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I finished reading "Cold Days"
... MOLLY. D: D: D: D:
Once I got past my initial AAAAAAAAAA! reaction (because I love Molly, and I adored how her character had developed since her magic came out) ... I think I'm actually interested to see how this goes? Because I had a very similar AAAAAAAAA! reaction to Harry becoming the Winter Knight, and for very similar reasons -- I hate seeing good guys go bad, and I hate even more to see a character's mind twisted to the point where they are no longer them. If it comes to losing a character that way or to death, I think I'd rather see them get a good death scene.
But, at least so far, Harry is definitely still Harry -- he's a bit darker than he used to be, but that's a progression that has been happening through all the books. One of the ongoing themes in the series is the whole idea of struggling with your darker self, and being a moral person in the face of everything that tries to drag you down, and I think I'm sort of optimistic that Molly is still going to be Molly, just -- a somewhat different Molly. But she's changed tremendously over the last few books, and I don't think this is going to change her any more than she changed after Harry's death. She'll just have a particular new demon to struggle with.
Oh, and speaking of which, I am fascinated and (cautiously) kind of delighted by the way that Harry and Thomas seem to be meeting in the middle, as opposed to Thomas coming all the way around to Team Human. I really hadn't anticipated things going like this, but it's so fascinating to me how Harry having his own demon to struggle with has given him more in common with Thomas than ever before. And I think that between Thomas having been so devastated by Harry's death, and Harry no longer having the moral high ground to stand on when it comes to inner demons, that they've actually ended up getting back to where they were before Turn Coat in terms of their comfort level with each other. Which, I have to say, is one of the reasons why I think this is going to turn out to be one of my favorite books in the series. At least, on the level of sheer delighted emotional investment and enjoyment, I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than I enjoyed either Changes or Ghost Story. Finally, finally we have gotten back to what I always loved most about these books: watching a bunch of people who love each other snark and bicker and then move heaven and hell to save each other. We had the core "family" (Harry, Murphy, Thomas, Mouse) all together again, with their devotion to each other on full display. And, just ... HARRY AND THOMAS. ♥ ♥ ♥ Those two love each other so much, and after several books of estrangement for one reason or another, they're finally back to affectionate bickering and saving each other's lives and even HUGGING! "Glad you're back. Loser." ahahahaha THOMAS. ♥ Butcher writes snarky/devoted brotherly affection SO well.
(On a vaguely related side note, did anyone else notice the little shout-out to "Backup" when Harry remarked on how he'd been to the warehouse before and encountered the melodramatic and incompetent villain there? Heeee~! Oh, Harry, what you don't know ...)
And I'm still kind of figuring out how I feel about all of the plottiness in this book. It really took the overall plot arc up a few notches. So many reveals. So many mysteries. So much to think about.
So yeah. I enjoyed this book IMMENSELY. ♥
Once I got past my initial AAAAAAAAAA! reaction (because I love Molly, and I adored how her character had developed since her magic came out) ... I think I'm actually interested to see how this goes? Because I had a very similar AAAAAAAAA! reaction to Harry becoming the Winter Knight, and for very similar reasons -- I hate seeing good guys go bad, and I hate even more to see a character's mind twisted to the point where they are no longer them. If it comes to losing a character that way or to death, I think I'd rather see them get a good death scene.
But, at least so far, Harry is definitely still Harry -- he's a bit darker than he used to be, but that's a progression that has been happening through all the books. One of the ongoing themes in the series is the whole idea of struggling with your darker self, and being a moral person in the face of everything that tries to drag you down, and I think I'm sort of optimistic that Molly is still going to be Molly, just -- a somewhat different Molly. But she's changed tremendously over the last few books, and I don't think this is going to change her any more than she changed after Harry's death. She'll just have a particular new demon to struggle with.
Oh, and speaking of which, I am fascinated and (cautiously) kind of delighted by the way that Harry and Thomas seem to be meeting in the middle, as opposed to Thomas coming all the way around to Team Human. I really hadn't anticipated things going like this, but it's so fascinating to me how Harry having his own demon to struggle with has given him more in common with Thomas than ever before. And I think that between Thomas having been so devastated by Harry's death, and Harry no longer having the moral high ground to stand on when it comes to inner demons, that they've actually ended up getting back to where they were before Turn Coat in terms of their comfort level with each other. Which, I have to say, is one of the reasons why I think this is going to turn out to be one of my favorite books in the series. At least, on the level of sheer delighted emotional investment and enjoyment, I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than I enjoyed either Changes or Ghost Story. Finally, finally we have gotten back to what I always loved most about these books: watching a bunch of people who love each other snark and bicker and then move heaven and hell to save each other. We had the core "family" (Harry, Murphy, Thomas, Mouse) all together again, with their devotion to each other on full display. And, just ... HARRY AND THOMAS. ♥ ♥ ♥ Those two love each other so much, and after several books of estrangement for one reason or another, they're finally back to affectionate bickering and saving each other's lives and even HUGGING! "Glad you're back. Loser." ahahahaha THOMAS. ♥ Butcher writes snarky/devoted brotherly affection SO well.
(On a vaguely related side note, did anyone else notice the little shout-out to "Backup" when Harry remarked on how he'd been to the warehouse before and encountered the melodramatic and incompetent villain there? Heeee~! Oh, Harry, what you don't know ...)
And I'm still kind of figuring out how I feel about all of the plottiness in this book. It really took the overall plot arc up a few notches. So many reveals. So many mysteries. So much to think about.
So yeah. I enjoyed this book IMMENSELY. ♥
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Best case scenario imo: Being the Winter Lady makes Molly more confident and independent. She learns to deal with the mantle's influence and knows how to stay herself (when she needs it.) She lives half in Faerie, but also occasionally in her new apartment, and still has occasional contact with her family. Not only does she learn how to use her Winter powers, she also keeps practicing her "normal" magic, e.g. the first thing she learns is how to fake Winter powers as long as she isn't that good yet, and she uses that to gain respect among the Winter fairies. It takes some time, but eventually Mab and her reach an understanding: Mab teaches her what she needs to know, Mab knows Molly doesn't want to take over her role and therefore mostly leaves her be, and Molly in turn respects her and obeys her laws. When Harry leaves Winter Molly becomes Winter's de-facto liaison to the White Council. I also want her to be friends with Sarissa, just because. She slowly starts to accept her fate and when she finally, far in the future, becomes the Winter Queen she's fine with it. Okay, you're right, it could be okay :)
I noticed the reference to "Backup" *g* A nice reminder that all we know is what Harry knows or thinks he knows. Harry & Thomas <3
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And yeah, I didn't really like the "Winter bad, Summer good" thing in this book, either, especially since earlier books seemed to be more nuanced about it. I'm hoping that we eventually get more nuance and this doesn't represent the entire future direction of the books.
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I enjoyed this book IMMENSELY. ♥
ME TOO.
Everything you said here about Harry & Thomas. Yes!
Also, re: Molly, I feel like this book went out of the way to prove that humans aren't fae, so humans always have a choice (loved that bit with Harry breaking Mother Winter's will spell because human) and so she will always have a choice. I'm kind of tentatively optimistic here, although I'm sure there will be struggles and suffering. I love Molly.
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This book really felt like a high point after the last few; it felt like the series went through a really depressing downswing and then this book felt like everything I loved about it again.