What to read while waiting for the next Dresden Files

[Steven]

A great series is the Riyira revelations by Michael Sullivan

His series is being released by Orbit

This was a six book cycle now in a 3 book release.
Michael J. Sullivan

Theft of Swords

Heir of NovronRise of Empire

[Annabelle Miller]

I just finished "Hammered" book three of Iron Druid Chronicles and now am reading both Girl with the dragon Tattoo and Shrödingers cat trilogy. I also intend to finish American Gods and God No! just need to get Google books copies.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

In the midst of my reread, a little over half way through Dead Beat... It ranks as one of my favorites.

[Justin]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "In the midst of my reread, a little over half way through Dead Beat... It ranks as one of my favorites."

Dead Beat is definitely one of my all time favorites and one of only a few books I've ever read twice.

[Betsy]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'm starting an audio reread of Storm Front. Over the next 6 months or so I'll probably reread the series and hopefully finish up around the time Cold Days comes out.

Anyone wants ..."

I am interested MIke. Perfect timing. How far in are you now (since u started in Oct)? I will do the audio this time around too so I can still function in real life. hhaha


(BTW, I finished the Twenty Palaces series by Harry Connolly. Highly recommend) Book one is:
Child of Fire

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I took a break after Dead Beat, didn't want to finish the series (again) too fast.

I'm interspersing it with a night-time reread (re-listen) with another favorite series The Deed of Paksenarrion. I'll probably start Proven Guilty in a week or so.

[Betsy]

uh-oh 8 books behind and w/ the kids home for holiday - We shall see what we shall see - I will try to catch up. You may beat me, but it's a great idea. I know I can get it done by Cold Days:)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I have them in audio. These I put on at night when I lay down. Typically I'll drop off somewhere in the second disc, so the next night I replay that disc. I get through 1 or 2 discs a night. It's a leisurely re-listen just for enjoyment.

[Richard]

Holy Moley--I just learned that Jim Butcher wrote an original Spider-Man novel back in 2006. The Darkest Hours As a Butcher fan and a Spidey fan I have to read it. I don't suppose anyone here has read this one?

[Dave]

Not yet Richard but its sat on my shelf to be read. I want to finish the Codex Alera books first.

But apparently its very good.

[TheThirdLie]

Nicholas' Imperium is a great book to read while waiting for another Dresden. Definitely stands out in a genre that's a fair bit stagnant right now. It's got one of the most catching openings I've read too.


I started reading the Remy Chandler series and it's good... and I'm only on chapter three or four. The silly thing is that already at this point I feel my heart breaking for some of the characters. Usually it takes a while, but Sneigoski has really done well to illustrate the profound love between them. I'm more for the action oriented UF, but when romance is done well, I enjoy it. The other thing I like is that Remy is a good guy. There seem to be a lot of anti-heroes emerging in UF and I don't quite like it.

I know I'm forgetting something else that I really love, but these two suggestions will have to suffice for now.

[Judy]

Dustin wrote: "I'd recommend HoundedBy Kevin Hearne"

I only recently came across Hounded and loved Atticus and his faithful dog. Am now caught up on that series and waiting for the next one. I also enjoy the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn.

[Debbie]

I am reading GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire series am on book 4 and this is an absolutely fantastic set of books. If you love fantasy you must read this series.

[Judy]

Debbie wrote: "I am reading GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire series am on book 4 and this is an absolutely fantastic set of books. If you love fantasy you must read this series."

Yes, I recently found and read those books. They are great. The only hitch is that the last one available still leaves you hanging and who knows when the next one will come out.

[Debbie]

Judy said: Yes, I recently found and read those books. They are great. The only hitch is that the last one available still leaves you hanging and who knows when the next one will come out.

Very true. It may be 5 years by then I'll have forgotten what I've read...

[Julie]

Debbie wrote: "I am reading GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire series am on book 4 and this is an absolutely fantastic set of books. If you love fantasy you must read this series."

I loved the series also but book #4 was disappointing to me. I have been putting off starting book 5 for this reason. I agree that this is such an awesome series, it's epic actually and I need to get to #5 and see what's happening.

[Leonardo]

I really enjoyed Brandon Sandersons the ALLOY OF LAWit reminded me of sherlock holmes or even detective comics of my youth

[Simon]

I highly recommend the Monster Hunter International Series by Larry Correia. I enjoy them *almost* as much as the Dresden Files!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Agree Susie B. Not as good as Dresden, but action, humor and good story telling.

[Rimsha]

do you guys know when's the next MHI book is going to be out?

[Emily]

I just read Fated by Benedict Jacka because I noticed a blurb from Jim Butcher on the cover. I really liked it.
Also, Retribution Falls and the rest of the Ketty Jay series by Chris Wooding are great. It's steampunk rather than urban fantasy, but the series has that nice combo of action and humor that the Dresden Files books have. It reminds me of the TV series Firefly.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

No haven't kept up. Have you read his Hard Magic books? They're pretty good to. A bit noir (that's a word play as he calls the series "The Grimnoir Chronicles).

[Gweeptish]

Monster Hunter Legion is listed for September 6
An ARC download is available for purchase from http://www.baenebooks.com/

[Simon]

Sweet!

[TheThirdLie]

I just read Fated too, Emily! I think it needs a little work, but it was pretty awesome. Definitely like seeing a good guy as a main character.

Just finished Thieftaker as well and that's another good one. Urban Fantasy but set in 1765.

[Rimsha]

have you guyz read Sandman Slim it's awesome kind of like a darker version of Dresden.

[Gweeptish]

Read them. Like them

[Simon]

I couldn't get into the Sandman Slim series. I like the premise and world building, but it just didn't work for me.

[TheThirdLie]

Same for me regarding the Sandman Slim series... the first one was great, second was good, but the third was just terrible. I just don't like how the series plot was handled.

[Dianna]

I in desperation, being a Dresden addict I've read Zero Sum. The author on his web sight list Jim Butcher as his favorite authors.

[Emily]

JK wrote: "Same for me regarding the Sandman Slim series... the first one was great, second was good, but the third was just terrible. I just don't like how the series plot was handled."

I agree about the third Sandman Slim. There was a lot that could have been edited out of that one. I remember liking the second a little more than the first, though.

[Gweeptish]

B. Justin Shier's Zero books are similar to the MHI novels. If you enjoy one you'd enjoy the other

[Dianna]

The problem with the last Sandman was where they left him at the end of the book. I felt cheated, not knowing if that was the end. As for MHI, that is a good series, but some reason the last book didn't get me as excited as the others. Not that it will stop me from reading the next MHI or the next Sandman.

[Brandt]

Here are the UF series i've enjoyed the most in between the Dresden novels..

Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant Series

Midnight Riot
Moon Over Soho
Whispers Under Ground

Larry Correia's Monster Hunters

Monster Hunter InternationalMonster Hunter Vendetta

Mike Shevdon's Courts of the Fey

Sixty-One Nails
The Road to Bedlam
Strangeness and Charm

Justin Gustainis

Hard Spell
Evil Dark

Sergei Lukyanenko

Night Watch
Twilight Watch
Day Watch
The Last Watch

[Brandt]

I agree about the last Sandman Slim novel Btw.. Really dissapointing compared to the other two..

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I've just started Magic Lost, Trouble Found and while it's not Urban Fantasy in the sense of Harry (it's a world with swords, elves etc.) it does take place in a "gritty city' (huh huh huh) setting with a sort of noir/detective feel. I'm maybe a quarter of the way in and it seems pretty good.

[Brandt]

In a similar vein as that Glen Cooks Garrett books are pretty fun.. Garrett has the same sort of attitude as Dresden, although a bit less geeky, and he always gets in waaay over his head trying to rescue damsels in distress.. :)

Sweet Silver Blues

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I've got a couple of compilation books of the Garrett novels but haven't done much with them yet...more I need to get to. :)

[Dianna]

Magic Lost, Trouble Found, I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, but all the other books seemed to be a rehash of what was said before, and I just got tired of that. I haven't read Glen Cooks Garrett books. Which book would you suggest I start out reading first?

[Gweeptish]

The first one Sweet Silver Blues. Like Dresden they're written in sequence

[Judy]

Unless you are absolutely dedicated to UF, some of you might enjoy the Longmire series by Craig Johnson. It is the basis for the current TV series on A&E, which I like - but, as usual, the books are much better. They are about a present day small town Wyoming sheriff and his Cheyenne best friend. There is mystery in the cases and a great deal of humor in Walt Longmire's private thoughts as well as the discussions between him and Henry Standing Bear. I heartily recommend them. The first title is "The Cold Dish."

[Dorothy]

Judy wrote: "Unless you are absolutely dedicated to UF, some of you might enjoy the Longmire series by Craig Johnson. It is the basis for the current TV series on A&E, which I like - but, as usual, the books a..."

I, second that, great books.

[Simon]

Thanks! Sounds good. Is the show very good?

[Judy]

Susie B wrote: "Thanks! Sounds good. Is the show very good?"

It is a very good show - until you start comparing it with the books. Then it is still a very good show but the books are better. I repeat, in my opinion, it is better to watch a show or two before starting the books - mainly because some of the descriptions are different and if you get the picture in your mind first, the TV characters won't look right to you. The show is on Sunday at 9:00 Central on A&E.

[Dianna]

It was the same way with the Dresden t.v. show. It was enjoyable as long as you never read the books. Read the books, the whole story fell apart. Maybe it is why the series didn't last.

[Judy]

Dianna wrote: "It was the same way with the Dresden t.v. show. It was enjoyable as long as you never read the books. Read the books, the whole story fell apart. Maybe it is why the series didn't last."

I was lucky and saw the series first and discovered the books later. I liked the series - but the books are so much more. My daughter and g-daughter read them, too, so Harry is like a resident of our home - or at least a close friend. Now he has been joined by Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear.

[Joe]

I just saw on Jim Butcher's website that he has finished the last chapter and turned it over to the beta readers. (Lucky Betas)

[Tricia]

Can't believe no one has mentioned the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughan, first book is Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Be warned the cover art is way lame and completely misrepresents the series. It is the closest series to Dresden I have found.
I also thought the Anita Blake vampire hunter books started out much like Dresden but shortly after you are hooked on the characters the books take a crazy turn into supernatural porn. So start the series at your own risk.
I tried the Hollows series but only got to book 3 it just didn't grip me like Dresden.
It is not a series and not really like Dresden but something about the main character in The Time Traveller's Wife reminds me of Harry. I adored this book and I adore Dresden Files.
Seeking Dresden like TV? Try out Supernatural. 7 seasons of it are on Netflix and the current season is on Hulu Plus. The show is great and the further I get the more it reminds me of Dresden Files.

[Dee Dee]

Tricia wrote: "Can't believe no one has mentioned the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughan, first book is Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Be warned the cover art is way lame and completely misrepresents the serie..."

Kitty Norville series is excellent!! Also Patricia Briggs's series Mercedes Thompson who can turn into a coyote. Mery is considered a skinwalker but she only turns into a coyote.

Jim Butcher's other series, Codex Alera, was enthralling as well. I was skeptic and not looking for a fantasy series, but I didn't have anything else to read at the ready. I got the first book, Furies of Caledron, on Audio (MP3) and I was hooked. His character Tavi just blew me away!

[Dee Dee]

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was really good, but slow to get into. The following 2 books in the series were way better.