The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Twelve month is little disappointment (spoilers)

(1/3) > >>

lw007:
I understand that after the peace talks the story needed to slow down a bit and be less dramatic. From a storytelling perspective, that generally works. That said, there are a few points that felt unclear or slightly at odds with earlier books.
   1.   Ramirez and Harry’s relationship
Ramirez seems to be on good terms with Harry again, but the transition isn’t really shown. A bit more explanation of what changed between them would have helped this feel more natural.
   2.   Lara and the soulgaze
Lara appears unaware of soulgaze, which was a little surprising, since we’ve already seen a soulgaze involving Ramirez earlier in the series.
   3.   Lara’s father regaining strength
This is an interesting idea, but it could use more clarification. Based on previous books, Papa Raith didn’t seem capable of independent thought. I’m open to this being explained later, but at the moment it feels underdeveloped rather than wrong.
   4.   Questions around Mab and Justine
One plot point raised some questions for me. Mab is strongly opposed to Outsiders, and Justine was known to be infected. It’s unclear why Mab wasn’t actively looking for her once this became known—presumably around the time Justine left Harry.
And if Mab couldn’t intervene directly, it’s a bit confusing that Harry could simply ask for Justine to be taken and Mab would comply. Especially since Mab later explains that she could kill her, suggesting that the usual restrictions on harming humans don’t fully apply here.

Overall, the story still works, but these moments made it feel as though not everything was quite lining up as smoothly as it could have.

Dina:
I loved the book but I am really wondering about your second point, and I know we are not the only ones. I am also wondering something about Harry's memory. I made another post about Justine hair. Harry says that Justine had shaven her dark mane, but Justine had white hair for many years. So...is it a real book mistake or is it a hint that Harry is having memory problems? Like not remembering Lara's soulgaze with Ramirez, or Justine change of colors, or who know what else.

About your other points:
1. I am ok thinking that some time and knowing what Harry lost and also watching that he does not seem under Lara's influence can make Ramirez more ok with Harry. Perhpaps they even talk off-screen. I can live with that, I don't need to see everything.
3. More or less the same, but it bothers me more because it makes Lara look as an incompetent ruler, what she was not (so far)
4. I think Mab knew Harry would ask for that, so he took her time until it happens. Now Harry can't blame her for taking Justine and use the baby to free Thomas. He basically asked for that and Mab paid in spades, she even called the two Mothers. That is not a minor thing.

Mira:

--- Quote --- 1.   Ramirez and Harry’s relationship
Ramirez seems to be on good terms with Harry again, but the transition isn’t really shown. A bit more explanation of what changed between them would have helped this feel more natural.
 
--- End quote ---

I agree, this isn't the first time, I felt the same way at the end of Blood Rites, problems between Thomas and Harry, then the next time we see them together it was like nothing had happened, no transition.

Bad Alias:
Carlos's behavior in this book doesn't bother me so much. His behavior at the end of Battle Ground. The only reason his behavior in 12 Months is weird is because of his weird behavior in Battle Ground.

His behavior in Battle Ground can be written of as his immediate and emotional reaction to the battle. He's had time to calm down and think more clearly about what happened. Harry is his only option for getting Yoshimo's and Wild Bill's bodies back. The Merlin said no. Harry is now in a fortress. He's Winter Knight. He's allied with the White Court. The White Council can't really afford to deal with him. The best they can do is threaten him and hope he doesn't call their bluff.

Even if Carlos still feels the way he did in Battle Ground, he's probably taking the best course of action with Harry given his motivations.

2&3 are problems for me too.

LaraBeck:
To be frank, I had no problems with how things went with Ramirez, or with Eb, for that matter.
I would agree on points 2 and 3. Everything about Lara bothered me, for more that one reason.

I honestly wanted to like this book, I mean, I went into it thinking that it'd be touching, but there were too many things that made little sense to me.

I thought part of Harry's grief would be confronting Vadderung about Murphy's situation, try to negotiate, you know, because he is very stubborn and adamant when he cares about something, and yet, he gets Vadderung on the phone even, and not even a "is she really okay?" I dunno.

I liked the twist about Harry "enslaving" Lara, so to speak, I think that makes a relationship harder for now, and I really don't want to see them getting together as a couple yet (yeah, I know it's coming, ugh).

I liked how things got resolved with Thomas, and I wished we had explored that even further, but I supposed that is for future books, I don't think the relationship between Thomas and Harry is good, and I hope it's not (yeah, I'm evil like that).

Lara seemed neutered and like Butcher is trying so hard to make her fit into Murphy's shoes now. The whole Lara is Thomas mother, because we have to show that she cares, is eyerolling. I really wish that the whole potential for the Harry/Lara romance wasn't built on Murphy's demise, it feels like a diservice to the three characters (Harry, Murphy and Lara).

I wished the rest of the cast had been allowed more depth, and not just Michael.

Bear is the other half of the Murphy replacement, a very predictable addition.

The other scenes were okay, I guess.

I don't really care about Fitz.

I'm glad Maggie shows a bit more personality now, at least.

And the last fight was just ridiculous, IMO, like a very bad 90s cartoon, I think what JB was trying to do was a sort of "friendship is magic" vibe, where all of Harry's friends just show up to support him, but honestly, it didn't work for me, felt cheesy not in a good way.

I am glad that Mab seemed evil, I think JB has been writing her too much in a way that people emphatize with her.

I did like that Harry was genuinely broken over Murphy, I wouldn't have believed anything else, but I was disappointed in his... how to say it, his comformity with it. And I don't know if I can explain this properly, but it felt to me, like he accepted her death very easily, what he had problems with was her absence and his guilt over not doing more in the past. But having Vadderung within reach, I would have imagine the Harry we knew would have tried to ask about her, to learn more about how exactly the einherjar worked, or if there was something that he could do, or even to ask if he could get a message delivered to her or something.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page