Storm Front

by Jim Butcher

Hardcover, 311 pages

English language

Published Nov. 6, 2007 by Roc.

ISBN:: 978-0-451-46197-1

(9 reviews)

Hailed as "a great series--fast-paced, vividly realized, and with a hero/narrator who's in excellent company"^--the novels of the Dresden files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and nonstop fun. Storm Front, Jim Butcher's first novel, introduced his most famous and popular character. . . . ^Cinescape

HARRY DRESDEN--WIZARD

Lost items found. Paranormal investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago PD has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play well with humans. And those that do--they enjoy playing with humans far too much...like a cat with a mouse.

That's where Harry comes in. Because it takes a wizard …

HARRY DRESDEN--WIZARD

Lost items found. Paranormal investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

That's where Harry comes in. Because it takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever the hell it is he has to catch.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it politely, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic, Harry's eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage. And now that black mage knows Harry's name. And things are about to get very...interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

1 edition

Trillion Byter reviewed Storm Front by Jim Butcher

A good start to an enjoyable noir, urban fantasy detective series with a dash of witty lightheartedness

4 stars

I continued to read the entire series to date, so it seems I liked it.

Jim Butcher introduces us to his protagonist, Harry Dresden, a wizard for hire who is barely scraping by. Living in an alternate universe modern-day Chicago, where magic and the supernatural is real but unknown to the majority of humanity, Harry ekes out a living as private investigator.

Storm Front delivers a solid detective story that mixes the cold realities of malicious people with a caring, witty protagonist. The blend of supernatural, humor, and a classic whodunit kept me entertained.

The world building is top notch. Harry's Chicago feels lived in, and his friends and colleagues are presented as real characters. There are a few sections that struck me as paced a bit slower than I would have expected, hence the 4-star review. Ultimately, I was satisfied with the plot and its conclusion.

While Storm Front …

I continued to read the entire series to date, so it seems I liked it.

While Storm Front deals with some mature themes, it isn't a bodice ripper or romance. My use of the urban fantasy label is for its setting being in a modern city and the present of the supernatural.