Review of “Blood Rites” (2004), Book Six in “The Dresden Files” series

blood rites

© James Pyles

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Yesterday, I finished Jim Butcher’s novel Blood Rites, the sixth book in The Dresden Files series.

Harry Dresden is the world’s only publicly advertised investigative wizard. He operates out of Chicago and is on contract with the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago P.D. to help solve the really weird crimes that sometimes happen thanks to ghosts, demons, fairies, and vampires.

“Blood Rites” continues the war between Harry (and by inference the White Council) and a group of vampires called the Black Court (vampires that most resemble “Dracula”). However, Harry’s life is always complicated. He is encouraged by his “White Court” vampire associate Thomas to take a job protecting the owner of a porn film company from what amounts to “the evil eye.” Two women associated with the production have already died.

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“Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs” is Available Now!

shoot

Cover image for the anthology, “Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs.”

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It’s out. It’s here. It’s available for your Kindle device. Shoot the Devil 3: Militia of Martyrs is now on sale at Amazon.

As I previously mentioned, I have stories featured in the first two volumes of this anthology and am proud to have made it into the pages of this one as well.

“Militia” hosts a collection of newcomers as well as veterans to “Shoot the Devil” which is good to hear. This series is dedicated to a concept that seems to have fallen by the wayside in most modern entertainment: the victory of good over evil.

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“The Book of Names” Soon to be Published

the book of names

Promotional image for my short story “The Book of Names” which will appear in the anthology “Shoot the Devil 3.”

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I have stories published in the anthologies Shoot the Devil and Shoot the Devil 2: Dark Matter.

Coming soon (I’m not sure exactly when, but ideally right around Thanksgiving which is tomorrow), my short story “The Book of Names” will appear in volume three: “Martyr’s Militia.”

Here’s a sample:

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Seven

roger

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Elisa Sebourne watched a boy she knew sail past her riding a motorized scooter on his way to school. He didn’t notice her for which she was grateful.

So much had changed since she used to think of herself as a student. She used to think of herself as a lot of things, including human.

Something in her program made her reveal herself prematurely. Mother had been captured and taken offline, but father, or rather her designer, found her again. Together, they would find a way to save her and the other robots Landric Arkwright created to save the world.

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Review of “Death Masks” (2003), Book Five in “The Dresden Files” Series

death masks

© James Pyles

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Jim Butcher’s Death Masks, the fifth in his “The Dresden Files” series is the darkest and most intense story yet.

The Shroud of Turin is missing and a Catholic Priest from Rome hires wizard/investigator Harry Dresden to find it, believing the Shroud is now somewhere in Chicago. At the same time, the feud between the wizard’s White Council and the vampire’s Red Court has taken a strange turn. To resolve the “cold war” between them, a vampire lord and expert duelist Ortega challenges Harry to a duel to the death. Harry can’t refuse because if he does, vampire and mortal assassins will target and kill everyone Harry cares about.

While mortal thieves originally took the Shroud, supernatural forces known as “The Fallen,” mortals possessed by demons, are after it for their own purposes. This brings in the Knights of the Cross, lead by Michael Carpenter who we saw in a previous novel. He is accompanied by Shiro and Sanya who are more adept at fighting the Fallen than Harry ever could be.

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Junk and Memories

cabinet

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

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Gary said, “Grandpa, why did you have to be such a mess? Why did I have to inherit it?”

The eighteen-year-old looked back at his longing to escape the rigidity of his Dad’s rule over their house. Now it didn’t seem so bad, especially when compared to the chores involved in emancipation.

“You’re not in this alone, Gary.” He and Sandoval had been best friends forever. “We’ll donate the beer and pizza and have a dozen people helping us get rid of all this junk.”

“Only some of the junk,” Gary murmured. “I want to keep all of the memories.”

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Review of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024)

ghostbusters frozen empire

© James Pyles

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I found the Blu-Ray of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) at the public library yesterday and thought it would make for fun Saturday night viewing. I’ve seen all of the Ghostbusters films at least once, apart from the 2016 gender-flip which died in the reviews, so I figured I owed myself a look at the latest movie in the franchise.

It was a fun film along the lines of Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) which I previously reviewed.

It continues the adventures of the Spengler family including the Mom Callie (Carrie Coon), oldest son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Mom’s boyfriend Gary (Paul Rudd) and of course the star of the show (even though she didn’t get top billing) fifteen-year-old Phoebe (eighteen-year-old Mckenna Grace).

Also returning from “Afterlife” are Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim). Add in the “originals” Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Ackroyd), Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), and Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) and you have quite a crew.

That’s actually my main complaint about the movie: too many principles, too many Ghostbusters. Although the action mainly focused on Phoebe, it was a mess trying to keep track of that many people wearing proton packs.

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I See Dead People, Even On Vacation

gold hill

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

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“Oh, come on, Grandpa. Gold Hill is such a famous street and Shaftesbury is so beautiful,” said twenty-year-old Nell. “Try to enjoy it. How often do you get to go on vacation?”

“I’m retired so every day is a vacation and you know how I hate old places, especially old crowded places.” Chandler’s eyes kept darting around as if following a cloud of wasps.

“Crowds? It’s early in the morning. There’s hardly anyone around.” Her eyes widened with realization. “You mean them? That’s just your imagination.”

“No, Nell, it’s not. I really do see ghosts and this place is loaded.”

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Voyage to the Bottom of the Swimming Pool

pool

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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“A pool’s just a hole in the ground you pour money into,” groused Darren as he continued to vacuum algae which grew out of his neglect. “But not today.”

He heard the doorbell ring. “Honey, can you get that?” It would be Rob and the rest of the guys. By now, Carol would be rolling her eyes as she reached for the doorknob. She was gracious enough to smile by the time she opened it.

“Hey, bud. Not done?” Rob’s voice came from behind. He turned to see the giant, fully motorized Seaview model they’d brought over.

“Almost,” he grinned.

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Review of “Summer Knight” (2002), Book Four of “The Dresden Files” Series

summer knight

© James Pyles

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After getting a nasty flu bug last Thursday, I had plenty of time to power through Jim Butcher’s fourth installment of “The Dresden Files” series Summer Knight (2002). It’s just as exciting, compelling, and funny as the previous three books which I have also read and reviewed.

Some authors tend to cut back on the quality (probably not on purpose) as a series progresses, but not Butcher. He also seems very keen on adhering to a master plan, in which the elements of this story fitting neatly into what has happened previously. There’s also plenty of new mythos and adventure to be had.

As I tell my fifteen-year-old grandson who is also a fan of “Dresden,” it’s amazing our protagonist manages to stay alive. His life just gets worse and worse with the passage of time.

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