Blood Rites

Update 11/11/24

This can serve as a reminder that rereads are a good thing to do every once and a while.

I had read this book years ago, and I had not loved it (see older review below). I think the main issue was I was not able to understand the character development at that time, mixed with how the events in this book shaped later installments to come.

Years later, I can confidently say that this is another great Dresden Files book. There are a few reasons why.

Firstly, there is the development of Harry and how he grows closer to Thomas. When secrets are revealed, I really liked how it emphasized how important this was for Harry, as he is now feeling emotions he has never felt before. For spoilers sake, I won't say more, except that I can sympathize with this since I have grown closer to certain people in passing years for similar thematic reasons.

I also liked Mouse. Even as a puppy, he is saving Harry's life in this book, and multiple times to boot. I liked seeing how this small, cute dog would become the key member of Harry's team in the future.

Then there is how this lays the groundwork for things to come. We have Harry being able to work with the White Court vampires, two new members to Harry's team being given more prominent roles, and also, more characters get their backstory revealed in this book.

I also liked seeing Karen Murphy's family here. It is nice, amidst all the hustle and bustle of Harry's magical world, to see a normal family, for all its faults.

One could suppose that the only major thing that is ‘wrong' with this book is how the characters describe sex in the book, especially between Harry and Murphy. It just comes off as...wrong, and I'm unsure why. Perhaps it is because we have known Murphy for so long as a Police Lieutenant who has been in a strictly working relationship with Harry, or maybe it is Butcher's writing style. The point is that overall, these scenes seem to make me uncomfortable, both when that is intentional and otherwise.

Still, consider this a minor complaint in a review of a book that has changed my opinion with time. I think this is an excellent book that makes me excited for, arguably, one of the best books in the series, Dead Beat. I give it a five out of five.


Original Review 2018

Blood Rites:

When it comes to urban fantasy, with the exception of books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, I can't really think of a series I've stuck with longer than Harry Dresden. I think this is because the novels manage to hit the right amount of humor and fun that I am looking for in a book series without getting overly pretentious at their fantasy politics. With the 6th book, I was expecting to have a fun time, and I did, for the most part.

The best part of this book is easily Dresden himself. He is as funny and cool as ever, especially with the situations he manages to get himself in. The humor was something that I really enjoyed, and the puppy he comes to are for was very cute, if a little tame in terms of how puppies can be.

Saldy the rest of this book just felt...boring. I think this is because the book feels so formulaic at this point. There is the main case that Dresden has to solve (how the women on a porn set keep dying) a B cast case that all of Harry's friends have to combat (the vampires of the black court who are after Harry), and then there is the girl problems and Harry having almost no money...again.

Also, none of these stories seem to advance anything. Harry is still broke, girlfriendless, and lacking in character development. He still wants to protect women, even with evidence to the contrary that women need to be saved. I can't decide if I'm supposed to take that seriously, or as a character flaw for Harry. Either way, it is still something that he should get over by now, since there are plenty of women who could kick his butt.

In the end, this book was fine, but it felt as if it was going through the motions. This makes me want to rate it three out of five. I'll still read this series, but it will be some time before I do.