Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files, #6, #6
Published by Penguin on August 3, 2004
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal, Fiction / Fantasy / Urban, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators
Pages: 464
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon
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In this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files, Chicago's only professional wizard takes on a case for a vampire and becomes the prime suspect in a series of ghastly murders.

Harry Dresden has had worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Like fleeing a burning building full of enraged demon-monkeys, for instance. Or going toe-to-leaf with a walking plant monster. Still, there’s something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film’s producer believes he’s the target of a sinister curse—but it’s the women around him who are dying, in increasingly spectacular ways.
 
Harry’s doubly frustrated because he only got involved with this bizarre mystery as a favor to Thomas—his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can’t quite figure out, until his investigation leads him straight to the vampire’s oversexed, bite-happy family. Now, Harry’s about to discover that Thomas’ family tree has been hiding a shocking secret: a revelation that will change Harry’s life forever.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Blood Rites

Series: The Dresden Files (#6)

Author: Jim Butcher

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

Publisher: Roc

ISBN: 978-0451459879

Amazon: Buy on Amazon

THE STORY

Blood Rites hits the ground running—literally—with an explosive start that throws Harry Dresden, Chicago’s resident wizard-for-hire, into yet another whirlwind of supernatural chaos. When he takes a seemingly simple job protecting a film crew from a series of suspicious accidents, Harry quickly discovers there’s much more at play—including vampires, dark magic, and family secrets that hit dangerously close to home.

What starts off as another case turns into a deeply personal journey as Harry uncovers truths about his past that could shake the foundations of everything he thought he knew. The stakes are higher, the villains darker, and the consequences deadlier.

THE CHARACTERS

Harry Dresden continues to be one of the most compelling protagonists in urban fantasy—sarcastic, stubborn, loyal, and deeply human despite his magical abilities. In Blood Rites, we get more of the White Court vampires, including Thomas, whose character arc takes a brilliant, emotional turn.

Murphy, as always, is a badass in her own right, and the interactions between the recurring characters give the series its grounded charm. Jim Butcher continues to build a cast that feels like found family—even if that family includes vampires, werewolves, and faeries.

STEAMOMETER

🔥🔥 – There’s chemistry and some adult content, especially involving the seductive nature of the White Court vampires. But it’s woven in tastefully and serves the plot well without becoming overly explicit.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Five stars without hesitation. Blood Rites perfectly blends action, dark magic, humor, and character growth. Jim Butcher masterfully juggles mythology, tension, and character dynamics to keep readers hooked. The deeper exploration of Harry’s lineage adds emotional depth, while the fast-paced plot keeps the pages turning.

For longtime Dresden fans, this is a game-changing installment. For new readers, it’s a fantastic incentive to catch up on the earlier books. This one doesn’t just deepen the series—it elevates it.

If you love gritty urban fantasy with bite (pun intended), Blood Rites is a must-read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Butcher is a New York Times bestselling author best known for The Dresden Files, Codex Alera, and The Cinder Spires series. With a knack for fast-paced storytelling and razor-sharp wit, Butcher is a master of the urban fantasy genre.