Tags
Book Review, Club Fantasci, David Lowry, Fool Moon, Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher, Lycans, Magic, The Dresden Files, urban fantasy, Werewolves, Wizards
“My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure it at your own risk. I am a wizard. I work out of an office in downtown Chicago. As far as I know, I am the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country.”
“Fool Moon” is the second in a series of 15 books (so far) called “The Dresden Files” based on the wizard Harry Dresden in this urban fantasy setting by author Jim Butcher.
Harry gets brought in by the Chicago Special Investigations Unit and Detective Karrin Murphy to help solve a series of brutal murders that look like wild animal attacks. Of course Harry is brought in when there is no real explanation and it is quickly discovered that these are werewolf attacks. Harry tracks down a series of leads that make the most likely two suspects either a wild gang of college kids or a business tycoon Harley MacFinn that seems to have drawn the attention of mob boss Johnny Marcone. But things still just don’t add up. Add on top of that Harry’s apprentice’s mysterious death, a Warden of the White Council always on Harry’s back and three FBI Agents making it very difficult for Harry to investigate the gruesome murders and Harry has his hands full with his most dangerous case yet. What will Harry do and how will he solve the murders, prevent more and keep himself safe against a possible gang of werewolves?
All though the start of this book is a bit slow to some people, I had no issue with that. I do relate the character of Harry Dresden and like his quirky personality for being a powerful wizard as well as his sarcastic sense of humor. Harry does seem to somehow always escape life threatening danger but isn’t that what the hero is supposed to do? There is plenty of action, danger, twists and turns.
A solid cast of characters such as Karrin Murphy and her wavering friendship with Harry, and Bob the skull who is Harry’s advisor so to speak help really fill out the book and provided some grounding for Harry in his world. Susan Rodriguez, paranormal reporter is always on Harry for information he doesn’t want to give up and a romance seems to heat up a bit between the two.
In this second installment of The Dresden Files, Butcher has improved the Dresden universe and expanded the depth and relationships within it. You are able to better understand how magic works in the Dresden universe, Harry’s history and the types of creatures that can come into play in this series.
The pace of “Fool Moon” is great. It has plenty of action, witty dialogue and plot twists to you keep the reader on their toes. My only complaint really is it at times feels a bit more unrealistic than a book might usually feel of this genre in the sense of how Harry escapes very dangerous situations and death. Granted we love our heros to be awesome and always make it out alive within a hair’s breadth of death but the frequency with which it happens with Harry is a bit dramatic to say the least.
All in all a very solid effort on the part of Butcher to bring us a exciting, fast pace book full of magic, monsters, intrigue, fantasy and mystery. Who could ask for anything more?
I am giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.
You can find out more about Jim Butcher and his books here: www.jim-butcher.com
David Lowry was first attracted to the guitar at the young age of twelve. By the age of fifteen he had surpassed many teenagers’ wildest dreams as he performed regularly in bars as a part of various cover bands emulating rock icons such as Winger, Slaughter, Firehouse, Bone Angels, XYZ and Johnny Lang. During the early years of his career David also held the position of “guitar tech” for Shrapnel recording artist Todd Duane, David’s primary guitar instructor, as well as R&B Billboard chart toppers Mint Condition. Deftly skilled in all areas of music, from the technical to the creative, David has also worked with some of the Minneapolis Jazz legends on charting projects for the local jazz scene while developing a personal teaching curriculum for guitar theory. A graduate of Musicians Technical Training Institute in Minneapolis, MN in 1996, David has expanded his reach in the music industry to record music for HeadGames Publishing, now Activision Value on their best selling series of games for PC with Matt Fink (Dr. Fink) formerly of Prince and the Revolution.
David joined Difference United in 2006 and launched his new creative outlet immediately launched a tour through the Eastern European country of Romania. Since then the band has toured the United States, China and India.
In response to an overwhelming number of Nashville-based musicians seeking his management, in 2008 David founded The Lowry Agency. The Lowry Agency is a full service artist management/development and promotions agency. David and his dedicated, passionate team, work with musicians, actors, speakers, authors, voice over artists, entertainment companies, music coordination/supervision for film and TV. They strive to help their clients identify and fulfill their clients’ entertainment and business goals. The Lowry Agency’s talent roster has included such stars as Damon Johnson, Brother Cane, Juno Award winning songwriter & Candian Idol host Sass Jordan, TV personality Todd Newton, and up and coming rocker Goldy Locks.
In 2010 David launched the popular blog talk radio show “Live From Music City.” The show won the “Shorty” award for best radio show on twitter in its very first year of operation. The show focuses on how to make it in the music business with both music business professionals and successful artists who share their music business experience. David has interviewed guests such as The Oak Ridge Boys, King’s X, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Guess Who, Richie Kotzen, Tommy Emannuael, CJ Snare, Jesse James Dupree, Andy Timmons, Sass Jordan, Foghat, Warrant, Damon Johnson, Gunnar Nelson, Little River Band, Rik Emmett, Neil Zazza and Ambrosia.
In 2012 David launched Club Fantasci in hopes of bringing speculative fiction and board games more out in the open to people not normally exposed to it.
David is also a staff writer for the “Rock School” column at Metalholic Magazine.
More information about The Lowry Agency and David Lowry can be found on www.thelowryagency.com.