Book Reviews of Storm Front (Dresden Files, Bk 1)

This is the best book Ive read this year. Fast paced, action packed, funny and just plain well written. Butcher is another writer who makes you believe. His characters especially Dresden are so well written that its almost as if you could grab a Chicago phone book and really look him up. BIG 5 out of 5

I truly enjoyed this book! I'd heard great things from a friend, and had seen the SCIFI TV series, but was unsure of how the reading would go; turns out I couldn't put it down! I truly enjoyed the book, and perhaps my perception is a little biased based on my finding enjoyment out of the TV series, but I highly recommend trying this series to anyone who enjoys supernatural or wizardry novels. (It may not be a "forgotten realms" series, but I believe readers of those type novels would enjoy this as well.) I really enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of the very long series, but I truly believe if you are at all interested in the book by its description or what you've heard about it, you WILL enjoy it! It keeps moving and blends all the humor, intrigue, adventure, la la together. It does of course require telling the reader the universe, but I never noticed any "information dumps" or lost any understanding or enjoyment as Butcher very cleverly kept the story moving and didn't leave the readers behind or waiting. Conclusion: Wonderful read. Highly recommended. Truly enjoyable.

Harry Dresden is a wizard who works as a sort of paranormal P.I. Although a little geeky, Harry has a strong sense of justice and an enjoyable tongue in cheek sense of humor. When a nervous wife hires Harry to find out what her frequently disappearing husband is up to, Harry happily takes the case because it means that he can pay his already late rent for the month. Little does he know that his investigation will open up not a can of worms but a can of scorpions along with conjuring a toad-like demon, commanded by an evil magic-wielding bad guy who wants to kill Harry.

This series has been around for a while and has been adapted for a television series. I regret not reading it sooner. Harry is a likable character, and his sidekicks (such as Bob the talking skull and Mister the giant cat) inject a healthy dose of humor into the book. This book has it all - a mystery to solve, LOL comedy, hints of romance, and lots of "spell"-binding (ha ha) action. Highly recommended!

Thank you book gods! This is the very sort of book I want to read. After putting off reading Jim Butcher for far too long (and everyone insisting I wouldn't be sorry) I finally got Storm Front. I devoured it in a day and I can't wait to tackle the rest of the series. This book pulls you in and makes you want more of Harry Dresden's world and his adventures. We're off to a fantastic start, Mr. Butcher and I look forward to the rest of your work.

Fun series, nice debut book. There are some character development issues to address in the series with the secondary characters, but since this is the first one, it's forgiveable. Well plotted with lots of action, this is a supernatural hardboiled mystery.

I enjoyed this book. Harry is an interesting character and I mean to read the others in this series. The SciFi channel has some shows now this this character but they have changed a few things (don't they always) but not a bad show. Read the books, they're even better.

This is a fantastic book and a quick ('cause you'll never want to put it down) read. It is a cross between a typical "whodunnit" and a bit of a fantasy book thrown in. Even those who hate fantasy, as my DP does, seem to like this book.

Harry Dresden is a wizard helping the police solve a double-homicide. Interesting start to the series. It really pulls the reader in. Highly recommended!

I was prepared to be disappointed with this book, since it was quite hyped among my friends. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Harry is a likable, believable character that one can cheer for. I can't wait to read more!

Of course this book came highly recommended and with the television series I felt the need to read it before watching the show. I am glad that I did as I really enjoyed it and feel like I know Harry now. A bit of a flawed hero that I really like. I look forward to reading more of the series as well as finally watching the television show.

I found this book to be very entertaining. Harry is a wizard and there are a series of murders which he could end up taking the blame for if he does not find the true killer. Even though Harry comes across as inept at times, that is what I find truly engaging about him. I think that if he had done everything correctly I would have been bored with the story. The situations that he finds himself in are, at times, hilarious. I recommend it for anyone who likes something a little different. I can't wait to read the next one.

I began reading this book because a friend gave me the whole series (it was 9 books at the time) and I figured I might as well give it a try. It didn't start as one of those books that I could not put down, but once I reached the end I realized that I loved Harry Dresden (the main man) and I needed more of his life. I finished the rest of the books in the series within a week and a half and loved every minute of it. The Dresden Files is a great series and this one kicks off the fun.

I really enjoyed this book, and whipped through it pretty quickly. Harry is a great character and made me laugh. I can't wait to get the next one.

I really liked this book! I ordered the second one as soon as I finished it.

Overall I found the concept of this book to be interesting and entertaining. Harry Dresden is an unusual main character. He is frustrating at times, dense at others, clever when he needs to be, and lucky when he has to be.

Seeing as how this was a debut novel, I did find some things that were pretty cliche, supporting characters that were a little weak, a not-so surprise villain that I saw coming halfway through the book, and one too many oh-so-narrow, death-defying escapes.

For me this was easy but enjoyable reading. It is not that hard for fantasy to bog itself down sometimes, but this book was quick, fast-paced, funny, and original enough to make me curious about what the rest of the series has in store. It is not earth-shattering fantasy, but it will keep you entertained and curious enough to continue the series and see what happens next.

Harry Dresden hangs out his shingle as a Wizard. He doesn't do parties or anything along entertainment. Harry is having trouble making rent money even though he has a contract with the Chicago PD as a consultant. He and other paranormals answer to the White Council who serve as "police" and Harry is sort of on probation. He is the only practicing wizard in the country and doesn't seen too adept at it. Then he is called in on a double murder and things go from bad to worse. And Harry wasn't as inept as I thought he was! When he gets mad or fights for his life, the power rages forth!

Four stars

Entertaining mystery. I look forward to reading the others in the series.

Love Harry Dresden. Great Wizard and great start to the series.

After the hype, I found this a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't a bad book, but I expected more out of it for some reason. I've been a big fan of Simon Green's Nightside series and maybe I was hoping to enjoy it as much. It was still good enough to want to read the next in the series.

I called my friend M today. I hated to do it, but I had to tell her that her husband was right: I DO like the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher. At the very least, I liked the first of them.

Harry Dresden is a wizard who advertises his services in the phone book. Not surprisingly, he is the only wizard in the phone book, so he gets a fair share of nut jobs calling him. This time, however, he gets two calls right after the other: one from a local detective looking for his help and another from a woman who is trying to find her husband. The detective is calling about a double murder using magic â€" and Harry is the only local wizard powerful enough to do it. He is under pressure from the human police and the wizard police because they *both* think he's responsible. Along the way, there is a girl and some interesting fights and meetings with otherworldly creatures.

Initially, I thought this was a male version â€" and rip off â€" of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake. The whole being on retainer to the police, the adversarial relationship with some of the police force and then being a magical creature himself. After I read a few pages, I more or less got over that. The writing is more Sam Spade-like than LKH, which can be distracting at first. Again, once I got a few pages into it, that fell by the wayside and I just enjoyed the book.

The character development isn't that great but that's often true of first books. Lieutenant Karrin Murphy is fairly one-dimensional as is Dresden's love interest, Susan Rodriguez. To compare again to LKH, that was true of Dolph and Jean Claude until at least the 3rd book of the series, so I think there's hope. There are (I think) 10 in this series, thus far, so I'm sure Butcher gets better in that arena. He did well enough this time that I want to continue to read the series.

I'm a fan of series book and this promises to be one that I'll continue.

Fun book, i relly dug the film noir, pulpy vibe. I was a fan of the tv show but hadnt read the books. I like both, though they are quite different.

I don't know, people love this series. I think it sucks. Read it if you got nothing better to do.

I enjoyed this gritty book about a wizard trying to solve murders without getting in trouble with the Council. I especially liked the way he battles the demon, the giant scorpions and the black mage - often without extra help from props.

This is the first book in the Desden Files series. Harry Dresden is a wizard who lives in Chicago and specializes in paranormal investigations. He provides paranormal investigative advice to the police department. He is also on probation with the "White Council" due to some problems in his past. He gets into hot water when he becomes the suspect by both the Chicago PD and White Council in a grisly double murder committed with black magic. Harry must solve the case before he gets arrested or killed by the wizard who actually did commit murder.

I usually hate first person writing, but this one sucked me in. A great start to a series, LOVED it!

What a great idea for a character, turning the barely-getting-by private investigator into a wizard for hire.

This is the series on which the Sci-Fi channel's "Dresden Files" is based. An enjoyable, quick read.

very good plot and writing.I look forward to the other books.

the beginning of the Dresden Files! so much fun! a magical rollercoaster ride!

The Dresden Files, now a series on Sci-Fi channel,is a very good read. Harry Dresden gets himself into all kinds of trouble, on his way to solving several murders. There are a few times that are laugh out loud funny, but most of the time it is a good, solid detective story. A mage in modern times. Very good.

An excellent first book for the series - it's humorous, exciting and outrageously entertaining

After watching and enjoying the Sci-Fi Channel series I was interested in the books that inspired it. As usual, the book is definitely better. Reminded me of a mix between the old Rockford Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I much prefer the storyline and mix of characters in the book. I am currently looking to read Book #2 becuase I liked it so much.

I enjoy the Sci-fi offering of the Dresden Files, but the book is so much better (and some of it is very different from the show). The secondary characters are great - there's much more of Murphy in the first book and I got to know her better than I thought I would; also, Bianca the vampiress makes an appearance, and "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone, Mob boss, is intriguing. And there's much, much more to the story...

Excellent book. I had gotten into the Dresden Files by watching the t.v. series on Scifi and someone on PaperBackSwap told me the books were even better. I agree. The character in the first book is richer than what's protrayed on t.v. If you love fantasy, I'd definitely recommend reading this book.

I loved the book, Action comedy,and things
that go bump in the night. can't wait for
the next in this series.

If you enjoy books about magic and the not too distant future this one is for you. Harry Dresden is a wizard and a private investigator who works with the Chicago police to help solve cases that may have been committed by use of magic of some sort. He is a white wizard who fights against black magic.

The premise sounded interesting, but I found the writing uninspiring.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Fans of Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, and early Laurell K. Hamilton will enjoy this read. Paranormal mystery with a wizard investigator. A little slow in places, but definately a good read. I look forward to reading more of this series.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for the answers. For the 'everyday' world is actually full of strange and magical things- and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a- well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. but where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things get... interesting.

This is an excellent introduction to Jim Butcher's new paranormal mystery series. I look forward to reading more!

Wizard detective, pretty good read.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I loved this book, I can't wait to read the next in the series!

An entertaining pulp-magicky read.

Start of an interesting series about a paranormal detective in a modern world where magic is "real". Fun to read and a rather interesting twist.

Supernatural series. Interesting characters, well-written.

A great start to a terrific new series! I'm looking forward to reading all Harry's future adventures in the other books in this series.

I was surprised that I didn't love this book. I didn't quite hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either. I found it to be fairly two-dimensional and flat. The secondary characters were literary stereotypes. I found Harry, the main character annoying. I am very disappointed. The book came highly recommended, but ultimately, it did not meet my expectations.

I love Harry!!!! He cracked me up through out this book!!! I love Vampires and Warewolves, but don't care for witches, I had never read anything about Wizards, how fun!!! Can't wait for Full Moon to get to me so I can read it too!

This is the 1st in a wonderful series of books about a modern day wizard and his exploits. I was immediately addicted to the character, Harry Dresden, and all of his wacky friends and couldn't wait to read the next in the series ( I believe the total is up to 12 books now). Each one is just as enjoyable as Dresden battles vampires, faeres, ghosts, trolls, wizards, zombies, and all manner of magical and human characters with daring and above all - humor! I absolutely love this series. And, although it was a tv series on SciFi for one season, I tried to watch on Hulu and couldnt get through the 1st episode. It wasn't the Harry Dresden that is in the books. Skip the tv series but DON'T skip this series.

A battle of good vs evil wages unseen beneath our normal mortal world. The book reads very quick. I read and reposted within 24 hours.

At times, Harry Dresden's repetitious pondering made me want to scan forward. (likely derived from author Jim Butcher's need to make Harry's motivation crystal clear in book one)

The characters remind me of the TV series "Charmed" that first aired in October of 1998. Harry Dresden uses Bob(skull which contains old spirit)instead of Book of Shadows to keep track of spells. Harry is overseen by White Council instead of Whitelighters. Harry's sympathetic and supernaturally naive police connection is Karrin Murphy instead of Darryl Morris. Harry is a wizard from Chicago instead of a witch from San Francisco. Halliwell sisters use power of three to focus power. Harry uses any immediately available powerful emotion, more often than not, this is fear and anxiety.

An entertaining light read. The story is simple to follow, a good book if you are on the run.

For a supernatural detective type story, Laurell K Hamilton's first Anita Blake books are better written.

I'm not sure why this book would get 4 stars on amazon, but it does. Storm Front is tiresome and poorly written. I didn't enjoy it at all.

This book was a choice for my mystery book club. I am literal and found this book to be too abstract for me. There were members who loved it.

I found this book to be incredibly boring. The hero, Harry Dresden, is a piddling wizard who needs a faery spirit to help create all potions. He is more like a bungling idiot than a wizard. In every chapter of the book, someone or something is out to kill him. Harry didn't have a prayer of investigating the magical homicides for always trying to protect himself mentally and/or physically from all the attacks. It was beyond annoying to try to read this book and figure out the mystery with all the beating interruptions.

Liked this book.

Good fun.

Great First book. I love the Dresden Files and the series only gets better from here.

Interesting concept. Similar to the TV series. Very enjoyable.

Anyone that's enjoyed The new Dresden Files on Sci-Fi can understand, for others Harry Dresden is a wizard and helps the police on cases of the unusual type. I enjoyed this one.

enjoyed it.

This is the first book in a great series.

Excellent -- a lot of paranormal, mystery, suspense....

Very good series, humerous.

love Jim Butcher

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