Background

Published in March of 2010, Turn Coat is the 11th book in The Dresden Files series. Harry’s old “friend” Morgan starts this book showing up at Harry’s door battered and needing help. There is something very wrong with the White Council. Can Harry figure it out in time to save Morgan?

My Thoughts

Wheels within wheels, the plot thickens as we learn more and more about the Council members and the world of wizarding. I thought for sure that Harry’s understanding of the place was due to it being somehow connected to his mother. However, that doesn’t seem likely after the fact. The skinwalker seemed to be more than a little overpowered but I did like the wrinkle of making Thomas more human.

Recommendation

Great read and vital to the story line.

Background

Published in May of 2009, Small Favor is the 10th book in The Dresden Files series. Queen Mab meets Harry and makes him her special emissary, largely against his wishes. He is quickly sucked into a drama he isn’t ready for.

My Thoughts

This was a fun read. I particularly enjoyed how Uriel intervened at the end.

Recommendation

In for a penny in for a pound… I have to finish now.

Background

Published in February of 2008, White Night is the 9th book in The Dresden Files series. Someone is killing witches all over the place and leaving behind a calling card that only magic wielders can see. It seems like Harry is doing or maybe Thomas. Either way, it doesn’t look good…

My Thoughts

This one wasn’t my favorite but at least we can get through with the White King. Lara is much more out in the open and we learn more about Thomas.

Recommendation

You have to get through it to get to the next.

Background

Published in 2006, Proven Guilty is the 8th book in The Dresden Files. Someone is calling in monsters that feed off the fear of people and they know the right man to call…

My Thoughts

Harry started this book as a warder who had to watch as the death sentence was carried out on a teenager who had gotten too far into the black arts. He isn’t happy about it and we see the psychological wear it, and all the other killings, took on Harry. It’s good to see him struggle a bit as he seems to keep increasing in power.

This book did a good job trying to add some grey into what may be seen as black and white. I’m increasingly impressed with the author’s ability to work subtlety in the story.

Recommendation

If you’ve read this far, you have to see it through.

Background

Published in 2005, Dead Beat is the 7th book in The Dresden Files.

Zombies! Necromancy most foul and the legacy of the man who started both of the world wars.

My Thoughts

I hate zombies. Seriously, they are most boring and annoying of horror creatures and I’ve never understood why people are interested. However, the author did a great job in blending the different types of zombies and necromancy that the story was actually enjoyable.

Recommendation

Worth the time to read, not for the kids.

Background

Published in 2006, Blood Rites is the 6th book in The Dresden Files. This time the main fight is with the Black Court vampires and this time, Harry brings the fight to them. The reader learns more about the White Council and Harry has to deal with some hard truths about the only wizard who he ever really looked up to.

My Thoughts

This one wasn’t my favorite but it was still a good read. We learn more and more about Harry and his past and the characters are further developed. The author does a great job setting up larger story.

Recommendation

A good book and another link in the chain. Not for the kids.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.