The first book in the terrific Dresden Files series, Storm Front, contains a complex plot, delivered through a modern and humorous take on the classic "private eye" setting. Without revealing any spoilers, I must praise the actions that the characters take. Unlike the overly hyped Harry Potter series, the characters in The Dresden Files, as can be seen simply be perusing Storm Front, have their own individual motives, and Butcher leaves room for growth in each of his lasting characters. The humor and wit of the main character, Harry Dresden, gives supplement to this fantasy series. Butcher establishes an excellent take on magic, defining it early on and regulating the power of his main character. Due to certain topics being more adult for children and preteens, I'd suggest this book, and the series to follow, to someone in the tenth or eleventh grade, or a sophomore or junior in high school, though it can (and should) be pursued by readers of an older age.
The first book, Matched, had left a slight impression on me, and I decided to pursue the other two books, Crossed and Reached. However, I was disappointed in the degradation of the trilogy. The initial intrigue of a dystopian society, paired with the Romeo and Juliet-like elements of "matching", soon left as I started to read the other two books. While Matched had a promising start, the rest of the series wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. The falling apart of the series is similar to the downfall of The Hunger Games. The books got worse and worse as the trilogy went on.
The intricate plot and sturdy world of the novel, Through Wolf's Eyes, keeps this fascinating book in one piece. The author hasn't made any of the large world-creation mistakes that J. K. Rowling made in her Harry Potter series, and the story of intrigue and medieval politics is a great read for someone who wants to read something like a toned-down Game of Thrones. Lindskold has created several excellent characters, driven by personal motives rather than personal whim of the author and necessity of plot, like the Harry Potter series. I would recommend this series for people between eighth and ninth grade, both for reasons of intricacy and of audience maturity levels.
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