Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, #4) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jul 16, 2016 ~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, detective, fantasy, paranormal

3.5 Faerie Stars.

Warning: Spoilers might follow. Proceed at your own risk.

Summer Knight starts off right where Grave Peril ended. Harry's stance against the powerful Bianca and the Red Court has brought the White Council at a state of war with the former. Harry has to face a trial, and that comes at a price more far-stretched than he ever fancied.

To be honest, I liked Grave Peril far better. I might look like belonging to a minority, because people alien to Dresden Files are often recommen 3.5 Faerie Stars.

Warning: Spoilers might follow. Proceed at your own risk.

Summer Knight starts off right where Grave Peril ended. Harry's stance against the powerful Bianca and the Red Court has brought the White Council at a state of war with the former. Harry has to face a trial, and that comes at a price more far-stretched than he ever fancied.

To be honest, I liked Grave Peril far better. I might look like belonging to a minority, because people alien to Dresden Files are often recommended to start right off from Summer Knight, apparently owing to its high level of excitement and introduction to a lot many significant characters. However, it didn't work that well for me.

I'll state the reasons why. There are specific elements that I'm always agog for in a Butcher novel.For example, the build up. The author has a unique sense of building up a particular situation prior to presenting the supernatural forces disturbing the balance between worlds. This is structural to his style of writing and it was significantly missing in this book. The much-awaited White Council meet ended as abruptly as it came. Another instance is when Harry discovers the murderer. The unraveling came all at once, including people on list which a minute ago he didn't suspect. Or maybe he did but he didn't let the reader know. Either way, I don't think this worked in my favour.

I could not place the air around this story.
Was it funny, humorous? Apparently not.
Was it sad, gloomy? Maybe.
I don't have qualms with it being either, but what I disliked was the atmosphere being somewhere in the middle or being somewhere else altogether.

Harry's character too, was very distant and superficial in this instalment, much to my utter disdain. This is not how Butcher writes about Dresden. His character, though seemingly sangfroid at the face of any calamity, equally feels like any mortal would. In other books, Harry would describe his terror, his suspicions, his hurt in minuscule details, never overdoing or making him seem like a whiner. That is what makes him utterly relatable. On the contrary, in Summer Knight, I've no idea how much Harry is hurting until Aurora says so. Even then, he swiftly changes his train of thought, and we never find any reflection further on.

Enough of the pitfalls. Despite everything, I quite enjoyed the book, more so in the 2nd half. The Fae concept was wonderfully put, including the balance of powers that constitute Summer and Winter. The fight scenes were done well; the author was punctilious enough to not leave out any essential detail. I could play the scenes in my head when they happened. Susan and Michael were terribly missed. On a happier note however, it's good to see Murphy take centre stage with Harry unlike that the previous books, where her character got sidetracked easily.
Toot-toot, how glad I was to see you, little wyldfae. :)
The alphas were real supportive, though Billy's incessant questioning got on my nerves.
Godmother Lea is still a shady character to me. The steep transition from being the sly woman in Grave Peril to a completely selfless, helpful lady was too far-fetched to digest.
A lot of new characters have been introduced, which must be of significance later on in the series.

Overall, a good read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4. ...more

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Jul 22, 2018 Rachel C. rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-goodreads-reading-challenge

A classic Dresden novel. Amusing wit and Toot-Toot plus other strange friends all in one book. Definitely an enjoyable read. I have to admit I keep expecting a little more novelty, but these are some interesting and quick reads that are worth reading to pass the time and so as to have something to joke with friends and family about.

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Apr 20, 2015 ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ rated it really liked it

Shelves: z-carmen-s-rrrc-challenge-addicts, fantasy, fantasy-paranormal, fantasy-urban-fantasy, wizard

Harry's the man. Love him and reading it with my buddies are so much fun :) ...more

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Aug 08, 2024 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: set-in-north-america, cultural-usa, adventure-thriller, paranormal-fantasy-magic-etc, 2024

When I first started reading this series I was unsure if I would continue on with it. Protagonist/narrator Harry Dresden was just such an ass. But, I am glad that I stuck with these books because they have gotten better and better, and Harry seems to be growing up and becoming a much more interesting character to read about.

Harry is still occasionally an ass, but in a different way than before. He has lost most of the misogyny and picked up some depth instead.

I also appreciated the inclusion of ...more

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Aug 12, 2024 Genevieve rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am really enjoying reading this series. In this book Dresden is still reeling from the fact Susan got bitten by a vampire. He has let everything about his life go in order to look for a cure. Then a Faerie Queen comes needing him and so starts an amazing story line and a few times I wasn't sure Dresden was going to get out alive. There are so many great descriptions from the people to the all the creatures Dresden meets to the places he sees. I love how Dresden isn't the best wizard but he is ...more

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Jul 03, 2016 Viji rated it really liked it

Shelves: ammp, 2016, sfrc, nbrc

I will be giving this 4.5 star rating. A nice fairy tale.

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Aug 20, 2017 Michelle Wood Kindell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great fantasy read!

If you like wizards, faeries and things that go bump in the night, then you'll like this series of books. You must start with the first book of the series to get your imagination going. These books have just enough humor that keeps me smiling and want to finish them in as few sittings as possible. ...more

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