Storm Front is by no means a perfect novel. It's predictable, some of the characters can be annoying, and Harry's sexism hasn't quite had its kinks worked out yet. But regardless, it was a fun read, and while it may not be as good as some of the later books in the series, it is a good preview of the awesomeness to come.
Harry is an interesting character, and we can see that, while he is flawed, he's ultimately a good man who wants to protect the helpless. He has problems with believing women deserve special treatment, but he doesn't think they're lesser to men. The hard-boiled detective plot makes for an interesting, if fairly predictable plot. Honestly, who didn't figure out the Shadowman's identity before Harry? But that really isn't the point. What it was meant to do was introduce us to this world, its rules, and its people, and give us some good jokes and fun action scenes along the way. The demon fight was definitely a Crowning Moment of Awesome, and the final battle, while not very large in scope, was impressive in its intensity, and while it was never in doubt that Harry would survive, the question of how he would win when stripped of his aides and allies was a good dramatic tool. The Conflict Ball with Murphy was a bit forced, but it still made some sense, so I'll let it go. It's a shame we didn't get to meet the White Council though, but it may be for the best, as they were saved for later in the series, once Butcher had had the time to hone his craft.
Overall, this was an enjoyable novel. Harry makes for a great narrator, and it's fun to see him start his path to becoming one of the most awesome wizards ever. It may be a bumpy ride, but it does it with plenty of style, and just enough substance to leave you interested in the next book.
An Entertaining Beginning
Storm Front is by no means a perfect novel. It's predictable, some of the characters can be annoying, and Harry's sexism hasn't quite had its kinks worked out yet. But regardless, it was a fun read, and while it may not be as good as some of the later books in the series, it is a good preview of the awesomeness to come.
Harry is an interesting character, and we can see that, while he is flawed, he's ultimately a good man who wants to protect the helpless. He has problems with believing women deserve special treatment, but he doesn't think they're lesser to men. The hard-boiled detective plot makes for an interesting, if fairly predictable plot. Honestly, who didn't figure out the Shadowman's identity before Harry? But that really isn't the point. What it was meant to do was introduce us to this world, its rules, and its people, and give us some good jokes and fun action scenes along the way. The demon fight was definitely a Crowning Moment of Awesome, and the final battle, while not very large in scope, was impressive in its intensity, and while it was never in doubt that Harry would survive, the question of how he would win when stripped of his aides and allies was a good dramatic tool. The Conflict Ball with Murphy was a bit forced, but it still made some sense, so I'll let it go. It's a shame we didn't get to meet the White Council though, but it may be for the best, as they were saved for later in the series, once Butcher had had the time to hone his craft.
Overall, this was an enjoyable novel. Harry makes for a great narrator, and it's fun to see him start his path to becoming one of the most awesome wizards ever. It may be a bumpy ride, but it does it with plenty of style, and just enough substance to leave you interested in the next book.