Paulette

Less violence.

Revisado: 07-04-24

The character of Court develops positively. This gives the novel more breath to its plot.

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Void is not E’s lover?

Revisado: 06-09-24

For many volumes, I had hoped Emily and Void were working toward a romantic relationship. This was thought to be so especially after the end of book 7 and the beginning of book 8-chapter 1. Now he is portrayed as a dastardly villain. I will hold out hope for romance in the end. Throughout the series Void has always been experienced as a force for good and stability for Emily. A stability that she had to leave earth to find in the Un-named Lands.

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Completely Enthralling

Revisado: 10-16-21

Except for the first ten pages or so,the story or really several stories intermingled hold you captive until the ending.The characters are complex, like Ivan. How will the relationship between Ivan and Rick turn out? Will Lode-Star and Ivan become closer? After awhile it’s like you’re reading about relatives and close friends. You are concerned for their welfare, lives, and futures.There is much that is allegorical. The time commitment is well spent. I feel compelled to re-read,starting with Book 1. You will become totally engrossed. The narrator is wonderful. I can hardly wait for Book 3. Overall, I rate this book a 10.

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This was great

Revisado: 09-13-21

This was great. The characters were brilliantly done and have grown in depth from the first. Hope this is not the last of Mr Snugly, Fiji, Olivia and others.

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THIS IS A GREAT READ

Revisado: 05-06-21

A breath of fresh air. GREAT PLOT AND GREAT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. As soon as you meet Shakleford and Mulligan you want to know them. Unique characters and an odd pairing.

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Riley Is Amazing

Revisado: 05-26-16

This tale remains an action packed and on the edge of your seat, heart-stopping thriller. Over and above this Riley must deal with very weighty and profound moral dilemmas. If you are a veteran who has known combat, you may be able to recognize Riley's dilemma. Riley under it all has been raised to be a peaceful and loving dog. This translates to the extreme loyalty that he has to his "pack." However, he is kidnapped and placed in a life or death situation where he must deliberately kill another dog or be killed. He also later must kill an evil or at least a dim-witted person, who is holding him captive in order to gain the freedom he needs to rescue and reunite with his pack. To kill to survive is a sacrifice and a burden that he is willing to pay in order to continue to take care of his "pack." The men and women of the American military must make the same sacrifices and carry the same burdens. One could look at this as sacrifice for the "good of the American pack." Riley just gets better and better. The narration is outstanding.

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Pride and Prejudice Revisited

Revisado: 05-24-16

While story is enjoyable and narration is very good, if you know the story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice you know this story. It just has a little magic thrown in.

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Wonderfully Entertaining-A Classic Vampire Story

Revisado: 03-05-14

They Thirst is a classic vampire horror story. If you love Vampires, you’ll love this work. It is well plotted, a good story and the narration by Ray Porter only adds to its excellence.
It is a classic story that has shades of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and shades of The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. In They Thirst as in classic Vampire lore, the ancient vampire of East European origin, in this case, Prince Vulcan, who was made a vampire at the age of 17 in twelfth century Hungary, comes to America in order to conquer it for the undead and to create a Vampire Army to conquer the world. While this sounds fairly vainglorious, Robert McCammon pulls it off. His narrative allows you to suspend belief just enough to buy into his plot and storyline. Though it is a little slow in the beginning, as it gathers momentum you soon are not able to put it down.

I love narratives where the allegory is the fundamental Good versus Evil. This is primarily seen at the confrontation of the four brave souls, Father Silvera, Wes Richer, Andy Palatazin, Tommy Chandler, who eventually confront the vampire in his lair, (in this case the lair is in the Hollywood hills). They have unexpected help, (divine assistance?) from Solange, a newly turned vampire and Wes’ girlfriend before her change, and Ratty, who lives in the tunnels that run below the city of Los Angeles. The fate of the future of the world and the future of the soul of man comes down to these six individuals and is won or lost by their actions. The hero in the journey is a LAPD Homicide, Detective Andy (Andre) Palatazin of East European origin who has had a brush with vampires early on in his life. Until the present confrontation, he has denied the reality of this earlier confrontation.

The scene of Palatazin’s early vampire confrontation informs the narrative, and plot in the story. The earliest scenes take place in the little Hungarian village, Krajeck, where Andy (Andre) Palatazin grew up. There have been unexplained deaths there, such as Ivon Griska. One evening, Andy’s father with other men of the village, go out to see if they can find and set right “the problem.” Of course, Palatazin’s father returns to he and his mother, but he is “changed.” When his mother realizes what has happenned, ("like a slap in the face"), she must shoot his father in order to help them get away. In this event Palatazin denies the fact that his father had become a vampire and his mother had to shoot him. Even as he and his mother are running from his, now, vampire father, they also run into Ivon Griska, standing in the road in spite of the fact that Andy has attended his burial. This underlies the fact that the problems in Krajeck are vampire related. Palatazin still denies. Until the present crisis in the City of the Angels, Palatazin has chosen to believe that his mother was insane in spite of what he witnessed as a child. His mother shot his father in the face with a shot gun and instead of dying, his father gets up again to chase them. Here again, McCammon communicates the idea that “the best defense for evil is our failure to believe in it.” McCammon makes this case again and again in They Thirst. As Palatazin, a resolute and stalwart soul, and others eventually begin to believe the full horror of what is happening, there are many more who continue to deny the truth of it. Will our heroes be too late to make a difference? Will enough people come to believe? This is what we must find out and cannot find out until the narrative culminates.

Another remarkable character in this novel is the supernatural sand storm that has been inexplicably brought into existence to make the painstaking and already dangerous journey to the Vampire’s Lair even more dangerous and difficult. The sandstorm mystically arises, suddenly, in the Mojave Desert and blows west over southern California, primarily Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the Hollywood hills, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, the Canyon areas, and the coastal cities. This is a sandstorm that can ground airplanes, strip the paint off of cars, blow cars off the highway, and smother you before you have gone three feet if you are unprepared. It hinders or kills the average person, and only aids the spawn of evil. This is a brilliant creative invention that allows one to experience the struggle of the characters in , yet, another dimension.

The story begins in Krajeck, Hungary and ends in the City of the Angels in Southern California.

The performance of Ray Porter is “aces high” and adds solidity to a well-produced narrative. This is a solid four star read.

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Harry Finds Margaret Angelica & Destroys Red Vamps

Revisado: 02-25-14

Changes is a superb feast for the mind and heart. This is a solid 10 star read. The first scene and the first words of Changes, ("I answered the phone, and Susan Rodriguez said, 'They've taken our daughter), are captivating. After hearing this announcement from Susan Rodriguez, we are held hostage until the entire story has unfolded. There are many intense moments in Changes. One occurs in the very first scene. In this scene, Harry is told that his daughter, Margaret Angelica, is missing. Together, both Harry, (and you and I), hear about his daughter for the first time, ever. This scene informs the tone and intensity of the narrative. He first met Susan, his daughter’s mother in Fool Moon where they began dating briefly.

In Changes, aptly named, Harry’s entire universe changes. His car, the Blue Beetle, is destroyed; his home burns down; he is separated from his tom cat, Mister, in the fire; his office is bombed; he is uncertain about the dependability of Thomas, who has been yielding to the demon side of his nature; and his friend Karrin is in trouble with the FBI; and many members of the White Council have mysteriously become ill. He proves that he will go to hell and back to save one who is not known to him but is important and loved, because he has given her life, albeit unexpectedly, along with his unrequited love, Susan Rodriguez. He shows this by making a deal with Mab, Queen of the Winter Sidhe.

The war that is started with the Red Court of Vampires in Grave Peril is brought to a conclusion in Changes with a total absoluteness and grim finality. In fighting the cause of his daughter, he fights again for many who have been victimized by the Red Court. The Red Court has held evil Dominion over the parts of South American and Mexico where the Red Court dominates. This is an allegory for the victimizations and the abuses in life: physical and emotional abuse of children and adults, and even modern human slavery, (usually the slavery of women promised what they have hoped for but in the end are given so much less), perpetrated on specific factions in society by the powerful, whether criminal elements like cartels or otherwise. If only all evil-doers can be vanquished like the Red Court in one crusade by one pure of purpose such as Harry becomes in Changes. Changes is also the tale of a love story gone wrong. Harry and Susan once upon a time dated and unbeknownst to Harry, they had a child, Margaret Angelica. Margaret Angelica appears to be a “right” result of their relationship. The part that has gone wrong is that after all that they must go through; they will never be able to be together.

Themes such as third world victimization, the victimization of women, the development of the Stockholm syndrome, and the difficulties of being a parent in today’s world are considered in this modern allegory and gives us pause. Why the Stockholm Syndrome: While the psychological condition in hostage situations became known as “Stockholm Syndrome” due to the emotional “bonding” with captors and is and was a familiar story in psychology, it had been recognized many years before and was found in studies of other hostage, prisoner, or abusive situations.

In the final analysis, emotionally bonding with an abuser is actually a strategy for survival for victims of abuse and intimidation. The "Stockholm Syndrome" reaction in hostage and/or abuse situations is well recognized. We see this, especially in the story of Alamaya. She belongs to the Red King and will do anything that she feels that he wants her to do. This includes offering Harry her body, not to please Harry, but to please the Red King and show that she is willing to do her duty. The bonding has occurred with individuals like Alamaya because having no power; this is their best way to survive one who has such little regard for human life.

The tale of Changes is impressive by virtue of its greatness. Though Harry overcomes many obstacles to save Margaret Angelica, in the end, not everyone can be saved. This again informs the reader and reminds one of life. Failure exists and we must rise above the struggle. Harry rises above the struggle and the price he pays is dear.

Changes, though a modern allegory, is also reminiscent of Homer’s Odyssey and the many challenges that Odysseus encounters before he again returns to Ithaca. Odysseus after 10 years of trial and tribulation finally reaches home. The cost has been dear.

Changes rises to the status of icon and Harry becomes the avatar of justice. In its brilliant narrative it stands alone. It’s the most impressive novel of the series to date.
James Marsters is masterful in his narration. This is a solid 10 stars.

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White Night is Magnificent

Revisado: 02-25-14

There is just something exceptional and magnificent about White Night. Harry Dresden is an Urban Wizard who meets fantastic creatures and has the most mind-blowing adventures that anyone can have in modern (the sci-fi/fantasy version) Chicago.

Harry’s story unfolds in the first-person and usually encompasses an epic grandeur in its scale. White Night is no different. He is a complicated character with many layers to his personality. When you encounter him in White Night you find that you want to find out exactly who he is. There is always something new to learn or experience about him. You know that he is a good person but finding out the many layers of “who” he is becomes more complicated. He is generally for the underdog, the down trodden, and of course there is a soft spot, (or achilles heel), for all women. In White Night we also encounter more of the love he has for his half demon brother, Thomas Raith, and the love his half demon brother has for him. We first met Thomas Raith in Grave Peril, even though we did not yet know that he was related to Harry. The story of Harry and Thomas is captivating. Harry has felt a special kind of loneliness believing himself to have no family until Thomas reveals their shared heritage in Blood Rites. Their story continues here. The fact that they both struggle to know each other and love each other adds a depth to each of their characters that enthralls the reader. It also gives a breadth and depth to both Harry and Thomas that we have not seen previously. It raises the questions in our own lives, if Harry can love his half-demon brother, Thomas, can we not expand our own capacity for love in our own existences.

One of the most entrancing scenes is where Harry almost drowns after being attacked by ghouls on Thomas’ boat, the Water Beetle. His brother, Thomas, dives into the icy water without hesitation, after the ice breaks due to rampaging ghouls and gun fire, (Harry has made it icy with magic to save the women and children who Thomas had gathered to keep safe from the “culling”), and gets him out of the lake and carries him to safety. Harry awakens just for a few moments and knows that he is “safe“ because Thomas “has him.”
One sighs in relief along with Harry after experiencing this scene.In the entanglement between Harry and Thomas, we see shades of Wuthering Heights, both Harry and Thomas mirror the best and the conflicted in each other and in us.

The new characters introduced are interesting but they are not as fascinating as witnessing the further character development of old friends like Karrin Murphy, Mouse, Thomas Raith, Carlos Ramirez, Molly Carpenter and Bob (the skull), if you follow this series. We even come to appreciate Mouse more. Mouse is Harry’s adopted Temple Dog with Foo dog ancestry and has special powers who works at looking like a "regular canine." We first met Mouse in Blood Rites. Mouse does a great deal to keep Harry and those around him safe. In White Night Mouse gains a canine admirer, Toto, a small dog who belongs to Abbey, a new and minor character in this novel. This lends comic relief since Toto in, miniature, is always trying to imitate Mouse. The comic relief is beneficial since in White Night there is death all around, treachery, and a dastardly plot to kill off, serially, the unattached female magical practitioners of Chicago and perhaps the world.

Once again, Harry, and company must stand in the breach between good and evil. He must take the fight for the protection, shelter, and security of those in need to the Conclave of the White Court of Vampires. There the cause is won, just barely, in a magical duel to the death.

White Night is fast paced with moments of heart stopping action. It is simply magnificent. The pros are lyrical. If you follow the series, you welcome back Karrin, Molly, Mouse, Ramirez, and Bob like old friends.

James Marsters has grown with the series. In White Night he gives a near flawless performance that continues to breathe life and drama into our most cherished characters. I highly recommend White Night and the series.

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