So I've read the new Dresden Files book!

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books:dresden files

So I've read the new Dresden Files book!

- Wow, that finale was dark. But they didn't kill Maggie, which I was halfway expecting, and given the series' tendency to bring back characters, I suspect that we haven't seen the last of her. And while Harry selling himself to Mab was a major YIKES, I also had the same reaction to Harry picking up the Denarius coin and I remember my surprise at how he managed to come out of that, so I suspect that he's going to come out of this one too, albeit perhaps not unchanged.

- I was relieved to discover that it seems Thomas is still Thomas ... he's colder ("What does this [Maggie's kidnapping] have to do with me?" ... oh, Thomas) but he's still capable of snarking with Harry and refusing to let Harry go into battle alone. It still stings to see him like that, but I don't think he's gone down so far he can't come back in some fashion. It's also interesting how this book brought Harry closer to where Thomas is ... not exactly in the correct direction, but ah well ...

- They weren't kidding about Changes. I appreciate that, after twelve books/years of the status quo, the series is shaking things up a bit. But still ... no more apartment/basement/Little Chicago, no more car, no more Susan, Harry and Murphy acting on their attraction -- it's like Butcher took all the things that have been more or less in a holding pattern and pushed them somewhere new. I like that, even though I'm still reeling just a bit. (After the destruction of the apartment, car, and so forth, I was actually expecting the book to end with Harry establishing himself somewhere other than Chicago for subsequent books. I'm relieved that this doesn't seem to be the case, at least not yet!)

- Tilly is an awesome new character, and I hope he comes back!

- WTF ENDING WTF

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I've read it too over the weekend!! This book had such an appropiate title!! Changes all over.

Honestly, for me it was a bit bland up until chapter 29, when it became absolutely fantastic!!

About Harry having a daughter, I didn't want to believe the story but it was true and of course we'll be seeing her again. It complicates everything for harry now, but it also makes for a fantastic harry to read!

I never liked Susan very much, but oh, those last chapters, how she died, I cried along harry through that, it was so heartbreaking.

I ship harry/murphy so I was all excited when it seemed that they might finally hook up, but then, Jim is Jim and had to kill harry in the end!! I WTF-ed along then too. But I don't think he really died there.

It held me pretty solidly all the way through. I don't think it's one of his absolute best, but it was definitely a good can't-put-it-down read.

I never liked Susan very much, but oh, those last chapters, how she died, I cried along harry through that, it was so heartbreaking.

Yeah, I've always been sort of indifferent to Susan, but that ending hurt. And that's good drama -- when you can take a character I don't really care about all that much, and make me cling to the end of my seat going "no, no, don't die, not like this -- GODAMMIT!!!"

I'm pretty sure Harry is only mostly dead. I mean, he can't kill his main character; it's just not done!

I loved the book too!

I felt so bad for Harry - as a fellow creature of habit, I can't imagine losing my home, my pets, my car, my office, all my possessions and my principles all in one blow. I didn't even think about Little Chicago! All that time and effort destroyed in what - a year? Two? At least he got his health back (minus, you know, dying at the end). All they needed was to blow up Burger King and the destruction of Harry's stomping grounds would have been complete!

I love Butcher's (not so slow) build up to Harry having absolutely nothing tying him to his former life and having nothing left to lose by joining Mab. I was almost disappointed that Harry finally broke and told McCoy about Maggie - I was half expecting Harry to wallow in feelings of betrayal and cut all ties with the Councils (Grey and White). It gave it almost a fairytale deus ex machina feeling when everyone just kinda Showed Up for the final battle. This book definitely felt like a grand finale and send off to Harry's old life.

Seeing Thomas! Eek! That poor guy! I was worried we wouldn't see him in this book, but I'm so glad he was there. I loved the scene where he attacked Molly - just a little reminder that he does have a darkness to content with and that it's not just an attitude. I wish we could have seen more of him.

Susan. Oh Susan. I never liked her. Interesting that Harry actually killed her. That's going to haunt him for so long. I can't wait to read about how messed up Harry's going to be in future books (because I'm clearly a mean, mean reader). I won't miss Martin either.

Harry and Mab! At long last. For an immortal like Mab, waiting a few years for Harry to come around of his own free will probably wasn't a long wait at all. She certainly enjoyed playing with her old knight in the interim. I honestly think the scene where Harry killed Slate was the most important in the whole book, maybe in the whole series. Nothing and no one has ever been able to make Harry blink in the past - but Mab got him to finally cross the line. I respect his reasons for sure, but Harry has voluntarily committed himself to a dark path and OMG I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW FAR DOWN MAB'LL MAKE HIM GO AS HER KNIGHT!

Harry dying at the end - well, I guess it's part of some final step to making him the Winter Knight? Then again, Fix didn't die to become the Summer Knight, right? Hmmm. All I know is he can't possibly be dead - unless by dying he somehow sidesteps his deal...? Or maybe he has to fight off Death itself in the next book. Eh. If Harry becomes wrapped up in faerie business (what with being a knight and all), I wonder how much of the next book(s) will take place in the Nevernever. I imagine a lot more.

I could go on and on, but I'm probably taking up too much of your journal as it is! Sorry!

P.S. I kept waiting to find out that there was no child and that Susan was in league with the Red Court. Did anyone else think about this? That would have been a great plot twist. Martin kept mentioning how people change after so many years at war and we never actually saw the kid until the final battle. There was a picture, sure, but those can be doctored - especially for someone like Harry who's not familiar with technology. Or it could have even been a kid who might have looked a little like Harry - it's easy to see something when you want to see it.

I felt so bad for Harry - as a fellow creature of habit, I can't imagine losing my home, my pets, my car, my office, all my possessions and my principles all in one blow.

I know! On the one hand, I'm glad that Butcher's decided to shake things up a bit; on the other hand, I'm a homebody too, and after having watched Harry making a home over the last decade, seeing it all torn down was really a kick in the gut.

Regarding your P.S., I hadn't thought that she was lying about Maggie, but I did think that there was some kind of major twist in there somewhere; I just couldn't figure out what it was. And then I got so caught up in the narrative that Martin's betrayal came as a total shock; I really wasn't expecting that.

Harry dying at the end - well, I guess it's part of some final step to making him the Winter Knight? Then again, Fix didn't die to become the Summer Knight, right? Hmmm. All I know is he can't possibly be dead - unless by dying he somehow sidesteps his deal...? Or maybe he has to fight off Death itself in the next book. Eh.

Ahahaha ... it's going to be Harry Dresden's Bogus Journey!

In all seriousness, I had the really unpleasant thought when I was answering

klostes below that Butcher might go for broke at this point and switch narrators. I'd been 100% convinced that Harry wasn't dead ... until I had that thought, which I really, really didn't want! Because this book represents a "reset" of sorts -- the next book might be third-person, or it might be using someone else as a viewpoint character. Which means that it's really tough to figure out what he's got planned for poor Harry! (I'm ... largely convinced that Harry's going to come back somehow, because this would be an awfully anticlimactic way for him to die given all he's been through. But if the next book actually makes us believe that he's dead for a while, I wouldn't be terribly surprised.)

Yay, someone else who's read it! Been wanting to talk about it!

Yeah, I had the same feeling at the climax: DARK, sooo dark! Though the whole thing with Susan, I think I was almost expecting...well, not that Harry would have to kill her, but that she'd die. After what she did to Harry...I don't know, I felt the book might be going that way the whole time...

And yeah, was so happy when Thomas was still snarking with Harry. "Well, I'm not sharing my water" *snicker* Oh, petty brother squabbles, how I do love thee. And he gave Harry the WB in the end, awww...

All the Changes though, yikes but the book was aptly named! I mean, the Mab thing! And the apartment and the car and...yeah, so many things!

And then the ending?!? He's never ended on a cliffhanger before!!! SO NOT NICE! Don't wanna wait a year! Next one NOW, plzkthnks!!! :-p

Harry picking up Lasciel's coin wasn't a cliffhanger? I'm afraid we all just have to face the fact that Jim Butcher is indeed evil. EVIL.

LOL, yeah, I guess that is true. I just went directly from the 5th to the 6th book, and the latter starts out a year later and with nothing changed, so I kinda always forget about how the 5th one ended...

I am very curious to know if the next book will break his 12 book trend and actually start up right where the last one left off...Otherwise we're gonna be in need of some serious explanation flashbacks!

Ye gads, I think I would die if he doesn't pick up right where he left off! How am I supposed to make it another year?

Here's your horrible thought for the day ... what if Harry really is dead (at least for the time being), and he just switches narrators in the next book?

....

Yeah, I wish I hadn't had that thought, too.

And yeah, was so happy when Thomas was still snarking with Harry. "Well, I'm not sharing my water" *snicker* Oh, petty brother squabbles, how I do love thee. And he gave Harry the WB in the end, awww...

Yeah, it's a huge relief to me that even though Thomas is quite clearly pretty far down the road to Hell at the moment, there's still a definite core of his fundamental Thomas-ness underlying it all; I'd had serious concerns that the next time we saw him, he'd be pure 100% unadulterated evil, which he definitely isn't. When the chips are down, he does the right thing -- it's just that the chips have to be pretty far down ...

All the Changes though, yikes but the book was aptly named! I mean, the Mab thing! And the apartment and the car and...yeah, so many things!

I know, wow! Watching his life being dismantled like that, after we've just spent the last 11 books watching him settle into having a life -- it's pretty mind-boggling. I think this might be an excellent opportunity to go back and re-read the series from the beginning; it's been, what, three years since I first read it? Maybe more? I'm definitely starting to need a re-read at this point, I think.

Especially if he kills Harry in the next book.

No more Mouse? D:

Mouse is still around! Believe me, if something permanent had happened to Mouse there would have been much wailing and gnashing of teeth from me. *g*

I just finished it, and I'm pretty incoherent. It's either a great way to end the series, or, as you said, a great way to reset everything, to start Harry over somewhere else. Then again, if being the Winter Knight healed his paralysis, I don't see how a simple thing like a bullet wound and drowning could take Harry out. I liked the book, but it reminded me of going into NeverNever to rescue Molly. I'm not sure that was good foreshadowing, or just lazy writing on his part. And interesting that Karrin's faith is stronger than Sanya's, able to do more.

I'm actually thrilled on a writing level to see Harry finally take Mab up on her offer of Winter Knight--and for this reason. I can't imagine him doing it for any other. That's one of the things that redeems this book, that he takes Harry to the hard places he's been threatening to take him all through the series, and this time he doens't rescue him. But he does give him light, in the form of Maggie. So there's hope, even though it was unlooked for and unexpected.

It's either a great way to end the series...

Augh, don't even say that! D: Although, honestly, I think there's too much still hanging to end the series here -- the Black Council, the need to find a permanent home for the two unclaimed Swords, not to mention the small matter of who just shot Harry. At worst, I definitely think Harry's only mostly dead -- although, a weird thought just occurred to me -- I wonder if he's chosen to switch narrators at this point? Maybe the next book is going to be from Karrin's or Maggie's or, who knows, Elaine's or some other character's point of view. Now I kinda wish I hadn't had that thought.

I liked the book, but it reminded me of going into NeverNever to rescue Molly. I'm not sure that was good foreshadowing, or just lazy writing on his part.

Or possibly that it's difficult to write a completely different version of "getting the gang together to go save the day". Because, yeah, it reminded me of it too, but I wonder if it isn't just that after twelve(!!!) books, he's running out of ways to write climactic grand finales that keep delivering bang for their buck. (Which brings us back to replacing Harry as the narrator. OMFG, I really wish I hadn't had that thought ...)

Oh, I just found out he's going to be over at Powells tomorrow night! Now the question is, do I want to go see him, or just stick with Harry?

Love your icon, btw. And yeah, I wish you hadn't had that thought, too!

That's one of my favorite Harry covers, though I don't remember which book it's from (possibly even the first). Though the Changes cover is pretty neat too!

OMG, you should go! That'd be so exciting! Though I'm such a shy little clam that I don't know if I'd be able to get myself to do it ...

Problem is I have homework!!! Argh. But introducing him to my middle son who is tall, with dark curly hair and shares the name with the tall young man wiht dark curly hair who died so horribly in Turn Coat? Yeah. That could be very entertaining. ;-)

We'll see. Midlet really wants to go, but he wants me to go with him. Depends on if I can get things done before hand.

So, is the icon shareable? ;-)

Absolutely; if you want it, go for it! :)

I really wish I was capable of pacing myself when I'm following a story, instead of grabbing at every available bit of it and then having to wait for the next part. (a year! Probably a year, at least, before the next book. A year to worry over Harry, and speculate over who shot Harry and whether or not we'll have a new narrator until they find Harry -- I refuse to say he's actually dead, but it's entirely possible his friends and family could think he's dead, and Butcher has used Thomas as a narrator before, in that novella.)

of course, I've felt for a long time now that Harry just couldn't keep taking the kind of punishment he's been getting in book after book without some major consequences coming down. This, well. This is about as major as it gets!

I really wish I was capable of pacing myself when I'm following a story, instead of grabbing at every available bit of it and then having to wait for the next part.

Ha, yeah, me too. I know I'd be happier if I didn't just swallow it all at once, but ... I can't help myself!

I refuse to say he's actually dead, but it's entirely possible his friends and family could think he's dead, and Butcher has used Thomas as a narrator before, in that novella

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I kinda hope it goes this way -- not that I'd be upset if the next book opens from Harry's POV, but I really enjoyed getting the outsider POV of Harry in the Thomas novella, so I'd be delighted if the next book gives us more of that sort of thing! (As long as we get more Harry eventually...)

Trying to avoid spoilers... and failing miserably :P I had no idea the next book was out, but found it rather ironic that only recently I was thinking about how much I miss reading Dresden.

And, yet, I find myself reluctant to rush out and buy the new book. My dislike for the "hero has an illegitimate child" trope practically verges on being a squick. For me, personally, I feel it a bit cliche, but overall I've been soured to it (I blame it on TV, shows like Xena and Angel and other shows where the the whole hero/child scenario goes head-achingly wrong and obnoxious). But, knowing me, I'll read anyway because - Harry! :D. And Butcher knows how to make things interesting, so I'm hoping he'll go interesting places with what he's doing now. Still, I'm kind of cringing outside over "what-ifs" and it's making me hesitant.

Hey, all my spoilers are CUT. It's not my fault if you click on them. *g*

I'm not really bothered by the long-lost-child trope, but the one that really gets to me (which was also fairly evident in this book) is the missing baby as Maguffin/quest object. (One of the reasons why I was so pleased with Teyla's pregnancy storyline in SGA was that they didn't do this, at least not much.) On the other hand, it's Dresden Files, and there was plenty of Dresdeny goodness to make up for the fact that the plot wasn't one I'm hugely fond of.

If you want to ask any specific questions about the book's content to have a better idea if you'd enjoy reading it, I'd be happy to answer 'em.

Heh, I'm weak, I won't deny it ;)

It's not so much what happens in this book but where the overall long-lost-child plot will be taken in later books that makes me hesitant. A part of me wants to wait (and cave to even more spoilers) to see what Butcher does with the trop, whether it will become the soul focus in later books, whether the child ends up being rapidly aged and becomes Harry's enemy or killed or what have you. Some directions I don't have a problem with, others I do, and I really don't want to put up with a plot similar to what happened in those aforementioned TV shows.

But, knowing me, I'll eventually cave to reading. It's Dresden, after all :D

Just finally read it, and ahahah YES, to everything. Gnine warned me that it ended on a cliffhanger but offered no hint as to the nature of said cliffhanger so yes, I was a little surprised with Harry getting shot and all!

Seeing your speculation elsewhere, I would not be surprised if the next book had a different narrator (or multiple narrators) and also wouldn't be surprised if Harry actually died, but I would be beyond astonished if he actually stayed dead & gone - his story's nowhere near done. Plus I seriously doubt Mab will let him got that easily!

(I do wonder, though, if the next book follows the usual pattern and picks up a year or so later - will Harry have been "dead" all that time? might be interesting...)

Also, Thomas!!! Was very glad he's not entirely gone, even if struggling. Ahhh, I'm wondering if all this might make Thomas snap out of it. Or else drive him deeper into the wrong side of the family tree...(Also Thomas is also Blackstaff's grandson, but none of them know it except Harry, yes? Harry never told McCoy that Thomas is also his mother's son, has he? hmmm...)

And yes, would like to see more of Tilly and his truth-saying!

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So I've read the new Dresden Files book!

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