Grave Peril (novel)

infobox Book |
name = Grave Peril
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Grave Peril
author = Jim Butcher
illustrator =
cover_artist = Lee MacLeod
country = United States
language = English
series = The Dresden Files
genre = Science fiction, Fantasy novel
publisher = Penguin Putnam
release_date = September 1, 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback) & AudioBook (Audio Cassette & Audio CD)
pages = 378 pp (first edition, paperback)
isbn = ISBN 0-4514-5844-3 (first edition, paperback)
preceded_by = Fool Moon
followed_by = Summer Knight

"Grave Peril" is a 2001 contemporary fantasy novel by author Jim Butcher. It is the third novel in The Dresden Files, which follows the character of Harry Dresden, present-day Chicago's only professional wizard.

Plot

Harry Dresden, Chicago's resident wizard, has a hot tip that a ghost will appear in the Cook County hospital and kill the infants in the nursery. It's been a year since the events in Fool Moon. For the past two weeks, violent ghosts have been haunting Chicago. Dresden enlisted his friend, Michael Carpenter, to help deal with the chaos. Michael is a carpenter by profession; but by calling, he's a Knight of the Cross, dedicated to battling Evil. On the drive to the hospital, Michael encourages Dresden to admit that he loves Susan, his reporter girlfriend. Harry should be honest about his feelings. He should do the right thing: marry Susan and make her an honest woman. Michael is sincere in his hope that Harry will find joy and abundance in his life.

Dresden is not in the mood for a lecture. He shrugs it off. Fighting evil takes all his time. Michael explains that family is an anchor to all that is good in life; family provides love and warm human contact; and family helps fight the temptation of the dark side. Michael noticed that Harry’s been growing more remote and the forces that Dresden controls have a dark side that presents constant temptations. Michael speaks from the heart. Dresden is angered and hurt by Michael’s warning, so he focuses on the crisis at hand. Besides, there will always be time to tell Susan he loves her.

In the hospital nursery, they battle Agatha Hagglethorn, the ghost of a Victorian-age woman who lost her daughter. Agatha is powerful. She escapes back to the spirit world, Nevernever. They pursue and destroy her. As usual, Dresden sets the buildings on fire. As they stand over her corpse, they notice that single-strand barbed wire is spiral wrapped from neck to ankle, cutting deep into her flesh. Agatha was tormented into her actions. Who could have done this?

At that moment, Leanansidhe and her Hellhounds encircle them. She greets Dresden as her godson and reminds him of the long-ago pact he made to serve her. Thinking fast, Dresden lies his way out of the situation; and then, he and Michael escape back through the barrier into the nursery. Chicago PD is there. They arrest the knight with the Templar cloak and the freaky five-foot broadsword, as well as the cheesy wizard with his ghost-hunting gear in an old Scooby-Doo lunch box.

In jail, they wonder who is tormenting and releasing violent ghosts into Chicago. Earlier that day, a clairvoyant named Lydia came to Dresden for help. Her gift of prophecy, Cassandra’s Tears, foretold that she would be dead by nightfall. Ever ready to aid a damsel in distress, Dresden had sent her to Saint Mary of the Angels Church. Dresden wonders if she survived.

After Charity, Michael's wife, bails them out of jail, she cuddles Michael and takes him home to his family. Dresden watches them, thinking this is what it’s like to be the hungry orphan in a Dickens novel. Then, Susan arrives and drives him home. Two vampires are waiting for Dresden. The Hamilton twins deliver an invitation to a party celebrating the elevation of Madame Bianca to margravine of the Red Court of vampires. If Dresden doesn’t attend as the local representative of the White Council, it will be a political faux pas. Susan can hardly wait to go to a vampire party. What a story! Dresden says, "No." And, that’s final. The next morning, Michael and Dresden visit Father Forthill at St Mary of the Angels Church. Lydia had arrived the prior afternoon. Father Forthill gave her food and a place to stay. That night, a nightmarish spirit attacked the church, trying to get in and kill the woman. Lydia panicked and fled out the back door. Feeling overwhelmed, Dresden goes to see Mort for information about ghosts and the spirit world.

Later, Murphy calls Dresden for a personal favor. When Dresden arrives at the scene, he is mystified and angry that same barbed wire spell was cast on one of their mutual friends, Mickey Malone. Back at the Lab, Dresden pumps Bob for information on this spirit and how to defeat it. Bob is terrified of this "Nightmare" spirit and suggests they go to Florida. Dresden won’t run. He goes out to rescue Lydia, but he is jumped by the Hamilton twins. He nearly defeats them, but he takes a licking and they escape with Lydia.

Dresden makes it home and sleeps off the Hamiltons’ vampire venom. In his dream, he’s attacked by the Nightmare. Forcing himself awake, Dresden discovers that he really was attacked by the Nightmare. Most of his chi was eaten, reducing his energy levels. Dresden realizes that whenever he and his friends sleep, they become the targets of a vengeful spirit, a literal nightmare. Someone is using Leonid Kravos’ pet demon as the Nightmare, to destroy the people who foiled Kravos’ schemes. This theory is confirmed, when Murphy is assaulted. The only unharmed member of their supernatural swat team is Michael. Unwilling to face a Knight of the Cross, the Nightmare kidnaps Michael’s pregnant wife, Charity.

Dresden and Michael search for Charity. Dresden spots the Nightmare dragging Charity into a cemetery. Dresden battles the Nightmare, but he’s losing. Suddenly, Leanansidhe appears. She will help him, if he pledges himself to her service. At that moment, Charity screams as the Nightmare tears her mind apart. Michael still hasn’t found them. Desperate, Dresden accepts the bargain. Leanansidhe says the "help" he needs to defeat the Nightmare is all around him; and then, she leaves. What "help"?

Michael arrives and they take on the Nightmare together. Dresden tackles and rolls it into a little stream—which as Leanansidhe said, is "all around him." Like the Wicked Witch of the West, the Nightmare melts into ectoplasm, vowing to return at the next sunset. Michel rushes to his pregnant wife. The baby’s coming—right now! Leanansidhe arrives to take possession of Dresden, as he promised. Dresden picks up Michael’s sword, Amoracchius, to use it against his faerie godmother. With a hand-numbing jolt, Amoracchius spins itself out of Dresden’s hand and lands at the faerie's feet. Since Dresden defiled the holy blade, Leanansidhe is able to pick it up and steal it. Michael is devastated.

It’s a boy! But the doctor doesn’t know if he will survive. There were complications. And, Charity isn’t doing as well as expected. Since Dresden cannot determine which of his enemies is controlling the Nightmare, he casts a spell that binds the Nightmare to kill only him, so it cannot harm anyone else. Michael is horrified, but it's the only way to protect his family.

A large gathering of potential enemies will be at Madame Bianca’s party. When Dresden bound the Nightmare, he felt the manipulating sorcerer’s presence. They go to Bianca’s party to identify that presence. At the entrance, they meet Thomas Raith, the representative of the White Court vampires, and Justine, his human date. Thomas facilitates Dresden’s introduction to the vampires and Dresden appreciates the assistance.

The vampires welcome Dresden with a goblet of poisoned wine. Michael keeps Dresden on his feet, so they can find the sorcerer. Then, Susan appears. She doesn’t have an invitation, so the vampires are free to kill her for violating their hospitality. Susan is clueless and refuses to leave before the vampires find her. Leanansidhe appears. Her proximity further weakens Dresden, due to his broken promise to her. But, it's the poison that is crippling him. Susan offers Leanansidhe a year of her memory to make the poison stop hurting Dresden. Done and done! The faerie kisses Susan’s forehead and leaves them. Having a one-year amnesia, Susan asks Dresden who he is.

They are hustling Susan out, when they encounter Michael’s old foe, Mavra of the Black Court vampires. Dresden senses that she is the sorcerer manipulating the Nightmare. Before they can escape, the gift presentation ceremony begins. Dresden receives a tombstone. The inscription declares, "He died doing the right thing." Leanansidhe gives Amoracchius to Madame Bianca as a gift. As part of the evening's entertainment, Mavra will unmake the sword with the blood of an innocent person. The guards bring in Lydia. It's a set up. Dresden and Michael will have to violate the rules of hospitality and the Unseelie Accords, in order to save Lydia and the sword.

The Red Court vampires surround them. Thomas joins Dresden, in exchange for his protection. He refused to give Justine to Bianca, so he and Justine are marked for death, too. Fighting back to back, they rescue Lydia, but Amoracchius is lost. Bianca captures Justine. She will spare Justine’s life, if Thomas will betray Dresden. Agreed! Thomas pushes Susan into the mob of vampires. Bianca keeps Justine and orders Thomas’ death—he flees. Susan is dragged away screaming. Dresden burns with rage. He incinerates everyone and everything in the immediate area. Dresden spends all his power and collapses. Michael carries Lydia and Dresden out of the inferno. They escape in Michael’s truck.

Dresden regains consciousness a day later. He’s slightly burned and crispy. Lydia is safe and asleep. Michael has been guarding them in spite of his own wounds. Thomas knocks at Dresden's door. Michael pins him to the floor. Thomas offers them a deal. He proposes they work together to rescue Susan and Justine. Michael calls him a liar and suggests they kill him. Thomas swears "by my own stunning good looks and towering ego, that I’m not lying to you." As an offer of good faith, Thomas gives them Amoracchius. Michael takes up the Lord's sword and feels his soul at ease. They have a deal.

Lydia awakes. She is possessed by the Nightmare and attacks them. Thomas subdues her, gently. Dresden exorcises the spirit; it’s the ghost of Leonid Kravos. It all fits. Kravos is the Nightmare. Mavra is the one tormenting ghosts with the barbed wire spell. The two were working for Bianca, who wants revenge for Rachel’s death (in "Storm Front").

As they journey through the Nevernever spirit world to sneak into Bianca’s house, Leanansidhe captures Dresden. He makes a bargain that she will not bother him for a year and a day. Bound by it, she releases him. Michael and Thomas made no such bargain, so she attacks them. They urge Dresden to rescue Susan and Justine, while they hold off the Hellhounds and fiends.

Dresden goes through the spirit barrier into Bianca’s house. He’s captured. Bianca watched the barrier, waiting for him to rescue Susan--so chivalrous, so predictable. He’s locked in a room with Susan and Justine. Susan wakes up very, very thirsty. Bianca has partly turned Susan into a vampire. And, she’s still under Leanansidhe’s amnesia spell. Susan does not remember that she loves Dresden and could never hurt him. He brings back her memory with magic. Then, he reinforces Susan’s self-control and diffuses her thirst with the magic words, "I love you."

Together, they seduce and destroy Kravos, the Nightmare. Dresden consumes the Nightmare to take back all his stolen chi. He's at full power, and then some; he ate Kravos' dark side. They try to escape, but they're stopped by Bianca, her gunmen, her vampire retinue, and her newest possession, Susan—who kneels meekly at Bianca’s feet. Dresden neutralizes the gunmen. Bianca offers a compromise: Dresden gets Justine, his magical items, and safe passage; in exchange, Bianca gets Susan. Dresden must suffer the loss of someone he loves for the score to be even. If Dresden refuses and tries to rescue Susan, there will be war between the vampires and the White Council. Dresden cannot abandon her. He tells Bianca, "I love her [....] The way I see it, there’s nothing else worth fighting a war for." Bianca’s response is, "Kill him!" Dresden fights back with a spell powerful enough to raise the dead. This time, his fire incinerates all the vampires and destroys the house.

After the battle, Susan disappears. Her apartment is up for rent. She's not at her job. Dresden tracks her down to a secluded cottage and proposes marriage. Susan refuses. Everything is different, now. She hungers for his blood, as much as she hungers for his love. It's confusing and she cannot control it. She needs time to adjust to and deal with her new vampiric nature. Susan leaves town. Once again, Dresden feels like that hungry orphan in a Dickens novel.

In the lonely days that follow, Bob and Mister make sure that Dresden has companionship. Murphy and Michael come bearing gifts of groceries, charcoal, and kerosene. They let him know that people care about him. Michael tells Dresden that he and Charity named their son after him, Harry Carpenter. And last, but not least, Dresden receives a card from Susan on his birthday, Halloween. "She only wrote three words. I'll let you guess what three."

Plot points introduced

* White Court Vampires: These vampires are the type that feed on the emotional energy of humans to survive.
* Black Court Vampires: These vampires are the type most similar to the Dracula legends. They are reanimated corpses that feed on blood of the living. There are few of this court remaining due to the popularity of the novel Dracula, but the ones that still remain are some of the strongest known.
* Red Court Vampires: These vampires are similar to the Black type, who feed on blood.
* Knights of the Cross: A group of three people who wield swords that are supposed to have a nail from the Crucifixion worked into them. This gives the sword abilities far beyond normal weapons.
* Unseelie Accords: The rules of conduct that must be followed on all official business between different supernatural organizations.
* Nevernever: The world of spirit and faerie, which is separated from the real world by a thin, permeable veil. Faerie is so large that you eventually have to cross it during any sojourn. There are Winter and Summer Court faeries. Even Summer faeries have a dark side. It’s possible to use Nevernever as a route between locations in the real world. Time is highly variable in Nevernever; a few minutes sojourn could be hours in the real world.

List of Characters

Returning Characters

* Harry Dresden: Professional wizard and main character of the book.
* Lieutenant Karrin Murphy: Director of Special Investigations for Chicago PD.
* Susan Rodriguez: reporter at the Midwester "Arcane", and Dresden's love interest.
* Bob: An intelligent air spirit who resides within a skull in Dresden's sub-basement laboratory.
* Mister: Dresden's 30+ pound house cat.
* Madame Bianca St. Claire: The owner of the Velvet Room and a margravine of the Red Court vampires.

Characters introduced in this novel

*Michael Carpenter: A carpenter, and a Knight of the Cross, who wields the sword Amoracchius. He met Dresden prior to the events of this novel.
* Lydia: A young woman who comes to Dresden for help from something that’s going to kill her.
* Leanansidhe: A Sidhe of the Winter Court; Harry's faerie Godmother.
* Charity Carpenter: The wife of Michael Carpenter. She met Dresden prior to the events of this novel.
* Father Forthill: A priest at Saint. Mary of the Angels church; he provides a safe house for the Knights of the Cross. He met Dresden prior to the events of this novel.
* Mortimer Lindquist: He sees dead people and communicates with them.
* Thomas Raith: A White Court vampire and the least favored child of the White King.
* Justine: Thomas' girlfriend and a woman with a secret.
* Mavra: A Black Court vampire and a sorceress.
* Don Paolo Ortega: A duke of the Red Court vampires.

Grave Peril in Other Media

Grave Peril has also been recorded as an audio book. Narrated by James Marsters, it is also available on Jim Butcher's website, along with mp3 audio samples.

External links

* [http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/3/ "Grave Peril"] The website summary of Grave Peril and the first two chapter to preview.