I mostly like this series. However, I'm certainly not a die hard "Dresdenite" from the Church of Harry. Dresden is NOT my literary BFF and, truth be told, spends far more time languishing under the heading OAA (Occasionally Annoying Acquaintance). I like the stories (so far), but that enjoyment comes with some mondo qualifications and some serious groans. However, before I rail against the main character's penchant for lame cheesy-flavored popCORNY, I'm going to begin with what I think are t

”There are things you can’t walk away from. Not if you want to live with yourself afterward.”And if you’re Harry Dresden there are plenty of them! Unfortunately it seems like all those things he can’t walk away from are also the ones that will get him killed in the end. We’re not figuratively speaking here, by the way. ;-P We’re talking about quite literally dying a very long, slow, unpleasant and painful death. At least that’s what Harry’s enemies always try to threaten him with, but worry not!...

Harry Dresden need some sleep, and he’s not getting one easily.Harry Dresden has a duel with the Red Court of Vampire’s Champion who wants to kill him at all cost, professional hitmen are using him as target practice, but that’s not all, Harry also needs to seek the missing Shroud of Turin while fighting all the new villains. All of these conflicts are brought to Harry Dresden within the first quarter of the novel; it’s safe to say that Death Masks, the fifth book in The Dresden Files series, is...

This is my favourite Dresden File to date because for the very first time reading this series, I actually felt emotional resonance. In the past few instalments, I was entertained, intrigued, and mostly treated these books as my guilty pleasure when I needed something I can breeze through for some fun and action with more than a touch of snarky humour. In Death Masks, there were less unrealistically badass moments where I'll go "Oh, come on! Really?!" Instead, at least a couple of scenes in here

What I noticed right away after reading the first few chapters would be that the series has a routine. It starts of with Harry complaining about his broke life, then a lover appears or a new villain. It's not a bad routine, on the contrary I actually enjoy it. Harry Dresden's life is really fascinating and adventure filled.The plot tried to be more action packed but ended up on the mild side. The new enemies presented were quite interesting but honestly were all over the place. They weren't intr...

3ish stars. To anyone who still isn't convinced that Harry is a chauvinistic, narcissistic douchebag: "My blasting rod thumped against my leg rhythmically." Blasting rod, eh? Someone's cocky (pun intended?). "I gathered in my will and settled my grip on my blasting rod.""I jerked the tip of the blasting rod up and away from the girl, releasing the gathered energy." Wow, Harry. First of all ew. Second, woman, not girl, that's demeaning- and to think you consider yourself chiva...

I really do love this series. This book was my least favorite but I did enjoy it a little. I loved the last four so I am excited to start the next one.Death Masks is the 5th in the series and I really have to say that I am so over with the war with the red court.In Death Masks, a vampire named Ortega challenges Harry to a duel that will end the war between the vampires and the wizards. Harry has no choice but to accept, and almost no hope of winning the duel. However he has another problem. A c

Poor Harry Dresden.You sweet, oddly sexy, powerful wizard. You just CAN'T catch a break! I adore this series and I adore listening to it on audio. I think James Marsters just keeps getting better and better. I can hear a wider range of voices in this one than in the previous books, and he is so SO DAMN PERFECT as Harry Dresden. I could listen to these books all day, every day. Interestingly, a lot is left hanging at the end of this book. I can't wait to see where the next few books take me!

Harry Dresden can't catch a break... or a full night's sleep. He's up against the Red vampire court, he's being attacked by supernatural creatures with powers he's never seen before and his ex-girlfriend is back in town.But, you can't keep a good wizard down, right?Even when you introduce a holy relic into the tale: "Someone stole the freaking Shroud of Turn?' I demanded. 'Yes.' I settled back into the chair, looking down at the photos again. This changed things. This changed things a lot." pg 2...

The story continues here and stays true to form.The Dresden books are some of my favorite novels...bar none, hands down. These are great brain candy. They're pure escapism, total Urban Fantasy fun, comic drama that do several things very well. Each novel tells it's own story making them individually readable and enjoyable while in the back ground evidence and details mount to tell a larger more involved tale.Here we open up with Harry broke (not that unusual) and in a spot he isn't all that happ...

[4.5 Stars]The best one yet!

Reasons to read this book.1. Harry Dresden is a believable character. He learns, he grows, but he does not gain a new power every book. In fact, he doesn't seem to gain any power in any of the books. He gains awareness and knowledge. 2. Susan is cool, but flawed like Harry. Love her.3. Godfather with a helicopter.4. One of the best love/sex scenes I have ever read. Butcher could write a good romance novel.5. Good female detective who has smarts.6. Vampires with bite.7. Butcher knows his myth, le...

View the full review at The Fantasy ReviewI am so glad that this series continues to be brilliant! Summer Knight shocked me with how good it was, but Death Masks shocked me by being both brilliant and different to the other entries in Jim Butcher‘s fantasy series.Harry Dresden has been growing slowly over the past couple of books. I won’t get into specifics because of spoilers, but I will say...

Buddy at Buddies Books and Baubles with some Dresdanites3.5 Who Else Could Want To Kill Harry StarsFive books in and the world and characters keep expanding a little at a time. I enjoy reading this series to a certain extent but the thing is Harry isn’t the reason. Mostly I like all of the side characters more than him. Each doesn’t get a lot of page time but the glimpses I see of them…well usually the side character steals the show from Harry, at least for me.It isn’t specifically Harry’s fault...

Happy to be back reading Dresden again! This was yet another different flavor of the formula that Jim Butcher is crafting with this series, where yet again Harry is dragged into a case to solve some supernatural problem that inevitably leads to nothing but danger. Storm Front gave us warlocks, Fool Moon gave us werewolves, Grave Peril gave us ghosts and Summer Knight gave us the Fae. Death Masks brought us some nice demons this time around and certainly the most deadly villain that I think the s...

My sister and I listened to this on Audiobook in the car. I had to return the CDs to the library, but fortunately, they had the Playaway, so we were able to finish this. I loved James Marsters' narration. He doesn't sound a thing like Spike and I'm glad. He showed a wonderful vocal range, and he really gave life to Harry Dresden for me. He's really fantastic at accents and different inflections. He does women voices without them sounding cheesy or falsetto (which is a huge thing for me). I think...

Another solid book in The Dresden Files. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. The first couple of books were a good warm up to Harry and his world. Now the main plot is starting to take shape, and I am really liking the direction the story has taken.Harry seems to always have a little too much going on. He has his work that keeps him in constant danger. Plus, there is almost always something nasty trying to kill him for....well, just for being him . Butcher's technique of weaving a story within...

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.I really enjoyed this book! This was a re-read for me and I liked it just as much the second time around. I did remember some parts of the book from the first time I read the story but I had forgotten most of the details. It has been about a year and half since I listened to the last book in this series and I really enjoyed spending a little bit of time with Harry Dresden once again. This is the fifth book in the series and I do reco...

On a field in Knebworth, the GODS OF ROCK AND ROLL gather to be cool and to discuss Jim Butcher’s 2003 Dresden Files novel Death Masks.Page: It was arcane and occult with clear references to ancient Christian relics and artifacts and I enjoyed it.Bonham: The action was good, Harry and me could be mates, he’s a truculent and bold lad, but also aware of his limitations and that’s what makes him even the more brave. I don’t hold with vampires and he’s against ‘em and I like that about him.Plant: Bu...

Nicodemus is one of THE best UF baddies. Ever.

Reading in Saucy Wenches Book Club in October. I'm only two months behind on the series read.Another great outing from Harry Dresden. Susan was fantastic in this one and I really enjoyed seeing her again. Even if she is very changed from who she use to be. I think her development makes sense and I do hope she appears again in later novels.One of the delights of this series is that Dresden really can count on his friends and that his friends are there for him. Even if this sometimes leads to sadn...

Pretty good stuff right here, but damn it, I wish Harry would stop being so helpless and foolish 80% of the time ;__; He's been "weak" in comparison to the challenges he has faced (at least he outsmarts them in other areas, and he has friends and connections to help him), so I've been hoping he could finally have a bloody level-up.

"...“I am blind and limited. I would be a fool think myself wise. And so, not knowing what the universe means, I can only try to be responsible with the knowledge, the strength, and the time given to me. I must be true to my heart.”― Jim Butcher, Death Masks..."

EDIT: Enjoyed it way more this time as I knew how subtly Butcher dropped clues about Harry's past and future here and there.3.5Fifth book of the series. A new case and problems from the previous books to solve. So Harry’s journey covers a dual challenge from vampire Ortega (red court battle), finding the stolen shroud (case), return of his half-vampire girlfriend Susan (surprise) and his fight with supernatural creatures (his usual stuff).Michael made his came back in the book with other two kni...

Man, it took me ages and a long pause in the middle to finish this installment. I can't figure out if I really didn't enjoy the plot in this one, or if I just wasn't in the right mood.May be the break helped, or may be the second half of the book was really good. What I know for sure however is that Harry is growing as a character; and that the cast of friends, allies and enemies is growing with him and gaining substance. I'm looking forward to the rest of the journey.

It's ok. I like Harry enough now to continue reading. Book 4 was definitely better.

I never actually wrote a review of this book the first time around, just a few quick sentences. I don't remember why. I was probably just being lazy. This is what I wrote back in December 2010:"I'm still waiting to be knocked off my feet by this series, but this book was still pretty fun. Also, Susan was way less annoying, ditto for Gentleman Johnny Marcone. The best part was when Thomas offered to high-five Ortega right before the duel. There needs to be more Thomas."I still hold to what I said...

I love Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, every single thing about him. But bless his ass-kicking magical heart, he cannot catch a break on any front. Only 5 books into this series, Harry has had his heart broken in every way possible. And he just keeps on going. Seriously, he makes me want to give him a really big hug. On his surface, Harry is sarcastic, blunt and completely irreverent. He throws jokes in the face of certain death, or deepest pain. And he's all those things, but...

4.5 stars I read the first few chapters then switched to audio. James Marsters' narration is perfect and definitely kicked the story up a notch for me.Knocked off 1/2 a star because I really can't stand the sexual tension between Harry and Susan. Is it truly love, or just lust? Had we had more relationship development between the two in earlier books maybe I wouldn't question it. Otherwise, never a dull moment and some interesting new characters on the scene.

That Nicodemius is one tricksy Demon! Good to see the three Knights working together in the story. We meet Butters,a significant addition in books to come. Harry and Susan manage to hang out for a while. A duel is fought. Marcone’s secret is out. Harry wins to fight another day. Another book down in my reread campaign, killing time until the next book is published. Soon I hope!