Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5) by Jim Butcher Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
Book Review: One of a Kind
Summary: 5 Stars
It's been a long time since I've read a book this amazing. To be more specific, it was when I first read "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." That was seven years ago.
I forgot how good it feels to fall in love with a book.
Jim Butcher has managed to weave together everything I could possibly want from a story. His plot is well-paced, his hero is astoundingly witty, and his action scenes make me grip the pages of the book with sweaty fingers. There's beauty in every paragraph.
In "Death Masks," many of my favorite characters make a return, such as Michael (*finally*, a Christian character who is neither evil nor insane) and Thomas (how can anyone *not* love an ambiguous vampire?). We're also introduced to several new characters who are every bit as delightful as the protagonist himself. I even enjoyed the presense of some returning characters I did not like in previous books.
When I finally put "Death Masks" down, I sat in silence for several minutes, just thinking about what a great story I'd finished. Thank you, Jim Butcher.
Book Review: Death Masks
Summary: 5 Stars
Very good book, I read them all, the Dresden Files, with bated breath.
Linda Sheean
Book Review: Vatican Rag
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are a fan of the Dresden Files TV series and are considering checking into the print series, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. This book is fifth in the series, preceded by, in order: :
Storm Front Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Fool Moon Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2)
Grave Peril Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3)
Summer Knight Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, Book 4)
Also, the reality in the books is a little different than the TV series, and you won't enjoy the books if you get hung up on the TV canon. My advice is kick back and enjoy the ride, because Jim Butcher so far has not failed to disappoint. Unlike many series authors, he has sustained the quality and appeal of the series throughout.
The Dresden Files are noir detective novels in the classic vein, with a loner, wiseass private eye narrator in this case based in Chicago. Harry Dresden has an edgy relationship with the police, and between his PI practice and police consulting, is barely able to make ends meet. The twist is that the detective is also a wizard capable of calling fire and, on a good day, repelling bullets.
The writer's challenge is to provide his detective with challenges that he can't solve with a wave of his wand. These tend to be ever-increasing supernatural foes, people problems, and vexing situations that combine the two.
In "Death Masks", Dresden's challenges include an engagement to recover the Shroud of Turin, a sort-of-ex-girlfriend who is struggling with vampiric tendencies, regular human criminals, and magical duels.
Like traditional detective fiction, the Dresden Files is moralistic, with good triumphing over evil (of course, not without cost). There is character development, there is humor in many tasty flavors, and sustained enjoyment for the reader.
Book Review: A Wizard, A coin, A Shroud
Summary: 4 Stars
This is Book # 5 from the Dresden Files series. This time out, Harry is up to his eyeballs in treachery, hidden agendas and those who hide their true identities.
He is hired to find the Shroud of Turin, which has been stolen from Italy and brought to the United States to be sold to a collector. Of course the collector is not a friend of Harry's, Mob Boss Marcone. Harry is being involved from several areas : The Red Court challenges him to a duel with one of their best Vampires, Susan is back in town to help out in any way she can, Three Knights get involved to help stop the sale of the Shroud. And there are those who want the Shroud for devious purposes, for personal gain, and for personal reasons.
Harry is torn from all directions; it's hard to tell the bad guys from the worse guys in this one. But our hero prevails, with a lot of help from his friends, and we find him tempted by a coin of the Denarians, and ancient group of bad souls who can wreck havoc everywhere they wish to go.
The Archive, herself a formable character, looks deceivingly like a child, but wields much knowledge and power over many groups of Good and Evil. I am hoping that she will make future appearances since she has so much to give to the stories.
In the end everyone goes their own way to lick their wounds and plot and plan for future mayhem coming to Chicago. The only winner this time out is Harry, who manages to hang onto his life, though the temptation of the Denarians will sit and stew for a time.
Book Review: Very Powerful Book In An Excellent Series
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best books in the series. Painful time for Harry but excellent read for us. A couple loose ends from prior books wrapped up and a nice new path for future books set up. Exciting page turner. I dont think I got more than four hours sleep any night I was reading this book as I could not put it down at night to go to bed.
Harry Dresden is an inspired character. Intelligent, humorous and sexy. One liners in this series will make you laugh until you wet yourself. Guaranteed! Even when you think of them a week later you will giggle madly.
Series keeps to rules of it's own world. Book after book, adventure after adventure it stays true. Each book stands beautifully on it's own and fits into series without flaw. Extremely well written and imaginative.
Fun, fun, fun.
Also check out the first three in series as audio books narrated by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Summer Knight is due as audio book soon as well.
If you have seen TV show but not yet read the books BRACE YOURSELF as you are in for a treat. Books are a million times better than the show.