Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
by Jim Butcher
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jim ButcherEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-08-05
ISBN: 0451459407
Number of pages: 378
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
Book Review: Fiendish duelings
Summary: 5 Stars
When I reviewed Summer Knight, I mentioned that I did not think it was as good as the book preceding it, Grave Peril, or this one that follows, Death Masks. I could not put my finger on it at the time, but figured it out in the interim: Summer Knight has no Thomas and no Michael.
As far as supporting characters in the Dresden Files go, Michael and Thomas are pretty much my favorites. Summer Knight had neither, Grave Peril and Death Masks have plenty of both.
This time around the magical mcguffin that Harry is tasked to retrieve is none other than the Shroud of Turin! However, with an article of such power, there is bound to be a lot of bad news looking for it too.
In the midst of that, Harry is forced into a Duel against a Duke of the Red Court that could mean a lot to the War effort, the War he started. Oh yeah, and his girlfriend is back in town, nothing is ever simple for Harry :)
Death Masks introduces many new Major Players into the Dresdenverse, some of whom play key roles in later books, all of which are quality additions to the series. Even the new characters introduced for just Death Masks are excellent.
In Harry's corner we have:
Shiro- Samurai Knight of the Cross/Sword, in town to assist Michael in recovering the Shroud.
Sanya- A Russian Knight of the Cross/Sword, also in town to help out.
Susan- Harry's sorta girlfriend, now half-vampire, in town because of the Red Duke's duel.
Those who wish to destroy him include:
Duke Ortega- Vicious Red Court Vampire, in town to kill Harry, just more civil about it than most villains, hence the Duel.
Nicodemus- The Leader of the Order of the Blackened Denarius, an ancient order of Fallen Angels bound to the 30 pieces of Silver paid to Judas. Nic also wears the Noose of Judas around his neck, Major Bad News.
Quintus Cassius- A small-time sorcerer bound to one of the Coins and a follower of Nicodemus.
Deirdre- Nicodemus's daughter, and another Denarian.
And Playing the role of Switzerland in this conflict are:
Waldo Butters- the local ME who actually has an open mind to the unknown, so much so it got him demoted to night shift. Fortunately for Harry, that is when he does most his work anyhow.
The Archive- Dubbed "Ivy" by Harry, she is the vessel which holds all the accumulated knowledge of Humanity, she is also about 7 years old. She is in town to Mediate the Duel with Duke Ortega.
Kincaid- Mercenary guardian, and driver, of The Archive. An unknown quantity as yet, but we know he is lethal and likely more than human.
Add those newbies to the returning cast that includes Michael, Murphy, Bob and Thomas and you have yourself an eclectic mix.
Death Masks is the best Dresden book to this point. There are later books that are better I feel, but it is definitely the best of the first five. It is possible I am biased towards it because of all the Christianity in it, but we all have our areas of interest.
One of the things I like about the Dresden Files is it considers all Myths and Faiths. Some Fantasy has every kind of other Myth involved, but then just kind balks at Christian Myth. The Dresden Files acknowledges it all, and it addresses it with respect and consideration, even intelligence.
I enjoy the Faith aspects of the series. While Harry's Magic does not come from the Almighty, it still involves a lot of Faith in the cornerstones of Magic, embodied by his Mother's silver pentacle amulet. Faith gives people power in the Dresdenverse, Michael hums with the power of it when he prays or uses his Sword righteously. The Gatekeeper told Harry "Allah be with you" in Summer Knight, indicating he may use a Muslim Faith element in his Magic.
But I never read Butcher as too preachy either, it is only there enough to make you consider it and to give Harry some food for thought, never rammed down his throat. The respect he affords Faith and the role it begins to play in the Files is definitely one of the aspects that I feel deepens the series and makes later entries, starting with this one, have more impact.
They still have the action, the jokes, the hijinks, but starting with Death Masks, they really start to feel deeper. Since the fiends Harry faces become larger, and the stakes much higher, it only makes sense that the "food for thought" aspects of the book also need to be elevated, and I have found Butcher up to the task so far.
338 HC pages 5 out of 5 stars
Summary of Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practising professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But now he's getting more than he bargained for: A duel with the Red Court of Vampires' champion, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards ...Professional hit men using Harry for target practice ...The missing Shroud of Turin ...A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified ...Not to mention the return of Harry's ex-girlfriend Susan, who's still struggling with her semi-vampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life. Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you're charging.Literature & Fiction Books
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