Death Masks (Dresden Files Series #5)

Plunge ever deeper into Dresden mythology!

Each story of the Dresden Files follows the life of Harry Dresden, Chicago's very own professional Wizard. In a nutshell, Harry is a warrior-wizard who protects the citizenry of Chicago from vamps, zombies, demons, evil faeries (like his godmother...), trolls, and more, while flying under the radar of the White Council's grey-cloaked hit squad, the Wardens. But this is strictly pro-bono. He scrapes a living by presenting paranormal solutions for private cases of the weird and supernatural. He also serves Chicago PD by offering "consultant work" to Special Investigations (the force's answer to "unsolvable" paranormal crimes, populated by cops who are better at their jobs than their superiors [and, naturally, shunted into a Junk Job...]) while providing us with gut-busting wit. Genre buffs will enjoy salted allusions to Sci Fi culture icons. In Death Masks (#5), Harry teams up with the Holy Knights against the Fallen to save Chicago (and a good portion of the entire planet) from terrifying death. The story quickly evolves as Harry involuntarily destroys a TV talkshow studio, dodges bullets, works with the Vatican, and comes to grips with the fact that, sometimes, we are no match for our enemies and must lean on Faith. Psychotic nymphomaniacs, mute blood-servant henchmen, ravening animals, personal sacrifice, and an excellent scene involving a baseball bat keep you rooted to the toil and triumph of this Holy-Grail type tale.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Another Great One

I discovered the Dresden File Series a few months ago. This one moves well and kept my attention from beginning to end.

Fantasy for adults

Well written action sorcery books. I treat myself to one every month. If not I would buy them all at once and live in a cardboard box.

Good read

I have been getting into the Dresden files. They have been action packed and move quickly through complex storylines. Fascinating characters and imaginative worlds.

<3 this series

The king of complicated, Chicago's only professional wizard is back in Butcher's fifth Dresden Files novel. Harry agrees to go on a paranormal talk show to meet a man who's been searching for Susan, his half-vampire love. But he gets more than he bargained for when all the other guests are there to meet him in a neutral public places as well. There's a count of the Red Court there to challenge Harry to a duel in an effort to end the war between the Red Court vampires and the White Counsel which rules the wizards. And there's also a priest from the Catholic Church who wants to hire Dresden to find the stolen Shroud of Turin. On the way out a hit man from Chicago's top mob boss tries to kill Harry, and Detective Murphy calls, wanting Harry to help out with a strange murder case.
Harry's not alone though. Susan shows back up (and saves his skin a number of times) with half-vampire powers. And Michael is back, with the other sacred sword-wielding Knights of the Cross. The latter is an element that's done especially well as Butcher manages to take a world where fairies and werewolves and vampires are real and also write beautiful, strong Christian characters instead of flat, stereotypical antagonists wearing crosses.
The Dresden books are quite popular, and despite being cautious in a urban fantasy-over run world, are very good as well. Dresden might have started out as a parody of UF, but Butcher's strength in complex storytelling and just as vivid and complex characters pushed this series up to a ringleader of the UF gang. It's also a fantastic addition in the sense that it brings a much needed male point of view to the genre, without excluding female characters as strong and capable on their own. Highly recommended for public collections as these books give back a great amount for their purchase price.

Contains: violence, some gore, sex, language

Highly Recommended - you must check it out

Like all the Dresden Files Series, especially when the characters don't change, very good reading and not hard to understand.

Death Mask

I really enjoyed this Dresden. There was a lot going on, at times it would get a little busy. Dresden is looking for a religious artifact and trying to figure out how to deal with a challenge from a vampire. Once again you feel sorry for the craziness that always seems to find Dresden. Overall Dresden never disappoints. I have loved every book in the series so far and am looking forward to continuing on.

Great Entertainment!!!!!

I had my doubts be cause I had watched the TV series before I read the books. But Now I can not get enough of them!!! If you have an imagination you will love them!

Love Dresden!

Dresden is such a unique character. I must recommend that you read the first four books before reading this one. Death Masks can stand alone, but in order to truly under the Dresden character and what he is made of, I think you need to return to book one. Of course, silly me, one of my favorite characters in the book is the talking skull, go figure, but there are quirks and uniqueness in all of the sub-characters so take my word and read this series.

Death Masks, the Dresden Files, Book 5

Harry Dresden must avoid a war between the Red Court vampires and the White Council, by a duel with the Red Court vampire warlord Ortega. And, he must find and return the stolen Shroud of Turin to his client, so he can pay his bills. And, he must deal with his feelings for his ex-girlfriend Susan, who has returned, but with a friend, Martin. And, he must survive the Denarians, demons from the Fallen, who want Dresden in their number. And, he must avoid getting arrested by the police, because he was seen leaving the scene of a murder. While ultimately discovering what is truly in his heart. Why does he do what he does for mankind?

Wizard WOW

Thank you Penguin Group for getting that sexy James Marsters for the voice of Harry Dresden, wizard PI. I've been a fangirl of Jim Butcher's since the beginning. Long before the TV series, and as always this audio book is most excellently voiced by James. For me he *IS* Harry. The book can be read as a standalone but believe me you'll get much more enjoyment out of it if read as part of the series.

Ok, but Not Great

This is about the point in the series where the formula really started to annoy me. Basically, it follows as such: Dreden gets his ass kicked, gets saved at the last second, and then figures out how to save the day. And, while this sequence is still the basis of subsequent books, it starts to ease up once you get past this one.

get past the errors..

once again , here is an author who does not write about what he knows. Having never visited Chicago, he presumes to write about it...everything is wrong. If u can get past those errors, this is a worthwhile read..5th book in the series.
his writing has improved and the first half seemed a little disjointed to me but, the second half grabs u and guides thru to the end..

This isn't a new book in the series

So I am curious about all the hype for this. Yes, it is in hardback but the content hasn't changed. So save your bucks and go for the paperback that came out a couple of years ago. This is a fine read. I like Harry and his world - thrilling, funny, sarcastic and very human. I recommend any of his books, but do try to read them in order to maintain the continuity of storyline and characters.

Death Masks - Jim Butcher

Having more or less started the Dresden Files series more or less in the middle of the series, it was great to get more of the back story in the older books. I really enjoy how Mr. Butcher continues to carry the story arc through each book without making the books so tightly linked that you can't enjoy them on their own. I'm definitely looking forward to catching up on the other books which I have missed in the series as well as reading the next chapter in Harry Dresden's adventures.

Jim Butcher has done it again! Death Masks! what a Rush!

Hello again Fantasy fans. I just finished another Great Book by Jim Butcher. He truly is a master in origianl thrilling fantasy novels. I thought Death Masks was absolutely terrific! I just love Harry Dresden. I can't get enough of him from his wiry wit to his unbeatable bad luck he's simply the best. In this book He is joined by his friends Knights of the sword to go up against some demons that make the bad guys from his other books look like childs play! The plot twists were great and always had me on the edge of my seat. Again you just can't help but root for him, you'll laugh and you'll be shocked and even checking your quarters for awhile! I really could not put it down. Everywhere I went I took the book, and every spare moment I was reading I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I guarantee once you start reading this book you'll be very very hard pressed to put it down until you finish, then you'll sigh with jittery relief and then go searching for Jim Butcher's next book!
Don't wait another moment See for yourself!

Definitely worth the time!!!!

I am getting "disgusted and fed up" with Jim Butcher's books! I CAN'T PUT THEM DOWN!!! This is book 5 and I'm currently on book 8; each one a Fantastic read! Characters well developed and riveting! Each adds to the total! Keep them coming Jim!!!!!

Duel with the Reds

Death Masks brings back the Red Court, McCoy, Knights of the Cross and introducing the Order of the Blackend Denarians and the Archive. As if Harry didn't have his own problems with Vampires, the council, and other assorted Characters, now he has to take on the Denarians. Great concept and perfect Enemys for the Knights of the Cross. Cant wait to see more of the Archive and the Denarians. Excellent read. Poor Harry, so many things to do and so little time

wow

yeah that is pretty much all i have to say.....wow!

No Nails Left

It's true, I've bitten them all off. What a great book!!! Not a bad book in the series. I'm off to read number six now, guess I'll have to start on the toes...