The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Anyone else... disappointed? [PT/BG spoilers]
SerScot:
I’ve enjoyed the DF for going on 20 years. PT/BG is the first time since Fool Moon that I’ve been disappointed. The book is not “bad” it’s just so so. In particular BG. The most interesting parts were the preparation for the battle. Then it is one “standard Dresden Files slugfest” after another.
The division of the book into two is part of the problem but only part. There weren’t any really good character defining moments for Harry and felt like stuff we’d seen before written “up too eleven”
In some ways it felt like a reversal of Changes. Putting Harry back where he was before Changes with a slightly supped up version of the things he lost. I thought the point of this book was that the magical world was going to be thrust in the face of the “real world” in a way that could not be ignored. Mr. Butcher even tries to walk that back.
Murphy’s death, while well written and impactful seems lost in the noise. It didn’t have anything close to the emotional heft and weight of Susan’s death. Thomas was criminally under used given the hook we saw for almost five years and the revelation about Justine was both “meh” and seems, to me, to clash with the tone set for the renewal of Justine and Thomas’ full relationship at the end of Ghost Story.
The entire thing seems somewhat... under developed given the length of time Mr. Butcher had on the story. I sincerely hope Mirror Mirror will be more of a return to form.
Mira:
The book or both books have a bit of a "kitchen sink" feel to them. Stuff thrown in like Drackol and Mavra, to what purpose? I'd have loved to have seen a scene where Murphy makes her choice to join the fight and maybe Mac trying to talk her out of it. While the Senior Council voted Harry out, none of them in Chicago seemed to have a problem with him. Then suddenly he is voted out when at least three Senior Members, I am counting Rashid in because he most likely is still at the Gates are missing. Where was the Merlin in all of this, Harry should have at least been able to face his accusers. Using the magical death of a couple of Turtlenecks as a violation of the First Law, then suspending the death sentence? Carlos suddenly blaming Harry for everything from what happened to his fellow Wardens when Drackol showed up to the sixty thousand lives lost in Chicago? Because Harry failed to talk to him? Would it have mattered? And there was stuff that Harry couldn't talk about... All smells of set up, perhaps for future books, I just hope we don't have to wait another six years...
SerScot:
--- Quote from: Mira on October 01, 2020, 02:01:14 PM ---
The book or both books have a bit of a "kitchen sink" feel to them. Stuff thrown in like Drackol and Mavra, to what purpose? I'd have loved to have seen a scene where Murphy makes her choice to join the fight and maybe Mac trying to talk her out of it. While the Senior Council voted Harry out, none of them in Chicago seemed to have a problem with him. Then suddenly he is voted out when at least three Senior Members, I am counting Rashid in because he most likely is still at the Gates are missing. Where was the Merlin in all of this, Harry should have at least been able to face his accusers. Using the magical death of a couple of Turtlenecks as a violation of the First Law, then suspending the death sentence? Carlos suddenly blaming Harry for everything from what happened to his fellow Wardens when Drackol showed up to the sixty thousand lives lost in Chicago? Because Harry failed to talk to him? Would it have mattered? And there was stuff that Harry couldn't talk about... All smells of set up, perhaps for future books, I just hope we don't have to wait another six years...
--- End quote ---
I agree. It feels... disjointed. The first person PoV made it near impossible to show Murphy’s decision to fight. But I agree Harry should have been present for his “trial”. I cannot believe Lucco didn’t speak out for Dresden and Ramerize’s flip to “enemy” is weird.
I still find the Butters “wish fulfillment” sceen in PT eye roll worthy, at best.
Mira:
--- Quote from: SerScot on October 01, 2020, 02:35:40 PM ---I agree. It feels... disjointed. The first person PoV made it near impossible to show Murphy’s decision to fight. But I agree Harry should have been present for his “trial”. I cannot believe Lucco didn’t speak out for Dresden and Ramerize’s flip to “enemy” is weird.
I still find the Butters “wish fulfillment” sceen in PT eye roll worthy, at best.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, stuff like throwing Ferrofax in because fans asked for it, but then he does absolutely nothing with him on page that didn't happen in Grave Peril. I feel he did the same with the Black Court, so Drakul is another star born? One turned bad or is the the future for Harry? He never established whether the Black Court is an ally of the Fomor and the Outsiders or just saw an opportunity to gain some wizard recruits?
I think it would have been better if after everything was over Harry returned to Mac's place only to find Murphy not there and then Mac explaining what happened and that she was dead. That is another thing, they all gathered at Mac's place after, but not a word about Mac being there or to Mac, and what of the Placard? We know the Spear along with the Eye was returned to the island, but not a word about the Placard.
SerScot:
Yeah, Harry “saving the day” to return to Mac’s and discover Murphy had gone down swinging would have been an interesting choice.
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