Jim Butcher begins the latest book in the Dresden series with Harry having been out of sight for months since the end of the previous novel. Life gets steadily worse for Harry as the book continues, eventually finding himself deeper than a city sewer in every kind of supernatural politics you can imagine.

This book takes the fun and interest of the previous book, and continues on the story arcs that were established, as well as creating a stand alone story that doesn't require the other books. Harry, due to lack of sleep and social contact, becomes more of a smart arse in this book, which I enjoy thoroughly. Complexity grew with this book as well, making the culprit more difficult to detect from just a chapter or two. The final twist holds unique Dresden-esque shift. I think the how-deep-can-we-pile-Harry plot gets overdone, which makes me believe that the series can only improve from here. ( )

Faeries and politicking. Who knew it could be so much fun to watch Harry Dresden squirm! Oh wait, that is one of the reasons I keep coming back to this wonderful series. In this fourth installment of how-will-Harry-be-royally(literally)-screwed, he has the White Council with the Sword of Damocles (or Morgan with his axe to grind) on one side, Queen Mab of the icy britches Winter Court on another, and a gang load of hired thugs and nasty types elsewhere trying to off him. Oh, and his dead flame who tried to kill him is back too. What choice a poor wizard to make for his demise?

Even with this doom and gloom storm cloud brewing with a little Faerie magic on a big stone table, Harry battles the good battle, plays the heroic man with a big staff, wears his spiffy coat, and keeps a snarky head above the insanity, even while said head is spinning none too slowly over his unlucky fate.

I sort of really wanted to hug Mr. Butcher after finishing this novel. ( )

Jim Butcher delivers another grand escapade in his Harry Dresden, wizard detective series. With Dresden, there's fun for everyone: lover's of fantasy or mystery need not worry. In this installment the wizards and vampires are at war, the summer and winter faeries are at war and its causing all kinds of trouble in mortal Chicago. With Dresden feeling sorry for himself and looking even worse, he must save the wizards, the faeries, Chicago and himself.

Watch for box knives and .357 Magnums as Dresden makes the reader laugh and want to stomp somebody's face in. This is definitely an adventure worth reading. I'm looking forward to the next one. ( )

The 4th book in the Dresden files series sees Harry recovering from what happened with the Vampire's last fall. He is not taking care of himself and blaming himself for what happened to Susan. Queen Mab then comes to Harry and makes him an offer. Harry is to find out who killed the Summer Court's Knight as the Shide are thinking Mab may have done it. The White Council of Wizards decides this is a good test to determine if Harry should keep his status as a Wizard of the White Council or not. Some of the Council want to turn Harry over to the Red Vampire court for starting the war.

A decent book to the series. Jim's plot lines and mysteries have gotten more complex. And he is bringing in more characters and adding depth to the established ones. After rereading this for probably the 5th or 6th time one thing that stood out to me at the end was Harry never got to see the results of the White Council on his job being done. It seems like that would have been important enough to include in the book. Or if Harry wouldn't have been well enough to go to the council Ebenazer would have shown up at Harry's apt. and let him know the outcome.

But this is still one of my favorite series out there. I recomend it to any and all who are fans or wizards, mysteries, urban fantasy, or just looking for a well written book. ( )

This series is like M&Ms. You start reading and think, just a little more. I like the noir-ish voice of the main character, along with the sense of the ridiculous that makes the horror aspects of the novel not so dark that I won't read it. The continuing thread of the series is beginning to get deeper and more interesting as the main character becomes more important to the "unreal" world and discovers more about himself. ( )