Summer Knight
HARRY DRESDEN -- WIZARD
Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment
Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can't pay his rent. He's alienating his friends. He can't even recall the last time he took a shower.
The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man.
And just when it seems things can't get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can't refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him--and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen's name.
It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case. No pressure or anything...
-Goodreads
Title: Summer Knight
Series: The Dresden Files #4
Author: Jim Butcher
Page Count: 446
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4.25/5.0
Date Read: February 22nd, 2025
Opening
My journey through The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher continued in February with Summer Knight. This is another one of those series that I continue to come back to when I'm just look for something quick, easy and entertaining and with being four books in now, not once has it disappointed me.
I know this is one of the longer series that I've jumped on board to but so far each of the first four books (Storm Front, Fool Moon, Gravel Peril and now Summer Knight) have not only shown some growth by the writer but they have each had a uniquely different story to tell. I hope that continues as I progress through the series.
Previously reviewed from The Dresden Files series: #2 Fool Moon, #3 Grave Peril
Pacing
The pacing of Summer Knight was well done. I'm still listening to the audiobook versions narrated by James Marsters. At this point I am not sure I could enjoy these as much as I have been if the narrator is switched up at some point. He just does such a good job brining these stories to life. Yes I may have been a bit of a Buffy fan in my younger days and it might have something to do with my enjoyment of this narrator but that's ok. Right?
Summer Knight was one of those edge of your seat type of murder mysteries that only Harry Dresden could possible navigate through the normal world and the Fae world.
World Building
The world building continues to grow. I've mentioned in previous reviews that it's always difficult for me to rate worlds based mostly on our own. This series is a little easier as it shines the light on the fantastical parts that may just be believable to exist in our own. Summer Knight gives us a glimpse into the Harry's past relationships, the potential war amongst Wizards and Vampires and an entirely different yet similar risk within the Fae realm.
Character Development
The character development continues to shine. At this point I feel we know Harry fairly well and can predict how they will respond to many situations. Where the growth of characters and overall arcs is how he interacts with the various other characters that come across his path. This includes both past and present. Probably future as well but we will have to wait and see how things turn out.
Closing
In the end, I feel these books are steadily getting better and better. Personally, I just feel like I'm losing myself in these stories more and more as I work through the series. I have enjoyed them since book one, but I just appear to be connecting more with each of them.
Scoring
Pacing 4.5 / 5.0
Worldbuilding 4.0 / 5.0
Character Development 4.25 / 5.0
