White Night by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is Chicago's premiere wizard. Well, and only one, considering that even if other wizards would admit to living there, none of them would advertize their profession in the phone book, like Harry does. Now, Harry found out just recently that he had a half-brother, Thomas Raith, a White Court Vampire who feeds on emotion, but who is repelled by true love, and damaged by it if they try to feed from someone who has true love. Thomas is his older half-brother, related to him by his mother.

But now someone is killing practicioners, those magicians without enough magic to be worth training by the wizard council. Left behind at the scene of each crime is a small card reading "Exodus 22:18", or as the Bible says it, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live". Now, even though Harry, as a Wizard, doesn't really have a dog in this fight, because the Wizard Council isn't going to protect these less powerful practicioners, but he knows what it's like to be scorned by the wizard council, and that these people have nobody but him to fight for them, so this is one he isn't going to step away from.

His problems, beside the killing, are numerous. He still has Lasciel, the fallen angel, inside his head from when he touched one of the cursed denarii, the thirty pieces of silver used to pay Judas for betraying Christ, to keep his friend Michael Carpenter's youngest son, from touching it. And she's been busy inside him, keeping him angry at his friends. But he also finds out that while she's been working on him, he also has been having an effect on her. But can a damned angel be saved?

As more and more practicioners die, the evidence seems to be pointing quite squarely at the one person that Harry knows can't be responsible- his own Brother, Thomas Raith. Harry knows that Thomas can't be guilty of the killings, but others aren't going to be that lenient. So Harry throws himself into a conflict where he's majorly outclassed. But while he's down and needing power, Lasciel tempts him with the promise of an endless supply of more power. The only cost? His soul. Harry would do anything to save Thomas... but does that include losing his soul? Or is there another way out of the problems that afflict him? Can Harry bring the true villain to justice with enough proof to convict him/her/it? Or will Harry kiss his brother, and his soul, goodbye?

I really enjoyed this book, from the first scene to the last. Harry is willing to do just about anything to save his brother, and here, he's tested to see exactly how far that is. Harry tries so hard not to be the Wizard council, to be better at treating others than they are, and here, it creates an obligation for him when he seems to be the only one in the magical community who cares about doing the victims right and finding their killer. Yeah, Murphy cares, too, but she's not part of the magical community.

But equally important to these books are the characters that surround Harry: Bob, his horny magical skull. Mister, Harry's cat. Mouse, Harry's Tibetan Temple guardian Dog. Although I'd like a little more Mister and less Mouse for now, being more of a cat person than a dog person. And then the humans, Murph, Harry's protege Molly Carpenter, Lasciel (Who may not quite be a person, but oh well!), Harry's brother Thomas Raith, as well as many other White Court Vampires.

I loved this book, as Harry struggles against many foes and problems, and still manages to overcome them with friends and luck. Basically, I loved everything about the book, and like the series, it is Highly Recommended. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?