Death Masks by Jim ButcherMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Jacket Blurb: Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But now he’s getting more than he bargained for.
A duel with the Red Court of Vampires’ champion, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards…
Professional hit men using Harry for target practice…
The missing Shroud of Turin…
A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified…
Not to mention the return of Harry’s ex-girlfriend Susan, who’s still struggling with her semivampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life.
Some days, it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you’re charging
Again, Harry Dresden, Chicago Wizard, is put into life threatening situations (note, plural). Again, Harry survives with a little help from his friends.
In this volume (episode?) the Red Court vampires have sent a Warlord to engage Harry in a duel to the death. Meanwhile, the Shroud of Turin has been stolen and is somewhere in Chicago. The Church is rather eager to get it back, the buyer wants his goods, and the underworld plans on disrupting everyone's plans. Harry has been give a prophecy that if he gets the Shroud back, he dies. If he doesn't get the Shroud back, everyone else dies. Harry doesn't think much of prophecies.
While the action continues to be a bit over the top (really, two life threatening situations in one week?), the character development and writing continues to improve in my opinion. I could have done without the ah...liaison, between Harry and his ex-girlfriend-turned-vampire, and the train ride across Kansas was right out of several movies, but yet all of this somehow works. It's Harry, it's quirky, and it's just a fun read. If you want serious, read Tolkien.
Go forth and enjoy for enjoyment's sake.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment