jnbmoore's Full Review: Jim Butcher - Death Masks: Dresden Files
Contains spoilers for previous books in the series
Poor Harry Dresden can't catch a break. The only wizard in the Chicago phone book has a very busy life. The war between the Red Court Vampires and the Wizards are still going strong. Harry is the number one target. The war could be ended soon though. One of the leading Counts of the Red Court has challenged him to a duel. If he loses both the duel and his life, the war would be over. A very young lady with the title "The Archive" has come to be the neutral mediator.
Harry's been hired to locate a small piece of fabric from a small town in Italy by the name of Turin. Everyone seems to want this cloth. There are a bunch of Denarians in town who are really nasty folks. There happens to be thirty of them. One for each piece of silver Judas was paid. These demons are passed to human hosts via small silver coins and they are the things nightmares are made of.
Throw in a visit from his ex-girlfriend, Susan, who has been partially turned into a vampire. Michael Carpenter, one of the three Knight of the Cross, returns along with his family and the other two Knights. Karrin Murphy, his contact on the Chicago Police, and Gentleman Johnny Marcone, the (human) crime lord of Chicago also returns.
Even though the cast of characters is rather large, this is an easy story to follow. Jim Butcher writes in first person from Harry's point of view but he spends time developing all the minor characters. You get a great description of their physical aspect and the traits that make that person unique.
Due to one major bedroom scene (even though it doesn't take place in the bedroom) and some profanity, I would not recommend it to younger teens.
It seems with every book, Mr. Butcher expands the mythology of his version of Chicago. I really can't find anything to fault his mythology. I really love it. He has taken aspects of common fantasy and made it his own.
With this book, there is a bit more religion. The Knights of the Cross each have one of the nails from the Crucifixion in their cross and most of the Knights have strong belief. Harry is very much an agnostic but in each book you can see his faith peeking out.
Mr. Butcher's writing style can't help but to make you smile. An excerpt to share with you:
"I kept on moving toward my car, and heard footsteps growing closer, behind me. I told myself not to be too jumpy. Maybe it was just some other frightened, endangered, paranoid, sleep-deprived consultant who had been called to the morgue in the middle of the night.
Okay. Maybe not."
Should you pick up this book? Yes, but at least read book three and four before you do. Even though Mr. Butcher explains a lot, I'm sure you would enjoy it more knowing some of the back stories.
The Dresden Files are well written books where you can see and hear the action developing in your mind. This is an excellent entry into this series.
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, is hired by a mysterious priest to find the stolen shroud of Turin.More at Barnes & Noble.com
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