Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) by Jim Butcher Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
Book Review: Harry, the Billy Goats Gruff and other nasty creatures
Summary: 4 Stars
SMALL FAVOR (Para/PI, Harry Dresden, Chicago, Fan) - VG
Butcher, Jim - 10th in series
ROC, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780451461896
First Sentence: Winter came early that year; it should have been a tip-off.
Wizard Harry Dresden is having an enjoyable snowball fight with his apprentice and her siblings. It comes to an abrupt, and violent, end when they are attacked by three Billy Goats Gruff. These are no mild fairytale creatures and Queen Mab is calling in one of the favor's Harry owes her.
With a missing mobster, creatures galore and even his friends not quite trusting him, Harry has to fight to save himself and those important to him.
Once you get past the oozy, gory descriptions, these are great books. The character of Harry is a wonderful one--he's tough, loyal, brave, dedicated and has a wicked, wry humor. Even though this is part of a series, there is always enough back story so you understand the relationships.
This book was a real page-turner. It is, sometimes, hard to keep track, among the fantasy creatures, of who is whom, and on whose side, but the action just keep you going.
The story is not clich? and some of the more real characters have a strong moral code. For me, these books are always a treat to read.
Book Review: Just keeps gettting better
Summary: 5 Stars
Jim Butcher has done it again! Written and hugely entertaining and mesmerizing Dresden book. I love them!
Butcher seems to keep getting better. The first Dresden book was good, but here at the tenth book, it's great. When I am reading a book and come across a sentence, an analogy that is so well crafted that I have to stop to appreciate and savor it, THAT is a sign of a good read.
Butcher reminds me of the late great Douglas Adams, in that he can keep multiple trains of thoughts going and integrate them smoothly into his writing. Also, like Douglas Adams, you can never predict where he is going to go.
Butcher wisely chose a wizard has his hero, allowing him a vast world of supernatural playmates. He is not stuck in a world of vampires such as a vampire hunter might be (although there are vampires). He has wealth of different supernatural characters to select to come and play. And they do. Sometimes not nicely. Vampires, faeries and demons to name just a few.
Since the first book, Dresden has gathered a support group. It is not the Scooby group of Buffy; these guys have weapons and know how to use them. There is little angst over killing the uber-bad-guy, thank you very much.
The only downside to the Dresden books is that Butcher seems to feel it is necessary to rehash things covered in previous books - sometimes covered in every single previous book. If I have to read one more time how Murphy is a cop, and a good cop, and good cops only go by the law and yada, yada, yada...... (skip read to something new).
That little foible aside, read the book, read the series. You too can become addicted to Dresden!
Book Review: Butcher is a wizard
Summary: 5 Stars
Often in fantasy the basic plot is a cliche. And since Buffy (or Blackwood for that matter) a guardian/wizard/detective in a modern city fighting supernatural intrusions will sound pretty tired. But it is what you do with familiar stories and elements that decides whether you're a hack or a genius. With his storytelling flair, ear for dialogue and inventiveness Jim Butcher plays in the Olympic league. What's more, with every new book in this series he ups the ante - and manages to avoid all the pitfalls of the genre. We still do not know most of the bad guys - or what they are up to - because there are some deep undercurrents in Dresden's world, but does that mean that the series has ground to a snails pace by book 10 (such as in some epic fantasies we know)? Hell no, the pace might well be even more breathless than in book 8 and 9! And yes, we learn new things about Dresden's world and about Harry himself (romance!) but that is not the point, or is it? Action! Character! Emotions! Scary villains! Unexpected allies! Danger from all sides! Big Bangs (lots)! Thunder! Lightning! Include all that and still take the stories in unexpected directions by the 10th book, then you've created magic. Good one, Mr. B. Thanks!Book Review: Wanna Read A Great Series ?
Summary: 5 Stars
Book 10, is just the latest and great read from Jim Butcher. Follow the Dresden Gang through the city streets of Chicago. Just enough twists and turns to keep you interested and not so many you loose your way. Book Review: Harry Dresden - The most entertaining series, ever...
Summary: 5 Stars
Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean there is an invisible demon about to eat your face...
The Dresden series is by far one of the most amusing and enjoyable fantasy series that I've read. If you've not read any of the 'Dresden Files' then please do yourself a favour and start at #1 (Storm Front). It is more than worth it to start at the beginning. I discovered the series, after being a fan of the Sky One television programme.
Having read all the books, at least twice, they have become an integral part of my recreational reading. Furthermore, having convinced a number of my family and friends to try out Dresden, their enjoyment has meant that the 'files, have become an integral part of our regular conversations and day to day terminology.
Small Favor, is not my favourite in the series, although it is by far from the least enjoyable (that title goes to Summer Knight, an excellent book but the weakest, in my opinion, in the series), and it is more of a pre-cursor book (think Star Wars IV: A New Hope - the first Star Wars film, for those who aren't sure). It sets up a number of story lines, for what I truly hope will be another good few books.
Don't get me wrong, this book is brilliant, witty, engaging, funny - the adjectives just keep coming. The development of the characters and the continuance of what makes the series great is still there. Although, I sincerely miss 'Lash', I won't explain more for those who've not read all the books in the series.
In short, if you've already read some of the Dresden Files, you WON'T need me to convince you to buy and read this latest episode. And, if you've not read any, then start at Storm Front...