Blood Rites

Lore & Background

In the world of The Dresden Files, vampires are divided into Courts. The White Court feeds on human emotions such as lust, fear, or love, and are led by the White King, Lord Raith. In Blood Rites, the White Court vampires return to prominence, with Lara Raith becoming the power behind the throne at the end of the book. The Black Court vampires, led by the ancient and dangerous Mavra, are also a threat, operating from a nest in a warehouse. The book reveals that Harry's mother, Margaret Gwendolyn LeFay, was Lord Raith's victim and that her death curse prevented Raith from feeding for years, leaving him extraordinarily weak. Harry also learns that Thomas Raith is his half-brother through a combination of events and Thomas's own revelation.

Reader's Guide

Harry Dresden is hired by Thomas Raith to investigate deaths on a porn film set. He poses as a production assistant while working with Thomas. The curses target the women around director Arturo Genosa, not Arturo himself. Harry discovers that Arturo's ex-wives—Madge, Lucille, and Trixie—are strega (practitioners of Italian folk witchcraft) and are behind the entropy curses, trying to kill Arturo's new bride before she can inherit everything.

Lord Raith is supporting them. Simultaneously, Harry enlists Murphy, Kincaid, and Ebenezar McCoy to destroy Mavra's Black Court nest in a homeless shelter. They rescue imprisoned children and battle Mavra's henchmen with flamethrowers. Harry's shield stops the flames but not the heat, incinerating his left hand.

He sends the flame back at the vampires, and they manage to overpower them and flee the burning building. Harry learns from Ebenezar that Margaret LeFay was his apprentice and that Lord Raith murdered her. He also learns that Raith is protected from magic and that Margaret's death curse prevented Raith from feeding for years. Harry co-opts Lara to overthrow her father.

In the Deeps, Madge kills Trixie and summons He Who Walks Behind, but the spell is interrupted and the Outsider kills Madge. Lara arrives and enthralls the weakened Lord Raith, making him a puppet. Harry keeps the puppy, naming it Mouse, and learns from Bob that his previous touching of a Denarian coin has given him access to Hellfire magic.