Harry Dresden is at it again – getting into trouble, that is. The Queen of Air and Darkness, Mab, calls in a favor. Just a small one that he can’t refuse. And thus his troubles begin.

Though I am familiar with the Dresden Files, this is the first book in the series I have read. It will definitely not be the last. The plot was intricate and well woven with all sorts of subplots. The pacing was well done with enough ups to keep you interested and downs to give you a break from all that angst. The characters are well developed and realistic – even the fantastic ones. From a strictly technical point of view, this is an excellently crafted book.

From the entertainment side, it is also excellently done. There are good guys who have issues and bad guys with likeable aspects. In other words, they are believable. The story is fun, full of action, magic, adventure, and even some romance. As part of a series, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to figure out who was who and what was going on, but that’s not a problem here. Butcher is a master craftsman who writes a good book you can enjoy even without having read the others in the series.

I highly recommend Butcher and his books to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories that take place in the contemporary world. Well done.