As a big Dresden files fan: It picks up. The first 2 are pretty much establishment of characters and setting... and a lot more.. how to say.. wide-appeal-pulpy. The third one is the one that typically starts to hook people.
That said.. let's see.. the following will be FAINTLY spoilery. Not massively so but faintly. Kind of like saying "there will be a big fight" or "you'll see that bad guy again" ... rather than "he's not actually dead" or "they totally bang".
So if you're allergic at all to even spoilers, don't read any further.... but I don't think I'll be saying anything too bad.
Anyway. The first one is where things start spinning away from the 'expectable' adventures. Dresden has some character traits that never really change, but the books take place over more than a decade. and he grows and changes. a lot in some places.
In the same breath, his relationship with Murphy changes a lot too. Murphy is not always the dubious naysayer who makes Dresden's life difficult. And while there are women willing to flash some T&A here and there... that's not too different from Real Life... and Dresden does stick decently well to his early on character traits of trying to be a nice, chivalrous guy.
I will say that I think 'paranormal romance' is a very bad description for the series in general. there is not a 'girl of the day' and Dresden is not any kind of casanovah wooing his way into bed after bed.
It's also important to note that The first Dresden books were Butcher's first forays into published novels, nearly 15 years ago. Early books are never as refined as what the later ones are.
Stick with Dresden--hopefully you'll see what the rest of us love too. Not every book is 10/10, would read again, but there wans't one I didn't enjoy :)
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That said.. let's see.. the following will be FAINTLY spoilery. Not massively so but faintly. Kind of like saying "there will be a big fight" or "you'll see that bad guy again" ... rather than "he's not actually dead" or "they totally bang".
So if you're allergic at all to even spoilers, don't read any further.... but I don't think I'll be saying anything too bad.
Anyway. The first one is where things start spinning away from the 'expectable' adventures. Dresden has some character traits that never really change, but the books take place over more than a decade. and he grows and changes. a lot in some places.
In the same breath, his relationship with Murphy changes a lot too. Murphy is not always the dubious naysayer who makes Dresden's life difficult. And while there are women willing to flash some T&A here and there... that's not too different from Real Life... and Dresden does stick decently well to his early on character traits of trying to be a nice, chivalrous guy.
I will say that I think 'paranormal romance' is a very bad description for the series in general. there is not a 'girl of the day' and Dresden is not any kind of casanovah wooing his way into bed after bed.
It's also important to note that The first Dresden books were Butcher's first forays into published novels, nearly 15 years ago. Early books are never as refined as what the later ones are.
Stick with Dresden--hopefully you'll see what the rest of us love too. Not every book is 10/10, would read again, but there wans't one I didn't enjoy :)