claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Well, my first 5-stars rating for a book in this series, and yes, I get now why everybody was telling me that this one was the best. It's.... terrible; painful and filled with pain and loss. But also packed with unconditional love and loyalty and deep friendship. There is action and heartache; there is acceptance of your own fallibility and wrong decisions done by the right reasons... or what, at the time, seemed to be the right reasons.
Everything is permeated with shades of grey, and with such high stakes at play, there is little space for rationality and planning. And, by the end, Harry is stripped to his ragged bones bared of everything except himself. And he stands and keeps fighting because that's what he does; he fights.
And that ending... I have no clue what'll come next but I bet it will be amazing!
Everything is permeated with shades of grey, and with such high stakes at play, there is little space for rationality and planning. And, by the end, Harry is stripped to his ragged bones bared of everything except himself. And he stands and keeps fighting because that's what he does; he fights.
And that ending... I have no clue what'll come next but I bet it will be amazing!
manadabomb's review against another edition
5.0
The latest in the Harry Dresden series, this one knocked characters and readers alike on their collective asses.
There will be spoilers here: beware.
The first sentence of the first chapter sets the tone for the entire book. Not only that, it sets the entire focus.
"I answered the phone, and Susan Rodriguez said, "They've taken our daughter.""
Yup, Harry is a father. Has been for about 8 years, since his last encounter with Susan, before she turned into a half-vampire from the Red Court. Susan failed to let Harry know this because, rightly, she recognized that neither her nor Harry's lifestyle was safe for a child. Susan had handed the child, Maggie (named after Harry's mom), over to a couple who already had kids. Still, it was pretty harsh for Susan to never mention this to Harry, and he takes it pretty badly. A wizard is powerful, a wizard carrying that much rage is downright scary.
Susan shows up on Harry's doorstep, with Martin in tow, to set into motion a plan to get Maggie back. Susan and Martin have been fighting their vampire curses and fighting the Red Court, almost like terrorists. Even though Maggie had been kept a secret, word got out to the wrong people. Namely, Arianna of the Red Court. The plan is to carry out a bloodcurse using Maggie to kill off everyone in her bloodline. Harry, Susan, and possibly Thomas and another surprise relative.
Harry and Susan have one hell of an adventure just trying to get to the Yucatan to save Maggie. They end up fighting in goblin territory for their lives, Harry meets up with some retired gods, the White Council is in a serious state of unrest, and Harry makes a possibly life ending deal.
The battles are extraordinarily written and well done. The characters just keep growing and getting better, and that makes it all the more sad when some of the well knowns have to perish in this novel.
The ending....not so happy with. It's a cliffhanger times 100 and we're left like this til April 2011. Not fair, Mr. Butcher. Not fair.
There will be spoilers here: beware.
The first sentence of the first chapter sets the tone for the entire book. Not only that, it sets the entire focus.
"I answered the phone, and Susan Rodriguez said, "They've taken our daughter.""
Yup, Harry is a father. Has been for about 8 years, since his last encounter with Susan, before she turned into a half-vampire from the Red Court. Susan failed to let Harry know this because, rightly, she recognized that neither her nor Harry's lifestyle was safe for a child. Susan had handed the child, Maggie (named after Harry's mom), over to a couple who already had kids. Still, it was pretty harsh for Susan to never mention this to Harry, and he takes it pretty badly. A wizard is powerful, a wizard carrying that much rage is downright scary.
Susan shows up on Harry's doorstep, with Martin in tow, to set into motion a plan to get Maggie back. Susan and Martin have been fighting their vampire curses and fighting the Red Court, almost like terrorists. Even though Maggie had been kept a secret, word got out to the wrong people. Namely, Arianna of the Red Court. The plan is to carry out a bloodcurse using Maggie to kill off everyone in her bloodline. Harry, Susan, and possibly Thomas and another surprise relative.
Harry and Susan have one hell of an adventure just trying to get to the Yucatan to save Maggie. They end up fighting in goblin territory for their lives, Harry meets up with some retired gods, the White Council is in a serious state of unrest, and Harry makes a possibly life ending deal.
The battles are extraordinarily written and well done. The characters just keep growing and getting better, and that makes it all the more sad when some of the well knowns have to perish in this novel.
The ending....not so happy with. It's a cliffhanger times 100 and we're left like this til April 2011. Not fair, Mr. Butcher. Not fair.
cypharion's review against another edition
5.0
So I don't even know where to begin with this review. My mind is still trying to calm down from all the craziness that went down in this book especially in the final act. First and foremost, up to this point Proven Guilty was my favorite in this series but then Changes comes along and was all "Hold my Staff!" level of craziness! So many reveals, unexpected team-ups and story progression, I felt like I was reading the Infinity War of Dresden! Butcher took a character no one really cared or thought about and made them a key player in wrapping up one of the biggest storylines of the series, which I was pleasantly surprised by.
The lengths Dresden went and the things that happened and were revealed are going to have a massive impact on not just Dresden but the series as a whole I feel and I am here for it. And then that ending came out of no where! Holy crap like I was physically shocked by what transpired just...
Well freaking done Butcher, you took a series I genuinely only felt was a solid quick page turner with a "Case of the week" urban fantasy series vibe and somehow, masterfully turned into a fantasy series on a grander, more epic scale in it's own right and thus becoming one of my favorite on going series and I'm not even caught up yet! So stoked to jump into more Dresden!
P.S Marsters is still kicking ass as the narrator!
The lengths Dresden went and the things that happened and were revealed are going to have a massive impact on not just Dresden but the series as a whole I feel and I am here for it. And then that ending came out of no where! Holy crap like I was physically shocked by what transpired just...
Well freaking done Butcher, you took a series I genuinely only felt was a solid quick page turner with a "Case of the week" urban fantasy series vibe and somehow, masterfully turned into a fantasy series on a grander, more epic scale in it's own right and thus becoming one of my favorite on going series and I'm not even caught up yet! So stoked to jump into more Dresden!
P.S Marsters is still kicking ass as the narrator!
cypharion's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
crawfish's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
courthompson's review against another edition
5.0
I literally have no words. This book is a series game changer. I am actually speechless. And emotionally exhausted.
sophiawollenteit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
chappellmw90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
5.0
Holy crap!
When I started reading Dresden I heard two things:
1.) Each book gets better than the last one
2.) Wait until you get to Changes
Holy crap!
What a gut punch masterpiece this is. Is there any way that Goodreads will let me rate a book 97 stars?
I don't even know what to say without spoiling the series.
If you've read the series then you know what I'm talking about.
If you are just starting, then I would say....every book is better than the last one and wait until you get to Changes.
Everything about this book is "next level" and there is nothing more epic than Dresden.
Just wow...
When I started reading Dresden I heard two things:
1.) Each book gets better than the last one
2.) Wait until you get to Changes
Holy crap!
What a gut punch masterpiece this is. Is there any way that Goodreads will let me rate a book 97 stars?
I don't even know what to say without spoiling the series.
If you've read the series then you know what I'm talking about.
If you are just starting, then I would say....every book is better than the last one and wait until you get to Changes.
Everything about this book is "next level" and there is nothing more epic than Dresden.
Just wow...