Tuesday, 6 January 2026 08:23 pm
Book Review: Fool Moon
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deckardcanineI'd been wanting to read the second Dresden Files volume for years. Sure, I could have bought it myself, but I like to give my family lots of options on my wish list, and I have enough trouble reading books as fast as I collect them. For once, I didn't wait to start on one of my latest literary Christmas presents.
Not long after the events of Storm Front, magical PI Harry Dresden has had another dry spell for work, until a series of grisly murders suggests at least one werewolf. He needs to brush up on his lore for this case. He also needs to watch out for multiple hostile parties, including spurned mob boss John Marcone, domineering FBI Agent Denton, and even his distrustful main Chicago police contact, Director of Special Investigations Karrin Murphy. Good thing he can call in a few favors, human or not. But how much can he trust the supernatural strangers who actually ask for his help?
I'll tell you this much: The plot isn't as simple as the usual werewolf story. There are personal and somewhat political matters concerning the human identities of such. Clearly, people have been seeking power in order to kill certain rivals, but the chosen method is about as discriminating as a hydrogen bomb.
Unsurprisingly, this entry has more gore and a higher body count than the dark wizard-focused previous. And more nudity, because lupine shapeshifting tends to lead to that. Actually, there are several types of designated werewolves in the Chicago area, not all of whom have to deal with the same problems. "Classical" werewolves shift voluntarily, by their own power, and only in shape. Hexenwulfen use a talisman that lets them retain their intelligence but not their human inhibitions, and their bloodlust gets addictive. Lycanthropes are the opposite of classical werewolves, changing only in mind to a berserker status. And the mercifully rare loup-garou is what we laypeople normally think of: losing control under the full moon, strong, fast, and vulnerable only to silver. (For some reason, the silver has to be inherited from family.)
Harry remains a very flawed hero, prone to embarrassing situations more than impressive ones. His plans work only so well, and desperation leads him to terrible decisions. He taps out of magic quickly and spends most of the story injured and weary. Sometimes I thought of important things before he did. (To be fair, I wasn't preoccupied with werewolf attacks.) He repeatedly gets saved by the luck of someone showing up just in time -- not always a friend, given the many sides in play.
I really don't mind. These flaws keep the detective fairly relatable in spite of his rare quirks. And his hard-boiled narration is as welcome as ever. I won't go far into his wizardry, but I am intrigued at the way he's selective with prolonged eye contact lest he and the companion automatically see each other's souls, which can be freaky.
I'm told that the series gets better as it goes along, or at least readers' appreciation increases with familiarity. I'll definitely continue, with or without a gift. And hopefully with other fantasy mysteries.
Seems I'm on a sequel kick, partly because it induces me to give away prior volumes afterward. My next read is Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin.
Not long after the events of Storm Front, magical PI Harry Dresden has had another dry spell for work, until a series of grisly murders suggests at least one werewolf. He needs to brush up on his lore for this case. He also needs to watch out for multiple hostile parties, including spurned mob boss John Marcone, domineering FBI Agent Denton, and even his distrustful main Chicago police contact, Director of Special Investigations Karrin Murphy. Good thing he can call in a few favors, human or not. But how much can he trust the supernatural strangers who actually ask for his help?
I'll tell you this much: The plot isn't as simple as the usual werewolf story. There are personal and somewhat political matters concerning the human identities of such. Clearly, people have been seeking power in order to kill certain rivals, but the chosen method is about as discriminating as a hydrogen bomb.
Unsurprisingly, this entry has more gore and a higher body count than the dark wizard-focused previous. And more nudity, because lupine shapeshifting tends to lead to that. Actually, there are several types of designated werewolves in the Chicago area, not all of whom have to deal with the same problems. "Classical" werewolves shift voluntarily, by their own power, and only in shape. Hexenwulfen use a talisman that lets them retain their intelligence but not their human inhibitions, and their bloodlust gets addictive. Lycanthropes are the opposite of classical werewolves, changing only in mind to a berserker status. And the mercifully rare loup-garou is what we laypeople normally think of: losing control under the full moon, strong, fast, and vulnerable only to silver. (For some reason, the silver has to be inherited from family.)
Harry remains a very flawed hero, prone to embarrassing situations more than impressive ones. His plans work only so well, and desperation leads him to terrible decisions. He taps out of magic quickly and spends most of the story injured and weary. Sometimes I thought of important things before he did. (To be fair, I wasn't preoccupied with werewolf attacks.) He repeatedly gets saved by the luck of someone showing up just in time -- not always a friend, given the many sides in play.
I really don't mind. These flaws keep the detective fairly relatable in spite of his rare quirks. And his hard-boiled narration is as welcome as ever. I won't go far into his wizardry, but I am intrigued at the way he's selective with prolonged eye contact lest he and the companion automatically see each other's souls, which can be freaky.
I'm told that the series gets better as it goes along, or at least readers' appreciation increases with familiarity. I'll definitely continue, with or without a gift. And hopefully with other fantasy mysteries.
Seems I'm on a sequel kick, partly because it induces me to give away prior volumes afterward. My next read is Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin.