"Changes" (the Dresden Files) -- spoilers
Finished the new Dresden Files book last night (okay, so it was 0600 this morning; don't judge, the final battle was insane and I couldn't not read the rest at that point). Spoilers for pretty much the whole series from here forward. Don't click if you haven't read it yet.
Honestly, I was a little worried when I read the premise that it was going to be all cliche and trope-y. I should have more faith in Jim Butcher; he hasn't disappointed yet. How he makes some of those situations amusing is beyond me (me: "Omg, they just killed Butters! Why am I grinning over Harry's internal monologue?" 6.o) but he manages.
Lines that made me laugh most (some paraphrased because I didn’t mark pages):
Agent Tilly: “What’s that?”
Harry & Murphy: “Terrorists.”
Okay, so maybe it tickled me more that they were so on the same wavelength because zomg!!! do those two share a brain in combat situations. (Also, the mental images of them fighting together are just hawt.)
Harry: “I had a bad feeling that tempus was fugiting furiously.”
Mouse: “That bitch!”
Language, young pup! You’re not even five yet.
Sanya: “Your humor does not translate well from English into sanity.”
Harry: “I’m going to tell the pizza something and I don’t want you to hear it.”
All right, on to the story itself.
Holy frack, holy frack, holy FRACK!!!
Yeah, I think that about sums it up *nods wisely* Note to self, self. Never mess with Harry’s family; his reaction will not be pretty. Kind of makes grabbing that coin look like a deliberate, thought-out decision.
Harry joins the Dark Side and poor Morgan didn’t even live to say “I told you so.” *wibbles*Two human sacrifices over the course of less than three days. Nice, Harry. You are definitely suited to be the next Winter Knight, now. I knew you’d accept eventually but I didn’t expect it to be quite so... stark. Slate had it coming but I did not see you offing Susan on a stone table. Man, though, way to stop the war in its tracks by ripping out a piece of your own heart. I don’t know whether to be shocked or impressed. Depression’s in there somewhere because Susan was several kinds of hardcore after Bianca got through with her (even if she still did some very stupid things; one of the nice things about these novels is that, just like in real life, everyone does stupid things at times). Dying like that sucks because, as much as she wanted to bring down the whole Red Court, being turned was her worst nightmare *pets her*
The White Council (big surprise) continues to be made of complete fail with a couple exceptions. I do wonder if Lucio was under one of those gray hoods. Carlos probably is Gray Council, too, when he’s not in a White Council holding cell *kicks Cristos* The Merlin, big surprise, is playing his own little set of games but, honestly, I’d have much rather seen more of Rashid (or, you know, any of him at all).
I wanted some resolution on the White Council, though. Did the destruction of the Red Court halt the spread of their disease? Is the power-vacuum created by the absence of the Reds going to make them more powerful or throw them into disarray? Cristos has a lot to answer for but I can see him trying to turn this development to his advantage while the Merlin attempts to do the same. Imagine political infighting of mythic proportions on the Senior Council. Who’d a thunk it? ... But we’ll probably have to wait more than a year for anything since “Aftermath” is going to be from Murphy’s POV *stomps foot*
Wow, Monoc Securities is run by Odin. Didn’t see that coming. <---*sarcasm*
The fact that Gard is an effing Valkyrie kind of made that a gimme, imo, but the eye-patch was a nice touch. But it seriously does make me wonder about the makeup of the others on the Gray Council. Up to this point, I’d assumed it was primarily White Council members. But if you can have gods on it, I imagine there must be faeries and possibly even demons on it. More gods? Vampires? The mind wobbles at the implication.
Eb Blackstaff McCoy. Yeah, I went “holy frack!” a lot during his bits, lol. I mean, a smoking crater full of (mostly) dead vampires is one thing but casually tearing the life out of hundreds of actual humans without batting an eyelash is something else. I’m with Harry. Knowing he can/does isn’t the same as seeing it in action. In front of witnesses, no less. Yeah, don’t eff with the progeny of Double-O-Blackstaff. I can’t say I was surprised that he was Harry’s grandfather (not that I saw it coming but it didn’t remotely surprise me, either) but it explained a lot and tied up some loose ends. Also, him giving Harry his staff (and letting him keep it for the time being) was such a sweet moment and I loved Harry’s attempt to call him Grandpa *giggles*
Murphy! Oh, how I love that woman. She keeps getting smacked down for her association with Harry and she stays loyal to him and the things they fight for. And, for the second time, she’s been offered one of the Swords. Totally knew after “Blood Rites” that she’d end up a Knight of the Cross eventually even if she hasn’t accepted yet; denied the ability to Protect and Serve as a cop, I think the Knight thing will start to seem more and more attractive to her.
Is it bad that, as gripping and suck-you-in as the book was from page 1, I got to page 32 and went “Well, it’s about time,” when Murphy showed up for the first time? I may ship her and Harry too hard. In fact, there may not be a “may” about it. I was practically salivating during her conversation with Harry on the boat. The word “finally” was uttered aloud. Followed in very short order by the word “WHAT?!?!”
I can’t wait more than six months for more! I don’t wanna! *pitches an enormous fit* The knowledge that there will be more novels is not adequate here! *clings to Harry and calls Murphy and Butters and Lea and Mab and everyone but 911*
So wrong on so many levels. He didn’t even get to kiss Murphy!!! (Hand-kisses don’t count, sorry.)
Granted, I’m looking forward to “Side Jobs” even if all but one of the stories has already been published elsewhere. “Aftermath” will totally be worth it since we’ll get to see things from Murphy’s POV. But it’ll probably be at least a year after that before the next book comes out and that’s too long!!!
*sobs*
Seriously, though, bids on the female voice who said “Hush, now.” ... My inner romantic wants to say it was Murphy but we all know she’d be cursing and threatening him if he didn’t answer her. Which puts my money on Margaret LaFey (I’ll be pissed if it’s Mab and okay if it’s Lea).
Edit: It occurs to me that the only way to lay down the title of Winter Knight is by dying. Hrmm...
Okay, that was ramblier than I thought it would be but the novel throws you so hard that a degree of disjointedness is to be expected. Butcher does not disappoint but damn does he like to tease.
Honestly, I was a little worried when I read the premise that it was going to be all cliche and trope-y. I should have more faith in Jim Butcher; he hasn't disappointed yet. How he makes some of those situations amusing is beyond me (me: "Omg, they just killed Butters! Why am I grinning over Harry's internal monologue?" 6.o) but he manages.
Lines that made me laugh most (some paraphrased because I didn’t mark pages):
Agent Tilly: “What’s that?”
Harry & Murphy: “Terrorists.”
Okay, so maybe it tickled me more that they were so on the same wavelength because zomg!!! do those two share a brain in combat situations. (Also, the mental images of them fighting together are just hawt.)
Harry: “I had a bad feeling that tempus was fugiting furiously.”
Mouse: “That bitch!”
Language, young pup! You’re not even five yet.
Sanya: “Your humor does not translate well from English into sanity.”
Harry: “I’m going to tell the pizza something and I don’t want you to hear it.”
All right, on to the story itself.
Holy frack, holy frack, holy FRACK!!!
Yeah, I think that about sums it up *nods wisely* Note to self, self. Never mess with Harry’s family; his reaction will not be pretty. Kind of makes grabbing that coin look like a deliberate, thought-out decision.
Harry joins the Dark Side and poor Morgan didn’t even live to say “I told you so.” *wibbles*Two human sacrifices over the course of less than three days. Nice, Harry. You are definitely suited to be the next Winter Knight, now. I knew you’d accept eventually but I didn’t expect it to be quite so... stark. Slate had it coming but I did not see you offing Susan on a stone table. Man, though, way to stop the war in its tracks by ripping out a piece of your own heart. I don’t know whether to be shocked or impressed. Depression’s in there somewhere because Susan was several kinds of hardcore after Bianca got through with her (even if she still did some very stupid things; one of the nice things about these novels is that, just like in real life, everyone does stupid things at times). Dying like that sucks because, as much as she wanted to bring down the whole Red Court, being turned was her worst nightmare *pets her*
The White Council (big surprise) continues to be made of complete fail with a couple exceptions. I do wonder if Lucio was under one of those gray hoods. Carlos probably is Gray Council, too, when he’s not in a White Council holding cell *kicks Cristos* The Merlin, big surprise, is playing his own little set of games but, honestly, I’d have much rather seen more of Rashid (or, you know, any of him at all).
I wanted some resolution on the White Council, though. Did the destruction of the Red Court halt the spread of their disease? Is the power-vacuum created by the absence of the Reds going to make them more powerful or throw them into disarray? Cristos has a lot to answer for but I can see him trying to turn this development to his advantage while the Merlin attempts to do the same. Imagine political infighting of mythic proportions on the Senior Council. Who’d a thunk it? ... But we’ll probably have to wait more than a year for anything since “Aftermath” is going to be from Murphy’s POV *stomps foot*
Wow, Monoc Securities is run by Odin. Didn’t see that coming. <---*sarcasm*
The fact that Gard is an effing Valkyrie kind of made that a gimme, imo, but the eye-patch was a nice touch. But it seriously does make me wonder about the makeup of the others on the Gray Council. Up to this point, I’d assumed it was primarily White Council members. But if you can have gods on it, I imagine there must be faeries and possibly even demons on it. More gods? Vampires? The mind wobbles at the implication.
Eb Blackstaff McCoy. Yeah, I went “holy frack!” a lot during his bits, lol. I mean, a smoking crater full of (mostly) dead vampires is one thing but casually tearing the life out of hundreds of actual humans without batting an eyelash is something else. I’m with Harry. Knowing he can/does isn’t the same as seeing it in action. In front of witnesses, no less. Yeah, don’t eff with the progeny of Double-O-Blackstaff. I can’t say I was surprised that he was Harry’s grandfather (not that I saw it coming but it didn’t remotely surprise me, either) but it explained a lot and tied up some loose ends. Also, him giving Harry his staff (and letting him keep it for the time being) was such a sweet moment and I loved Harry’s attempt to call him Grandpa *giggles*
Murphy! Oh, how I love that woman. She keeps getting smacked down for her association with Harry and she stays loyal to him and the things they fight for. And, for the second time, she’s been offered one of the Swords. Totally knew after “Blood Rites” that she’d end up a Knight of the Cross eventually even if she hasn’t accepted yet; denied the ability to Protect and Serve as a cop, I think the Knight thing will start to seem more and more attractive to her.
Is it bad that, as gripping and suck-you-in as the book was from page 1, I got to page 32 and went “Well, it’s about time,” when Murphy showed up for the first time? I may ship her and Harry too hard. In fact, there may not be a “may” about it. I was practically salivating during her conversation with Harry on the boat. The word “finally” was uttered aloud. Followed in very short order by the word “WHAT?!?!”
I can’t wait more than six months for more! I don’t wanna! *pitches an enormous fit* The knowledge that there will be more novels is not adequate here! *clings to Harry and calls Murphy and Butters and Lea and Mab and everyone but 911*
So wrong on so many levels. He didn’t even get to kiss Murphy!!! (Hand-kisses don’t count, sorry.)
Granted, I’m looking forward to “Side Jobs” even if all but one of the stories has already been published elsewhere. “Aftermath” will totally be worth it since we’ll get to see things from Murphy’s POV. But it’ll probably be at least a year after that before the next book comes out and that’s too long!!!
*sobs*
Seriously, though, bids on the female voice who said “Hush, now.” ... My inner romantic wants to say it was Murphy but we all know she’d be cursing and threatening him if he didn’t answer her. Which puts my money on Margaret LaFey (I’ll be pissed if it’s Mab and okay if it’s Lea).
Edit: It occurs to me that the only way to lay down the title of Winter Knight is by dying. Hrmm...
Okay, that was ramblier than I thought it would be but the novel throws you so hard that a degree of disjointedness is to be expected. Butcher does not disappoint but damn does he like to tease.