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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Nothing really happens but a lot of “talking” for the first 30%… it’s a little boring. But he has us on the hook, doesn’t he? At least there’s not too much rehash of the story like he usually does. It seems every book, he has to describe Murphy for us and it makes my eye twitch.
I did enjoy this one more than the last, so I guess that’s something. It’s aptly named; I’ll say that. Most of the book consists of one minor battle after another, with the major battle for Chicago culminating. There were some big reveals at the end that will keep us reading.
Harry is just feeling tired for me, TBH. I’ll be glad when I can move on from this series.
I did enjoy this one more than the last, so I guess that’s something. It’s aptly named; I’ll say that. Most of the book consists of one minor battle after another, with the major battle for Chicago culminating. There were some big reveals at the end that will keep us reading.
Harry is just feeling tired for me, TBH. I’ll be glad when I can move on from this series.
I like this book a lot more than the 3 star rating suggests, but can't bring myself to give it a 4 star rating for a couple of reasons. The main one is that I can't help but shake the feeling that Peace Talks and Battle Ground should have been one book. Yes, it would have meant cutting down on some of the action here in Battle Ground and some of the other stuff in Peace Talks to make it fit in one book, but I think the story would have been significantly stronger for it.
Jim Butcher writes action scenes really, really well -- among the best there is, probably. Where I'm struggling a little bit is both with the scope and the stakes of the action. For the stakes, they're pretty solid -- he has to defend Chicago, and that goes a long way towards giving the book the emotional heft it needs despite the fact that the Big Bad, Ethniu, as terrifying as she is, has no personal connection towards Harry Dresden. Compare that to, say, "Changes," where the stakes were so *personal* even as they were epic, and the defense of Chicago rings slightly hollow.
And I wonder if the scope was a little too big. The entire book is one action scene, and with very few exceptions, most of the major players we've been introduced to over the preceding 16 books are involved. This feels like a precursor to the final book where everybody gets together for one big apocalyptic clash, but by that point, I worry it'll almost feel like a repeat of this book: An extended action sequence as Harry and his allies face terrible odds, until Harry himself saves the day at the last possible second? Granted, that's essentially how most of these books work out (and, uh, fantasy books in general), but in this case, I just worry that the beats will feel the same when we read the concluding book in the series, since the scope here was so epic -- instead of a couple of key allies, we got literally almost everybody involved!
Now, we don't know what's going to happen in the next few books. It could be that this was the last hurrah for many of these allies, and they'll be picked off one by one over the next few books as we race towards the finish line. But if it ends up that the gang gets back together again for one last showdown, I do worry it'll feel like a retread of this book.
All that being said, I still really enjoyed reading this book, and I still stayed up way too late reading it so I could finish the book. And this book is clearly setting up a major shift in the series going forward, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I suspect this book will likely work a lot better in the context of a full readthrough of the Dresden Files series, rather than as the latest installment, because it'll be clearer how this book fits in the overall picture.
Jim Butcher writes action scenes really, really well -- among the best there is, probably. Where I'm struggling a little bit is both with the scope and the stakes of the action. For the stakes, they're pretty solid -- he has to defend Chicago, and that goes a long way towards giving the book the emotional heft it needs despite the fact that the Big Bad, Ethniu, as terrifying as she is, has no personal connection towards Harry Dresden. Compare that to, say, "Changes," where the stakes were so *personal* even as they were epic, and the defense of Chicago rings slightly hollow.
And I wonder if the scope was a little too big. The entire book is one action scene, and with very few exceptions, most of the major players we've been introduced to over the preceding 16 books are involved. This feels like a precursor to the final book where everybody gets together for one big apocalyptic clash, but by that point, I worry it'll almost feel like a repeat of this book: An extended action sequence as Harry and his allies face terrible odds, until Harry himself saves the day at the last possible second? Granted, that's essentially how most of these books work out (and, uh, fantasy books in general), but in this case, I just worry that the beats will feel the same when we read the concluding book in the series, since the scope here was so epic -- instead of a couple of key allies, we got literally almost everybody involved!
Now, we don't know what's going to happen in the next few books. It could be that this was the last hurrah for many of these allies, and they'll be picked off one by one over the next few books as we race towards the finish line. But if it ends up that the gang gets back together again for one last showdown, I do worry it'll feel like a retread of this book.
All that being said, I still really enjoyed reading this book, and I still stayed up way too late reading it so I could finish the book. And this book is clearly setting up a major shift in the series going forward, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I suspect this book will likely work a lot better in the context of a full readthrough of the Dresden Files series, rather than as the latest installment, because it'll be clearer how this book fits in the overall picture.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
A fitting second part
Alas, I’ve got to ding it a star for something that it would be a major spoiler to say outright, but I should note that a knight of winter shouldn’t need a refrigerator.
Alas, I’ve got to ding it a star for something that it would be a major spoiler to say outright, but I should note that a knight of winter shouldn’t need a refrigerator.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
I may get some pushback on this, but this may be Butcher's best Dresden novel, yet. In the earlier days of the series, each novel seemed to feel pressure to make that book's big bad bigger than the last one but it really started feeling force.
With Battle Ground, there is no doubt that the stakes are higher, the "boss battle" is tougher and the forces aligned against Dresden are tougher and smarter. Set that all aside, book 16 set all this up (and this is really a 2 parter book) and it feels logical and organic.
As has been the case with the recent books, there is growth for most of the characters and the old stagnation (IMHO) is long gone. I don't want to give anything away but Dresden's world is gonna get shaken up and I can't wait to see the fallout when the next book come out.
With Battle Ground, there is no doubt that the stakes are higher, the "boss battle" is tougher and the forces aligned against Dresden are tougher and smarter. Set that all aside, book 16 set all this up (and this is really a 2 parter book) and it feels logical and organic.
As has been the case with the recent books, there is growth for most of the characters and the old stagnation (IMHO) is long gone. I don't want to give anything away but Dresden's world is gonna get shaken up and I can't wait to see the fallout when the next book come out.
I believe that I have finally caught up with Jim Butcher in the Dresden Files.
There are many other short stories and novellas, but I am there in the books.
This entry in the very long series was quite fun. After years and books of build up,
we finally get the big blow up, where all the monsters come out to play, some of
our favorite characters die, and Harry once again rises to the challenge. There
was a tremendous amount of carnage and battle in this one, but it also had some
light and funny moments that make this series special. In the end, Butcher found
a way to tie up a decade of loose ends, while still leaving a whole new set of problems
and challenges for Harry to deal with. Onwards!
There are many other short stories and novellas, but I am there in the books.
This entry in the very long series was quite fun. After years and books of build up,
we finally get the big blow up, where all the monsters come out to play, some of
our favorite characters die, and Harry once again rises to the challenge. There
was a tremendous amount of carnage and battle in this one, but it also had some
light and funny moments that make this series special. In the end, Butcher found
a way to tie up a decade of loose ends, while still leaving a whole new set of problems
and challenges for Harry to deal with. Onwards!
I love (sometimes hate) Jim Butcher! I love this series and if you haven't listened to it being narrated by James Marsters you are missing out!
Whole book is a massive battle with huge pay offs and leaves the world in a place I can't wait to explore in future books. The pace was frantic but still found time for relationships between Harry and all other present characters to be fleshed out.