You wanted to read the book, you were excited to crack it open, you came into it with good faith and anticipation… but you ended up dnf-ing it. Which book and why?
Mine was The Maid by Nita Prose. It was for my book club and looked like a fun murder mystery. Instead I got instant manic-pixie-dream-neurodivergent-girl vibes, and I noped out before the crime scene was even found.
Page 4 or 5 of the first Dresden book. Basically the first line from dresden let me know this book wasn’t for me
If you like the premise but found either the writing or the initial “m’lady” nature of the protagonist off-putting, it might be worth another go for you. Butcher’s writing style tightens up a good bit after the first book or two as he matures as a writer, and he also dials back t on the whole white-knight-saves-the-damsel feel (to a point).
Came here to say this. Still mad I bought that book. I don’t understand the love.
Unrelated, but I just finished the Silent Patient. That was ass too.
I think they appeal to some folks, but not all. I really enjoy them, but there are parts where I go “eh, bit far” when Dresden’s gaze is a bit too male.
The story was great but yeah, Dresden’s treatment of women and “I’m the edgy main character energy” made me stop reading around the 4th book. I couldn’t wait for him to improve any longer.