Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York : Roc, c2007.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. HTML:Wizard Harry Dresden must investigate his own flesh and blood when a series of killings strike Chicago�??s magic practitioners in this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Someone is targeting the members of the city�??s supernatural underclass�??those who don�??t possess enough power to become full-fledged wizards. Some have vanished. Others appear to be victims of suicide. But now the culprit has left a calling card at one of the crime scenes�??a message for Harry Dresden. Harry sets out to find the apparent serial killer, but his investigation turns up evidence pointing to the one suspect he cannot possibly believe guilty: his half-brother, Thomas. To clear his brother�??s name, Harry rushes into a supernatural power struggle that renders him outnumbered, outclassed, and dangerously susceptible to temptation. And Harry knows that if he screws this one up, people will die�??and one of them w… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Darla
Oh. My. God. You know a book is damn good when you've picked it apart, word by word, you know it inside and out, and it still takes your breath away when you re-read it.
This is the ninth Dresden Files book, and yes, it's White Night, not White Knight or White Nights. Easy way to remember: every
Anyway. The have-nots of Chicago's magical community--those people with just a bit of power--have been going missing. Several have turned up dead, mostly in apparent suicides. And somebody's left a message with the bodies: Exodus 22:18. Harry Dresden isn't religious, but that's a verse he knows by heart: "suffer not a witch to live."
And what makes things worse, for Harry at least, is that a lot of the missing women were last seen with either a very handsome man with dark hair or a very tall man in a gray cloak. Wardens of the White Council wear gray cloaks, which makes Harry himself a suspect, and the other man sounds very much like his brother Thomas, who's been secretive about the his new job.
The plot is convoluted, but it makes sense once you get all the pieces, and what's really cool is that it's convoluted because that's the way the people involved do things. It's that level of detail that prompts the + on the five stars. Everything in the book has a reason for being there, usually several reasons.
Harry's still training his new apprentice Molly, and that's got a bunch of layers as well--her strengths fit everything we know about her from previous books, and the effects on Harry show, too. Another reason for the +. It's not just "let's give Harry a teenage girl for a sidekick." It has so much consistency you'd believe they were real people.
Several characters from earlier books show up, ones we haven't seen for a while, and that's fun, and completely plot-driven. No Mouseketeer role calls here.
As you can probably guess from the fact that his brother is a suspect, the emotional intensity is up there. There's also a lot of emotion involved with Harry dealing with anger issues and with Lash, the shadow of a fallen angel who's living in his head. I needed tissues.
There were also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and dozens of quotable lines, like "...age is always advancing and I'm fairly sure it's up to no good."
And some very cool special effects, which the TV show will never get a chance to use because it's been canceled, dammit. Ah, well, they probably work better in my head anyway. Stupid SciFi Channel.
One caveat: this is a planned series: 20 books and then a big old apocalyptic trilogy, because who doesn't love apocalyptic trilogies? Which means that even though the books are complete in themselves, there is something going on that's leading to that apocalyptic trilogy. In other words: read the series in order. You'll get more out of it that way.
This is the ninth Dresden Files book, and yes, it's White Night, not White Knight or White Nights. Easy way to remember: every
Show More
single one of the Dresden Files titles is two words, with the same number of letters in each word--which is why Death Masks isn't Holy Sheet.Anyway. The have-nots of Chicago's magical community--those people with just a bit of power--have been going missing. Several have turned up dead, mostly in apparent suicides. And somebody's left a message with the bodies: Exodus 22:18. Harry Dresden isn't religious, but that's a verse he knows by heart: "suffer not a witch to live."
And what makes things worse, for Harry at least, is that a lot of the missing women were last seen with either a very handsome man with dark hair or a very tall man in a gray cloak. Wardens of the White Council wear gray cloaks, which makes Harry himself a suspect, and the other man sounds very much like his brother Thomas, who's been secretive about the his new job.
The plot is convoluted, but it makes sense once you get all the pieces, and what's really cool is that it's convoluted because that's the way the people involved do things. It's that level of detail that prompts the + on the five stars. Everything in the book has a reason for being there, usually several reasons.
Harry's still training his new apprentice Molly, and that's got a bunch of layers as well--her strengths fit everything we know about her from previous books, and the effects on Harry show, too. Another reason for the +. It's not just "let's give Harry a teenage girl for a sidekick." It has so much consistency you'd believe they were real people.
Several characters from earlier books show up, ones we haven't seen for a while, and that's fun, and completely plot-driven. No Mouseketeer role calls here.
As you can probably guess from the fact that his brother is a suspect, the emotional intensity is up there. There's also a lot of emotion involved with Harry dealing with anger issues and with Lash, the shadow of a fallen angel who's living in his head. I needed tissues.
There were also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and dozens of quotable lines, like "...age is always advancing and I'm fairly sure it's up to no good."
And some very cool special effects, which the TV show will never get a chance to use because it's been canceled, dammit. Ah, well, they probably work better in my head anyway. Stupid SciFi Channel.
One caveat: this is a planned series: 20 books and then a big old apocalyptic trilogy, because who doesn't love apocalyptic trilogies? Which means that even though the books are complete in themselves, there is something going on that's leading to that apocalyptic trilogy. In other words: read the series in order. You'll get more out of it that way.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Harry discovers that someone is preying on low level magic users and somehow gets dragged into a civil war among the vampires (because when does Harry not get dragged into "end of the world" situations??). There are some throwbacks to the past and more about the relationship between Harry and his
Show More
brother, Thomas. Harry always amazes me with his resiliency and his strength. There's also a nice resolution to the fallen angel aspect. Show Less
LibraryThing member page.fault
When Harry Dresden, professional wizard, discovers that a serial killer is targeting low-level female magical practitioners in Chicago, he is catapulted into a case which threatens to force him into choosing between family loyalty and his chivalric (read chauvanistic) impulse to protect the women
Consumed by his duties as a warden of the White Council and by his responsibilities to his rebellious apprentice, Harry has practically lost touch with the magical community of Chicago. When he discovers that a killer has been systematically targeting female practitioners of magic, he is shocked to discover that in the eyes of the magical community, he is the main suspect: a man dressed as a warden has been seen speaking to many of the women who have disappeared or died. Fighting the mistrust of the community, Harry starts his investigation in his standard fashion: poke around until the situation explodes. As he is catapulted from one crisis to another, he discovers more and more evidence that implicates his own half-brother and begins to unravel a plot that threatens the entire White Council of wizards--and all of humanity.
I enjoyed this book, but for me, it has an unusually dark tone. One reason is that Harry's increasing slips into his darker nature. Several books ago, in Death Masks (book 5), Dresden becomes the unwilling host of the shadow of a fallen angel. Lash, or Lasciel, has attempted to tempt him with power and information into consciously succumbing to her influence, but he has attempted to use her aid as sparingly as possible. However, the destruction she has caused is more insidious. Her influence is immediate: from book six onward, Dresden becomes more savage and cruel, and the moments in which he revels with a bizarre, sick pleasure in holding power over his enemies have steadily increased. Dresden, a deliciously unreliable and not particularly introspective narrator, has reported his actions and emotions, but has failed to connect them to the influence of the fallen angel. In this book, he is finally confronted with the increasingly strong hold his dark nature has over him, and with the angel who has so influenced him.
Another cause of the somber mood is Dresden's inner conflict and isolation from the other characters. As he struggles between his bone-deep desire to protect his brother and stop the killer, Harry's path is darker and murkier than usual. Although the usual cast is present, mistrust and conflict create a barrier between Dresden and most of his erstwhile companions. Sgt. Karrin Murphy is at his side, kicking ass in her inevitable fashion, but her attempts to confront Dresden with his increasingly savage actions disrupts the typical easy-going camaraderie. Molly Carpenter, Dresden's new apprentice and erstwhile warlock, adds a new tone of teenage sulk and wilfulness to the atmosphere. Although Dresden is ready to forgive his old flame, Elaine Mallory, I found her character tainted by her past lies and betrayals, and her completely unapologetic and unrepentant attitude. Harry's half-brother, Thomas, has disappeared, and is increasingly tainted by suspicion of involvement. The book does not stint on villains, either. Lara Raith, one of my absolute favorite villains in the series, makes an appearance and dominates the power games in her usual deliciously immoral fashion.
One of my biggest issues with the book was actually a small incident in terms of number of pages, and actually intended to be lighthearted. Continuing on an ongoing joke, Dresden is again cast as Thomas's boyfriend. This time, he purposely plays the role as a disguise, and pulls out practically every negative stereotype of a gay man possible: a bitchy, whining tone, fluttering hands, even a lisp. The characters he tries to deceive show absolute intolerance, not even wanting to touch his hand, etc. Sure, Harry comments that he played up to the role, trying to encourage the bigotry so people would assign him to a stereotype and stop thinking--but that wasn't the only instance, and not the one that left a bad taste in my mouth. Dresden implicitly congratulating himself, points out the bigotry of an individual who thinks gays are so disgusting that he refuses to touch the hand of one. Ironic, since all of the characters, good and bad, including Dresden, constantly assign passe negative stereotypes to gay men. When Harry leaves, he is "secure in [his] own heterosexuality"--because clearly being cast as gay was an insult he had to insulate himself from. When news of Harry's act get back to Karrin Murphy and the police, and they also rib him, again using every sick stereotype of a gay man possible. I increasingly feel that bigotry against gay men is ingrained in the series. Throughout, Dresden constantly defends himself with remarks like, "I'm not a pansy," etc. In a previous book, which also contains a riff on Dresden and Thomas being partners, a friend of Dresden's comments that he won't "judge"--implying that homosexuality is something to be judged. In this book, when Murph teases him and ascribes 'girly' interests to him because of his supposed homosexuality, Dresden is humiliated and feels he will "never live this down". The series contains absolutely no examples of a positive male homosexual relationship. There are several references to lesbian/bi women, but considering how men (including our narrator) find "girl on girl" to be titillating, this doesn't exactly speak of open-mindedness. I find bigotry most repulsive when it is combined with self-congratulation on tolerance.
Despite my reservations above, I really did enjoy reading this one. There are some very enjoyable interactions between Lash and Harry, and although it added tension to their relationship, I loved that Murph takes on the role of conscience when Harry steps out of control. Speaking of out of control, there are some excellent action scenes and (of course) a burning building or three. This book also features a fantastic and very visually captivating duel sequence. Plotwise, it felt to me like a return to its noir roots, which can be seen as either good or bad. Like Chandler's stories, a man must step in to rescue the defenseless damsels in distress, homosexuality is treated as repulsive, the femme fatale makes her usual appearance, and men apparently should be as "manly" as possible. In a later subplot, a character is continually mocked for his virginity--because that is clearly something shameful. Overall, I felt this book had one of the least thoughtful, intellectual, and tolerant takes on sexuality and gender that I've seen in the series for a while. At the same time, the mystery took central stage and Harry and Elaine's detective duo was very entertaining.
Overall, White Night is a fun book, with some entertaining scenes, an enjoyable set of villains, and a tight plot. It also contains some amount of resolution to Dresden's continued conflict with Lasciel. However, for me it was somewhat tainted by a dark tone and casual slurs on homosexuality that left a bad taste in my mouth.
Show More
of the city.Consumed by his duties as a warden of the White Council and by his responsibilities to his rebellious apprentice, Harry has practically lost touch with the magical community of Chicago. When he discovers that a killer has been systematically targeting female practitioners of magic, he is shocked to discover that in the eyes of the magical community, he is the main suspect: a man dressed as a warden has been seen speaking to many of the women who have disappeared or died. Fighting the mistrust of the community, Harry starts his investigation in his standard fashion: poke around until the situation explodes. As he is catapulted from one crisis to another, he discovers more and more evidence that implicates his own half-brother and begins to unravel a plot that threatens the entire White Council of wizards--and all of humanity.
I enjoyed this book, but for me, it has an unusually dark tone. One reason is that Harry's increasing slips into his darker nature. Several books ago, in Death Masks (book 5), Dresden becomes the unwilling host of the shadow of a fallen angel. Lash, or Lasciel, has attempted to tempt him with power and information into consciously succumbing to her influence, but he has attempted to use her aid as sparingly as possible. However, the destruction she has caused is more insidious. Her influence is immediate: from book six onward, Dresden becomes more savage and cruel, and the moments in which he revels with a bizarre, sick pleasure in holding power over his enemies have steadily increased. Dresden, a deliciously unreliable and not particularly introspective narrator, has reported his actions and emotions, but has failed to connect them to the influence of the fallen angel. In this book, he is finally confronted with the increasingly strong hold his dark nature has over him, and with the angel who has so influenced him.
Another cause of the somber mood is Dresden's inner conflict and isolation from the other characters. As he struggles between his bone-deep desire to protect his brother and stop the killer, Harry's path is darker and murkier than usual. Although the usual cast is present, mistrust and conflict create a barrier between Dresden and most of his erstwhile companions. Sgt. Karrin Murphy is at his side, kicking ass in her inevitable fashion, but her attempts to confront Dresden with his increasingly savage actions disrupts the typical easy-going camaraderie. Molly Carpenter, Dresden's new apprentice and erstwhile warlock, adds a new tone of teenage sulk and wilfulness to the atmosphere. Although Dresden is ready to forgive his old flame, Elaine Mallory, I found her character tainted by her past lies and betrayals, and her completely unapologetic and unrepentant attitude. Harry's half-brother, Thomas, has disappeared, and is increasingly tainted by suspicion of involvement. The book does not stint on villains, either. Lara Raith, one of my absolute favorite villains in the series, makes an appearance and dominates the power games in her usual deliciously immoral fashion.
One of my biggest issues with the book was actually a small incident in terms of number of pages, and actually intended to be lighthearted. Continuing on an ongoing joke, Dresden is again cast as Thomas's boyfriend. This time, he purposely plays the role as a disguise, and pulls out practically every negative stereotype of a gay man possible: a bitchy, whining tone, fluttering hands, even a lisp. The characters he tries to deceive show absolute intolerance, not even wanting to touch his hand, etc. Sure, Harry comments that he played up to the role, trying to encourage the bigotry so people would assign him to a stereotype and stop thinking--but that wasn't the only instance, and not the one that left a bad taste in my mouth. Dresden implicitly congratulating himself, points out the bigotry of an individual who thinks gays are so disgusting that he refuses to touch the hand of one. Ironic, since all of the characters, good and bad, including Dresden, constantly assign passe negative stereotypes to gay men. When Harry leaves, he is "secure in [his] own heterosexuality"--because clearly being cast as gay was an insult he had to insulate himself from. When news of Harry's act get back to Karrin Murphy and the police, and they also rib him, again using every sick stereotype of a gay man possible. I increasingly feel that bigotry against gay men is ingrained in the series. Throughout, Dresden constantly defends himself with remarks like, "I'm not a pansy," etc. In a previous book, which also contains a riff on Dresden and Thomas being partners, a friend of Dresden's comments that he won't "judge"--implying that homosexuality is something to be judged. In this book, when Murph teases him and ascribes 'girly' interests to him because of his supposed homosexuality, Dresden is humiliated and feels he will "never live this down". The series contains absolutely no examples of a positive male homosexual relationship. There are several references to lesbian/bi women, but considering how men (including our narrator) find "girl on girl" to be titillating, this doesn't exactly speak of open-mindedness. I find bigotry most repulsive when it is combined with self-congratulation on tolerance.
Despite my reservations above, I really did enjoy reading this one. There are some very enjoyable interactions between Lash and Harry, and although it added tension to their relationship, I loved that Murph takes on the role of conscience when Harry steps out of control. Speaking of out of control, there are some excellent action scenes and (of course) a burning building or three. This book also features a fantastic and very visually captivating duel sequence. Plotwise, it felt to me like a return to its noir roots, which can be seen as either good or bad. Like Chandler's stories, a man must step in to rescue the defenseless damsels in distress, homosexuality is treated as repulsive, the femme fatale makes her usual appearance, and men apparently should be as "manly" as possible. In a later subplot, a character is continually mocked for his virginity--because that is clearly something shameful. Overall, I felt this book had one of the least thoughtful, intellectual, and tolerant takes on sexuality and gender that I've seen in the series for a while. At the same time, the mystery took central stage and Harry and Elaine's detective duo was very entertaining.
Overall, White Night is a fun book, with some entertaining scenes, an enjoyable set of villains, and a tight plot. It also contains some amount of resolution to Dresden's continued conflict with Lasciel. However, for me it was somewhat tainted by a dark tone and casual slurs on homosexuality that left a bad taste in my mouth.
Show Less
LibraryThing member wickedlibrarian
This is the 8th book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher - and I'm really enjoying how the character, Harry Dresden, is growing. He's snarky and flawed but overall a good guy. I also really love Butcher's take on Chicago - full of vampires and ghosts and fairies and who knows what else. Good
Show More
stuff! Show Less
LibraryThing member EowynA
Book 9 of the Dresden Files series. I could barely put it down, the book captivated me so completely. There is plenty of action, but that is not what made this compelling. There is a transparency to the description that brings the story along at a rousing clip. It starts off with the murder of a
Show More
Wiccan that Harry is called in to investigate. We learn of the world of the psychically gifted but not particularly powerful, and that emotion-vampires are feeding on their deaths. And making them look like suicides, so that the deaths are not investigated further. There is more exploration of the relationship between Harry and his brother Thomas. A small bonus is that we find out, at last, how Thomas is managing to feed without endangering his "food," and a quite clever solution it is. Harry is developing more anger issues, and teaching his apprentice. The Temple Dog reveals a few powers. I think this is probably the best one in the series so far. Show Less
LibraryThing member AMKitty
Finally, we find out about Thomas’ big secret he’s been keeping from Harry. It’s a good one; and, no. No spoilers.
But before Harry learns what’s up Thomas’ sleeve, he’s faced with a psychic serial killer who is stalking magic users with minor talent. The killer is also making it look
Helping out on Team Dresden are Murphy and Mouse, of course. Harry’s apprentice from the last book is on hand to play a supporting role. Warden Ramirez also steps in to lend a hand.
One character who steps back in after a lengthy absence is Jonny Marcone, crimelord and gangster boss. His reappearance seems to indicate Harry will have one more resource, or obstacle, in his world for future difficulties. Marcone’s reentry also adds another aspect to the already rich political detail in Harry’s life.
The confrontation and ensuing battle take a significant portion of the final quarter of the book, but are well-written enough to stay exciting. Before it’s all over, another “baddy” shows up - one we thought was dead and gone from a couple of books ago. He, too, may add special interest to future stories as we can’t be sure he’s really, really gone this time.
My hat’s off to Butcher for keeping this series going when so many others fizzle after three or four. Here’s to continuing entertainment from the Dresden Files.
But before Harry learns what’s up Thomas’ sleeve, he’s faced with a psychic serial killer who is stalking magic users with minor talent. The killer is also making it look
Show More
like it’s all being done by a Warden from the White Council - a Warden whose shadowy form resembles one Harry Dresden, Wizard. Helping out on Team Dresden are Murphy and Mouse, of course. Harry’s apprentice from the last book is on hand to play a supporting role. Warden Ramirez also steps in to lend a hand.
One character who steps back in after a lengthy absence is Jonny Marcone, crimelord and gangster boss. His reappearance seems to indicate Harry will have one more resource, or obstacle, in his world for future difficulties. Marcone’s reentry also adds another aspect to the already rich political detail in Harry’s life.
The confrontation and ensuing battle take a significant portion of the final quarter of the book, but are well-written enough to stay exciting. Before it’s all over, another “baddy” shows up - one we thought was dead and gone from a couple of books ago. He, too, may add special interest to future stories as we can’t be sure he’s really, really gone this time.
My hat’s off to Butcher for keeping this series going when so many others fizzle after three or four. Here’s to continuing entertainment from the Dresden Files.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
This volume of the Dresden Files is as engaging as the rest. I marvel at how Butcher maintains such tension and consistency through this series. This book was particularly interesting because of the complex interactions between so many of the feature villains---including Marcone, who hasn't
Show More
appeared in several books. Show Less
LibraryThing member bigorangemichael
The ninth Harry Dresden novel is the series riches and most densely plotted to date--and the first in the series I can't recommend to someone coming to the series cold.
Not that this is a bad thing. It's a great thing for readers of the Dresden Files. While Jim Butcher does deliver payoffs and
If you're coming into this cold, you'll be thorougly confused. If you've read the previous eight books, you're probably going to eat this up with a spoon, eagerly turning the pages, waiting for the next development to hit.
Murphy calls Harry in on a case that may or may not have supernatural undercurrents. Harry discovers a message that only he could find and begins to look into a series of similar deaths. Finding the same message, hidden in the same way, Harry suspects a serial killer is on the loose in the supernatural community. The problem: the number one suspect is his half-brother Thomas.
Harry is convinced Thomas isn't the killer, but the evidence is pretty damning. Harry begins to pull at the threads and uncovers someone or something targeting women of a Wiccan order. They've already asked for help from Harry's first love, Elaine, who is now a private eye in Los Angeles who investigates the supernatural.
All of this we find in the first hundred or so pages and that's just when it gets interesting. Butcher weaves together a complex, fascinating story with Harry firmly at the center, trying to find the pieces of the puzzle and prove the innocence of his half-brother. In the midst of al this, we learn about the politics of the current battle between the Red Court and the White Council and how Harry fits into a plan to possibly tip the balance. Along the way, we meet old enemies and have call backs to the first novel in the series.
About the only thing I found frustrating about this novel is that in the last book, Harry determined a secret group was plotting within the power ranks of the White Council. And while this development is brought up, we never get any movement toward discovering who or what is behind this and what their agenda is. I realize that Butcher may be setting up some things for future installments, but a revelation this big seems a bit difficult to only pay lip service to in the story.
But that's the only detraction I can find in this superb entry in the Dresden series. Butcher keeps getting better and better, continuing to keep the Dresden Files as one of the must reads on my bookshelf.
Not that this is a bad thing. It's a great thing for readers of the Dresden Files. While Jim Butcher does deliver payoffs and
Show More
resolutions in his previous eight books, here in "White Night" he steps that up a notch, bringing back old friends and enemies to Harry Dresden's world all while building on several key plotlines from the last several novels as the war between the various supernatural factions begins to reach a boiling point and Harry Dresden is, once again, at the center of it all. If you're coming into this cold, you'll be thorougly confused. If you've read the previous eight books, you're probably going to eat this up with a spoon, eagerly turning the pages, waiting for the next development to hit.
Murphy calls Harry in on a case that may or may not have supernatural undercurrents. Harry discovers a message that only he could find and begins to look into a series of similar deaths. Finding the same message, hidden in the same way, Harry suspects a serial killer is on the loose in the supernatural community. The problem: the number one suspect is his half-brother Thomas.
Harry is convinced Thomas isn't the killer, but the evidence is pretty damning. Harry begins to pull at the threads and uncovers someone or something targeting women of a Wiccan order. They've already asked for help from Harry's first love, Elaine, who is now a private eye in Los Angeles who investigates the supernatural.
All of this we find in the first hundred or so pages and that's just when it gets interesting. Butcher weaves together a complex, fascinating story with Harry firmly at the center, trying to find the pieces of the puzzle and prove the innocence of his half-brother. In the midst of al this, we learn about the politics of the current battle between the Red Court and the White Council and how Harry fits into a plan to possibly tip the balance. Along the way, we meet old enemies and have call backs to the first novel in the series.
About the only thing I found frustrating about this novel is that in the last book, Harry determined a secret group was plotting within the power ranks of the White Council. And while this development is brought up, we never get any movement toward discovering who or what is behind this and what their agenda is. I realize that Butcher may be setting up some things for future installments, but a revelation this big seems a bit difficult to only pay lip service to in the story.
But that's the only detraction I can find in this superb entry in the Dresden series. Butcher keeps getting better and better, continuing to keep the Dresden Files as one of the must reads on my bookshelf.
Show Less
LibraryThing member teckelvik
This is the ninth book in the Harry Dresden series. (Note to self: this is the one where the whole White Court explodes all over the place.)
I consistenly enjoy these books. Dresden has gotten a lot better about treating his female colleagues with respect, although he does tend to try to rescue
I sat down and reread the entire series to lead up to the new volume, and decided that it is better than I remember it being. I always get an enjoyable buzz from it (not least because Jim Butcher was incredibly nice at the signing I went to), but he has done a nice job of foreshadowing plots, following up on subplots, letting all the characters grow and change, and not simply be convenient for Harry.
Reading carefully, my biggest complaint is that each Big Bad is Bigger and Badder than the previous one, which gets tiring. Why not just different? Every book, Harry is outclassed, and has to ramp things up to 11. That said, it's a fairly minor complaint.
I consistenly enjoy these books. Dresden has gotten a lot better about treating his female colleagues with respect, although he does tend to try to rescue
Show More
everybody. I'm getting tired of Thomas, but I can see why he means more to Harry than is wise or sane.I sat down and reread the entire series to lead up to the new volume, and decided that it is better than I remember it being. I always get an enjoyable buzz from it (not least because Jim Butcher was incredibly nice at the signing I went to), but he has done a nice job of foreshadowing plots, following up on subplots, letting all the characters grow and change, and not simply be convenient for Harry.
Reading carefully, my biggest complaint is that each Big Bad is Bigger and Badder than the previous one, which gets tiring. Why not just different? Every book, Harry is outclassed, and has to ramp things up to 11. That said, it's a fairly minor complaint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
As a big fan of some other long series (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter come to mind) series that go on past 6 or so books seem to have a tendency to fizzle out and end up poorly written or uninteresting. Not so with this series! This series continues to be refreshing and fun. I just can't wait for the
Show More
next book in the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member Aeyan
Who do the lesser magical powers turn to when threatened? One would hope they would seek the counsel of their local Warden, Harry Dresden, but then why do they flee from him, throw protective wards up against him, and send him nasty scowls? It couldn't be his oh-so-charming demeanor and highly
Not only must Harry untangle the web of deceit pinning a string of apparent suicides to his doing, figure out if the real killer is one of his nearest and dearest, deal with a headstrong apprentice with a penchant for veiling herself, he must also deal with a stiff-collared prude with bad fashion sense and a sharp tongue.
Some days, one should ask this wizard why the whole city rests on his shoulders. Oh, and his demon is nearing total assimilation of his soul.
Show More
evolved sense of humor, could it?Not only must Harry untangle the web of deceit pinning a string of apparent suicides to his doing, figure out if the real killer is one of his nearest and dearest, deal with a headstrong apprentice with a penchant for veiling herself, he must also deal with a stiff-collared prude with bad fashion sense and a sharp tongue.
Some days, one should ask this wizard why the whole city rests on his shoulders. Oh, and his demon is nearing total assimilation of his soul.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
When Murphy asks Harry to look into some apparent suicides he quickly determines that they are anything but. Someone is murdering wiccan women and it appears it could have something to do with his brother, Thomas.
Although there is quite a bit in here about Harry's believe and protective feelings
Another fast moving, hard to put down adventure in Harry's Chicago and I'm once again left looking forward to the next one!
Although there is quite a bit in here about Harry's believe and protective feelings
Show More
for Thomas, we don't actually get to see much of the vampire himself which is kind of a bummer. However, we do get a smorgasbord of Harry's other allies with stand out performances by Ramirez and Molly, both of whom are really taking on three dimensions. This book seemed longer than the others, I'm not sure if that is really so or if it is just my interpretation. Unlike many of the Dresden books, there is one linear seeming plot without the branch offs into other matters, but the plot evolves so much over the course of the book where you wind up with is nothing like where it starts.Another fast moving, hard to put down adventure in Harry's Chicago and I'm once again left looking forward to the next one!
Show Less
LibraryThing member teharhynn
I like the introduction of the new characters, and some old characters in new light. I loved this book, though it wasn't my new favorite it wasn't anything less than a 5. I think Butcher's writing is phenomenal.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Harry is back again, still coping with his burnt hand, Lasciel (Lash) has been restrained in her attempts to seduce him, but Harry is struggling to contain his increased power - He lets rip with Hellfire and gives in to anger.
Something is killing practitioners - and the clues look like a tall dark
It's convoluted but for a change not actually aimed at Harry. That doesn't stop him poking his nose in again - being careful because of course there is Molly to look after, but when you can call in as many debts as Harry can, nothing is too much for him. ... he hopes.
Downsides, it is becoming apparent that while there is continuity in backstory plots, Jim Butcher is only content to use articles in a couple of books before they get discarded - the Bear buckle featured once, and even Lash is diminishing.
Plot hole - why doesn't Rameriz respond to Harry's use of Hellfire. It should be immidately suspicious, but even though they talk about Harry's oddd conduct this isn't mentioned?
Another fine outing - Lash is particularly good. The ending seems for final than normal, with most subplots being closed
Something is killing practitioners - and the clues look like a tall dark
Show More
haired person in a grey cloak! Not surprisingly the survivors are reluctant to talk to Harry. So is Thomas, now that he's all independant. He seems to have been feeding a lot too - and come to think of it there's been evidence of white court activity around these deaths. It's convoluted but for a change not actually aimed at Harry. That doesn't stop him poking his nose in again - being careful because of course there is Molly to look after, but when you can call in as many debts as Harry can, nothing is too much for him. ... he hopes.
Downsides, it is becoming apparent that while there is continuity in backstory plots, Jim Butcher is only content to use articles in a couple of books before they get discarded - the Bear buckle featured once, and even Lash is diminishing.
Plot hole - why doesn't Rameriz respond to Harry's use of Hellfire. It should be immidately suspicious, but even though they talk about Harry's oddd conduct this isn't mentioned?
Another fine outing - Lash is particularly good. The ending seems for final than normal, with most subplots being closed
Show Less
LibraryThing member etimme
This has been my favorite of the Dresden Files books so far. Harry went to Warden boot camp to teach new recruits and in the time between books 8 and 9 he gained a lot of fighting prowess. His single silver telekinetic ring has been upgraded to four twisted bands of silver, he crafted a new charm
This book continues the thread of Harry being concerned for the isolation of the slightly-magical community, and we see a reemergence of two old villains and get a name put to the faceless threat that's been around since the first book - the Black Council.
The end of the book leaves us with more questions than answers. Lasciel is presumably dead after sacrificing herself to save Harry's mind and life - can Harry still draw on Hellfire with the shadow gone from his mind? We still don't know who fixed little Chicago, and we also don't know who blew up Murphy's car. The Black Council is moving here, but there are other forces moving behind the scene to combat them. It's frustrating as a reader to see so many puzzle pieces but not being given any edge pieces.
After 9 books I still don't know Butcher's mind. He doesn't readily kill off his characters, and overall the series has been moving towards Harry collecting allies - not losing them. Still, I think I'm going to call Ebenezar McCoy as being part of the Black Council. It would be fitting, I think, for the author to break Harry's progress and make him question more closely the friends he has accumulated through a more core betrayal by his master.
Show More
bracelet, and he more readily uses both Lasciel and Hellfire in his magic. We saw what Wardens Morgan and Luccio were able to do at the end of Dead Beat - White Night brings us a Harry that's moving in the same direction.This book continues the thread of Harry being concerned for the isolation of the slightly-magical community, and we see a reemergence of two old villains and get a name put to the faceless threat that's been around since the first book - the Black Council.
The end of the book leaves us with more questions than answers. Lasciel is presumably dead after sacrificing herself to save Harry's mind and life - can Harry still draw on Hellfire with the shadow gone from his mind? We still don't know who fixed little Chicago, and we also don't know who blew up Murphy's car. The Black Council is moving here, but there are other forces moving behind the scene to combat them. It's frustrating as a reader to see so many puzzle pieces but not being given any edge pieces.
After 9 books I still don't know Butcher's mind. He doesn't readily kill off his characters, and overall the series has been moving towards Harry collecting allies - not losing them. Still, I think I'm going to call Ebenezar McCoy as being part of the Black Council. It would be fitting, I think, for the author to break Harry's progress and make him question more closely the friends he has accumulated through a more core betrayal by his master.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
Each book just gets better and better. I really enjoy the character development.
LibraryThing member DianeS
I think I've read this elsewhere, but this is the best book in this series, to this point. Not only is the writing a bit tighter and better, but the characterization is better and smoother. I appreciated the calmer, happier ending, even if we all know it's only temporary. I'd have liked to have
Show More
seen more of Elaine and Bob, but you can only fit so much stuff in one book. The climatic fight was better done than most. Spells and other things were explained in ways that made sense. My only quibble was the amount of talking during the fight, which I think would not have been heard above the din and for which I don't think there was enough time. Still, an excellent book and I'm looking forward to the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member lewispike
Someone is killing witches (who are moderately low powered magic users) and wiccans (who may be magic users, but are often not) and leaving clues that only a wizard can find. They're set up to look like suicides, but something doesn't ring quite right, and Murphy, with her experience, calls in
There's a fair bit of back-story here, it's book nine in a series, but having read them all it flowed quite easily for me. I don't think (with the possible exception of some stuff about Molly) it would be too hard to cope with if you didn't know the back story too, although Lasciel might not be too well explained.
The story rolls on and develops Dresden's character as well as introducing new ones, and not so new.
Another good solid romp, although I'm wondering if there is a plan to wind the series up something soonish, not sure what gives me that vibe, but something does.
Show More
Dresden... who starts investigating and works out what is going on fairly quickly. What is seems to be, at least at first, is a power-play among the white court vampires (hence the name), and of course the white court vampires are allied to the wizards, and talking about brokering a cease-fire to the red court vampires... so there's some lovely power politics in there too. (Power politics is not normally my thing, but this works quite well.)There's a fair bit of back-story here, it's book nine in a series, but having read them all it flowed quite easily for me. I don't think (with the possible exception of some stuff about Molly) it would be too hard to cope with if you didn't know the back story too, although Lasciel might not be too well explained.
The story rolls on and develops Dresden's character as well as introducing new ones, and not so new.
Another good solid romp, although I'm wondering if there is a plan to wind the series up something soonish, not sure what gives me that vibe, but something does.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tinLizzy
See review of book #1 the series - Storm Front.
LibraryThing member slothman
Harry's investigation of a serial killer targeting minor-league witches embroils him in the intrigues of the vampiric White Court, and he reaches a turning point in his interaction with the fallen angel Lasciel.
LibraryThing member edstan76
This is Molly's first book as an apprentice to Harry. Thomas (TOE-mas) is evading Harry. Murphy is taking a few days of leave from S.I. after being demoted and is paying Harry out of her own pocket. Women are ending up dead, and they are small time practitioners. Also someone from the Velvet room
After dealing with the Faerie courts in the last book this one seems more straightforward yet almost all the baddies in this book come from one place. Can't say more then that with out giving away a big plot point. But someone that Harry has dealt with before makes a cameo appearance in the end to lay a smack down on Harry and allies.
This is a good book with lots of quips but also Harry is showing a lot of anger in general. Very uncharacteristic but for good reason. There are probably a lot of thing going on behind the scenes in this book that we just don't see yet. I do like the glimpse we get of Harry and Rameriez at the training camp that is set a few months before this. It ties in nicely to the story but also could have been its own short story.
To wrap up, one of the best scenes is between Lara Raith and Rameriez and what she realizes about him. Had to put the book down the first time i read it, because i was laughing too hard.
Show More
is dead, enter Marcone. And Elaine is back. After dealing with the Faerie courts in the last book this one seems more straightforward yet almost all the baddies in this book come from one place. Can't say more then that with out giving away a big plot point. But someone that Harry has dealt with before makes a cameo appearance in the end to lay a smack down on Harry and allies.
This is a good book with lots of quips but also Harry is showing a lot of anger in general. Very uncharacteristic but for good reason. There are probably a lot of thing going on behind the scenes in this book that we just don't see yet. I do like the glimpse we get of Harry and Rameriez at the training camp that is set a few months before this. It ties in nicely to the story but also could have been its own short story.
To wrap up, one of the best scenes is between Lara Raith and Rameriez and what she realizes about him. Had to put the book down the first time i read it, because i was laughing too hard.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SuzReads
Another great book in the Dresden Files series! This one is as full of action as the rest but we also see more of Dresden battling his anger and against temptation. He makes interesting compromises in order to protect the innocent. I like that even though Dresden is a "good guy" and usually does
Show More
what is right in the end, we get to see him struggle with his darker urges until he finds the "right" path. I am looking forward to #10 in the series and would definitely recommend this book! Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsycab79
As usual, the fight/chase scenes go on way too long without much substance. I just found myself bored with this installment. Lots of yelling and fighting and not much real plot or character development. I might take a break from Dresden for a little while. A more detailed review will be forthcoming
Show More
at wizardsandrockets.blogspot.com. Show Less
LibraryThing member starlitehouse
White Knight by Jim Butcher
This series is the perfect fit when you can’t decide if you want magic or mystery. In White knight Harry undertakes to find a killer of magic users but along the way finds more and more clues that lead to the only family he has left his half brother. This fast paced
This series is the perfect fit when you can’t decide if you want magic or mystery. In White knight Harry undertakes to find a killer of magic users but along the way finds more and more clues that lead to the only family he has left his half brother. This fast paced
Show More
story doesn’t leave you time to put the book down till the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member TomWheaton
I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series. However I am sensing some similarities in the storylines. Harry gets hired to solve a mysterious crime and ends up fighting vampires, ghouls, etc. at the end. Each book tells a story in itself but, there is a continuing story that carries thru
Show More
all of the books. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2007-04-03
ISBN
9780451461551
Local notes
Dresden Files, 09
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Butcher |