Storm Front by Jim Butcher

May 21st, 2018 Kimberly Review 45 Comments

21st May
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Storm Front
by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #1
Narrator: James Marsters
Length: 8 hours and 1 minute
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration: 3.5

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I'm a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I'm the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I'm the only one there.

With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters

urban MURDERMYSTERY SUSPENSE magical

I own most of the Dresden Files, some in hardcover thanks to a fantastic yard sale, and others for Kindle and Audible. Yep, I REALLY wanted to read them but for some reason, I never started.  2018 seems to be the year for all things urban fantasy. At least it’s my current genre mood, so I decided to jump in during Take Control and went with the audio edition. Storm Front by Jim Butcher introduced the world and the wizard, Harry Dresden, as he solved a murder mystery that everyone thinks he committed.

I feel like the last urban fantasy fan standing to have finally begun this series, but I am also delighted to have so many books lined up and waiting for me.

Five Reasons to Grab Storm Front

  • Harry Dresden is a cat-loving wizard for hire. He isn’t overly confident, is vulnerable like a human and tends to risk helping people even to his own detriment. He takes odd cases but most of his bills are paid assisting the Chicago Police Department as a consultant.
  • While Storm Front is far from perfect, Butcher sets the world up, introducing the White Council (they oversee Wizards)  and Harry himself. I love the potential I see here and understand why this character and world are fan favorites.
  • Harry has two cases. The first is for a missing husband, a job he normally doesn’t take but he’s persuaded. The second case involves a double murder that is dark and sadistic. The Police have called him in to assist and things get intense when it looks like the deeds were performed by a wizard.
  • The supernatural realm, magic, and creatures are very cool! Giant creepy crawlers, circles, golems and more can be found within.
  • The book is laced with humor and I found myself laughing aloud. It offset the gore, suspense, and struggles our hero faced.
  • Harry is complex, flawed, quick to anger and talks to himself and his cat named Mister. I adored the man. He isn’t polished, doesn’t date often and has an authenticity about him. The fact that he acts like an old dime store novel PI was delightful.

I’ve only been listening to audiobooks since, January of 2013, so it was interesting to listen to an audio produced in 2002. Oh my how we have changed! James Marsters is the perfect voice for the gruff wizard but I was taken aback by the noises on the track. Swallowing, breathing and an adjusting office chair. At least I think it was a chair. I jumped off and listened to a later one and yep, either Marsters learned to control his breathing and swallowing or technology is brilly because all of those sounds were absent. Of course, Marsters is now the voice of Harry, so I will continue my adventures in audio.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher shares an exciting world with a gritty, awkward and delightful protagonist. Have you met Harry Dresden? #urban #audio Share on X
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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45 Responses to “Storm Front by Jim Butcher”

  1. Melanie Simmons

    I love this series. I just started it a few years ago. I can’t remember if there were sounds that bothered me or not. I know that isn’t an issue any more. I’m listening to the new anthology that just came out (be sure to get those too.) Marsters does a great job with this series. I hope you’ll continue on the audio.

    Melanie Simmons recently posted: Hot and Badgered Audiobook by Shelly Laurenston (REVIEW)

  2. MarthaE

    I enjoyed this too and have to pick up the next one soon.
    Glad you enjoyed and started the series.

  3. Melissa's Midnight Musings

    I’m glad to see you enjoyed this! I have been meaning to start this series, but haven’t gotten around to it. I’m not a fan of audio books, listening to books, just doesn’t sit well with me, but I might be tempted to try one of these on audio since I’m a fan of James Marsters.

  4. A Voracious Reader

    I’m so glad you finally jumped into Harry’s world! My kids and I LOVE him! Be prepared to hear those noises for a few more books. The quality gets better with each, but I think it’s book 5 or 6 where Marsters really hits his stride and never looks back. Keep in mind, too that I’m pretty sure Storm Front was his first audio. So, while not horrible, it definitely does not win any awards for sound quality.

  8. Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra

    You are not alone in wanting to read this series but never quite getting around to it. It’s on my list too! It sounds like such a fun series. I’ve just started trying to do more with audiobooks so maybe I’ll go that route when I finally start the series.

    • Kimberly

      I am so glad I am not alone. Well, now I get to convince you to grab them. I have book two and three coming up for review in the next two months 🙂

  9. sjhigbee

    I MUST get into audiobooks – I loved reading this series, particularly the earlier books. It’s hilarious to think that early audiobooks included background noises! Thank you for sharing, Kimberly.

  10. Angela @ Angel's Guilty Pleasures

    I started this series last year and am slowly working my way through it. I’ve enjoyed the books so far and I did listen to one in audio, which was just as good as reading. Glad you have started and are enjoying. ^_^ Thank’s for the review.

  12. Sophia Rose

    You are not the last one. I’m still behind you on these. I’ve had plans to read them and will, but I have not been any hurry on them while I finish up others.

    Interesting how the audio narration quality has changed. And, yes, you are right about new tech working to dub out all those sounds. I got to hear an unpolished version of an audio for an antho my story is in and it sounds like that with the swallows and extra sounds until it gets run back through some sort of tech that takes all that out.

  15. Lily

    so glad you gave Jim Butcher a try, I love his novels they get better after this one

  17. Melliane

    I only tried this one but I was a bit mixed so I never tried more but maybe I should, I heard that it gets better and better

    • Kimberly

      Agreed he is perfect for Harry. I have a sensitive ear, even a slight cold is noticeable to me. Ugh.

  19. kindlemom1

    I’ve read the first couple of books in this series and remember sort of watching the TV show when it was out (I think I only watched a couple and then it was cancelled) and liking them both. I think I almost have all the books. I just need to make time for them…and every other series I need to finish up. 😉

  20. Stephanie Jane

    I have this audiobook too and listening to it was great fun. That was a few years ago though so I need to lisyen again and then get the next one! Thanks for this reminder 🙂

  21. Ailyn Koay

    surprisingly i have never read his books before, despite them right up my alley. Not sure, I am into druids at the moment =D