Point of View

The narrative is written from the first person, past tense point of view - specifically, from the personal perspective of narrator and protagonist Harry Dresden. This also means that the point of view is defined as "limited" (i.e. subjective, that of only one character) as opposed to "omniscient" (i.e. objective, offering insight into the lives, emotions and perspectives of most, if not all, of the characters). This approach draws the reader immediately and intimately into the action, engaging him/her in the emotional and narrative intensity of Harry's many and various confrontations in a manner that, in many ways, is both common to and appropriate for the mystery thriller genre (see "Chapters 1, 2 and 3 - Analysis"). In short, if part of the purpose of the genre is, as previously discussed, to take the reader on something of a roller coaster ride, first person narrative increases...