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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
What a step back from the excellent last novel. Butcher has no business writing women still, with the introduction of Molly as an explicitly underage girl characterized as having a great rack and behaving in a way that paints Harry in a good light, while once again, literally every woman in the story is wrong and/or fully responsible for the conflicts introduced. Honestly a bit baffling. Even Charity, Molly’s mother, ends up in a bad light, having projected her pretty legitimate negative feelings towards Harry, with a reveal. And then she only has some agency by showing some masculine traits, after Harry notices it’s no wonder Molly has a great rack, since her mom does too.
There’s such a generational gap with these. It pioneered urban fantasy formula and popularized tropes already around. The way everyone speaks and Harry’s internalized chauvinistic code reads laughably antiquated now. It’s maybe no wonder that the best written and most natural novel so far is the one with just the boys. Even if Harry has to remind the reader he’s no “pansy” every time he does something physical, or else show there’s nothing wrong with being gay, but he’s certainly not.
There is some cool stuff in this one, but it manages to get undermined with the weird sexual stuff and a really short plot stuffed into the longest offering yet. There’s some cool stuff with the fae, but the plot hook, with murders tied to Molly somehow, at a horror convention, just wasn’t all that interesting.
There’s such a generational gap with these. It pioneered urban fantasy formula and popularized tropes already around. The way everyone speaks and Harry’s internalized chauvinistic code reads laughably antiquated now. It’s maybe no wonder that the best written and most natural novel so far is the one with just the boys. Even if Harry has to remind the reader he’s no “pansy” every time he does something physical, or else show there’s nothing wrong with being gay, but he’s certainly not.
There is some cool stuff in this one, but it manages to get undermined with the weird sexual stuff and a really short plot stuffed into the longest offering yet. There’s some cool stuff with the fae, but the plot hook, with murders tied to Molly somehow, at a horror convention, just wasn’t all that interesting.
One of the better books in the series so far that seems to be confirming my hunch about where the characters are heading.
A 5-Star book, great expansion in the world building, the stakes involved, the mystery, and character development of background characters from earlier in the series. Loses a star for so much unnecessary thoughts about a 17 year old girl— doesn’t matter if he still “does the right thing” I’m disgusted and disappointed it occupied so much of Harry’s mind when there was so many more themes in the story their intersecting storyline could have generated for the audience than just reminding us he is a straight man with thoughts that need policing.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting twist, giving Dresden an apprentice.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This installment of the Dresden Files was a pretty slow start for me. The premise and plot setup did not captivate me nearly as quickly. HOWEVER, once we started really getting into the sleuthing, action, and potential romance, I was re-hooked!
This book reintroduced characters from previous books, bringing them back into the spotlight. The respect and love has for those characters is palpable and heartwarming. The events of the book directly resonate with that love for his friends; it was great to see a different side of Harry Dresden grow within this book. Definitely excited to see where his adventures go next!
This book reintroduced characters from previous books, bringing them back into the spotlight. The respect and love has for those characters is palpable and heartwarming. The events of the book directly resonate with that love for his friends; it was great to see a different side of Harry Dresden grow within this book. Definitely excited to see where his adventures go next!
This was a bit slow considering how action packed dead beat was. Nonetheless, I love how it's slowly developing a larger plot point & see some of Harry's relationships grow.
Mouse is my favourite in this book & OFCOURSE Harry's sense of humour with its impeccable timing has me in a chokehold.
Mouse is my favourite in this book & OFCOURSE Harry's sense of humour with its impeccable timing has me in a chokehold.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Inappropriate physical description of underage teenage girl. Sexualization.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia