Fear is a part of life. It’s a warning mechanism. That’s all. It tells you when there’s danger around. Its job is to help you survive. Not cripple you into being unable to do it.
Dead Beat: Dresden Files #7
Jim Butcher | 2005 | 517 Pages
The Plot
Our good buddy Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only Wizard for Hire, gets blackmailed by the leader of the black court vampires. Get her a book or Murphy gets pinned for a murder! Obviously Harry isn’t going to let that happen.
Highlights
This story is bonkers. Really. While most of the Dresden novels are filled with fantastical crossovers, this one has the pot running over. Vampires, necromancy, demons, dinosaurs, fae, zombies, wizards, and more wizards. Oh, and Butters. Waldo Butters. I hope you like Polka jokes.
This book was dark, fast paced, and intense, kicking the series into overdrive without sacrificing its humor or charm.
Downsides
Murphy wasn’t in it. Which makes sense, since the blackmail that starts the chain of events was tied to her. But it was still a much-felt loss, if only for the banter.
Honestly it is hard to come up with any bad points that aren’t just meta-gripes with the series as a whole. The story is a little overstuffed and convoluted, but the same can be said for most of these books. Harry’s obnoxious white-knighting continues. He also is in dire need for a new expletive. You know what to expect from a Dresden Files book, and this is no exception.
Should You Read This?
If you’ve been doubting whether or not to read on with the series, but you’ve made it this far- yes. Read this. It’s probably the best one I’ve read so far and gives me a lot of hope for the series moving forward. If you haven’t read any of these but are looking for a lengthy series of urban fantasy novels to lose your free time to, I will kindly direct you to Storm Front.
The Laurenest 