scroggin_cooper's review against another edition
4.0
A nice follow-up to Ghost Story, that makes me more intrigued about the fae and makes me hate Mab even more. This book is full of sacrifice and heart-felt moments that will satisfy any fan of the series. Butcher takes the characters into bold new directions and to say I’m psyched for the next few books would be a gross understatement.
sarahjonewt's review against another edition
3.0
"...a smile so wicked its parents should have sent it to military school." Butcher's attempts at witty prose sometimes fall flat (especially when you've been spoiled by Pratchett, Adams, and Howard) but this line was definitely a winner.
Overall, it was a good installment in this series. There were some plot developments that I called from miles away and only a few that took my by complete surprise, though those were of such magnitude that it made up for the paucity of them (one of which was a "holy cow I can't believe he just went there" move).
These definitely aren't over-and-over again books that I could reread multiple times, but they're entertaining and definitely what I need when I don't have a current TV series to keep me occupied.
Overall, it was a good installment in this series. There were some plot developments that I called from miles away and only a few that took my by complete surprise, though those were of such magnitude that it made up for the paucity of them (one of which was a "holy cow I can't believe he just went there" move).
These definitely aren't over-and-over again books that I could reread multiple times, but they're entertaining and definitely what I need when I don't have a current TV series to keep me occupied.
mysticslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
There were several parts in this book where I wanted to punch Harry in the face, sometimes for a bunch of reasons all at once.
The ending more than made up for how annoying and frustrating he was, though.
The ending more than made up for how annoying and frustrating he was, though.
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
Just when I'm tempted to think that the story has become a bit overwrought, Butcher pulls back the veil to reveal how all the chess pieces have been carefully manipulated for the final gambit. [with apologies for shamelessly borrowing the author's own metaphor]
audiobook note: oh, it's good to have Marsters return! What makes him so successful? It isn't that he significantly disguises his voice from character to character. I realized it's more that he varies the cadences, the intonations, even the volume to distinguish speakers, and he does so with enthusiasm. His reading - whether passionate or restrained, as plot dictates - makes it very easy to envision him throwing himself into every character as a one-man show. Exactly as audiobook narration should be.
audiobook note: oh, it's good to have Marsters return! What makes him so successful? It isn't that he significantly disguises his voice from character to character. I realized it's more that he varies the cadences, the intonations, even the volume to distinguish speakers, and he does so with enthusiasm. His reading - whether passionate or restrained, as plot dictates - makes it very easy to envision him throwing himself into every character as a one-man show. Exactly as audiobook narration should be.
loxleyhall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.0
theatomicpirategirl's review against another edition
5.0
Harry Dresden is back...and totally screwed...just the way we like it...
Many of you know that Harry Dresden is my book crush. He kinda reminds me of my husband, tall and handsom (not dark, as my true love has blonde hair and blue eyes), intelligent, caring, a man of action, a smart ass...every girls dream right?
Now, I have to say that as much as I loved Ghost Story (the book previous to Cold Days), I felt it wasnt up to par with the other books in this series. I just had a hard time buying Harry as a ghost and not having his wizarding abilities. It just felt a little strange. I've read some reviews with people bitching that it just wasnt a "Dresden book" and that Jim Butcher kinda went away from the format of the story that has made Harry Dresden so awesome. But I think all the nay-sayers who complained about Ghost Story, will love and feel better about Cold Days because, holy shit, it is non stop for our favorite wizard. Not just with the action scenes, but also all the mental stressers that Harry has to go through with being the Winter Knight.
Harry Dresden is a character purposly written to be a throw back to the chivalry idea: respect for a lady, the knight in shinning armor, the do-gooder. But all this has a darker under current that has slightly been touched on throughout the books (Cold Days is #14 in the series ladies and gents. yeah...#14...). But when Harry accepts the Winter Kight's mantle and become's Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness's errand boy, that primal and darker side of Dresden fights it's way to the surface. I always enjoy Harry's internal monologues as they dont only explain him and his thought process, but also raise questions to say "If it were me, what the heck would I do?" As the Winter Knight, harry feels the constant pull and tug and increasing pressure to give into his darker nature, which now that I think about it, makes me think of that Nickleback song, Figured You Out. All rounchy and wrong and sexually charged for all the bad reasons.
Along with all the internal struggle of dear broken and battered Dresden, there is a heavy dose of action and mystery and plot twists....Oh My!! A lot of the characters from previous books have returned and there are also some really intersting and strange new villians introduced. The new villians, The Outsiders, are from a different plane of existance and are trying get through to the Nevernever are in line with all of Butcher's villians in that they are creepy and power hungry. Oh course, they are totally going to play a huge part in the next book. Yeah. I said it, there's going to be a #15 book.
So my dear Harry is no longer leading an ordianry boring existence any more. I mean, within the space of a year, he has returned from the dead, been made Winter Knight, and Warden of Demonreach (Demonreach is an living island and would take waaaaay to long to explain). He fought and kicked two high level Outsiders and lived, led the Wild Hunt with the Erlking by his side. He has battled the Summer Knight in single combat and won, and was granted personal vaors by the Archangel Uriel. Like I said...not an ordinary life.
Holy Crap! How could I forget about that kiss?! The one between Dresden and Karin Murphy? And I'm not saying it was a romantic kiss. Hell no. It was a primal, heat of the moment in the middle of battle, we might not make it out alive kiss! It was so passionate and real and raw. Some of the best writing in this book if you ask me, and about damn time. Even if nothing happens between Dresden and Murphy, and they stay nothing but friends forever, its good to know that they got it out of their system. But I'm a just a romantic...
Jim Butcher served this story and a silver plater and I'm not going to lie, I devoured it all up. It had everything I love and need: a smart ass hero, and band of heros and villians that so well crafted they are almost real, balls to the wall action, internal struggle that is borderline Dostoyevsky, and a world that I so wished I could live in. It was so wonderfully satisfying...and I cant wait to see what kind of hellfire and torture Jim Butcher puts my hunky bookcrush through. Oh Harry Dresden...you are sexy...
Many of you know that Harry Dresden is my book crush. He kinda reminds me of my husband, tall and handsom (not dark, as my true love has blonde hair and blue eyes), intelligent, caring, a man of action, a smart ass...every girls dream right?
Now, I have to say that as much as I loved Ghost Story (the book previous to Cold Days), I felt it wasnt up to par with the other books in this series. I just had a hard time buying Harry as a ghost and not having his wizarding abilities. It just felt a little strange. I've read some reviews with people bitching that it just wasnt a "Dresden book" and that Jim Butcher kinda went away from the format of the story that has made Harry Dresden so awesome. But I think all the nay-sayers who complained about Ghost Story, will love and feel better about Cold Days because, holy shit, it is non stop for our favorite wizard. Not just with the action scenes, but also all the mental stressers that Harry has to go through with being the Winter Knight.
Harry Dresden is a character purposly written to be a throw back to the chivalry idea: respect for a lady, the knight in shinning armor, the do-gooder. But all this has a darker under current that has slightly been touched on throughout the books (Cold Days is #14 in the series ladies and gents. yeah...#14...). But when Harry accepts the Winter Kight's mantle and become's Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness's errand boy, that primal and darker side of Dresden fights it's way to the surface. I always enjoy Harry's internal monologues as they dont only explain him and his thought process, but also raise questions to say "If it were me, what the heck would I do?" As the Winter Knight, harry feels the constant pull and tug and increasing pressure to give into his darker nature, which now that I think about it, makes me think of that Nickleback song, Figured You Out. All rounchy and wrong and sexually charged for all the bad reasons.
Along with all the internal struggle of dear broken and battered Dresden, there is a heavy dose of action and mystery and plot twists....Oh My!! A lot of the characters from previous books have returned and there are also some really intersting and strange new villians introduced. The new villians, The Outsiders, are from a different plane of existance and are trying get through to the Nevernever are in line with all of Butcher's villians in that they are creepy and power hungry. Oh course, they are totally going to play a huge part in the next book. Yeah. I said it, there's going to be a #15 book.
So my dear Harry is no longer leading an ordianry boring existence any more. I mean, within the space of a year, he has returned from the dead, been made Winter Knight, and Warden of Demonreach (Demonreach is an living island and would take waaaaay to long to explain). He fought and kicked two high level Outsiders and lived, led the Wild Hunt with the Erlking by his side. He has battled the Summer Knight in single combat and won, and was granted personal vaors by the Archangel Uriel. Like I said...not an ordinary life.
Holy Crap! How could I forget about that kiss?! The one between Dresden and Karin Murphy? And I'm not saying it was a romantic kiss. Hell no. It was a primal, heat of the moment in the middle of battle, we might not make it out alive kiss! It was so passionate and real and raw. Some of the best writing in this book if you ask me, and about damn time. Even if nothing happens between Dresden and Murphy, and they stay nothing but friends forever, its good to know that they got it out of their system. But I'm a just a romantic...
Jim Butcher served this story and a silver plater and I'm not going to lie, I devoured it all up. It had everything I love and need: a smart ass hero, and band of heros and villians that so well crafted they are almost real, balls to the wall action, internal struggle that is borderline Dostoyevsky, and a world that I so wished I could live in. It was so wonderfully satisfying...and I cant wait to see what kind of hellfire and torture Jim Butcher puts my hunky bookcrush through. Oh Harry Dresden...you are sexy...
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
There is so much awesome in this book I don't even know where to start! When I get my scrambled thoughts together, I'll post a proper review.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Cold Days
4.5 Stars
Harrys Dresden is now the Winter Knight and if that isn’t problematic enough, Mab has an assignment for him, something that does not bode at all well. To top it all off, someone or something, is planning on destroying Harry’s island, an act that will apparently take out Chicago and half of the Midwest. As always, Harry has his hands full, but with the help of allies, old and new, he may just save the day … or die trying … again!
Harry is nothing if not entertaining and Cold Days lives up to expectations with all the twists and turns not to mention the shocking revelations … I so was not expecting half of what happened!
Harry is the same as always, endearing, self-depricating and slightly sexist, despite the burden of the Winter Mantle. His reunions with Thomas, Murphy, Molly and Mouse are brilliant and the way he manages to maneuver around Mab and the other Sidhe makes for exciting reading.
Nevertheless, one thing that bugged me (at resulted in the loss of 0.5 stars) is the new direction Butcher is taking the overall story arc. - not a fan!
In sum, Harry and company never fail to amuse and I’m looking forward to their further adventures in May.
4.5 Stars
Harrys Dresden is now the Winter Knight and if that isn’t problematic enough, Mab has an assignment for him, something that does not bode at all well. To top it all off, someone or something, is planning on destroying Harry’s island, an act that will apparently take out Chicago and half of the Midwest. As always, Harry has his hands full, but with the help of allies, old and new, he may just save the day … or die trying … again!
Harry is nothing if not entertaining and Cold Days lives up to expectations with all the twists and turns not to mention the shocking revelations … I so was not expecting half of what happened!
Harry is the same as always, endearing, self-depricating and slightly sexist, despite the burden of the Winter Mantle. His reunions with Thomas, Murphy, Molly and Mouse are brilliant and the way he manages to maneuver around Mab and the other Sidhe makes for exciting reading.
Nevertheless, one thing that bugged me (at resulted in the loss of 0.5 stars) is the new direction Butcher is taking the overall story arc.
Spoiler
Blaming everything that has happened so far on some all-encompasing evil adversary shows a distinct lack of imagination and reduces responsibility and culpability for ones choices.In sum, Harry and company never fail to amuse and I’m looking forward to their further adventures in May.
braydin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
randerson107's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75