Marsters has even improved from the last book – either that or he’s growing on me more.
I also like that Butcher is not afraid to kill his characters. There was one particular death that had my jaw drop. I like the complex relationships in Dresden’s life from good old Bob in the basement, to Susan from the Arcane and then there’s Murphy. We also get further hints that there was more to the deaths of Harry’s parents than he first thought and there is an old and dangerous love floating around somewhere as well.
The low page count (10 audio hours), the fast and well paced action, the mystery surrounding Harry himself, it all adds up to keep me on the hook with the series and I look forward to listening to the next instalment.
4 stars
Take it away Zevon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MRu8N...
Warning -these are not the cute and cuddly fluffy Twilight variety werewolf. Think more like claw your face off, disembowelment and, a personal favourite of mine, the good old rip the spine out the back trick. Yes, this book has a much higher body count than the last book as Butcher lives up to his name and racks up the Butcher’s bill. Not as great a variety of Fae creatures from the Never Never – but hey, werewolves beat pizza eating fairies any day of the week.
The Full Moon’s up and people are dropping like flies as a killer or killers stalks the streets and Dresden is called in to provide advice on all things weird.
I enjoyed this at least as much as the first book (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) – The audio narration was good and I think James Marsters has even improved from the last book – either that or he’s growing on me more.
I also like that Butcher is not afraid to kill his characters. There was one particular death that had my jaw drop. I like the complex relationships in Dresden’s life from good old Bob in the basement, to Susan from the Arcane and then there’s Murphy. We also get further hints that there was more to the deaths of Harry’s parents than he first thought and there is an old and dangerous love floating around somewhere as well.
The low page count (10 audio hours), the fast and well paced action, the mystery surrounding Harry himself, it all adds up to keep me on the hook with the series and I look forward to listening to the next instalment.
4 stars
Take it away Zevon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MRu8N...
December 29, 2014
I love Harry Dresden and I could listen to this narrator talk all day.
April 30, 2024
This is my second time listening to this story. I really like the development of Harry's character and his relationship with Susan. There's a lot of foreshadowing in this book. I also liked all the werewolves in this story, and we get to see more of Marconni in this story. He has his hand in everything.
Re-read 4/30/24 - still 5 stars in my book
Re-read 4/30/24 - still 5 stars in my book
January 4, 2015
I enjoyed this installment more than book 1; the narration was much improved, it had chapters (I need order in my reads), and the story showcased countless different types of werewolves. The cast of secondary characters were wonderful as was Dresden's POV. The author's dark humour is catchy, and the action sequences were heart-stopping, especially the one in the police station. Whoa Nelly!
September 3, 2016
I think abandoning it at 94% definitely qualifies for "I didn't like it."
June 29, 2018
Wizard, Harry Dresden, is a private eye whose biggest, money paying client is the Chicago police department's Special Investigations officer, Karin Murphy. Murphy calls Dresden in when cases look weird. After the events of book one, their relationship is a little strained and Murphy hasn't called in quite a while. Dresden is broke and eating toaster crumbs.
When a series of gruesome murders occur, Dresden is called in and he immediately realizes there is a supernatural element to these killings, but before you know it the FBI is taking the case and pushing Murphy and Dresden out the door. Will this deter them? Of course not.
The case was an intense one with an interesting werewolf lore. Now that the world is basically established (though the author continues to develop it) the story felt smoother. Harry is still adorkable and awkward. His interactions with Murphy made me laugh even if her inability to trust Harry frustrated me. She is smart and then she isn't. Dark humor, action, twists, and suspense kept me fully engaged.
What I find interesting about Harry is that unlike some of my favorite female protagonists, yeah I am talking to you Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson and Rachel Morgan, Harry is reactive rather than proactive. He literally waits for the shit to hit the fan and then decides how to clean it up. Even though he is a wizard he is vulnerable. His magic isn't always reliable, and it does get depleted.
Side stories, romantic threads and unique secondary characters enhanced the story. We were given some interesting tidbits about a woman from Harry's past.
James Marsters continues to narrate and already I am seeing improvement in the quality. No squeaky chair noises and less swallowing. LOL Marsters has become Harry for me, and he does it well. Hi transition between female and male voices is effective with a wide range of tones. His voices add to the action-packed moments and emotions of the characters This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
When a series of gruesome murders occur, Dresden is called in and he immediately realizes there is a supernatural element to these killings, but before you know it the FBI is taking the case and pushing Murphy and Dresden out the door. Will this deter them? Of course not.
The case was an intense one with an interesting werewolf lore. Now that the world is basically established (though the author continues to develop it) the story felt smoother. Harry is still adorkable and awkward. His interactions with Murphy made me laugh even if her inability to trust Harry frustrated me. She is smart and then she isn't. Dark humor, action, twists, and suspense kept me fully engaged.
What I find interesting about Harry is that unlike some of my favorite female protagonists, yeah I am talking to you Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson and Rachel Morgan, Harry is reactive rather than proactive. He literally waits for the shit to hit the fan and then decides how to clean it up. Even though he is a wizard he is vulnerable. His magic isn't always reliable, and it does get depleted.
Side stories, romantic threads and unique secondary characters enhanced the story. We were given some interesting tidbits about a woman from Harry's past.
James Marsters continues to narrate and already I am seeing improvement in the quality. No squeaky chair noises and less swallowing. LOL Marsters has become Harry for me, and he does it well. Hi transition between female and male voices is effective with a wide range of tones. His voices add to the action-packed moments and emotions of the characters This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 7, 2021
3.25 Stars
Still liked this one but found that it didn't hold quite the same amount of tension for me in the second half especially and found it a little less logical since there were a few coincidences/conveniences. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes though!
Still liked this one but found that it didn't hold quite the same amount of tension for me in the second half especially and found it a little less logical since there were a few coincidences/conveniences. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes though!
October 2, 2015
Great second instalment. Fun, fast paced, lots of action, and a little bit of bedroom time for Harry. I love his funny, snarky humour, and his old fashioned ways. There were a few things that irritated me though. He used "hells bells" as a swear word far too often, he thought every bad situation others found themselves in was his fault, which it clearly wasn't, and he cared too much what Murphy thought of him, even though she's mean to him and her attitude irritating to me. She constantly thought she was the better person and looks down on Harry which I didn't like, but I'm hoping she'll grow into a nicer person as the series progresses. This time Harry faces off against werewolves, and the descriptions of all the different kinds was well done.
As with the first book, James Marsters does an excellent job narrating the story and bringing it to life. Straight onto book three me thinks.
As with the first book, James Marsters does an excellent job narrating the story and bringing it to life. Straight onto book three me thinks.
June 1, 2016
I read this book years ago, back when I first found my way back to reading in general and to reading UF in particular. I liked the story more back then than I did on this re-read. I just have too many books under my belt at this point to be too impressed with the plot or characters. I listened to the audiobook for this re-read and while I generally love James Marsters, I can't say that his narration left me feeling wowed. At one point my daughter was riding in the car with me while I was listening to it and after a few minutes she made the comment that the narrator sounded bored. Maybe it had something to do with all the deep breathing but once she said that, I couldn't hear it any other way. He DID sound bored and, consequently, so was I.
December 9, 2017
This book is somewhere between a 4.25 and 4.75 rating for me. My enjoyment of this story is really high but it wasn't as high as the first book. This book had twists and turns that had me quite surprised. I definitely wasn't thinking I would enjoy a book about werewolves after all the YA books that have taken over their use but this book turned out to be the exception. There is fantasy, mystery, romance, and some decent fights in this book so a lot of people could enjoy this story plot.
February 28, 2021
Harry Dresden is a wonderful character who is a wizard in Chicago.
November 23, 2014
More than one Jim Butcher fan has told me that the Harry Dresden series takes several books before it really picks up. I am still unsure if I have the perseverance to keep reading one mediocre book after another until the awesome happens.
Fool Moon is okay. This time Harry Dresden, the angsty, soulful, oh-so-manful-yet-gentlemanly-yet-chivalrous-yet-really-a-big-fat-tool wizard, has to solve a bloody series of murders in Chi-town. At least there is no coyness in this urban fantasy — right from the beginning, he, and the reader, knows he's dealing with werewolves, and he even mostly convinces his mundane cop friend Detective Murphy.
Dresden pulls the magic staff and demon-summoning and charmed amulets out right away. So far the best aspects of Jim Butcher's writing seems to be the worldbuilding. In two books, we already have been presented with a considerable menagerie of supernatural beings existing in the shadows of the mundane world, complete with rules and secret societies and laws of magic that are as consistent as in any urban fantasy.
The werewolves killed some associates of "Gentleman Johnny" Marconi, Chicago's biggest gangster and Harry's nemesis from the previous book, apparently destined to be the ongoing mundane antagonist to our hotshot wizard, as opposed to all the demons and dark wizards he's pissing off on the supernatural side. Murphy is under investigation by Internal Affairs because of stuff that happened in the last book (some of it Harry's fault), and the FBI shows up to investigate the killings, with their usual lack of humor, and lack of appreciation for so-called "wizards" babbling about werewolves.
Naturally, there are twists. The biggest non-spoiler twist is one of the better elements of Butcher's worldbuilding in this book - there are several kinds of werewolves. Butcher makes the distinctions between them interesting and believable. Dresden finds himself alternately allied with and battling werewolves of different types and factions.
Butcher is a decent writer. The weakness in this book was the same weakness as in the previous book - Dresden is supposed to be this bad-ass wizard, who has so much darkness in his soul that his "soul gaze" can leave people shaken and stunned, and yet he spends much of the book being chased, beaten, bushwhacked, and bedazzled, between musing on how very old fashioned and chivalrous he is. Karen Murphy, his "will they/won't they?" supporting character, is a hot-shot police detective who's constantly described as a cute little cheerleader getting cutely irate at Harry for cutely holding doors open for her. Harry has a real white knight complex going on and while I know it's gauche to infer too much about an author from his characters, I really do wonder if Butcher is one of those guys who spent his entire high school and college years moping about being "friend-zoned."
By the second half of the book, you can predict how it will end, but it's still a decently entertaining story. Butcher is starting to hint that "dark things are afoot" and the supernatural is becoming more active, so maybe Harry will go on to more world-saving stunts in future volumes. Will I continue reading this series? Eventually I'll probably try the next book. But so far it is a strictly average urban fantasy series, basically a paranormal romance for guys.
Fool Moon is okay. This time Harry Dresden, the angsty, soulful, oh-so-manful-yet-gentlemanly-yet-chivalrous-yet-really-a-big-fat-tool wizard, has to solve a bloody series of murders in Chi-town. At least there is no coyness in this urban fantasy — right from the beginning, he, and the reader, knows he's dealing with werewolves, and he even mostly convinces his mundane cop friend Detective Murphy.
Dresden pulls the magic staff and demon-summoning and charmed amulets out right away. So far the best aspects of Jim Butcher's writing seems to be the worldbuilding. In two books, we already have been presented with a considerable menagerie of supernatural beings existing in the shadows of the mundane world, complete with rules and secret societies and laws of magic that are as consistent as in any urban fantasy.
The werewolves killed some associates of "Gentleman Johnny" Marconi, Chicago's biggest gangster and Harry's nemesis from the previous book, apparently destined to be the ongoing mundane antagonist to our hotshot wizard, as opposed to all the demons and dark wizards he's pissing off on the supernatural side. Murphy is under investigation by Internal Affairs because of stuff that happened in the last book (some of it Harry's fault), and the FBI shows up to investigate the killings, with their usual lack of humor, and lack of appreciation for so-called "wizards" babbling about werewolves.
Naturally, there are twists. The biggest non-spoiler twist is one of the better elements of Butcher's worldbuilding in this book - there are several kinds of werewolves. Butcher makes the distinctions between them interesting and believable. Dresden finds himself alternately allied with and battling werewolves of different types and factions.
Butcher is a decent writer. The weakness in this book was the same weakness as in the previous book - Dresden is supposed to be this bad-ass wizard, who has so much darkness in his soul that his "soul gaze" can leave people shaken and stunned, and yet he spends much of the book being chased, beaten, bushwhacked, and bedazzled, between musing on how very old fashioned and chivalrous he is. Karen Murphy, his "will they/won't they?" supporting character, is a hot-shot police detective who's constantly described as a cute little cheerleader getting cutely irate at Harry for cutely holding doors open for her. Harry has a real white knight complex going on and while I know it's gauche to infer too much about an author from his characters, I really do wonder if Butcher is one of those guys who spent his entire high school and college years moping about being "friend-zoned."
By the second half of the book, you can predict how it will end, but it's still a decently entertaining story. Butcher is starting to hint that "dark things are afoot" and the supernatural is becoming more active, so maybe Harry will go on to more world-saving stunts in future volumes. Will I continue reading this series? Eventually I'll probably try the next book. But so far it is a strictly average urban fantasy series, basically a paranormal romance for guys.
February 5, 2016
When it comes to Harry Dresden I always have a great time reading about him and his misadventures in the world of magic. He is a wizard who does not always see things as they are. The characters are all likable in one way or the other, even the criminals seem to have some type of redeeming quality. The bad guys are always dark and menacing in the best possible way. The world inhabited by these characters is so obviously ours but with a twist that makes it special.
There have been several murders that Murphy has not told Harry about until it becomes obvious that they are not just animal attacks. When he finally gets involved he lets her know that werewolves or some flavor of shifter has come to town and is doing damage to innocents and criminal alike. Murphy has called in the FBI and she is being pushed out of her own investigation. The real question is whether Harry can figure out who is doing what and still stay out of jail himself.
The Alphas make their first appearance here as college students. Susan and Harry are still circling each other but not committing to a relationship. Karrin and Harry are still trying to find common ground for their friendship and working relationship. This is a good series that makes reading more than once a fun venture.
There have been several murders that Murphy has not told Harry about until it becomes obvious that they are not just animal attacks. When he finally gets involved he lets her know that werewolves or some flavor of shifter has come to town and is doing damage to innocents and criminal alike. Murphy has called in the FBI and she is being pushed out of her own investigation. The real question is whether Harry can figure out who is doing what and still stay out of jail himself.
The Alphas make their first appearance here as college students. Susan and Harry are still circling each other but not committing to a relationship. Karrin and Harry are still trying to find common ground for their friendship and working relationship. This is a good series that makes reading more than once a fun venture.
April 24, 2023
Well, it doesn’t get good yet. It’s somewhat improved over the first, but still has issues with wild solipsism driving the actual narrative, synonymous with Dresden himself. He still can’t remotely write women and it’s full of all types of fan service where they are concerned. Honestly, I feel like the fantasy trash mood this book occupies is the same ven diagram of people who watch B movies. Second hand nostalgia and so-bad-it’s-fun-but-not-good.
Then again, it does again subvert some expectations of the genre with who the bad guys are and the magic system being 10% different than you’d expect. Tidbits of Dresden’s past come up. The narrative finally acknowledges that Dresden is basically Xander from Buffy grown up, with his relationship to women. White knighting, but actually just sexist and an idiot most of the time. Yet, still women get in their own way at every turn. Butcher may not know he’s got a huge blind spot for this in his writing just yet, but will soon, I think. Again, popcorn commercial fiction, foundational to contemporary urban fantasy. Mostly bad with some stuff that stuck to the culture, altering the space.
Then again, it does again subvert some expectations of the genre with who the bad guys are and the magic system being 10% different than you’d expect. Tidbits of Dresden’s past come up. The narrative finally acknowledges that Dresden is basically Xander from Buffy grown up, with his relationship to women. White knighting, but actually just sexist and an idiot most of the time. Yet, still women get in their own way at every turn. Butcher may not know he’s got a huge blind spot for this in his writing just yet, but will soon, I think. Again, popcorn commercial fiction, foundational to contemporary urban fantasy. Mostly bad with some stuff that stuck to the culture, altering the space.
August 24, 2014
I'm giving this book 3-1/2 stars. I would have given the story 4 stars if all the guttural noises and sighs coming from the narrator didn't distract me so much. I know it's not fair to rate a book based on the narrator, but that noise should never have passed the director or narrator. It's the whole package that I'm reviewing.
The story has Harry Dresden, wizard PI, on the trail of a murderous werewolf. Or is it a werewolf? People are dying at each full moon. Strangely, the deaths don't appear to be random.
I read this for a "toppler" (read-a-thon) in one of my groups. Part of the task was to write lyrics to a song based on the book. I wrote my lyrics to the tune of Blue Moon sung by the fabulous Frank Sinatra:
Fool Moon
You had me howling alone
Without an alpha beside me
Without a werewolf of my own!
Fool Moon
You shone your silver light down on me
I couldn't wiggle or break free
I was under your spell.
And then there suddenly appeared before me
A wizard waving his wand and wizarding.
He said some strange but magical words.
And now thank heavens we're two werewolves in love.
Because I had to write a song, I listened more carefully to quotes and came to the conclusion that Butcher is quite poetic. Here are some of the quotes and snippets of phrases of note:
"The moon rose in silver splendor into an October sky, strewn with pale clouds and brilliant stars."
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
“There's more magic in a baby's first giggle than in any firestorm a wizard can conjure up, and don't let anyone tell you any different.”
“Please, help me. Young werewolves in love. I turned to walk into the house, moving carefully."
"Don't mess with a wizard when he's wizarding."
"Blood has a kind of a power."
"Restless as a rabbit when a fox goes by."
The story has Harry Dresden, wizard PI, on the trail of a murderous werewolf. Or is it a werewolf? People are dying at each full moon. Strangely, the deaths don't appear to be random.
I read this for a "toppler" (read-a-thon) in one of my groups. Part of the task was to write lyrics to a song based on the book. I wrote my lyrics to the tune of Blue Moon sung by the fabulous Frank Sinatra:
Fool Moon
You had me howling alone
Without an alpha beside me
Without a werewolf of my own!
Fool Moon
You shone your silver light down on me
I couldn't wiggle or break free
I was under your spell.
And then there suddenly appeared before me
A wizard waving his wand and wizarding.
He said some strange but magical words.
And now thank heavens we're two werewolves in love.
Because I had to write a song, I listened more carefully to quotes and came to the conclusion that Butcher is quite poetic. Here are some of the quotes and snippets of phrases of note:
"The moon rose in silver splendor into an October sky, strewn with pale clouds and brilliant stars."
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
“There's more magic in a baby's first giggle than in any firestorm a wizard can conjure up, and don't let anyone tell you any different.”
“Please, help me. Young werewolves in love. I turned to walk into the house, moving carefully."
"Don't mess with a wizard when he's wizarding."
"Blood has a kind of a power."
"Restless as a rabbit when a fox goes by."
September 29, 2015
Fun urban fantasy mystery story. I enjoy a lot of Butcher's world and the different types of werewolves his hero faces. There's some fun humor, and the action scenes are awesome.
However, several things did annoy me. Murphy's constant suspicion of Dresden doesn't make sense half the time. She's too quick to accuse him, and does it so frequently, that I can't believe she'd then continue to call him for advice. Her behavior seems more of a convenient plot-device, rather than the behavior of a real character. I found it infuriating.
Also, the intentional and blatant times Butcher kept things from the reader. At one point Harry mentions that he sees something important, and files that knowledge away for later use. Instead of intrigued, I was mad he didn't say what it was. Only when it's important later does he bring it up, and I was annoyed that it was kept secret the way it was. Outright telling a reader, "Hey, here's something seriously critical to the story, but I'm not going to tell you what EVERYONE ELSE in the story knows," does not make for enjoyable reading.
The version that I "read" was the audio book, read my James Marsters, and I enjoyed his performance very much.
However, several things did annoy me. Murphy's constant suspicion of Dresden doesn't make sense half the time. She's too quick to accuse him, and does it so frequently, that I can't believe she'd then continue to call him for advice. Her behavior seems more of a convenient plot-device, rather than the behavior of a real character. I found it infuriating.
Also, the intentional and blatant times Butcher kept things from the reader. At one point Harry mentions that he sees something important, and files that knowledge away for later use. Instead of intrigued, I was mad he didn't say what it was. Only when it's important later does he bring it up, and I was annoyed that it was kept secret the way it was. Outright telling a reader, "Hey, here's something seriously critical to the story, but I'm not going to tell you what EVERYONE ELSE in the story knows," does not make for enjoyable reading.
The version that I "read" was the audio book, read my James Marsters, and I enjoyed his performance very much.
July 12, 2025
Another audiobook reread from the library. It's pretty well accepted that the Dresden series really gets good after the first three or four books. This is true, but the first books are still quite a lot of fun. This one could be subtitled: "Too Many Werewolves." (Or perhaps "ACAB Includes Karrin Murphy"?)
There are some plot quibbles, but overall this is a non-stop action-packed romp. James Marsters is an excellent Harry, infusing his narration with several "I am way too tired for any more of this shit" sighs.
There are some plot quibbles, but overall this is a non-stop action-packed romp. James Marsters is an excellent Harry, infusing his narration with several "I am way too tired for any more of this shit" sighs.
October 23, 2018
I've had this in my Audible library for ages and I read the first book long ago. It turned out to be a little better than okay, maybe 2.75 stars. I'm a little ambivalent about Harry, but I have hope.
I learned of the Dresden Files from the TV series. A housemate at the time had read the books and was keen to watch the series. I liked the series, though I could see the point that it was a bit odd to have a show about a wizard and then not have him do much magic for the first few episodes. He said the books were better and they are, for a given value of better. The world of the books is far more complex than the TV version, and Harry is a more complex character. He's also less developed at this point in the books; he doesn't know that much about his history and seems less confident of his abilities.
Annoyingly, his attitude makes me not want to like him. He surrounds himself with capable women who he then coddles. There are reasons for him to withhold information from them, but his main reason is 'to keep them safe,' and that invariably puts them in more danger than they would've been without the knowledge. Harry has a truly heroic guilt complex, though he's not entirely wrong in thinking that everyone is in danger because of him. It's just that it's his 'chivalrous,' over-protective nature that causes the problems. He's naïve, and that's difficult to reconcile with the rest of his nature.
So, I spent the first half of this book cringing at his attitude to women and wanting him to get on with it. Once things get going, the book gets a lot better. The plot is interesting and it ticks along quite nicely. It felt a little like Butcher got around to naming a lot of different kinds of werewolf and then had to jam as many as possible into the story, but okay. I seem to recall book 1 had better pacing, however. I have two more of the audiobooks lined up and I plan to listen to them faster than this one.
An audiobook, so a comment on the narration. Read by James Marsters of Spike/Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. I had this vague idea that he was Canadian, but he's from California; it's weird that he's only really recognisable to me when he's playing Bob, who has an English accent. Anyway, not the best reading I've ever heard, but his characterisation is good and he's easy to listen to.
I learned of the Dresden Files from the TV series. A housemate at the time had read the books and was keen to watch the series. I liked the series, though I could see the point that it was a bit odd to have a show about a wizard and then not have him do much magic for the first few episodes. He said the books were better and they are, for a given value of better. The world of the books is far more complex than the TV version, and Harry is a more complex character. He's also less developed at this point in the books; he doesn't know that much about his history and seems less confident of his abilities.
Annoyingly, his attitude makes me not want to like him. He surrounds himself with capable women who he then coddles. There are reasons for him to withhold information from them, but his main reason is 'to keep them safe,' and that invariably puts them in more danger than they would've been without the knowledge. Harry has a truly heroic guilt complex, though he's not entirely wrong in thinking that everyone is in danger because of him. It's just that it's his 'chivalrous,' over-protective nature that causes the problems. He's naïve, and that's difficult to reconcile with the rest of his nature.
So, I spent the first half of this book cringing at his attitude to women and wanting him to get on with it. Once things get going, the book gets a lot better. The plot is interesting and it ticks along quite nicely. It felt a little like Butcher got around to naming a lot of different kinds of werewolf and then had to jam as many as possible into the story, but okay. I seem to recall book 1 had better pacing, however. I have two more of the audiobooks lined up and I plan to listen to them faster than this one.
An audiobook, so a comment on the narration. Read by James Marsters of Spike/Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. I had this vague idea that he was Canadian, but he's from California; it's weird that he's only really recognisable to me when he's playing Bob, who has an English accent. Anyway, not the best reading I've ever heard, but his characterisation is good and he's easy to listen to.
June 14, 2013
I found this to be a huge decline from the first book. It feels like we're nearing the decade mark of the series rather than embarking on the second instalment. Did I accidentally miss the part where we develop the characters? Can we get a better sense of the White Council before rushing into the next damn fool adventure? Heck, I'd even be happy with some psychological explanation for why Murphy is manically jumping between needing Harry's help and slapping the cuffs on him.
Since the story hurdled right past my nagging questions of "why?", I still don't have a handle on Dresden's relationship with any of the other characters. And because I have no grasp on the ties that bind, I ended up not caring about the majority of the plot points. Everything was just a rush from one near-death escape to the next, with a few overly-convenient coincidences thrown in to move the story along. I've got no idea why Johnny Marcone keeps showing up, or what Susan finds attractive in a serial jilter like Dresden, or why Dresden puts up with Murphy's shenanigans. All too often, I simply found myself throwing up my hands in despair.
The writing is solid and the humour is sharp (with the exception of the overuse of "Hell's Bells"), but it's too entirely focused on thrills and tricks to keep the audience gasping. You can't kill off thecash cow titular character of a series without stopping the gravy train and pissing off legions of fans. I can't keep that thought out of my mind when reading, so all the big cliffhanger moments end up becoming a guessing game of which deus ex machina is going to be pulled from the hat this time around. It wasn't much fun, but I'm hoping the third book takes a big step back to give a better grounding before trying to ramp up the story to warp speed again.
Since the story hurdled right past my nagging questions of "why?", I still don't have a handle on Dresden's relationship with any of the other characters. And because I have no grasp on the ties that bind, I ended up not caring about the majority of the plot points. Everything was just a rush from one near-death escape to the next, with a few overly-convenient coincidences thrown in to move the story along. I've got no idea why Johnny Marcone keeps showing up, or what Susan finds attractive in a serial jilter like Dresden, or why Dresden puts up with Murphy's shenanigans. All too often, I simply found myself throwing up my hands in despair.
The writing is solid and the humour is sharp (with the exception of the overuse of "Hell's Bells"), but it's too entirely focused on thrills and tricks to keep the audience gasping. You can't kill off the
August 4, 2025
Poor Harry Dresden. The man cannot catch a break. As Harry's latest case gets stranger and stranger, Harry's strength and character are tested to his breaking point and beyond. It makes for a thrilling whodunit of mystical proportions.
What makes Harry such a great hero is that he doesn't shy away from his faults but embraces them and knows that they make him unique. His penchant for being attracted to the darker elements of magic as well as his chivalry combine to put him into some very difficult situations that would be easily avoided for regular, more selfish characters. He takes ownership of his mistakes rather than try to explain them away or pass them off on others. He is extremely refreshing in his honesty and compassion for fellow humans.
James Marsters embodies Harry Dresden and adds his own elements of humaneness to Harry's character. His concern, confusion and extraordinariness come across with every breath Mr. Marsters takes. He makes the entire series an auditory pleasure.
I'll admit I am hooked on this series. It has everything I enjoy in a mystery - elements of the supernatural, great characters, interesting mysteries that are difficult to solve in advance, and a backdrop that takes on a life of its own. Fool Moon continues the promise established by the first novel in the series and builds on it, making a reader extremely anxious to continue to find out what else will befall our hapless hero.
What makes Harry such a great hero is that he doesn't shy away from his faults but embraces them and knows that they make him unique. His penchant for being attracted to the darker elements of magic as well as his chivalry combine to put him into some very difficult situations that would be easily avoided for regular, more selfish characters. He takes ownership of his mistakes rather than try to explain them away or pass them off on others. He is extremely refreshing in his honesty and compassion for fellow humans.
James Marsters embodies Harry Dresden and adds his own elements of humaneness to Harry's character. His concern, confusion and extraordinariness come across with every breath Mr. Marsters takes. He makes the entire series an auditory pleasure.
I'll admit I am hooked on this series. It has everything I enjoy in a mystery - elements of the supernatural, great characters, interesting mysteries that are difficult to solve in advance, and a backdrop that takes on a life of its own. Fool Moon continues the promise established by the first novel in the series and builds on it, making a reader extremely anxious to continue to find out what else will befall our hapless hero.
January 31, 2013
I have concluded that this series is basically one that I want to read to enjoy and not review or dissect. Part of the reason is that even after only two books, Harry feels like a character I know intimately. How can I objectively review his stories when he feels like a friend? That is definitely one of the strengths of the books.
Moving beyond the fact that I love Harry and his nonchalent, casual attitude, the rest of the characters are also quite enjoyable. Karen was less present in this book, and that was sad. I love her gruff, no-nonsense attitude, and the tension between her and Harry.
This book focused on werewolves, and I had no idea that there were so many different types of them around. The multiple myths and stories about them created an extra layer of complexity to a paranormal creature that is usually quite simple.
Like the first book, I listened to the audiobook version of the story. This is definitely the way to go because the narration is so natural and fits Harry’s character perfectly. It feels like you are listening to Harry tell his story, and goes beyond just the first person POV to the minute inflections, tones and pauses in the narration. I would highly recommend listening to the book on audio, and will be looking for the audio version of the next book as I continue in the series.
Moving beyond the fact that I love Harry and his nonchalent, casual attitude, the rest of the characters are also quite enjoyable. Karen was less present in this book, and that was sad. I love her gruff, no-nonsense attitude, and the tension between her and Harry.
This book focused on werewolves, and I had no idea that there were so many different types of them around. The multiple myths and stories about them created an extra layer of complexity to a paranormal creature that is usually quite simple.
Like the first book, I listened to the audiobook version of the story. This is definitely the way to go because the narration is so natural and fits Harry’s character perfectly. It feels like you are listening to Harry tell his story, and goes beyond just the first person POV to the minute inflections, tones and pauses in the narration. I would highly recommend listening to the book on audio, and will be looking for the audio version of the next book as I continue in the series.
August 27, 2018
(Listened to Audible) Wow. Loved all the werewolf mythology in this book and all the classifications of each breed of wolf. You know you're in for a good time when the author has taken the time to created such a layered mythology. I especially loved that the women are given their own agencies in this book - they're not just doing things to please the men or to follow orders - and that those agencies are respected. Harry is still an old-fashioned guy and that bites him, and others, in the ass. Chivalry is all well and good but at least his subconscious is aware that women can and should learn to fight for themselves. Now to see if Harry follows through with that. But then the women wolves are constantly naked while the guys get to keep their clothes on, so he loses some points for that (not stars). The mystery was well planned out, with enough clues that the final reveal doesn't come out of nowhere. This is definitely one to listen to again.
February 6, 2015
Most people seem to rate this book as the low point in Dresden Files series. Having only read the first one I can agree that this one is defiantly a step down.
For me the main problem was that the entire story contained too much blood and gore and focused on werewolves. The whole 'wolf' thing does nothing for me, probably the reason I havn't gone back to the Patricia Briggs books after the first one. I totally love my dogs, but just don't see them as characters in books somehow :)
Dresden has a few good moments, Murphy act's like a total jerk most of the time and many of the supporting characters, thankfully, end up dead. I will probably continue on with the series for another book or two because everyone seems to agree that things improve significantly from book 3-4.
The audio narration by James masters was very good and that turned out to be the saving grace getting through this one.
For me the main problem was that the entire story contained too much blood and gore and focused on werewolves. The whole 'wolf' thing does nothing for me, probably the reason I havn't gone back to the Patricia Briggs books after the first one. I totally love my dogs, but just don't see them as characters in books somehow :)
Dresden has a few good moments, Murphy act's like a total jerk most of the time and many of the supporting characters, thankfully, end up dead. I will probably continue on with the series for another book or two because everyone seems to agree that things improve significantly from book 3-4.
The audio narration by James masters was very good and that turned out to be the saving grace getting through this one.
May 25, 2024
On first re-read lowered to 3 stars from 4.
In the context of the full series, there isn’t a lot of consequence that happens. Few characters are introduced, and the character growth is limited, mostly occurring in a clumsy inner monologue near the book’s climax. I’m tired of Murphy being kept in the dark to protect her, and of her being called a cute cheerleader. The treatment of women that I was more forgiving of in Storm Front is somewhat worse here. How often does Harry notice the tips of women’s breast stiffening in their shirts? I think this is the low point of the series.
All that said, this is still a fun read and I like Butcher’s writing and world-building. I won’t be skipping this on future series re-reads.
In the context of the full series, there isn’t a lot of consequence that happens. Few characters are introduced, and the character growth is limited, mostly occurring in a clumsy inner monologue near the book’s climax. I’m tired of Murphy being kept in the dark to protect her, and of her being called a cute cheerleader. The treatment of women that I was more forgiving of in Storm Front is somewhat worse here. How often does Harry notice the tips of women’s breast stiffening in their shirts? I think this is the low point of the series.
All that said, this is still a fun read and I like Butcher’s writing and world-building. I won’t be skipping this on future series re-reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2022
I keep hearing they get better, but if I have to listen to James Marsters mispronounce any more words, or hear how some woman's body looks, or how "chivalrous" Harry is, I might puke. #3 might be my breaking point 😂
June 25, 2020
James Marsters adds a new dimension to the story.
June 23, 2021
3.25 stars
June 28, 2023
"only inherited silver can beat the werewolves" really makes you think. like what do you do if you're poor? or live in a society where the accumulation of capital has been abolished haha jk unless
February 27, 2025
3.5 rounded down to a 3
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