Grave Peril by Jim Butcher, No.3 of the Dresden Files
28 September 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Grave Peril, Jim Butcher, The Dresden Files
Just finished reading Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. This is Butcher’s third in the series of the Dresden Files and for me was a definite improvement. The first two books are Storm Front and Fool Moon. I liked the first two but wasn’t as ‘wowed’ as I would like to or thought I would be. Well, that feeling was more so probably with No.2. But, I figured this is a series I could get in too so I continued. If you’re planning on reading this series then be warned that the rest of the review may contain spoilers.
Grave Peril gets off to an immediate and spooky start. Ghosts are running riot and terrorising the Town and Dresden his battling against the odds to discover what’s going on and why the world of ghosts is in such an uproar. (I must confess that reading the start of this I couldn’t help picturing the Ghostbusters and the scene with the ghost librarian). On top of this the vampires again enter the scene. The Queen of the Vampires has not forgotten her grudge at Dresden and is eager to see him pay for the insult he gave her previously and perhaps an invitation to the annual vampire ball would be the perfect occasion. On top of that there is a much more sinister entity at work, one that is stalking it’s prey carefully. And, as if that wasn’t enough for Dresden to deal with he has to enter the world of the Nevernever where the veil between the realms is stretched thin, demons roam and his fey godmother and her hounds are baying for Dresden’s blood (or soul).
This was definitely a packed instalment. Dresden wasn’t so much investigating anything this time round as just trying to find out why things were becoming so heated and at the same time simply trying to stay alive. We have the usual cast. Bob puts in an appearance as does Murphy and Susan’s relationship with Dresden seems to be going fairly strongly. On top of that we are introduced to a number of characters from the White Court of Vampires and to top it all off a dragon makes an appearance at the Ball. And, Dresden is lent a helping hand by Michael, a knight templar who helps Harry to defeat the baddies using his blazing sword.
Lots of the characters come under threat in this episode. And nobody is going to escape completely unscathed.
What I like about this series is Harry. He’s a readable character. He likes to pretend he’s tough but really he’s a raging softie. He’s developing much more as each book goes by as we find out more about his character and his history and in the same way his magic seems to be growing. In fact the whole world that Harry inhabits is developing. It’s almost like that the author was giving us a slow introduction to this strange and fantastical world – like if you had to read about all these strange creatures from the get go you just wouldn’t accept it. It’s the frog soup recipe. Basically we’re being slowly brought to the boil so we don’t have the sense to jump out of the pot. I’m quite nice and cosy now so I’m staying where I am – just waiting for the carrots and herbs to be added!
I also like the dark and sinister world that is created here. We’ve been for a visit round Nevernever now and it’s not particularly friendly. You certainly wouldn’t want to stick around or start asking for directions. Fey and demons and probably more sinister creatures inhabit this world beyond the veil and for me it was good reading. The sort of make believe fantasy world where anything can happen and I like that I can’t always predict it.
In terms of criticisms. I wouldn’t say everything was quite rosy with me with this series just yet! I’ve already made reference to the way that a formula is being followed and to be honest I would say that is still the case here, although as mentioned above this installment isn’t your typical investigative story so that’s something of a step change. But, as in previous novels, Harry does get terribly beaten up, then beaten up some more and, yes, then beaten up again before finally having his lightbulb moment. I know that these style of books usually do operate to a formula but I would prefer it to be mixed up a bit more. I also wasn’t really that keen on the character of Michael – again, given the number of adversaries in this novel I think Harry needed all the help he could get – and yet somehow I couldn’t quite get along with him for some reason and it felt as though the whole ‘tone’ of Harry was diluted in some way due to the addition. Also, that brings me to the final point which is that I did have a couple of ‘uugh’ moments. For example, with the character Michael – he just appeared in the novel as though we knew who he was – I almost thought I was reading the wrong book in the series or had skipped ahead at first, and I actually have done that before! I mean the book just started and it was all ‘Michael this, that and the other’ and I was thinking who is this Michael – same with the evil fey godmother – where did she suddenly pop up from without any explanation. I don’t mind not having an explanation and I’m fairly sure even with my limited grey cells I can pick up what’s going on however it jars a little bit with the continuous repetitious explanations that you get in each novel about other aspects. I expect there to be repeat explanations because the author wants people to be able to read the novel as a strand alone but I just don’t get why these new characters came so unintroduced. Although, now I’ve made that point I’m starting to disagree with myself so I’ll just move on…
Now in spite of the above. I enjoyed this. There’s plenty of action and the author doesn’t shirk away from getting a bit dark and gritty. I feel like there’s going to be plenty more to this series and I like the fact that I’ve got so much yet to look forward to.
If you want a dark urban fantasy with all sorts of paranormal activity and a slightly unconventional won’t stick to the book magician then you’ve got plenty here to look forward.
This novel is one of my R.I.P reads for the book event taking place at Stainless Steel Droppings. Drop in here and take a look. There’s plenty of activity and loads of bloggers taking part so it’s never too late to join.
Return to reality…
Just returned home after two lovely weeks away. Back to earth with a bump quite literally! The weather here is awful, we had no wi-fi virtually for the full time – which was a ‘blessing’ and ‘not a blessing’ and tomorrow (dum, dum, dum) back to work!! The first day back is always a bit surreal for me – part of my brain doesn’t feel like it’s back in the country and the other part is catching up with all the unread emails and I can’t help torturing myself by thinking pointless things like ‘this time last week I was…..’ Oh well, needs must and all that.
The good thing is I managed to fit in a few holiday reads, not as many as I like to do normally but we were trekking about so time was tight. I don’t think most people I know would consider the books I was reading as typical holiday reads as I was reading books to include in Stainless Steel’s RIP event which are not exactly light and fluffy reads (but who wants light and fluffy?). It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it. So, my books were:
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher – this is the third in the Dresden series and it was seriously good! Not to mention – the name is almost too perfect for this none-challenge so it had to go on the list.
Envy by Elizabeth Miles which is the second in her series about three women who serve their own form of revenge on wrong doers – based on the Greek myth of the Furies.
Shadows by Ilsa Bick which delves into the realm of zombie type post apocalypse storytelling – quite horrifying in this case not to mention scary!
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice – probably doesn’t really need an introduction.
The Duplicate by Helen Fitzgerald – which for me is a horror with a bit of a take on the Frankenstein theme.
There they are. Just need to write my reviews now. I will say that I enjoyed them all so that’s definitely the good news.
Check out the RIP event here and sign yourself up now – this is a really great (not to mention massive) book event and Carl is a really cool host.
VIII by HM Castor
Just finished reading VIII by HM Castor and will start by saying I loved this book. It’s a different take on Henry showing us a glimpse into his early years and giving us an alternative view where young Hal is tormented by ghosts and demons. Don’t be put off by thinking this is some sort of parallel paranormal universe – it isn’t. It just shows us a different aspect to Henry that we’ve never looked at before not to mention this was a very superstitious era so to a certain extent I think you can get away with writing a bit of ghostliness into the story.
This is a really good historical read. Clearly the author knows this period well and has researched it extensively. That’s not to say that the book is overloaded with rich detail about clothes and food, etc, just enough I felt. The story and writing flow easily and the author has a compelling way with words.
The story is told by Hal and it’s great being inside his head and knowing what he’s thinking. We start with a young Hal being taken under cover of night to the safety of the Tower with his mother, due to the threat of assassination. The Tower is dark and foreboding and to Hal’s young eyes appears to carry things in the shadows and eyes that watch him. I loved this part of the story. The book was practically unputdownable at this point with hair raising moments combined with true historical fact. We get a little bit of insight into Henry’s relationship with his mother and father – both completely different affairs. His father is cruel and distant. Henry is not the important son after all and not destined for greatness – at least not in anyone else’s eyes. His mother’s approach is more loving and kind – although this approach is scorned by her husband who thinks she mollycoddles young Hal. He has a precarious position – he’s desperate to please but at the same time, as his father succinctly warns him, he needs to stay out of the limelight. After all it’s not unknown for one brother to kill another – either in pursuit of a crown or in order to keep it!
In terms of criticisms. I don’t personally have any. I really enjoyed this book. It was thoughtful, well written, well thought out, creepy and a bit horrible – that is in terms of watching this young boisterous boy turn into something of an ogre. The style of writing is fairly modern and I suppose some people may object to that although I wouldn’t, I also think that if you’re looking for a story that goes into great depth about Henry’s wives and their untimely ends you may also be disappointed because the latter half of Henry’s life is moved through fairly swiftly. We probably only have a couple of paragraphs about Anne of Cleves or Kitty Howard for example. But, again, I had no problem with this. I’ve read plenty of historical novels that already focus strongly on those elements and this was a lovely and refreshing change that primarily looks at the early years before the tyranny.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book. I really enjoyed it and it gave me the opportunity to have another read about a period in history that I find fascinating, intriguing and horrifying. Henry is just such an interesting character. You can’t help but want to know what drove him and this gives us a different perspective. I could pick up another novel like this right away. In fact I understand the author is now moving on to Mary and Elizabeth and frankly I can’t wait to get my hands on that!
I’m submitting this for one of my R.I.P. reads, check out Stainless Steel Droppings autumn event details here and come and join in.
VIII
Cursed by Benedict Jacka
Just finished reading Cursed by Benedict Jacka which is the second instalment in the Alex Verus Novels which I started earlier this year with Fated.
Alex is a Divinity Mage living in Camden. He can look into the future and see any number of possible outcomes to whatever course of action is chosen (the benefit of hindsight before the event has happened is definitely a plus). I won’t go too much into this world of mages. Basically the world Jacka has created is living and breathing right alongside us plain old muggles. He has a few friends, Luna in particular, who has now become his apprentice due to the strange curse that she needs to learn to tame. Plus he’s friends with a giant arachnid that lives in a sort of Hobbit hill if you will and he has the trust and help of an air elemental called Starbreeze.
In this story Alex will again come up against a powerful mage and will find help where he least expects. He will also discover a little bit more about one of the strange artefacts he seems to have become the keeper of – a monkey’s paw. This isn’t actually a monkey’s paw just in case you’re about to gag, this is an imbued magical object. However a monkey’s paw is never all that it seems. It chooses it’s potential victims but unfortunately the monkey’s paw brings a whole new meaning to the words ‘be careful what you wish for’.
I’m not going to elaborate on the plot much further. We’re introduced to a few new mages with different abilities and learn a little bit more about the world that Alex lives in. In terms of second books I think this develops well from the first and definitely feels and reads better – although, I wouldn’t say there is any real sense of tension. Maybe that’s one of the problem with this sort of series – you never truly experience a real sense of danger for the main protagonist because that would, after all, be the end of the line. Unlike George Martin, for example, where you haven’t got a clue who will survive to the end!
I will just say that I particularly enjoyed reading about Alex’s discovery in the dark caves beneath the spider’s domain but, again, I won’t spoil that part.
In terms of criticisms I think my feelings on this are similar to the first novel. In spite of Alex’s experience he does seem to rush into situations that he could surely see the outcome of? He sometimes seems to act very immature – particularly where Luna is concerned, and I find it difficult to believe that he lives in a location that everybody seems to know about – including all his enemies. Considering he has very little by way of defence I would expect him to exercise a little bit more caution. In fact, given that he seems to be making enemies as though they’re going out of fashion I would say that if he doesn’t start to exercise a bit more caution soon he probably will end up in a sticky situation before too much longer – he’s no longer living a life under everyone’s radar and has come to the attention of too many dangerous people.
I have enjoyed both these books and would definitely pick the third up as well. Obviously these are being compared to a number of similar books but I think they stand on their own quite well. They probably don’t have the dark threatening side of the Dresden Files or the humour of the Druid Chronicles but they’re still entertaining.
Cursed by Benedict Jacka
Hobbit readalong, final week, J R R Tolkien
1 September 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Final week, J R R Tolkien, The hobbit readalong
This week is the final week of the Hobbit readalong and the questions have been provided by The Wicked Queen’s Mirror . I really cannot stress enough that if you haven’t read The Hobbit and are intending to do so then don’t read any further as spoilers are contained within.
Thanks and straight to the Q&A:
1) Throughout the book there are many examples of greed (for both food and treasure). Why do you think Bilbo takes and hides the Arkenstone when he is later happy to ransom it for peace? Is it simple greed? Forethought? Or a convenient plot device?
Strangely enough I don’t think Bilbo was bothered about any of the treasure. He was only ever roped into the adventure because of his stubborn pride and he doesn’t really need any extra money as he already has a very comfortable existence. I think throughout the story Bilbo showed a remarkable ability to think ahead and almost to benefit from a kind of foresight of sorts. I’m not sure that he knew himself why he’d picked up the Arkenstone other than that it seemed to be of great importance to Gloin – perhaps he was intending on presenting the stone to Gloin in a flourish, although I think it’s more likely that he’d started to see a different side to Gloin and so was keeping the stone as a bargaining tool.
2) Much has been written of Tolkien’s experiences in World War One and how the Lord of the Rings shows both the romantic, heroic aspects of war (Aragorn’s journey)but also the stark realities (Frodo’s journey). What did you think about the way the Battle of Five Armies was described? Did you feel these two aspects of war were represented?
Well, yes, I think both aspects were shown. You have for example people rushing into the fray without hesitation, you have people and animals taking part, even at great risk to themselves, when they actually really didn’t need to join the battle and then alternately you have the loss of life and the sadness at the demise of Gloin and many others.
3)What did you think about the role of the goblins in the Battle of Five Armies? Was it easy for you to accept their appearance and that the threat they posed would automatically unite the men and elves with the dwarves? Or did you find it too simplistic?
I wasn’t really surprised at the appearance of the Goblins, they are basically greedy creatures and would be naturally compelled by the thought of all the wealth left unprotected after the passing of Smaug. I suppose it was also fairly natural for the others to unite against the common enemy. At the end of the day the elves/men and dwarves were not really enemies they were fighting over the gold and what they thought should be their share of of it. The goblins are the natural enemy to all of them.
4) In ‘The Last Stage’ we are told Bilbo remained very happy to the end of his days. If you had been off on an adventures could you settle back to normal life so easily? Would you be content with only occasional visits to the elves?
I suppose Bilbo’s ‘Baggins’ side came out eventually. We heard (many) times of his longing for his hearth and a cup of tea. I think deep down he probably would have still liked something of an adventure but maybe possession of the ring also changed his feelings. After all, if he was off on adventures here and there roaming the hills there’d be more chance of him loosing the ring.
I enjoyed this reread and taking part with other readers. I also feel set up and ready to watch the film now when it’ finally released.
I must confess I was surprised at how quickly Smaug was killed off – it seemed very sudden and I was expecting the dragon to have a bigger part somehow. I thought the chapter where he met Bilbo and they had their little chat was very entertaining.
Thanks again to Writers’ Bloc for hosting this.
