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lilac_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
Love Murphy but I hate dresden he's just a pig.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
nerdydeathwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This was apparently a relisten but I didn't remember any of it, which probably says something. The world building continues to be good. I continue to find the MC irritating, but I liked that there were more strong female characters that called Harry out on his sexist bs. It's definitely the kinda book you can have on while you're cleaning the house or running errands. Fun but doesn't require a ton of attention. The series still hasn't grabbed me so we'll see how far I end up going with it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
nicosta_music's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Even though I started reading The Dresden Files expecting to dislike it and ended up enjoying the first book, I have to say that Fool Moon really blew its predecessor out of the water. The stakes were higher, the pacing was more even, and the storyline was much more enthralling. I genuinely really enjoyed this book, and it would have been an easy 5 stars if not for Harry being the chauvinist he is.
In terms of the Harry Dresden Misogyny Meter, he was slightly more bearable than the previous book. He still kept making weirdly sexual observations and wore out the descriptor "feminine," but it felt easier to ignore his remarks. Maybe I've just been desensitized to his antics. I still have hope he'll grow out of it and join us in the 21st century.
Most of the reason I loved this book is probably that I'm a bit of a werewolf nut. I thought the various lores surrounding the werewolves in this book were really interesting, and trying to understand them while watching the different factions go at each other was a lot of fun. I also really liked having Harry as the narrator for the events of this book, since I thought he brought a good amount of emotional insight and humanity with his narration.
In terms of the Harry Dresden Misogyny Meter, he was slightly more bearable than the previous book. He still kept making weirdly sexual observations and wore out the descriptor "feminine," but it felt easier to ignore his remarks. Maybe I've just been desensitized to his antics. I still have hope he'll grow out of it and join us in the 21st century.
Most of the reason I loved this book is probably that I'm a bit of a werewolf nut. I thought the various lores surrounding the werewolves in this book were really interesting, and trying to understand them while watching the different factions go at each other was a lot of fun. I also really liked having Harry as the narrator for the events of this book, since I thought he brought a good amount of emotional insight and humanity with his narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Gore, Blood, Sexism, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Sexual content, Cursing, Kidnapping, Torture, Addiction, Confinement, Animal cruelty, and Grief
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I still can't justify why I enjoy The Dresden Files. The main character, Harry Dresden, is sexist in that "I believe in chivalry" kind of way. The writing isn't that good. So many unbelievable things happen. And yet? It holds my attention and I read the books really quickly. I guess Dresden reminds me a little of Anita Blake, another urban fantasy mess I really enjoy and absolutely cannot justify.
The first book, Storm Front, was the "evil wizard" book. Fool Moon is the "werewolf" book. Sure to come are zombies and vampires. While most of Butcher's writing is immediately pretty flat, one thing that does interest me is the mythological breakdowns. Butcher pulled werewolf references and lore from a lot of different cultures to build his characters... and yup, was even cocky enough to tell us all about it in an informational breakdown for the uninitiated. I do like the magic, the recklessness of it. The mythos is interesting.
Know, though, that the plot line was a complete train wreck. There were so many things going on that even Dresden took a step back in the book to recap with his subconscious. In some ways, it was pretentious (as if the reader can't keep track of what's happening!) and in other ways, humorous (so much banter). There were the promised werewolves and a bunch of other things and really, Dresden should be super super super arrested right now, but it's more... convenient to tie things up in an illogical bow, I guess.
Fool Moon is an absolute mess but an enjoyable one. I'm a sucker for punishment, because I'm going on to book three. It's not a book or a series I'd buy, though. Strictly for the borrowing.
The first book, Storm Front, was the "evil wizard" book. Fool Moon is the "werewolf" book. Sure to come are zombies and vampires. While most of Butcher's writing is immediately pretty flat, one thing that does interest me is the mythological breakdowns. Butcher pulled werewolf references and lore from a lot of different cultures to build his characters... and yup, was even cocky enough to tell us all about it in an informational breakdown for the uninitiated. I do like the magic, the recklessness of it. The mythos is interesting.
Know, though, that the plot line was a complete train wreck. There were so many things going on that even Dresden took a step back in the book to recap with his subconscious. In some ways, it was pretentious (as if the reader can't keep track of what's happening!) and in other ways, humorous (so much banter). There were the promised werewolves and a bunch of other things and really, Dresden should be super super super arrested right now, but it's more... convenient to tie things up in an illogical bow, I guess.
Fool Moon is an absolute mess but an enjoyable one. I'm a sucker for punishment, because I'm going on to book three. It's not a book or a series I'd buy, though. Strictly for the borrowing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
sexualedward's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Blood, and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, and Terminal illness
cyanide_latte's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I had had hopes that this would be at least tolerable after the mess that was the first book, but apparently that was a low bar that I tripped over. I think, after having forced myself to get through this, I'm not going to go further with the series. In the event anyone thinks I should, you're really going to have to work to sell me on why I should stick with it.
In the event you hadn't guessed and had no prior knowledge on this series, and didn't bother to read the summary for this book, slight spoiler: there's werewolves. Except not just werewolves; for whatever reason I cannot fathom, Butcher decided to really get convoluted with his lore about werewolves and their subdivisions. Because he categorizes werewolves, "hexenwolves", lycanthropes, and loup-garou all as separate things with different rules and lore, all under some sort of bizarre man-wolf shapeshifting umbrella. Perhaps for some people this is interesting and cool and sets his world apart, but I'm less than impressed. He over-complicated werewolves. WEREWOLVES. Of all the things that didn't need to be that convoluted, they're one of them.
Please also let us not forget the fact that Harry Dresden continues to be a disgusting MC. He's a chauvinist pig and fully aware of that, and has had prior experience where his insistence that he knows best and he's protecting the women around them by not telling them shit-all has actually been the thing to get them killed...and he does it AGAIN in this book. The man doesn't learn, and has to have some weird psychic conversation with some like, manifestation of his subconscious mind where he even tells himself he should be telling people things so they have a fighting chance to DEFEND THEMSELVES instead of Dresden failing to be there for them himself. The way even that was handled was less than impressive.
And yet again, he just doesn't seem to discriminate between the fact that all women might as well be the same to him, because he only seems to view all of them as sexy and therefore he wants to bang them. I'm floored that people think he's a fun, awesome protagonist, because honey...I don't see it. He's boring at best and disgusting more often than not. I want this man obliterated.
In the event you hadn't guessed and had no prior knowledge on this series, and didn't bother to read the summary for this book, slight spoiler: there's werewolves. Except not just werewolves; for whatever reason I cannot fathom, Butcher decided to really get convoluted with his lore about werewolves and their subdivisions. Because he categorizes werewolves, "hexenwolves", lycanthropes, and loup-garou all as separate things with different rules and lore, all under some sort of bizarre man-wolf shapeshifting umbrella. Perhaps for some people this is interesting and cool and sets his world apart, but I'm less than impressed. He over-complicated werewolves. WEREWOLVES. Of all the things that didn't need to be that convoluted, they're one of them.
Please also let us not forget the fact that Harry Dresden continues to be a disgusting MC. He's a chauvinist pig and fully aware of that, and has had prior experience where his insistence that he knows best and he's protecting the women around them by not telling them shit-all has actually been the thing to get them killed...and he does it AGAIN in this book. The man doesn't learn, and has to have some weird psychic conversation with some like, manifestation of his subconscious mind where he even tells himself he should be telling people things so they have a fighting chance to DEFEND THEMSELVES instead of Dresden failing to be there for them himself. The way even that was handled was less than impressive.
And yet again, he just doesn't seem to discriminate between the fact that all women might as well be the same to him, because he only seems to view all of them as sexy and therefore he wants to bang them. I'm floored that people think he's a fun, awesome protagonist, because honey...I don't see it. He's boring at best and disgusting more often than not. I want this man obliterated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Gore, and Murder
ggcd1981's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a bit of a rant. Usually I write reviews in my mother language, but when I rant, I do it in English (I have no idea why). First, I want to get something out of the way, the plot of this book is interesting, the mystery is good, the battles (these are small scale) are good. I liked all of that, but I can’t give this book more than 2.5 stars. That’s because the treatment of female characters is not anywhere near good. Yes, there are several female characters, some strong and with strong personalities. This could have been really good, BUT the OBJECTIFYING of those female characters is bad, really bad. I don’t think there were many scenes with female characters in the whole book where their appearance has not been addressed and referenced in some way. Every conversation, conflict, interaction of any sorts involving female characters had some remark about long legs, or sexy lips, or cute nose, or boobs, etc. All of those remarks had ZERO contribution to the scenes. They added nothing to plot, mystery, character, anything. As a woman, through the whole book I was trying to be patient, to let it slide because I liked the story, even if those remarks made me really uncomfortable. But when it came to the main conflict of the book, the culmination of the story, I could no longer ignore it and it pissed me off. It offended me not only as a woman but also as a reader. There was the protagonist, Dresden, finally confronting the antagonists in a desperate battle and through the whole scene Butcher kept making references to a female antagonist’s boobs. Here I was trying to feel immersed in the conflict but the tension was completely undermined by the several boob descriptions. My logic thinking could not forgive that someone faced with imminent death, outnumbered, outpowered, with the lives of others also on the line would have the time and the mind to focus on the opponent’s boobs…several times.
As it is, I can’t give it a higher rating, specially since it was a disappointment for me. I really enjoyed Storm front and I was really intrigued by Fool Moon’s plot. Considering this I will continue with the series in hopes that Butcher’s writing will evolve when it comes to female characters.
As it is, I can’t give it a higher rating, specially since it was a disappointment for me. I really enjoyed Storm front and I was really intrigued by Fool Moon’s plot. Considering this I will continue with the series in hopes that Butcher’s writing will evolve when it comes to female characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Grief, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Objectification of female characters.
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