Death Masks: The Dresden Files, Book 5

Marc Bailey

What do you mean I have to wait for the next one?

"I consider myself quite lucky, in retrospect, that there were already five books available in this series by the time I started reading. I cannot remember the last time I devoured a series as quickly or with as much enjoyment as this one. Butcher has really done an exceptional job in creating this world and these characters. He started off with one of the best first novels I've read and has only gotten better with each installment. I have literally laughed, cried, and cheered while reading these books, and that is something that is not entirely common with me (though I'll admit to being a sap and something of an easy target for the tearjerk effect). One reader commented that this installment left many things unresolved, and this is true to a point. Actually, the majority of the major plot points were dealt with quite nicely (far more neatly, in fact, than any writer so new to the craft has any right being able to accomplish). There were a number of threads left dangling, but only insomuch as was necessary in order to bring these elements into play in later episodes. Also, the reviewer who noted that there was a statement about the Jews being responsible for Jesus' death was not entirely accurate. There is a referrence to Barrabus who was freed by the Jews despite the fact that Pilate had wanted them to free Jesus. If Butcher deserves to have all but one star stripped from a rating for accurately reporting an event that was already written of in a much more widely published book (I don't have to explain that one, do I?), then we have a problem here. This was in no way intended as anti-semitic, and I thought it was actually rather neatly in keeping with the rest of the storyline. By the way, just for the record I am not Jewish but I am not Christian either. Frankly I think both sides of this particular debate ("The Jews killed Jesus!", "No they didn't!") are rather silly. But that's just me... Anyway, as for this book I was more than pleased. Somehow Butcher keeps making each one better than the last, and I'm keen to see if he can keep up the trend. Only problem is that I've run out of books and now have to wait for him to publish the next one. Either I'll have to slow down my reading speed, or else Jim has to start typing a hell of a lot faster. In the meanwhile, get Peter Jackson on the phone. I've got an idea for his next big movie series... :) ["

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May 10, 2004 Verified Purchase

Sneaky Burrito

a fun read, but there's a bit much going on at the same time

"I am moving right along through the Dresden Files books and have almost finished all the ones I got in an Amazon daily deal. The good news is that it was money well spent, as I am enjoying this series a lot. The bad news is that I am going to have to pay full price for all the ones I don't have yet (and sooner, rather than later). Overall, I enjoyed this book, although I didn't love every single aspect of it. I thought the main mystery aspect was great this time around, and appreciated the return to a more traditional detective story (at least in part). I appreciated the little clues dropped here and there -- I really should have figured it out, although I didn't. But when the big reveal came, I definitely felt like it was supported by bits and pieces from earlier in the book. Another strength was the final battle. This was just fun to read. It had about 1000 cliches (won't spoil them for you), but the scene was well-written and I could just see the action inside my head. I am reading these books for escapism purposes, and this was definitely achieved here. In general, Jim Butcher is pretty good at taking cliches and tropes and running with them (there was a lot of that in Codex Alera, too). There's enough humor and commentary involved that you can tell it's being done deliberately rather than inadvertently. And that makes a big difference for me. Michael is back, as are his two companion knights. I was a little unhappy with the abrupt introduction of Michael in book 3 (I think?) but I felt that the introduction of Shiro and Sanya (the other knights) worked well. It was easier because we already knew they existed, and it would make sense that they were hanging around with Michael. They are interesting characters in their own ways, and I'm glad they weren't just clones of Michael. Sometimes, characters in similar roles can blur into one another (I had a terrible time with Merry and Pippin in the Lord of the Rings books, less so in the movies), but each of these guys has a distinct personality in this book. Susan is back, and I think she's a more useful character here. (I was unenthusiastic about her in previous books.) I think the resolution she and Harry come to by the end of the book is appropriate, as well. Karrin Murphy doesn't have a very big part to play, but she is around for a bit. There's not as much use for the cops in this book, for various reasons, and I guess that's why Murphy fades into the background (she had a big part in book 4, though). And John Marcone is back. I like what happens at the end with him, too, and how Butcher ties it into something that happened in Marcone's and Dresden's first meeting. Definitely lots of reasons to read the whole series -- in order. Once again, Harry has to accept a lot of help, and from all kinds of people. I like that he takes the help -- even asks for it -- even when dire consequences are involved. He doesn't have as much of a hero complex in this book, and it makes him a more likable character. However, there is a scene where Harry is thinking about the bra color of Michael's 14-year-old daughter Molly, and that is a little bit creepy. I'm on the fence about this next thing. Even though "Death Masks" has a self-contained mystery, the war between the wizards and vampires is still going on, and Harry has been challenged to a duel by a Red Court vampire. He has to balance his main task (related to the mystery) with preparing for this duel, which often involves finishing a task and getting to another place without a lot of time to spare. He always makes it; the first event never makes him late for the second. (As opposed to, say, book 1, when he accidentally schedules two meetings for the same time.) I'm glad the larger conflict hasn't been dropped from this book, but I wish the two objectives had interfered with each other a little more. Not much to say about character development or setting that I haven't said before. We're still in Chicago, and we've gotten to know most of the major players already. We do learn some personal things about Shiro, Sanya, and Marcone, and that's nice. The writing style is pretty similar to before. (I'm sure the Coca-Cola company is very happy with all the references to one of their products, by the way.) As was the case with previous books, we meet a new "species" of paranormal entity, the Denarians. I'm not sure I understand everything about them, but the way the book ends, it seems clear to me that we'll encounter more of them in future volumes, so I'm hoping more is explained then. The Denarians are supernatural beings (fallen angels, demons) attached to mortal hosts. They're pretty tough in battle and pretty nasty in general. I am new to urban fantasy within the past year or so, but I haven't read about any beings quite like the Denarians before, and I do appreciate Butcher's branching out into non-standard classes (having experienced vampires, werewoles, and fairies in past volumes). In the end, this is probably not my favorite book in the series, but I liked it fairly well and am definitely excited about continuing. ["

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July 3, 2014 Verified Purchase

Patrick D England

Really great ScFi Fantasy

"I loved the shirt run show. The reader, James is an excellent shoe in voice for the character and sounds much like the actor that originally played Dresden. I enjoy this series alot but have no time to read so it is a great to have it done by such a professional actor!!! ["

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February 5, 2026 Verified Purchase

D. Mikels

Showdown On Top of A Moving Train

"Gotta hand it to wizard Harry Dresden: His supernatural plate is always overflowing. His magical powers interfere with the cameras and monitors while he's doing a live on-air interview; Count Ortega of the Red Court of Vampires challenges him to a duel to end the war between the vampires and wizards; the Vatican hires him to find the stolen Shroud of Turin, but he must compete with crime boss Johnny Marcone, who covets it, too; a pack of very nasty demons also want the Shroud--and Harry's soul; and Harry's half-vampire girlfriend, Susan, steps into his life after a one year hiatus. Put all of these ingredients together, along with Harry's never-ending one-liners and quips, and you've got the feisty novel DEATH MASKS, the fifth installment in author Jim Butcher's fun-filled Dresden Files series. Vampires. Denarians. The Fallen. These are the villains of DEATH MASKS, and the underworld demons present the most dangerous foes Harry has come across to date. Fortunately, Lt. Karrin Murphy of Chicago's Special Investigations Unit, the three Knights of the Cross, Susan, and Johnny Marcone himself come to Harry's aid. The final battle for the Shroud takes place atop a moving freight train churning from Chicago to St. Louis, and it's a showdown that promises to keep the reader busily turning pages. And this installment introduces us to a new character, Butters, a polka-loving medical examiner, and re-acquaints us with Michael, one of the Knights of the Cross, who we last left behind in Grave Peril. As with all of its predecessors, the action begins right from the start, and never lets up; Butcher has a knack for telling a grand tale while never taking his foot off the gas. DEATH MASKS is a fun, fast read, promising to leave the reader with a burning desire to move on to the next installment in this fast-paced series. --D. Mikels, Esq. ["

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September 25, 2014 Verified Purchase

J. Cain

Wonderful supernatural novel!

"The author's writing style draws you in from the beginning and keeps a hold on you until the very last page. I wasn't able to put this book down! It flows nicely from one scene into the next and leaves you wondering what will happen. I often find myself wanting to know who is the antagonist by the time I hit the 6th chapter of the book and my husband hates telling me the ending! This particular novel didn't leave any mystery as to the antagonist like the other books in the series, though. The author revealed everyone from the beginning, but the ending is not without its surprises! In this particular novel, Harry goes up against a scourge of demons, their leader being a man named Nicodemus, who is cunning, sly, and loves to trap his victims into making a choice that leaves them choosing between two evils. One particular example of this is when Nicodemus trapped Harry and told him to choose the coin (which would allow a demon to manipulate Harry for eternity) or death. Harry was lucky when a Knight of the Cross showed up and made Nicodemus an offer he couldn't refuse. But it isn't all about the demons. Harry has to go up against the Red Court vampires again, one in particular named Ortega that challenges him to a duel. Harry is allowed to choose the weapon (a first choice and second choice since Ortega is allowed to decline the first choice if he so chooses, which he does). They wind up in a duel where the weapon is Will. To find out what happens, read the book! If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, you will not be disappointed. ["

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August 16, 2008 Verified Purchase