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Dog Days #1
Dog Days
First in a new urban fantasy series-with a bite as magical as its bark.
Mason used to be an enforcer, ensuring that suspect magic practitioners stayed in line. But now he scrapes out a living playing guitar. Good thing he has Louie, his magical...well, let's call him a dog. But there are some kinds of evil that even Louie can't sniff out. And when Mason is attacked by a supernatural assailant, he'll have to fall back on the one skill he's mastered in music and magic-improvisation.
Mason used to be an enforcer, ensuring that suspect magic practitioners stayed in line. But now he scrapes out a living playing guitar. Good thing he has Louie, his magical...well, let's call him a dog. But there are some kinds of evil that even Louie can't sniff out. And when Mason is attacked by a supernatural assailant, he'll have to fall back on the one skill he's mastered in music and magic-improvisation.
297 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 30, 2007
22 people are currently reading
1885 people want to read
About the author
John Levitt
15 books98 followersAbout the Author - from his website:
I grew up in New York City. After a stint at the University of Chicago (I didn’t graduate–I had things to do) I traveled around the country and ended up in San Francisco. Drugs and rock ‘n roll. Did some light shows for bands, learned to play guitar – the usual stuff. I forgot all about writing.
A few years later, while working at a ski lodge in Alta, Utah, I found I was getting bored. So I looked around for the most unlikely thing I could think of, and joined the Salt Lake City Police Department. I only planned to do it for a year, just for the experience. That year turned into seven.
When I left, I had enough material to fill a book. So I wrote one, a police thriller. Then another.
Dog Days was my first Urban Fantasy, followed by New Tricks and Unleashed. Play Dead is the latest in the series and the last, at least for a while.
I split my time these days between Alta, Utah, and San Francisco, and when I’m not working or writing, play guitar with my band in SF, The Procrastinistas.
The character of the dog, Lou – well, he’s sort of a dog – is based on a real dog. Big surprise there. I personally have one cat and no dogs -- but my girlfriend now has four.
I grew up in New York City. After a stint at the University of Chicago (I didn’t graduate–I had things to do) I traveled around the country and ended up in San Francisco. Drugs and rock ‘n roll. Did some light shows for bands, learned to play guitar – the usual stuff. I forgot all about writing.
A few years later, while working at a ski lodge in Alta, Utah, I found I was getting bored. So I looked around for the most unlikely thing I could think of, and joined the Salt Lake City Police Department. I only planned to do it for a year, just for the experience. That year turned into seven.
When I left, I had enough material to fill a book. So I wrote one, a police thriller. Then another.
Dog Days was my first Urban Fantasy, followed by New Tricks and Unleashed. Play Dead is the latest in the series and the last, at least for a while.
I split my time these days between Alta, Utah, and San Francisco, and when I’m not working or writing, play guitar with my band in SF, The Procrastinistas.
The character of the dog, Lou – well, he’s sort of a dog – is based on a real dog. Big surprise there. I personally have one cat and no dogs -- but my girlfriend now has four.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 6, 2016
This just isn't working for me. (I'm not having a lot of lucky with series containing dogs lately and it's just not fair.) There is way too much telling telling telling. The main character is laid back which is nice. He really fits my image of a musician who's a slacker.
But he's too laid back. He deals with a magical attack and he isn't scared and when it's over he just moves on to whatever he was going to do before the attack. So far the attacks have been really weak, too. I've not been impressed with the alleged peril the protagonist is under.
Also, we are constantly reminded of how lazy he is and how much potential he has. So we know he's strong and powerful (although he's only used his powers once so far and he's been magically attacked three times). But he has also informed us that he's really good looking, that he's an amazing guitar player, that he's the perfect sub guitar player because he can do this and this and that. For a laid back guy, he is certainly not humble. Oh, and at one point he disguises a fire hydrant so he can park in front of it (not even in an emergency)! There's a reason you can't park in front of them selfish jerk.
It's great that there's a main character whose gay, although he's an ass. Mason is careful to point out that although he intellectually understands homosexuality, he really doesn't get it at all. Thank you manly man.
Aside from Mason and the gay guy, the other key players are a woman and a brilliant black man. Diversity: cool. But the black guy is huge and played football (and coaches it for kids although he doesn't like it) and the woman's magic skills are empathy and intuition. Yea, let's break some stereotypes there. I think his heart is in trying to. E good and yet his inner white boy is showing. At one point he is almost mugged by some gangsters. He uses the PC word, Latino, but he does point out their race. Now it makes sense in storytelling but it's also a stereotype. Hopefully later on in the book he breaks some of these down but not so far.
I am ambivalent about this book. I could go on, I don't hate it, but I'm also suffering from ennui. The not-dog isn't interesting enough to spur me on. The laziness of the protagonist is catching. So I can't be bothered finding the energy to finish this. <**Yawn**>
But he's too laid back. He deals with a magical attack and he isn't scared and when it's over he just moves on to whatever he was going to do before the attack. So far the attacks have been really weak, too. I've not been impressed with the alleged peril the protagonist is under.
Also, we are constantly reminded of how lazy he is and how much potential he has. So we know he's strong and powerful (although he's only used his powers once so far and he's been magically attacked three times). But he has also informed us that he's really good looking, that he's an amazing guitar player, that he's the perfect sub guitar player because he can do this and this and that. For a laid back guy, he is certainly not humble. Oh, and at one point he disguises a fire hydrant so he can park in front of it (not even in an emergency)! There's a reason you can't park in front of them selfish jerk.
It's great that there's a main character whose gay, although he's an ass. Mason is careful to point out that although he intellectually understands homosexuality, he really doesn't get it at all. Thank you manly man.
Aside from Mason and the gay guy, the other key players are a woman and a brilliant black man. Diversity: cool. But the black guy is huge and played football (and coaches it for kids although he doesn't like it) and the woman's magic skills are empathy and intuition. Yea, let's break some stereotypes there. I think his heart is in trying to. E good and yet his inner white boy is showing. At one point he is almost mugged by some gangsters. He uses the PC word, Latino, but he does point out their race. Now it makes sense in storytelling but it's also a stereotype. Hopefully later on in the book he breaks some of these down but not so far.
I am ambivalent about this book. I could go on, I don't hate it, but I'm also suffering from ennui. The not-dog isn't interesting enough to spur me on. The laziness of the protagonist is catching. So I can't be bothered finding the energy to finish this. <**Yawn**>
February 9, 2010
On paper, Dog Days seems like it's tailor-made for me: it's an urban fantasy starring a musician, a guitar player named Mason who much prefers his music over his magic. And he's got a clever little companion, a dog-like magical creature who's often more capable than Mason himself at getting them out of trouble. Guitar player? I said. Finding himself having to investigate what the hell is targeting magic practitioners all over San Francisco? I said. Sign me up.
However, it took me a while to really get into the story, and even now, after I've finished it, I'm not entirely sure what I think. It's not as fast-paced as many current urban fantasy novels, which many may consider a drawback; me, I wasn't particularly bothered by the level of action, since there's a good amount. I was more distracted by the pacing of Mason's narration, and by the dialogue.
As a narrator Mason is not in the mold of first-person-smartass that's so common these days. That's actually a plus. He's generally very laid back and ruminative, and there are stretches in this book where I got a sense off his narration of what he might sound like playing the guitar--not obtrusive, but with enough of a hint of intriguing layers that I would want to keep listening. But it's inconsistent. There are bits where he tries to be flip and smartassed, both in the narration and in the dialogue, and they feel forced. So does Mason's description of himself as having "brooding intensity"; I can't think of anyone who would actually describe themselves that way outside a personals site. He also has a way of flinging the reader backstory in distracting places--like when he's about to be attacked by a monster. This is not the place where I want to be told about a bit of encounter he once had with his mentor, even if the conversation is pertinent to what's about to eat his face.
The dialogue in general has issues, not just Mason's. Characters harp more than once about how much "potential" Mason has and how "lazy" he is, both as a magic practitioner and a musician--and these people are supposed to be his friends and colleagues. Mason, justifiably, finds this irritating. The problem is, it's also irritating to the reader to have that point driven home not once but several times in the dialogue, overshadowing what evidence we see in Mason's actual behavior.
And yet. There is this periodic sense for me that there's some music here. Maybe not fully formed yet, maybe lacking cohesion, but there. I was interested enough in the story to hang in there until the end, and was oddly satisfied to find that the ending is not without its cost for Mason--thereby setting the stage for him to maybe grow into that potential that everybody keeps harping on him about.
So yeah, I will probably come back around for another few bars of this, and pick up Book 2, which just came out. For this one, three stars.
However, it took me a while to really get into the story, and even now, after I've finished it, I'm not entirely sure what I think. It's not as fast-paced as many current urban fantasy novels, which many may consider a drawback; me, I wasn't particularly bothered by the level of action, since there's a good amount. I was more distracted by the pacing of Mason's narration, and by the dialogue.
As a narrator Mason is not in the mold of first-person-smartass that's so common these days. That's actually a plus. He's generally very laid back and ruminative, and there are stretches in this book where I got a sense off his narration of what he might sound like playing the guitar--not obtrusive, but with enough of a hint of intriguing layers that I would want to keep listening. But it's inconsistent. There are bits where he tries to be flip and smartassed, both in the narration and in the dialogue, and they feel forced. So does Mason's description of himself as having "brooding intensity"; I can't think of anyone who would actually describe themselves that way outside a personals site. He also has a way of flinging the reader backstory in distracting places--like when he's about to be attacked by a monster. This is not the place where I want to be told about a bit of encounter he once had with his mentor, even if the conversation is pertinent to what's about to eat his face.
The dialogue in general has issues, not just Mason's. Characters harp more than once about how much "potential" Mason has and how "lazy" he is, both as a magic practitioner and a musician--and these people are supposed to be his friends and colleagues. Mason, justifiably, finds this irritating. The problem is, it's also irritating to the reader to have that point driven home not once but several times in the dialogue, overshadowing what evidence we see in Mason's actual behavior.
And yet. There is this periodic sense for me that there's some music here. Maybe not fully formed yet, maybe lacking cohesion, but there. I was interested enough in the story to hang in there until the end, and was oddly satisfied to find that the ending is not without its cost for Mason--thereby setting the stage for him to maybe grow into that potential that everybody keeps harping on him about.
So yeah, I will probably come back around for another few bars of this, and pick up Book 2, which just came out. For this one, three stars.
January 16, 2016
The premise is that there are people around us who practice magic trying to keep low profile at least as far as their abilities go. I love the idea of ifrits, animal-like creatures who just appear one day and follow a practitioner. Nobody knows where they come from, nor where they go when they leave. Most of the time ifrits are like ordinary pets. They are very rare and not everyone has one. Mason has Louie and I loved that tiny dog.
I usually give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the first book in a series unless it is something that's really annoying or something I really hate.
As far as this book goes, it has a good story so it is not one of those. It does, however, have certain annoying issues. I'll try to keep it short and only point some of them.
Mason is the first. He is supposed to be an adult, but acts like a teenager. I am not a fan of teen protagonists at their best. He never lets go of his jealousy/annoyance/don't-know-exactly-what towards Victor whom I found almost perfect. The guy doesn't like Mason (I don't blame him), but he is always there. Helping. Maybe he changes in other books, but in this one Victor is someone I want to read about.
Next we have Eli. He is supposed to be this smart knows-it-all, but he is surprised by every single thing that happens in this book.
Then we have a moment when the two female characters meet for the first time. They both have some connection to Mason and without going into spoilers, I think there was absolutely no need for the subtle animosity. It's fixed later by a shushed conversation, but it is still annoying.
The villain is despicable. Certain things are almost out of place in this story. The thing is, I never got the impression that the villain is that bad, so when I got to the despicable part, it was a very unpleasant surprise. It's like I expected something less horrible.
Overall, I liked the story well enough, but not some of the characters. Ifrits and the promise of a very interesting world plus the things that left unresolved (the crystalline creatures) are enough to make me want to read more about Mason and Louie.
I usually give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the first book in a series unless it is something that's really annoying or something I really hate.
As far as this book goes, it has a good story so it is not one of those. It does, however, have certain annoying issues. I'll try to keep it short and only point some of them.
Mason is the first. He is supposed to be an adult, but acts like a teenager. I am not a fan of teen protagonists at their best. He never lets go of his jealousy/annoyance/don't-know-exactly-what towards Victor whom I found almost perfect. The guy doesn't like Mason (I don't blame him), but he is always there. Helping. Maybe he changes in other books, but in this one Victor is someone I want to read about.
Next we have Eli. He is supposed to be this smart knows-it-all, but he is surprised by every single thing that happens in this book.
Then we have a moment when the two female characters meet for the first time. They both have some connection to Mason and without going into spoilers, I think there was absolutely no need for the subtle animosity. It's fixed later by a shushed conversation, but it is still annoying.
The villain is despicable. Certain things are almost out of place in this story. The thing is, I never got the impression that the villain is that bad, so when I got to the despicable part, it was a very unpleasant surprise. It's like I expected something less horrible.
Overall, I liked the story well enough, but not some of the characters. Ifrits and the promise of a very interesting world plus the things that left unresolved (the crystalline creatures) are enough to make me want to read more about Mason and Louie.
October 3, 2023
I liked the idea of Dog Days (Dog Days #1) by John Levitt more than I liked the end product. It sounded like it could have been my sort of urban fantasy series opener, but I was hoping for more from the characters and the magic system.
August 10, 2008
Overall, it was okay. I don't think I'm going to look around for any possible sequels (author bio indicated he would be writing them) because it seemed like 3/4 of the way in he stopped writing this book and started setting us up for the next book. No, no thanks.
Good things about Dog Days:
There are magic practitioners, and they are called just that: practitioners. Some are strong, some are weak, some are nice, mean, venal, noble, just like anyone else. Many of them have *gasp* day jobs. They are not immortal. They are not called Wytches, Wizards, Specials, or any other gag-worthy names. They have some inborn talent, which they practice.
The Ifrits, the concept, and Louie in particular.
Mason, our valorous Hero, is a pretty normal guy. He is a musician and in fact makes his living playing. He's got lots of natural talent but hasn't really lived up to his potential because he doesn't care enough about it. He's kind of the slacker of practitioners and a smartass to boot.
Bad things:
Too hurried at the end.
So many hints dropped about the fact that the Ifrits are magically mysterious and nobody knows nothin' about them that it's obvious he's stringing us along until he can figure something out about them to put in one of the next books.
Victor - the prissy, superrich, superpowerful, superarrogant moneyman and enforcer of local pratctitioner ethics. No character development. He's a rich, snobby, arrogant and pushy cardboard cutout of the anti-Mason. More character development for Eli and Victor would have been nice.
The boring and forced "wrap up" bit at the end where Mason pompously says things don't work out between him and a romantic interest: "Campbell is a healer. I'm a killer." It's cheesy in this context. If you kill someone who has murdered other people, who is trying to kill you, and who will go on killing and maiming unless removed, you aren't exactly Joe Killer guy. I think the healer would have done the same thing in the situation. Campbell could have kicked the Villian's ass.
Stereotypes out the wazoo. Women are victims or noble healers. Gays are prissy and have great fashion sense. Musicians are laid back and cool. College professors are absentminded and interested in obscure bits of historical trivia.
Good things about Dog Days:
There are magic practitioners, and they are called just that: practitioners. Some are strong, some are weak, some are nice, mean, venal, noble, just like anyone else. Many of them have *gasp* day jobs. They are not immortal. They are not called Wytches, Wizards, Specials, or any other gag-worthy names. They have some inborn talent, which they practice.
The Ifrits, the concept, and Louie in particular.
Mason, our valorous Hero, is a pretty normal guy. He is a musician and in fact makes his living playing. He's got lots of natural talent but hasn't really lived up to his potential because he doesn't care enough about it. He's kind of the slacker of practitioners and a smartass to boot.
Bad things:
Too hurried at the end.
So many hints dropped about the fact that the Ifrits are magically mysterious and nobody knows nothin' about them that it's obvious he's stringing us along until he can figure something out about them to put in one of the next books.
Victor - the prissy, superrich, superpowerful, superarrogant moneyman and enforcer of local pratctitioner ethics. No character development. He's a rich, snobby, arrogant and pushy cardboard cutout of the anti-Mason. More character development for Eli and Victor would have been nice.
The boring and forced "wrap up" bit at the end where Mason pompously says things don't work out between him and a romantic interest: "Campbell is a healer. I'm a killer." It's cheesy in this context. If you kill someone who has murdered other people, who is trying to kill you, and who will go on killing and maiming unless removed, you aren't exactly Joe Killer guy. I think the healer would have done the same thing in the situation. Campbell could have kicked the Villian's ass.
Stereotypes out the wazoo. Women are victims or noble healers. Gays are prissy and have great fashion sense. Musicians are laid back and cool. College professors are absentminded and interested in obscure bits of historical trivia.
December 23, 2009
I was surprized by how much I liked this book. It's a contemporary urban fantasy set in San Francisco, with a Harry Dresden-esque vibe to it. Similarities to that blockbuster series include magic users hiding in plain site and a slightly lazy hero with a crappy car, a magic dog, interesting friends, and a pleasant, but sarcastic, attitude. Even with all those similarities, it doesn't feel like a rip-off, more like a comfortable way to tide yourself over until the next Dresden comes out. And the writing's good - maybe I'll grow to like this series every bit as much as Dresden.
The hero is Mason, and he's not that interested in magic - he just wants to continue his music career in peace. He's got a lot of raw talent that he doesn't know how to use very well, but he's good at improvising, both in magic and music. When a bad guy targets him for magical attacks, Mason calls on friends to help him out and gets drawn into a much bigger threat than any of them realized.
The hero is Mason, and he's not that interested in magic - he just wants to continue his music career in peace. He's got a lot of raw talent that he doesn't know how to use very well, but he's good at improvising, both in magic and music. When a bad guy targets him for magical attacks, Mason calls on friends to help him out and gets drawn into a much bigger threat than any of them realized.
May 27, 2014
I'm always looking for another "good" Fantasy or Urban Fantasy. This one sort of comes up the "Good Book" line, puts it's toe or maybe a foot over now and then and then jerks it back. There are good and not so good things here, so let me give you a bottom line and then I'll mention a few details.
The book is "okay". I think I will follow the series for at least one more volume... The jury's out I guess. I have hopes for the series.
Now what are the pluses and minuses? Well it's a good idea. The animal companion is a standard in literature and fantasy. It shows up in several "incarnations". Here we have a dog (the book also includes cat companions, we're even told most times these companions show up as cats). These "animals" are we are told actually Ifrits...
That brings me to an, well if not a negative at least a question. Why did he choose Ifrits? An Ifrit comes from Arabic mythology and they are generally seen as "infernal" Jinns...at best fire Jinns. Now a writer can side step these things and make his or her own mythology (note all the friendly, romantic, sparkly even "loving" vampires of late). Still, why not just call them Jinn???? Oh well, possibly just a choice.
Now the book is built around a character who is a sort ne'er-do-well jazz musician. He goes on and on about he's never worked at his music or his magic...he's just so d**m talented...
Right.
The plot...well again, not bad but there is so much foreshadowing I doubt you'll be very surprised when you get there. It's bad, it's not trite but there is just a bit of a cookie cutter feel to some of the people, relationships and storyline.
You know how TV programs often do a couple of seasons letting you get to know the characters (as say NCIS) then after you know them and care they put in a Personal story line where you lose a character, killed off or threatened? But sometimes a series will start and try to launch right into the personal story plot but it's too soon? The series just began and you don't know the characters well enough to be involved. That's sort of what happens here. The point the plot turns on would have been better used in a third novel...after we know Mason and Louie better.
Look, I wanted to like this book. I love dogs, I like UF I'm routing for this series all the way. So all that said, I skimmed some through this one. I'm just a little disappointed with it...but I plan to try the next. See what you think.
The book is "okay". I think I will follow the series for at least one more volume... The jury's out I guess. I have hopes for the series.
Now what are the pluses and minuses? Well it's a good idea. The animal companion is a standard in literature and fantasy. It shows up in several "incarnations". Here we have a dog (the book also includes cat companions, we're even told most times these companions show up as cats). These "animals" are we are told actually Ifrits...
That brings me to an, well if not a negative at least a question. Why did he choose Ifrits? An Ifrit comes from Arabic mythology and they are generally seen as "infernal" Jinns...at best fire Jinns. Now a writer can side step these things and make his or her own mythology (note all the friendly, romantic, sparkly even "loving" vampires of late). Still, why not just call them Jinn???? Oh well, possibly just a choice.
Now the book is built around a character who is a sort ne'er-do-well jazz musician. He goes on and on about he's never worked at his music or his magic...he's just so d**m talented...
Right.
The plot...well again, not bad but there is so much foreshadowing I doubt you'll be very surprised when you get there. It's bad, it's not trite but there is just a bit of a cookie cutter feel to some of the people, relationships and storyline.
You know how TV programs often do a couple of seasons letting you get to know the characters (as say NCIS) then after you know them and care they put in a Personal story line where you lose a character, killed off or threatened? But sometimes a series will start and try to launch right into the personal story plot but it's too soon? The series just began and you don't know the characters well enough to be involved. That's sort of what happens here. The point the plot turns on would have been better used in a third novel...after we know Mason and Louie better.
Look, I wanted to like this book. I love dogs, I like UF I'm routing for this series all the way. So all that said, I skimmed some through this one. I'm just a little disappointed with it...but I plan to try the next. See what you think.
June 1, 2010
It's not that it wasn't entertaining but I have several problems with this book. In short, it's a fun read if you don't look too closely at it.
First, this a book focused on magic so I expected the magic system to be more fleshed out. As it was, you go through the book without ever having a clear measure of how much power the characters wield or how that power translates in terms of action. For example, in one part of the story our hero performs three spells in a row; two having results that makes me think of a moderate application of effort and one that seems to require a lot of power. After that, he's exhausted. So I think "fine, I think I've got it, three kick-ass spells is his limit." Later, another day, after having slept, eaten and all other activities you can think of to restore his energy, he finds himself in another trouble. Now, however, after performing one lousy trick—in terms of results and apparent effort—he declares he's exhausted and can't perform anything else. That kind of thing loses me. Besides, the whole bit about "I use whatever I have near to create a spell" sounds too vague and without any real constraints. Anything can be used in any way to serve the story.
Second, the support characters. From the first to the last, all of them one-dimensional. Fine for a character that'll appear in a couple of pages but when you're talking of the inner group that surrounds the main character (mentor, boss and two love interests) I expect more. The two love interests particularly, entered and left the scene without any lasting impressions.
I'll give the next book a chance, because like I said, despite these problems the book was fun and Mason is a likable guy, but I read series mostly for the characters, so if they're not fleshed out pronto, I don't think I'll stick around for long.
First, this a book focused on magic so I expected the magic system to be more fleshed out. As it was, you go through the book without ever having a clear measure of how much power the characters wield or how that power translates in terms of action. For example, in one part of the story our hero performs three spells in a row; two having results that makes me think of a moderate application of effort and one that seems to require a lot of power. After that, he's exhausted. So I think "fine, I think I've got it, three kick-ass spells is his limit." Later, another day, after having slept, eaten and all other activities you can think of to restore his energy, he finds himself in another trouble. Now, however, after performing one lousy trick—in terms of results and apparent effort—he declares he's exhausted and can't perform anything else. That kind of thing loses me. Besides, the whole bit about "I use whatever I have near to create a spell" sounds too vague and without any real constraints. Anything can be used in any way to serve the story.
Second, the support characters. From the first to the last, all of them one-dimensional. Fine for a character that'll appear in a couple of pages but when you're talking of the inner group that surrounds the main character (mentor, boss and two love interests) I expect more. The two love interests particularly, entered and left the scene without any lasting impressions.
I'll give the next book a chance, because like I said, despite these problems the book was fun and Mason is a likable guy, but I read series mostly for the characters, so if they're not fleshed out pronto, I don't think I'll stick around for long.
March 22, 2009
Urban fantasy is the hot genre...but when it explodes like this you get all sorts jumping in to be the next Butcher or Hamilton. If you've never read a Butcher book, then this book may be more likable to you...if you have, then you can easily see carbon copies of "Dresden Files" characters all around in this book. It has some good moments and good ideas, but seems to heavily influenced by others in the genre.
July 10, 2019
Dog Days is the first book in the Dog Days series written by John Levitt and centered on Mason, a former enforcer of magic turned jazz musician and Louie, his ifrit, which looks like a dog.
After Mason is attacked by a giant magical spider, he realizes things around San Francisco are even weirder than normal. Since he used to be a supernatural enforcer, his threshold for oddness is a little higher than the average jazz musician. In an effort to get to the bottom of what’s going wrong in his city, Mason decides to look up his old coworkers.
Dog Days is written moderately well. Mason is a brooding hero with an authority problem and a talent that is just a little unusual. Levitt manages to give the old a new twist using Mason, a pretty average guy with an interesting outlook, and Mason's sidekick, a dog that's a bit more than meets the eye as the main protagonists. Despite that there are pacing, character, and slight dialogue issues, which unfortunately drag the narrative.
All in all, Dog Days is moderately written and is a somewhat good start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
After Mason is attacked by a giant magical spider, he realizes things around San Francisco are even weirder than normal. Since he used to be a supernatural enforcer, his threshold for oddness is a little higher than the average jazz musician. In an effort to get to the bottom of what’s going wrong in his city, Mason decides to look up his old coworkers.
Dog Days is written moderately well. Mason is a brooding hero with an authority problem and a talent that is just a little unusual. Levitt manages to give the old a new twist using Mason, a pretty average guy with an interesting outlook, and Mason's sidekick, a dog that's a bit more than meets the eye as the main protagonists. Despite that there are pacing, character, and slight dialogue issues, which unfortunately drag the narrative.
All in all, Dog Days is moderately written and is a somewhat good start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
May 24, 2015
Mason makes a living filling in with different bands as a jazz guitarist in San Fransisco. With his dog which is quite a dog Leo by his side, life has settled into a comfortable routine. Sure he could be doing more with his magic and even more with his career but at the end of the day Mason is just too damn lazy to put in the effort. To play jazz, one has to be able to improvise and instead of learning the real fundamentals of magic and honing his skills, Mason simply improvises - that is until he meets someone runs afoul of a fellow practitioner who has decided to gain power at all costs.
Dog Days is a pretty steady novel but for an introduction to a series, it was really lacking in giving us a good feel for the world. We learn that each practitioner is born with varying degrees of magic and some of them are lucky enough to get a familiar (read ifrit) as a companion. We know that they have a series of governing bodies and that they use a check and balance system to ensure that they don't end up with a practitioner that is overly strong. That's essentially it for the world building. It's beyond basic.
Even the plot line is very basic. There are no real twists and turns to the story and I feel as though that really made the antagonists decision to go after the less than earnest Mason underwhelming at best. I just didn't buy his motivation. In the end, it all came down to Christoph wanting Mason's ifrit and that he simply didn't like Mason. We are told almost in passing that Leo is special but it is never really explained how or why. In fact, though the ifrit are everywhere in this story we don't know anything about them beyond the fact that each has some kind of special power and is bonded to a particular practitioner. Yep, that's a pretty massive plot hole.
Levitt made a real effort to be inclusive with Dog Days; however, all the marginalized characters read like cardboard cut outs. The two women characters are interchangeable love interests and victims. Naturally, being women, their special powers involve healing and you guessed it empathy. I wonder if their power comes oozing out of their ovaries? There was never any doubt that one of them was going to die but Levitt double downed and dumped the other into the plot box for later in a manner which made absolutely no sense. If someone had tried to kill you on several occasions, murdered someone you cared about before your very eyes, as well as attempted to murder a beloved pet and you respond by taking their life in self defense that doesn't make you a killer. The idea that Mason is now suddenly a killer and an unfit match for a healer is ridiculous.
The major GLBT character in this story is Victor who is a powerful practitioner, super wealthy, head of the enforcers and of course has an impeccable eye for fashion and all things classical. Victor apparently goes through men on a rotating monthly basis but has finally found love with Danny. If Levitt had not included a GLBT character while setting his story in San Francisco of all places I certainly would have been rolling my eyes; however, at times, Victor feels like another card board cut out, particularly because he is described as "Prissy. Bitchy. The perfect gay neighbour on a bad sitcom."
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Dog Days is a pretty steady novel but for an introduction to a series, it was really lacking in giving us a good feel for the world. We learn that each practitioner is born with varying degrees of magic and some of them are lucky enough to get a familiar (read ifrit) as a companion. We know that they have a series of governing bodies and that they use a check and balance system to ensure that they don't end up with a practitioner that is overly strong. That's essentially it for the world building. It's beyond basic.
Even the plot line is very basic. There are no real twists and turns to the story and I feel as though that really made the antagonists decision to go after the less than earnest Mason underwhelming at best. I just didn't buy his motivation. In the end, it all came down to Christoph wanting Mason's ifrit and that he simply didn't like Mason. We are told almost in passing that Leo is special but it is never really explained how or why. In fact, though the ifrit are everywhere in this story we don't know anything about them beyond the fact that each has some kind of special power and is bonded to a particular practitioner. Yep, that's a pretty massive plot hole.
Levitt made a real effort to be inclusive with Dog Days; however, all the marginalized characters read like cardboard cut outs. The two women characters are interchangeable love interests and victims. Naturally, being women, their special powers involve healing and you guessed it empathy. I wonder if their power comes oozing out of their ovaries? There was never any doubt that one of them was going to die but Levitt double downed and dumped the other into the plot box for later in a manner which made absolutely no sense. If someone had tried to kill you on several occasions, murdered someone you cared about before your very eyes, as well as attempted to murder a beloved pet and you respond by taking their life in self defense that doesn't make you a killer. The idea that Mason is now suddenly a killer and an unfit match for a healer is ridiculous.
The major GLBT character in this story is Victor who is a powerful practitioner, super wealthy, head of the enforcers and of course has an impeccable eye for fashion and all things classical. Victor apparently goes through men on a rotating monthly basis but has finally found love with Danny. If Levitt had not included a GLBT character while setting his story in San Francisco of all places I certainly would have been rolling my eyes; however, at times, Victor feels like another card board cut out, particularly because he is described as "Prissy. Bitchy. The perfect gay neighbour on a bad sitcom."
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February 20, 2015
Sometimes, I find to my annoyance, I allow myself to be swayed by others' opinions. For example: a while back I tentatively suggested John Levitt's Dog Days for a group read on a GR group I used to belong to, and one comment the suggestion received was that it "sounds really bad". There was a little support, too, but I actually allowed my preconception of the book to be swayed by others' concentration on the possibility of cheesiness in the concept, and I dropped the idea and moved on to other books.
But it filtered back up to the upper stories of my TBR skyscraper. I seem to be trending right now toward urban fantasy: here and now and with at least one foot in reality. So I settled down with Dog Days, set in present-day slightly-alternate San Francisco.
Moral: I need to not let myself be at all influenced by others who have not read a given book.
I loved it.
Was it perfect? Of course not. Did it inspire Dresden-like feelings? No – but then, neither did Storm Front, really. Was it cheesy? Not at all. Is it ill-served by a somewhat questionable cover and over-abundance of canine puns in the title and marketing? Oh, my, yes. Whoever had the idea to put the series titles' focus on the dog and choose some fool's punny comment as this edition's cover blurb should be flogged (even if the titles were Levitt's idea). The packaging gives every impression of just another annoying entry in the Animal Companion subgenre, a book and series throughout which the hero will be having many conversations with his smart-alecky or wiser-than-he-is or what-have-you TelCom (Telepathic Companion).
It's really not.
More going up shortly on my blog.
But it filtered back up to the upper stories of my TBR skyscraper. I seem to be trending right now toward urban fantasy: here and now and with at least one foot in reality. So I settled down with Dog Days, set in present-day slightly-alternate San Francisco.
Moral: I need to not let myself be at all influenced by others who have not read a given book.
I loved it.
Was it perfect? Of course not. Did it inspire Dresden-like feelings? No – but then, neither did Storm Front, really. Was it cheesy? Not at all. Is it ill-served by a somewhat questionable cover and over-abundance of canine puns in the title and marketing? Oh, my, yes. Whoever had the idea to put the series titles' focus on the dog and choose some fool's punny comment as this edition's cover blurb should be flogged (even if the titles were Levitt's idea). The packaging gives every impression of just another annoying entry in the Animal Companion subgenre, a book and series throughout which the hero will be having many conversations with his smart-alecky or wiser-than-he-is or what-have-you TelCom (Telepathic Companion).
It's really not.
More going up shortly on my blog.
July 18, 2012
This reminded me of Blood Engines by Tim Pratt, in having a notably flawed protagonist and relying on the charm of secondary characters to pull the reader along. On the one hand, Mason is less unpleasant than Marla - he's just unmotivated and self-centred. On the other hand, perhaps because Mason is the narrator, those interesting secondary characters aren't as well developed. Even Lou, the dog/ifrit who drives the story, didn't get as much space as such a cool creature deserved.
The writing was competent and understated, and I found Mason's talent for improvised magic believable. The infodumps were, I thought, better spaced and measured than in Blood Engines. My biggest problems derived directly from Mason's personality. If the protagonist isn't worried or committed, it's difficult for me-the-reader to be very worried or committed, and Mason is so laid-back and uncommitted that he comes off as uninterested or even callous.
I understand this is a series, so perhaps Mason will change and mature, and perhaps that will allow the secondary characters to be deepened as he sees them more fully.
The writing was competent and understated, and I found Mason's talent for improvised magic believable. The infodumps were, I thought, better spaced and measured than in Blood Engines. My biggest problems derived directly from Mason's personality. If the protagonist isn't worried or committed, it's difficult for me-the-reader to be very worried or committed, and Mason is so laid-back and uncommitted that he comes off as uninterested or even callous.
I understand this is a series, so perhaps Mason will change and mature, and perhaps that will allow the secondary characters to be deepened as he sees them more fully.
June 9, 2009
A solid start in a new urban fantasy series (I have New Tricks unread on my book shelf). The main character, Mason, is the moderately typical magic user who never focused and failed to live up to his "potential" in anything he did, music or magic. He has the stern but loving father figure/mentor, Eli, and a by the book, disapproving boss Victor.
While there is little new in terms of the basic character archetypes, Mason's method of casting spells is quite interesting as is the major conflict of the story. Levitt isn't shy about introducing characters and then taking them in unexpected directions.
This book would have been 4 stars if the writing had been a bit more polished and if Levitt didn't spend so much time expounding on Mason's spell casting being improvisational until it felt like I was being beaten over the head with the point.
Still, I'll be moving quickly on to the sequel to see if a promising first novel turns into a really solid second.
While there is little new in terms of the basic character archetypes, Mason's method of casting spells is quite interesting as is the major conflict of the story. Levitt isn't shy about introducing characters and then taking them in unexpected directions.
This book would have been 4 stars if the writing had been a bit more polished and if Levitt didn't spend so much time expounding on Mason's spell casting being improvisational until it felt like I was being beaten over the head with the point.
Still, I'll be moving quickly on to the sequel to see if a promising first novel turns into a really solid second.
May 2, 2016
This books reminds me a ton of Jim Butcher's "Storm Front". There are a lot of similarities with each other. Both have a male protagonist just learning to really master his magical powers and are involved in an adventure that ends with the hint that there is more going on that they know about. Between The Dresden Files and Dog Days, I think I just prefer Harry Dresden over Mason - Mason's tone is darker, more brooding, and the book doesn't feel as light as Butcher's novels. There are also moments in the plot I found a tad puzzling too (like who on earth would think summoning a demon would be a good idea - and guess what, it isn't. Not sure why those chapters even happened).Overall, it's a fun first book to a series, and I look forward to grabbing the sequel someday.
February 9, 2008
I think I'm supposed to find the re-iterations of how the hero's talent is making it up as he goes along, and he's a jazz musician, and he knows his magic by instinct like he knows his music by instinct, but he's not living up to his potential as self-deprecating, endearing and impressive. Sadly, it's mostly annoying, and I found myself blinking at him and wondering why the hell he's so bloody stupid and lazy. Interesting story, but probably not buying the sequel. Oh, and I thoroughly disliked the way all the women present were either victims or a love interest. Sometimes, both. Niiice.
January 1, 2011
This is a new urban fantasy series which really caught my eye. And man, now that I've read it, I gotta say: Wow! I really, really enjoyed it. Mason's a great narrator, and I can really see myself getting lost in this new world. It was an excellent read, with a world rich in detail.
The secondary characters were also great. Actually, everything about this book was fabulous. I love the concepts and the magical community of practitioners. It set the series up in a wonderful way, with many obstacles already stacked against Mason. And I love the cover!
Yeah, I'm in jumpin' on this ride. ;)
The secondary characters were also great. Actually, everything about this book was fabulous. I love the concepts and the magical community of practitioners. It set the series up in a wonderful way, with many obstacles already stacked against Mason. And I love the cover!
Yeah, I'm in jumpin' on this ride. ;)
September 22, 2009
The writing didn't really grab me, I'm afraid. And what really made this read frustrating is that I had figured out most of the plot by the first third of the book. When the characters are clueless and the reader is sitting there going 'ummm hellooo? protagonists? Get a clue already?' it's not a good thing. While the premise has atmosphere and might improve with time, I honestly couldn't get into it enough to care about the characters or invest more time in the reading.
March 1, 2011
More like 2.5. I think this author has promise, but there were pages and pages at a time with no dialogue or even interior monologue, just description. This was ... kind of wearing. Plus, I was bothered by some of the relationship dynamics, and some of the characters who were
April 17, 2008
Wasn't quite the novel I was looking for, but had some interesting ideas about spellcasting and music. Took me a bit to get into, but carried me through after I got used to the rhythm.
September 18, 2009
The most positive aspect of the book was that it proved dumber than dirt characters are not *solely* female characters.
August 30, 2020
4/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Dans ce tome nous faisons la connaissance de Mason.
Ancien des forces de l’ordre d’une police surnaturelle non officielle chargée de faire en sorte que les sorciers ne dépassent pas les bornes, à la retraite, il vit désormais de sa passion : la guitare Jazz. Il est suffisamment doué pour en vivre, même si c’est chichement. Il est engagé en remplacement dans plein de concerts différents, il est capable de s’adapter à n’importe quel style de façon instinctive.
Il ne regrette pas du tout son ancien métier qui ne correspondait pas à sa personnalité.
Mason est très décontracté et il est le spécialiste de l’improvisation. Mais par contre apprendre la théorie, se préparer, très peu pour lui. Il n’est vraiment pas doué et loupais toujours des opportunités à cause de ça. Que ça soit en musique ou en magie, c’est la même chose.
D’ailleurs ses anciens collègues pense qu’il est un peu un talent gâché, ou alors qu’il est juste paresseux. Ils ont tendance à lever les yeux au ciel le concernant, comme si il était une cause perdue d’avance.
C’est ce qui l’a fait abandonner. Cette façon qu’ils avaient toujours d’être parfait et de mettre la barre trop haut, entraînant un stress et une pression constante qui a fini par le faire craquer. Il a fini par comprendre que cette façon d’être n’était juste pas pour lui.
Et pourtant, si quand on le traite de paresseux ça l’énerve, Mason n’est pas non plus une personne cynique. Il considère toujours ses anciens collègues comme des amis et les aide dés qu’il peux.
Mason possède un familier, que l’on appelle des Ifrits dans ce monde. La grande majorité des gens ont des chats mais lui se distingue encore car le sien est un chien. Ce qui en fait un petit être (les ifrits sont toujours très petit) très spécial et finalement le seul vrai compagnon fidèle de Mason.
Un soir, alors qu’il rentre en pleine nuit après un bon concert réussi, Mason est attaqué par un méchant sort dans une ruelle. Un sort définitivement prévu pour le tuer. Il ne comprend pas ce qui se passe et seul sa capacité de pouvoir réagir à la seconde, ainsi que la distraction offerte par son ifrit lui ont sauvé la vie.
Il prend contact avec son ancienne unité et apprend qu’il n’est pas le seul a avoir été la cible de ces attaques, un ancien collègue est d’ailleurs mort la semaine passé. Evidemment il va donc se greffer à l’enquête !
Franchement j’ai bien aimé ce premier tome.
Certes j’ai trouvé un peu énervant cette façon dont les amis de Mason pensent tous qu’il est paresseux sans comprendre qu’il marche juste de façon différente et que leur moule parfait ne lui conviendra jamais. C’est très injuste quand même et ça m’a rappelé mes difficulté à l’école quand je passais mon temps à travailler mon orthographe et que tout le monde me disais que j’était stupide de ne pas y arriver et que pour eux c’était juste que je ne faisais pas assez d’efforts.
Mais c’est aussi pour ça que je me suis sentie prise dans le roman. Je sympathisais avec le personnage principal, et je le trouvais bien sympa de ne pas le prendre mal à force.
Bref, en dehors de ce point personnel l’ensemble m’a bien plu.
Je trouve que le personnage de Mason change des standards du genre. Une personnage cool, tranquille, qui ne marche pas à l’adrénaline. Il prend la vie comme elle vient, sans pression, sans se sentir obligé d’être plus. Il aime ce qu’il fait, et c’est tant mieux.
La mythologie aussi n’est pas quelque chose qu’on retrouve très souvent en UF, avec uniquement des mages et aucun autre sorte de surnaturels. Et puis un petit chien comme familier, c’est tout choupinou xD
Je lirais définitivement la suite pour en savoir plus, comme lecture détente c’était très réussi.
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Dans ce tome nous faisons la connaissance de Mason.
Ancien des forces de l’ordre d’une police surnaturelle non officielle chargée de faire en sorte que les sorciers ne dépassent pas les bornes, à la retraite, il vit désormais de sa passion : la guitare Jazz. Il est suffisamment doué pour en vivre, même si c’est chichement. Il est engagé en remplacement dans plein de concerts différents, il est capable de s’adapter à n’importe quel style de façon instinctive.
Il ne regrette pas du tout son ancien métier qui ne correspondait pas à sa personnalité.
Mason est très décontracté et il est le spécialiste de l’improvisation. Mais par contre apprendre la théorie, se préparer, très peu pour lui. Il n’est vraiment pas doué et loupais toujours des opportunités à cause de ça. Que ça soit en musique ou en magie, c’est la même chose.
D’ailleurs ses anciens collègues pense qu’il est un peu un talent gâché, ou alors qu’il est juste paresseux. Ils ont tendance à lever les yeux au ciel le concernant, comme si il était une cause perdue d’avance.
C’est ce qui l’a fait abandonner. Cette façon qu’ils avaient toujours d’être parfait et de mettre la barre trop haut, entraînant un stress et une pression constante qui a fini par le faire craquer. Il a fini par comprendre que cette façon d’être n’était juste pas pour lui.
Et pourtant, si quand on le traite de paresseux ça l’énerve, Mason n’est pas non plus une personne cynique. Il considère toujours ses anciens collègues comme des amis et les aide dés qu’il peux.
Mason possède un familier, que l’on appelle des Ifrits dans ce monde. La grande majorité des gens ont des chats mais lui se distingue encore car le sien est un chien. Ce qui en fait un petit être (les ifrits sont toujours très petit) très spécial et finalement le seul vrai compagnon fidèle de Mason.
Un soir, alors qu’il rentre en pleine nuit après un bon concert réussi, Mason est attaqué par un méchant sort dans une ruelle. Un sort définitivement prévu pour le tuer. Il ne comprend pas ce qui se passe et seul sa capacité de pouvoir réagir à la seconde, ainsi que la distraction offerte par son ifrit lui ont sauvé la vie.
Il prend contact avec son ancienne unité et apprend qu’il n’est pas le seul a avoir été la cible de ces attaques, un ancien collègue est d’ailleurs mort la semaine passé. Evidemment il va donc se greffer à l’enquête !
Franchement j’ai bien aimé ce premier tome.
Certes j’ai trouvé un peu énervant cette façon dont les amis de Mason pensent tous qu’il est paresseux sans comprendre qu’il marche juste de façon différente et que leur moule parfait ne lui conviendra jamais. C’est très injuste quand même et ça m’a rappelé mes difficulté à l’école quand je passais mon temps à travailler mon orthographe et que tout le monde me disais que j’était stupide de ne pas y arriver et que pour eux c’était juste que je ne faisais pas assez d’efforts.
Mais c’est aussi pour ça que je me suis sentie prise dans le roman. Je sympathisais avec le personnage principal, et je le trouvais bien sympa de ne pas le prendre mal à force.
Bref, en dehors de ce point personnel l’ensemble m’a bien plu.
Je trouve que le personnage de Mason change des standards du genre. Une personnage cool, tranquille, qui ne marche pas à l’adrénaline. Il prend la vie comme elle vient, sans pression, sans se sentir obligé d’être plus. Il aime ce qu’il fait, et c’est tant mieux.
La mythologie aussi n’est pas quelque chose qu’on retrouve très souvent en UF, avec uniquement des mages et aucun autre sorte de surnaturels. Et puis un petit chien comme familier, c’est tout choupinou xD
Je lirais définitivement la suite pour en savoir plus, comme lecture détente c’était très réussi.
October 3, 2020
Liked this book very much, and it has been sitting in my closet waiting to be read for a few years. I have tended to avoid "fantasy" novels lately, but this tale amused and satisfied my escapist requirements most adequately, and now I have found a new old series to follow. Please note: there is little to do with dogs in this imaginative story.
January 27, 2024
Meh. Just couldn’t get into this book. Felt like it was trying to the Dresden files it just wasn’t even coming close. I thought I’d really enjoy it cuz of the dog but I just didn’t feel connected to any of the characters.
September 20, 2018
great book
December 14, 2018
too much language for my taste
July 21, 2019
Caught me up in that world and it's the most I ask of an author.
April 24, 2025
Nice, well paced urban fantasy read with likeable characters. Will check out the next one.
June 24, 2019
What drew me to this book was the magical dog and I liked the opening chapter. What keep me reading is that I hate to put down a book because it's boring and I paid for it. As I got deeper into the book, there was nothing there that was holding my interest and for me, to write this review, says that when I finish the current chapter, I'm done with this book and the series.
March 1, 2017
100% predictable
riddled with plot holes to keep the writer vomiting more words,and honestly is there any thing more whorey
riddled with plot holes to keep the writer vomiting more words,and honestly is there any thing more whorey
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews