I've read the first book in the series and want to read more but my local bookstore dosn't have a copy of the second book "Blood Moon". So before I skip ahead to the third book I wanted to ask those who have read the entire series, how importaint is it to read the books in order?
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I've read the first book in the series and want to read more but my local bookstore dosn't have a copy of the second book "Blood Moon". So before I skip ahead to the third book I wanted to ask those who have read the entire series, how importaint is it to read the books in order?
Fool Moon introduces several characters who grow to become important. It also adds more depth to Harry's relationship with Murphy and others that also become more important as things go on. Plus it's as damnably a good read as the rest of the series. If the local store doesn't carry it, I'd suggest hitting the web.
I've read the first book in the series and want to read more but my local bookstore dosn't have a copy of the second book "Blood Moon". So before I skip ahead to the third book I wanted to ask those who have read the entire series, how importaint is it to read the books in order?
Having read every book up to Changes I would say it is damn near vital to read them in order. Each book builds on the other and references things in older books constantly (and may spoil some twists in an earlier book if you read a later book first). Amazon does have next day delivery if you are impatient...
Thanks for the info guys. I'm gonna have my book store order it for me, it'll take a week but I won't have to pay extra for shipping.
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All Butcher's novels are available as ebooks.
You can also get them as audio books (something I have really come to love in the last year) and the narrator, James Marsters, is excellent.
Yeah, you want to read them in order. It is funny but I swear that I saw somewhere (and I think it was on a Dresden Forum) that they suggest some people start with book 4 "Summer Knight". (Must be all of the action). "Fool Moon" is in my opinion the weakest of the books, but I won't go into my Alpha hate here. (Don't hurt me...) But you really need to read it because it does *gack* introduce *gag* some major characters.
No Alpha hate here, but I didn't like Fool Moon at all, and really had to struggle through it to enjoy the rest of the series (which I love so far, being about halfway through Proven Guilty).
One big reason for this was that I actually watched the short-lived TV show prior to reading the novels, and the plot of Fool Moon basically gets spoiled on the show despite some serious deviation from the novel's events. The episode was pretty bad though, and the novel wasn't much better IMO (there's HOW MANY kinds of werewolves, now?).
I can kind of see why people might want to skip ahead to Summer Knight and by pass the first three as a "prequel trilogy", although the events in Grave Peril are pretty crucial to later plot developments.
LOl..I agree that Fool Moon is his weakest book, but that is like saying Porthos is the worst swordsman amongst the 3 musketeers (i.e. still damn good by the standards of the genre).
I am glad I did read them in order...I and will hype the most awesome Sentry Box here in Calgary for having the entire series on stock when I came in last March. Felt kinda silly buying almost a dozen books at the same time, but it turned out to be worth it as I burned through them and loved not having to hunt for the next book when I finished one.
No Alpha hate here, but I didn't like Fool Moon at all, and really had to struggle through it to enjoy the rest of the series (which I love so far, being about halfway through Proven Guilty).
I've read up through Changes and Fool Moon is definitely at the bottom of the list. The first two were both hard going, but that could be because I just don't like detective fiction very much. I liked the end of Storm Front enough to get Fool Moon, read four chapters, and put it down for more than a year. I later came back and managed to bull through both, but damn. Even with liking the alphas a little bit that was a slog.
I'm still reading Fool Moon and would appreciate only positive comments until I finish. ;)
When they say Fool Moon is the weakest of the series they forget to mention that it still is leaps and bounds better than most 'urban fantasy' novels around. Like saying you found +5 vorpal weapon amongst the artifacts. And the ending fight is pure Jim Butcher material i.e. Awesome.
When they say Fool Moon is the weakest of the series they forget to mention that it still is leaps and bounds better than most 'urban fantasy' novels around. Like saying you found +5 vorpal weapon amongst the artifacts. And the ending fight is pure Jim Butcher material i.e. Awesome.
I don't really have any basis for comparison, honestly. Had a girlfriend who was way into the Laurell K. Hamilton stuff, but it always struck me as a bit too soapy, so I never bothered picking those up.
What other series are being written in the urban fantasy vein these days, anyway? I'm loathe to include Harry Potter in the number because it's really its own self-contained world with a touch of urban flavor in book 7.
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Wow. You guys are really down on Fool Moon! I loved it but then I love werewolves in general so learning the novel world's 'lore' about the various kinds was awesome to me. I wouldn't rate it in the top 5 or anything but squarely in the middle around 7. Really it is slitting hairs though - I have yet to read a Dresden book that didn't deliver a great story.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Initially I felt the same way about Fool Moon, but I appreciated it a lot more when I went back recently and re-read all the books. Yes, it's probably the weakest, but that's like saying the atom bomb they dropped on Nagasaki was the weakest nuclear weapon: it still blew up real good.
I love the Alphas. If nothing else that makes Fool Moon worth reading.
I just finished Fool Moon, Loved it.
I thought it was a much better book than Storm Front, better pacing and character interaction. It also seemed to me that in the first part of the book Butcher wanted to get rid of a couple of characters that fell flat in the first book and instead of writing them out he just killed them off.
From what I've read here is they many of you feel the Fool Moon was the weakest of the series If that true the rest of the series must be wondercake topped with 100% awsomesauce.
Next up is Grave Peril so with Butcher's use of whimsical titles leads me to assume that the book has something to do with zombies/ghouls and/or ghosts.
Next up is Grave Peril so with Butcher's use of whimsical titles leads me to assume that the book has something to do with zombies/ghouls and/or ghosts.
Your assumption is a logical one.
And if you like novels about necromancers and black magic, then you're gonna LOVE Dead Beat, once you get to it.
I'd agree Fool Moon's one of the weakest books, but Presumed Guilty's right up there. Storm Front's probably the weakest after those. Pretty much every other book's really really good, and so is Codex Alera (although the ending falls short of expectations).
Aww, but didn't Presumed Guilty give us...
Myself, I'm a quarter of the way through Turncoat right now, and hoping it gets more interesting than "Harry Goes to Scotland". I'd like to take a break from the novels and read Side Jobs, but my wife swears that that's a bad idea until I've gotten through Changes.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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I'd like to take a break from the novels and read Side Jobs, but my wife swears that that's a bad idea until I've gotten through Changes.She is absolutely right. Don't read it until you read Changes. One story in particular will spoil the ending!
I'd say read Side Jobs, but only the stories that match up with the books you've already read. Be careful to not even read the intro on the last story, though.
@Power Word Unzip: Don't worry, Turn Coat has a very HSQ towards the end and there's the part where Harry
Sounds silly but it is awesome
I started the series with Dead Beat, didn't realize or care at the time, that it was part of a series. I was hooked after tho, and went back and read the series more or less in order.
I thought Fool Moon was fine, I didn't care for Proven Guilty, the one after Dead Beat. That was the one I got half way through, lost, gave up on. Then I found it for my Kindle and thought it was OK.
@Power Word Unzip: Don't worry, Turn Coat has a very HSQ towards the end and there's the part where Harry ** spoiler omitted **
Heh, sounds silly but is awesome is pretty much the backbone to the Dresden series. I can think of at least a dozen situations that sound utterly ridiculous out of context but were very awesome in the series.
@Power Word Unzip: Don't worry, Turn Coat has a very HSQ towards the end and there's the part where Harry ** spoiler omitted **Heh, sounds silly but is awesome is pretty much the backbone to the Dresden series. I can think of at least a dozen situations that sound utterly ridiculous out of context but were very awesome in the series.
@VM: Wow. After finishing the book, I came back and looked at your spoiler, which I actually read beforehand and thought was a total joke. Apparently it wasn't!
@idilippy: What, like spending a wish on a frosted donut with sprinkles? =]
BTW: Turncoat? Somewhat disappointing. I was hoping there'd be more of an upset when the traitor was unmasked - I really thought Butcher was foreshadowing a major emotionally-crippling revelation when one of the characters (Murphy, I think) talked about how betrayal is so awful precisely because it comes from someone you never expect to betray you. The fact that the actual culprit was sort of predictable in a TV-serial-crime-drama way was a letdown, IMO.
Oh well. On to Changes!
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@idilippy: What, like spending a wish on a frosted donut with sprinkles? =]
That and, Spoilers ahead,
Heh, those all look pretty ridiculous out of context, but if you've read the series you understand.
Oh well. On to Changes!
Changes is going to blow your mind.
Changes is a great example of where an author realizes that the schtick is getting tired and needs to be revamped.
Most authors screw this up..
But Jim Butcher blows it away..by far the best "lets turn this world upside down" novel I have ever ready in a continuing series.
The best part of it is that everything that happens is a logical culmination of what has run before..its not like he decided to open some logic holes the size of a death star to ram the story down our throats.
That is what I like best about Butcher..the stort elements are high fantasy but there is an underlying consistency to the narrative.
I am always impressed that the entire series is first person and in chronological order. I can only think of one real flash back, other than him just talking about memories. When I read his books, I know that the next page I turn will be about Harry and a continuation of the current story. Nothing bugs me more than when a book jumps back and forth between three or four view points just when each one reaches a cliff-hanger.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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I am always impressed that the entire series is first person and in chronological order. I can only think of one real flash back, other than him just talking about memories. When I read his books, I know that the next page I turn will be about Harry and a continuation of the current story. Nothing bugs me more than when a book jumps back and forth between three or four view points just when each one reaches a cliff-hanger.
I do like his style, but I also really like multiple POV novels.
Depends on the books. Some are pretty good about it. Others...not so much.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I am always impressed that the entire series is first person and in chronological order. I can only think of one real flash back, other than him just talking about memories. When I read his books, I know that the next page I turn will be about Harry and a continuation of the current story. Nothing bugs me more than when a book jumps back and forth between three or four view points just when each one reaches a cliff-hanger.I do like his style, but I also really like multiple POV novels.
I liked Heinlein's Number of the Beast for the first person handoffs.
The first time Plauge of Shadows jumped like that was a bit jarring though.
@idilippy: What, like spending a wish on a frosted donut with sprinkles? =]That and, Spoilers ahead,
** spoiler omitted **Heh, those all look pretty ridiculous out of context, but if you've read the series you understand.
My favorite was always
My favorite was always ** spoiler omitted **@idilippy: What, like spending a wish on a frosted donut with sprinkles? =]That and, Spoilers ahead,
** spoiler omitted **Heh, those all look pretty ridiculous out of context, but if you've read the series you understand.
Haha yeah, I remember that scene,
I just finished Grave Peril and I have come to the conclusion that Jim Butcher is a masochist. That's the only explanation for amount of mental and physical torture he puts Harry through.
Good book though and I really liked Michael.
Michael is what all paladins should aspire to. Made me start playing paladins again.
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Indeed. Righteous with self-righteousness. Great stuff. Just wait until you meet Shiro!Michael is what all paladins should aspire to. Made me start playing paladins again.Amen
wait until you see his wife in Arctis Tor.
Indeed. Righteous with self-righteousness. Great stuff. Just wait until you meet Shiro!Michael is what all paladins should aspire to. Made me start playing paladins again.Amenwait until you see his wife in Arctis Tor.
Read all the books. My favorite is actually Sanya, the agnostic paladin. But Michael get's more screen time and that allows you to see that he really lives by his LG alignment.
In the name of the Pizza Lord! Charge!
Indeed. Righteous with self-righteousness. Great stuff. Just wait until you meet Shiro!Michael is what all paladins should aspire to. Made me start playing paladins again.Amen
Shiro = Mr. Miyagi. Good character but not that great. Sanya on the other hand was kind of cool.
So far Death Masks is my favorite book of the series so far.
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Shiro = Mr. Miyagi. Good character but not that great. Sanya on the other hand was kind of cool.So far Death Masks is my favorite book of the series so far.
I had the same opinion until I heard the audio version of the book - James MArsders really brings Shiro to life... Death masks is prolly my favorite book of the series.
Just wait until y'all read Changes...it will blow your ***ing minds.