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The Dresden Files #18.75
Out Law
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 08:13:17
5 copies available
U.S. only
The past comes back in a big way for Chicago’s only professional wizard in this action-packed novella from the Dresden Files.
In a city that’s just beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is finally pulling himself together as well. He’s ensconced in his own personal castle, healing his various wounds and training an eager new apprentice. The last thing he wants is any trouble. But, as history has consistently—and quite annoyingly—shown, what Harry wants is rarely what Harry gets.
It starts with a visit from Harry’s most powerful frenemy, Gentleman John Marcone, Baron of Chicago. He needs Harry to assist in the redemption of an underling who’s looking to go straight. And since Harry does kinda sorta owe Marcone for saving his life once (stupid honorable debt!), it’s not a request he can refuse. He’ll just wish he had.
Because this little favor is going to drag Harry into a fight he doesn’t want on behalf of a lowlife he doesn’t trust against an enemy more powerful and pestilent than he ever could’ve an insatiable, demonic foe whom Harry himself may have created when he wiped out the vampires of the Red Court so long ago.
Before, all it wanted was blood. Now it wants the entire world . . .
In a city that’s just beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is finally pulling himself together as well. He’s ensconced in his own personal castle, healing his various wounds and training an eager new apprentice. The last thing he wants is any trouble. But, as history has consistently—and quite annoyingly—shown, what Harry wants is rarely what Harry gets.
It starts with a visit from Harry’s most powerful frenemy, Gentleman John Marcone, Baron of Chicago. He needs Harry to assist in the redemption of an underling who’s looking to go straight. And since Harry does kinda sorta owe Marcone for saving his life once (stupid honorable debt!), it’s not a request he can refuse. He’ll just wish he had.
Because this little favor is going to drag Harry into a fight he doesn’t want on behalf of a lowlife he doesn’t trust against an enemy more powerful and pestilent than he ever could’ve an insatiable, demonic foe whom Harry himself may have created when he wiped out the vampires of the Red Court so long ago.
Before, all it wanted was blood. Now it wants the entire world . . .
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
947 people are currently reading
6969 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
200 books51.7k 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 157 reviews
March 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
You could read this on its own but it works so much better if you’ve read The Law first! Between the two novellas & 12 Months, it’s like Jim has released 2 full length Dresden books this year!!!! Im thrilled! Also it’s never enough, more Dresden & Bob!!!
This would have been 5⭐️ but the tone shift between 12 Months & The Law/The Outlaw was pretty abrupt. Aside from that, I loved it!
The Law felt simplistic but like typical Dresden. The Outlaw enriched the story & made it more complicated. Our villain from The Law is undergoing a journey of moral growth and Dresden is a more morally grey after the event of books 17/18. I appreciated the theme of working to change your character. That morality is a muscle you exercise and train each day.
The Outlaw does an excellent job of showing the older, more complex and tired Harry in action. Basically all of 12 Months tells us Harry feels this way but here it’s shown through his actions. I really wish 12 moths had a heavy dose of that in it.
I’m left curious & hopeful about what Mirror Mirror has in store for us. I am begging the universe that it doesn’t take 5 years for it to come 😭
You could read this on its own but it works so much better if you’ve read The Law first! Between the two novellas & 12 Months, it’s like Jim has released 2 full length Dresden books this year!!!! Im thrilled! Also it’s never enough, more Dresden & Bob!!!
This would have been 5⭐️ but the tone shift between 12 Months & The Law/The Outlaw was pretty abrupt. Aside from that, I loved it!
The Law felt simplistic but like typical Dresden. The Outlaw enriched the story & made it more complicated. Our villain from The Law is undergoing a journey of moral growth and Dresden is a more morally grey after the event of books 17/18. I appreciated the theme of working to change your character. That morality is a muscle you exercise and train each day.
The Outlaw does an excellent job of showing the older, more complex and tired Harry in action. Basically all of 12 Months tells us Harry feels this way but here it’s shown through his actions. I really wish 12 moths had a heavy dose of that in it.
I’m left curious & hopeful about what Mirror Mirror has in store for us. I am begging the universe that it doesn’t take 5 years for it to come 😭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's been a while since Jim Butcher's last book - he's had some personal stuff to deal with, I understand - and honestly, this one refers back to some people and events that I don't remember well or, in some cases, at all, including one of the central characters. This is a lowlife associated with Gentleman Johnnie Marcone, who, thanks to a narrow escape from death, wants to reform, and Marcone, claiming that Dresden owes him a debt for saving his life, brings the guy to Dresden to be taught Decent Human Being 101. Of course, Marcone also has an angle that benefits him.
If anyone is qualified to be Professor of Being a Decent Human Being Under Difficult Circumstances and Making the Hard Choices, it's Harry Dresden, and he does a good job, imparting the wisdom he's picked up throughout his tough life. Sample dialog:
"But what do you get out of it?"
"I get to be me. I get to be the guy who helps people who need it."
(Note: I had a pre-publication version from Netgalley, and there may be changes made before publication. There are a few minor copy editing errors, for example, which I hope will be corrected, but very few.)
It's not just an extended preachment, of course. It's a Harry Dresden story, which means dire supernatural threats, action sequences that mean something, and difficult problems cleverly solved using Dresden's now extensive resources when his default initial approach of "kill it with fire" turns out not to be effective. It's wryly funny, with great banter, the fights feel like Harry and his allies are barely escaping death (and not without injury), and for all Harry's wisecracking he's deadly serious when the situation calls for it. He's even learned when not to run his mouth. And the issues include legal trouble and the IRS, not just the supernatural, so there's a variety of threats to deal with in different ways.
Solidly written, and with that extra layer of reflection on the human condition that raises it into the Gold tier of my Best of the Year list, this is Jim Butcher fully on form and in firm command of his craft.
If anyone is qualified to be Professor of Being a Decent Human Being Under Difficult Circumstances and Making the Hard Choices, it's Harry Dresden, and he does a good job, imparting the wisdom he's picked up throughout his tough life. Sample dialog:
"But what do you get out of it?"
"I get to be me. I get to be the guy who helps people who need it."
(Note: I had a pre-publication version from Netgalley, and there may be changes made before publication. There are a few minor copy editing errors, for example, which I hope will be corrected, but very few.)
It's not just an extended preachment, of course. It's a Harry Dresden story, which means dire supernatural threats, action sequences that mean something, and difficult problems cleverly solved using Dresden's now extensive resources when his default initial approach of "kill it with fire" turns out not to be effective. It's wryly funny, with great banter, the fights feel like Harry and his allies are barely escaping death (and not without injury), and for all Harry's wisecracking he's deadly serious when the situation calls for it. He's even learned when not to run his mouth. And the issues include legal trouble and the IRS, not just the supernatural, so there's a variety of threats to deal with in different ways.
Solidly written, and with that extra layer of reflection on the human condition that raises it into the Gold tier of my Best of the Year list, this is Jim Butcher fully on form and in firm command of his craft.
May 6, 2026
What a treat this was! Us Dresden fanatics are getting spoiled this year between Twelve Months and now this delectable morsel of a novella. These novella-length stories are just the perfect size for Jim to deliver a meaty case file story that doesn't need to involve the wider series plot arcs, and they work so much better for me than his Dresden-focused short stories did. I'm betting he has a lot of fun with them too at this point with how the series has sprawled outward to encompass so much, so I hope he keeps them coming between the novels.
Out Law feels like something of a morality parable that focuses on Harry helping an established crook turn his life around and begin his journey of redemption and re-oriented self-discovery. We haven't hit these particular beats before in the series so it felt quite fresh, and spending time with some of the newer side characters in the cast was a joy.
Unlike with the almost entirely mundane non-magical plot of The Law, we also get a new frightening magical threat to go up against to raise the stakes and amp up the dread, and I think the small mix of intersecting plot elements worked like a charm here to provide a suspenseful page-turner.
On top of being entertained by Dresden I find the books truly help me reflect on ways I can be a better human being, and I feel thankful that Jim and James Marsters have been at this so long together to bring Harry and co to such vivid and meaningful life.
Out Law feels like something of a morality parable that focuses on Harry helping an established crook turn his life around and begin his journey of redemption and re-oriented self-discovery. We haven't hit these particular beats before in the series so it felt quite fresh, and spending time with some of the newer side characters in the cast was a joy.
Unlike with the almost entirely mundane non-magical plot of The Law, we also get a new frightening magical threat to go up against to raise the stakes and amp up the dread, and I think the small mix of intersecting plot elements worked like a charm here to provide a suspenseful page-turner.
On top of being entertained by Dresden I find the books truly help me reflect on ways I can be a better human being, and I feel thankful that Jim and James Marsters have been at this so long together to bring Harry and co to such vivid and meaningful life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐ 5 out of 5 stars
Jumping back into the Dresden Files with Outlaw just felt good. This one picks right up after the Battle of Chicago and the heavier moments in Twelve Months. Harry’s healing, getting settled in his castle, and maybe even able to breathe for a second… yeah, you know that doesn’t last. Things go sideways quick. And somehow the IRS is still one of the scariest parts. Figures.
Harry’s still Harry. Tired, stubborn, but he keeps trying to do the right thing. His back-and-forth with Gentleman John Marcone is always a highlight. I really liked the redemption angle here too, especially watching someone try to be good when they don’t even fully understand what that means. The new apprentice is coming along and already feels like part of the world.
I was able to get the ALC, and James Marsters nailed it again. Like always. He just is Dresden at this point.
Book alone is great, but with this narration? Easy 5.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the chance to jump back into one of my favorite book worlds.
Jumping back into the Dresden Files with Outlaw just felt good. This one picks right up after the Battle of Chicago and the heavier moments in Twelve Months. Harry’s healing, getting settled in his castle, and maybe even able to breathe for a second… yeah, you know that doesn’t last. Things go sideways quick. And somehow the IRS is still one of the scariest parts. Figures.
Harry’s still Harry. Tired, stubborn, but he keeps trying to do the right thing. His back-and-forth with Gentleman John Marcone is always a highlight. I really liked the redemption angle here too, especially watching someone try to be good when they don’t even fully understand what that means. The new apprentice is coming along and already feels like part of the world.
I was able to get the ALC, and James Marsters nailed it again. Like always. He just is Dresden at this point.
Book alone is great, but with this narration? Easy 5.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the chance to jump back into one of my favorite book worlds.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is technically a 4.5☆ for me. I love the idea of Dresden being tasked with helping a bad guy go good but some of the events were more silly than I was hoping for. But once again the author's writing style is truly one of my top favorites! 💕
🌟Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🌟
🌟Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🌟
May 5, 2026
Out Law is book number 18.75 in Dresden Files series, an odd number considering there isn’t a book n:o 18.5 and it’s a long novella of almost 200 pages. I hadn’t read book 18, Twelve Months, which came out this January (2026), or the novella The Law (2022), which apparently set the stage for this one, and it’s been ages since I read the previous full book, Battle Ground, which came out in 2020. There were a lot I didn’t remember and a lot that had happened in Harry’s life since then, but I was able to read this perfectly fine without knowing all the details. Though now I’m spoiled for some of them, should I go and read the books I skipped.
Harry owes the crime boss Marcone a favour. Marcone decides to collect. A goon of his, Tripp Gregory, wants to get out of the life of crime by starting a charity to help children. But he’s gone about it in a very gangster way, which has landed him in trouble with the IRS, and a bookie who won’t pay up his winnings. Marcone wants Harry to help. Harry is reluctant, because he doesn’t like Tripp. But Marcone appeals to his moral core: you don’t always only get to help the people you like or who deserve your help.
What starts as a straightforward case gets a supernatural twist when someone sends a demonic entity to try and kill Tripp. It turns out, Harry has battled the entity before, and it’s kind of his fault that it’s on the loose. So, now it’s personal.
This was a good and compact, but full story with proper three acts and a good story arc. The old Harry was back, a bit grumpy but one that isn’t crushed with grief, guilt and PTSD. There were funny moments, and good banter. There were many life lessons delivered to Tripp who took them like a five-year-old who has never considered moral questions before. The enemy was powerful, but not overly so; Harry was powerful, but not overly so. I liked this. It returned my love for the series and I might continue with it again.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Harry owes the crime boss Marcone a favour. Marcone decides to collect. A goon of his, Tripp Gregory, wants to get out of the life of crime by starting a charity to help children. But he’s gone about it in a very gangster way, which has landed him in trouble with the IRS, and a bookie who won’t pay up his winnings. Marcone wants Harry to help. Harry is reluctant, because he doesn’t like Tripp. But Marcone appeals to his moral core: you don’t always only get to help the people you like or who deserve your help.
What starts as a straightforward case gets a supernatural twist when someone sends a demonic entity to try and kill Tripp. It turns out, Harry has battled the entity before, and it’s kind of his fault that it’s on the loose. So, now it’s personal.
This was a good and compact, but full story with proper three acts and a good story arc. The old Harry was back, a bit grumpy but one that isn’t crushed with grief, guilt and PTSD. There were funny moments, and good banter. There were many life lessons delivered to Tripp who took them like a five-year-old who has never considered moral questions before. The enemy was powerful, but not overly so; Harry was powerful, but not overly so. I liked this. It returned my love for the series and I might continue with it again.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2026
I enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. We have a more philosophical Harry who is working with a new apprentice and Marcone calls in a favor. He wants someone in his organization get started on the right path and he wants Harry to help him get started. If some of you are muttering this doesn’t make sense, let me add that Marcone isn’t happy about this but respects his employee’s decision to go onto the right side of civilization. Naturally, there is more to this and Harry finds out that his personal background is involved, and I’m guessing that the Lurker might come back again. Things seem wrapped up, but we all know they never stay wrapped up with Harry! I’m going to need to read this again and hope that “The Law” comes available somehow since clearly I missed some stuff. This was fun but I’d rather have a novel than a novella. I hope we move on to the next big novel in fewer than five years. Butcher is pushing his luck with his fans’ patience if he doesn’t get back to the main story pretty quickly, as in a pub date of a year or two for the next book, please! I reread this. It is not as philosophical as 12 Months but it is definitely philosophical. It sounds like Harry is beginning to accept limitations to his power. Like the IRS! I repeat, Butcher has an obligation to readers that he has been neglecting. I realize this life has been busy in recent years, and that I may not know the half of it. I accept that taking longer than a year might make a better book. But 4-6 years apart isn’t fair to readers either!
May 5, 2026
4.5 - Oh wow, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it this much :D
It was definitely the right decision to make this a tie-in to The Law and even to continue in the spirit of Twelve Months, with all the lessons Harry has learnt.
You can also tell how much the long break has done Butcher good. The writing is noticeably better than in The Law and it’s the funniest book he’s written in a long time :D
It was definitely the right decision to make this a tie-in to The Law and even to continue in the spirit of Twelve Months, with all the lessons Harry has learnt.
You can also tell how much the long break has done Butcher good. The writing is noticeably better than in The Law and it’s the funniest book he’s written in a long time :D
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for providing me with an ARC.
I love Jim Butcher. I love The Dresden Files. Once again Harry Dresden has had an insane adventure and made the world a little bit lighter by the end of it. With how heavy the main books have been getting its nice to have a good novella to take a step away from it. Jim Butcher delivers yet again and I am so very keen for the next book!
I love Jim Butcher. I love The Dresden Files. Once again Harry Dresden has had an insane adventure and made the world a little bit lighter by the end of it. With how heavy the main books have been getting its nice to have a good novella to take a step away from it. Jim Butcher delivers yet again and I am so very keen for the next book!
Read
December 19, 2025Perfectly fun Dresden Files novella about Harry working to help a small-time criminal (and antagonist from a previous short I haven't read, I've inferred) go straight. A decent appetizer before Twelve Months comes out, but not a critical read for Dresden aficionados I suspect.
May 6, 2026
More Dresden Fun
The last few Dresden books have gotten rather dark, so this somewhat lighter novella was a welcome break. After fighting back the Chicago Apocalypse, this time Harry's just got to help a criminal go straight. But if course when Harry Dresden's involved, it's never that simple.
The last few Dresden books have gotten rather dark, so this somewhat lighter novella was a welcome break. After fighting back the Chicago Apocalypse, this time Harry's just got to help a criminal go straight. But if course when Harry Dresden's involved, it's never that simple.
May 6, 2026
Set in autumn of 12 months, a side story.
Nothing continuum shattering, just a good old fashioned supernatural case of the week.
Nothing continuum shattering, just a good old fashioned supernatural case of the week.
May 7, 2026
By far the best Dresden story in a long time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
Chicago has barely even begun its recovery and clean-up after the Battle of Chicago and already the wizard Harry Dresden is being called away for a different job. It's not something he wants to do, but since he owes John Marcone, the Baron of Chicago, a favor (for saving Harry's life ... hardly a favor anyone can ignore), he takes the job.
The job: help the lowlife, former pimp and gambler, Tripp Gregory, go straight. It shouldn't be too hard - he wants to go straight. He just needs some help understanding what's right and a few nudges here and there. It would seem he's off to a good start when he raises money for a charity and doesn't understand why it was wrong to gamble that money when he hit the jackpot and increased that jackpot many-fold for the charity.
There is a little problem, though ... beside the IRS ... the man who took the bet isn't paying out and Tripp needs Harry's help to get it. There's just a little problem ... while Harry has a Valkyrie as his personal bodyguard, the closed-fisted gambler who owes Tripp a lot of money, is backed by a creature not of this earth that has the capacity to take down the planet, starting with Harry.
This was so much fun. It's a short book, a novella, meant to fit in between the longer Dresden Files adventures (it's book #18.75 in the series). With Jim Butcher's talent at storytelling, the book moves along very quickly, though it doesn't feel rushed.
I don't think anyone write paranormal wizarding action scenes better than Butcher. It's got plenty of CTPP (Cool Things Per Page) and a hero we really enjoy. He's morally straight, even if he crosses a line or two when it comes to protecting Chicago. We see this in action (literally) in this book.
Given what Dresden's been through over the course of 18+ books, we don't really feel like this will be the end of Harry or the series. As bad as our other-worldy creature is that Harry battles in the climax, there isn't much tension of 'will he survive?' It's more about 'how will Harry get out of this one?' And yeah, it's creative and fun.
For me, this was the perfect length. I was ready for something fast, lively, and fun and this fit the desire perfectly. If you haven't read a Dresden Files book before, you could certainly pick this up, enjoy it, and you'll want to go back and read more.
Looking for a good book? Out Law by Jim Butcher is a Dresden Files novella, book #18.75 in the series. It has all the charm (pun in tended) of a full-length Dresden Files novel, but can easily be read in a day.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Chicago has barely even begun its recovery and clean-up after the Battle of Chicago and already the wizard Harry Dresden is being called away for a different job. It's not something he wants to do, but since he owes John Marcone, the Baron of Chicago, a favor (for saving Harry's life ... hardly a favor anyone can ignore), he takes the job.
The job: help the lowlife, former pimp and gambler, Tripp Gregory, go straight. It shouldn't be too hard - he wants to go straight. He just needs some help understanding what's right and a few nudges here and there. It would seem he's off to a good start when he raises money for a charity and doesn't understand why it was wrong to gamble that money when he hit the jackpot and increased that jackpot many-fold for the charity.
There is a little problem, though ... beside the IRS ... the man who took the bet isn't paying out and Tripp needs Harry's help to get it. There's just a little problem ... while Harry has a Valkyrie as his personal bodyguard, the closed-fisted gambler who owes Tripp a lot of money, is backed by a creature not of this earth that has the capacity to take down the planet, starting with Harry.
This was so much fun. It's a short book, a novella, meant to fit in between the longer Dresden Files adventures (it's book #18.75 in the series). With Jim Butcher's talent at storytelling, the book moves along very quickly, though it doesn't feel rushed.
I don't think anyone write paranormal wizarding action scenes better than Butcher. It's got plenty of CTPP (Cool Things Per Page) and a hero we really enjoy. He's morally straight, even if he crosses a line or two when it comes to protecting Chicago. We see this in action (literally) in this book.
Given what Dresden's been through over the course of 18+ books, we don't really feel like this will be the end of Harry or the series. As bad as our other-worldy creature is that Harry battles in the climax, there isn't much tension of 'will he survive?' It's more about 'how will Harry get out of this one?' And yeah, it's creative and fun.
For me, this was the perfect length. I was ready for something fast, lively, and fun and this fit the desire perfectly. If you haven't read a Dresden Files book before, you could certainly pick this up, enjoy it, and you'll want to go back and read more.
Looking for a good book? Out Law by Jim Butcher is a Dresden Files novella, book #18.75 in the series. It has all the charm (pun in tended) of a full-length Dresden Files novel, but can easily be read in a day.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Out Law is one of those stories that reminds you why the Dresden Files still hit so hard, even after all this time. It is not world-ending stakes or cosmic horror driving the narrative in this one. It is something worse: the IRS. Harry Dresden, a wizard who can burn down monsters without flinching, is suddenly tangled up in tax fraud, legal paperwork, and the world’s sleaziest redemption project. It is hilarious and bizarre in true Butcher fashion.
The plot centers on Tripp Gregory, a former pimp and wannabe gambler who has stolen charity money and now has two things closing in on him. One is the government. The other is a body-stealing Aztec blood demon. Harry hates the guy. He really hates him. And yet he is stuck saving him, physically, morally, and legally. The setup forces Harry into a moral corner, and it's that tension that gives the story its bite. Watching Harry protect someone who represents everything he despises gives the novella a surprising amount of weight.
Butcher also leans into the physical nature of magic more than usual. The infection scene. The tainted meat. The black slime. It is gross, tactile, and fun. The action scenes, from a mountain lion ambush to a chaotic parking garage escape, are vivid and memorable. Because this is a novella, the pacing never slows down. Two hundred pages of non-stop chaos!
My favorite surprise was the legal angle. Max Valerious and the IRS agent, Constance Abernathy, give the story grounded tension that pays off. The characters aren't just dodging a demon. They are also trying to avoid federal prison and a massive stack of paperwork. Which, to some, might be even scarier.
If you are already a fan of the Dresden Files, this is a no-brainer. It works just as well for readers who want urban fantasy with grit, humor, and real consequences. Fans of Sandman Slim will feel right at home. Surprisingly enough, by the end, I caught myself rooting for Tripp. That's something I didn't see coming, that's for sure. That's the charm of this story, though. It is about second chances, and how maddeningly difficult they are.
A solid 4 stars. It is not a universe-shifting entry, but it is fast, intense, and satisfying. It feels like a monster-of-the-week television episode in the best way: fun, tense, and just the type of Dresden tale that makes you reach for the next one.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The plot centers on Tripp Gregory, a former pimp and wannabe gambler who has stolen charity money and now has two things closing in on him. One is the government. The other is a body-stealing Aztec blood demon. Harry hates the guy. He really hates him. And yet he is stuck saving him, physically, morally, and legally. The setup forces Harry into a moral corner, and it's that tension that gives the story its bite. Watching Harry protect someone who represents everything he despises gives the novella a surprising amount of weight.
Butcher also leans into the physical nature of magic more than usual. The infection scene. The tainted meat. The black slime. It is gross, tactile, and fun. The action scenes, from a mountain lion ambush to a chaotic parking garage escape, are vivid and memorable. Because this is a novella, the pacing never slows down. Two hundred pages of non-stop chaos!
My favorite surprise was the legal angle. Max Valerious and the IRS agent, Constance Abernathy, give the story grounded tension that pays off. The characters aren't just dodging a demon. They are also trying to avoid federal prison and a massive stack of paperwork. Which, to some, might be even scarier.
If you are already a fan of the Dresden Files, this is a no-brainer. It works just as well for readers who want urban fantasy with grit, humor, and real consequences. Fans of Sandman Slim will feel right at home. Surprisingly enough, by the end, I caught myself rooting for Tripp. That's something I didn't see coming, that's for sure. That's the charm of this story, though. It is about second chances, and how maddeningly difficult they are.
A solid 4 stars. It is not a universe-shifting entry, but it is fast, intense, and satisfying. It feels like a monster-of-the-week television episode in the best way: fun, tense, and just the type of Dresden tale that makes you reach for the next one.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 208 pages
⏱ Duration: 3 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Podium Publishing
📅 Release Date: May 5, 2026
🎁 ARC provided by NetGalley
Harry Dresden is back! He's older, bruised, wiser, and still dropping one-liners that could set a ghoul on fire. Outlaw gives us a quieter, more introspective side of Chicago’s favorite wizard, while keeping all the gritty, high-stakes energy this series is known for. Out Law is a novella that punches well above its weight. It's got everything that makes Dresden Files addictive: the sharp-tongued wizard in over his head, action sequences that leave you breathless, and that signature Butcher wit that makes you snort-laugh in public and feel zero shame about it.
Tripp’s attempt to “go the nice route” might sound laughable in Marcone’s world, but Butcher writes it with such heart that you can’t help rooting for him. And Harry, our walking disaster with a moral compass forged in stubbornness, becomes the unlikely mentor you didn’t know you needed. And watching him give Tripp, a man Harry openly doesn't trust or even like, genuine, thoughtful advice on how to live an honest life hit different. That's growth, baby.
The plot is tight and doesn't overstay its welcome. Marcone calling in a life debt, a morally bankrupt side character trying to turn over a new leaf, a demon with a centuries-long grudge, the IRS (somehow scarier than the demon), and a cast of fan-favourite returning characters including Bob the Skull and Bear, Harry's seven-foot Valkyrie bodyguard. At 208 pages, there's no fat on this story. Every scene earns its place. The pacing is relentless in the best way, and the stakes feel genuinely high even in a shorter format.
Nineteen books in, and Butcher still finds new ways to deepen this universe. The action sings, the humor lands (as always), and by the end, I was grinning, a little misty-eyed, and ready for book 19 proper.
Would I recommend it?
If you're a Dresden Files fan, this is a non-negotiable read. Don't even think about skipping it. And if you've never read this series? Out Law is set a bit deep in the lore to be your entry point, but consider this your sign to start from Storm Front and work your way here. Because the payoff of watching Harry Dresden become this version of himself? Absolutely worth every page.
📃 208 pages
⏱ Duration: 3 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Podium Publishing
📅 Release Date: May 5, 2026
🎁 ARC provided by NetGalley
Harry Dresden is back! He's older, bruised, wiser, and still dropping one-liners that could set a ghoul on fire. Outlaw gives us a quieter, more introspective side of Chicago’s favorite wizard, while keeping all the gritty, high-stakes energy this series is known for. Out Law is a novella that punches well above its weight. It's got everything that makes Dresden Files addictive: the sharp-tongued wizard in over his head, action sequences that leave you breathless, and that signature Butcher wit that makes you snort-laugh in public and feel zero shame about it.
Tripp’s attempt to “go the nice route” might sound laughable in Marcone’s world, but Butcher writes it with such heart that you can’t help rooting for him. And Harry, our walking disaster with a moral compass forged in stubbornness, becomes the unlikely mentor you didn’t know you needed. And watching him give Tripp, a man Harry openly doesn't trust or even like, genuine, thoughtful advice on how to live an honest life hit different. That's growth, baby.
The plot is tight and doesn't overstay its welcome. Marcone calling in a life debt, a morally bankrupt side character trying to turn over a new leaf, a demon with a centuries-long grudge, the IRS (somehow scarier than the demon), and a cast of fan-favourite returning characters including Bob the Skull and Bear, Harry's seven-foot Valkyrie bodyguard. At 208 pages, there's no fat on this story. Every scene earns its place. The pacing is relentless in the best way, and the stakes feel genuinely high even in a shorter format.
Nineteen books in, and Butcher still finds new ways to deepen this universe. The action sings, the humor lands (as always), and by the end, I was grinning, a little misty-eyed, and ready for book 19 proper.
Would I recommend it?
If you're a Dresden Files fan, this is a non-negotiable read. Don't even think about skipping it. And if you've never read this series? Out Law is set a bit deep in the lore to be your entry point, but consider this your sign to start from Storm Front and work your way here. Because the payoff of watching Harry Dresden become this version of himself? Absolutely worth every page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Out Law is Jim Butcher at his sharpest—fast‑paced, wildly entertaining, and brimming with the wit, grit, and emotional punch that fans have come to expect from his work. From the first chapter, Butcher pulls you into a world of high‑stakes magic, dangerous alliances, and morally tangled choices, crafting a story that feels both explosively fun and surprisingly heartfelt.
One of the novel’s standout strengths is Butcher’s signature character work. The protagonist is dynamic, layered, and instantly compelling, navigating chaos with a mix of determination, vulnerability, and dark humor. The supporting cast is equally memorable, each character adding depth, tension, and personality to the unfolding conflict. Relationships—whether antagonistic, reluctant, or unexpectedly tender—are written with nuance and spark.
The plot moves with relentless energy. Butcher balances action with intrigue, weaving together twists, magical confrontations, and clever reveals that keep the pages turning. Even in the quieter moments, there’s a sense of tension humming beneath the surface, making the book nearly impossible to put down.
Where Out Law really excels, though, is in its tone. It blends Butcher’s trademark snappy dialogue and cinematic action with emotional stakes that hit harder than expected. The humor never undercuts the drama, and the darker beats never overshadow the story’s heart—resulting in a narrative that feels both thrilling and deeply satisfying.
If there’s any minor critique, it’s that a couple of subplots could have used slightly more room to breathe. But the overall momentum and payoff more than make up for it.
Out Law is a bold, clever, high‑octane adventure that showcases Jim Butcher’s storytelling mastery from every angle.
One of the novel’s standout strengths is Butcher’s signature character work. The protagonist is dynamic, layered, and instantly compelling, navigating chaos with a mix of determination, vulnerability, and dark humor. The supporting cast is equally memorable, each character adding depth, tension, and personality to the unfolding conflict. Relationships—whether antagonistic, reluctant, or unexpectedly tender—are written with nuance and spark.
The plot moves with relentless energy. Butcher balances action with intrigue, weaving together twists, magical confrontations, and clever reveals that keep the pages turning. Even in the quieter moments, there’s a sense of tension humming beneath the surface, making the book nearly impossible to put down.
Where Out Law really excels, though, is in its tone. It blends Butcher’s trademark snappy dialogue and cinematic action with emotional stakes that hit harder than expected. The humor never undercuts the drama, and the darker beats never overshadow the story’s heart—resulting in a narrative that feels both thrilling and deeply satisfying.
If there’s any minor critique, it’s that a couple of subplots could have used slightly more room to breathe. But the overall momentum and payoff more than make up for it.
Out Law is a bold, clever, high‑octane adventure that showcases Jim Butcher’s storytelling mastery from every angle.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book, and my review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.
I love Harry Dresden. He’s such a uniquely flawed, endlessly endearing protagonist. The Dresden Files has been a series that I’ve enjoyed for the last couple of years (barring the last book, which made me so mad that I nearly threw it across the room). The novellas in the series are usually hit or miss for me. This one leans more to the hit side.
Butcher’s writing is consistently engaging. His pacing is smooth, fast, and balanced, and his knack for combining action with deeper emotional moments is impactful. His books make me laugh, tense up, and feel things. While I don’t always love some of the plot choices, I am always guaranteed to care about what I’m reading. I read this in one sitting. The story made me smile: being very familiar with accounting and taxes and the general headache they can cause, I enjoyed seeing something so practical be a hurdle. I also appreciated that Butcher was poking Harry right in his soft spot (which he tends to do a lot of), in making him stand on his principles.
Tripp’s process of growth was funny and heartwrenching at the same time. Harry’s determination to hope for the best, in spite of everything, and his refusal to give up on Tripp made for a few moving scenes. In fact, this novella works as a microcosm of the Dresden Files as a whole. It deals with the ethical quandaries that Harry is presented with, the very high cost that is extracted for his choices, and demonstrates the reason that Harry cannot do anything else.
Overall, a worthy addition to the Dresden Files canon and worth reading.
I love Harry Dresden. He’s such a uniquely flawed, endlessly endearing protagonist. The Dresden Files has been a series that I’ve enjoyed for the last couple of years (barring the last book, which made me so mad that I nearly threw it across the room). The novellas in the series are usually hit or miss for me. This one leans more to the hit side.
Butcher’s writing is consistently engaging. His pacing is smooth, fast, and balanced, and his knack for combining action with deeper emotional moments is impactful. His books make me laugh, tense up, and feel things. While I don’t always love some of the plot choices, I am always guaranteed to care about what I’m reading. I read this in one sitting. The story made me smile: being very familiar with accounting and taxes and the general headache they can cause, I enjoyed seeing something so practical be a hurdle. I also appreciated that Butcher was poking Harry right in his soft spot (which he tends to do a lot of), in making him stand on his principles.
Tripp’s process of growth was funny and heartwrenching at the same time. Harry’s determination to hope for the best, in spite of everything, and his refusal to give up on Tripp made for a few moving scenes. In fact, this novella works as a microcosm of the Dresden Files as a whole. It deals with the ethical quandaries that Harry is presented with, the very high cost that is extracted for his choices, and demonstrates the reason that Harry cannot do anything else.
Overall, a worthy addition to the Dresden Files canon and worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dresden and a few key friends tackle a new enemy with ties to an old enemy. Fans of the series will love the side quest and new readers will not feel lost.
This was a very fun read. It is my first Dresden story but I have heard of the character as a family member loves the books and has read all of them. The novella was a great way to check out the series - as I could get a glimpse but without extensive investment.
As a novella goes I thought this was well done. There story was complete but without a lot of rushed details or giant leaps of the plot. I got to know the characters and have them begin and end a challenge within 22 short chapters. There was back story that would have added depth for fans of the series yet as a new reader I did not feel that I was missing anything or was being left out of the joke - which is a hard skill for a writer to do for new readers of a long standing series.
I liked the bits of humor. I liked that the magical names and creatures were not accompanied with really weird to pronounce names or titles that often are found in fantasy books. Now that I have had a taste of the magic and humor of this character my challenge will be to determine which of the full length books to tackle next!
'There's only one way to deal with fear -- punch it in its stupid face.'
'He's still doing shady crap." Fitz said. 'He's just aiming it a different direction."
'I'm not just a nonstop witticism machine and a snappy ballroom dancer.'
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very fun read. It is my first Dresden story but I have heard of the character as a family member loves the books and has read all of them. The novella was a great way to check out the series - as I could get a glimpse but without extensive investment.
As a novella goes I thought this was well done. There story was complete but without a lot of rushed details or giant leaps of the plot. I got to know the characters and have them begin and end a challenge within 22 short chapters. There was back story that would have added depth for fans of the series yet as a new reader I did not feel that I was missing anything or was being left out of the joke - which is a hard skill for a writer to do for new readers of a long standing series.
I liked the bits of humor. I liked that the magical names and creatures were not accompanied with really weird to pronounce names or titles that often are found in fantasy books. Now that I have had a taste of the magic and humor of this character my challenge will be to determine which of the full length books to tackle next!
'There's only one way to deal with fear -- punch it in its stupid face.'
'He's still doing shady crap." Fitz said. 'He's just aiming it a different direction."
'I'm not just a nonstop witticism machine and a snappy ballroom dancer.'
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2026
Jim Butcher’s Out Law is a fantastic return to the core strengths of the Dresden Files universe. I would give this novella 5 out of 5 stars. While the larger Dresden series has increasingly dealt with apocalyptic stakes, supernatural wars, and world-shaping politics, Out Law succeeds by narrowing its focus back to Harry Dresden himself and a deeply personal problem. It feels refreshingly grounded and character driven.
What makes the story especially strong is its simplicity. Dresden is not trying to save Chicago, the supernatural nations, or reality itself. Instead, he is helping a single person — and notably, someone he does not particularly like. That smaller scale allows Butcher to focus on Dresden’s humanity, compassion, and stubborn moral code. Harry’s willingness to help flawed or unpleasant people has always been one of the defining strengths of the series, and Out Law captures that perfectly.
The story also avoids getting bogged down in politics or endless universe-threatening danger. That restraint gives the narrative room to breathe and lets the dialogue, pacing, and character interactions shine. It feels like a “back to basics” Dresden story in the best possible way.
At the same time, Out Law still adds another meaningful layer to the Dresden universe. The expansion is small and intimate rather than epic, but that is exactly why it works. The story reminds readers that the strength of the Dresden Files has never just been spectacle — it is the characters, relationships, and emotional core that keep the world alive and engaging.
What makes the story especially strong is its simplicity. Dresden is not trying to save Chicago, the supernatural nations, or reality itself. Instead, he is helping a single person — and notably, someone he does not particularly like. That smaller scale allows Butcher to focus on Dresden’s humanity, compassion, and stubborn moral code. Harry’s willingness to help flawed or unpleasant people has always been one of the defining strengths of the series, and Out Law captures that perfectly.
The story also avoids getting bogged down in politics or endless universe-threatening danger. That restraint gives the narrative room to breathe and lets the dialogue, pacing, and character interactions shine. It feels like a “back to basics” Dresden story in the best possible way.
At the same time, Out Law still adds another meaningful layer to the Dresden universe. The expansion is small and intimate rather than epic, but that is exactly why it works. The story reminds readers that the strength of the Dresden Files has never just been spectacle — it is the characters, relationships, and emotional core that keep the world alive and engaging.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Coming fast on the heels of “Twelve Months” we get a new novella from Jim Butcher featuring Harry Dresden in “Out Law”, a somewhat short story of redemption and second chances.
Harry is still recovering from his latest battles, hiding in his castle and trying to focus on teaching his new apprentice and rebuilding his life to some sense of normalcy (for him). But life is never normal for Harry…
Baron John Marcone comes to call, asking Dresden for a favor. And since Harry is somewhat in his debt (Marcone did save Harry’s life after all), he’s not really in a position to say no. So what is the favor? One of Marcon’s goons has decided to go straight, and who better than Harry to help guide him on his way?
Harry has some history with Tripp Gregory, the new convert to the good, but he puts that aside and starts to see what can be done. But the road isn’t quite that simple. We have the IRS after Tripp for questionable practices with the charity he set up. An out-of-town gang owes Tripp a lot of money and is trying hard not to have to pay it. And, of course, an ancient evil entity decides to get revenge on Harry. All in a typical days work for Chicago’s only private detective wizard.
A fun light(er) read after the major battles and themes in the main novels. A nice break until the world needs Harry again.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Podium Entertainment, Podium Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
Harry is still recovering from his latest battles, hiding in his castle and trying to focus on teaching his new apprentice and rebuilding his life to some sense of normalcy (for him). But life is never normal for Harry…
Baron John Marcone comes to call, asking Dresden for a favor. And since Harry is somewhat in his debt (Marcone did save Harry’s life after all), he’s not really in a position to say no. So what is the favor? One of Marcon’s goons has decided to go straight, and who better than Harry to help guide him on his way?
Harry has some history with Tripp Gregory, the new convert to the good, but he puts that aside and starts to see what can be done. But the road isn’t quite that simple. We have the IRS after Tripp for questionable practices with the charity he set up. An out-of-town gang owes Tripp a lot of money and is trying hard not to have to pay it. And, of course, an ancient evil entity decides to get revenge on Harry. All in a typical days work for Chicago’s only private detective wizard.
A fun light(er) read after the major battles and themes in the main novels. A nice break until the world needs Harry again.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Podium Entertainment, Podium Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
May 7, 2026
Reading a Dresden Files tale is like engaging in a conversation with a good friend: it fills the time with quality conversation and worthy companionship. Out Law: A Dresden Files Novella, by the one-and-only Jim Butcher, meets this standard squarely.
Baron John Marcone, Harry’s mortal nemesis, offers the wizard a chance to repay an old debt, which involves helping one of the crime boss’s underlings go straight. But, as usual, this offer is not what it seems. Layers unpeel like an onion, evil and dark magic soon enter, and Harry must summon all of his resources to beat a threat to himself, his people, and Chicago itself.
Just another day in Harry Dresden’s spectacular life.
Harry, of course, imparts lessons on goodness and morality to Tripp Gregory, he who seeks to go straight, while continuing to be true to himself. He at first takes Gregory’s case on to repay a debt, but the job, just like Harry’s expectations, develops into something more. It turns out to be more than just another feather in his cap of good deeds.
Jim Butcher’s prose, through the first-person narration of Harry, reads like Phillip Marlowe with an aptitude for magic. The deadpan snark and world-weary cynicism are evident, as are aspects of crime literature, while the ongoing quest for redemption drives the plot forward.
I highly, highly recommend this novella, as well as the entire Dresden Files series.
Baron John Marcone, Harry’s mortal nemesis, offers the wizard a chance to repay an old debt, which involves helping one of the crime boss’s underlings go straight. But, as usual, this offer is not what it seems. Layers unpeel like an onion, evil and dark magic soon enter, and Harry must summon all of his resources to beat a threat to himself, his people, and Chicago itself.
Just another day in Harry Dresden’s spectacular life.
Harry, of course, imparts lessons on goodness and morality to Tripp Gregory, he who seeks to go straight, while continuing to be true to himself. He at first takes Gregory’s case on to repay a debt, but the job, just like Harry’s expectations, develops into something more. It turns out to be more than just another feather in his cap of good deeds.
Jim Butcher’s prose, through the first-person narration of Harry, reads like Phillip Marlowe with an aptitude for magic. The deadpan snark and world-weary cynicism are evident, as are aspects of crime literature, while the ongoing quest for redemption drives the plot forward.
I highly, highly recommend this novella, as well as the entire Dresden Files series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked this short novella in the Dresden Files series. I realized after I started reading it that it takes place after Twelve Months, the most recent release in the series, which I have not yet finished. However, as long as the reader is caught up until Battle Ground, this book doesn't give much away if you haven't read the newest book.
Chicago is still cleaning up in the aftermath of a "terrorist attack" aka a supernatural titan that destroyed the city. Harry is trying to still pick up the pieces of his life when his least favorite "vanilla mortal" (questionable), Gentleman and Baron John Marcone comes to him with a favor, a repayment for saving Harry's life not long before. He wants Harry to help an associate go straight. However, it's not that simple.
The associate is dealing with a sketchy bookie who was some serious supernatural muscle on his payroll. Harry now has to protect the guy and take down a minor deity who possesses it's victims. Predictably, fire and chaos ensue.
This was a good story to get lost in for a little bit and it's about half as long as the shortest Dresden novel, making it a quick read. Harry has been through a lot and you can feel the weariness on the page while he is still trying to be the good guy.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
Chicago is still cleaning up in the aftermath of a "terrorist attack" aka a supernatural titan that destroyed the city. Harry is trying to still pick up the pieces of his life when his least favorite "vanilla mortal" (questionable), Gentleman and Baron John Marcone comes to him with a favor, a repayment for saving Harry's life not long before. He wants Harry to help an associate go straight. However, it's not that simple.
The associate is dealing with a sketchy bookie who was some serious supernatural muscle on his payroll. Harry now has to protect the guy and take down a minor deity who possesses it's victims. Predictably, fire and chaos ensue.
This was a good story to get lost in for a little bit and it's about half as long as the shortest Dresden novel, making it a quick read. Harry has been through a lot and you can feel the weariness on the page while he is still trying to be the good guy.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
May 7, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There's a comfort and joy with reading more in a long known series. The characters and world are familiar. But there is also the new character and new development in the world. Out Law is a great example as a short in the Dresden Files series.
About half the size of the regular installments, we still get some new characters. There's further knowledge about a supernatural evil. Harry's ordinary life which has plenty of battles and efforts to improve things.
With all the drastic changes, and losses, it's nice to see Harry on a smaller mission. It's brought to him by Marcone, which makes it suspicious. A bad guy wants to go straight and Harry's role is to help him. The complexity and danger become apparent, and also the benefit to Marcone. Harry is the right man for the job though.
The next full length book is Mirror, Mirror expected in 2027. Out Law plus Mister Petty which was in Paranormal Payback are keeping me highly engaged.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There's a comfort and joy with reading more in a long known series. The characters and world are familiar. But there is also the new character and new development in the world. Out Law is a great example as a short in the Dresden Files series.
About half the size of the regular installments, we still get some new characters. There's further knowledge about a supernatural evil. Harry's ordinary life which has plenty of battles and efforts to improve things.
With all the drastic changes, and losses, it's nice to see Harry on a smaller mission. It's brought to him by Marcone, which makes it suspicious. A bad guy wants to go straight and Harry's role is to help him. The complexity and danger become apparent, and also the benefit to Marcone. Harry is the right man for the job though.
The next full length book is Mirror, Mirror expected in 2027. Out Law plus Mister Petty which was in Paranormal Payback are keeping me highly engaged.
May 6, 2026
I genuinely don’t understand how I’m just now discovering Jim Butcher and James Marsters.
Like…where have you been all my life??
Outlaw, set in the The Dresden Files universe, was such an unexpected surprise. It works as a standalone, which I love, but you can tell there’s a whole bigger world behind it.
It’s supernatural, paranormal, mystery, thriller—all the things—and somehow it just works without feeling like too much.
But let’s be real…the reason this hit so hard?
James Marsters.
I went into this on a whim for my first ALC from Podium and recognized his name from my FAVORITE TV show…and I don’t know what I expected, but it was NOT this.
This man didn’t just narrate—he performed.
The range.
The natural baseline voice.
The way he switches between characters so easily??
Absolutely insane.
And listen—I love my romance voice actors. You already know how I feel about Joe Arden and Sean Masters…
But James Marsters? Yeah…he’s right up there with them.
Now I just need him to come over to the romance genre real quick. That would be great. Thanks. 😌
Also, Jim Butcher?? You gained a new fan because this combo was IT.
Will I go back and listen to all the other books in this series?
…MAYBE 👀
But for now—easy five-star listen with a five-star performance.
Like…where have you been all my life??
Outlaw, set in the The Dresden Files universe, was such an unexpected surprise. It works as a standalone, which I love, but you can tell there’s a whole bigger world behind it.
It’s supernatural, paranormal, mystery, thriller—all the things—and somehow it just works without feeling like too much.
But let’s be real…the reason this hit so hard?
James Marsters.
I went into this on a whim for my first ALC from Podium and recognized his name from my FAVORITE TV show…and I don’t know what I expected, but it was NOT this.
This man didn’t just narrate—he performed.
The range.
The natural baseline voice.
The way he switches between characters so easily??
Absolutely insane.
And listen—I love my romance voice actors. You already know how I feel about Joe Arden and Sean Masters…
But James Marsters? Yeah…he’s right up there with them.
Now I just need him to come over to the romance genre real quick. That would be great. Thanks. 😌
Also, Jim Butcher?? You gained a new fan because this combo was IT.
Will I go back and listen to all the other books in this series?
…MAYBE 👀
But for now—easy five-star listen with a five-star performance.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Advance copy from Podium Entertainment, via NetGalley
4.5 stars
Hooray for bonus Jim Butcher this year! Both have felt like classic Butcher, with loads of action and great one-liners, without the lady ogling that made his older stuff tougher to reread. Based on the level of therapy and work on himself (or others) Harry does, I suspect Butcher has been doing some work on himself as well. Either way, I think he's putting out strong Dresden books, and that both relieves and excites me.
I liked that this novella was a redemption story for a former enemy. I don't see that very often in the books I read, and it was refreshing. I also loved Max and his Bassett Hound Peppermint (Peppermint!). The scenes with him really made me smile. Some of the therapy-ish dialogue with Tripp, the con man wanting to go straight, were a little much, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I'm glad Butcher is putting out good work after the long interval from Battle Ground to now. It sounds like he has a plan for the rest of the series, and there's an end in sight. I feel very optimistic he'll pull it off with style.
4.5 stars
Hooray for bonus Jim Butcher this year! Both have felt like classic Butcher, with loads of action and great one-liners, without the lady ogling that made his older stuff tougher to reread. Based on the level of therapy and work on himself (or others) Harry does, I suspect Butcher has been doing some work on himself as well. Either way, I think he's putting out strong Dresden books, and that both relieves and excites me.
I liked that this novella was a redemption story for a former enemy. I don't see that very often in the books I read, and it was refreshing. I also loved Max and his Bassett Hound Peppermint (Peppermint!). The scenes with him really made me smile. Some of the therapy-ish dialogue with Tripp, the con man wanting to go straight, were a little much, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I'm glad Butcher is putting out good work after the long interval from Battle Ground to now. It sounds like he has a plan for the rest of the series, and there's an end in sight. I feel very optimistic he'll pull it off with style.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've waited to read Twelve Months before reading and reviewing Out Law, and you should as well, since there are some characters - especially one - who are introduced in the Twelve Months. Out Law builds on some new information on the origins of Dresden Files vampires that were presented in the Twelve Months and returns Marcone to the scene, but other than that it feels almost like a filler. I can't shake the feeling that these 200 pages could have been used in a better way.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for more Dresden and I would love to have a side case novella, or a short novel, let's be honest, each year in addition to other books that Jim publishes, but this line of storytelling simply wasn't that interesting to me.
The writing was very professional, in fact much better than the first several full novels in the series - Butcher has come a really long way since those days - the plot was tightly woven, and as I've said, there was some info that will probably become important in some way later on, especially with Lara and Thomas, if my suspicions are correct. But all in all, this was not a terribly exciting read for me. 3*
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for more Dresden and I would love to have a side case novella, or a short novel, let's be honest, each year in addition to other books that Jim publishes, but this line of storytelling simply wasn't that interesting to me.
The writing was very professional, in fact much better than the first several full novels in the series - Butcher has come a really long way since those days - the plot was tightly woven, and as I've said, there was some info that will probably become important in some way later on, especially with Lara and Thomas, if my suspicions are correct. But all in all, this was not a terribly exciting read for me. 3*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** Read the Law and Twelve Months before starting this*
4.5 Stars
Dresden is really back in form in this novella. Harry owes Marcone a favor, and we all know will never be as easy as Marcone makes it out to be. This leads Harry to a new way more formidable enemy that Harry finally can't punch his way out of, the IRS.
This felt like a breath of fresh air after how dark and grief stricken Twelve Months was. The plot was tight and the pacing was great. It really didn't feel like 200 pages, as I blew through it in an afternoon. I loved the use of the new characters from Twelve Months, allowing their characters to have more time to develop outside the main story line. Although I would have loved more from the spice team ;)
I think Butcher was a bit on the preachy side in this installment. He really wanted to hit into our heads what makes a good person, which in today's world seems necessary, so that didn't bother me too much. Although for the cover art, where is Harry's Hat??? lol
Thank you NetGalley and Podium Publishing for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Dresden is really back in form in this novella. Harry owes Marcone a favor, and we all know will never be as easy as Marcone makes it out to be. This leads Harry to a new way more formidable enemy that Harry finally can't punch his way out of, the IRS.
This felt like a breath of fresh air after how dark and grief stricken Twelve Months was. The plot was tight and the pacing was great. It really didn't feel like 200 pages, as I blew through it in an afternoon. I loved the use of the new characters from Twelve Months, allowing their characters to have more time to develop outside the main story line. Although I would have loved more from the spice team ;)
I think Butcher was a bit on the preachy side in this installment. He really wanted to hit into our heads what makes a good person, which in today's world seems necessary, so that didn't bother me too much. Although for the cover art, where is Harry's Hat??? lol
Thank you NetGalley and Podium Publishing for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2026
Out Law is a Dresden Files novella set after Twelve Months. Harry Dresden owes a debt to criminal Baron Marcone and he has come calling. Harry may not be happy about it, but it is right up his alley—an underling of Marcone’s wants to go straight and needs Harry’s help. Unfortunately, it’s the lowlife ex-pimp Tripp Galley who is being sued by a wealthy lawyer, hounded by the IRS, and hunted by a demonic body-possessing entity.
While this novella directly follows Twelve Months, it is essentially more of a sequel to the previous novella The Law as the case here includes two characters that were introduced from there—the ex-pimp Tripp Gregory and lawyer Maximillian Valerious. The novella brings back the case of the week format, and this was quite a fun one. It’s a quick read, and I loved the showcase of idealism and redemption in Harry’s interactions with Tripp. It might be too optimistic in tone for a Dresden story, but it works for this novella. Harry is just a lot more lighthearted here, and I again enjoyed seeing more of his new apprentice Fitz.
Out Law is a fun side quest of a Dresden story.
*Thank you Podium Entertainment for the eARC via NetGalley
While this novella directly follows Twelve Months, it is essentially more of a sequel to the previous novella The Law as the case here includes two characters that were introduced from there—the ex-pimp Tripp Gregory and lawyer Maximillian Valerious. The novella brings back the case of the week format, and this was quite a fun one. It’s a quick read, and I loved the showcase of idealism and redemption in Harry’s interactions with Tripp. It might be too optimistic in tone for a Dresden story, but it works for this novella. Harry is just a lot more lighthearted here, and I again enjoyed seeing more of his new apprentice Fitz.
Out Law is a fun side quest of a Dresden story.
*Thank you Podium Entertainment for the eARC via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5
Harry Dresden is back on his feet, back to snark, and back to making bad choices for good reasons. I liked Out Law overall, even if it didn’t completely wow me.
The setup is classic Dresden. Marcone calls in a favor. A small-time criminal wants to go straight. Something old, ugly, and demonic gets involved. The city groans. Harry sighs. Trouble follows.
The pacing isn’t perfect. Some sections move fast, others feel a bit padded for a novella. The characters are fine but not especially memorable, and the intrigue never quite deepens into anything truly gripping. Still, Butcher knows exactly how to keep pages turning. I finished this in three sittings without effort.
Important to fans - Harry sounds like Harry again. He's wry, stubborn, and hopeful. There’s humor, a touch of gross magic, and a nice mix of supernatural mess and very boring human bureaucracy.
This isn’t a big, game-changing entry, but it’s a fun one. By the end, I just wanted the next Dresden book already.
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Harry Dresden is back on his feet, back to snark, and back to making bad choices for good reasons. I liked Out Law overall, even if it didn’t completely wow me.
The setup is classic Dresden. Marcone calls in a favor. A small-time criminal wants to go straight. Something old, ugly, and demonic gets involved. The city groans. Harry sighs. Trouble follows.
The pacing isn’t perfect. Some sections move fast, others feel a bit padded for a novella. The characters are fine but not especially memorable, and the intrigue never quite deepens into anything truly gripping. Still, Butcher knows exactly how to keep pages turning. I finished this in three sittings without effort.
Important to fans - Harry sounds like Harry again. He's wry, stubborn, and hopeful. There’s humor, a touch of gross magic, and a nice mix of supernatural mess and very boring human bureaucracy.
This isn’t a big, game-changing entry, but it’s a fun one. By the end, I just wanted the next Dresden book already.
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC.
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