Tag Archives: Jim Butcher

Summer Reading – 2010

22 Friday Oct 2010

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It’s been a busy summer of devouring books as fast as I can; so fast that I couldn’t get a review written of each of them. So, instead, here’s a rapid fire list of what rocked and what was as dull as a rock.
Books that Rocked:

Outliers: The Story Of Success – Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell is always an interesting read. His ability to find connections in places where they aren’t expected is uncanny.  In Outliers, you will learn that where and when we are born have a large influence on our future.

 

 

 

 

Time to Hunt – Stephen Hunter
I’ve read a few of the Bob Lee Swagger novels, and this one is the best so far.  Go back in time to Bob’s harrowing escapades in Vietnam, and learn why they call him “The Hammer”.

 

 

 

 

The Dresden Files

  • Blood Rites (The Dresden Files, Book 6) – Jim Butcher
  • Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, book 7) – Jim Butcher
  • Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8 ) – Jim Butcher
  • White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9) – Jim Butcher
  • Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) – Jim Butcher
  • Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11) – Jim Butcher

Yup, it’s been a summer of Jim Butcher. I’m not surprised. Harry Dresden is a perfect lead character. He’s filled with doubt and weaknesses, but always has enough steely resolve and powerful magic to pull himself out of the tightest places.  Each book is better than the last, and I can only hope that Butcher keeps kicking them out.

 

The Night Angel Trilogy

  • The Way of Shadows (The Night Angel Trilogy) – Brent Weeks
  • Shadow’s Edge (Night Angel Trilogy) – Brent Weeks
  • Beyond the Shadows – Brent Weeks

The Night Angel Trilogy was an interesting fantasy series. It focused on a young boy who wants to escape his danger our and hopeless life as an orphan.  He gets himself apprenticed to the greatest assassin of the land and ends up having a drastic influence on the world while defeating a great evil.  Yup, that sounds like just about every fantasy series out there.  Great characters and interesting plot twists make this a worthwhile read.

 
The First Law

  • The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One) – Joe Abercrombie
  • Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two) – Joe Abercrombie
  • Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three) – Joe Abercrombie

Other than the Butcher books, this was my favorite series of the summer.  The story was full of intrigue and plotting, but what was interesting is that for all the machinations of man, there was a handful of demi-gods running around pulling the strings that no one really believed in.  Couple that with a half dozen morally gray heroes and heroines and you’ve got a formula for a great read.  Each chapter switches to a different hero’s perspective, and Abercrombie was able to make it so you instantly know which character you are with.

 
The State of the Union – Brad Thor
An interesting thriller that explores what would happen if Russia was playing possum and only pretended to lose the Cold War.  Think Tom Clancy crossed with Dan Brown.

 

 

 

 

As interesting as rocks

Daemons are Forever (Secret Histories, Book 2) – Simon R. Green
Loved the first book for its sheer volume of fantastical creatues.  The follow up fell flat for me.

The Orc King: Transitions, Book I – R.A. Salvatore
Salvatore has dozens of great books starring the dark elf, Drizzt Do’urden.  As he has progressed, the books have taken on a morally preachy timbre. I love the action, but could do without the sermons.

Agincourt: A Novel – Bernard Cornwell
A book about my favorite historical battle?  Count me in.  I can’t remember now why this was bad or good, and I guess that’s enough to say about it. However, Cornwell typically hits the mark and I would not hesitate to recommend him.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy – Robert V. S. Redick
The whole book takes place on a boat.  There’s some interesting characters, but I didn’t really get into it.

Sharpe’s Trafalgar: Richard Sharpe & the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805 (Richard Sharpe’s Adventure Series #4) – Bernard Cornwell
I really enjoy the Sharpe series, and I’m going to keep reading them. This book wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t that great either.

Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt: A Novel of the Twentieth Legion During the Rebellion of Sacrovir and Florus – James Mace
I really wanted to like this series, but it is entirely too dry for me.  I guess I’ll find a different Roman era series to read.

That’s 21 books read since March, not too shabby. Luckily, most of them have been good, including 3 series: The Night Angel Trilogy, The First Law, and The Dresden Files. Get some!

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Princeps Fury and First Lords Fury by Jim Butcher

27 Tuesday Apr 2010

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I powered through the last two books in Butcher’s Codex Alera on my Kindle.  It took my just 3 days to read them all; I guess that is what happens on a rainy weekend with a couple of great books.

If you haven’t read the rest of my reviews for this series, do a search for “Jim Butcher” on the site and you’ll find them.  Butcher isn’t breaking a lot of new ground in this series, but as I’ve said about his writing in numerous other reviews, he makes the story fun.

The final two books are fought against the Vord as they spread quickly and violently throughout the planet.  Old enemies across the world have to ally with each other in order to face a great threat.  Through the destruction, new friendships form and a new way of life emerges.

The only problem I had with the last two books is that the enemy becomes so powerful, no one can overcome it. It ends up being the planet itself that finds a way to destroy it. I think Butcher may have made things a little too desperate and had to resort to a bit of a trick to wrap it all up.  I’ll give Butcher this, though, he setup the possibility for this ending from the first book. So it was a trick, but one that was available to him from the first.

All in all, there aren’t many six or more book series that is really excellent from start to finish.  Stephen King’s Dark Tower is another that springs to mind.

Rating:  4 out of 5

Death Mask by Jim Butcher

23 Tuesday Mar 2010

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If you’ve read any of the past reviews on this website, you’ll know that I’ve become a big fan of Jim Butcher’s work. He has great plots, interesting characters, magic, humor, and interesting fight scenes. Death Mask, the fifth book in the Dresden Files series, is no different.

I read this book in about 7 hours, all in one lazy Saturday. I imagine that’s a great testament to the book all on its own. Do you need to hear about the death duel with a Vampire Warlord, fights against Fallen Angels, or a return of Dresden’s former lover who now has the strength and abilities of a Vampire?

Probably, you don’t need all that. If you’ve read a Dresden file book before, you know what to expect. Harry Dresden is going to have a very bad dad. Unimaginable horrors will assail him and his small band of faithful friends from all sides. Humanity will be unaware of the danger, and ungrateful for the help. In the end, right when it seems darkest, Harry will find a way through.

It’s pretty much the same. But the characters, the bad guys, and the settings are so much fun, it almost doesn’t matter.

Rating 3 out of 5 (What’s This?)

Captain’s Fury by Jim Butcher

09 Tuesday Mar 2010

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I just finished reading Captain’s Fury (ok, so I actually wrote that on January 17th, but I’m trying to pace these posts out a bit for you :), which is the fourth installment of the Codex Alera. I downloaded it on Friday to my new Kindle. Early Sunday morning, I finished it. Yup, it was that good. I’m sorely tempted to get the next two in the series, take a couple of vacation days, and have the series done by next week.

Jim Butcher has crafted a marvelous world set in what appears to be the Roman era, except this time things are a little more fantastical, since the Alerans have a sort of magic they call Furycraft. Everyone does, that is except Tavi, the story’s main hero. In the previous book, Cursor’s Fury, that had begun to change. In this book, we find out all the reasons why.

The fulcrum of the story remains simple. Tavi is in a tough spot. He must find a way to get out of it. He has some great friends that help him. Bad people want to kill him.

If you have read fantasy, you have read it before. That’s where Butcher comes in. He keeps the story fresh. It is funny. It is intense. It is dark. It is merciless. It is kind. It is sad. It is happy. It is all the shades of gray in between. I don’t know how he does it, but I’m impressed and I can’t wait to finish the series.

Butcher is quickly becoming my favorite author. I have now read eight of his books, and I have been entertained by each of them. There are another five of his books on my shelf right now, and I definitely will be buying the other two books in this series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (What’s This?)

Oh. This is the first book I read on my Kindle. That was pretty cool. Read my Kindle review here.

Cursor’s Fury by Jim Butcher

16 Tuesday Feb 2010

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Jim Butcher continues to justify my purchases of his books. The Dresden Files have been strong through the first five books I’ve read. This is the third book in the Cursors Fury, and I enjoyed it as much as the first.

Butcher balances strong characters, political intrigues, dangerous foes, and an interesting magic without so much as breaking a sweat. The book is an easy read with great action and suspense, a developing love interest, and a main character whose weakness continues to turn into a strength. In this volume, we also learn a couple of very surprising facts that will no doubt come into play in the next volumes. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series and keep going.

Here’s hoping that this series by Butcher doesn’t go the way of the Wheel of Time or that Goodkind series (if you don’t know, that means 5 great books, and 6 more extremely mediocre or even brutal tomes)

Rating: 4 out of 5 (What’s This?)

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

30 Wednesday Sep 2009

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After reading a biography about Stalin, I figured it was time to pick up something that I could breeze through in a few enjoyable evenings. Butcher’s Dresden Files series was an easy choice.

Summer Knight is book four of the Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is a wizard, who just happens to be listed in the Chicago phone book and helps with lost items and paranormal investigations. He also happens to get himself in situations that most normal people can’t imagine.

In this latest installment, Harry finds himself as the focus between the Red Court of the vampires, and the White Council of the wizards. Both sides want to kill Harry for starting a war between the two sides. In order to prove his trustworthiness to the wizards, Harry must somehow find a way to stop a separate war between the Summer and Winter Queen’s of Faerie.

The action is non-stop and very enjoyable as I have come to expect from the Dresden series. New magic and more dangerous situations hide around every corner. Harry Dresden manages yet again to be vulnerable and yet come through and kick some ghoul ass in the end. There are even some nice twists and turns for those who particularly enjoy the mystery portion of this series.

The only downfall is that I’m concerned the books are becoming repetitive. There are a lot more Dresden File books, and I am looking forward to reading them, but I am unsure how often Butcher can go back to the same well and bring out a fresh story. I think I’ll try and find out though.

Rating 3 out of 5.  (What’s this?)

Oh, good news. There were three new books left on my shelf, but I didn’t feel like reading any of them. So, I’ve decided it’s time to read a couple of the books that I consider classics. First up: Shogun. I’m already about 300 pages in, and I can’t put it down. And it’s my fourth time through it!

Academ’s Fury by Jim Butcher

29 Wednesday Jul 2009

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After finishing Furies of Calderon, I made sure to find the second book in the series while at a bookstore in Kalispell, MT. Who knew they’d have a nice Borders there?

The second book picks up two years after the first book ended. Tavi is growing strong, but still without his Fury. He is training to become a Cursor, which is like a messenger and spy rolled into one. Thanks to his heroics a couple of years back, the High Lord is his patron, and Tavi finds himself in the middle of political intrigue and an ancient menace that threatens to destroy their world.

It is like a blend of the political intrigue from Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin blended with some alien menace that you would expect from the mind of Stephan King.

I liked the introduction of Tavi’s friends at the Academy. They were solid characters that will certainly play a role in the next book. I also thought his love interest was a solid addition to the book.

I did not like the Vord, which turns out to be the main menace. It was alright. I guess it is as good as any hive-brained, shape-shifting, mind-controlling alien menace can be. I get that it was referenced in the first book, so that it was good to wrap up what was a potential question. It just seemed out of place to me. It did setup a few really enjoyable fights, though.

All in all, it was an entertaining and acceptable second book. I liked it enough that I will definitely be reading the third one soon. Butcher keeps on rolling in my book.

Rating 3 out of 5. (ratings)

Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

27 Monday Jul 2009

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A two week long sojourn in Glacier National Park has left me woefully behind on my blogs. When you hike for most of the day but are back at camp by three in the afternoon, it leaves a lot of time for reading. So, without further adieu, I will begin firing off four reviews in quick order.

First, let’s talk about Jim Butcher and his Codex Alera series. If you have been paying attention, you may already realize that I have read a lot of Jim Butcher’s books. Actually, I think I have read five of his books just this year alone. When I find a good author, I tend to devour all of their work. Just ask Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Stephan Pressfield, or Stephan Lawhead. Well, don’t do that actually. They probably don’t know that I have read their books.

Furies of Caleron is a fairly standard fantasy series. The way I see it, there are two types. One features really powerful heroes matched up against extremely difficult situations (See Savlatore, R.A.). The other type of fantasy story whisks a seemingly normal yet sort of weak person into events way beyond their control, yet somehow they end up saving the world. Both types can be great entertainment, and every once in a while it becomes great literature. At least if you are Tolkien it does.

Furies of Calderon picks the latter situation. A young boy, picked on for his deficiencies, saves the realm. It is a pretty standard plotline throughout. What makes this book great is the setting, the magic, and the characters.

It is set in a Roman-era world. There are legions, horses, stone buildings, no guns and no technology. I love reading historical fiction in this setting, so I was pretty interested to see what would happen with a fantasy book set in this timeframe. I don’t believe I have read any fantasy with Roman leanings.

The magic is one of a kind as well. And when you are reading fantasy, isn’t that what you are looking for? You want to be awed and inspired by the fantastical things that can happen. In Furies for Calderon, every person in the country has tamed an elemental power, called a Fury. These furies come in water, earth, wind, fire, and a handful of other flavors. They can do the person’s bidding for healing, water, for flying, wind, or for damage, fire. It sounds a bit odd at first, but Butcher really pulls it off.

The lead character is a boy named Tavi. He is the only one that doesn’t have a fury, and yet he is smack in the center of the action, having to use his wits and resourcefulness to get everyone out of a tight jam. There are a handful of other great characters in the book, some interesting twists, and the beginning of a great fantasy realm.

Rating 3.5 out of 5 – really entertaining, just not sure I would reread it any time soon.  (see ratings)

Grave Peril – Dresen Files book 3 – by Jim Butcher

30 Monday Mar 2009

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After finishing a long and not so entertaining non-fiction book, I like to read something that I know will pique my interest.  Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files comes through in spades again.  The action kicks in immediately and only slows down for one or two chapters.

This time, Harry Dresden, our erstwhile hero, has some new help in the person of Michael Carpenter.  Michael is known as the Fist of God and is a Knight with a strong Faith and a sweet sword. He watches Harry’s back and destroys evil wherever he finds it. The ghosts in Chicago are running rampant, and it’s up to them to find out who or what is causing that to happen. 

The Dresden files are starting to fit into a mold.  Something ugly goes bump in the night.  Only one person in Chicago is equipped to fight the bad guy, and it’s Harry Dresden.  He sets out to find out what’s going on, and things go from bad to worse to badder to worser in a hurry. I know, not remotely grammatically correct, but I think you get the idea.  Just when you think it is as bad as it gets, it isn’t.  This time, it gets so bad that Harry dies – for a minute.  How can he get out?

Butcher set me up again this time.  As I read through the first half of the book, I started wondering why Dresden didn’t just do some badass magic stuff and get it over with.  He always seems so weak.  Ask and you shall receive.  When things look bleakest, Harry Dresden finds a way to get through.  And he does it in spectacular fashion.

I love a book that causes me to feel some emotion.  As long as it isn’t irritation, it’s a good thing.  This book managed to make me laugh and cheer.  Although it was a familiar plot arc, I really didn’t care.  Butcher does it well and made it feel fresh. I think I’ll try and find out if he can continue to keep it going through the whole series.

Rating: 4 out of 5  (see the rating system)

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2) by Jim Butcher

13 Tuesday Jan 2009

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I’m going to try my hand at a couple of one-liners that can be put on this book in its 8th printing. Let’s see how it goes.

“Harry Potter’s got nothing on Harry Dresden.” – Libzig.com

“This book made me pee my pants…just a little.” – Libzig.com

“Chicago’s only wizard in the yellow pages is as good at getting himself into trouble as he is at getting out of it.” – Libzig.com

Ok. That’s enough practice. I think it’s obvious that my one –liners need a little work.  I read Book 1, Storm Front,  of the series last year, and immediately put Book 2 on my Amazon.com wish list.  After reading this book in just a couple of days, I now have Books 3-10 on my wish list. I don’t think I’ll be waiting until next year to read them.

I’m not ready to put this next to Shogun, Byzantium, or Gates of Fire on my short list of books that I’m always looking to reread, but it’s not far off.  Dresden is a very believable character.  He has flaws, self-doubt, and a biting sarcasm that left my wife continuously wondering just what was so funny.  He’s committed to using his gift of magic for good, but at the same time recognizes a lurking evil within him ready to subvert his magic and fuel it with lust and greed.

The story moves along at a good clip, with Dresden sliding into deeper and deeper trouble. Each time it looks like he’s gotten clear, something goes wrong to place him in a more perilous situation than before.  Help comes to him in unlooked for, but not unbelievable places.

If you haven’t read Book 1 of the series, I suggest you do so. You’ll find Dresden to be a compelling character and you can head into Book 2 knowing the back story.  In Fool Moon, you’ll find Dresden helping the Chicago Police investigate a number of grisly murders that have been taking place around the time of the full moon.  The attacks seem to be the work of wild animals.  Wild animal attacks during the full moon?  The only wizard in the yellow pages isn’t brought in unless there is something a little more sinister to it.  But who knew there were so many types of werewolves in Chicago?

There was a few times early on where I thought Dresden was a bit “weak” for a wizard.  He didn’t pull out any sweet moves and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing.  Butcher does a good of showing Dresden’s resolve, and before the end he dropped some powerful magic.  Turns out he’s a bit of a bad ass.

The book is excellent. I’m not sure much more needs to be said. Pick it up soon. Read it quickly, and buy more of the Dresden series.  I think I’ll be trying out some of Butcher’s other series as well.

4 stars – see the book rating explanation here