|
One episode of the series was based on this book, but plenty of changes for tv keep it from being the same story. The suspense is constant, the story is clever, the world is intriguing, and the ending is very satisfying -- the last paragraph is perfect; I can't imagine a better way to end this story.
If they're as good, I will almost certainly read the rest. I've got the next two books, and it's killing me that I don't have time to read them right now.
I was recently re-introduced to the Dresden Files on Hulu (I didn't get the chance to watch it on Sci-Fi). The story takes place over four very long days as we see Harry get run through the ringer by four different people who want to hurt, arrest, or kill him as he solves two cases -- a double murder and a missing person.
Highly recommended. When I found out the show was based on novels, I was intrigued.
This book introduces the reader to Harry Dresden (wizard, private eye, and professional punching bag) and his world (including demons, fairies, and the wizard police).
We have bought the next 2 in the series. He enjoyed it as well. I really enjoyed the reader for this audio. I had read the book, but bought it for my husband.
Who I really liked was Susan. Wasn't it better for her to do it informed rather than blind. On the other hand, Murphy was riding Harry pretty hard and sometimes she just went too far, she was too nasty and bitchy when it wasn't necessary, Harry wasn't the bad guy, after all. I really like Harry, even though he likes to make life harder for himself. What a cool girl. I mean, he didn't have to tell her about the White Council but there were things that he could have told her, about his suspicions and about Marcone and his man. I still don't get why he couldn't be straight with Murphy. He had to know that she would go and investigate anyway.
I mostly read SF so I shopped around for a couple of years before I picked an "urban fantasy" series to read and collect. The characters are fantastic, the plots superb, and even the Chris McGrath dust-jacket artwork (on the hardbacks) is excellent. With Jim Butcher's Dresden books I know I made the right choice. When I read this book about two years ago I would have rated it four stars. Now that I've continued reading the series I realize just how good these novels are.
For example the sword that is carried around in the first book. If you look up some of the names of things they are real(or at least as real as mythology gets). One thing that I really liked about the book is the use of some old mythology.
From this recommendation I started out with I suppose grand expectations, which were crushed. The action finally picked up once all of the unnecessary development had taken place (I mean when you have 10+ books in a series you have plenty of time for character development). I started reading this book on the recommendation of my sister who has read the whole series.
I'm not saying that we don't need some, but I think that 200 pages of set up is a little excessive. So in summary I didn't like the book as much as I thought, but it wasn't bad either.definitely the middle of the road, but the second book is better. As it turned out it was a very difficult read, and I contemplated not finishing the book.
I did finish, and I must say that the last 100 or so pages were the best of the book, and these pages also convinced me to read the second book.
|
