Best of writing with best narration = awesome!

Combine Jim Butcher's great writing with James Marsters' unmatched narration and you end up with a great book in a fantastic series - if you like books set in what is close to our world, but with the fantasy elements of magic, fairies, vampires & other monsters, then this is the series for you!

Jim Butcher's is brilliant at writing characters, setting the scenes and action, giving a fabulous book series, his descriptions come to life on the page, but the way that they're read in these books is just amazing

I can't imagine a better narrator than James Marsters, the variety of characterisations he brings to the characters, plus the pacing of the way he reads the variety from romantic scenes to action, he is truly the best narrator that I've ever heard in the decades that I've listened to audio books!

If only all books on here were written as well, and read as well, then we would be spoiled, but alas, most are nowhere near this good - I'm surprised that authors aren't clamoring to get James to read their books - after his work on Buffy & Angel brought him to the public's knowledge, plus his other work on stage & screen, he is a chameleon, and it comes through in his readings - you have to listen to his audio renditions to understand how amazing he is, and how bad a lot of the others are!

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6 people found this helpful

Always good but book three is where it gets really

The author is building a reputation as one of the greats in modern fantasy. The read delivers a versatile performance that is both polished and compelling. The title of my review says it all as regards the story. Avoid spoilers and enjoy a rollicking who done it, fantasy, classy piece of literature.

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A noir(ish) whodunit magical action roller coaster

The good:
Never a dull moment.
The story - A more straightforward magical mystery than than last book.
Bob the Skull and Toot Toot the Faerie Pixie.
Interesting mix of foes and friends.
Narration - James Marsters doesn't just read. He acts and lives the story.

The Bad:
Still annoying overuse of the mild expletive "hell's bells". Editor...?

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summer knight

I read this series some years ago and loved it . Recently I have gotten into audio books and thought I would try Jim Butcher's novels again.
James Marsters does a wonderful job at narrating these books thus far .
Even though I've just started listening to books I'm already annoyed when authors use different narrators for the same series. Thankfully the author has used the same narrator for the whole series. Also I love James Marsters and have found memories of jim playing spike 😊

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different level.

brilliant as ever.
funny, smart and gripping.
Amazing series of books.
listen to them all.

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Harry Dresden is at it again!

I am a big fan of the Dresden Files and have read them all over the years. A few years ago I bought Storm Front in audio format and I was not disappointed, James Marsters is a great narrator. As soon as I got my Audible membership I bought Fool Moon and Grave Peril soon after. It's been a few years and I intermittently check if the rest of the series has become available on audio. Lo and Behold! A few weeks ago I found that they were now all available! I used up the credits I'd stashed for a rainy day and got Summer Knight and Death Masks for listening.



Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul-are at stake, again.



The greatest thing about audio books is being able to multi task... playing with toddler, washing up, housework [Yuk] and knitting are all things I can do while listening to these great books.

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3 people found this helpful

Decent Story

A smart and powerful little story within the world of the Dresden Files but lacking slightly in places and a little overblown in it's execution.

The plot itself works but there's sections that are just a little too large and the ending felt rushed.

Still the best urban fantasy series on the market but it only really starts getting amazing in the next couple of books.

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Excellence

Great book, and especially well read looking forward to the next one
X x x

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Fantastic!

What a brilliant book! I prefer it to the previous one, full of interesting and new characters. So well read it really comes to life as I walk my dog!

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Another Page-turner in this Gripping Series.

I've read the previous books in this series and really enjoyed them. However I don't think that you have to have read them to enjoy Summer Knight. Butcher weaves any pertinent information expertly into this book, without causing any detrimental effects to pace or plot.

I added the narration again too and alternated between reading and listening to the tale. I loved it. James Marsters' narration really brings our hero, Harry Dresden to life. The narrative is read with emotion that appropriately reflects the various scenes and I like his tonal variations when reading characters' dialogue. I feel that his acting skills also add a further dimension of theatre to the performance which brings the story to life.

This story has everything that I look for in a great read; some really great characters, a good balance between the various aspects - mystery, crime, thriller, horror, detective and paranormal - and blends them with well written dry humour ensuring that it doesn't got too heavy. Butcher even managed to include a sprinkling of romance. The espionage aspects surprised me a few times, the story leaving me breathless on the edge of my seat too but I loved trying to second guess where the leads would take us next!

I can't wait to start reading book 5 and see what trouble Harry lands in next.

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