Storm Front (The Dresden Files)
 
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Language: English (Original Language) Language: English (Unknown) Language: English (Published) |
RRP: £27.61
An excellent adventure (class project, part 1)
Review date: 2008-12-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
The first book of the Dresden files, named "Stormfront", is a mix of horror fiction and fantasy. With this genre-mix the author affords to create a very exciting and spree novel with a vividly characterised protagonist called Harry Dresden. Harry Dresden is a wizard and the typical anti-hero. He had a difficult past and is under a probation placed on him by the White Council, an organisation who supervises the use of dark magic, so he is forced to risk his life to solve the mystery. He is honest and kind-hearted and typically poor and deplorable so that the reader feels with him. Furthermore there are many interesting minor characters like the faerie Toot-toot or Bob, the intelligent air spirit, or the Red Court vampire Madame Bianca St. Claire and so on. In the passages when Harry Dresden meets these creatures, Jim Butcher approaches top form. Moreover there are many felicitous gags and allusions which depend on famous movies or other novels. For this reason the novel is good entertainment, but the reader knows every time what'll happen next. Therefore the story is not creepy, but in many situations exciting and funny, because Jim Butcher always finds a way to let some foolproof spells go wrong. So all in all this novel is an amazingly good first novel and allows the reader to immerge in the fantastic world of Harry Dresden.
I recommend this novel, it is an excellent adventure.
The World of Magic (class project, part 2)
The Book "Storm Front" is exciting and awesome. It has many turns in the plot, so it's hard to follow, but if you like wizards and magic this book is the right one for you.
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard, who can even be found in the yellow pages of Chicago.
Asked by the police for help, he has to solve two cases at once: finding a missing husband and finding the murderer of a couple, whose hearts exploded from their chests.
When Dresden starts to investigate both cases he finds hisself between a vampire madam and a crime lord, whose name is Gentleman Johnny Marcone.
In the course of time, Dresden is controlled by Morgan, who is an enforcer of the White Council. Morgan looks for wizards that violated the laws of magic.
So Dresden is conflicted by different fronts, which press him hard.....
The Book is unexpecting and very exciting. You can't wait to read what will happen next.
"Storm Front" is a mix of horror, fantasy and mystery. Even the humour isn't missed out as
Dresden often uses sarcastic comments.
Definitely the book is good to read and leads the reader on an adventure in the world of magic.
Reviews
A book of two halves
Review date: 2008-07-13 Rating: 6 out of 10
This is a book of two halves, the first of which made me want to hurl the whole thing at the wall! Littered with 'said bookisms' and adverb abuse, the exposition is about as subtle as a brick and the protagonist, Harry Dresden, comes across as a chauvinistic cliché. When I reached the middle of the book, I seriously thought about not finishing it, but I'm glad I persevered as the second half is of a completely different stripe. The second half is where all the action takes place, and Jim Butcher it seems, is great at action. Despite a preponderance of the past progressive, the descriptions are vivid and convincing, punchy and fast-paced. I didn't want to put it down. The humour became drier (and funnier) and, as I found out more about Dresden and saw him tested by more than just lack of money, my sympathy for him increased immeasurably, warts and all. The plot worked for me; the mix of the modern world with the arcane was fresh and exciting - a new take on old ideas.
I've just ordered the sequel as I would really like to how Butcher's writing changes and whether or not Harry changes too. I hope the whole of the second book is as good as the second half of the first.
Amazing read.
Review date: 2008-07-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
This book is simply fabulous. It has so many twists and turns in the plot, making it occasionally hard to follow, but certainly worth it.
There are cliffhangers to keep you hooked and some amazing writing.
Also the fact that this book is about wizards and the realms of magic just makes it that more exciting.
I would say it is aimed at maybe 16 upwards though I am 14 and found it a highly enjoyable read.
Amazing book and i can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Loads of reviews on here already but consider this a review of the series up to number 6...
Review date: 2008-06-26 Rating: 8 out of 10
Just a quickie really but I have to say that the ayes have it. Don't believe the negative reviews. Anyone who reads the blurb associated with this book and subsequent series surely can't read this "by mistake", as it clearly tells you what the score is and that this is an interesting mix of magic and gumshoe fiction. I often find it hard to suspend disbelief with fantasy set in the "modern" world but for some reason this series works. Sure it's hokum, but it's good natured hokum. Ideal beach reading with the summer here so take a few of these books with you on your hols.
Not Harry Potter...
Review date: 2008-05-19 Rating: 8 out of 10
Recommended by a friend this was good fun. Harry Dresden is a Private Detective in modern Chicago. As typical of this literary breed he can barely make the rent and has the authorities and crime lords breathing down his neck.
What sets this aside is that Harry Dresden is a Wizard. The Authorities looming over him are not just the Chicago PD for whom he consults regularly but the White Council of the Wizarding world, out to keep tabs on him. The book rocks along quickly, mixing film noir with a harsh, dangerous magical world that we pick up as we go along.
A book about a magician aimed at an adults not children, and great fun too
Product Details/Specifications
Authors:
Jim Butcher
Creators:
James Marsters (Narrator)
EAN: 9780965725569
Binding: MP3 CD
Dewey decimal number: 813
ISBN: 0965725561
Publication date: 2007-01-15
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Published)
Tech info, cast and quotes/trivia when available. Exclusions may apply with free delivery. Price and availabiltity subject to change
