
Overall Score: ★★★★ – Great Series, have read multiple times.
So for many of my very few readers, you will all know that I initially started this blog reviewing each of the Dresden Files novels. I had a long commute to my job, and was listening through them on audiobook. At the time, I was doing my best to review each of them individually, but I soon fell behind in my reviews, and instead blitzed through the remaining novels. Having finished the novels significantly ahead of my reviews, I found that it was a huge drag to try and work through the rest. Attempting to review fifteen books of a series in which the story gradually develops, but generally the events are episodic was very tedious and wore me out. That being said, I am now going to take a final moment to review all of the Dresden novels in blurb format so that I can at least consider that chapter of my blog covered.
Storm Front (Dresden Files #1)
Paperback, 355 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★1/2 – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read (but I would probably read it again)
Book #1, the first foray into the wild wizard Harry Dresden’s magically complicated existence. The beginning of this novel is very amusing, and the general story is gentle on a reader. Jim Butcher hadn’t quite worked out all the rules of magic yet, so there are often a few inconsistencies in the earlier novels, but otherwise it is a comfortable read.
Fool Moon (Dresden Files #2)
Paperback, 401 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★1/2 – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read (but I would probably read it again)
Book #2, This is a real character building book, with Dresden and Lieutenant Murphy needing to work out their differences, or else kiss that friendship goodbye. This book is still very episodic as far as the novels go, things really don’t pick up until book #3. Still a fun read, and it starts to set the scene for how dangerous the magical world really can be.
Grave Peril (The Dresden Files #3)
Paperback, 378 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #3, this book is not only where I first started the series, it is also where the primary conflict of the novels really takes off (and when Harry starts to actually throw his wizardly weight around). Lots of interesting characters, Jim Butcher really figured out what he was doing around this book.
Summer Knight (Dresden Files #4)
Paperback, 449 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #4, the start of this book is wonderful, and that tone maintains while you cruise through the novel. Lots of fey, and plenty of factions to mess with.
Death Masks (Dresden Files #5)
Paperback, 451 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★1/2 – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read (but I would probably read it again)
Book #5, this book is chock-a-block with factions and figures, and yet the pace is remarkably slow. There was a startling amount dialogue and not much action for how much shit was about to hit the fan. Still enjoyed the novel, but it was underwhelming for the series thus far.
Blood Rites (Dresden Files #6)
Paperback, 439 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★1/2 – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read (but I would probably read it again)
Book #6, 3.5 stars out of 5, slow paced through much of the novel but had a radical finish. Great characters and a better introduction to the White Court of vampires.
Dead Beat (Dresden Files #7)
Paperback, 517 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★★ – Excellent book. A favourite. Would read annually.
Book #7, the best Dresden book in the entire series. This book was such an entertaining romp, and I look forward to it on every reread.
Proven Guilty (Dresden Files #8)
Paperback, 489 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #8, you ever wanted to know how the wizard legal system works? Well this is the right primer on magical lawyering. 4 stars out of 5 for a heartfelt and intense book in the series.
White Night (Dresden Files #9)
Paperback, 409 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★1/2 – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read (but I would probably read it again).
Book #9, White Night really drags its feet, maybe less than Death Masks, but similar enough to bother me. The real clincher here is that White Night does an excellent job of character development, with many of the characters really putting in the effort to fight with their inner demons (a statement far less metaphorical in Jim Butcher’s world). However, much of the novel really happens only during the last few chapter. It always feels bad to make the cliché of “it gets better,” but it really does get better.
Small Favor (Dresden Files #10)
Paperback, 420 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #10, This book was very entertaining, and actually kind of lighthearted for the most part. Despite the intensity of the series at this point (it really doesn’t let up at all in the final books), the story manages to make you smile little by little.
Turn Coat (Dresden Files #11)
Paperback, 420 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #11, This book is incredible. Cathartic and depressing are the best descriptors for the way this novel goes. A great part of the series, and a wonderful revisitation for some of my favourite characters.
Changes (Dresden Files #12)
Paperback, 420 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #12, if there was ever a climax to anything, this book really pulls a lot of strings together. If you were worried about a lot of bits and pieces of the series that were needing attention, this book does a lot of good working addressing things.
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13)
Paperback, 481 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★ – Good book, an enjoyable one-time read.
Book #13, and generally my least favorite of the Dresden series. It suffers from a significant shift in the general paradigm of the stories, which is understandable considering the events of the previous novel. It’s just a drastic shift that takes a lot to get used to, and I wasn’t prepared for it. I haven’t yet reread it to be honest, but I think it does deserve a re-look.
Cold Days (Dresden Files #14)
Paperback, 515 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #14, Speaking of paradigm shifts, things just keep getting wilder in the Dresden series. This book is just a high-speed adrenaline blast from start to finish. In a way, the final two books really feel like one collective rising action, one can only hope that the last book in the series ties everything together.
Skin Game (Dresden Files #15)
Paperback, 454 pages
Penguin ROC
★★★★ – Great book, would read again.
Book #15, Last of the series thus far, and what a wild trip it has been. This book has a bunch of awesome reveals, and I greatly enjoyed reading it. Now we just need to sit and wait for Jim Butcher to finish his work and give us the end.
Final Notes on the Dresden Series:
Overall the series was great fun to read.
Even better to listen to — James Marsters does an absolutely spectacular job.
Harry Dresden is a bit problematic, and the books have a little bit of an age problem. That being said, Dresden’s sexism tones down somewhat as the series progresses, which is nice and can be attributed to his progression of character (and hopefully Butcher’s as well).
I have at this point re-listened to most of the books in the series at least once, some more than once (ahem, Dead Beat). The books are a lot of fun to listen to, and again James Marsters is brilliant in his acting. He really IS Harry Dresden.
Lastly, I will simply leave with a ranking post of the series from least enjoyed, to most enjoyed of the series. The later books are difficult to rank, simply because most of them are really just that good, but I have done my best here to list them as I saw fit.
15. Ghost Story (#13)
14. Death Masks (#5)
13. Fool Moon (#2)
12. Blood Rites (#6)
11. White Night (#9)
10. Storm Front (#1)
9. Proven Guilty (#8)
8. Turncoat (#11)
7. Skin Game (#15)
6. Changes (#12)
5. Cold Days (#14)
4. Grave Peril (#3)
3. Summer Night (#4)
2. Small Favor (#10)
1. Dead Beat (#7)