Reviews

DNFed at chapter 22. I think maybe Dresden and I are not meant to be. I just can't seem to get on board with his hero archetype, the smart-guy-with-savior-complex-makes-bad-choices-that-put-people-in-more-danger.
Also, I really dislike when book pacing gives not time for characters to sleep and recoup from fights, but that's just a nitpicky thing I have.

pjonsson's review against another edition

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3.0

After now having read the third book in this series I have to say that the series is still wobbling between good and not so good as far as I am concerned. I like Harry. I like the stories which are nice finished stories which generally holds together. Sure, there is a red thread that binds the books together and there are of course some loose ends between each book but they still have an acceptable beginning and end.

However I do find it somewhat tiresome that, not only does Harry rather stupidly blunder (get tricked) into situations where he is overwhelmed or downright sucker punched but he always ends up running out of juice, getting sick, starts to puke or want to puke every so often. It would be nice to see Harry not only adopting a bit more of a bad-ass attitude as well as a bit more intelligence and dishing it out a bit for once instead of just reacting after he put his foot in it.

Having said that, it is still an enjoyable book. At first a bit of supernatural mystery that Harry has to solve which gradually is discovered to be an old acquaintance with a grudge. A grudge that he took with him to the grave and back you might say. Of course this works itself towards a big showdown between Harry and all kinds of supernatural beings. Unfortunately for Harry other actors are wanting a piece of the cake and Harry finds out that both he and his acquaintance are mere tools in the greater scheme.

There are plenty of action, plenty of agony, a decent story and lots and lots of bad guys. All of them of the not so human kind. The book is fairly fast paced yet without going overboard and throwing the story out in favor of action and the showdown (or rather showdowns) are rather spectacular. So despite my gripes above I did quite enjoy the book and the next one, Summer Knight, is on my to-read shelf already.