Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8) by Jim Butcher Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)
Book Review: yikes again!
Summary: 5 Stars
blood, guts, and a TWIST! ok Butcher, if you blow the Sci-Fi channel thing(or if Sci-Fi blows it themselves-visav Farscape-for Butcher) you've got a good series going, getting darker all the time though. it's getting close to being NOT for anybody under 15 in this series... nekkidness and inappropriate relationship! ok, so, i like the book, i hope you will too.Book Review: it works.. somehow it works.
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. the quips, wise cracks and the monsters were actually fun. Jim is very good in maintaining a constant stream of dialogue and action.
The book is very engaging and I am looking forward to getting his next book in the series. I have read 1,7,8 of the series. They stand alone wel but some spoilers have existed.
After reading this book, I picked up the Codex Alera series and haven't regretted that one bit.
Book Review: Very strong urban fantasy--well done
Summary: 5 Stars
Warden Harry Dresden is tortured by guilt over two killings he made--killings he believes were necessary but were made in cold blood. The trial of a young warlock, hopelessly corrupt though he may be, raises Dresden's guilt to a higher level. He's already conflicted when the Gatekeeper lets him know that dark magic has infected his own city of Chicago. But staying alive long enough to investigate is going to be a problem. Someone attempts a hit-and-run assassination on Dresden, monsters straight out of slasher-horror movies are haunting the theaters and streets of Chicago, and conflict between the summer and winter courts of the Seelie have prevented the fae from providing any aid to the White Council as it battles with the vampire Red Court.
The action never lets up as Dresden confronts one foe after another--with each success, each survival, only throwing him into deeper trouble and more danger. When his best friend's daughter becomes involved, Dresden's personal stake grows much higher. All of the IOUs he's painfully accumulated may not be enough to get him out of the mess alive--especially because his own allies are the ones most likely to be gunning for him.
Author Jim Butcher delivers what may be the strongest and most compelling of his DRESDEN FILES novels yet. Rich with subplots, filled with angst as well as action, and set in a wonderfully complex piece of world-building, PROVEN GUILTY grabs the reader and throws him into Dresden's world. Dresden himself makes a wonderful character--simultaneously hard-boiled and sentimental. Secondary characters, especially Dresden's brother Michael, possible love interest, Murphy, Skull Bob, and Dresden's mysterious dog, Mouse add interest.
Fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files will definitely want to grab this one. If you enjoy urban fantasy and you haven't discovered Butcher yet, PROVEN GUILTY will definitely make a believer out of you. I'm happy to recommend this one highly. Well done, Jim Butcher.
Book Review: Everyone Dumps on Harry
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been with this series from the beginning and sometimes it's been a rough ride. I love the concept, a wizard for hire in contemporary Chicago, and Butcher's writing always works, but I don't always like Harry Dresden. Sometimes he plays the heroic victim, and I've always felt that characters who set themselves up get what they deserve when it hits the fan.
Initially this story came close. Harry is now a warden for the White Council but they don't like him much and several are waiting for the opportunity to take his head. And then there's the vampire's Red Court that has gone to war with the wizards, mostly thanks to Harry's ineptness. And then there's the Summer and Winter Courts in Faerie. Right again, Harry has few friends there. When he is asked to investigate why the Fae haven't come to help the wizards, and is warned that black magic is being worked in the city you know it's going to be a difficult week. Especially when it starts right out with someone trying to run Harry over while he's in his VW bug.
Harry does have friends - and oversexed skull (Bob), a dog that eats vampires (Mouse), a holy knight (Michael), a tough police lieutenant (Murphy), and a fallen angel (Lasciel). That's right, a fallen angel, not the best thing to have as a friend. One of Harry's worst problems problem is that he hates asking for help, and, no surprise, he volunteers for everything. So when Michael's daughter's boyfriend gets in trouble at a horror convention that suddenly turns real it's Harry to the rescue. And the problems get worse and worse.
Just when I thought Harry was going to get eaten by a film monster as he so richly deserved, the story swerved and became one of Butcher's best. Frankly, I can't explain it. Something about the characters or the plot gelled. Or maybe Harry became more of a player in his own life. But the story picks up pace and then keeps on running at top speed. Hooray for Jim Butcher, who has worked hard for his success. And hooray for me, who deserves a good book now and then.
Book Review: Harry starting to come into his own...maturing in a good way
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall:
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I rate this book to be a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Jim Butcher has done an excellent job of character develop, intermixing excellent action sequences and advances larger plot lines while opening up some interesting new mysteries.
Detailed comments:
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The interplay between Murphy and Harry is quite good through out the book with a potential resolution regarding whether they should get involved or not.
Harry's secret regarding the squatting fallen angel image, Lasciel, is not as secret as he would like. The consequences of the known secret puts an interesting spin on Harry's view of faith and the Big picture.
The setting is held in Chicago during a horror convention...a great place for monsters to appear. The handling of the convention and its staff is nicely done.
Harry grows as a person quite a bit. He is really starting to come into his own abilities and responsibilities while he gets a much better idea of how close to the edge of cross from good to evil he really is. Harry's limits are starting to show...the strain of being a hero becomes obvious to everyone. You have to ask yourself at what point does Harry burn out?
A strong theme in the book is self responsibility. I am really glad that Jim Butcher works this angle so well. Personally, I think it is something people need to have more; Harry shows you the upside and the consequences for not being responsible for yourself. Also, Jim is really working the "With great power comes great responsibility" angle -- valid in all circumstances.
Score: 4.5
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Characters: 5 stars
Action: 4 stars
Plot advancement: 5 stars
Predictability: 3.5 stars