Storm Front (Dresden Files, #1)

by Jim Butcher

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

3.5 stars for story
3.5 stars for narration
3.5 stars overall

Title: Storm Front (Dresden Files #1)
Author: Jim Butcher
Narrator: James Marsters
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia Publishing Corp.
Unabridged
Length: 8 hours 1 minutes
Publication: 6/10/09
Genre: UF
Heat Level: Warm

I read this book many years ago, but never picked up any other books from the series. I have no idea why. I enjoyed this book. I have heard so many great things about the series and even the narrator, so I decided that I should give it a try on audio. I did go back to listen to book one because it had been so long, I knew I would never remember what was going on the series.

Harry Dresden is a wizard. He is even listed as one in the phone book. He helps his clients with magical problems. He is a consultant for the Chicago PD. Things get a little hairy when Harry has to help investigate magical murders where he could be one of the prime suspects.

Dresden has to help protect the public from some pretty weird magic. He has to do some things he isn't happy about. He loses the trust of one his few friends. He has the governing council of wizards after him. Things don't look good for him.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, though it didn't set my world on fire. I'm definitely intrigued and want to see more of what is going to happen to Harry Dresden. Is he able to heal some of the relationships that he damaged in this book? What other crazy cases does he end up working. I love police with magical twist, so I think this has a lot of potential. I have already requested book two from my library, there is a waiting list for it.

Narration
You might recognize the name, James Marsters. He is also known as Spike from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show. His narration was different than what I am used to, but it worked for this series. He had a bit of a guy next door voice for Dresden and there was some breathing and sighing that would normally annoy me, but seemed like something Harry Dresden would do, so it fit. I would like to see Marsters do a better job with women's voices, but there are not a lot of women in this series, so far, so it wasn't too bad.