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The Dresden Files Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher with "Storm Front", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The Dresden Files is a contemporary fantasy/mystery series following Harry Dresden, a professional wizard and private investigator in modern-day Chicago who investigates supernatural disturbances and paranormal crimes, often consulting for the Chicago Police Department.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 17 main titles released between 2000 and 2020. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Storm Front"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The Dresden Files is highly recommended as a "palate cleanser" or "in-betweener" series—quick, fun, episodic books that are easy to read and digest between longer, denser epic fantasies. The series should be read chronologically, with the consensus noting that while the early books are light, the series significantly "hits its stride" around Book 3 or 4 and contains crucial, highly-praised moments (specifically mentioning Book 7)."

Key Reddit Advice

Read the Dresden Files books chronologically, but utilize them as quick, supplementary reading material alongside a larger fantasy series. Be sure to continue reading past the initial few novels, as the series is widely regarded as improving dramatically by Book 4, and Book 7 is specifically highlighted as containing an "awesome moment."

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Dresden Files conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Dresden Files. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Storm Front" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Dresden Files" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order17 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Storm Front

Pub: 2000

The novels of the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and non-stop fun. Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel and introduces his most famous and popular character-Harry Dresden, wizard for hire.For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry's eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry's name. And things are about to get very...interesting.

2

Fool Moon

Pub: 2001

Plot details hidden until you finish "Storm Front".

Dresden is a wizard that resides in Chicago. He is the only wizard in the yellow pages. He helps the Chicago Police solve mystery that goes bump in the night. But what happens when FBI gets involved? To add to the confusion, it seems there is more than wizard and magic in Chicago ... there are also werewolves!

3

Plot details hidden until you finish "Fool Moon".

In all his years of supernatural sleuthing, Harry Dresden has never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone-or something-is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself.

4

Summer Knight

Pub: 2002

Plot details hidden until you finish "Grave Peril B (Waterstone?'s Ed)".

Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can't pay his rent. He's alienating his friends. He can't even recall the last time he took a shower. The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man. And just when it seems things can't get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can't refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him — and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen's name. It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case. No pressure or anything...

5

Death Masks

Pub: 2003

Plot details hidden until you finish "Summer Knight".

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, is hired by a mysterious priest to find the stolen shroud of Turin.

6

Blood Rites

Pub: 2004

Plot details hidden until you finish "Death Masks".

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.

7

Plot details hidden until you finish "Blood Rites".

The USA Today Bestselling Author's new Dresden Files novel...finally in paperback-and soon to be a Sci Fi Channel movie!Filled with kickass adventure and supernatural fireworks, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels have been compared to Harry Potter. Now, Harry Dresden must save Chicago from black magic and necromancy-all in a day's work for the city's only professional wizard.

8

Proven Guilty

Pub: 2007

Plot details hidden until you finish "Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)".

Wizard for hire Harry Dresden has to track down the things that go bump in the night in this novel in Jim Butcher's #1 New York Times bestselling series. There’s no love lost between Harry Dresden, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, and the White Council of Wizards, who find him brash and undisciplined. But war with the vampires has thinned their ranks, so the Council has drafted Harry as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in the Windy City. As Harry adjusts to his new role, another problem arrives in the form of the tattooed and pierced daughter of an old friend—all grown up and already in trouble. Her boyfriend is the only suspect in what looks like a supernatural assault straight out of a horror film. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in Chicago, but it’s all in a day’s work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob...

9

Plot details hidden until you finish "Proven Guilty".

Hailed as ''superlative'' (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this novel from #1 New York Times best-selling author Jim Butcher finds magical detective Harry Dresden investigating the killings of minor wizards in Chicago. Most disturbing for Harry, his own brother is a prime suspect. ''Butcher puts the characters in a lot of danger, creates appalling moral choices for them, and spins an excellent noirish detective yarn in a well-crafted, supernaturally charged setting.'' --Booklist, starred review

10

Small Favor

Pub: 2009

Plot details hidden until you finish "White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)".

The new novel in the New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.No one's tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness-and she's calling in her marker. It's a small favor he can't refuse...one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skills- and loyalties-to their very limits.It figures. Everything was going too well to last...

11

Turn Coat

Pub: 2009

Plot details hidden until you finish "Small Favor".

The new novel in the hit New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Counciland theres only one, final punishment for that crime. Hes on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden...Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his headsomeone like Harry

12

Changes

Pub: 2018Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Turn Coat".

The new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series. Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...He's fighting to save his child.

13

Ghost Story

Pub: 2011

Plot details hidden until you finish "Changes".

Chicago wizard Harry Dresden gets a taste of the dead life in this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. In his life, Harry’s been shot, stabbed, sliced, beaten, burned, crushed, and tortured. And after someone puts a bullet through his chest and leaves him to die in the waters of Lake Michigan, things really start going downhill. Trapped between life and death, he learns that his friends are in serious trouble. Only by finding his murderer can he save his friends and move on—a feat which would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers. Worse still are the malevolent shadows that roam Chicago, controlled by a dark entity that wants Harry to suffer even in death. Now, the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic—or face an eternity as just another lost soul...

Curation Note:The original audiobook version was narrated by John Glover due to scheduling conflicts with the primary series narrator, James Marsters. A rerecorded version narrated by Marsters was released in 2015.

14

Cold Days

Pub: 2012

Plot details hidden until you finish "Ghost Story".

Following his death by a mystery assailant, Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness, must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own ... his soul.

15

Skin Game

Pub: 2014

Plot details hidden until you finish "Cold Days".

Chicago wizard Harry Dresden must help a hated enemy, Nicodemus Archleone, break into a high security vault to steal something belonging to the Lord of the Underworld.

16

Peace Talks

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "Skin Game".

HARRY DRESDEN IS BACK AND READY FOR ACTION, in the new entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files. When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago—and all he holds dear?

17

Battle Ground

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "Peace Talks".

"HARRY DRESDEN, CHICAGO'S ONLY PROFESSIONAL WIZARD, COULD BE ITS LAST Harry has faced terrible odds before. He has a long history of fighting enemies above his weight class. The Red Court of Vampires. The fallen angels of the Order of Blackened Denarius. The Outsiders. But this time, it's different. A being more powerful and dangerous on an order of magnitude beyond what the world has seen in a millennia is coming. And she's bringing an army. The Last Titan has declared war on the city of Chicago, and has come to subjugate humanity, obliterating any who stand in her way. Harry's mission is simple but impossible: Save the city by killing a Titan. And the attempt will change Harry's life, Chicago, and the mortal world forever"--.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Dresden Files series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Dresden Files?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Storm Front" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Jim Butcher intended.

Can I read The Dresden Files books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Dresden Files universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.