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deebauched 's review for:
Fool Moon
by Jim Butcher
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
still part of the introductory, kind of episodic beginnings of a probably much larger narrative, the second book of the dresden files still proved to be a good time spent on even more world building and murder solving with the infamous wizard, harry dresden. this time, he's dragged into the murder investigation of a serial killer monster tearing up people with each rise of the full moon. it doesn't take a genius in urban fantasy to get the picture that this book deals with wolves, potentially different kinds even.
i love a good wolf book and fool moon was quite nice with its wolf lore and involving the reader with different types of beasts. more interestingly we see a new addition from the police subplot as well with detective murphy now being under scrutiny by internal affairs, and a team of fbi agents shoving their ways into the main investigation. we also have recurring characters like susan - harry's current love interest - and crime lord johnnie marcone who's hellbent on recruiting our main character to his own team.
i think this book was pleasant, a solid building block even if personally i had a few issues with it. story-wise, the plot as a wolf book was enjoyable, no notes on there. i liked the variety, the different groups and dynamics, i even liked the main baddies and how they came into the picture. i believe my slight frustration rather came from a few character moments.
firstly, i'm not much vibing with susan/dresden as a romantic plot, i just don't really feel the chemistry between them and i think it's much more interesting to me when i look at it as susan potentially exploiting dresden for her own carrier. i truly believed this was the case but they did have a pretty genuine moment with each other that made me believe that susan actually might be honest in her interest (even though i still think she has exploitative angles as well.)
secondly, MURPHY ANNOYED THE HELL OUT OF ME! she was the biggest annoyance, mostly because i had such an instant fondness for her character in the previous book. this time, i just could not get behind her constantly mistrusting dresden and jumping to conclusions and even actively hindering the plot with said assumptions. they're said to be friends but she thinks the worst of him too easily for my liking. the story did a big save at the very end with her, but otherwise her character irritated me more this time than entertained. she's still a badass and i'm still rooting for her and i do get the tight spot she's in with the supernatural, but at the same time i don't think it was justified for her to turn on dresden who himself is in a tight spot as well.
third, i wish dresden was annoyed with her just a lil'bit at times. he does have an overworking hero-complex in most situations, but at least in his closest interpersonal relationships i wish he wasn't always fixated on faulting himself even while being wronged. speaking of fixations - the sexual overtones for literally every single female character his narration has continues to live on in this book as well. i just wish male writers were just a touch less horny while writing their heroes. i seriously do not need to know about the state of a female baddy's nipples while i'm invested in a gory fight-for-life scene.
otherwise, i enjoyed the sprinkle of personal lore and foreshadowings about dresden's mother, possible lineage, an old lost love and his own consciousness coming out to play. i'm very much interested to see what will come out of his own background he seemingly doesn't know of yet either. i also loved his internal monologues about his identity as a wizard, his potential for darkness he keeps repressing slash pushing away from himself.
overall, i had a good time still. i heard that the first few books are the weakest links in the series and that makes me really excited for what's to come because i rather enjoy even these "weak links" in the chain so far.
i love a good wolf book and fool moon was quite nice with its wolf lore and involving the reader with different types of beasts. more interestingly we see a new addition from the police subplot as well with detective murphy now being under scrutiny by internal affairs, and a team of fbi agents shoving their ways into the main investigation. we also have recurring characters like susan - harry's current love interest - and crime lord johnnie marcone who's hellbent on recruiting our main character to his own team.
i think this book was pleasant, a solid building block even if personally i had a few issues with it. story-wise, the plot as a wolf book was enjoyable, no notes on there. i liked the variety, the different groups and dynamics, i even liked the main baddies and how they came into the picture. i believe my slight frustration rather came from a few character moments.
firstly, i'm not much vibing with susan/dresden as a romantic plot, i just don't really feel the chemistry between them and i think it's much more interesting to me when i look at it as susan potentially exploiting dresden for her own carrier. i truly believed this was the case but they did have a pretty genuine moment with each other that made me believe that susan actually might be honest in her interest (even though i still think she has exploitative angles as well.)
secondly, MURPHY ANNOYED THE HELL OUT OF ME! she was the biggest annoyance, mostly because i had such an instant fondness for her character in the previous book. this time, i just could not get behind her constantly mistrusting dresden and jumping to conclusions and even actively hindering the plot with said assumptions. they're said to be friends but she thinks the worst of him too easily for my liking. the story did a big save at the very end with her, but otherwise her character irritated me more this time than entertained. she's still a badass and i'm still rooting for her and i do get the tight spot she's in with the supernatural, but at the same time i don't think it was justified for her to turn on dresden who himself is in a tight spot as well.
third, i wish dresden was annoyed with her just a lil'bit at times. he does have an overworking hero-complex in most situations, but at least in his closest interpersonal relationships i wish he wasn't always fixated on faulting himself even while being wronged. speaking of fixations - the sexual overtones for literally every single female character his narration has continues to live on in this book as well. i just wish male writers were just a touch less horny while writing their heroes. i seriously do not need to know about the state of a female baddy's nipples while i'm invested in a gory fight-for-life scene.
otherwise, i enjoyed the sprinkle of personal lore and foreshadowings about dresden's mother, possible lineage, an old lost love and his own consciousness coming out to play. i'm very much interested to see what will come out of his own background he seemingly doesn't know of yet either. i also loved his internal monologues about his identity as a wizard, his potential for darkness he keeps repressing slash pushing away from himself.
overall, i had a good time still. i heard that the first few books are the weakest links in the series and that makes me really excited for what's to come because i rather enjoy even these "weak links" in the chain so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail