Dresden Files discussion
Novel series like the Dresden Files?
LaserWraith wrote: "I've been reading the first book and don't really enjoy it that much. Just curious...will the main character get any magical powers or will he only be able to fight with "mundane" weapons?"Without spoiling it too much, yes, Cal does inherit some Auphe-like abilities. Keep at it. The first book was kind of a tough slog for me too, but I'm addicted to the series now. Madhouse and Roadkill were particularly amazing, IMO.
I'm actually not sure of Jacka anymore. He's really passive, does a lot if running and hiding. He's also really sexist. I'll keep you posted. I'm sure I'll finish it tonight.
Kelly wrote: "I'm actually not sure of Jacka anymore. He's really passive, does a lot if running and hiding. He's also really sexist. I'll keep you posted. I'm sure I'll finish it tonight."I didn't get the sexism, but I do see the passivity. Hang on, though.
My only complaint about Verus so far is he's still a bit of a cypher. I like his world and the magic set-up, but I felt like I didn't know him personally by the book's end. But I'm certainly willing to go into Cursed to find out if that changes.
Yes, there's a lot I like and it's hard to put down despite the faults so don't worry, I'm sticking with it. :)
and
both come out later on this month...just thought I'd mention it.
Verus is still an unknown by the end of the first book, but his world intrigued me enough to bring me back to book 2. I didn't get the sexism, though.If I like the world a series takes place in I give it two or three books. Quite a few of the serie I love started out slow and build up nicely.
I'm about half way into the first book of Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros. I agree its more than a bit slow but it's very hard for first books of a series not to be. So far the characters have been more or less likeable though the older brother is overboard with the badarse/kungfu/ChuckNorris act.
LaserWraith wrote: "Krishna wrote: "Have you read October Daye,Sandman Slim,Connor Gray or Downside ghosts series? most of them are great reads and have minimal vampire/werewolf action. "October Daye is a terrible d..."
Eh Laser I'm kind of a "he" not a "she"
Oh and in reference to the previously mentioned Cal Leandros I just wanted to remind you that the new book Doubletake#7 is out. It is an extremely brilliant book and Thurman really outdoes herself this time.
Cjpines wrote: "...though the older brother is overboard with the badarse/kungfu/ChuckNorris act. "I know, that was my main annoyance. I hope it gets better. :)
I just finished Fated and loved it. Quite similar to the Dresden Files, though the main character has more sneakiness and fight-avoidance than Harry.Kelly wrote: "I'm actually not sure of Jacka anymore. He's really passive, does a lot if running and hiding. He's also really sexist. I'll keep you posted. I'm sure I'll finish it tonight."
I like how his powers allow him to get out of tricky situations, but he does hide a lot. I'm not sure how bad that is. Plus, the sexism was basically nonexistent - Alex does try and protect Luna, but that is partly because she wasn't prepared to stand up to the bad guys...
Wow thats really weird cuz I also just finished that same book like 2 an a half minute ago. But I really disliked the fact that he was so physically and magically weak. I mean with that divinision skill of his and a little bit more imagination he could easily be a lot more powerful and the only time he actually managed to stand up to the bad guys instead of bluffing his way through or running away was when he was relying on that probability ivory stick thing(oh yes it was called a fateweaver) and the only reason he lived through the book was because the author made the antagonists extremely stupid.
Affably wrote: "I mean with that divinision skill of his and a little bit more imagination he could easily be a lot more powerful..."How? His skill had limitations, like difficulties figuring out what choices someone would make.
"the only reason he lived through the book was because the author made the antagonists extremely stupid."
Could I have an example? It was more than the antagonists didn't understand all he could do.
Lets take Cinder for an example he could have seen through bluff easily if hr'd have just stopped to think "hmm this guy can see the future....he might be bluffing" hell if any of the antagonists had actually taken that well known and confirmed ability properly into account before dealing with him he wouldnt have stood a chance. Also yes his skills did have limitations regarding the choices other people were going to make but when regarding his own choices it seemed like his skill didnt have that many limitations anymore. He could have bought a gun and "seen" exactly how to aim it to kill the other guy and he wouldn't even need line of sight because he can see if the bullets going to ricochet and where he has to aim for that ricochet to kill the other guy. Now with a single firearm and without the reliance of line of sight he would already have gained a huge advantage over other mages and his limitations were quite clear and any decent self respecting villain could have deduced that he could see the future simply because everyone knows he can do it, they just seem to ignore the fact he can do it. Now if a guy that I know is a diviner says the one word that could save him "Morden" then its obviously a bluff. And also you would have to be quite stupid to hire a guy with the ability to see the future(under the threat of death) to retrieve an item that allows him to manipulate the future making him for all intents and purposes omnipotent and then expecting him to meekly hand it over afterwards is quite stupid.
Hmm, I do agree with most of what you said except this part: "And also you would have to be quite stupid to hire a guy with the ability to see the future(under the threat of death) to retrieve an item that allows him to manipulate the future making him for all intents and purposes omnipotent and then expecting him to meekly hand it over afterwards is quite stupid."Did you see how Alex seemed to always be in Morden's apprentice's power? It seems quite reasonable to try and use Alex if he is the only option available and you have a reasonable plan to kill him when he is no longer useful.
Plus, maybe most mages just have a great amount of arrogance and don't think that the non-flashy or directly powerful mage can do much to harm them.
True enough but it just pains me to see someone that has the potential to be so powerful be so weak.Edit: He also has the potential to be rich. He could win any bet he wants. If I were him I would have already bankrupted Vegas.
Affably wrote: "He also has the potential to be rich. He could win any bet he wants. If I were him I would have already bankrupted Vegas."Depends on the game. Works great for blackjack and poker, not so well for craps and roulette.
As for Alex's potential to be rich . . . Well, it's probably something that only English readers would pick up on, but property prices in the area Alex lives in (Camden) are really, REALLY high. A small- to medium-sized house starts at somewhere around $2 million US. That's not the kind of place you live if you're poor.
Ok, so I've read the Hollow series as per recommended - starts off decent, but really picks up the pace and fills out the gaps of the why's and how's of magic, as well as developing the main character's magical abilities (her initial skill set was boring to me). for this series i really recommend the audio books, the voice acting is great at first but when you get further into the series, it really fits.second, of course - everyone is raving about the iron druid chronicles, good stuff - the audio books series is decent, slightly lackluster, but a good accent to go along with it, worth a listen if you prefer them (which I do if the reader is good)
third, not exactly dresden, probably more tolkien - the banned and the banished series (very nicely developed characters, heavy on the magic, less in-your-face romance, and twists this is for you)
fourth, the oran trilogy - heavy on the magic, kick-ass powers, nice plot and just really draws you in... probably going to reread that series again
and lastly, but not least - not too dresden-esque, but i can't leave it out because i had such a great time with it - the black magician's trilogy...
oh wait, one last night - one of the great reads that i had - the sword of truth series... can't put those DOWN (and they're BIG books) - book series is better than the television series, but i liked both (the show was corny, but i loved Zed and all of the other main characters too much to dislike it because of that!!!)
http://darkobsessionchronicles.blogsp...This is a blog tour on my earlier suggestion, Sweet Blood of Mine
This post actually includes a character interview- Shelton. That particular character is very reminiscent of Dresden. It is YA, but has lots of spice and Princess Bride references.
Mod
http://www.amazon.com/Exiled-The-Prot...
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http://www.amazon.com/Exiled-The-Prot......"
Sounds interesting!
theres a booked called Fated by Benedict Jacka that Jim Butcher rates. I have yet to read it but will get around to it very soon
I really liked Fated- very engaging hero. I also just read and liked Webmage by Kelly McCullough, which is sort of a cross between Butcher's Dresden and Kevin Hearne's Druid from Hounded, with magic updated to use computers.
Darkcain11 wrote: "Just started a novel similar to dresden called Exiled The protector. Anyone heard of it?http://www.amazon.com/Exiled-The-Prot......"
Does the protagonist have any special (magical) powers/abilities? The description I saw just said he didn't have any.
Mod
http://www.amazon.com/Exiled-The-Prot......"
At first he doesn't have any but later gets some
Cjpines wrote: "My first post in the group so first I'd like to thank you all for the advice on other books in the same general feel as Butchers Dresden files. Looking forward to Midnight Riot.That said I have a..."
Id agree with you on the Iron Druid Chronicles, I think Dresden to a certain extent ruins us for authors in this genre as nothing quite lives up to it :P must admit this did dam close for me though, Characters are likeable, plenty of wise ass humor in there, only downside is the main chars slightly less believeable than Dresden, hard to explain that without getting spoilery really, you'll have to just trust me and read it to find out.
I have read all of the current Secret histories, and Dresden files. I am going to read the last two current books for the Iron Druid Chronicles, read child of fire, two of the nightside series, and read a sample of the Felix Castor book. I would love to finish the nightside, but I go through the books way too quickly for me to be able to afford them. I also do not want to start the Felix Castor series or the Child of fire series. Does anyone here give me another recommendation? I need something that won't tie me down to waiting for another book to come out so I could keep reading the series, so I'd like a book with more than 5 books in the series.
Mod
What about George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice Series?
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Id say Game of Thrones is more on the Epic fantasy scale, but its really not like Dresden Files or Iron Druid Chronicles at all.
OKAY! I have just finished all the books for the Iron Druid Chronicles that are out. Now I am stuck. Contrary from what I have said, I need advice; should I start the Twenty Places series, the Felix Castor series, or the Ravirn series? I need one that has a Dresden or Siodhachan-like character.
I like the Felix Castor series alot and it had 5 books out.../shrug.Repairman Jack by F Paul Willson is a good and interesting series that is Urban Fantasy but Jack has no 'powers'.
You are going to have a hard time finding long and finished urban fantasy series.
Mod
There's an old Dracula movie (John Carradine played Dracula). Dracula's "skeleton" in his coffin was in a traveling show, he had a stake through his chest. Finally the show owner pulls the stake out but holds it in place and tells Dracula that if he doesn't do what the guy asks he'll, "send him back to eternal waiting". That's sort of where some of my books are I think.
Mario Acevedo- Nymphos of Rocky Flats (Vamp protagonist- at least 5 books in series- and it's the kind that never actually ends- there can always be another chapter) Also I think it is more geared to male readers.Mario Acevedo
Okay, so for those of you looking for a new Dresden fix a must read is Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series---Fated, Cursed and the newest is Taken. Great lead characters. My only real complaint is that it is a fast and short read. Urg! Enjoy!
I like those too, but they aren't the most feminist books around. There are three lead females: one is a giant spider, another is the female main character who is nice and interesting but who is really weak and not helpful at all and the third is insanely evil. But I really like them, too. The second was better in that department than the first and I haven't read the third. They are so Dresden like in many ways that I'm surprised there wasn't copyright infringement.Have you all read A Devil in the Details, the first in the Jesse James Dawson series? The series is SOOOOOO good and has a lot of the things that I like about Dresden. My favorite part is that he is a hero, and although he's humble, he isn't ashamed of being a hero. He's a normal guy who happens to fight demons to win people's souls back and he does so by risking his own. He has a loving wife and daughter. The second is even better than the first and I haven't read the third yet. They are pretty much all about the men, too, but at least his wife is a very powerful witch and healer and he respects and loves her immensely.
It's just really really good. Read Jacka and read these. Jacka's Verus is great; Stewart's Jesse is amazing.
I don't know if anyone has brought up the Remy Chandler novels. They aren't as good but I love the main character who's an angel who is a detective but the cases always turn out to be of the almost-the-end of all creation kind. He also has a wonderful dog, who's every bit a dog, but he can talk to him because Angels understand all languages. They, too, get better as they go.
Kelly - Maybedog wrote: "There are three lead females: one is a giant spider, another is the female main character who is nice and interesting but who is really weak and not helpful at all and the third is insanely evil.Give Luna a chance! At the start of the series, she (the second female you're referring to) has only been properly introduced to the magical world for a few months. It's a bit unfair to expect her to outclass people who have 10-20 years of experience on her.
As for copyright infringement on the Dresden Files, Jim Butcher didn't seem to mind last time I spoke to him, but I could ask if it bothers you. :P
I don't have time to go through the messages here again, but here are a couple of additional urban fantasy series low on romance, high on action with a male protagonist:Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco The first two take awhile to get into the action but when they do, it's fabulous. The third has more action.
Master of None by Sonya Bateman. In this one the action truly never stops. The second one has a little less but it's just as good. This is another mostly male one. There are two very important female characters but most of the action is with the two male leads of on their own. It's got a lot of that humor and a little bickering between the two main guys.
Dead To Me by Anton Strout is like The Man With the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green set in the US, although less superhero-y Green also wrote Something from the Nightside which is a little darker and magicky and less superhero-y too.
I think someone mentioned Sandman Slim. And I mentioned Remy Chandler. The first book is A Kiss Before the Apocalypse. Lastly, if you love Cal Leandros like I do, and can tolerate YA fiction that only has one scene in a school and that's in the schoolyard, I think you would really like The Demon's Lexicon.I once described it as Rob Thurman for teens and the person I was talking with agreed. The second in the series is almost as good but not quite and I haven't read the third. But the first is 5 stars and I am not a big fan of YA fiction.
I don't think these below are that similar to Dresden but I don't think Felix Castor or Repairman Jack are either. So here are some other series with male protagonists that are popular:
WebMage by Kelly McCullough is about a computer hacker who is also a demigod from the GrecoRoman pantheon. Apparently they've adjust with the times and all their magic is worked through magic computer networks. I love some stuff about it but other stuff isn't as great. I like the protagonist though.
Snake Agent Takes place in China in the future where demons and hell are accessible, although not easily and not everyone believes. The main character is a detective who is a specialist in hell-related stuff and the sidekick is a funny demon. Personally, I loved the demon and had problems with much of the rest. The first book is again sexist and badly with the only powerful woman being a crazy goddess. The second book has strong women, three of them lesbians, but they all either die or end up with men. But I know tons of people who just loved them.
Child of Fire reminds me more of Repairman Jack in that it's dark and violent and not a lot of magic. But there is some and there's action and a level of horror. If you like Jack, you might really like this series.
Midnight Riot takes place in London (how unusual) and is quite funny. But it's subtle British humor and I had trouble staying motivated to continue. The main character is a lose police detective who gets a second chance working with a special unit that deals with occult type stuff. I know people who think these are the next best thing to whoopie cushions. Okay, I'm kidding, this is dry, maudlin, British humor, not slapstick.
"OKAY! I have just finished all the books for the Iron Druid Chronicles that are out. Now I am stuck. Contrary from what I have said, I need advice; should I start the Twenty Places series, the Felix Castor series, or the Ravirn series? I need one that has a Dresden or Siodhachan-like character. "I would suggest you skip the Twenty Places series. It is really dark, a great piece of writing but is not in the Dresden Files combo of humor and grade A magical power nor the wit of the Iron Druid Series.
I would suggest the Alex Verus series. Great action, and great characters. Alex does not have the pure power of many of his peers and has to live by his wits. I just do not see the sexism towards woman at all. Alex is protective of Luna, she is his disciple not unlike Granuaile in the Iron Druid series. Alex handles his attraction toward Luna better than Atticus handles his attraction to Granuaile, although Hearne uses the attraction for great comedy with Oberon LOL.
There is a new series "Crimes Against Magic" by Steve McHugh that has a good feel to it and is worth a look.
The Aaronovitch series is excellent. The main character is a wizard in training, a police investigator. The novels in the series have humor and each novel has a interesting mystery.
Hope this helps.
Bob wrote: ""OKAY! I have just finished all the books for the Iron Druid Chronicles that are out. Now I am stuck. Contrary from what I have said, I need advice; should I start the Twenty Places series, the Fel..."Thanks for the advice. I just finished webmage. It was good, but not what I want out of a good series.
Bob wrote: "There is a new series "Crimes Against Magic" by Steve McHugh that has a good feel to it and is worth a look."Woah...it has been a long time since a fantasy recommendation has contained a series I haven't looked at yet. Judging from the description, this could be a good one. Thanks!
And BTW, I agree with the Alex Verus recommendation. It is like the Dresden Files but good in its own way.
Kelly - Maybedog wrote: "I don't have time to go through the messages here again, but here are a couple of additional urban fantasy series low on romance, high on action with a male protagonist:Unshapely Things by Mark D..."
You do know that the author of Snake Agent is a woman right? xD
to LazerWraith:The "Crimes Against Magic" is the first in the new series. I got one of the Amazon email " if you like this then you might like this". Having a kindle I can read for free several chapters before committing to the book. It is a wonderful way to check out a book before buying, of course the author had better have big grand beginning to grab you and the Steve McHugh series did! The author has updated the Arthurian legend in this series and like Atticus the main character is old.
Joni wrote: "Any other suggestions? I love The Dresden Files, love Nightside and the Secret Histories...but I need more. My thing is it seems like half the urban fantasy books are romance based, and while I g..."I recently stumbled upon a new series (there are only 3 books so far, but plans for at least 2-3 more). The author is Benedict Jacka and the main character is a mage named Alex Verus. It takes place in London, but in the 1st book (Fated)he gives a tongue-in-cheek nod to our beloved Harry. How can you not love a guy like that? Hope you like them. Enjoy.
I just finished reading "Midnight Riot" by Ben Aaronovich. It's the first in the rivers of London series. It kept me up way past my bedtime!
Mod
Vicki, I want to read Jacka's book, but I haven't made the time yet. It looks interesting.
I've read all three Aaronovich novels, gets better with every volume!That said read the Jacka novels first!
Here is my review:Alex Verus is the anti Harry Dresden. Dresden blows things up, Alex avoids confrontations and warfare, why
because his only power is as a "diviner" he can see not only the future, but actions and their ultimate outcomes without actually living them. This in fact makes him very dangerous and someone you do not want to cross!
Affably wrote: "You do know that the author of Snake Agent is a woman right? xD ."Yes, which is part of what pisses me off so much. She should know better. >:(
I second Crimes Against Magic, just read it and it was very good.
Dresden Files
Books mentioned in this topic
Trail of Lightning (other topics)Rivers of London (other topics)
Rotherweird (other topics)
Dead Things (other topics)
The Legacy of Gird Omnibus: Surrender None/Liar's Oath (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ben Aaronovitch (other topics)Stephen Blackmoore (other topics)
Andrew Caldecott (other topics)
Brian McClellan (other topics)
Charles de Lint (other topics)
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I've been reading the first book and don't really enjoy it that much. Just curious...will the main character get any magical powers or will he only be able to fight with "mundane" weapons?