Skin Game

Author: Jim Butcher
Reader: James Marsters

Short Review: Skin Game is a continuation of the popular fantasy series about Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. The series is best consumed in order, but the book contains some descriptions which could assist new Dresden readers in understanding basic series history. A very cleverly written series for adults who want to graduate from Harry Potter into something with more teeth. James Marsters reads this 15^th book in the series, bringing all the characters to life.

Long Review: Warning: this Review contains spoilers for those who have not read up to and through Book 14, Cold Days.

If you haven’t listened to any Dresden Files audiobooks, yet, Go Start. From the beginning. James Marsters has managed to give every one of hundreds of characters their own consistent voice, identity, and personality through his vocal interpretation. When I am reading the series with my eyes, I still hear Marsters’ voice in my head.

Skin Game (Book 15) shows us a relatively healthy Harry in the beginning (PARKOUR!), who is seemingly only compromised by the fact that thereâ€s a parasite inside his head. Thank the stars and stones that he has Queen Mab of the Winter Court as his boss. Sheâ€ll surely help him out, right? She just needs him to do one thing for her.

Always striving to Do the Right Thing, Dresden gets tangled up with old foes; The Denarians. Can he resist the temptation to chase off or smite his sworn enemies, as he must work alongside them? Or, will he deny the command of the Winter Queen and face her wrath, as the previous Winter Knight did? Which of his generous friends will he pull into the mix, and how much will he regret it this time? What is the “Storage Cubby of the Underworld? Who could say, Hello, lover and make the listener’s hair stand on end?

You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll get teary. You’ll panic. We’ll find a new Knight of the Cross. Butcher and Marsters knock this one out of the park. Again.

With so many secrets to peel away, I guarantee that you will want to listen or read this one a second time.

Want to hear more? Hell’s bells! Download it today!

Author: Jim Butcher
Reader: James Marsters

Short Review: Harry Dresden, Wizard of Chicago, gets pulled into a murder investigation riddled with werewolves and betrayal. Marsters remains the perfect reader to bring the Dresden Files to life.

Long Review: The second installment in the Dresden Files is perhaps stronger than the first.  In this  all our enemies have either claws or guns. Not satisfied with simply one bad guy, Butcher has thrown a whole arsenal of people and creatures to complicate Harry’s life. Not just werewolves, but multiple kinds. Not just the cops of Special Investigations are not on his side, but the FBI is in town. Gangs not enough for you? Never fear, we have the Mafia too!

Can you read this without having read the first book in the series, Storm Front? I suppose so, but you will have more fun with it if you start at the beginning and meet everyone along the way.

In this book we also get a bit more background on Harry and the world he lives in. We learn a few Wizard secrets and get to know his allies a bit better. Butcher’s characters are not cardboard cutouts – even those just passing through get enough detail to make them feel real. To top it off, Marsters has all the right voices for this wild assortment of characters. Most importantly, his voice for Harry, both his speaking voice and the one inside his head, is just perfect. He makes it sound so easy, so natural.

I don’t want to spoil any of the story for you, so from here I just say – go listen!

You can listen to the first chapter for free.

Author: Jim Butcher
Reader: James Marsters

Short Review: Down on his luck detective Harry Dresden also happens to be a real, live wizard. This introduction to Harry’s world includes magic, potions, a talking skull named Bob, demons – and of course a murder mystery. James Marsters is brilliant.

Long Review: I am going to start with the reader on this one. James Marsters does an amazing job. I will admit that I was drawn to this audio book because of the reader. I am a big fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe in general, and of the character Spike that James Marsters plays in specific. The funny thing about all this is that Marsters doesn’t actually have the British accent that he uses for Spike. The first 10 minutes of Storm Front was me getting used to Marsters’ actual voice (or at least the voice he uses for reading this book). After I adjusted to his voice, I loved it. This is one of those cases in which if I read the books on paper, I hear Marsters’ voice in my head. When I watched The Dresden Files, I *still* heard Marsters’ voice trying to overlay the voices coming from the screen.

The story is a treat. This is the first installment in what turned into a solid series. Our protagonist is Harry Dresden, Wizard. He lives in modern day Chicago plying his trade – but this modern day has a lot hidden from the average citizen. There are many supernatural bad guys out and about – making trouble for the people and the police alike.

How to describe Harry? Imagine old school private investigator crossed with wizard with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Harry never has enough money – but always has someone relying on him for rescue. And technology hates him.

I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but I will give Jim Butcher one of my highest forms of praise: I love the people he created with this novel and the world in which he has placed them. If you like the supernatural, a good mystery and characters to root for – definitely check out Storm Front. If you are a Buffy/Angel fan – follow Marsters into this new rich world, you won’t regret it.

If you still need convincing, go listen to the first chapter for free and see what you think.