An amazing novel | Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)

Best in the series, so far | Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5) | Jim Butcher

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	• Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5) Jim Butcher Roc, 2003 - 378 pages average customer review:based on 47 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Death Masks (Book Five of The Dresden Files)

There is always something new in this series; it keeps you fascinated. Knights of the Cross, The Shroud of Turin & a duel with a vampire are just some of things involved/happening in "Death Masks."

An amazing novel

This was a well written novel by James Butcher. The plot was a little weak, but the characters were strong. I like the detail he creates about his villains. But saying that, I wonder if the chief and most powerful demon of the fallen would be willing to undertake this action. So the characters are interesting and exciting, but I question their motives and likelihood to commit the actions in this story. Additionally, the end of the novel has an interesting twist that affects the follwing novels. I liked this novel, but this series is starting to annoy me. I feel the individual strengths of the novels are declining while the overall series is very interesting.

This is the best analogy to describe how I feel about the series. These novels are like a 1 hr show on TV; they are good enough, but not great. People pay forty dollars a month for cable and don't expect anything really good to be produced. They want something entertaining and they want it to be good enough that they look forward to the next episode. That describes the majority of this series. When I read the first one, it was like a movie at a theater. People pay a premium to watch it in theaters because they expect it to be great. So these are good novels, but they don't live up to their predecessor.

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Best in the series, so far

In my opinion, this is the best book in the series, so far. Unlike the first four books in the series, I never once found myself wondering if there weren't a better way to continue the story. Harry's life keeps getting more challenging, but he's getting better at dealing with those challenges, too. And Mr. Butcher has come up with some really interesting characters to go up against Harry that keep me wanting more.

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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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Before a Live Audience

The astonishing thing about Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series is that after 4 standout books, he just hits his stride with book 5, DEATH MASKS. The book opens with Harry Dresden nervously working a spell to suppress his magic as he waits to be interviewed on TV. Wizards and technology don't mix and Harry has to endure the TV host's scorn when he refuses to demonstrate magic. Then the host introduces the next guest. Harry recognizes the new arrival as an evil vampire lord. His concentration slips and he starts losing his temper...and accidentally trashes the TV studio. No other author could exhibit such a comic touch while putting his fictional hero in deadly peril.

As always the action is nonstop. But for the first time, Butcher allows us a glimpse of the inner Harry. Harry's ex-girlfriend is in town for the formal breakup. It's not going to work because she might give into her vampire tendencies and kill him. As Harry's character deepens, new philosophical depth creeps in to the other characters as well.

Other than that, Harry battles the full component of gangsters, vampires and deadly demons. The Vatican hires him to hunt for the stolen Shroud of Turin. The wisecracks never stop. Fabulous fantasy!

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