Storm Front by Jim ButcherMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I came at this sideways, but I'm glad I got there.
I found the author's steampunk novel, Aeronaut's Windlass and loved it. (Waiting for a sequel.) Then I realized I'd overlooked his popular Dresden Files for too long, though I'd often run on to them in stores, and finally ordered the first book. It was awesome. Who knew?
[I thought for a long time that I didn't like this genre much, whatever you want to label it (paranormal or urban fantasy or whatever). Lately, I'd taken a bit of a chance and read several similar books and series, by Myke Cole and Joe Nassise and Kevin Hearne, and decided I did like them, thank you, and finally read this one.]
I'm with his fans, now. Harry Dresden is cool. This first novel rolls along with tons of action, lots of interesting characters, a crazy amount of conflict, and none of the pitfalls I expected to find. He's not just a wise-cracking gumshoe transplanted from 1930; he's his own character, with his own voice, inhabiting a slowly-revealed world that is fun, and scary, and makes a great setting for more stories. The round female characters in the novel surprised me a bit; I expected more John Wayne-style, testosterone-driven action, but there's a sensitivity here that sets it apart from pulp action novels. (And I happen to like pulp action novels.)
No summary, just a reaction: I liked it. It works as action and as fantasy, and it comes in at a svelte 75,000 words or so. Just right. And tons of sequels.
Recommended.
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