Small Favor
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Investigating a questionable crime scene, Harry Dresden realizes something much nastier than simple arson is involved. Then the Winter Queen Mab shows up, requesting one of the two favors he still owes her. Soon Harry is embroiled in Fae maneuvering and fighting an even nastier enemy, all because Mab maneuvered him into helping crime boss Marcone. Fortunately, Harry has amazing friends, including some characters he hasn't gotten along with in the past. Packed with the epic battling characteristic of the Dresden Files, promising something fascinating for the next volume, this is another fine combination of mystery and fantasy, seasoned by Harry's appalling sense of humor.--Schroeder, Regina Copyright 2008 Booklist

Intricate yet accessible plotting and near-Arctic winter weather mark the 10th Harry Dresden adventure from bestseller Butcher (after 2007's White Night). A friendly snowball fight opens the Chicago-based wizard-detective's latest tale, but it's not long before a host of more dangerous foes are out for Harry's blood. A missing human mobster is said to be seeking greater influence among Chicago's extranormal population, but the true threat proves both more subtle and of much greater consequence. Butcher smoothly manages a sizable cast of allies and adversaries, doles out needed backstory with crisp efficiency and sustains just the right balance of hair's-breadth tension and comic relief. Encounters with a series of increasingly dangerous "Billy Goats Gruff" unfold with particular cleverness, and key developments involving Sgt. Karrin Murphy, Harry's reluctant police liaison, will intrigue seasoned fans as well as newcomers attracted by last year's TV adaptation of the series. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Turn out the lights, light a few candles, summon up a nice thunderstorm; you're in for an enthralling performance as James Marsters once again guides us through the dangerous streets of Chicago. This time there's even more difficulty than a wizard named Dresden can handle--how did he know that the Small Favor he agreed to do for Mab, Queen of the Winter Sidhe, could lead to so much trouble? Although Butcher had originally planned to write more of the "Swords and Horses" stories he grew up loving, somewhere along the way he met Harry Dresden, and these magical tales have netted a galaxy of fans. Just published in hardcover and already a best seller, Small Favor shot to the number two slot on the New York Times best sellers list, and number one on the Publishers Weekly list; it also made it to number one at Borders and Barnes & Noble. Captain's Fury is the fourth book in the "Codex Alera" series, which chronicles the life of a young man named Tavi, now captain of the First Aleran Legion. His job is to forge an alliance between invading Canim warriors and the people of Alera. With "Codex Alera," Butcher made a successful crossover from mass market to hardcover; this made it to number 17 on the New York Times extended best sellers list. Although literally worlds apart, these two series show the talent a gifted author has in creating believable and entertaining characters. For the Dresden fans, it was lucky that Butcher met Harry first, as there's always a need for someone to take care of those things that go bump in the night. Kate Reading does not succeed in trying to do the deep voice thing on the Captain's Fury audio, for this is a sword and sorcery tale, where most of the characters are men. Nevertheless, both series are highly recommended for all public libraries--but if there's only room for one, you just can't beat the great performance that Marsters lends to the Dresden Files.--Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Investigating a questionable crime scene, Harry Dresden realizes something much nastier than simple arson is involved. Then the Winter Queen Mab shows up, requesting one of the two favors he still owes her. Soon Harry is embroiled in Fae maneuvering and fighting an even nastier enemy, all because Mab maneuvered him into helping crime boss Marcone. Fortunately, Harry has amazing friends, including some characters he hasn't gotten along with in the past. Packed with the epic battling characteristic of the Dresden Files, promising something fascinating for the next volume, this is another fine combination of mystery and fantasy, seasoned by Harry's appalling sense of humor. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

The disappearance of criminal magnate Gentleman Johnnie Marcone and the suspected involvement of the Sidhe Courts draw professional wizard Harry Dresden into an ever-growing web of supernatural complexity that brings the ongoing war between good and evil to a head—and threatens a rift between Harry and the people he cares about most. The tenth addition to Butcher's popular "Dresden Files" series (after White Night ) hints at higher stakes and more personal repercussions in future volumes. Set in a modern Chicago that includes the presence of supernatural creatures, this tale of urban sword and sorcery features compelling characters and superb storytelling and belongs in most libraries. Highly recommended.

Intricate yet accessible plotting and near-Arctic winter weather mark the 10th Harry Dresden adventure from bestseller Butcher (after 2007's White Night ). A friendly snowball fight opens the Chicago-based wizard-detective's latest tale, but it's not long before a host of more dangerous foes are out for Harry's blood. A missing human mobster is said to be seeking greater influence among Chicago's extranormal population, but the true threat proves both more subtle and of much greater consequence. Butcher smoothly manages a sizable cast of allies and adversaries, doles out needed backstory with crisp efficiency and sustains just the right balance of hair's-breadth tension and comic relief. Encounters with a series of increasingly dangerous "Billy Goats Gruff" unfold with particular cleverness, and key developments involving Sgt. Karrin Murphy, Harry's reluctant police liaison, will intrigue seasoned fans as well as newcomers attracted by last year's TV adaptation of the series. (Apr.)