Fool Moon

Background

Published in 2001, Fool Moon is the 2nd book in The Dresden Files. It was largely written before the first book of the series was published and the author was still taking classes in writing.

This book brings in werewolves into Chicago and there is only one wizard in the phonebook…

Fool Moon
Fool Moon

My Thoughts

I read this book out of order since it was unavailable when I wanted it. I had already read through the 5th book of the series before beginning this one so I was already familiar with many of the characters that were introduced. It was still a good read but I’d highly recommend reading books in a series in order.

I liked the idea of several different kinds of werewolves all interacting. The author really does a great job of capturing the subtleties of different legends and brings them together with ease.

Recommendation

A fun read. Not for the kids due to violence.

Death Masks

Background

Published in 2003, Death Masks is the 5th book in The Dresden Files. This book sees Harry dealing with the White Court of vampires now that he dealt with the Red Court in the last book in the series. There is a lot of confusion and the reader learns much more about Harry’s history and family.

Death Masks
Death Masks

My Thoughts

Another good book. I liked the touch of several different kind of vampires which was touched on in the last book. The idea that the porn industry is at least partially fueled by vampires that feel on sexual energy is one I hadn’t heard of before… We get much more information on Thomas and the Knights of the Cross.

Recommendation

Worth the read. Again, not for the kids.

Summer Knight

Background

Published in 2002, Summer Knight is the 4th book in the The Dresden Files series. This book sees Harry pulled into a conflict between the fairy kingdoms of summer and winter and reintroduced to his first love who he thought was dead.

Summer Knight
Summer Knight

My Thoughts

A fun book that gave a lot of backstory on Harry and further expanded the universe of The Dresden Files. A good deal of the book is fought in the Nevernever which is like a literary “room of requirement” and gives almost unlimited options to the author. Harry becomes almost a little overpowered and I’m a little worried about that becoming a theme in the books.

Recommendation

Another good book. Not for the kids.

Grave Peril

Background

Originally published in September of 2001, Grave Peril is the 3rd book in the The Dresden Files series. There is a note on the audio book that the author believes this book marks the “real” beginnings of the series in terms of momentum.

Harry ends up going to the home of the Red Court which sets the stage for much of the series to follow.

Grave Peril
Grave Peril

My Thoughts

I read the books out of order as the 2nd book wasn’t available at the time and I went through the first in a day. I hate doing that kind of thing because so much of the series was cumulative. Harry had the help of werewolves in this book which he certainly didn’t in the first. Still, the author is always good enough to give a brief into to the characters in each book when the read first encounters them.

Recommendation

Another good book and a little more adult than the last.

Storm Front

Background

Published in 2000, Storm Front is the first book in the The Dresden Files series. It was originally written as a class assignment. Fortunately, the teacher pronounced it good enough to publish.

Storm Front
Storm Front

My Thoughts

I enjoyed the book. I was still recovering from reading Wuthering Heights and a friend suggested the series. I liked the idea of a wizard detective and looked up the first book. Not for the young, it has some language and adult situations. Still, it was entertaining and I found myself swept up in the series.

Recommendation

Good book and worth the read.

Wuthering Heights

Background

Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 by Emily Brontë. It is considered to be a classic in English literature along with other works that came from the 3 Brontë sisters. Most notable is likely the oldest’s (Charlotte) Jane Erye. All deal with Victorian era morality and challenges as a whole.

Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights

My Thoughts

I can appreciate that this book was a first in terms of psychological abuse and was a challenge to the social status quo at the time. Having only had some side knowledge of the book, it remained as a book I would have liked to have read. “Have read”, in the past tense… I’m glad I was able to get through it and can give my first hand opinion.

Complete garbage. It was so hard to keep going through it! This story had no one I was rooting for, no one who I cared about in the slightest… It took so much out of me that I didn’t read another book for over 3 weeks.

Recommendation

Read the cliff notes or skip it if you can.