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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
At the time of this writing, I have not finished reading this book, but I needed to take a break to commit some rage to the page. If anyone knows the whereabouts of author Jim Butcher so that I could have the quick opportunity to kick him in the shins, please let me know. I'll be in and out before he knows what hit him, the "what" being my tiny feet.
This is going to be a spoiler-tastic review (in fact, I'm going to reference my favorite show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and spoil some of that too) so if you haven't consumed either property but would like to, I suggest you skip this review. If you'd like to know what has me at def con fuchsia levels of irritation, stick around.
For 16 books (SIXTEEN) we watched the slooooooooow romantic build between Harry Dresden, wizard detective, and Karen Murphy, super rad short feisty skilled adorable lady cop (adjectives Dresden would use, with his casual sexism). They went from investigation-blocking enemies to friends to allies to people making googly eyes at each other. She got kicked off the force, injured to the point that she won't ever be the same, and still she's there to fight by Harry's side.
Finally, in book 16 they get together. Yay. But before you get excited about it, in the very next book, this book, Butcher has her killed off in the lamest most boring way possible. She doesn't get to die protecting Harry, or in battle, but she gets shot by Randolph, an inept policeman who for the last few books has been out to get them. He is too daft to realize what is happening around him, and blames Chicago falling down around his ears on them, as terrorists. Never mind the literal giants and demons and whatnot fighting in the streets.
(Buffy reference for comparison). WHAT IN THE NAME OF WARREN SHOOTING TARA ARE WE DOING HERE, BUTCHER???
You should have a) gotten them together much sooner or b) made her death matter or c) done both of these things. And yes, they were ill-fated because he's going to be hundreds of years old, sure fine, you've got to deal with that. But this is just ridiculous and pointless.
And the rest of this book? I have listened to six hours of battle scene after battle scene after battle scene, with 7 more hours to go? Snooooooooooooooozefest.
To sum up, I'm too mad to continue on now, but when I do (and I will) I'll come back around and finish out this review and adjust my 2 out of 5 if it is warranted, but I'm not holding my breath.
This is going to be a spoiler-tastic review (in fact, I'm going to reference my favorite show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and spoil some of that too) so if you haven't consumed either property but would like to, I suggest you skip this review. If you'd like to know what has me at def con fuchsia levels of irritation, stick around.
Spoiler
For 16 books (SIXTEEN) we watched the slooooooooow romantic build between Harry Dresden, wizard detective, and Karen Murphy, super rad short feisty skilled adorable lady cop (adjectives Dresden would use, with his casual sexism). They went from investigation-blocking enemies to friends to allies to people making googly eyes at each other. She got kicked off the force, injured to the point that she won't ever be the same, and still she's there to fight by Harry's side.
Finally, in book 16 they get together. Yay. But before you get excited about it, in the very next book, this book, Butcher has her killed off in the lamest most boring way possible. She doesn't get to die protecting Harry, or in battle, but she gets shot by Randolph, an inept policeman who for the last few books has been out to get them. He is too daft to realize what is happening around him, and blames Chicago falling down around his ears on them, as terrorists. Never mind the literal giants and demons and whatnot fighting in the streets.
(Buffy reference for comparison). WHAT IN THE NAME OF WARREN SHOOTING TARA ARE WE DOING HERE, BUTCHER???
You should have a) gotten them together much sooner or b) made her death matter or c) done both of these things. And yes, they were ill-fated because he's going to be hundreds of years old, sure fine, you've got to deal with that. But this is just ridiculous and pointless.
And the rest of this book? I have listened to six hours of battle scene after battle scene after battle scene, with 7 more hours to go? Snooooooooooooooozefest.
To sum up, I'm too mad to continue on now, but when I do (and I will) I'll come back around and finish out this review and adjust my 2 out of 5 if it is warranted, but I'm not holding my breath.
It, well, it started a little rough. There were numerous parts where I was all, "Wait, did I just read that a few seconds ago? Are we repeating things? Huh?"
Then everything smoothed out and got rolling.
It was exactly what you would expect from a book full of one giant battle where it's told in the first person. Harry not an omniscient narrator, so he has no idea what is happening outside of his sphere if influence.
There's lots of fast paced action, literally EVERY ONE (please read that like Gary Oldman in The Professional) shows up, and more changes probably happened than in Changes.
It was fun, it was gut wrenching, and it definitely sets up lots of questions about what's going to happen next.
Then everything smoothed out and got rolling.
It was exactly what you would expect from a book full of one giant battle where it's told in the first person. Harry not an omniscient narrator, so he has no idea what is happening outside of his sphere if influence.
There's lots of fast paced action, literally EVERY ONE (please read that like Gary Oldman in The Professional) shows up, and more changes probably happened than in Changes.
It was fun, it was gut wrenching, and it definitely sets up lots of questions about what's going to happen next.
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, what a ride. I had to take my time in this one because it was just so emotionally draining. Overall, I think it was a great entry and a big step up from Peace Talks, but there’s still some things I’m mixed/conflicted on.
Murphy’s death absolutely gutted me. I’ve never had such a strong emotional reaction to a book. Ever. However, I’m still conflicted on how it played out. Rudolph has got to me one of my most hated characters ever now. I wanted Harry to take revenge so bad! It’s an interesting subversion to have him be the one to accidentally kill Murphy. It was certainly shocking but was it satisfying? I’ll have to sit on that one for a while. I does kind of feel like Butcher just ran out of ways to convincingly keep Murphy involved in the action and have her believably survive. It feels like the easy way out to kill her, but it does make sense considering she’s a mortal in the midst of a battle between immortals. It’s so devastating that we’ll never get to see Harry and Murph’s romantic relationship develop. The dynamic between her and Maggie could have been wonderful.
My biggest criticism of Peace Talks and Battle Ground is that, in my opinion, it should have been 1 book. So much could have been trimmed from both PT and BG. The Thomas plot line never really gripped me and I’m not really sure where’s it’s heading. Seemed like Butcher just watched Thomas to be out of the way during the big battle. Also, the whole Black Court section could have been cut from BG. To me, it felt very tacked on. Finally, considering Ehtniu ended the peace talks before they began, it seems like it was unnecessary to have a whole book dedicated to them.
Another criticism is that I never found Ethniu to be all that compelling as a villain. The Fomor had been set up ever since Side Jobs and I was very curious how that would play out but instead the focus was on a brand new character. Unless I missed something, there was never any foreshadowing or hints to Ehtniu so it feels odd that a being so powerful would just show up out of nowhere. It was pretty cool to see her put the smack down on Odin and the queens of fairy though.
I’ve been complaining for paragraphs now but I still did really enjoy this book. It was truly EPIC. There were so many plot twists too. Marcone having a coin blew my mind! Also, the whole Butters standing up to Ethniu moment and then Welcome to the Jungle blaring as the calvary arrived was just so awesome. Mab also got some fantastic development in this book, and it was really fun to see her at the height of her powers.
This book put me through the emotional ringer. It completely sucks that I’m caught up now (except for The Law). I need the next entry ASAP but currently there’s no info on a possible release date. It’s been 2 years since BG was first released so it’s seems like book 18 has to be soon. I’m dying to see what happens next!
Murphy’s death absolutely gutted me. I’ve never had such a strong emotional reaction to a book. Ever. However, I’m still conflicted on how it played out. Rudolph has got to me one of my most hated characters ever now. I wanted Harry to take revenge so bad! It’s an interesting subversion to have him be the one to accidentally kill Murphy. It was certainly shocking but was it satisfying? I’ll have to sit on that one for a while. I does kind of feel like Butcher just ran out of ways to convincingly keep Murphy involved in the action and have her believably survive. It feels like the easy way out to kill her, but it does make sense considering she’s a mortal in the midst of a battle between immortals. It’s so devastating that we’ll never get to see Harry and Murph’s romantic relationship develop. The dynamic between her and Maggie could have been wonderful.
My biggest criticism of Peace Talks and Battle Ground is that, in my opinion, it should have been 1 book. So much could have been trimmed from both PT and BG. The Thomas plot line never really gripped me and I’m not really sure where’s it’s heading. Seemed like Butcher just watched Thomas to be out of the way during the big battle. Also, the whole Black Court section could have been cut from BG. To me, it felt very tacked on. Finally, considering Ehtniu ended the peace talks before they began, it seems like it was unnecessary to have a whole book dedicated to them.
Another criticism is that I never found Ethniu to be all that compelling as a villain. The Fomor had been set up ever since Side Jobs and I was very curious how that would play out but instead the focus was on a brand new character. Unless I missed something, there was never any foreshadowing or hints to Ehtniu so it feels odd that a being so powerful would just show up out of nowhere. It was pretty cool to see her put the smack down on Odin and the queens of fairy though.
I’ve been complaining for paragraphs now but I still did really enjoy this book. It was truly EPIC. There were so many plot twists too. Marcone having a coin blew my mind! Also, the whole Butters standing up to Ethniu moment and then Welcome to the Jungle blaring as the calvary arrived was just so awesome. Mab also got some fantastic development in this book, and it was really fun to see her at the height of her powers.
This book put me through the emotional ringer. It completely sucks that I’m caught up now (except for The Law). I need the next entry ASAP but currently there’s no info on a possible release date. It’s been 2 years since BG was first released so it’s seems like book 18 has to be soon. I’m dying to see what happens next!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked Ghost Story. I even like Skin Game. These last two books have about done me in for the series though, especially battle ground.
No need to rehash the many complaints in detail here...Murphy's death, Marcone, Nemesis, kind of the absurdity of this pseudo apocalypse...
Between the problems with these two books-that-should-have-been-one-book, the things that should have been fixed in editing and beta reading, the long-ish pause before them and the extra long lag in writing after them...and Butcher's personal life issues...I kind of thought he may have just decided to scrap the road map and call this the planned 3 book apocalypse. Sadly, not. And, I think there's a lot of those aforementioned personal problems and just struggling with staying focused writing coming through here. I'll give it one or two more books (since mirror mirror is likely to be entirely outside of continuity), but I'm likely done.
No need to rehash the many complaints in detail here...Murphy's death, Marcone, Nemesis, kind of the absurdity of this pseudo apocalypse...
Between the problems with these two books-that-should-have-been-one-book, the things that should have been fixed in editing and beta reading, the long-ish pause before them and the extra long lag in writing after them...and Butcher's personal life issues...I kind of thought he may have just decided to scrap the road map and call this the planned 3 book apocalypse. Sadly, not. And, I think there's a lot of those aforementioned personal problems and just struggling with staying focused writing coming through here. I'll give it one or two more books (since mirror mirror is likely to be entirely outside of continuity), but I'm likely done.
adventurous
challenging
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced