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A review by rindell
Cold Days by Jim Butcher
5.0
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.
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.