"Twelve Months" Cover Released

[g33k]

... So Kemmler might have originally gotten the job because of both will and talent, but when it became clear as to why he wanted the job and he tried to use the powers of the island that were not designed for what he wanted, Alfed simply fired and removed him ...

IIRC, Jim has said that the WC spent a large amount of time & effort keeping Kemmler off the island & away from the power there; it was a primary strategic objective of theirs.

I don't think the spirit got a "name" per se from Kemmler, but also didn't need to "remove" him, because the WC kept him off the island.

[Mira]

IIRC, Jim has said that the WC spent a large amount of time & effort keeping Kemmler off the island & away from the power there; it was a primary strategic objective of theirs.

I don't think the spirit got a "name" per se from Kemmler, but also didn't need to "remove" him, because the WC kept him off the island.

  However that really tells us nothing does it?  Tells us nothing of how Kemmler got the job in the first place..  Nor does it tell us what happened to the Warden before him.  It doesn't tell us why Kemmler wanted the job.  Kemmler was a real bad ass, if he understood everything connected to the island..  I imagine he wanted to draw power from it's leyline..  In which case you'd think the White Council would have a very difficult time keeping Kemmler away from the island, if he was determined to go there. Also Kemmler would know if he stepped foot on it, he could keep anyone and everyone off of it.  I doubt that Kemmler would have given the spirit a name, that seems to be a Harry Dresden thing.  I also would like to know the reason why Rashid cannot step on the island..
 

[g33k]

... Tells us nothing of how Kemmler got the job in the first place ...

I expect Kemmler punched it in the nose, and then they were friends.
That's how Harry (says he) did it.

... It doesn't tell us why Kemmler wanted the job ...

  coughCoughpowercoughCough
I'm sure if we crowdsource possible motivations, we can figure out what Kemmler wanted.

... In which case you'd think the White Council would have a very difficult time keeping Kemmler away from the island, if he was determined to go there. Also Kemmler would know if he stepped foot on it, he could keep anyone and everyone off of it ...

Exactly.  On the island, Kemmler could have stood-off the entire White Council... and yawned while doing it.

But he needed to be there to do it; without the island's power, he can't get to the island.  Frustration, thy name is Kemmler!

[Dina]

I agree, Alfred cannot have free will, he cannot decide who is put in prison or who goes free.  I believe there are a set of rules somewhere that the original Merlin set down for the island when he created it.  It's Alfred's job to enforce those rules.  It obeys It's Warden in all things unless It's Warden tries to violate the laws governing the island, then it is Alfred's job to stop the Warden from violating those rules even if it means killing him or her.  Alfred doesn't have a choice in the matter, anymore that it couldn't run many of the security protocols or arrest and imprison any monster on it's own.. It requires a living breathing thinking Warden with free will to do those things.  Without a Warden, certain fail safe measures fall into place but Alfred has no control over those.. It said as much at the end of Ghost Story when it expressed relief to finally have a master again to run things that it cannot.  Back to Kemmler, there was a time when he might not have been evil when he was suitable to be Warden.. Or alternatively, since Alfred isn't into moral judgements, maybe the only requirements for Warden is strength of will and talent? 
However if that Warden has evil inclinations and violates or tries to violate the rules of the island, Alfred can end his or her tenue.  So Kemmler might have originally gotten the job because of both will and talent, but when it became clear as to why he wanted the job and he tried to use the powers of the island that were not designed for what he wanted, Alfed simply fired and removed him..  Alfred cannot advertise for a new Warden, and after the close call with Kemmler the White Council hasn't been inclined to send a new candidate, satisfied that the automated protections with a little management would keep it's secrets safe.
A secret that totally backfired when Harry, totally clueless as to what the island's purpose really was, decided to make it his own.   

Yes, I agree with this.

And, like you, I wonder why Rashid cannot enter the island. I see 3 main ways
a) Because he is the Gatekeeper (I think this is the most probable).
b) Because he is a Senior Council Member (we don't know, perhaps they can't go there, so they cannot be near the prisoners)
c) Because something he individually did (I think this could be the most interesting, but also the most improbable).

[Mira]

But he needed to be there to do it; without the island's power, he can't get to the island.  Frustration, thy name is Kemmler!

You really think that Kemmler couldn't have figured out or found one of "the Ways" to the island?  Or simply rented a boat once he was Warden? 

  coughCoughpowercoughCough
I'm sure if we crowdsource possible motivations, we can figure out what Kemmler wanted.

Which is kind of the point isn't it?  If that is what he really wanted, Kemmler could have gotten it.  All these pronouncements at conventions sound so cool, everyone loves them and we speculate endlessly on them, but it isn't written down..  Some of it makes no sense if you care to think about it in terms of the story. 

I expect Kemmler punched it in the nose, and then they were friends.
That's how Harry (says he) did it.

Not that simple though is it, because we know Harry's motives, it's like he was looking for a short cut and bushwacked though some brush, got his short cut but found out later it was all poison ivy he cut through.. Kemmler would have been much more delibrate about it and had a goal in mind when he did it..  Power sounds cool, but to what end? 

[g33k]

You really think that Kemmler couldn't have figured out or found one of "the Ways" to the island?  Or simply rented a boat once he was Warden? 

I think the White Council would have put entire armies of Wardens onto every Way that reached the island!

And an entire navy onto the surrounding lake.

And bargained with Mab for extra security forces.

...  Power sounds cool, but to what end?

For Kemmler -- so far as we can tell -- the end-purpose of power seems to be the getting of even more power, in a neverending escalation.

[Mira]

I think the White Council would have put entire armies of Wardens onto every Way that reached the island!

And an entire navy onto the surrounding lake.

And bargained with Mab for extra security forces.

For Kemmler -- so far as we can tell -- the end-purpose of power seems to be the getting of even more power, in a neverending escalation.

Would they have whole armies surrounding the island?  Or would that draw attention to it?  The had a hard enough time finally tracking Kemmler down and killing him.  No evidence that they bargained with Mab to protect the island.  Yes, the cliche is power wants more power, I get it...  However I believe Kemmler was more focused, he was bring the dead back to life.

[g33k]

Would they have whole armies surrounding the island?  Or would that draw attention to it?

Kemmler was already the Warden; he was just off the Island.
"Drawing attention" (to the Island, to the Ways there) was not their worry.
Keeping Kemmler away from the Well and the power on the island was very much their worry.

... No evidence that they bargained with Mab to protect the island ...

There is perhaps some circumstantial evidence; but AFAIK nothing direct or explicit.

[RobReece]

I saw an interview from a week or so ago, where he said he's writing well and quickly,  that he thinks he can finish the Cinder Spires novel AND the next Dresden Files book by the end of the year...

https://youtu.be/mWNtok-_0ho?si=b5zJbOeVYHBvxGCz

[Dina]

‼‼‼‼‼

[Mira]

[quote
Even if I am wrong about Lashiel, if Harry is using his staff to create a sigil of some sort, what would he use it for, as a design for a summoning circle for a specific being or perhaps as a defensive ward][/quote]

Yes, a sigil doesn't have to be a symbol of a Denarian.

[Talby16]

Count me in the crowd of people that believe the boulder/crystal spires are a reference to Demonreach not Winter. To me, the color is suggestive of the island. The large boulder behind Harry is suggestive of the large crystals imprisoning the inmates. The glowing rune/signal is suggestive of what Harry has seen on/in the tower and the cottage on the island. This also dovetails in with what we know of the story. We know that part of what this story deals with is the courtship of Harry and Lara. Thomas is a thread that connects the two of them. I suspect that healing/freeing Thomas is going to be one of the subplots of the novel. Another thread that connects the two is Justine. Since she is Nemfected, hunting her will probably be another subplot of the novel which ties into Harry's quest for information on what being Starborn means and how it relates to Outsiders.

Not my favorite cover, but this is not supposed to be an action heavy book which means that the cover was not going to be action heavy either.