The tally continues – so far Dresden has help his own against demons, sorcerers, mobsters, vampires, fairies, ghouls, ghosts, and werewolves (not necessarily in that order). For Jim Butcher’s next trick, he will take on angels (fallen angels to be specific) … while still occasionally dealing with the usual vampires and mobsters, etc. In Death Masks, Harry finds himself re-teamed up with Michael Carpenter – one of the three Knights of the cross. And once he has a couple run-ins with some Denarians (fallen angels who partner with human hosts for a corporial form), he finds himself playing backup to all three of the Knights.
In continuing with the larger story arc, Harry also find himself still wrestling with the consequences of starting a war with the Red Court of the vampires. In Death Masks, he finds himself being challenged to a duel by one very powerful member of their clan. And in an unusual turn of events, his own second is … a Red Court vampire? Sort of – Susan returns to Chicago to give him an assist. Meanwhile he is trying to help Murphy figure out the identity of a cut up and decapitated body, save international smugglers from super-powerful demons (er, angels), and try to hold onto his doomed relationship.
Once again, Harry Dresden is forced to face many fires with surprises at nearly every turn. And as always, he fights fire with fire and comes up with a few surprises of his own. Death Masks is a great read and really keeps building on a solid foundation. And I can’t wait to see what trials Dresden finds himself against in the next chapter … and then the next, and the next….