Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6) by Jim Butcher

Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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The Barnes & Noble Review
Blood Rites, the sixth book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (Storm Front, Fool Moon, Grave Peril, et al.) pits Harry Dresden -- a Chicago detective who happens to be a powerful wizard -- against a mysterious killer who is systematically targeting people working on an X-rated movie set.

When an unlikely acquaintance of Harry's -- a self-absorbed vampire named Thomas -- asks him as a favor to help out a friend, Harry is compelled to agree. The friend, Arturo Genosa, is a motion picture producer in the process of starting his own adult entertainment company. But someone, or something, doesn't want him to succeed. One by one, his employees are dying incredibly gruesome and seemingly accidental deaths. Harry, posing as a production assistant, investigates.

What he uncovers is pure evil. Someone is ritualistically killing members of Genosa's staff with a powerful magic curse that involves raising a demon. As Harry digs deeper, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly vampiric civil war that not only puts his life in danger but also risks the lives of hundreds of innocents. Further probing leads Harry to some jaw-dropping insights, both about the vampires and about himself.

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Excellent story in the life of Harry Dresden, professional wizard. Loved getting to know Thomas a bit more since I liked him in previous books. Thinking I like the path that Harry and Murphy seem to be headed down and enjoyed the story in general. Love this series and look forward to reading more soon.



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Death Masks (The Dresden Files, #5) by Jim Butcher

Death Masks by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But now he's getting more than he bargained for.

A duel with the Red Court of Vampires' champion, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards...

Professional hit men using Harry for target practice...

The missing Shroud of Turin...

A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified...

Not to mention the return of Harry's ex-girlfriend Susan, who's still struggling with her semivampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life.

Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you're charging.
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Non-stop, action packed chapter in the life of Harry Dresden. Great read with some great characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series.



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Summer Knight (The Dresden Files # 4) by Jim Butcher

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul-are at stake.

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It has been a while since I spent time with Harry. Glad to get back. Another action packed, hard to put down, book. Lots going on but still a lot to be resolved. Looking forward to getting caught up with the series.



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Strange Brew by P.N. Elrod (Editor / Contributor)

Strange Brew by P.N. Elrod


Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic!

In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.

For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!



My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Very enjoyable read. Some old favorite authors as well as an introduction to some new ones for me.

My 2 least favorite stories were Charlaine Harris's Bacon and PN Elrod's Hecate's Golden Eye. The rest of the stories were quite enjoyable.

I will add one warning. If you have any desire to read the 'Cin Craven' series by Jenna Maclaine, you may want to read them before reading the short story included in this book -- 'Dark Sins'.


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#58 -- Grave Peril: Dresden Files #3 by Jim Butcher

*Publishers Weekly*
Wizard Harry Dresden stars in the third installment of the Dresden Files (following Fool Moon), a haunting, fantastical novel that begins almost as innocently as those of another famous literary wizard named Harry. In the opening scene, Dresden and his knight friend, Michael, battle the ghost of a woman who is terrorizing a local hospital's maternity ward. From there, the novel quickly evolves into an unorthodox tale spiced with sexual innuendo and subtle humor (Dresden carries his ghost-hunting gear in an old Scooby-Doo lunch box). Due to the weakened barrier between the spirit world which Butcher refers to as "the nevernever" and the actual world, obsessive and violent ghosts are on the loose in modern-day Chicago, and they seem to be targeting Dresden and Michael. Horny vampires and possessive demons join the mix as Dresden journeys into the spirit world to hunt down the villains who are terrorizing him and his friends.

*My Opinion*
Wow!! These Dresden Files books just keep getting better. This one is non-stop action, you barely get a chance to catch your breath. Harry has to deal with the Nightmare, an evil that attacks in your dreams. It seems to be targeting Harry and those who are close to him. The plot is multi-layered and keeps you involved. I loved the character of Michael and his feisty wife Charity. Not sure that I like the direction of Harry and Susan's relationship and all I can say about the ending is YIKES!! Absolutely fantastic book!!!

#35 -- Fool Moon: Dresden Files #2 by Jim Butcher

From the Publisher
Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn’t been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical or mundane.

But just when it looks like he can’t afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don’t count…

My Opinion

Excellent!! I enjoyed this one even more than the first one in the series. Harry Dresden and werewolves, what more could you ask for.

Non stop action and lots of excitement. We learn a little more about Harry and see more interaction between him and Murphy. Looking forward to reading more!