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A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters.
Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace. Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy's shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels.
For 1000 years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious Lords manoeuvre to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, young Tavi struggles with his lack of fury crafting.
1870. A time known as The Great Killing. The vampire clans arose and slaughtered humanity with unprecedented carnage in the northern parts of the world. Millions perished; millions were turned into herd animals. The great industrialized civilizations of the world were left in ruin. A remnant fled south to the safety of the ever present heat which was intolerable to vampires. There, blending with the local peoples, they rebuilt their societies founded on human ingenuity, steam and iron.
Camden, North London. A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle. In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you might find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won't sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you're looking for, he might just be able to help.
The ancient gods are alive and well in the modern world in this hilarious, action-packed collection of original short stories featuring Atticus O'Sullivan, the handsome, tattooed, 2,000-year-old Irishman with extraordinary magic powers from Kevin Hearne's New York Times best-selling Iron Druid Chronicles.
A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters.
Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace. Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy's shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels.
For 1000 years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious Lords manoeuvre to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, young Tavi struggles with his lack of fury crafting.
1870. A time known as The Great Killing. The vampire clans arose and slaughtered humanity with unprecedented carnage in the northern parts of the world. Millions perished; millions were turned into herd animals. The great industrialized civilizations of the world were left in ruin. A remnant fled south to the safety of the ever present heat which was intolerable to vampires. There, blending with the local peoples, they rebuilt their societies founded on human ingenuity, steam and iron.
Camden, North London. A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle. In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you might find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won't sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you're looking for, he might just be able to help.
The ancient gods are alive and well in the modern world in this hilarious, action-packed collection of original short stories featuring Atticus O'Sullivan, the handsome, tattooed, 2,000-year-old Irishman with extraordinary magic powers from Kevin Hearne's New York Times best-selling Iron Druid Chronicles.
According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms, but the Voidbringers followed. The Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, the Shardblades. Led by ten angelic Heralds and ten orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won (or so the legends say).
Minalan gave up a promising career as a professional warmage to live the quiet life of a village spellmonger in the remote mountain valley of Boval. It was a peaceful, beautiful little fief, far from the dangerous feudal petty squabbles of the Five Duchies, on the world of Callidore. There were cows. Lots of cows. And cheese. For six months things went well: He found a quaint little shop, he befriended the local lord, the village folk loved him, he found a sharp young apprentice to help out, and, best yet, he met a comely young widow with the prettiest eyes.
Audie Award, Fantasy, 2016. As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don't cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn't fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience.
My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit--we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to--and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May.
They call it the City of a Hundred Rows. The ancient city of Thaiburley is a vast, multitiered metropolis, where the poor live in the City Below and demons are said to dwell in the Upper Heights. Having witnessed a murder in a part of the city he should never have been in, Tom, a lowly street-nick, has to run for his life through the City Below, Thaiburley's unsavoury basement world.
The Greatcoats - legendary heroes, arbiters of justice...or notorious traitors? The Greatcoats are travelling magistrates bringing justice to all...or at least they were, before they watched the Dukes impale their King's head on a spike. Now the land's heroes are reviled as traitors, their Greatcoats in tatters. Facio, Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as mercenaries, but when they find their employer dead - and are forced to watch as the killer plants evidence framing them for the murder - they realise things are about to get even worse.
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, takes on a case as a favor to his friend Thomas - a vampire of dubious integrity - only to become the prime suspect in a series of ghastly murders.
In the previous books we have been offered Harry,an interesting but rather 2 dimensional wizard. With this book you finally get to see the man; his back story is peeled off layer by layer to give a richer more complex character. Tantalising glimpses of how is past informs his future are laid out like bread crumbs to follow...
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
really enjoying this series the welcome new addition stays I hope. Finding out more about Muphy's background was very welcome & mother Murphy sounds like one hell of a woman. . Loved the story sad funny thrilling & worrisome
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
narrated by James Masters. buffy references made me laugh out loud on the train :/
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Brilliant entry in the Dresden series of books best one yet. Must read for fans.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Another great title in the series with some new adjustments for our protagonist. Narrated wonderfully, as ever, by James Marsters.
Jim Butcher, Harry Dresden, and James Marsters. Just great. Entertaining and engaging. Love this series. .
I am loving this series!
As ever Dresden finds himself in a somewhat impossible position and somehow manages to make it to the end sarcastic quip.
As ever James Masters narrates with clarity and a performance that is just enough, dramatic but not over the top, characters easily identifiable and expression for every emotion offered.
On to the next!
Not sure how Harry's going to make it through many more books with the wounds he seems to accumulate.
loved but wish he would tone down the whole 'i am a manly gentleman who must save the woman' thing !
I very much enjoyed this instalment of the dresden files. They just get better and faster better.
...and another excellent audiobook performance by James Marsters, who really brings the series to life.
When Harry's incubus friend Thomas calls in a favor, Harry finds himself working on the set of a porn movie, trying to figure out who...or what...is trying to close down the production by killing off the film's female stars. Of course, there are many, many complications, high danger, White Court vampire intrigues, and of course, Jim Butcher's trademark witty dialogue.
A thoroughly entertaining audiobook!
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I was determined to listen to the Dresden series in order, so it was a pleasant surprise when books 6 & 7 became available months earlier than expected! Blood Rites features a fairly new and interesting character, Kincaid the bodyguard of the Archive. I'm looking forward to hearing more of his story in future books. Love the addition of Mouse!
James Marsters sounds more polished and "edited" than in the earlier books, but the books are becoming more complex and polished as well. It's still a fine matching of narrator and author.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I've been enjoying this series thus far, but this installment really brought it! The porn star murder mystery had barrel-of-laughs written all over it, doubly so with Harry Dresden on the case. BLOOD RITES put a lot of the characters' roles into perspective; Murphy tries being a vigilante on for size, Ebenezar is not what he seems, and Thomas—I did NOT see that one coming. This book was a turning point for THE DRESDEN FILES, and... PUPPIES!
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Jim Butcher is a great writer, I've enjoyed all of his books thus far.
And James Marsters who reads the books is equally as fantastic. It took me a while to get used to the sighing and deep breaths, etc, but after I did and realized it is just part of the main character Harry's persona I loved it.
It is hard for me to stick to only buying one book per month and not zooming through the whole series as fast as I can!
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is my first taste of the Harry Dresden series, and why haven't I tried it earlier. I missed the first 5 books, but this one has enough catch up material, that going on to number 7 will be easy. It's jam packed with action, mystery, magic, vampires and humor. What a great combination for a good novel. The narration is perfect, as he hits the nail right on the head, with his witticism.
Harry is a wizard for hire, that seems to get himself in some very sticky situations inside a serious story. The cast of side characters are a very interesting group that I can see grow and change with each book. Looking forward to more of these books, and almost scared to read any of them, as this was so much fun listening to.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I'm very glad all of the Dresden Files novels finally have been published in audio!! James Marsters is better than ever in Blood Rites, very funny and quite convincing with all of the various characterizations. Blood Rites features some very satisfying character revelations; and I've come to really care about Harry and those he cares about.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I very much enjoyed the plot twists and character developments in this book. It opens up boundless opportunities for more Dresden Files. This is one though that would be hard to read without preamble.
Marsters is a Master!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
To be honest, Blood Rites is not my favorite of the Dresden Files, but, given that, it's still very good and still worthy of 5 stars. I guess I just enjoy this series that much.
Considering the awesomeness of books 3-5, it was going to take a hell of a lot for Butcher to top himself again. Truthfully, Butcher gave it a good shot. As usual, there's a twisty plot, well-written action scenes, and black humor. On top of that Blood Rites was chocked full of solid character development, and not just for Harry; there are a lot of really powerful scenes involving Thomas.
I really like that Butcher's characters are not flawless and they are forced to live with the consequences of their decisions. They are also not invincible (although some are pretty close). Okay, Butcher isn't going to kill off his protagonist, but Harry never gets through a novel unscathed.
My only real complaint about Blood Rites is that part of the central plot surrounds an adult film. It did lead to some humorous moments on occasion, but it just didn't work that well for me. The characters were kind of dull and it just didn't compare to some of the other parts of the plot.
Blood Rites is the second book in the series to be produced by Penguin Audio, which means that the narration and production quality are outstanding. James Marsters makes an excellent Harry Dresden and he has done a superb job since Penguin took over.
Without question, if you enjoyed the first five books, you'll love Blood Rites as well.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Blood Rites is one of the best audiobook versions of a fantasy novel that I've heard. Jim Butcher's fantastic novel melds gritty detective story with fairy courts, secret societies, vampires and wizards in contemporary Chicago. It's crime drama and fantasy adventure in one. James Marsters has indelibly molded the voice of the hero, Harry Dresden, in my mind, even when I'm reading the novels instead of listening to them. His performance is top notch, though from time to time I think that I would have read some lines differently.
This novel of the Dresden files sees Harry Dresden taking on a sinister curse that is dropping beautiful women left and right... women involved in a rebel and revolutionary adult film industry! The story also reveals a stomach dropping twist about Harry's past that you can't pass up if you're a fan of the series. Harry's life is forever changed. Read (Listen) On!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I NEVER write in about anything but I've been enjoying these books so much I buy them one right after the other! The stories are sarcastic and an excellent ride and the narrator, James Marsters is right up there with the best, no phony stupid female voices for him! If you enjoy fantasy and often dark and dry humor give these books a try!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful