Book 2 of the Dresden files, and I'm beginning to notice some of the Terry Pratchett traits used in the Discworld method of storytelling; namely Butcher's repeated descriptions of Dresden himself, his car, his home (in the same way Pratchett describes the Discworld at the start of each book). I enjoyed the description of magic circles, and the introduction of werewolves (hexenwolves, loupe-garous and lycanthropes). Particularly liked the mention of Saint Patrick's curse, and and the Norse berserkers. There is a reference to the Peanuts theme tune too. Book ends with a showdown. ( )

(2001)2nd in Dresden Files series about werewolves and a crooked FBI agent who uses them to coverup murders that he commits. I like this series; funny and good character in a fantasy world that seems almost real.

I told my brother that aspiring authors must hate Jim Butcher because he makes writing look so easy. I love his plotting, his narration, his dialog. I definitely look forward to continuing this series. ( )

Having heard favourable reports of this series and seeing book 2 in a charity shop I decided to give it a try. However, I found it boring in parts and frustrating. The numerous characters are all cardboard cutouts apart from Harry himself, and he spends a lot of the time mentally beating himself up, often while being beaten up by various adversaries. The treatment of women is especially bad - they are all highly attractive but with no real characterisation other than the odd bit of feistiness, apart from Murphy the police woman who seems to be Mrs Angry the whole time. Only Dresden himself has a sense of humour and that is often forced, making wisecracks in the least likely situations, especially when it is guaranteed to drive various villains who have him at their mercy into a killing frenzy.

The story revolves around several types of werewolf - which Dresden describes for Murphy in a report fairly early on in the story. I couldn't help thinking that this might confuse some readers and certainly would a TV audience if this was adapted (having heard there was a TV series based on these books). Quite a lot of the book is devoted to copious descriptions of blood and gore as the various types of werewolf go on the rampage. I also found it highly unbelievable that the main character survives being constantly shot/beaten etc especially when he is at the mercy of a biker gang who channel spirits of rage and are supposedly a type of werewolf that does not change from human form. His ability to function despite days of such treatment stretched my disbelief to the snapping point.

The more interesting aspect of the book was Dresden's familiar spirit, Bob, who inhabits a skull, and a demon he conjures to try to get more information about who is carrying out the murders. But I found it very odd that he would give away one of his names - and apparently has already done so in book 1 - when to give the demons his whole name will put him entirely at their mercy. Especially for information which could have been found out on the internet - granted that magic in this book causes failure of computer and other electrical equipment, but he could have asked his girlfriend Susan, the reporter, to research it for him. It is also very convenient that he early on makes two potions that he just happens to need later on.

So I would rate this as an OK 2 stars at best and am not planning to seek any more of the series. ( )

Oh crap Dresden, You just seem to get deeper and deeper into it, don’t you?
I absolutely enjoyed the second book, the different types of werewolves and Dresden's magic itself was much interesting than the first book. Considering that I choose the audiobook route (my first audiobook btw) it took me much longer to listen to it than it would be to read, besides this I still loved the audio book since James Marsters is the one that reads the book and his voice goes so well with who you think Dresden would be.

There were a couple of things that bothered me, one is that I wished Murphy and Bob were in this book a lot more, I love their characters and wish Butcher would have incorporated them more than he did. Another thing is the werewolf aspect, while I liked the different types of werewolves that are in this world, I still was bothered that they did not have the original type. There's a reason why it is a classic, and I missed that it was not in it.

While I really liked the book, I wished Dresden would think before he does something. Constantly throughout this entire book I was wincing at what this wizard was doing to himself and his body. Honestly it was really hard hearing this through audiobook as I can drift off throughout the book. I will continue reading this series through audiobook, but I do prefer books. ( )