Book Reviews: Grave Peril, by Jim Butcher

It is difficult to feel sorry for the tragedies that Harry Dresden faces at the end of Grave Peril because they would have all been completely avoidable if only the characters had not spent the entire book acting like idiots. In fact, the entire plot only works because it takes Harry three hundred pages to draw connections that the discerning reader should have made by Chapter Four, and because essential information that he needs to fit the pieces together and protect his friends is either intentionally withheld by the other characters or completely ignored by Harry. The novel is a painfully long comedy of errors - minus the comedy, of course, as most of Butcher's attempts at wry humor wore out two books ago.

The bright side is that Grave Peril offers new and interesting developments to the world of the Dresden Files. Harry Dresden, professional wizard and consultant for the Chicago Police Department, is joined by Michael Carpenter, a modern-day knight who wields a mystical sword forged from one of the nails from Christ's cross. The two are investigating a sudden increase in attacks by powerful, violent ghosts. This turns out to be more than an accident, but the result of an intentional weakening in the fabric between our reality and the Nevernever, a world of spirits and magic.

In addition, Harry's invitation to a reception celebrating Bianca's elevation to Margravine of the Vampire Court offers an opportunity to explore the rules and roles of vampires in the Dresden Files universe. As with the different types of werewolves explained in the previous novel in the series, Fool Moon, there are several different types of vampires. Only one of them is familiar to humans: the Black Court, which, thanks to the weaknesses described in Dracula and other vampire books, have been all but killed off by vampire hunters. Bianca is a member of the Red Court, vampires who are hideous bat-like creatures behind their seductive human faade and who tend to go violently mad at the sight of blood. The third type is the White Court, who feed not off of blood but off of emotions. Like the distinctions between types of werewolves, these vampire Courts helps make Butcher's world unique and interesting, and create conflict and intrigue as the plot unfolds.

It is unfortunate, then, that the frustrating and inexplicable plot, like an emotional vampire, sucks all the joy out of this new and intriguing bit of worldbuilding. Grave Peril is a dud in the middle of a generally well-plotted, fast-paced, and highly entertaining mystery/urban fantasy series. Newcomers to the series should give Grave Peril a pass and start at the beginning; current fans of the series should be reassured that it does get better.