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The Dresden Files Book Set
1. Storm Front
2. Full Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
2. Full Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
12 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
203 books51.1k followersJim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 24, 2017
I didn't give the first book in this series the highest of ratings. I enjoyed it, but it was maybe only a 3 star rating. The thing is, somewhere around book 5, this series really began to take off and has become one of my all time favorite series.
At it's most basic level Dresden files is well written paranormal mystery and action with a healthy dose of humor intermixed with horror. Yet, as the series progresses, the author manages to introduce deeper themes like temptation, corruption, damnation, salvation... I especially enjoyed the byplay of faith with magic.
You could easily read this entire series just for the surface story, but hiding in the adventure and mayhem is a real meal for intellectual discussion.
At it's most basic level Dresden files is well written paranormal mystery and action with a healthy dose of humor intermixed with horror. Yet, as the series progresses, the author manages to introduce deeper themes like temptation, corruption, damnation, salvation... I especially enjoyed the byplay of faith with magic.
You could easily read this entire series just for the surface story, but hiding in the adventure and mayhem is a real meal for intellectual discussion.
August 2, 2015
5 out of 5 stars for undeniable one of the best contemporary urban fantasy series of novels currently in the making - author Jim Butcher produces a witty, fun and fast paced first person narrative by the human wizard and private investigator Harry Dresden, who tells of his investigations into supernatural disturbances in modern-day Chicago.
February 23, 2022
This is basically notes for me
1. Storm Front: the second book I read, so in love with the series and this was the one with the crazy sex maniac, heart exploding black magic. reminded me so much of the Nightside series, but I have to say the writing gets so much better than this.
2. Full Moon: werewolves, FBI bad guys, and chaos, this is where I started reading the books in order, I had already read a bunch of the short stories and then summer knight.
3. Grave Peril: the vampire mayhem, this was not my favorite but where the writing really starts to come into its own. I had read too much stuff out of order and semi-spoiled the plot twists by knowing how this all panned out a little bit. But the character introductions and development still made it a super fun awesome read.
4. Summer Knight: the fae, this is actually the first novel of the series that I read. and (at least today) I am drawing a blank on a lot of the details. I remember it was very up and down though, still urban fantasy but I would add a thriller-ish vibe to this book.
5. Death Masks: the one where the coins first show up and Nicodemus (?), also enter the knight's templar types
6. Blood Rites: The porn people and black magic
7. Dead Beat: the WW2 wizard Kemmler and his disciples, the black court and the white court are either allies or enemies.
8. Proven Guilty: It's either this book, the one before it, or the next one where Harry tries to put some moves on Murphy (loosely) because Susan has been long-term MIA, and now there is also Molly in the photo.
9. White Night:
10. Small Favor: The fae are at war, Nicodemus makes a comeback, the billy goats gruff, more Molly and Michael/Sasha. Extra character development. I took a small break in reading the series around a quarter of the way through the book and the details of this one 8&9 merged together into one long saga. I missed my daily Dresden dog walks however and returned to the series ASAP!
11. Turn Coat : the black council V Morgan
12. Changes : dresdens daughter the return of Susan
1. Storm Front: the second book I read, so in love with the series and this was the one with the crazy sex maniac, heart exploding black magic. reminded me so much of the Nightside series, but I have to say the writing gets so much better than this.
2. Full Moon: werewolves, FBI bad guys, and chaos, this is where I started reading the books in order, I had already read a bunch of the short stories and then summer knight.
3. Grave Peril: the vampire mayhem, this was not my favorite but where the writing really starts to come into its own. I had read too much stuff out of order and semi-spoiled the plot twists by knowing how this all panned out a little bit. But the character introductions and development still made it a super fun awesome read.
4. Summer Knight: the fae, this is actually the first novel of the series that I read. and (at least today) I am drawing a blank on a lot of the details. I remember it was very up and down though, still urban fantasy but I would add a thriller-ish vibe to this book.
5. Death Masks: the one where the coins first show up and Nicodemus (?), also enter the knight's templar types
6. Blood Rites: The porn people and black magic
7. Dead Beat: the WW2 wizard Kemmler and his disciples, the black court and the white court are either allies or enemies.
8. Proven Guilty: It's either this book, the one before it, or the next one where Harry tries to put some moves on Murphy (loosely) because Susan has been long-term MIA, and now there is also Molly in the photo.
9. White Night:
10. Small Favor: The fae are at war, Nicodemus makes a comeback, the billy goats gruff, more Molly and Michael/Sasha. Extra character development. I took a small break in reading the series around a quarter of the way through the book and the details of this one 8&9 merged together into one long saga. I missed my daily Dresden dog walks however and returned to the series ASAP!
11. Turn Coat : the black council V Morgan
12. Changes : dresdens daughter the return of Susan
September 16, 2019
I really love this series, as I do love everything else written by Jim Butcher.
It has its own unique style. This gritty battle hardened wizard, who has self doubts, makes mistakes, is sometimes so human in his sudden brutality and despite this long story also really kind. So many dimensions and facettes in the character and he grows so much in this series. I feel like I can really understand his actions and motivation.
I also love the worldbuilding. Our world but with a really diverse fantasy world hidden behind it. Not just dragons and fairys behind a mirror, but a own twist with the cruelity.
The stories in this epic series stayed interesting as well and are interwoven with a greater plot.
A negative point about the series for me is the fact, that basically every book (at least the later ones) Harry tries to run away from something. It kind of makes sense characterwise and for the world, but it's kind of annoying anyway.
In the end, I can't wait for the next books and how Harry will develop.
It has its own unique style. This gritty battle hardened wizard, who has self doubts, makes mistakes, is sometimes so human in his sudden brutality and despite this long story also really kind. So many dimensions and facettes in the character and he grows so much in this series. I feel like I can really understand his actions and motivation.
I also love the worldbuilding. Our world but with a really diverse fantasy world hidden behind it. Not just dragons and fairys behind a mirror, but a own twist with the cruelity.
The stories in this epic series stayed interesting as well and are interwoven with a greater plot.
A negative point about the series for me is the fact, that basically every book (at least the later ones) Harry tries to run away from something. It kind of makes sense characterwise and for the world, but it's kind of annoying anyway.
In the end, I can't wait for the next books and how Harry will develop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2018
this is an incredible series .. it is pretty long though. this is a neat story written in modern day times by a gifted author . you might remember a brief tv show by the same name . This series is sort of hard to classify i would go with fantasy who dunit . set in modern day Chicago the only real wizard in the phone book is Harry Dresden. He takes on Chi towns supernatural. Lots of monsters, faeries, magic . all in all a really great read. this isn't the version i have but close enough there are 22 books in the series with a sprinkling of short stories or novellas included, but each novel is at least 50 chapters long . hope that you enjoy it as much as i did.
December 29, 2017
I totally love each and every one of these books. Harry Dresden is just such a likable character and they're well written: I fly through them, and I'm anxiously awaiting more!
October 18, 2018
The Dresden Files is what Harry Potter would be if he grew up in Chicago and never found Hogwarts. Dark, funny, dry humor with just a splash of romance (nothing too mushy). Love this series!
August 16, 2019
Genius.
April 2, 2021
Catching up after not reading anything in the series since 2009.
February 14, 2023
"We still hadn't learned, though, that growing up is all about getting hurt. And then getting over it. You hurt. You recover. You move on. Odds are pretty good you're just going to get hurt again. But each time, you learn something. Each time, you come out of it a little stronger, and at some point you realize that there are more flavors of pain than coffee. There's the little empty pain of leaving something behind-graduating, taking the next step forward, walking out of something familiar and safe into the unknown. There's the big, whirling pain of life upending all of your plans and expectations. There's the sharp little pains of failure, and the more obscure aches of successes that didn't give you what you thought they would. There are the vicious, stabbing pains of hopes being torn up. The sweet little pains of finding others, giving them your love, and taking joy in their life as they grow and learn. There's the steady pain of empathy that you shrug off so you can stand beside a wounded friend and help them bear their burdens.
Everyone is down on pain, because they forget something important about it: Pain is for the living. Only the dead don’t feel it.
Pain is a part of life. Sometimes it’s a big part, and sometimes it isn’t, but either way, it’s part of the big puzzle, the deep music, the great game. Pain does two things: It teaches you, tells you that you’re alive. Then it passes away and leaves you changed. It leaves you wiser, sometimes. Sometimes it leaves you stronger. Either way, pain leaves its mark, and everything important that will ever happen to you in life is going to involve it in one degree or another."
-Harry Dresden, Dresden Files, White Knight
I am one of those people that have been listening to the Dresden audiobooks for YEARS and recommend them to everyone!
My partner and I were long distance and when we were together, often on vacation, we wanted an audiobook to listen to on long rides. Somehow stumbled upon this series when searching for "best audiobooks" years ago. Once we really became devoted to the series, around book 3 or 4, we would listen to the audiobooks apart and talk about them over the phone or videochat and listen together when we were visiting each other.
It sounds silly, but around a decade later and this series holds such a special place in my heart. This series and its audiobooks continue to grow with our relationship. We listen to them together, or re-listen to books earlier in the series. We have probably listened to most of the earlier books 2-3x. We even named our dog Murphy!
If you are interested in starting this series, I tell people it takes about 3-4 books in to feel that Butcher really understands where the story is going and how the characters will develop. The beginning books aren't bad, I just don't feel they draw you in as well as the later ones do. They read like separate stories with some consistent characters. Once the storyline really starts and the novels start flowing together, you will be hooked and each novel is better than the last!..Well, I was hooked.
I'd consider the genre urban fantasy as it is set in Chicago but the magical world, the never never, is very much classic fantasy. There are SOO many characters, many fantastical and mythical and so many ways to feel about them all. My favorite character is a huge dog named Mouse that doesn't even speak but it doesn't matter, just the way Butcher is able to portray his characters makes you fall in love with them.
The series is set through the eyes of a Wizard detective, Harry Dresden, living and working in Chicago. He is such a complicated character. You love him, you hate him. He can be such a dick! But his growth doesn't go unnoticed. There are also really strong, intelligent, amazing women written throughout. Women that save Harry's ass more times than once. There is also romance and spice and heartbreak. I have felt every emotion possible throughout this series and I have truly mourned characters.
The series forces the reader to constantly question morality. Often who I expect to be the 'evil villians' of a story are turned on its head, or their background is explained and the perspective shifts drastically.
This series has been a part of my life for so long, it is hard to fully put into words how much I enjoy listening to this series. But I did and I do and I will grieve when the series ends for I will be in shock that it will not go on forever.
Everyone is down on pain, because they forget something important about it: Pain is for the living. Only the dead don’t feel it.
Pain is a part of life. Sometimes it’s a big part, and sometimes it isn’t, but either way, it’s part of the big puzzle, the deep music, the great game. Pain does two things: It teaches you, tells you that you’re alive. Then it passes away and leaves you changed. It leaves you wiser, sometimes. Sometimes it leaves you stronger. Either way, pain leaves its mark, and everything important that will ever happen to you in life is going to involve it in one degree or another."
-Harry Dresden, Dresden Files, White Knight
I am one of those people that have been listening to the Dresden audiobooks for YEARS and recommend them to everyone!
My partner and I were long distance and when we were together, often on vacation, we wanted an audiobook to listen to on long rides. Somehow stumbled upon this series when searching for "best audiobooks" years ago. Once we really became devoted to the series, around book 3 or 4, we would listen to the audiobooks apart and talk about them over the phone or videochat and listen together when we were visiting each other.
It sounds silly, but around a decade later and this series holds such a special place in my heart. This series and its audiobooks continue to grow with our relationship. We listen to them together, or re-listen to books earlier in the series. We have probably listened to most of the earlier books 2-3x. We even named our dog Murphy!
If you are interested in starting this series, I tell people it takes about 3-4 books in to feel that Butcher really understands where the story is going and how the characters will develop. The beginning books aren't bad, I just don't feel they draw you in as well as the later ones do. They read like separate stories with some consistent characters. Once the storyline really starts and the novels start flowing together, you will be hooked and each novel is better than the last!..Well, I was hooked.
I'd consider the genre urban fantasy as it is set in Chicago but the magical world, the never never, is very much classic fantasy. There are SOO many characters, many fantastical and mythical and so many ways to feel about them all. My favorite character is a huge dog named Mouse that doesn't even speak but it doesn't matter, just the way Butcher is able to portray his characters makes you fall in love with them.
The series is set through the eyes of a Wizard detective, Harry Dresden, living and working in Chicago. He is such a complicated character. You love him, you hate him. He can be such a dick! But his growth doesn't go unnoticed. There are also really strong, intelligent, amazing women written throughout. Women that save Harry's ass more times than once. There is also romance and spice and heartbreak. I have felt every emotion possible throughout this series and I have truly mourned characters.
The series forces the reader to constantly question morality. Often who I expect to be the 'evil villians' of a story are turned on its head, or their background is explained and the perspective shifts drastically.
This series has been a part of my life for so long, it is hard to fully put into words how much I enjoy listening to this series. But I did and I do and I will grieve when the series ends for I will be in shock that it will not go on forever.
November 22, 2025
Dresden Files is incredibly popular because it IS a good series. Each book is a quick read - and compiled you get a compelling story, interesting characters, and reasonably good worldbuilding.
The first couple of books center heavily around Dresden who is a pretty straightforward "cynical wizard detective with a heart of gold" cliche. How much you like the books really depends on how you attach to Harry and his humor. He takes a lot of beatings, but always ends up saving the day in the end because he's *special*. And while it's a pretty generic power fantasy series, the world really opens up in the later books into a supernatural shmorgishborg with a rewarding arc.
That being said.
The beginning books definitely suffer from a heavy layer of "male gaze." He's an overly horny dude who can be pretty objectifying. All the female characters are written as bumbling damsels in distress when they aren't suffering violent mood swings or being embarrassingly oversexed.
If you can get past Harry's sexism in the first couple books, that issue improves dramatically in the series. However, you have to slog through it off and on still, which rightfully gets on a lot of people's nerves.
The first couple of books center heavily around Dresden who is a pretty straightforward "cynical wizard detective with a heart of gold" cliche. How much you like the books really depends on how you attach to Harry and his humor. He takes a lot of beatings, but always ends up saving the day in the end because he's *special*. And while it's a pretty generic power fantasy series, the world really opens up in the later books into a supernatural shmorgishborg with a rewarding arc.
That being said.
The beginning books definitely suffer from a heavy layer of "male gaze." He's an overly horny dude who can be pretty objectifying. All the female characters are written as bumbling damsels in distress when they aren't suffering violent mood swings or being embarrassingly oversexed.
If you can get past Harry's sexism in the first couple books, that issue improves dramatically in the series. However, you have to slog through it off and on still, which rightfully gets on a lot of people's nerves.
January 25, 2018
A WIZARD DETECTIVE is like no other wizard you ever heard of. The books are so much better then the TV series and if you get the AUDIOBOOKs the series REALLY comes alive.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews