8. Jim Butcher - Proven Guilty

"Harry Dresden, Chicago's only consulting wizard, takes on phobophages, creatures that feed on fear who attack a horror film convention, in the diverting eighth installment of Butcher's increasingly complicated Dresden Files series (Dead Beat, etc.). Harry finds that fighting monsters is only the prelude to maneuvers amid the warring wizards of the White Council and the vampire Red Court. Less and less V.I. Warshawski with witchcraft, Harry aims his deductive powers at political intrigues rather than crime solving. The body count from the magical melees, however, would do any hard-boiled gumshoe proud. Butcher's believable, likable set of characters go for the jocular much more than the jugular. Deeper fears do run through the book, and Harry, taking on an apprentice, has to face up to the consequences of his all-too-human failings." - Publishers Weekly

At least Harry isn't the only one getting the crap beaten out of him in this novel. I love the Dresden books. I just wish Butcher would give this guy some love and a lot less beating. He is my inspiration, though, for when times get tough and has shown me that sarcasm can lighten even the worst situation.