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The Dresden Files #4
Letní rytíř
Od doby, kdy jeho přítelkyně opustila Chicago, aby se vyrovnala s nově nabytou chutí na krev, je Harry Dresden dočista na dně. Nemá na nájem, vyhýbá se přátelům, dokonce si ani nepamatuje, kdy se naposledy osprchoval. Z jediného profesionálního čaroděje v telefonním seznamu se stala troska. A když už se zdá, že nemůže být hůř, objeví se Zimní královna ze Země víl. Učiní mu nabídku, kterou Harry nemůže odmítnout, pokud se chce vymanit z nadpřirozeného sevření, kterým ho spoutala jeho vílí kmotra, a snad i přetnout řetěz smůly. Stačí, aby našel toho, kdo zabil Letního rytíře, a očistil jméno Zimní královny. Vypadá to jednoduše, ale Harry dobře ví, že není radno míchat se do záležitostí víl. Na vyřešení tohoto případu závisí mnohé...
443 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2002
3011 people are currently reading
22708 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
203 books51.1k 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 6,096 reviews
April 24, 2020
Summer Knight was super fun, and I expect the quality of the series can only stay consistently good or better from here on out.
When you’re diving into a long series that has been published for years—two decades for this series—I find that it is almost always a wise decision to listen to the advice given by the fans of the specific series—especially those who can acknowledge the flaws in their favorite books/series—who definitely knows what they’re talking about. This is where Summer Knight, the fourth book in The Dresden Files, enter the scene. It has been agreed by the majority of The Dresden Files fans that The Summer Knight is where the series started to take off, and I can certainly understand why now.
The story in Summer Knight starts nine months after the end of Grave Peril. We have seen a big focus on werewolves in Fool Moon, vampires in Grave Peril, this time we have faeries taking the central stage. I don’t know about you, but I never expected I would enjoy reading a fantasy novel that revolves around Faeries; I always say that any type of story can work as long that the author knows what they’re doing, and Butcher nailed it. It’s almost as if the previous three books were set-up for The Summer Knight to work better as an installment to a series. There’s a better sense of continuity in this book compared to the previous three. I don’t think you’ll feel lost starting your journey from Storm Front, Fool Moon, or Grave Peril; there’s a continuity in these three books but their story felt quite disjointed from each other. The three books before this novel felt like a prelude to Summer Knight, and that’s—in my opinion—only one out of several reasons why this is a better book than its predecessors.
I mean, that is one glorious line.
Another reason why Summer Knight is superior is that there are a better structure and flow to Butcher’s storytelling. The new murder mystery that Harry has to solve in this book was more interesting because the stake is higher and it involves more paranormal/magic. The ebb and flow in the cycle of power between the Summer and Winter faeries made the conflict and rivalry between them more intriguing and compelling. Also, all the new characters being introduced here were fascinating to me. Aurora, Titania, and Mab—the Queen of Air and Darkness—were faeries that tightened the tension and plot of the story. Most importantly, for the first time in the series, I actually felt invested with many of the characters, not exclusive to Harry Dresden, Bob, and Michael—even though he’s not in this book—now.
It gave me so much joy to see Harry and Murphy started to form a better understanding with each other and cooperate more harmoniously. The way Butcher portrayed their friendship in the previous books didn’t work too well for me; it made Murphy an infuriating character because we see things from Harry’s POV. Also, Harry’s chauvinist tendency seems to have decreased or not mentioned anymore. This is a good change; it’s better to see him being protective rather than to hear his thoughts and justification for being chauvinist repeatedly. Characterizations and relationship developments simply functioned better in this book, and I can’t wait to see how all their relationships develop in future books.
Summer Knight is the most enjoyable book in the series so far, and the flow of the pacing and writing in it was incredibly delightful to read. The action scenes in the middle part of the book did feel slightly too long for its own good, but other than that, everything was just addictive. Butcher’s accessible prose continues to really make this series an entertaining page-turner, and I look forward to reading the next book next month.
Picture: Summer Knight by Vincent Chong
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
When you’re diving into a long series that has been published for years—two decades for this series—I find that it is almost always a wise decision to listen to the advice given by the fans of the specific series—especially those who can acknowledge the flaws in their favorite books/series—who definitely knows what they’re talking about. This is where Summer Knight, the fourth book in The Dresden Files, enter the scene. It has been agreed by the majority of The Dresden Files fans that The Summer Knight is where the series started to take off, and I can certainly understand why now.
The story in Summer Knight starts nine months after the end of Grave Peril. We have seen a big focus on werewolves in Fool Moon, vampires in Grave Peril, this time we have faeries taking the central stage. I don’t know about you, but I never expected I would enjoy reading a fantasy novel that revolves around Faeries; I always say that any type of story can work as long that the author knows what they’re doing, and Butcher nailed it. It’s almost as if the previous three books were set-up for The Summer Knight to work better as an installment to a series. There’s a better sense of continuity in this book compared to the previous three. I don’t think you’ll feel lost starting your journey from Storm Front, Fool Moon, or Grave Peril; there’s a continuity in these three books but their story felt quite disjointed from each other. The three books before this novel felt like a prelude to Summer Knight, and that’s—in my opinion—only one out of several reasons why this is a better book than its predecessors.
“In the name of the Pizza Lord. Charge!”
I mean, that is one glorious line.
Another reason why Summer Knight is superior is that there are a better structure and flow to Butcher’s storytelling. The new murder mystery that Harry has to solve in this book was more interesting because the stake is higher and it involves more paranormal/magic. The ebb and flow in the cycle of power between the Summer and Winter faeries made the conflict and rivalry between them more intriguing and compelling. Also, all the new characters being introduced here were fascinating to me. Aurora, Titania, and Mab—the Queen of Air and Darkness—were faeries that tightened the tension and plot of the story. Most importantly, for the first time in the series, I actually felt invested with many of the characters, not exclusive to Harry Dresden, Bob, and Michael—even though he’s not in this book—now.
It gave me so much joy to see Harry and Murphy started to form a better understanding with each other and cooperate more harmoniously. The way Butcher portrayed their friendship in the previous books didn’t work too well for me; it made Murphy an infuriating character because we see things from Harry’s POV. Also, Harry’s chauvinist tendency seems to have decreased or not mentioned anymore. This is a good change; it’s better to see him being protective rather than to hear his thoughts and justification for being chauvinist repeatedly. Characterizations and relationship developments simply functioned better in this book, and I can’t wait to see how all their relationships develop in future books.
“Here's where I ask why don't you spend your time doing something safer and more boring. Like maybe administering suppositories to rabid gorillas.”
Summer Knight is the most enjoyable book in the series so far, and the flow of the pacing and writing in it was incredibly delightful to read. The action scenes in the middle part of the book did feel slightly too long for its own good, but other than that, everything was just addictive. Butcher’s accessible prose continues to really make this series an entertaining page-turner, and I look forward to reading the next book next month.
Picture: Summer Knight by Vincent Chong
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
May 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up because it was an improvement from the past novel.
Just when I was about to give up on the series, Butcher gives me something resembling a coherent plot and some character growth. I read this three months ago so I do not remember much, only the general feelings. Yes, the other reviewers were right that it gets better at no4 and yes, I will continue with the series when I feel my brain is on fire and it needs something light. Was Dresden still annoying with his "blasting rod" and his appreciation of the female form? Yes, he still was but less so because I was too busy enjoying the action and having less disposition for criticism.
Just when I was about to give up on the series, Butcher gives me something resembling a coherent plot and some character growth. I read this three months ago so I do not remember much, only the general feelings. Yes, the other reviewers were right that it gets better at no4 and yes, I will continue with the series when I feel my brain is on fire and it needs something light. Was Dresden still annoying with his "blasting rod" and his appreciation of the female form? Yes, he still was but less so because I was too busy enjoying the action and having less disposition for criticism.
January 20, 2019
“Uh, Ms. Sommerset, I presume,” I managed finally. No one can do suave like me. If I was careful, I should be able to trip over something and complete the image. “I’m Harry Dresden.”
And so the tale of this fourth book begins. *lol* After the happenings in book three Harry is not only obsessed with finding a way to cure Susan but also let a lot of other things slide in order to attain his goal. For instance his job and personal hygiene… And that is just the beginning, really. XD
There’s an endless list of troubles our favourite wizard has to face and the Red Court is only one of them. The wizard council isn’t pleased with him intervening and Mab the Queen of the Winter Court wants him to help her find the killer of the summer knight. Needless to say that as good as every party mentioned either wants him dead or might get him killed while he helps them.
No wonder, Harry is at a low of his life and tries to give himself a pep talk! (With varying degrees of success, I may add.)
”Stop whining, Harry,” I said in a firm, loud voice. “So what if you’re tired? So what if you’re hurt? So what I you smell like you’re already dead? You’re a wizard. You’ve got a job to do.”
But Harry isn’t completely alone. There’s still Murphy, the alpha pack and Toot Toot our little faerie who’d do anything for a slice of pizza! *lol*
”Come on, Harry. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that if this dilemma grows any more horns I’m going to shoot it and put it up on the wall.”
Actually, I was about to say the same thing. Thank you, Harry for putting my thoughts into appropriate words. XD Still, despite everything there is still some fight left in our wizard and he would be damned if he wouldn’t try to do his best! So he’s facing his troubles head on and we all know what happens once our stubborn hero decides to go to war! ;-)
Considering it all I really enjoyed “Summer Knight” and was more than just happy to read about all the different faerie courts. By now you all know how much I love faeries so it’s no wonder I was a happy camper by the end of this book. *lol* But don’t worry, even if you’re no fan of faeries, as long as you’re a true fan of Harry Dresden you should be fine. XD
And so the tale of this fourth book begins. *lol* After the happenings in book three Harry is not only obsessed with finding a way to cure Susan but also let a lot of other things slide in order to attain his goal. For instance his job and personal hygiene… And that is just the beginning, really. XD
There’s an endless list of troubles our favourite wizard has to face and the Red Court is only one of them. The wizard council isn’t pleased with him intervening and Mab the Queen of the Winter Court wants him to help her find the killer of the summer knight. Needless to say that as good as every party mentioned either wants him dead or might get him killed while he helps them.
No wonder, Harry is at a low of his life and tries to give himself a pep talk! (With varying degrees of success, I may add.)
”Stop whining, Harry,” I said in a firm, loud voice. “So what if you’re tired? So what if you’re hurt? So what I you smell like you’re already dead? You’re a wizard. You’ve got a job to do.”
But Harry isn’t completely alone. There’s still Murphy, the alpha pack and Toot Toot our little faerie who’d do anything for a slice of pizza! *lol*
”Come on, Harry. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that if this dilemma grows any more horns I’m going to shoot it and put it up on the wall.”
Actually, I was about to say the same thing. Thank you, Harry for putting my thoughts into appropriate words. XD Still, despite everything there is still some fight left in our wizard and he would be damned if he wouldn’t try to do his best! So he’s facing his troubles head on and we all know what happens once our stubborn hero decides to go to war! ;-)
Considering it all I really enjoyed “Summer Knight” and was more than just happy to read about all the different faerie courts. By now you all know how much I love faeries so it’s no wonder I was a happy camper by the end of this book. *lol* But don’t worry, even if you’re no fan of faeries, as long as you’re a true fan of Harry Dresden you should be fine. XD
July 10, 2025
Some Fairies, Puck, Oberon, Rob Anybody, Tinkerbell, Rumpelstiltskin, and Jareth gather in the Never Never to play Dungeons and Dragons and discuss Jim Butcher’s 2002 Harry Dresden novel Summer Knight.
Puck: Jareth, has anyone ever told you that you look like David Bowie?
Jareth: I get that all the time, you have no idea.
Puck: So what do you know about the fourth Dresden book, Summer Knight?
Rob: We dinna know anythin'!
Tinkerbell: tinkle!
Rumpelstiltskin: I liked it actually, plenty of action, some explanations of the Fairy lands in Butcher’s Dresden world building, very entertaining.
Oberon: Indeed, the knave Butcher is no dunce with the pen.
Tinkerbell: tinkle tinkle tinkle
Puck: Very interesting take on the series, Tink, so are you saying that Butcher’s fourth excursion with Harry Dresden is gimmick play for better sales among the urban fantasy crowd or was this an ambitious harkening back to magical origins? What do you think Rob?
Rob: t's no' oour fault! We wuz only standing there an' someone else did it and ran awa'!
Oberon: We are Oberon. Lord of the Third Race. Ruler of Avalon. We have come to chew gum and kick ass, and we’re all out of gum!
Rob: Ye're only picking on us 'cause we're blue! We always get blamed for everythin'! The polis hate us! We wasna even in the country!
Oberon: Ill-met by moonlight, proud Dresden!
Puck: OK, did you two even read the book?
Rob: Aw crivens! There wa so many letters, an words, an I much prefrd the audiobook.
Rumplestiltskin: I have to say I did too, except I think Dresden’s snarky one liners were sometimes more of distraction than amusing.
Rob: Aw wailey, wailey, wailey! I dina like it a mooch a his las stories.
Tinkerbell: tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,, tinkle, tinkle
all pause and reflect on Tinkerbell’s succinct yet exhaustive statement on the novel
Puck: Wow, Tink, I could not have said it any better!
Rob: A fair word, wee hag! Cuna doon bet’r meself!
*** 2025 reread-
Something of a tribute to fantasy writing especially CS Lewis, I thought of Narnia several times while reading.
A friend of mine at the comic book store, we’ll call him comic book guy, and I were talking about how DC comics are frequently more entertaining than Marvel because DC does not take themselves quite as seriously as Marvel, can have some fun with their storyline. After all, it is a comic book why not have some fun with it?
When I first read this some years ago, Jim Butcher’s penchant for wise cracks and one liners was a little distracting but now that I read it, I can see that he was having some fun with this fantasy world building and adding subtle elements of humor and I can better appreciate this inclusion now.
Anyway, good book, good story, and I will continue to reread these excellent narratives.
Puck: Jareth, has anyone ever told you that you look like David Bowie?
Jareth: I get that all the time, you have no idea.
Puck: So what do you know about the fourth Dresden book, Summer Knight?
Rob: We dinna know anythin'!
Tinkerbell: tinkle!
Rumpelstiltskin: I liked it actually, plenty of action, some explanations of the Fairy lands in Butcher’s Dresden world building, very entertaining.
Oberon: Indeed, the knave Butcher is no dunce with the pen.
Tinkerbell: tinkle tinkle tinkle
Puck: Very interesting take on the series, Tink, so are you saying that Butcher’s fourth excursion with Harry Dresden is gimmick play for better sales among the urban fantasy crowd or was this an ambitious harkening back to magical origins? What do you think Rob?
Rob: t's no' oour fault! We wuz only standing there an' someone else did it and ran awa'!
Oberon: We are Oberon. Lord of the Third Race. Ruler of Avalon. We have come to chew gum and kick ass, and we’re all out of gum!
Rob: Ye're only picking on us 'cause we're blue! We always get blamed for everythin'! The polis hate us! We wasna even in the country!
Oberon: Ill-met by moonlight, proud Dresden!
Puck: OK, did you two even read the book?
Rob: Aw crivens! There wa so many letters, an words, an I much prefrd the audiobook.
Rumplestiltskin: I have to say I did too, except I think Dresden’s snarky one liners were sometimes more of distraction than amusing.
Rob: Aw wailey, wailey, wailey! I dina like it a mooch a his las stories.
Tinkerbell: tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,, tinkle, tinkle
all pause and reflect on Tinkerbell’s succinct yet exhaustive statement on the novel
Puck: Wow, Tink, I could not have said it any better!
Rob: A fair word, wee hag! Cuna doon bet’r meself!
*** 2025 reread-
Something of a tribute to fantasy writing especially CS Lewis, I thought of Narnia several times while reading.
A friend of mine at the comic book store, we’ll call him comic book guy, and I were talking about how DC comics are frequently more entertaining than Marvel because DC does not take themselves quite as seriously as Marvel, can have some fun with their storyline. After all, it is a comic book why not have some fun with it?
When I first read this some years ago, Jim Butcher’s penchant for wise cracks and one liners was a little distracting but now that I read it, I can see that he was having some fun with this fantasy world building and adding subtle elements of humor and I can better appreciate this inclusion now.
Anyway, good book, good story, and I will continue to reread these excellent narratives.
November 25, 2016
This is the fourth book in the Dresden Files Series. I was just in awe with this book! Also I love the character development. I just wish that Bob had a bigger part in the series.I just love Bob! The books so far seem to get better and better.
The villains are varied and enjoyable, and pulled from fairy tales and legends. They include mean plant monsters, psycho fairies, pixies, unicorns and more.
Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has practically become a recluse since he lost his girlfriend. A little less than a year ago, his girlfriend was bitten by a vampire. Although he retrieved her--incidentally setting off a war between the vampires and wizards--despite desperate attempts to help her that drive him into near psychosis, he can't restore her humanity.
But when the sky starts raining toads and the White Council of Wizards comes to town, Harry is forced to snap out of his misery and self-loathing. The wizards aren't thrilled about the war Dresden set off, and decide that the best way to end it is to throw Dresden to the vampires, unless he solves the case brought to him by a terrifying new client: Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Fey. To stop himself from becoming a reconciliation gift to the vampires, Harry must solve the murder of the human champion of Summer and prove that Mab is innocent of the crime. With only a band of teenage werewolves, a pizza-loving fairy, and his friend, Lt. Karrin Murphy, to help him, Dresden must solve the crime before the fairies go to war with Chicago as ground zero. And of course, that's when things start getting complicated: an old flame pops up on his doorstep, begging him for help, a changeling girl has gone missing and Harry's guilted into taking the case, and there's a killer ghoul--not to mention a chlorofiend (plant monster)--out for Harry's blood. Harry is in for a wild, fantastic, and above all, entertaining ride.
The villains are varied and enjoyable, and pulled from fairy tales and legends. They include mean plant monsters, psycho fairies, pixies, unicorns and more.
Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has practically become a recluse since he lost his girlfriend. A little less than a year ago, his girlfriend was bitten by a vampire. Although he retrieved her--incidentally setting off a war between the vampires and wizards--despite desperate attempts to help her that drive him into near psychosis, he can't restore her humanity.
But when the sky starts raining toads and the White Council of Wizards comes to town, Harry is forced to snap out of his misery and self-loathing. The wizards aren't thrilled about the war Dresden set off, and decide that the best way to end it is to throw Dresden to the vampires, unless he solves the case brought to him by a terrifying new client: Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Fey. To stop himself from becoming a reconciliation gift to the vampires, Harry must solve the murder of the human champion of Summer and prove that Mab is innocent of the crime. With only a band of teenage werewolves, a pizza-loving fairy, and his friend, Lt. Karrin Murphy, to help him, Dresden must solve the crime before the fairies go to war with Chicago as ground zero. And of course, that's when things start getting complicated: an old flame pops up on his doorstep, begging him for help, a changeling girl has gone missing and Harry's guilted into taking the case, and there's a killer ghoul--not to mention a chlorofiend (plant monster)--out for Harry's blood. Harry is in for a wild, fantastic, and above all, entertaining ride.
April 12, 2018
2.75ish stars.
I hope no one's offended if I call this series a guilty pleasure. :) There's finally some semblance of a coherent plot and as a result this is the best book so far.
Drinking game for this book: every time Harry says the word "sensual" or one of its derivations.
I hope no one's offended if I call this series a guilty pleasure. :) There's finally some semblance of a coherent plot and as a result this is the best book so far.
Drinking game for this book: every time Harry says the word "sensual" or one of its derivations.
Read
November 14, 2017Fanart and random comics done by me. :D Please don't sue.
When everyone kept telling me to skip the first three books, I didn't believe there would be such a difference!! No, the series are still not going in my list of favorites, nor are they getting a 5 star rating (only time will tell), but my level of enjoyment jumped from -50 to +100.
WHAT I LIKE NOW
- The Narrator of the audiobook is probably one of the best ones I've ever heard! He fits Harry perfectly, and his voice variations and acting are superb! I could practically feel every emotion coming through his voice, truly amazing! Not sure why I wasn't a fan in the first two books.
- Harry isn't horny all the time anymore! On top of it, he has become a very likable, compelling and 3-dimensional character! HUGE IMPROVEMENT!
- Plot, pacing, writing style, world building - a hundred times better... in the first half. Second half kind of lost me.
- HUMOR IS SO GOOD!
WHAT I DON'T LIKE
- Still not a huge fan of the whole crime genre in general. I just find police investigations, interviewing numerous suspects, etc. kind of boring, but the book DOES try to balance everything out and I managed to remember more than half of the characters...except for their names. Dammit, I need to start taking notes...
- The book feels looooooooong and not in a good way.
- Second half was...alright. Not bad, but I expected so much more based on how much I enjoyed the first half.
A LOT of books are influenced and inspired by the Dresden Files and I am not surprised. That was the main reason why I kept giving the series a chance...That, and the cool-looking dude on the covers. I am super grateful to Jim Butcher for inspiring awesome authors across the world and for never complaining when other series copy elements from his. On the opposite, he was always very supportive and agreeable, which is super rare and speaks volumes for his character.
CONCLUSION:
If you didn't like Storm Front (aka. Book 1), but you are wondering what the whole hype is all about, then you might want to skip a few books. Based on personal experience, you won't miss much and you don't need the first three books in order to enjoy the sequels. ( I barely remember them).
Happy reading!
Click here for full resolution.
When everyone kept telling me to skip the first three books, I didn't believe there would be such a difference!! No, the series are still not going in my list of favorites, nor are they getting a 5 star rating (only time will tell), but my level of enjoyment jumped from -50 to +100.
WHAT I LIKE NOW
- The Narrator of the audiobook is probably one of the best ones I've ever heard! He fits Harry perfectly, and his voice variations and acting are superb! I could practically feel every emotion coming through his voice, truly amazing! Not sure why I wasn't a fan in the first two books.
- Harry isn't horny all the time anymore! On top of it, he has become a very likable, compelling and 3-dimensional character! HUGE IMPROVEMENT!
- Plot, pacing, writing style, world building - a hundred times better... in the first half. Second half kind of lost me.
- HUMOR IS SO GOOD!
WHAT I DON'T LIKE
- Still not a huge fan of the whole crime genre in general. I just find police investigations, interviewing numerous suspects, etc. kind of boring, but the book DOES try to balance everything out and I managed to remember more than half of the characters...except for their names. Dammit, I need to start taking notes...
- The book feels looooooooong and not in a good way.
- Second half was...alright. Not bad, but I expected so much more based on how much I enjoyed the first half.
A LOT of books are influenced and inspired by the Dresden Files and I am not surprised. That was the main reason why I kept giving the series a chance...
CONCLUSION:
If you didn't like Storm Front (aka. Book 1), but you are wondering what the whole hype is all about, then you might want to skip a few books. Based on personal experience, you won't miss much and you don't need the first three books in order to enjoy the sequels. ( I barely remember them).
Happy reading!
Click here for full resolution.
July 7, 2017
Harry Dresden, a wizard-for-hire, is in the thick of it. He's started a war between the vampires and wizards and the White Council is not happy about it. And, there's the small matter of his former girlfriend, Susan, who's been infected with vampire blood.
Can he save her from a terrible fate? Can he save himself?
Then, there's Karrin Murphy, the head of the supernatural department at the Chicago PD. She's suffering from nightmares caused by the last adventure that Harry brought to her doorstep. Will she be able to pull herself together long enough to help the wizard save the world?
Add to these troubles vengeful fairies, a handful of changelings, pizza-loving pixies, werewolves and, of all things, Dungeons and Dragons! The Summer Knight is a rollicking entry in The Dresden Files.
My one complaint: more Bob. That is all.
Recommended for urban fantasy readers, MMORPG players and people who believe or want to believe in fairies.
Can he save her from a terrible fate? Can he save himself?
Then, there's Karrin Murphy, the head of the supernatural department at the Chicago PD. She's suffering from nightmares caused by the last adventure that Harry brought to her doorstep. Will she be able to pull herself together long enough to help the wizard save the world?
Add to these troubles vengeful fairies, a handful of changelings, pizza-loving pixies, werewolves and, of all things, Dungeons and Dragons! The Summer Knight is a rollicking entry in The Dresden Files.
My one complaint: more Bob. That is all.
Recommended for urban fantasy readers, MMORPG players and people who believe or want to believe in fairies.
January 15, 2015
I never considered reading about faeries, but it was a mandatory thing for me to do so because I really like the Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is no doubt one of my favorite fictional characters. Witty and crazy will always be a perfect match.
This novel was about faeries, and thrones. I really enjoyed how Butcher portrayed both. I've never read anything faerie related so I had no background knowledge of them. Based on the first three novels, Butcher is known for putting his own twists in the supernatural creatures. He makes them his own, and it works most of the time. I like his portrayal of the faeries, and it makes me want to read more of them. Main reason would be to know if he made his own shit up again, but also because he made them sound so damn interesting in the first place.
This fourth installment in the series was face paced and consistent. I can't remember any slow points in the middle of the novel. The characters were great as usual, with an addition of a few new great ones. There were good and bad faeries, and both were great characters. I was not expecting to like faeries more than ghosts, but Butcher made them seem so cool. While the third novel was better overall, the creatures in this novel were a bit better.
4.25/5 stars. While it was such a fast read because it was so enjoyable, I was still a bit disappointed with the ending. I didn't find it phenomenal, but honestly I haven't read a good ending written by Butcher based on the four novels I've read of his. But aside from the ending, there's nothing more I can complain about. This series keeps improving. If you haven't started reading this series yet, then you're missing out a lot.
This novel was about faeries, and thrones. I really enjoyed how Butcher portrayed both. I've never read anything faerie related so I had no background knowledge of them. Based on the first three novels, Butcher is known for putting his own twists in the supernatural creatures. He makes them his own, and it works most of the time. I like his portrayal of the faeries, and it makes me want to read more of them. Main reason would be to know if he made his own shit up again, but also because he made them sound so damn interesting in the first place.
This fourth installment in the series was face paced and consistent. I can't remember any slow points in the middle of the novel. The characters were great as usual, with an addition of a few new great ones. There were good and bad faeries, and both were great characters. I was not expecting to like faeries more than ghosts, but Butcher made them seem so cool. While the third novel was better overall, the creatures in this novel were a bit better.
4.25/5 stars. While it was such a fast read because it was so enjoyable, I was still a bit disappointed with the ending. I didn't find it phenomenal, but honestly I haven't read a good ending written by Butcher based on the four novels I've read of his. But aside from the ending, there's nothing more I can complain about. This series keeps improving. If you haven't started reading this series yet, then you're missing out a lot.
April 25, 2022
Summer Knight was a damn good book. It feels like this urban fantasy book series is beginning to shake off its roots and come into its own.
There is a whole cast of characters in here; some we had already met, and others were new. The newer ones were a little tricky to keep in order in my head, but that’s more my fault than Jim Butcher’s.
Murphy had her moment and I loved it
No spoilers, but I am so glad we finally saw more of what she is capable of in Summer Knight. Murphy’s character is becoming more developed than in previous books like Storm Front and Fool Moon.
Now that certain things have happened I am sure we will see even more of her being a badass.
Harry Dresden is the perfect hero
So often, he is stuck with no way out, but he never gives up. This is what makes him so loved by the fans, I think.
He cares deeply not only for the people closest to him, but for all innocents too. Yes, there are moments where (and this has happened in all 4 books so far) he is screwed and someone saves him at the last moment, but that is part of the charm of these books.
Harry Dresden is not all-powerful – he’s as flawed and screwed as the rest of us, and that’s brilliant.
The plot of Summer Knight is so good!
It’s complex and has multiple plotlines that twist and come together in such a satisfying way. I felt a huge wave of emotion when the story of Summer Knight came to a head and Harry Dresden went all out in one of the latter chapters.
I was hooked in and the pages weren’t going to let me go until I’d damn well finished the book.
Everyone who tells you that the first books are worth burning through is right
I’m aware that there are still some future books in The Dresden Files that may well fall flat, but that’s not going to stop me from reading the rest of this series.
Now that I’ve see what Jim Butcher was capable of when this book was written, I am so excited to see what the future books have to offer.
View the full review at The Fantasy Review
There is a whole cast of characters in here; some we had already met, and others were new. The newer ones were a little tricky to keep in order in my head, but that’s more my fault than Jim Butcher’s.
Murphy had her moment and I loved it
No spoilers, but I am so glad we finally saw more of what she is capable of in Summer Knight. Murphy’s character is becoming more developed than in previous books like Storm Front and Fool Moon.
Now that certain things have happened I am sure we will see even more of her being a badass.
Harry Dresden is the perfect hero
So often, he is stuck with no way out, but he never gives up. This is what makes him so loved by the fans, I think.
He cares deeply not only for the people closest to him, but for all innocents too. Yes, there are moments where (and this has happened in all 4 books so far) he is screwed and someone saves him at the last moment, but that is part of the charm of these books.
Harry Dresden is not all-powerful – he’s as flawed and screwed as the rest of us, and that’s brilliant.
The plot of Summer Knight is so good!
It’s complex and has multiple plotlines that twist and come together in such a satisfying way. I felt a huge wave of emotion when the story of Summer Knight came to a head and Harry Dresden went all out in one of the latter chapters.
I was hooked in and the pages weren’t going to let me go until I’d damn well finished the book.
Everyone who tells you that the first books are worth burning through is right
I’m aware that there are still some future books in The Dresden Files that may well fall flat, but that’s not going to stop me from reading the rest of this series.
Now that I’ve see what Jim Butcher was capable of when this book was written, I am so excited to see what the future books have to offer.
View the full review at The Fantasy Review
April 30, 2015
Buddy read began April 27th on Buddies Books and Baubles
Look you know it is going to be a bad day when it starts out raining toads, there is an assassination attempt on your life, you girlfriend is avoiding you (she has some changes to deal with), you can’t find your good robe for your impending trial with the White Council and Mab shows up at your office.
At this point you’d probably be better off going back to bed. But since you inadvertently started a war between The Red Court of Vampires and the Wizards there doesn’t seem to be any way to get around being stuck in the middle.
I think that Jim Butcher is getting better at writing this series. While I’m still not a huge fan of Harry specifically I like most of the side characters enough that it doesn’t matter. Plus He has a lot of great situations that I loved throughout:
While it is a great compilation of situations I think JB still has some plotting issues. Everything is a bit garbled at times and I actually would have liked the story a bit more if the bad guy ended up being someone else in the story.
But these are so much fun and the humor is getting a lot better, along with all the additional characters. I’m definitely seeing why this series has such a big following. Still waiting for Harry to really find himself though.
Look you know it is going to be a bad day when it starts out raining toads, there is an assassination attempt on your life, you girlfriend is avoiding you (she has some changes to deal with), you can’t find your good robe for your impending trial with the White Council and Mab shows up at your office.
At this point you’d probably be better off going back to bed. But since you inadvertently started a war between The Red Court of Vampires and the Wizards there doesn’t seem to be any way to get around being stuck in the middle.
I think that Jim Butcher is getting better at writing this series. While I’m still not a huge fan of Harry specifically I like most of the side characters enough that it doesn’t matter. Plus He has a lot of great situations that I loved throughout:
✲ - Meeting Ebenezer who is like a father to Harry. I liked him immediately....
“You’re the last one I would expect to be telling me to get involved in Council politics.”
Ebenezar scowled at me. “Oh?”
“Yeah. In fact, the last time I checked, you told me the whole swill-spouting pack of lollygagging skunkwallows could transform one another into clams, for all you cared.”
✲ - Seeing Billy the LARPing Werewolf again and seeing how much his little pack has changed.
✲ - Meeting Mab and all the other Fae Queens. I do love me some time if Faery and every part of meeting the Queens was fascinating.
✲ - Clandestine meetings at the Super Walmart late at night where Murphy really got to shine. This is the Murphy/Harry combo I was waiting to see.
“Besides. You were lucky I was there. The way I count it, I’m the one who put on the boots.”
A smile threatened my expression. “You did what?”
“Put on the boots,” Murphy said. “I put on the boots and kicked some monster ass. I dropped the ghoul, and I’m the one who rammed a chain saw through the head of that plant monster thing. Crippled the ogre, too. What did you do? You threw a can of Sterno at him. That’s barely an assist.”
✲ - Seems like Harry’s old flame found him accidentally on purpose again. Man Harry has shit luck with women. Seriously he is awful with them.
✲ - BOB!!!! Nuff said
✲ - Lea, Harry’s faery godmother. Well she was at least helpful this time around and less ‘I will turn you into one of my hounds’
✲ - CHANGLINGS – ½ Fae/ ½ Humans. I love the introduction of this into the story.
✲ - and last but not least a big shout out to Toot. That fairy is hilarious and helpful. Plus he loves him some pizza so I’m sure we would get along.
While it is a great compilation of situations I think JB still has some plotting issues. Everything is a bit garbled at times and I actually would have liked the story a bit more if the bad guy ended up being someone else in the story.
But these are so much fun and the humor is getting a lot better, along with all the additional characters. I’m definitely seeing why this series has such a big following. Still waiting for Harry to really find himself though.
September 25, 2019
According to fans of the series, this is where the Dresden Files supposedly start to get better, and I won't disagree as this was quite an improvement from Grave Peril.
The plot in the last book felt quite haphazard. Moreover, the character development of Harry, as intriguing as his backstory is concerned, annoyed me as he seemed to be able to ever 'dig deeper' into his power reserves from out of nowhere, powered by rage or something else which escaped my comprehension. In Summer Knight, we see Harry having to rely more on his friends and other interested parties to assist him in saving the world, which was no less than what exactly Harry had to do. With his adversaries being the super-powerful, omnipotent Faeries, there was absolutely zero chance of Harry being able to take them down based on his raw power alone.
The worldbuilding piece around the intricacies and politics of the Fae courts was the highlight of this book for me. Without much knowledge about the Fae, except from watching True Blood and speed-reading a couple of Sookie Stackhouse novels, I was necessarily intrigued. Sufficed to say that the Fae are deeply mysterious, dangerously alluring, wholly otherworldly, and absolutely fascinating.
Another interesting facet was that of the White Council, whose judgment Harry had to face after the precipitous events with the Red Court of the Vampires in the previous instalment. From this plotline, more interesting characters surfaced, namely Ebenezar and the Gatekeeper, whom I hoped will have more appearances in the future.
As far as characters are concerned, Agent Karrin Murphy has improved in my estimation of her. The delicate balance of toughness and vulnerability emanating from her was handled very well and I can finally say that Harry is indeed lucky to have a friend like her. The same can be said of Billy the werewolf - a worthy and loyal sidekick to have by his side.
Dresden Files does seem to keep improving and this is a great volume, but I'll still be hardpressed to call it amazing. Notwithstanding, sometimes one just needs a book that is a bit lighter and easier to digest with decent storytelling. This series has so far been able to fulfil that.
This review can also be found at Booknest
The plot in the last book felt quite haphazard. Moreover, the character development of Harry, as intriguing as his backstory is concerned, annoyed me as he seemed to be able to ever 'dig deeper' into his power reserves from out of nowhere, powered by rage or something else which escaped my comprehension. In Summer Knight, we see Harry having to rely more on his friends and other interested parties to assist him in saving the world, which was no less than what exactly Harry had to do. With his adversaries being the super-powerful, omnipotent Faeries, there was absolutely zero chance of Harry being able to take them down based on his raw power alone.
The worldbuilding piece around the intricacies and politics of the Fae courts was the highlight of this book for me. Without much knowledge about the Fae, except from watching True Blood and speed-reading a couple of Sookie Stackhouse novels, I was necessarily intrigued. Sufficed to say that the Fae are deeply mysterious, dangerously alluring, wholly otherworldly, and absolutely fascinating.
Another interesting facet was that of the White Council, whose judgment Harry had to face after the precipitous events with the Red Court of the Vampires in the previous instalment. From this plotline, more interesting characters surfaced, namely Ebenezar and the Gatekeeper, whom I hoped will have more appearances in the future.
As far as characters are concerned, Agent Karrin Murphy has improved in my estimation of her. The delicate balance of toughness and vulnerability emanating from her was handled very well and I can finally say that Harry is indeed lucky to have a friend like her. The same can be said of Billy the werewolf - a worthy and loyal sidekick to have by his side.
Dresden Files does seem to keep improving and this is a great volume, but I'll still be hardpressed to call it amazing. Notwithstanding, sometimes one just needs a book that is a bit lighter and easier to digest with decent storytelling. This series has so far been able to fulfil that.
This review can also be found at Booknest
February 18, 2023
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I do think the book before this one gives the explanation of the state of our character in this novel. In this one, Harry is dealing with what happened with the vampires in the last book. Now he has to deal with fairies and with the council and if he doesn't find a solution to his problems he is most likely dead.
This is a difficult one to rate as there were aspects that I really enjoyed and some I did not. I will say the good definitely outweighed the bad. Right away I can tell that this was going to be a nice read because of the state of the character. He dealt with some heavy stuff at the end of the last book and this was portrayed in this book. I loved the continuation of the character growth. Also these books are paranormal fantasy and I thought this book out of the first four really delved into that world. My problem with this book is the same problem I had with the previous book. I feel like we are dropped into the middle of a scene and we should just go with the flow of it. It seems like I should know everything about certain characters or types of characters. I wish the author would spend a little more time on exposition to flesh them out. That being said out of the first four books this finale was the best one and an amazing culmination ending with an over the top fantasy battle that I loved.
I have read on this site that this series really picks up at the fourth book which is this one. I really got a sense of that while reading this book. It definitely felt like we are really jumping into the world and going with it. It read like the author has more confidence in his writing and really has a grasp on the story he wants to tell. Still wish it was fleshed out a little more. I am looking forward to continuing this series. Like I said I had a sense of the tide turning and I am hopeful that the author delivers.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I do think the book before this one gives the explanation of the state of our character in this novel. In this one, Harry is dealing with what happened with the vampires in the last book. Now he has to deal with fairies and with the council and if he doesn't find a solution to his problems he is most likely dead.
This is a difficult one to rate as there were aspects that I really enjoyed and some I did not. I will say the good definitely outweighed the bad. Right away I can tell that this was going to be a nice read because of the state of the character. He dealt with some heavy stuff at the end of the last book and this was portrayed in this book. I loved the continuation of the character growth. Also these books are paranormal fantasy and I thought this book out of the first four really delved into that world. My problem with this book is the same problem I had with the previous book. I feel like we are dropped into the middle of a scene and we should just go with the flow of it. It seems like I should know everything about certain characters or types of characters. I wish the author would spend a little more time on exposition to flesh them out. That being said out of the first four books this finale was the best one and an amazing culmination ending with an over the top fantasy battle that I loved.
I have read on this site that this series really picks up at the fourth book which is this one. I really got a sense of that while reading this book. It definitely felt like we are really jumping into the world and going with it. It read like the author has more confidence in his writing and really has a grasp on the story he wants to tell. Still wish it was fleshed out a little more. I am looking forward to continuing this series. Like I said I had a sense of the tide turning and I am hopeful that the author delivers.
September 18, 2023
"It rained toads the day the White Council came to town."
Harry Dresden with another action-packed zinger you say? Yes please and thank you! This one is all about the various kinds of fae folk. I'm not much into faeries--I don't hate them, but there are countless things that interest me more--and when you have a series this long, you have to cover just about everything at least once; plus it makes sense considering there's been a fae of some type in all of the previous books, so deep-diving into the fae world was the most logical choice for the fourth book. Foreshadowing anyone?
I honestly enjoyed this book more than I expected to, given the subject matter. I loved the pace of it, the anguish and longing of Dresden--his snarkiness was superb--along with his dorky goofiness in the face of danger, and diving deeper into characters and the world of the Nevernever. I wonder if my level of entertainment has to do with the growth of Jim Butcher as a writer, and that makes me excited to read the next volume. No idea what it's about, based on the title, but I'll be finding out soon enough. Until we meet again Dresden.
"Lord, what fools these mortals be."
Harry Dresden with another action-packed zinger you say? Yes please and thank you! This one is all about the various kinds of fae folk. I'm not much into faeries--I don't hate them, but there are countless things that interest me more--and when you have a series this long, you have to cover just about everything at least once; plus it makes sense considering there's been a fae of some type in all of the previous books, so deep-diving into the fae world was the most logical choice for the fourth book. Foreshadowing anyone?
I honestly enjoyed this book more than I expected to, given the subject matter. I loved the pace of it, the anguish and longing of Dresden--his snarkiness was superb--along with his dorky goofiness in the face of danger, and diving deeper into characters and the world of the Nevernever. I wonder if my level of entertainment has to do with the growth of Jim Butcher as a writer, and that makes me excited to read the next volume. No idea what it's about, based on the title, but I'll be finding out soon enough. Until we meet again Dresden.
"Lord, what fools these mortals be."
June 10, 2018
First half: 2 stars
Second half: 4 stars
I read many times that series gets lot better from this point on but I didn't see it. From my angle it's same as previous books with all the good and bad stuff. Harry tends to be whiny and wallow in self pity, story is predictable and follows similar pattern like all previous books.
On the other hand when it gets good than it's really fun. There is well written action, mystery(even though it's predictable it's still fun) and interesting world which I always want to know more about.
Overall I'm not blown away but I am entertained and I will definitely continue on with the series.
Second half: 4 stars
I read many times that series gets lot better from this point on but I didn't see it. From my angle it's same as previous books with all the good and bad stuff. Harry tends to be whiny and wallow in self pity, story is predictable and follows similar pattern like all previous books.
On the other hand when it gets good than it's really fun. There is well written action, mystery(even though it's predictable it's still fun) and interesting world which I always want to know more about.
Overall I'm not blown away but I am entertained and I will definitely continue on with the series.
April 16, 2013
To reiterate my criticism of the series as a whole: Harry Dresden is a stupid, narcissistic, nerd (nerdcissist?) who's first impulse when it comes to problem solving is to run into the villain's lair and shout "Who's making all the bad magic!" and then get surprised when people attempt to murder him.
The cover art for all these books, and the casting choice for the television show give me the impression that Butcher views Dresden as a sort of wizardly Han Solo, a roguish figure marginalized by both the human and magical worlds.
But anytime I imagine him, he ends up halfway between David Tennant and Rincewind from the Discworld books. He's all stick legs and potbelly, the physique you'd get from eating nothing but junk food and coke, but not enough of either. I'm actually shocked he doesn't eat Cup of Noodles.
Here's the thing: Harry Dresden is a well-realized character, he's just a person whose head I don't want to be inside. I don't want to hear his lascivious objectification of every woman every time they enter a scene. It's either how hot are they are, or how more or less hot they are than normal. He's also stubborn the way many real world nerds are, to the point of self-destruction where you want to choke them. Also, in third person I wouldn't have to listen to his rationalizations about how he's so awesome even while being self-deprecating.
What's odd is the writing style has improved around Dresden, but the growth of the character is much slower. He certainly says "Hell's Bells" with a reduced frequency, but he's about as immature as he was in the first book.
The pacing and the action packed set pieces really hold the book together. I nearly stopped near the middle because I simply have no patience for magical political intrigue from writers who don't seem to have that strong a grasp on politics, especially made up fantasy politics. Unless you are Frank Herbert or George R.R. Martin kindly stow that crap whenever possible.
So I find myself considering, somehow, reading another Dresden book, since it's an easy read and reasonably amusing despite Dresden himself. But seriously, when is this crap wizard going to grow the hell up?
The cover art for all these books, and the casting choice for the television show give me the impression that Butcher views Dresden as a sort of wizardly Han Solo, a roguish figure marginalized by both the human and magical worlds.
But anytime I imagine him, he ends up halfway between David Tennant and Rincewind from the Discworld books. He's all stick legs and potbelly, the physique you'd get from eating nothing but junk food and coke, but not enough of either. I'm actually shocked he doesn't eat Cup of Noodles.
Here's the thing: Harry Dresden is a well-realized character, he's just a person whose head I don't want to be inside. I don't want to hear his lascivious objectification of every woman every time they enter a scene. It's either how hot are they are, or how more or less hot they are than normal. He's also stubborn the way many real world nerds are, to the point of self-destruction where you want to choke them. Also, in third person I wouldn't have to listen to his rationalizations about how he's so awesome even while being self-deprecating.
What's odd is the writing style has improved around Dresden, but the growth of the character is much slower. He certainly says "Hell's Bells" with a reduced frequency, but he's about as immature as he was in the first book.
The pacing and the action packed set pieces really hold the book together. I nearly stopped near the middle because I simply have no patience for magical political intrigue from writers who don't seem to have that strong a grasp on politics, especially made up fantasy politics. Unless you are Frank Herbert or George R.R. Martin kindly stow that crap whenever possible.
So I find myself considering, somehow, reading another Dresden book, since it's an easy read and reasonably amusing despite Dresden himself. But seriously, when is this crap wizard going to grow the hell up?
May 28, 2022
It's obvious that this book is superior to the 3 that came before it. Book 1 and 2 just barely got a 3 star from me. Book 3 was showing promise, but ultimately fell flat (see my review of it for more details). This book showcases the growth Jim Butcher has achieved as a writer. At one point I was worried because the plot seemed to fall into a gimmicky pattern like book 3. This time around it was Harry versus his overwhelming lust for anything with breasts. I was happy to see that theme was thrown out after a few iterations.
So how come I still gave this entry the same 3 star rating? I read a few reviews and Stephen's review for book 5 hit the nail on the head. He perfectly described my feelings that I was struggling to grasp. I don't like Harry Dresden all that much. He's very immature and can't even take himself seriously when he's seconds away from a gruesome death.
A lot of the humor was a miss for me. I will admit there were maybe a handful of things I chuckled at, but the number of attempts at it got a bit annoying. At one point Harry grabs something and runs away imitating the roadrunner's signature "meep meep" call. That's cringy to me. I guess I'm not nerdy/dorky enough to appreciate it for what it is.
In summation, this is the best book so far, but this series probably isn't for me. I may or may not read book 5. I forced myself to read this, hoping to finally either love or hate the series, but I'm still very much on the fence. The short prequel to Book 1 was actually good. Maybe I can only tolerate Harry in short story bursts.
So how come I still gave this entry the same 3 star rating? I read a few reviews and Stephen's review for book 5 hit the nail on the head. He perfectly described my feelings that I was struggling to grasp. I don't like Harry Dresden all that much. He's very immature and can't even take himself seriously when he's seconds away from a gruesome death.
A lot of the humor was a miss for me. I will admit there were maybe a handful of things I chuckled at, but the number of attempts at it got a bit annoying. At one point Harry grabs something and runs away imitating the roadrunner's signature "meep meep" call. That's cringy to me. I guess I'm not nerdy/dorky enough to appreciate it for what it is.
In summation, this is the best book so far, but this series probably isn't for me. I may or may not read book 5. I forced myself to read this, hoping to finally either love or hate the series, but I'm still very much on the fence. The short prequel to Book 1 was actually good. Maybe I can only tolerate Harry in short story bursts.
August 31, 2008
Before I start gnawing on the book, let me first say that I enjoy Butcher's writing overall. He does good character, a romping pace, and makes me care about his protagonists. In fact, Butcher's a good enough writer that he enters the "good enough to realize his mistakes, which makes it so frustrating when he misses them" category. So...yes...he's quite good.
But....
This is definitely the lesser of the 1st four books. I'm muchly bothered by the severe escalation of the power scale in this book, as Harry is now immersed in an all-out war between faeries that threatens to change the very fabric of reality. This goes a LOOOOOONG way towards Dresden entering the class of the Not Very Special At All...which is something to be avoided.
And Dresden's habit of being in way over his head got a little tedious, especially as the character kept actually talking about being in over his head too many times, and how it would eventually mean his end. Yes...it would. And when I'm on the 40th or 50th instance of "Dresden only has a one-in-a-thousand chance of survival!" I start to wonder about the man making those odds, and I also start to yawn. And when Dresden puts down Yet Another Foe Against Whom He Has No Chance, I start to get reeaaalll sleepy.
Also......(spoiler alert!!)...........I have been trying very very hard to just enjoy these novels and look at them as fun gothic horror/adventure, and NOT somebody's idea of a kickass gaming night put down on paper, the kind of thing where someone acceded to the wishes of their gamer friends who kept saying, "Dude! Our campaign mega-rocks! You should write a BOOK about it and make our sweeeeeeet characters FAMOUS!" That became impossible to do at the end of this book, which ends with....(yikes)....Harry Dresden setting down to a table in an apartment, with a group of young werewolves, to eat pizza, drink soda, and....yes...have a role-playing gamer session. Yep...a wizard sits down with werewolves to have a roleplay session. Awesome. I feel like I'm sixteen again. Except, you know, I'm not.
But....
This is definitely the lesser of the 1st four books. I'm muchly bothered by the severe escalation of the power scale in this book, as Harry is now immersed in an all-out war between faeries that threatens to change the very fabric of reality. This goes a LOOOOOONG way towards Dresden entering the class of the Not Very Special At All...which is something to be avoided.
And Dresden's habit of being in way over his head got a little tedious, especially as the character kept actually talking about being in over his head too many times, and how it would eventually mean his end. Yes...it would. And when I'm on the 40th or 50th instance of "Dresden only has a one-in-a-thousand chance of survival!" I start to wonder about the man making those odds, and I also start to yawn. And when Dresden puts down Yet Another Foe Against Whom He Has No Chance, I start to get reeaaalll sleepy.
Also......(spoiler alert!!)...........I have been trying very very hard to just enjoy these novels and look at them as fun gothic horror/adventure, and NOT somebody's idea of a kickass gaming night put down on paper, the kind of thing where someone acceded to the wishes of their gamer friends who kept saying, "Dude! Our campaign mega-rocks! You should write a BOOK about it and make our sweeeeeeet characters FAMOUS!" That became impossible to do at the end of this book, which ends with....(yikes)....Harry Dresden setting down to a table in an apartment, with a group of young werewolves, to eat pizza, drink soda, and....yes...have a role-playing gamer session. Yep...a wizard sits down with werewolves to have a roleplay session. Awesome. I feel like I'm sixteen again. Except, you know, I'm not.
August 24, 2024
Really starting to enjoy this series.
Props to Harry for finally starting to trust Murphy and stop making his life needlessly difficult with misapplied chivalry.
Props to Harry for finally starting to trust Murphy and stop making his life needlessly difficult with misapplied chivalry.
April 17, 2014
This is a revised review as of 4/14/2013.
The strength of this novel is on the world building and character of Harry Dresden with a plot that moves along fast. One thing you can always say about the recent books is that they are fun and fast reads. This presumes you're a fan of Harry (a wise-cracking detective for hire style wizard, who had a tendency to piss off a lot of people) and the writing style. In fact if you don't like Harry then you shouldn't be reading these books.
In book four, he's sort of started a war between the wizards and the vampires and the wizards are deciding whether they want to keep him or turn him into a sacrificial lamb. The Sidhe factor into this strongly with a focus on the Summer and Winter Courts vying for a balance of power.
Mab, the Queen of the Faeries, manipulates him into investigating a murder that has bigger repercussions for Fae lands as well as the mortal world.
Other people are trying to kill him, too.
One of his old flames from long ago shows up.
What's a wizard to do?
Well, Harry is pretty smart and capable, even if he hasn't bathed in several days and is close to being evicted. Oh, he's depressed so he's pushed away all his friends at this point. But, more importantly, he's the main character so you know the author is going to get him out of his problems or there wouldn't be a book five, right?
The mystery for this one is particularly good, so, if like the red herring ploy, Butcher uses it quite well here.
Pretty good use of Fae legends and spells.
Enjoy.
Note that the series drops in quality somewhere in the early teens. I'd say book four is one of the best.
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B minus to B; STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B plus; WRITING STYLE: B to B plus; WORLD BUILDING: B plus to A minus; WHEN READ: 2008 (second reading) (revised review 4/14/2013); OVERALL GRADE: B plus.
The strength of this novel is on the world building and character of Harry Dresden with a plot that moves along fast. One thing you can always say about the recent books is that they are fun and fast reads. This presumes you're a fan of Harry (a wise-cracking detective for hire style wizard, who had a tendency to piss off a lot of people) and the writing style. In fact if you don't like Harry then you shouldn't be reading these books.
In book four, he's sort of started a war between the wizards and the vampires and the wizards are deciding whether they want to keep him or turn him into a sacrificial lamb. The Sidhe factor into this strongly with a focus on the Summer and Winter Courts vying for a balance of power.
Mab, the Queen of the Faeries, manipulates him into investigating a murder that has bigger repercussions for Fae lands as well as the mortal world.
Other people are trying to kill him, too.
One of his old flames from long ago shows up.
What's a wizard to do?
Well, Harry is pretty smart and capable, even if he hasn't bathed in several days and is close to being evicted. Oh, he's depressed so he's pushed away all his friends at this point. But, more importantly, he's the main character so you know the author is going to get him out of his problems or there wouldn't be a book five, right?
The mystery for this one is particularly good, so, if like the red herring ploy, Butcher uses it quite well here.
Pretty good use of Fae legends and spells.
Enjoy.
Note that the series drops in quality somewhere in the early teens. I'd say book four is one of the best.
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B minus to B; STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B plus; WRITING STYLE: B to B plus; WORLD BUILDING: B plus to A minus; WHEN READ: 2008 (second reading) (revised review 4/14/2013); OVERALL GRADE: B plus.
May 26, 2017
That was so much fun! I wasn't convinced about this series before - it was nice enough to read but Dresden got on my nerves so bad with his white knighting and his deciding who gets to know what and who is capable of protecting themselves (hint: women aren't). But this time around I really enjoyed it, very much so. A lot of that enjoyment comes from James Marsters' absolutely brilliant performance that lend Dresden a humanity and humility that I didn't see before. The voice work fits the character brilliantly and I cannot imagine a better person to read this story (I love Buffy a lot, so that probably helped). I will definitely listen to the next books instead of reading them and I am so glad I discovered the audiobook.
Still reeling from the events of the last book, Harry Dresden is at his absolute worst, a mess, when he gets sucked into a war between the two Fairy Courts. As usual, the odds are stacked against him, but this time around he actually accepts help and I appreciated this. I think that this was the best story yet, as Dresden is finally learning from the disasters he lived and is becoming a much better person to spend time with as a reader.
I love the world Jim Butcher has created here with all the different kinds of creatures with different moralities (or none) and different cultures. It feels real and lived in and vast in a way that I really appreciate. Lately I have been enjoying Urban Fantasy more, as genre I struggled with in the past, and I am so pleased with this - because there are so many books in this series and I love being abl to spend a lot of time with characters I have grown fond of.
Still reeling from the events of the last book, Harry Dresden is at his absolute worst, a mess, when he gets sucked into a war between the two Fairy Courts. As usual, the odds are stacked against him, but this time around he actually accepts help and I appreciated this. I think that this was the best story yet, as Dresden is finally learning from the disasters he lived and is becoming a much better person to spend time with as a reader.
I love the world Jim Butcher has created here with all the different kinds of creatures with different moralities (or none) and different cultures. It feels real and lived in and vast in a way that I really appreciate. Lately I have been enjoying Urban Fantasy more, as genre I struggled with in the past, and I am so pleased with this - because there are so many books in this series and I love being abl to spend a lot of time with characters I have grown fond of.
September 20, 2023
Okay.
I’m not gonna lie. I’m not really a fan of this episode. The book is only three stars for me. It barely makes three stars.
Now what happens is this. Harry Dresden has been attacked multiple times and he has to discover who it is. Also, he has gotten himself tangled into faerie business.
He has been summoned to the white council and is given the command to find out who killed the summer knight. Least, I think it’s the correct synopsis.
There is a lot of confusion about what is happening and how the situation will get together. There is a lot going on with this story.
The other characters are the ones that have made this story palpable for me. They are the reason that I stuck around when the story first got dull for me.
This book was a hard one to read. So glad I’ve finished. I was told by several people that the books improve after the third episode. This isn’t true.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not gonna lie. I’m not really a fan of this episode. The book is only three stars for me. It barely makes three stars.
Now what happens is this. Harry Dresden has been attacked multiple times and he has to discover who it is. Also, he has gotten himself tangled into faerie business.
He has been summoned to the white council and is given the command to find out who killed the summer knight. Least, I think it’s the correct synopsis.
There is a lot of confusion about what is happening and how the situation will get together. There is a lot going on with this story.
The other characters are the ones that have made this story palpable for me. They are the reason that I stuck around when the story first got dull for me.
This book was a hard one to read. So glad I’ve finished. I was told by several people that the books improve after the third episode. This isn’t true.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 28, 2015
Harry Dresden, the wizard/private investigator, is depressed: major girlfriend troubles, problems making rent, various and sundry supernatural beings trying to kill him, outstanding obligations to the Fae that are equally likely to result in his death, and issues with the governing council of wizards, who want to turn Harry over to the vampire council who -- you got it -- also want Harry dead.
Several people told me to just start with this book, #4 in the Dresden urban fantasy series, if I wanted to check out this series. So I did, but I'm not sure it was a good idea. The problem is that I wasn't really invested in the characters, so I got just a little bored. Where other reviewers are all, "Bob the Skull! Yay!!" I was, "Huh, a talking skull. Interesting."
Add to that a mystery where the resolution struck me as a little weak, and this one gets a middling grade from me.
Several people told me to just start with this book, #4 in the Dresden urban fantasy series, if I wanted to check out this series. So I did, but I'm not sure it was a good idea. The problem is that I wasn't really invested in the characters, so I got just a little bored. Where other reviewers are all, "Bob the Skull! Yay!!" I was, "Huh, a talking skull. Interesting."
Add to that a mystery where the resolution struck me as a little weak, and this one gets a middling grade from me.
February 22, 2024
After attacking the red court of vampires and breaking the peace between the vampires and the white council. You'd think the fourth Dresden files book summer knight would be about that. Well it's a Dresden files book so it starts off that way but ends up being a fight between the winter and summer fairies. Yep fairies, funny thing is it's not Harry's godmother. Were talking faire queens and faire mothers. Lea is just a low level sidhe queen. Playing her part like Mab. Harry Dresden of course has to stop it or the white council will kill him. You know normal Harry Dresden stuff.
May 5, 2020
I hadnt really like the previous 3 all that much but I was heavily convinced by a friend that I should. I'm glad I did. Great fun, the larger world is explored a little more, characters are fleshed out more. It seemed more together and it feels like Butcher is building towards something. Definitely going to continue with this series.
September 10, 2016
I really enjoy listening to this series and this book has been my favorite so far.
Of course it does, James, don't be silly.
Aside from James Marsters ear-gasms, I'm really starting to get into the overarching storyline that seems to be developing.
On to the next one!
May 23, 2024
Are we there yet?
Tl;dr: The book is bad. The following review is just me rambling about the specifics of how and why it's bad, and wondering how come Butcher couldn't figure out storytelling by his forth book. I'll note that my now-established bias against this series definitely made the flaws much harder for me to ignore.
White council shenanigans again. A wizard is not allowed to kill with magic, no matter what. Not even in self defense. Harry escaped execution in the past only because it was both self defense and he was a minor. Imagine this in real life: You aren't allowed to kill, no matter what. Your life is in danger? not allowed to defend yourself. Your child is about to get murdered / raped / etc? sorry bro, just call the police afterwards. Or save your child and then get executed.
Naturally, this extreme "no killing" rule is here for two cliche (and overall bad) storytelling tropes: 1. killing is bad and children can't understand the nuance of when killing is justified and when it's not, so stories for children (and adult Americans, for some reason) often teach that killing is never justified, no matter what. Most stories circumvent the issues either by presenting a magical solution to every problem so no one has to die, or by making it a character conviction (the classic Batman "I have one rule").
Here, the "rule" is a council rule, combining it with the second excuse: 2. Children enjoy reading about irrationally oppressive authority figures, since being unable to understand the complexity of the adult world most children experience all authority as irrationally oppressive. Again, it's a common storytelling trope in books written for young children, and it feels completely ridiculous in the Dresden Files. Not that there aren't oppressive authorities in stories for adults (or in real life), but they usually aren't presented as irrational to the point of absurdity. I'm guessing this is also why Dresden practically has no non-lethal combat spells. For real. In a world where killing with magic is guarantied execution, a wizard detective with a tendency to end up fighting people never took the time to learn non-lethal combat spells. Because that would solve the problem, and then Butcher would have to come up with an actual story.
And the worst part? Dresden himself doesn't care. He lets a guy die in book 1, telling the reader he chose to let him die, while also implying he would have killed him directly had he been able to get away with it. So what's the point? Butcher uses storytelling tropes meant to teach us that killing is bad, but then writes his protagonist as one who wants to kill and just doesn't have the balls to do it because he's scared of the law. You can probably guess what I think -- that Butcher didn't spend much time thinking about this at all. He knew protagonists aren't supposed to kill, so he used the same old tropes hammered into him by every other story he'd read, but he also didn't like the tropes very much (because it makes no sense in the genre he chose), so he had his protagonist complain about it and find a passive way to commit murder. The result is a strange chimera of an adventure story for children and a mature detective noir. And to sum up, I think Butcher did a very bad job combining the two.
So, this series deals with killing in a very childish manner in general, but the way it's done also feels distinctively western/American (Christian?) to me. I've found that in most American supernatural/adventure stories, even those aimed at older teens (which is where Dresden is), there is often this "Batman rule" about not killing no matter what (or instead, a mechanism where killing leads to spiritual corruption). It always felt artificial to me, even as a teen, and it's one of the reasons I never liked American super-heroes, which often take this to the extreme. It's probably why I turned to Anime as a teen. (Sorry for using American/western writing as the main example. It was simply my personal introduction to this trope.)
Compare The Dresden Files with Cradle. Cradle's storytelling has its fair share of problems, but it treats the dilemma of killing as a story for older teens should: The protagonist simply tries his best not to kill people. He uses every chance he has to find a different solution. But if he can't, then he kills. It's not presented as a world-shattering or soul-corrupting event, and he isn't presented as a murderer. That's the mature version of the lesson: you shouldn't want to kill. You should try your best to find alternatives to killing. Lacking any other option (or the time to consider any other option), killing is an appropriate response to lethal danger. While Cradle is technically American, its origins and genre are not, and it shows. Compare with Harry Dresden's "This guy is trying to kill me, and I really want to kill him, but the cops will get me so I have to find a way to kill him without getting caught, which will also mean I'm not a murderer". I can't look up to him because he isn't inspiring, but also can't respect him because he's a manipulative coward. Either have him kill the guy or honestly try to find another way. Otherwise he's just a loser.
More Harry Potter stuff: I've discussed Butcher's "inspiration" in my review of Storm Front, but it doesn't end there. Barely into this current book, and someone tells Harry Dresden: "You have your mother's eyes", which anyone who grew up reading Harry Potter will immediately tell you that's their first association.
More on the plot of the book:
After spending the entirety of the previous book trying to bind Dresden to her, his godmother gives the contract to someone else. She says she had no choice, because she grew too powerful and had to give something away to maintain balance. If only she had thought about it earlier. Then again, had this book given up on the cheap drama there would have been nothing left.
Dresden is caught and rendered unconscious. Upon waking, his captors tell him they plan to kill him. Upon asking: "Why haven't you?", one of them answers: "good question". Brilliant.
After Dresden figured out parts of the antagonist's plan, he asks Morgan to bring help from the white council. But Morgan doesn't believe him (again), so Dresden has to fight alone (again). Who could have seen that coming.
Dresden enlists a group of werewolves called the "alphas". He tells them he's the one giving the orders, and none of them protest. It's a well know fact that an alpha likes taking orders, didn't you know? (I know it's just a name here, but it's still funny.)
Much of the plot's progression is just people (often antagonists) explaining parts of their plan to Dresden, and he in turn explains to them what he figured out. He even explains to the main antagonist how much of their plan he uncovered, and they in turn tell him which parts are correct and which parts are not. It feels as unnatural as it sounds. That's also the excuse for why they haven't killed him after capturing him: they wanted to discuss their evil plan with him first.
Then the antagonist leaves him alone to die, like some cartoon villain. Classic. Oh, and the evil plan is essentially destroying the world. Another classic. And no, the excuses the story gives for those don't make them any less cliche.
To top everything off, multiple characters keep telling Dresden how strong, brave, and smart he is. Because otherwise the reader wouldn't have known, I guess.
Tl;dr: The book is bad. The following review is just me rambling about the specifics of how and why it's bad, and wondering how come Butcher couldn't figure out storytelling by his forth book. I'll note that my now-established bias against this series definitely made the flaws much harder for me to ignore.
White council shenanigans again. A wizard is not allowed to kill with magic, no matter what. Not even in self defense. Harry escaped execution in the past only because it was both self defense and he was a minor. Imagine this in real life: You aren't allowed to kill, no matter what. Your life is in danger? not allowed to defend yourself. Your child is about to get murdered / raped / etc? sorry bro, just call the police afterwards. Or save your child and then get executed.
Naturally, this extreme "no killing" rule is here for two cliche (and overall bad) storytelling tropes: 1. killing is bad and children can't understand the nuance of when killing is justified and when it's not, so stories for children (and adult Americans, for some reason) often teach that killing is never justified, no matter what. Most stories circumvent the issues either by presenting a magical solution to every problem so no one has to die, or by making it a character conviction (the classic Batman "I have one rule").
Here, the "rule" is a council rule, combining it with the second excuse: 2. Children enjoy reading about irrationally oppressive authority figures, since being unable to understand the complexity of the adult world most children experience all authority as irrationally oppressive. Again, it's a common storytelling trope in books written for young children, and it feels completely ridiculous in the Dresden Files. Not that there aren't oppressive authorities in stories for adults (or in real life), but they usually aren't presented as irrational to the point of absurdity. I'm guessing this is also why Dresden practically has no non-lethal combat spells. For real. In a world where killing with magic is guarantied execution, a wizard detective with a tendency to end up fighting people never took the time to learn non-lethal combat spells. Because that would solve the problem, and then Butcher would have to come up with an actual story.
And the worst part? Dresden himself doesn't care. He lets a guy die in book 1, telling the reader he chose to let him die, while also implying he would have killed him directly had he been able to get away with it. So what's the point? Butcher uses storytelling tropes meant to teach us that killing is bad, but then writes his protagonist as one who wants to kill and just doesn't have the balls to do it because he's scared of the law. You can probably guess what I think -- that Butcher didn't spend much time thinking about this at all. He knew protagonists aren't supposed to kill, so he used the same old tropes hammered into him by every other story he'd read, but he also didn't like the tropes very much (because it makes no sense in the genre he chose), so he had his protagonist complain about it and find a passive way to commit murder. The result is a strange chimera of an adventure story for children and a mature detective noir. And to sum up, I think Butcher did a very bad job combining the two.
So, this series deals with killing in a very childish manner in general, but the way it's done also feels distinctively western/American (Christian?) to me. I've found that in most American supernatural/adventure stories, even those aimed at older teens (which is where Dresden is), there is often this "Batman rule" about not killing no matter what (or instead, a mechanism where killing leads to spiritual corruption). It always felt artificial to me, even as a teen, and it's one of the reasons I never liked American super-heroes, which often take this to the extreme. It's probably why I turned to Anime as a teen. (Sorry for using American/western writing as the main example. It was simply my personal introduction to this trope.)
Compare The Dresden Files with Cradle. Cradle's storytelling has its fair share of problems, but it treats the dilemma of killing as a story for older teens should: The protagonist simply tries his best not to kill people. He uses every chance he has to find a different solution. But if he can't, then he kills. It's not presented as a world-shattering or soul-corrupting event, and he isn't presented as a murderer. That's the mature version of the lesson: you shouldn't want to kill. You should try your best to find alternatives to killing. Lacking any other option (or the time to consider any other option), killing is an appropriate response to lethal danger. While Cradle is technically American, its origins and genre are not, and it shows. Compare with Harry Dresden's "This guy is trying to kill me, and I really want to kill him, but the cops will get me so I have to find a way to kill him without getting caught, which will also mean I'm not a murderer". I can't look up to him because he isn't inspiring, but also can't respect him because he's a manipulative coward. Either have him kill the guy or honestly try to find another way. Otherwise he's just a loser.
More Harry Potter stuff: I've discussed Butcher's "inspiration" in my review of Storm Front, but it doesn't end there. Barely into this current book, and someone tells Harry Dresden: "You have your mother's eyes", which anyone who grew up reading Harry Potter will immediately tell you that's their first association.
More on the plot of the book:
After spending the entirety of the previous book trying to bind Dresden to her, his godmother gives the contract to someone else. She says she had no choice, because she grew too powerful and had to give something away to maintain balance. If only she had thought about it earlier. Then again, had this book given up on the cheap drama there would have been nothing left.
Dresden is caught and rendered unconscious. Upon waking, his captors tell him they plan to kill him. Upon asking: "Why haven't you?", one of them answers: "good question". Brilliant.
After Dresden figured out parts of the antagonist's plan, he asks Morgan to bring help from the white council. But Morgan doesn't believe him (again), so Dresden has to fight alone (again). Who could have seen that coming.
Dresden enlists a group of werewolves called the "alphas". He tells them he's the one giving the orders, and none of them protest. It's a well know fact that an alpha likes taking orders, didn't you know? (I know it's just a name here, but it's still funny.)
Much of the plot's progression is just people (often antagonists) explaining parts of their plan to Dresden, and he in turn explains to them what he figured out. He even explains to the main antagonist how much of their plan he uncovered, and they in turn tell him which parts are correct and which parts are not. It feels as unnatural as it sounds. That's also the excuse for why they haven't killed him after capturing him: they wanted to discuss their evil plan with him first.
Then the antagonist leaves him alone to die, like some cartoon villain. Classic. Oh, and the evil plan is essentially destroying the world. Another classic. And no, the excuses the story gives for those don't make them any less cliche.
To top everything off, multiple characters keep telling Dresden how strong, brave, and smart he is. Because otherwise the reader wouldn't have known, I guess.
March 23, 2024
A cataclysmic war in the world of fae!
In my earlier reviews of the first two novels in Jim Butcher's Dresden file series, STORM FRONT and FOOL MOON, I described Harry Dresden as a hapless, down on his luck wizard, in fact the only licensed wizard in the Chicago phone book. Business isn't exactly brisk so from time to time he acts as a consultant with the Chicago Police Department when the cases drift out of the mundane and into the realm of the paranormal.
I went on to suggest that they were both enjoyable novels that almost defied genre classification. Harry Dresden assumed the role of the angst-ridden, hard-boiled detective with the self-sufficient, anti-authority attitude reminiscent of a John Corey or Harry Bosch. He was also portrayed as a bit of a laughable bumbler - fantasy, blended with comedy, the paranormal, cozy mystery and thriller. The key, in my opinion, was that the books didn't take themselves too seriously and, as long as the readers didn't either, easy-going enjoyment of the story was a slam dunk!
Book 3 in the series, GRAVE PERIL began a fundamental shift in the character of the series and with SUMMER KNIGHT, Jim Butcher has now changed the flavour of Harry Dresden and his escapades entirely.
The difference is that SUMMER KNIGHT definitely takes itself seriously and, while the comedy is still there and is just as funny and just as enjoyable, the emphasis is now on the horror, the fantasy, the monsters, the plot and the underlying mythology. The mystery is now a long way from "cozy"! Harry Dresden is at war! He's at war with the vampires who have stolen Susan, the love of his life, and infected her with their loathsome blood curse. He's at war with his own White Council, who want to remove his powers and offer him as a sacrificial lamb to the bloodthirsty vampires. He's at war with the Summer and Winter fairy queens, who in the course of a cataclysmic war with one another, threaten humanity itself. And, finally, he's at war with himself, as he struggles to recover from the psychological devastation of the loss of Susan's love and his inability to find a cure for her latent vampirism.
SUMMER KNIGHT is peopled with a cast of fantastical characters from wizards to warriors, from pixies to fairies, from ghouls to werewolves and vampires, from dragons to centaurs. It's now a mature series that blends an angst-ridden hard-boiled detective who's also a psychological basket case with an intensely innovative mythology of magic and the entire universe of the paranormal. It's funny, it's heartwarming and it's exciting. What more could one ask of an author?
Highly recommended (but read them in order)!
Paul Weiss
In my earlier reviews of the first two novels in Jim Butcher's Dresden file series, STORM FRONT and FOOL MOON, I described Harry Dresden as a hapless, down on his luck wizard, in fact the only licensed wizard in the Chicago phone book. Business isn't exactly brisk so from time to time he acts as a consultant with the Chicago Police Department when the cases drift out of the mundane and into the realm of the paranormal.
I went on to suggest that they were both enjoyable novels that almost defied genre classification. Harry Dresden assumed the role of the angst-ridden, hard-boiled detective with the self-sufficient, anti-authority attitude reminiscent of a John Corey or Harry Bosch. He was also portrayed as a bit of a laughable bumbler - fantasy, blended with comedy, the paranormal, cozy mystery and thriller. The key, in my opinion, was that the books didn't take themselves too seriously and, as long as the readers didn't either, easy-going enjoyment of the story was a slam dunk!
Book 3 in the series, GRAVE PERIL began a fundamental shift in the character of the series and with SUMMER KNIGHT, Jim Butcher has now changed the flavour of Harry Dresden and his escapades entirely.
The difference is that SUMMER KNIGHT definitely takes itself seriously and, while the comedy is still there and is just as funny and just as enjoyable, the emphasis is now on the horror, the fantasy, the monsters, the plot and the underlying mythology. The mystery is now a long way from "cozy"! Harry Dresden is at war! He's at war with the vampires who have stolen Susan, the love of his life, and infected her with their loathsome blood curse. He's at war with his own White Council, who want to remove his powers and offer him as a sacrificial lamb to the bloodthirsty vampires. He's at war with the Summer and Winter fairy queens, who in the course of a cataclysmic war with one another, threaten humanity itself. And, finally, he's at war with himself, as he struggles to recover from the psychological devastation of the loss of Susan's love and his inability to find a cure for her latent vampirism.
SUMMER KNIGHT is peopled with a cast of fantastical characters from wizards to warriors, from pixies to fairies, from ghouls to werewolves and vampires, from dragons to centaurs. It's now a mature series that blends an angst-ridden hard-boiled detective who's also a psychological basket case with an intensely innovative mythology of magic and the entire universe of the paranormal. It's funny, it's heartwarming and it's exciting. What more could one ask of an author?
Highly recommended (but read them in order)!
Paul Weiss
July 23, 2019
Best in the series so far. Full RTC!
5 stars *****
5 stars *****
July 3, 2015
[4.5 Stars]
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