After enjoying Storm Front last year, I knew I had to continue with The Dresden Files series. I’ve heard mixed things about the early books, with many readers saying it doesn’t hit its stride until book 3 or 4, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this werewolf-centric installment.
In Fool Moon, our favorite wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden faces off against a series of brutal killings in Chicago that appear to be the work of werewolves. But as Harry quickly discovers, there’s more than one type of werewolf stalking the streets, and figuring out which kind (and who) is behind the murders proves to be quite the challenge.
What really drew me in was Butcher’s fascinating take on werewolf lore. As someone who grew up devouring every piece of werewolf media I could find (I still remember staying up way too late reading Patricia Briggs under my covers with a flashlight!), I was delighted by how Butcher managed to put his own unique spin on the mythology. He introduces several different types of werewolves, each with their own distinct characteristics and origins. This worldbuilding adds such rich texture to the story and really sets it apart from other urban fantasy novels I’ve read.
The pacing in this one is a bit of a slow burn at first, but once it picks up speed – wow! The final third of the book had me completely glued to the pages. I actually missed my bus stop because I was so absorbed in one particularly intense action sequence. The violence is definitely more graphic than in Storm Front, so readers who are squeamish about gore might want to proceed with caution.
Harry himself continues to be an endearing protagonist, though his tendency toward self-righteousness can be frustrating at times. His dry wit and nerdy references never fail to make me smile – there’s something so relatable about a powerful wizard who can face down supernatural threats while making Star Wars jokes. The scenes where he has to balance his magical abilities with modern-day concerns (like trying to explain suspicious activities to the police) are particularly entertaining.
Speaking of the police, Harry’s relationship with Murphy takes some interesting turns in this book. Their dynamic is complex and often tense, marked by mistrust and miscommunication. While this can be frustrating to read at times, it feels realistic given their circumstances. After all, how would you react if your consultant kept withholding crucial information about supernatural serial killers?
The supporting cast introduces some intriguing new characters while bringing back familiar faces from Storm Front. Johnny Marcone’s appearances are particularly memorable – he’s the kind of antagonist who steals every scene he’s in. The mysterious hints about Harry’s parentage also caught my attention, especially given my own complicated family history. There’s clearly more to that story, and I’m eager to see how it develops in future books.
One area where Fool Moon stumbles slightly is in its romantic subplot. While I appreciate that Butcher tries to give Harry a personal life alongside his supernatural adventures, the relationship development feels a bit forced at times. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise a solid urban fantasy novel.
The world-building continues to intrigue me, even if the integration of magical and mundane elements doesn’t always feel seamless. As someone who spent countless hours imagining what it would be like if magic existed in our modern world, I appreciate Butcher’s attention to the practical challenges this would create. How does magic interact with technology? What are the politics and power dynamics between different supernatural factions? These questions add depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward monster-of-the-week story.
The ending is particularly strong, delivering multiple climactic moments that had me holding my breath. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that Butcher isn’t afraid to raise the stakes and put his characters through the wringer. The resolution manages to be both satisfying and intriguing enough to make me eager to pick up the next book.
While Fool Moon may not be perfect, it’s a worthy successor to Storm Front and has definitely secured my continued interest in the series. If these are considered the “weaker” early books, I can’t wait to see what’s in store when the series hits its stride. For fans of urban fantasy who enjoy their magic with a noir twist and don’t mind some darker elements, The Dresden Files continues to be a series worth investigating.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go track down a copy of book three!
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