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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
I think I would give this book 6☆ for the end of it, but most of the rest of the book is a standard Dresden book, excellent but still fairly standard.
I'd been warned about this book multiple times by multiple friends, for how fiendishly evil Butcher decided to be in it. I'd mainly assumed it had to do with the final scenes, which was semi-spoiled to me back when the book was first published (and before I'd even picked up the first in the series).
I had no clue that this book would just be one emotional punch after another. I mean, seriously, how many more times could Butcher have kicked us in the guts on this one? Seeing Harry lose everything that matters, especially with the hopeful beginning with him possibly meeting his daughter for the firs time ever, plus with Susan's return into his life. Instead, it's just a massive tease--not only did he lose both his love and the daughter he never really had a chance to meet, but watching him lose everything about himself was just insane. It really goes to show how good Butcher is at getting his readers heavily invested in his characters--even seeing the Blue Beetle get obliterated got to me!
I'm glad I waited so long to get into this series and didn't have to wait a full year to find out how Harry's going to be cheating death (I mean, obviously he has to somehow since there are 7-10 more books planned out!) this time. It'll be really interesting to see how the whole Winter Knight thing works itself out.
I had no clue that this book would just be one emotional punch after another. I mean, seriously, how many more times could Butcher have kicked us in the guts on this one? Seeing Harry lose everything that matters, especially with the hopeful beginning with him possibly meeting his daughter for the firs time ever, plus with Susan's return into his life. Instead, it's just a massive tease--not only did he lose both his love and the daughter he never really had a chance to meet, but watching him lose everything about himself was just insane. It really goes to show how good Butcher is at getting his readers heavily invested in his characters--even seeing the Blue Beetle get obliterated got to me!
I'm glad I waited so long to get into this series and didn't have to wait a full year to find out how Harry's going to be cheating death (I mean, obviously he has to somehow since there are 7-10 more books planned out!) this time. It'll be really interesting to see how the whole Winter Knight thing works itself out.
You have to admire an author who can say to themselves, "You know, I've been lucky enough to be able to write eleven books in this universe, and everyone seems to like it. I wonder what'll happen if I burn it all to the ground (often literally) in book twelve? Let's find out."
And exactly like the Professor Owl, this mother-trucker took three licks and found out.
And exactly like the Professor Owl, this mother-trucker took three licks and found out.
EDIT// This always was the best one. ...But boy I do wish they'd stop glorifying/NORMALIZING a teen being in love with *her teacher* >>
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I... am speechless. And probably not breathing.
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I... am speechless. And probably not breathing.
This one definitely packed an emotional punch from the first sentence and pretty much did not let up until the end. And the fucking cliffhanger, ugh!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Somehow lives up to the hype
The book that broke a series that already had some serious issues with representation and sexism. The stupid unknown-daughter-means-instant-fatherly-love plot was contrived as heck, but that could have been saved in some way still. Harry standing on a Mayan temple in conquistador's armour and sacrificing his love to genocide a mainly mixed-race vampire species was not the way to do it, however.
And I think the whole doing-terrible-things-to-save-your-loved-ones is a valid plot - if it's written with a modicum of care. See Order of the Stick for an example that's eerily similar while still differing in matters of gender, race and real-world reactions to your horrible actions.
In short, if you had a nagging feeling from the first books that maybe the series didn't merely depict a slightly sexist guy in a realistic manner, but that maybe the author fully condones everything that made you uncomfortable about Harry, you can see this book as the culmination of all the unease you ever felt about the series. Whether that's true, I leave to the readers. Personally, I couldn't continue reading The Dresden Files after this and was more than happy that I had borrowed in stead of bought it.
And I think the whole doing-terrible-things-to-save-your-loved-ones is a valid plot - if it's written with a modicum of care. See Order of the Stick for an example that's eerily similar while still differing in matters of gender, race and real-world reactions to your horrible actions.
In short, if you had a nagging feeling from the first books that maybe the series didn't merely depict a slightly sexist guy in a realistic manner, but that maybe the author fully condones everything that made you uncomfortable about Harry, you can see this book as the culmination of all the unease you ever felt about the series. Whether that's true, I leave to the readers. Personally, I couldn't continue reading The Dresden Files after this and was more than happy that I had borrowed in stead of bought it.
Everything I had heard up until this point told me that Changes was the Dresden book, and after having read it, I can't help but agree. After 11 books in a series, there are a few constants that come back over and over, and it feels like Jim Butcher goal with this book was to destroy every single one.
In a review for a previous Dresden book I said I felt like things were building up to something, and this felt like it. There are still five more Dresden books out (with more on the way, as I understand it), and I can see already that none of them will be like the one's that came before; this book makes sure of it.
In a review for a previous Dresden book I said I felt like things were building up to something, and this felt like it. There are still five more Dresden books out (with more on the way, as I understand it), and I can see already that none of them will be like the one's that came before; this book makes sure of it.