I am ready to admit something, Harry Dresden is a pervert. I didn’t realize how overly sexualized Butcher’s females are until this book, The way Dresden describes a women, well I can tell you that my nipples are not always straining through my shirt thank you very much, if they were I think there may be something wrong with them. Did this ruin the story for me absolutely not, it was an annoyance really. Because I listened by way of audio book, I was unable to really skim over these scenes, had I read the book I would have skipped most character descriptions. I don’t really care how smooth a characters skin is.

Also I think I may be way too good at figuring out what will happen and who the bad guy is, but honestly I don’t think Butcher was trying too hard at covering it up. I will admit that until this book Butcher didn’t have an overall story really flushed out, now I think we will have an arc with allied characters on Dresden’s side that will span multiple books and I am excited. This book didn’t have Murphy in it that much, and no mention of Mac, but it had a lot more of Bob whom I love. Plus they introduced a couple of characters that I can’t wait to read more about. They all seem really badass and fleshed out.

Now if only we can get Dresden’s mind out of the freaking gutter… ( )

(3.5 / 5)

My favorite thing about this book is definitely Harry and Michael—their friendship, how they work together, and how they contrast each other. Some really funny moments came out of their interactions. The mystery of the Nightmare is engaging, as is the introduction of Harry’s godmother, which is sort of just dropped in like we should have already known about it, Butcher’s signature way of world-building.

I did like this book more than the previous, though I still hope for some improvement as the series continues. The formula I was concerned about becoming part of the series after the first two books was all but shattered in this one, which is good. Though I can’t say I’m a big fan of the super long-battle scenes that seem to be part of every book. I found it strange that every vampire seems to purr when they talk—actually, not just the vampire, but all of the bad guys. Dresden seems to use that verb a bit too heavily. And if you ask me, there was too much Susan and not enough Murphy in this book. I still wish there was less content of a sexual nature, but it wasn’t as bad in this book as it was in the previous. And I definitely recommend the narration by James Marsters. ( )

I abandoned reading the physical book midway, but tried again the audiobook, and like it better. Then stuck to the series till this installment, because the consensus seems to be that it picks up with the third volume. Now I think I'll give up.

Personally what I hope to find in an urban fantasy is something a bit... different. Could be giving a serious tech/math/physics turn to old ideas, like in the Atrocity Archives; or it could be to see the natural evolution of those old ideas embodied in a modern surrounding, like Dimitri's Pan. Embracing modernity in a way that matters.

But this is just the usual old wizard-ish stuff in modern day Chicago. The only hint of modernity is, ironically, that modern stuff doesn't work around Harry... Could be set anywhere else. I don't get the appeal. ( )

I've learned that if you are James Marsters, I will enjoy your reading no matter how you pronounce 'dais.' ( )

As usual, I sort of ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would initially. Harry Dresden's world is becoming familiar to me, for better or for worse. His tastes in women are in evidence, with rather more description than I really need, but other than that the world of the supernatural in Chicago is alive (sort of) and kicking, and Dresden is kicking back. I like the addition of the Knight of God in the entourage, it's sort of incongruous, but interesting. This story, about some kind of malevolent spirit that has roused the supernatural, particularly the vampires, in Chicago, leads to a tremendous amount of violence and death, but despite a few close calls, and at least one perhaps irrevocable loss, Dresden emerges from the chaos to carry on and face the next paranormal mess. ( )