Wizards and Werewolves

Last year, after faithfully watching the Sci-Fi Channel series The Dresden Files, I decided it was time to read the books that inspired it. And I was blown away by the book Storm Front. You can read my review here. But it seems now that if I want to read anything, I have to add it to a challenge list!! So, as a category of Urban Fantasy, I added the second book in the series to my list for the Once Upon a Time II Challenge, as well as the TBR Challenge and the Spring Reading Thing Challenge. Figured I would get it in somehow!! And Fool's Moon by Jim Butcher (352 pages, Roc) certainly did not disappoint!

I never used to keep close track of the phases of the moon. So I didn't know that it was one night shy of being full when a young woman sat down across from me in McAnally's Pub and asked me to tell all about something that could get her killed.

For Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, life was rough at the moment. Business was slow. OK, business was almost non-existent. Since the "episode" last spring, involving a dark wizard and Chicago's drug trade, his main source of income, working with Chicago's Special Investigations Unit, had all but dried up. Lt. Karrin Murphy was still a little pissed at Harry for leaving her in the dark over some of the more Supernatural elements to the case. In Harry's defense, he really was trying to keep her safe. The White Council had strict rules about too much information going to mortals. But Murphy didn't see it that way. She thought Harry was keeping things from her and with Harry's loyalty in question, she had backed away from using him as a consultant. So when Kim Delaney, a novice wizard, offered to buy Harry dinner in exchange for some information, who was he to argue? A man had to eat.

But when Kim wanted information on containment circles, Harry knew she was way out of her league. She didn't have the experience or the power to create the kind of circle she was asking about, and Harry didn't want to give her information that could get her in trouble. Then, in walks Murphy with a brand new case, one that Harry might be able to give her some guidance in.

But when Murphy takes Harry to the crime scene, he knows that bad things are about to happen. The corpse in question is one that he knows: a henchman for Gentleman Johnny Marcone, Chicago's biggest crime boss. That isn't so much the problem. The problem is it looks like the body was "eaten" by wild animals. But just as they were investigating the body, the FBI shows up and interferes with the case. Because this isn't the first body to found in this condition. 12 others just like it.....during last month's full moon cycle.

Murphy doesn't believe in the existence of werewolves, but Harry does and she wants to know all about them. With 3 more days in the cycle, others are going to die if something isn't done. And when the next body is discovered....the body of Kim Delaney, Harry makes this case a personal one. Werewolves, Hexenwolves, Lycanthropes, Loup-garou....there is a lot of activity in Chicago, and only one wizard that can figure out what is going on!

I don't think I can express how much I love this series!! Harry is one of the coolest characters to come along in the fantasy world, and I just love him. He's smart, funny, chivalrous, and moral. He WANTS to do the right thing. And yet, he's human, albeit a wizard. He has faults and flaws just like anyone else. Fool Moon moves at a lightning-fast pace, and the pages just seem to turn themselves. The plot is rich with unexpected turns and twists. And poor Harry seems to have everyone gunning for him. But can a few little wolves keep Harry down?? Well...I guess you'll just have to read it and find out. I dare you not to fall in love with Harry Dresden and this series!! 4.5/5