It's not a BAD addition to the Dresdan files by any means but it doesn't feel like an improvement or much of a change either. At this point in the series I expect much of the same but I really felt after the last two books we may see some.kore permanent character development and change and I didn't get much of either. I was entertained and surprised even in parts. But I walked away wondering if more could have been done. It feels a bit as if Butcher is afraid to take relationships, rivalries, and characters into new dimensions rather than dragging on the same relationships they've had for the last several books.

I just finished an epic weekend of listening to the wonderful James Marsters bring Cold Days to life. The book is still percolating, but here are some of my first impressions...

First of all... *does a crazy and mildly disturbing happy-dance*

*cough* Okay, just had to get that out of my system.

I, like many of you, eagerly await my annual hit of Harry Dresden crack. I mark it on my calendar even. Ever since Changes this wait has taken on a manic quality. Without giving any spoilers, lets just say I think the neighbors could hear me scream at the end of Changes. I did not think that I would survive a whole year until the next book. This time I made myself wait an extra three days for my audible credit to renew. I had to keep telling myself that I was an adult and could delay gratification. *snorts*

Ghost story, while more of an interlude than the roller coaster we had become used to, was important in its own way. It was like the aftermath of The Empire Strikes Back. Changes was a giant trauma to everyone involved, and you can't move on to Return of the Jedi without some therapy and maybe a new limb or two. Cold Days gets the message across in the first chapter that therapy is over, and we need to once again fasten out safety belts and keep all limbs inside the vehicle.

I think what I most liked about this book is that we finally get some questions answered. Butcher has been dropping hints for half a dozen books that there is something much greater going on under the surface of Dresden's world. From Demonreach to the Gatekeeper to "Starborn" to Mab herself, the questions have been growing. Finally we get to start slotting some of the puzzle pieces into place. Was I the only one who got chills when Demonreach called Harry "Warden" and it took on a WHOLE different meaning?

*SPOILER ALERT BEYOND THIS POINT*




I was looking forward to seeing how Butcher would handle the whole Winter Knight business. It seemed to me that it would just be too easy for Harry to just wiggle his way out of his bargain with Mab. Besides, Harry being the Winter Knight changes the balance of power between him and the White Council in very interesting ways. He needed some kind of change in status in order to move the story past the stalemate that he had with the council.

The addition of Molly as the Winter Lady is both frightening and genius. Also, as much as I adore Murphy, I think her are Harry are just not meant to be. Like she said, Harry and Molly are going to live a long time. Harry and Molly could never have a relationship as long as she was the "grasshopper". She has started to grow up and come into her own though. Only Butcher knows what could happen down the line. I am really looking forward to the Molly-POV novella that is coming out soon.

The only thing left out that I was hoping for was a meeting between Maggie and Harry. I get that it would have thrown of the building tension of the story though. Hopefully that will play a big part in the next book. Until then... we wait once more.

I HAVE TO WAIT YEARS! Years until the next book! God I forgot how into this series I was. So much cool shit everywhere. I couldnt possible give a decent review of this book since I'm so invested in it. It took a few chapters to remeber I was in love with the series, but I was hooked from the start. This series is just so good. I'm trying to think of things I wanted and all I can think of is MORE. The plot was cool, the magic and mythology still awesome, mystery and intrigue and all that crap. The only thing I could imagine is that some of the characters had very little show time. It was basically just Harry this time around, we got sneak peeks into lots of cool things that have been hidden for a while. But very little interaction with his friends compared to what I remember from previous books. It felt puposeful though, I mean he was dead last book, people might be a bit wary

Each entry into the Dresden Files has revealed a little bit more of the world, with several of the past volumes throwing Dresden into the thick of some major plots.

This volume however manages a reveal that really pulls the curtain back on the setting. Without spoilers the reveal was both shocking, but rewarding to discover, and made me want to immidiately reread the other books to look for hints of this.

There is a LOT of Dresden interacting with fairies and Winter, which I found quite enjoyable. His usual cast of supporting characters are in the story, but Molly is the main sidekick focus, which was a win for me.

Honestly, if you have read this far you sort of know what you are getting into, and you like it.

Holy flipping shyte. If you read the first dozen or so, just go read this. Don't plan on wanting to talk to family or friends or watch tv or sleep or eat until you finish it, either. Shyte, Harry. Damn.

Quattordicesimo volume della serie.
Fa effetto, ma fa ancora più effetto notare come il livello si sia mantenuto altissimo, e come adesso che i livelli di potere sono altissimi e le macrotrame cominciano a svelarsi, tutto rientra nel grande schema.
Moltissime le cose che ancora non sappiamo, molti i misteri da svelare, ma i dettagli cominciano a scivolare al loro posto.
E tutto quanto vissuto finora, a partire dai primi casi con i quali abbiamo conosciuto l'allora "solo e unico Mago Professionista di Chicago" fino ad arrivare ai colpi di scena che hanno cominciato a distruggere lo status quo e a far precipitare gli eventi... tutto quanto rientra in un grande progetto, nel piano orchestrato da chi sta nell'ombra.

E tutto era già deciso e progettato, dall'autore, fin dal primo libro.
Terrificante.


Ora Harry è il Cavaliere d'Inverno. Vive nel palazzo di Mab, è il suo braccio armato, e deve fare i conti con il popolo fatato. E col suo primo incarico da parte della Regina dell'Aria e dell'Oscurità.
Nel frattempo deve anche evitare la distruzione di Chicago e di Demonreach, scoprire la verità sulla "sua" isola e sul pozzo di energie che vi risiede, scoprire la verità sugli Esterni, sui suoi stessi problemi di salute.
E mettere in prospettiva tutto quanto gli è accaduto finora.

Oh, e ovviamente nel finale avremo ancora modifiche tremende agli status quo, colpi di scena e nuovi problemi da sommare ai precedenti.
L'unico punto un po' debole della storia direi che è dovuto alla prevedibilità di chi fosse il nemico da affrontare, tra i due possibili. A parte questo, la discesa verso la mostruosità di Harry Dresden è resa splendidamente, il suo sforzo di fare la cosa giusta, la sua lotta per mantenere la propria umanità.

Una serie davvero eccellente!

There were plenty of big moves in Cold Days, and a few more of the surprises that seem to be popping up with more frequency as the series progresses. Sets up a good deal to be excited about in books to come.

So glad James Marsters is back as the narrator!

Very, very, very excellent book. Longer than some of the previous, which was a good thing, and the pace was very good.