Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

I always start my recommendations on Butcher’s books the same way. I am a fan of Butcher and love his Harry Dresden series.  This story is a more philosophic Butcher/Dresden.

The plot of the story is familiar Butcher, somebody is subjecting Chicago to supernatural terror.   Once again, Harry Dresden is tasked to protect his city and his friends.   The villains are as dark as or perhaps even darker than ever.  Harry, however, is merely a shade of his previous self.  

Harry is more philosophical in this book.  There is even more introspection than usual.   Harry looks at the consequence of his actions and even waxes somewhat religiously.   That doesn’t mean the book isn’t chock full of the mad cap action we all have learned to love.

Harry hasn’t lost his edge but future books may feature a more thoughtful Harry Dresden.   Of course it is as equally likely that his smash mouth wizardly style will continue to destroy his enemies.  I do think that in this book, Harry Dresden found himself.   This book is kind of like coffee with one of those flavored creamers, still coffee but just a little bit different.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Jim Butcher</a>

Web Site: http://www.jim-butcher.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

River Road by Suzanne Johnson

This is the next book in a urban fantasy coming of age of a young wizard.   It is set in post-Katrina New Orleans where boundaries have thinned between here and the beyond.  

DJ, Drusilla Jaco, is a Green Congress wizard that is finally being accorded some respect.  The influx of strangeness that occurred after Katrina has taxed the Elders and they have reluctantly appointed DJ as a Sentinel.  Alex, her partner, is a shape shifter and tasked with protecting DJ and investigating paranormal “crimes”.   Jake, Alex’s cousin, is a new shifter who is struggling with his identity and his new job as an Elder Enforcer.

There are fun characters as well, such as Jean Lafitte, the pirate.  Johnson has a great imagination and has crafted a “believable” paranormal environment.   This book deals with rifts between the Beyond and New Orleans tidal waters poisoning both paranormals and normals. 

I recommend the book.

Web sites:        http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

I am a fan of Butcher and love his Harry Dresden series.  This is got a slight flavor of Dresden in the humor but otherwise is full fledged fantasy and excellent at that.  The plot is a rebellion and those who oppose it.

The characters are once again the best part of Butcher’s tales.  Don’t get me wrong, his plots are excellent and his story telling sublime but his characterizations are terrific.

I like the way he takes Tavi and grows his character throughout the book.   His villains are more believable due to their pragmatic nature.  He gives back story on his villains so they are far more than just the embodiment of evil that seems to be prevalent in most fantasies.

I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Jim Butcher</a>

Web Site: http://www.jim-butcher.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Iron Throne Illustrated by Marc Simonetti and Approved of by George R. R. Martin

Iron Throne illustrated by Marc Simonetti for the upcoming Song of Ice and Fire companion book The World of Ice and Fire.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Free Love Thug July 10-12, 2013 at Amazon

 FREE at Amazon -- Amazon only 

 this Wed-Fri (July 10 -12)

 See my Review

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

On the Razor’s Edge by Michael Flynn

 This is the 4^th and final book in a series.  I have not changed my opinion since I reviewed In the Lion’s Mouth, this book also did not stand alone well.  I suggest reading the previous three , The January Dancer and then Up Jim River  and then In the Lion’s Mouth before reading this book.   Donovan, the protagonist, is still the key piece in the Spiral Arm politics.  The black ops teams of the Confederation and the League each hope to use him for their own ends.

I guess I should have taken my own advice and gone back and read the first two volumes.   I like continuity and without those two books I could never find it.   Just as in In the Lion’s Mouth, I was never able to get into this book.   I like back story and find myself getting frustrated when I can’t put something in context. 

Flynn does write with great imagination and flair with super detail on the characters.  They have colorful nuances that make them engaging.    The Hounds and the Names still contend with Donavan’s personalities and I still end up confused.   One thing is certain, an undeclared war may be more vicious than a declared war.

I recommend reading these four books in order.  I think that, in order, they will be much more enjoyable.

Site:  http://m-francis.livejournal.com/

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Archon by Sabrina Benulis

This book is the tale of young lady caught between the forces of heaven and hell.  This is a dark fantasy with twisted interpersonal relationships. 

This is the first book in the trilogy about Raziel's book,  a secret book from a lost arch angel.  The intrigue comes from the various forces of good and evil battling over the abilities of Angela Mathers.  The sorority sisters from hell, assorted demons and creatures of the night populate the book.

The state of Angela's mental health is a major contribution to the plot of the book.  

I really couldn't get into this book.  The convoluted interpersonal relationships were confusing and the plot line seemed lost in the shuffle.

Web Site: http://www.sabrinabenulis.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Changes by Jim Butcher

Harry finds out an earth shattering truth and spends the book regaining his sanity. 

I love Butcher’s work.  He has melded so many genres into his own brand of story.   The only other major successes I have seen in this area are Glen Cook’s Garrett and Alex Bledsoe’s Eddie LaCrosse.    They share the same flavor without ever being the same.   Harry Dresden struggles with his morals and his ethical backbone in this book.  

We see many of the usual suspects, his psychotic god-mother, Murphy, Sanya, Mouse, Molly and Thomas.   They join Harry on a suicidal mission against the Red Court Vampires. 

Regardless of the trappings of fantasy and monsters, Butcher creates characters that move you.  The bad guys are pretty darn bad but Butcher allows sparks of goodness to occasional flash from them.   The good guys are not clueless pawns to Harry’s will, they do what they do based on principles and love.  

The ineptness of the White Council is once more pointed out.  Obviously Butcher has modeled it on the U. S. Congress as they are a very real example of well intentioned goals being usurped by gross ineptitude and towering self interest. 

I like Butcher’s books because of the characters.  Their strength of friendship and their astounding loyalty has to be admired.  Butcher gives us very worthy heroes, not perfect but striving for perfection.   Butcher’s books make me feel good that I have read them.  This book will have you scrambling to Butcher’s web site to see what is on the horizon.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Jim Butcher</a>

Web Site: http://www.jim-butcher.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.