Grave Peril

The Dresden Files, Book 3

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden has had a rough couple of weeks. As the only openly practicing professional wizard in the Chicago area, he has squared off against a multitude of supernatural bad guys. Harry has won the day against demons, poltergeists, sorcerers, trolls, vampires, werewolves, and even an evil faerie godmother. You might think nothing could spook him. You would be wrong.

Something is stirring up angry apparitions all over town. Something that can break all the laws of supernatural physics. Something that doesnt like Harry. His closest friends are being targeted. The net is closing in. Harry must find a solution soon or find this is one Nightmare from which he will never waken.

©2001 Jim Butcher (P)2004 Buzzy Multimedia

LOVED IT!

You know when you are reading a story and you are thinking, "There is just NO way the characters can get out of this jam!! They are for sure going to die!!" And part of your brain knows that they can't die, because there are like, a bajillion more books in the series, but the action is so intense that you are at the edge of your seat, trying to figure out how the MCs are going to get out of that mess? That is what this book was for me.

I'll admit, this one has a rocky start. The story takes off in the middle of an action scene and then backtracks and explains how Harry got there a few pages later. However, I think this was one of the most intense books in the series, and I was totally riveted the entire time.

A HUGE factor in my rating was the AWESOME narration by one of my faves, James Marsters. He is one of the few narrators that I love, even though he doesn't do separate voices for each of the characters. He is so emotive, so intense, so perfectly Harry Dresden, that I am spellbound by his performance.

Honestly, I don't know if I would like this series as much in ebook or paperback form. There is a magic to it in the audiobook format that I think would be very hard to replicate.

Excellent, just excellent. Can't wait for the next.

I Loved This Book!!!

Such a great listen it was... nothing goes easy with Mr. Dresden... I feel really bad for the guy... The challenges he went through weren't easy and how they ended were oh no moment.... Vamps are back and they really hate him so much.

Narration was amazing, James Marsters is a good narrator, and he is really good expressing the emotions the characters goes through.

What a good series is really good, got the fourth book already, and listening to it right now.

A Grave Story!

A lot of critics have proclaimed this as the book where Jim Butcher hits his stride. I disagree for one reason, the introduction of the Knights of the Cross and the world of Faire. Butcher does a fantastic job of coming up with these new characters, but I didn't feel as if he filled them out as much as he could have. It is my personal opinion that it takes this book and the next before you really get a firm grasp on Harry's world. Here you get a crash course on the Knights and in Summer Knight you get the same on Faire. These characters become so intigral in the Dresden Files that reading Summer Knight is truly necessary to grasp the complete story. Butcher still comes out with a great book and when you listen to Grave Peril and Summer Knight back to back it gives you the firm grasp you need to continue with the series.

James Marsters continues his role as Harry and hits another one out of the park. Marsters truly understands Butcher's work and brings it to life in a way that will hold the listener's attention and spark their imagination. Marsters truly is a master vocal thespian.

Best of 3

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The is the best book of the 1st 3 in the series. Dresden, at last, showed what he can do and the power that he actually have. The 1st 2 books showed him in a really useless light but this book broke that mold and showed how powerful he actually is.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Grave Peril?

When Dresden used the last of his power to call up the ghost from the past, giving them power a avenge themselves.

Which scene was your favorite?

The part where Dresden called upon

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

A refreshing upswing after the disappointing 2nd

This title features Harry Dresden, still kind of blundering his way through situations he hasn't really taken the time to understand -- and with his casual, if well-intentioned, misogyny -- but he's finally making some progress and actually planning and executing some plans to get the upper hand against the forces of darkness.

It won't blow your socks off, and you'll probably roll your eyes more than a few times, but you start to actually believe Dresden's inner monologue when he says that "wizards know things" in this iteration. With a performance that helps to bring the character's dry affect to life in a way that manages to help me empathize with Dresden, even when he's being really, really stupid.

If you've gotten this far, keep going

Wonderful performance of a solid book. really feels like James Marsters is really on point, with both he and the series finding their foundation.

I adore James Marsden performance and story

Marsden is an incredible narrator, more than that he takes you into the story in great performance. I've been loving the audible version of each in the series.

All the stars

This book and the performance of it deserve all the stars! I've so enjoyed this series that I have to pace myself as to not spend all my time and money on them at once; I want to savor them at 4 or fewer a month. The books are written in a way that is easy to enjoy on many levels, and appeal to those seeking adventure, mystery, fantasy, some romance, and a whole world to explore. Of all the audio books I've heard, none have come close to the level of perfection of this narrators performance. Often when men pitch their voice to represent a woman, it comes out sounding whiney and distracts from the experience, but Marsters is able to seamlessly switch from person to person in a story with both genders. His voice and mannerism fit impossibility well with the character of Harry Dresden as it is written. As I hear the story I feel as though I am listening directly to the characters thoughts, not a retelling by a narrator. Again, all the stars, and give this narrator a lifelong contract.

The series kicks it up a notch with this book!

This has been a great series since book one. However, it seems as if the author really found the voice of the series in this book. The characters became so much more grounded and polished, and the overall feel of this world just clicked fully into place. The protagonist and hero is one for the ages. Such a great character! The idea behind these books is fantastic as well. So many of the side stories and smaller characters of the first books flame into life in Grave Peril, and it works so well!

One thing I really love in regard to audible books, is when the book and the narrator seem to have been made for each other. I have never experienced this quite as dramatically as in these books. James Marsters is unreal. These books simply would not be the same without him. Excellent!

Wonderful romp through Butcher's world

A powerful, convincing performance by Marsters drives a heart pounding noir murder mystery. The narration it's such that you forget it's only one person speaking. Marsters gives life to Butcher's already vivid world, and the story is so riveting and powerful, you can forgive the minor overuse of deus ex machina, since it's so masterfully employed.