Dark Peril: Number 21 in series (Dresden Files, #3) ('Dark' Carpathian)

by Jim Butcher

Dominic of the Dragonseeker lineage - one of the most powerful lines the Carpathian people has - ingests vampire blood laced with parasites in order to infiltrate the heart of the enemy camp and learn their plans. This is a one-way mission. He plans to get in fast, relay the information to the leader of the Carpathians living in the area and go out fighting - an honourable way to end his life. Solange Sangria is one of the last of the jaguar people, a royal pure-blood. Her people, once many, are now nearly extinct. She has long been alone fighting to save the remaining women who are able to shift from the hands of Brodrick the Terrible, her own father who slaughtered everyone she loved. Wounded, weary, she plans one last battle, hoping to stop the man who has made an alliance with the vampires, accepting she will not come out alive. They are two warriors who have lived their lives alone. Now, at the end of their time, they find each other, a complication neither sees coming.

• ISBN10: 0349400091
• ISBN13: 9780349400099
• Publish Date: 9 September 2010 (first published 1 September 2001)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 3 October 2012
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[EBookObsessed]

DNF

I couldn't take this anymore. So many issues with the world building. So many issues with Harry's decisions. I just couldn't torture myself anymore.

[jamiereadthis]

My first Dresden audiobook. I can see why Marsden gets the love from the fans. He really does bring Harry to life.

Not my fav in this book: Susan, Michael, or the Susan-Harry climax. (Full-body cringe. Twice.) (But at least a proposal sparked a war instead of a wedding.) I’m glad I read book #15 first; the relationships were handled much better, which tells me I should keep reading to see how Butcher gets there.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is the third novel in the Harry Dresden file and once again I listened to the narration provided by James Marsters. In this third book the stars seem to align and I know this series and I are about to embark and a beautiful friendship.

Grave Peril takes place almost a year later. We learn that Harry and Susan are still together. We also learn that our boy Harry along with Murphy and local law enforcement spent the previous year taking down a sorcerer who unleashed a demon. A new character with a shared history with Harry suddenly appears. Michael confused me. Where the hell did he come from? I will be honest, I felt like I missed something and had to double check I hadn't missed a book, but nope, while I was loading up the next audiobook Harry was busy off the page. However, all is explained and we even meet a dragon so all is well. The story kicks off with an intense scene and never slows down as the supernatural activity continues to increase in the Chicago area.

• Vampires, ghosts and demons fill the pages as Dresden and his friends find themselves in some tough pinches.


• Harry's Godmother Lea, wants to own him. Seriously. The woman is creepy as hell and we learn about Harry's past and the promise he made her.


• The agitated ghost of Agatha Hagglethorn appears in the nursery of Cook County hospital. This encounter forces Harry and Michael to travel to the Nevernever.


• Vampires and vengeful demons..oh yeah!


• Susan causes trouble when she does something Harry warns her not to do. What does Harry sees in the reporter?

Butcher balances humor with intense suspense and it's an aspect I am coming to love in this series. I loved the interaction between Michael and Harry. Their behavior upon returning from the Nevernever in the nursery was hilarious! Michael's faith makes him a powerful ally as doe his  sword,  Amoracchius.

James Marsters, is the perfect narrator for this series.  He has become the voice of Harry Dresden. Harry is such a complex character and Marsters showcased his vulnerability and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good and the lives of his friends. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[clairelm]

I did really enjoy this but it did seem to drag on at times. I'm not sure if that was because of the format I had (an audiobook) but it kept seeming to be nearing the end and then coming up with another twist!

Still an enjoyable listen though. And I do like listening to Spike narrating!

This was a good story, just not as good as the first two books. This just didn't have the same, grab you into the story as the other books. But from what I hear this it just the start of great books to follow. Which I can see as the ending of this book sounds like something big is going to go down in the Harry Dresden universe. Which is why I am going to be starting book #4 soon.

[leahrosereads]

Wow. A ton of people still trying to kill my new favorite PI, but in the end, he still makes it through. A little more bruised (both physically and emotionally), but he's alive and kicking at the end of Grave Peril.

I'm excited to see where this story goes in Summer Knight.

[inlibrisveritas]

Took me a bit to get into because due to the amount of paranormal fiction I've read in the past year I really wasn't looking forward to another. Overall I really enjoyed it though, it really "fleshes" out some of the other characters some more like Susan, Micheal, Leah, and the vampires. Plus it's always refreshing to find a slightly different portrayal of vampires, especially when it's not a flowery version. I have a few others in the series so hopefully I'll get to them rather soon.

[ibeforem]

Harry’s really gotten himself into a pickle this time. There’s not much of Murphy and the cops in this one, but he manages to get himself into enough trouble anyway. And when it’s all said and done, it’s really just beginning… I think this book really marks a gear change in the series.