One person's small favor is another's world-shifting, death-skirting onus. Especially when the one asking, nay demanding, the small favor is the Wint...moreOne person's small favor is another's world-shifting, death-skirting onus. Especially when the one asking, nay demanding, the small favor is the Winter Queen of Faerie and saying "no thanks" just isn't in her realm of acceptance. Poor Harry Dresden. Again. One would almost feel abounding sympathy and terror for him if it wasn't so darn funny the situations that seem to coalesce around him.
At least Harry has his trusty Mouse, a pair of holy sword-bearing Knights of the Cross, an apprentice and cop friend with attitudes, and a super-hot vampire brother to keep his butt from being roasted by the arrayed forces of antagonists - including some very irate Billy Goats Gruff.(less)
Who do the lesser magical powers turn to when threatened? One would hope they would seek the counsel of their local Warden, Harry Dresden, but then w...moreWho do the lesser magical powers turn to when threatened? One would hope they would seek the counsel of their local Warden, Harry Dresden, but then why do they flee from him, throw protective wards up against him, and send him nasty scowls? It couldn't be his oh-so-charming demeanor and highly evolved sense of humor, could it?
Not only must Harry untangle the web of deceit pinning a string of apparent suicides to his doing, figure out if the real killer is one of his nearest and dearest, deal with a headstrong apprentice with a penchant for veiling herself, he must also deal with a stiff-collared prude with bad fashion sense and a sharp tongue.
Some days, one should ask this wizard why the whole city rests on his shoulders. Oh, and his demon is nearing total assimilation of his soul.(less)
Sorely disappointed in this exploration of the Omega wolf, which struck me oddly as all of Brigg's previous urban fantasy have been wonderfully engagi...moreSorely disappointed in this exploration of the Omega wolf, which struck me oddly as all of Brigg's previous urban fantasy have been wonderfully engaging. For some nebulous reason I had difficulty even finishing this one. The characters seemed slightly off, as did the plot. The central conceit of this series is the dynamic between Charles as an uber-Alpha wolf and Anna the Omega wolf and I felt like there was much more to be mined.(less)
B-movie monsters (the A-listers were all booked) get fleshed, run amok, cause fear, get blasted by Harry, who, since he is now all official and Warden...moreB-movie monsters (the A-listers were all booked) get fleshed, run amok, cause fear, get blasted by Harry, who, since he is now all official and Warden-cloaked, has even more impetus than his own over-large sense of nobility and do-gooderness to save the day. And at the end of this one, Harry gets a big ol' bonus - the kind that entails lots or responsibility and effort, not unlike a previous ending bonus, but less evil, hopefully.(less)
Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex is worth the price of admission to this frenetic Halloween treasure hunt.
Going to absurd lengths to protect Murp...moreSue the Tyrannosaurus Rex is worth the price of admission to this frenetic Halloween treasure hunt.
Going to absurd lengths to protect Murphy's reputation when a big bad from the past dangles some incriminating evidence in front of Harry, our favorite wizard-for-hire proceeds to hamster the wheel as he tries to discover what the elusive article of exchange really is. Of course it would be too simple if bickering factions of necromancers and their hordes of undead and nasty minions weren't after the same thing Harry needs to find to clear Murphy. Halloween night will see the unveiling of a serious amount of death magic which will leave Harry with a special little present: the erosion of his soul.(less)
Meeting Thomas one may be stricken with how very much he resembles an importation from another urban fantasy writer in nearby St. Louis, not for actua...moreMeeting Thomas one may be stricken with how very much he resembles an importation from another urban fantasy writer in nearby St. Louis, not for actual character but just how damn scrumptious he is. Plus he teaches Harry a valuable lesson while roping him in to help with a case on a porn movie set. Add in some crazies wielding magic, stuffed-shirt vampires wearing very near nothing to stuff, and flaming monkey poo, shake a bit, and you end up with a rather woozy Harry Dresden.(less)
Something big happens. So much gets crammed into this book that I marvel it hasn't exploded gore across its fellows. And I do mean gore. Harry sure...moreSomething big happens. So much gets crammed into this book that I marvel it hasn't exploded gore across its fellows. And I do mean gore. Harry sure gets dirty: dealing with an impending duel with the Red Court Champion whose gentile surface has to be masking more than just his nasty vampire form, a contract to remove him from the playing field, and Susan coming back. And those are just the minor events. The major big bad is much more sinister and scary, and it really wants Harry to play with it.(less)
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 t...moreFaeries 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.(less)
Fleshless fiends run afoul of Harry, and we are introduced to an intriguing cohort in Michael Carpenter, a paladin of the highest sort who happens to ...moreFleshless fiends run afoul of Harry, and we are introduced to an intriguing cohort in Michael Carpenter, a paladin of the highest sort who happens to have a pretty darn spiffy sword complete with italicized name and mayhap an original nail from the Crucifixion (the BIG one), glowing all purty with Mr. Carpenter's divine faith and cutting a swath through the baddies.
What delights me thus far about Mr. Butcher is his inventive machinations providing all manner of terribly awful things with which to assail Mr. Dresden, none of which come off as overly familiar or beat-into-the-ground as many of this burgeoning genre have already succumbed.(less)
Normally I shudder when I read a review that begins with "a delightful tale," but I'll be darned if that wasn't the first thing I thought af...moreNormally I shudder when I read a review that begins with "a delightful tale," but I'll be darned if that wasn't the first thing I thought after finishing Carmody's story. Little Fur's half-elven, half-trollish perspective on humans and their creations was comical, yet also bypassed the mishmash of facades and charades that we erect, leaving our constructs in their naked horror and disruption of the natural world...or perhaps I'm reading too much into a children's book.(less)
Though still crafting oddball events and giving his main character plenty of recriminatory moments, Strout steps Simon Canderous up a notch, moving hi...moreThough still crafting oddball events and giving his main character plenty of recriminatory moments, Strout steps Simon Canderous up a notch, moving his soggy-behind-the-ears rookie to a moderately-moist-behind-the-ears rookie. There is still lots of red tape and bureaucratic finagling and mangling, weird ghosts and possessed statues, vendettas and opportunities for batting practice, but the most challenging aspect for Simon: dealing with his former cult member girlfriend in an actual relationship. The slap-happy romp continues in this second caper, just mind that when you rip off the red tape you don't take skin with you.(less)
After Santa Olivia, Carey's stature as my favorite author was assured. Naamah's Kiss carved that distinction into marble. Any successive contenders ...moreAfter Santa Olivia, Carey's stature as my favorite author was assured. Naamah's Kiss carved that distinction into marble. Any successive contenders for favorite author will have tall plinths to ascend before their names can be carved near the zenith.
Departing chronologically but not spiritedly from my beloved characters in the Kushiel's Legacy, this generational descendant retains the compassion and character and thrill and intelligence of its predecessors. Rather than merely reacquaint us solely with D'Angeline society as it has progressed over four generations, Carey starts us in the wilds of Alba with a descendant of Alais, now referred to as Alais the Wise, who is part of a family branch that followed the isolationist nature of the still mistrusted Maghuinn Donn: Moirin, great granddaughter to my beloved princess who matured to inspire Alba.
Alais' great granddaughter has no less a grand destiny to fulfill; indeed, it is this destiny that fuels her outward exploration. Thematically central, the thread of destiny remains ever present to Moirin as she literally feels her destiny respond to the courses she ponders. It is this internal compass that propels or hinders her along the way, the impetus that sends her beyond one ocean to Terre d'Ange, and then beyond a greater ocean to distant and newly connected, yet forbidding Ch'in.
Magic is much more prevalent for Moirin and a greater factor in Naamah's Kiss, taking on a larger presence than in the Kushiel's Legacy sextuplet. Moirin lives with magic, having inherited through her ancestry from Alais and the Maghuinn Donn gifts that many thought lost. She hears the call of the bear goddess of the Maghuinn Donn, but also feels and is guided by the presence of the D'Angeline consorts Naamah and Anael. Weaving together with her demanding destiny, this exploration of magic and divinity compels a significant part of the story and positions Moirin in spheres of intrigue and power to which her naivete is quickly forced to adapt.
Despite her humble upbringing in the wilds of Alba, or perhaps due to it, Moirin has a lusty desire to learn, explore her nature, and follow the call of her destiny. This often manifests as a stubborn streak, which combines with her naive charm to engender a new character Carey has created that has stolen my heart. Methinks Naamah would be especially pleased by this.(less)
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