Jim Butcher

I picked up the first book in this series on a whim. The premise of a wizard private investigator operating openly in modern Chicago was very intriguing. I kind of hate to admit it, but the blurb on the back of the book was good enough to cause me to try it. Of course, the blurb was also more accurate than most, so that may not be a good indicator for future use of them.

And as it turned out, Butcher’s premise was very well handled. You are thrown right into the action with Harry Dresden being asked to investigate a grisly murder by the Chicago PD. Things get bloodier and more difficult for Harry as the story progresses, to the point that the White Council (who make sure wizards follow the rules) suspect him of committing the murders. His efforts to survive and catch the real villain are nonstop and exhausting. They are also very well written, with well rounded characters, a consistent use of magic and the supernatural, and a gripping story.

As I read the first book, I remember hoping that it would do well enough that I could read more of the Dresden Files. Little did I know, I would be reading the adventures of Harry Dresden and his growing circle of friends, lovers, and enemies for years to come. It even did well enough for the SciFi Channel to do a series, The Dresden Files , which only had one season for some unknown reason.

The Dresden books have done so well that Butcher has been able to entice someone to publish his first love, a straight fantasy series, the Codex Alera. While the premise is standard fantasy, magicless orphan boy is more than he seems in a world where everyone has magic, Butcher’s characters and occasional surprise twist make the books fun reads. I look forward to them almost as much as I do the Dresden books.

• The Dresden Files
• The Codex Alera