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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reviewing both this and Peace Talks because some editor should have actually made him keep it as one book. The editing in general was weak throughout on this one, honestly.
There was some interesting continuation of the “what is really a monster” theme, and it was entertaining to see every big character pull out their best shot. But.
The actual plot of this was boring! Giant drag-out fight over a one-book villain and it wasn’t even the important point (because Nemesis/Justine was)!!
And Murphy’s entire plot line for the entire series, which I had still been holding out some kind of hope for, just ends in blatantly fridging her - I don’t even like that term, but having her life steadily get worse with minimal character growth, and then get killed by a minor, annoying character so that Harry can have some more rage fuel, is not. Okay.
There was some interesting continuation of the “what is really a monster” theme, and it was entertaining to see every big character pull out their best shot. But.
The actual plot of this was boring! Giant drag-out fight over a one-book villain and it wasn’t even the important point (because Nemesis/Justine was)!!
And Murphy’s entire plot line for the entire series, which I had still been holding out some kind of hope for, just ends in blatantly fridging her - I don’t even like that term, but having her life steadily get worse with minimal character growth, and then get killed by a minor, annoying character so that Harry can have some more rage fuel, is not. Okay.
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
*sobs*
MUUUUUUURRPPPHYYYYYYY!!!! T_T Harry can never have nice things. Neither can Murphy. Or us readers. The little story at the end was a nice touch, though. Glad I got the copy with that in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Harry Dresden and pretty much everyone he has ever encountered in any of the other Dresden Files novels makes an appearance in this book. This book finishes off what was started in the last one, “Peace Talks” and it's definitely one that if you've enjoyed the rest of the series, you don't want to miss.
I, for one, loved this book. It left me at times highly amused, and at others it made me want to (and yes, actually did make me) cry. I can't tell you any more about what it was that affected me so strongly without including some major spoilers, so you'll just have to read it for yourself if you want to know what I'm talking about. (Giving away spoilers for this book would be a huge disservice to anyone who reads or wants to read it in the future.) But I promise you, this story is well worth reading and does not disappoint. I cannot wait to see where Mr. Butcher takes Harry and the others next.
But my absolute favorite part of this book was the bonus Christmas story that was included after the end of the novel itself. It was a very sweet little tale of Harry on Christmas Eve, getting ready for the following morning that he’ll be spending with his daughter. Be sure not to skip reading this one either as it really is worth reading just as much as the rest of the book. Highly recommended.
I, for one, loved this book. It left me at times highly amused, and at others it made me want to (and yes, actually did make me) cry. I can't tell you any more about what it was that affected me so strongly without including some major spoilers, so you'll just have to read it for yourself if you want to know what I'm talking about. (Giving away spoilers for this book would be a huge disservice to anyone who reads or wants to read it in the future.) But I promise you, this story is well worth reading and does not disappoint. I cannot wait to see where Mr. Butcher takes Harry and the others next.
But my absolute favorite part of this book was the bonus Christmas story that was included after the end of the novel itself. It was a very sweet little tale of Harry on Christmas Eve, getting ready for the following morning that he’ll be spending with his daughter. Be sure not to skip reading this one either as it really is worth reading just as much as the rest of the book. Highly recommended.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
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
That felt like a very long book, video game of a book. And then you reach the boss level and think “Wasn’t that a bit easy?”
And the fridge issue.
I don’t come to Dresden for high art or anything but why didn’t someone tell him to cut half the sub plots and publish one big book out of this and the preceding novel with all the fat trimmed? Honestly, as a reader I just didn’t feel I had enough invested in half the previous big goods and bads who showed up to care all that much.
At this point, Mab is the only character left standing I particularly care about (I’m totally over hot vampires).
Will I drag myself through the remaining three? Will they arrive before climate changes mercifully ends all this? So many questions!
And the fridge issue.
I don’t come to Dresden for high art or anything but why didn’t someone tell him to cut half the sub plots and publish one big book out of this and the preceding novel with all the fat trimmed? Honestly, as a reader I just didn’t feel I had enough invested in half the previous big goods and bads who showed up to care all that much.
At this point, Mab is the only character left standing I particularly care about (I’m totally over hot vampires).
Will I drag myself through the remaining three? Will they arrive before climate changes mercifully ends all this? So many questions!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
gosh. what do you even say about a book this far into a series?.. w/r/t anyone on the fence about reading Battle Grounds 🧐
initial thoughts: i kinda like Peace Talks more.. Butcher, more often than not, does a good job with fantasy action -- i think one of the moments that stand out the most to me is the battle sequence at Chichen Itza (sorry if i spelled that wrong). it was chaos and lots of threads happening all at once but i came out on the other side of that understanding everything going on. -- but the sheer scale of everything going on with the Battle for Chicago and the different factions... it felt so cumbersome. and what happened with Murphy.. (idk. i have some thoughts.) there were choices here which may pay off later down the line but i've never ACTUALLY been here in the waiting room with y'all. so there's that. the very last chapter had me really wide-eyed and shocked BUT those choices felt very natural if not unexpected.
i am undoubtedly going to continue with the series. 16-17 books deep and hearing Harry's voice in my head is very warm and snarky. he's an old friend that i am always happy to see.
initial thoughts: i kinda like Peace Talks more.. Butcher, more often than not, does a good job with fantasy action -- i think one of the moments that stand out the most to me is the battle sequence at Chichen Itza (sorry if i spelled that wrong). it was chaos and lots of threads happening all at once but i came out on the other side of that understanding everything going on. -- but the sheer scale of everything going on with the Battle for Chicago and the different factions... it felt so cumbersome. and what happened with Murphy.. (idk. i have some thoughts.) there were choices here which may pay off later down the line but i've never ACTUALLY been here in the waiting room with y'all. so there's that. the very last chapter had me really wide-eyed and shocked BUT those choices felt very natural if not unexpected.
i am undoubtedly going to continue with the series. 16-17 books deep and hearing Harry's voice in my head is very warm and snarky. he's an old friend that i am always happy to see.