A review by dinosaboardserenity
Battle Ground by Jim Butcher

4.0

4.5 Stars

Let me start off with this: I do not agree with the decision to slice this story into two parts. For various reasons including but not limited to:
1. Neither story is complete without the other half. Each leaves you feeling like it wasn't a complete book.
2. Feels/looks like a cash grab.
3. I don't know if this is directly related to splicing the book but either a) new editor and not a great one or b) Butcher is starting to really lean on repeating not only words but also sentiments. I'm not actually sure how many times I read about muddy ground.
4. Maybe 3 isn't something new but Marsters does a phenomenal job of inflection so I just never picked up on it?
5. Last one: The first few chapters feel off- in a way that they seem like filler was built in (which, in splitting this story makes sense). Don't let that stop you. The story picks up and flows naturally just a few chapters in.

Okay, now that my cons are out of the way, let's discuss what Butcher does well.


Love. Loss. Binding. Bonds. Calculation.
I cried more than once because Butcher knows how to write loss. Heavy loss. Like someone who has experienced true grief.
I laughed more than once because Butcher knows how to inject tense situations with the perfect amount of humor to balance the utter despair that Dresden faces. Not as often in Battle Ground but it shouldn't have been as light hearted as stories of the past so it balances perfectly.
I gasped more than once because while I had suspicions of certain characters from Peace Talks, I also didn't have THOSE suspicions.
Butcher is a king at building a world that doesn't only revolve around his main character. We see the story from Dresden's recounting but the world is happening around him in ways that he [Dresden] couldn't see. Every step of the way, the reader is given front row to the memories while Butcher also makes it possible for us to piece together the frame that Harry cannot.


Also, I'm just going to say- I never knew just what exactly made the Dresden Files lure me in. In Battle Ground I got it- It's the pure Urban, this world is ours and exists but it's also full of magic we will never know balance that works. Humans are limited in knowledge of the supernatural of Dresden's world, and despite it being thrown around, the average person isn't going to pick up on it. Dresden may be overpowered by his mantle but it's also breaking him. This is something that he chose not for himself, it was chosen to help others that he loves. I appreciate that he isn't becoming more and more powerful because he is a chosen one but because of his decisions- which directly impact his world. His decisions (rarely) lead to everything working out for him. But he is doing the best he can with the knowledge he has.
In Peace Talk we see the White Court fracturing from him- they see the forest where Harry sees the trees. He blunders ahead, reacting to threats put in front of him. Battle Ground is a turning point- Harry has seen the forest and it is dark and full of danger.

Now I want to jump back to my point #1. Butcher is becoming a master at weaving story lines and excels at fight sequences. PT is pure build. It's necessary for BG to be what it is. We NEED that back story. Likewise, PT is pure build- there isn't enough tension to make it a full story. BG balances and completes that. I'd rather see a 400 page story than half of one.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.