Storm Front
Ratings888
Average rating3.7
Storm Front is the first book of the Dresden Files, an urban fantasy series following the adventures of Harry Dresden, wizard for hire. The book is good, combining an interesting plot with appropriate introductions to the world of the series. I will say that I sometimes found Dresden to be a tad bit unlikable, but overall this was a decent read. To me, it doesn't live up to the hype, and falls short of some other urban fantasy books I've enjoyed, but I'm willing to give this series another chance with the sequel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not what I'd expected, but great nonetheless!
Butcher knows how to handle Chekhov's gun. He keeps his promises, which made reading this book feel very rewarding. Also: If something can go wrong, it will in this book. There's no time for the story to lose its tension, since shit's hitting the fan 24/7. And I love it!
Great action! Great story!
If you are a fan of detective novels but always wished they were magical, you will love this book.
The story reminded me of Raymond Chandler books.
Harry Dresden is impossible not to like, despite sometimes trying to be too witty, and sometimes looking at the ladies a bit sexually. None of those reduced my enjoyment of reading this great story.
I can't wait to pick the next book in the series!
I like the world, I even like Harry, which surprised me based on the first few chapters. I didn't love the way female characters were treated, but it wasn't so bad that it ruined my enjoyment of the book. I'm pretty excited to see where this series goes.
This book was just hyped up too much for me. I wanted to love it but if I'm being honest it was just OK. The main saving grace was James Marsters narration but the plot was nothing surprising and you know from page one the outcome of the book.
I doubt I'll continue there are just better stories that keep you on your toes more.
The Dresden Files is one of those series held in hallowed regard by the SFF community, but previously I had struggled to get going in it. This was my second attempt at the first book in the series and I am glad I persevered. The combination of a wizard and PI is an intriguing one and the book leans heavily on its noir background. The fantastical elements do help lift it out of occasionally tropey territory. Dresden himself is a likeable protagonist and even if the first person perspective is initially a little jarring it settles into an easy to read style.
Urban fantasy is a big genre these days, largely driven by the YA market. It is actually quite nice to read an adult fantasy book with this setup. Everyone who has recommended the series to me says it only improves as you get further along. Having warmed up to this first book I have to admit I am now looking forward to where it takes me.
On a side note - the Grim Oak Press edition I am lucky enough to own is a gorgeous presentation of this. The artwork is spectacular and the leatherbound book is an object of great beauty.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews but I have to say, I really enjoyed my time with it. It was fun and very entertaining. Harry as a main character was enjoyable and didn't annoy me like other male mcs. Some of the writing and dialogue was cheesy but it amused me at least, instead of putting me of. I'm definitely curious enough to continue the series, plus I hear they get better. So looking forward to that.
Hooooooooboy.
Dit was dus niet de serie die ik in mijn hoofd had. Ik dacht aan The Laundry Files van Charles Stross, spionageverhaal meets Lovecraftiaanse horror meets bureaucratie, in Engeland.
Dit is een soort privédetective maar dan een tovenaar, in Chicago. Ik was ervan overtuigd dat het boek geschreven was ergens midden de jaren 1980, zó ahem “niet meer van deze tijd” dat het proza is. Ik bedoel, dit is de introductie van één van de personages:
Karrin Murphy was waiting for me outside the Madison. Karrin and I are a study in contrasts. Where I am tall and lean, she's short and stocky. Where I have dark hair and dark eyes, she's got Shirley Temple blond locks and baby blues. Where my features are all lean and angular, with a hawkish nose and a sharp chin, hers are round and smooth, with the kind of cute nose you'd expect on a cheerleader. It was cool and windy, like it usually is in March, and she wore a long coat that covered her pantsuit. Murphy never wore dresses, though I suspected she'd have muscular, well-shaped legs, like a gymnast.
She was a good-looking woman, in her mid-thirtysomethings. Ash blond hair that I thought must be natural, after a morbid and involuntary memory of the dead woman's dye job. Her makeup was tasteful and well applied, and her face was fair, friendly, with enough roundness of cheek to look fresh-faced and young, enough fullness of mouth to look very feminine. She was wearing a long, full skirt of palest yellow with brown riding boots, a crisp white blouse, and an expensive-looking green cardigan over it, to ward off the chill of early spring. She had to be in good shape to pull off a color combination like that, and she did it.
She was a woman of average height and striking, dark beauty, wearing a crisp business jacket and skirt, hose, pumps. Her dark, straight hair was trimmed in a neat cut that ended at the nape of her neck and was parted off of the dark skin of her forehead, emphasizing the lazy appeal of her dark eyes. [...] She put an elbow on the counter and propped her chin in her hand, studying me through narrowed eyes and thick, long lashes. One of the things that appealed to me about her was that even though she used her charm and femininity relentlessly in pursuit of her stories, she had no concept of just how attractive she really was.
Her hair was a burnished shade of auburn that was too dark to cast back any ruddy highlights, but did anyway. Her eyes were dark, clear, her complexion flawlessly smooth and elegantly graced with cosmetics. She was not a tall woman, but shapely, wearing a black dress with a plunging neckline and a slash in one side that showed off a generous portion of pale thigh. Black gloves covered her arms to above the elbows, and her three-hundred-dollar shoes were a study in high-heeled torture devices. She looked too good to be true.
Maybe my values are outdated, but I come from an old school of thought. I think that men ought to treat women like something other than just shorter, weaker men with breasts. Try and convict me if I'm a bad person for thinking so. I enjoy treating a woman like a lady, opening doors for her, paying for shared meals, giving flowers—all that sort of thing.
I unfolded a clean white cloth where I'd had a flickering shadow stored for just such an occasion, and tossed it into the brew, then opened up a glass jar where I kept my mouse scampers and tapped the sound out into the beaker where the potion was brewing.
3.75 stars
It was great following, Dresden. I didn't give 4 stars, due to me being able to predict, key happenings. However, I enjoyed the story lines. Looking forward to continuing the series.
I would definitely recommend listening to the audiobook while reading. It heightens the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first tale of Dresden. Its fun, scary, action packed and ends with a bang. It's one of those stories that keeps you hooked from chapter to chapter but does not use cliffhanger devices to do so.
This book was 351 pages of fast paced, crime-solving, down-on-his-luck, kick-ass wizardry, and I'm his next biggest fan. Every character was dripping with nuance, every scene had a purpose, every action seemed foreshadowed, every twist felt genuine, every decision felt natural, and even the things we didn't see coming felt believable and real.
Even something that “could” feel like dues ex machine felt so natural and believable I couldn't help but sit in awe. I had a joyous sense of magic like I did when I first read Harry Potter, watched Little Witch Academia (the short film not the show), and I first saw Merlin. Every description of the Nevernever, demons, vampires, faeries, etc., get real, and the world felt so grand and magical and wonderful that I just couldn't stop reading.
It was such a joy to follow Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (conjure by it at your own risk), that I can't wait until Amazon sends the second book over (still really angry about that one). Pick up this book, you won't regret it.
I have a new series to enjoy!
I absolutely loved this first book in the series. I don't tend to like Urban modern-day fantasy, but there was something about this that made it feel fantastical enough that it didn't feel like “yeah, someone would notice that”.
I like Harry as a character and I am a big fan of other supporting characters also. I do wish there was more of a group helping out as it leaves little in the way of relationships to grow, bond or break. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
3.5 stars. Entertaining and makes me interested in the world. Although somewhat unrefined
This is a page-turner with a fast moving, action-oriented plot and an exciting ending. I was curious to read this for the premise, a noir-ish private eye in a supernatural urban setting.
It didn't really live up to the book that was in my head. Butcher gives wizard/P.I. Dresden a naive, adolescent “voice” as the narrator. It doesn't fit with a character that is supposed to be an experienced, trained, and clever detective with a reputation. Seen through his eyes there is not much depth to the supporting characters either. Dresden tells us way too many of his thoughts. He doesn't leave the reader much room to form their own ideas and impressions. Some of the plot points seemed forced and predictable.
Having said all that, I could read more from this series. I heard they get better as they go along, and Storm Front was an easy, fun diversion.
Somehow, both a great mystery and a great fantasy. It wasn't predictable and the characters developed strongly.
I'm not very sure about my rating. I like Harry, he's an interesting guy. But the story was sometimes predictable and a bit boring. And at the same time, other scenes were exciting and captivating. So I'm not very thrilled about continuing this series.
I'm going to read the second book. If I like it more than this one, I might continue the series.
Entertaining, but I got a lot of chauvinist vibes somehow. Probably all the allusions to being an old fashioned gentleman.
This book was a riot. I dug this wonky story. Check it out, this is a legit, noir story. All of the boxes are checked and this could have been a Raymond Chandler or James Ellroy novel. Full-disclosure, I'm a noir snob. The great thing about this story is it brings a classic noir feel without being overly cliché. And then, in a stroke of genius, the protagonist is a wizard, with a capital “w”.
Think of all the beats you need in a great noir story, inject magical mischief, and you have a recipe for a 100% original story.
I can't recommend this highly enough and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.