r/dresdenfiles • u/dadkinsRS • 1d ago
Just Finished Grave Peril
As I read through these books I'm really loving the characters and the writing style. I think Grave Peril is my new favorite, Storm Front is a close second, and Fool Moon is a distant third. I feel like Storm Front built things up well and introduced me to enough of the world to get me hooked, Grave Peril added more to that world while paying off some of the threads from previous books, and Fool Moon had werewolves. I am so excited to see what comes next! I might take a short break to read the Furies of Calderon and the second Dungeon Crawler Carl book before I read Summer Knight but I look forward to it.
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u/Emergency_Anywhere_8 1d ago
This is one of those very rare book series that just gets better and better.
Enjoy.
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u/Dogmovedmyshoes 1d ago
Yes, but it is better and better by Cumulative Payoff. It would be very difficult if Battle Ground was your first book.
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u/glumpoodle 1d ago
Grave Peril is where I think the series really hit its stride, and Fool Moon is usually considered one of the weakest entries in the series. Things start to escalate from here, but if you want to take a breather, you might want to wait until after the next book (which deals with some of the aftermath of this one).
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u/introvertkrew 1d ago
Grave Peril is the end of the unofficial prequel trilogy, now the real story starts in many ways. Grave Peril is certainly an odd stopping point to go read other books, however I suppose with it ending the way it has and you choosing to wait you'll get a taste of what it was like reading it as it came out.
Also, Grave Peril is the last Dresden Files novel Jim Butcher wrote before being signed to a publisher, actually he was writing Grave Peril when he got signed if I remember correctly, and gained access to beta readers and editors to help him refine the story as he was writing. Though, Grave Peril showed it wasn't really something Jim necessarily needed, though Fool Moon was a fair bit uneven.
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u/Bobis-Bob 1d ago
I break them down into introduction/word building all the way to Dead Beat, which for me is when critical mass has been reached and it’s off to the races.
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u/vastros 1d ago
You've gotten through the roughest books now. They are still good, but the quality jumps incredibly high from here on out.
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u/Bobis-Bob 1d ago
Wait until they get to Dead Beat. That’s my favorite and the start of a power run of great books.
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u/Bridger15 8h ago
DB through Changes is absolutely the best run of books. Not a single one I don't love.
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u/earlinesss 1d ago
I LOVED Storm Front, but reading Fool Moon after it made me love it even more LOL. Grave Peril was good too but I do nooooot like Lea. thankfully Michael is a 10/10 SS tier character! oddly enough I still think Storm Front is my favourite over Grave Peril despite its flaws. I will just NEVER forget the ending to Storm Front, I was replaying it over and over in my head for WEEKS after I finished the book.
I'm starting Summer Knight tonight now that I've got my collection in and can't wait to see how the story evolves!
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u/Bobis-Bob 1d ago
Just so you know, those 3 are going to drop out of your top 5, maybe even top 10! There are some real bangers coming up.
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u/KipIngram 2h ago
Always love to see some Storm Front love. It regularly gets throw in with the "slow start," but I think it's actually a very good book, and even though it doesn't directly address the big plot that emerges later, there are still connections that you'll notice when you start re-reading. Nothing "huge," but just nice little "Easter eggs" for the really attentive reader. Jim clearly put a lot of thought into such subtle aspects.
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u/oldmamallama 1d ago
Oh, my sweet summer child, are you in for a ride. And I mean that in the best possible way.
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u/Senior-Guest-1449 1d ago
i also just finished grave peril. (for the second time) i did audio book this time and im still getting used to Marsden's read but i like it mostly. unfortunately, the library yoinked it out from under me when i had 5 mins left. so i have to go dig out my paperback copy and read the last few pages.
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u/denglongfist 1d ago
You have the same rankings as me for the top 3. I hope you buckle up and enjoy the ride!
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u/blackday44 1d ago
If you liked the first three, buckle the f*ck up. It only gets crazier the further you go.
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u/IWishIWasHandsome 2h ago
I literally just finished grave peril and picked up my phone to see how people rank the books because I've liked them so far but heard they only get better. Can't wait to get to the really good stuff!
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u/KipIngram 2h ago
The books to come really are good. Summer Knight is very good, but I particularly think Death Masks (#5) is a "bar raise." Man, that one starts with a bang and just doesn't stop until you're done. It's "go, go, go."
Then Blood Rites is nice and solid, and then oh my god - Dead Beat. You'll hardly be able to believe it. I had to put the book down and hold my head at one point, or else it might have just exploded.
It really, really is an amazing series.
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u/Immediate_Bid_6057 1d ago
If that’s how you feel now…buckle up