I have read it now, and by the time you have all finished it I imagine I will be asleep.
Spoilers below read at your own peril!!!
First things first. Oh. My. God.
Secondly, what was your favorite part? What did you like and dislike?
I really enjoyed some call backs to Harry's former cases. Things like old potions being used again was lovely. Also lots of great one liners.
Some truly incredible reveals as well.
1. Outsiders. We now know why they might work together. Because many of them are not actually separate wills but the same being/will in multiple constructs. This was a theory I had way back, as I am sure others might have. But it's nice to have confirmed. This links to another major theory for another post.
2. We also now know why magic has such a hard time against Outsiders, which links to...
3. We now know part of what a Starborn is. We conveniently don't know what a Destroyer is or if it is related. We know what power Harry has against Outsiders...although it isn't clear that he knows how to use it.
4. The Cycle. 666. If the massive clue bat with the Knights of the Cross showing up didn't give it away - there is a Hell-related link.
5. We also now "know" part of what makes the Nails of the Cross so powerful in part (there is an Angel inside).
6. We are closer than ever to knowing who Mab is. We know she is rode with William the Conqueror when she was a teenager/young adult. We know she was a personal friend (possibly lover) of the original Merlin. My guess is that she is Morganna le Fey.
7. Mab got her ass handed to her. She was so hopelessly outclassed we now know that we haven't really seen the big players (except in small doses and hints).
8. Ferrovax and Vadderung didn't exactly seem to be allies, but not totally enemies either. Both of them were highly concerned by Ethniu.
9. Somehow Ethniu has kept most of her strength, and inherited her father's eye. How is this possible?
10. Why is she "The Last Titan" are all the protogods actually gone? If so, what happened?
11. Is she Nemesis-infected? Probably
12. Spear of Longinus called an Athame. Interesting foreshadowing. What is the long-term dilemma Harry mentions?
13. Harry also wanted the plaque. Apart from a battery, what other use has it?
14. King Corb seemed very similar to the Red King in his slightly mad temperament. Similar power level too I suspect.
15. We still haven't seen the sucker punch Eb mentioned.
16. Cristos seems more like a puppet and less like straight up bad guy. It could be an act...but still.
17. Ebenezer is a loose cannon. Makes Harry look positively restrained.
18. Lea is probably Birog. Based on the arrival of Ethniu. Was also commanding the defences of the Outer Gates. Intense assault - perhaps the Gatekeeper also wasn't there. He would have been in Edinburgh for the vote.
19. Curiously Vadderung and Ferrovax don't want a head on fight with Ethniu. Perhaps they could fight her...but Ferro seemed worried about collateral damage. Made me think his powers are just as destructive as helpful. Interestingly, Harry seems to imply that regular old Angels would be a match for Ethniu as he isn't worried about her storming the Carpenters.
20. In a previous book Ebeneezer claimed responsibility for the Tunguska event (as Blackstaff). In this book Harry forgets Eb told him that and says it was the last time a Dragon was killed (which we all thought was when Michael killed Siriothrax).
Anyway, thoughts? Feelings? Emotions?
Remember we are only half way through this story so there is a lot to go through, more twists and turns.
1. One of the scenes in the Peace Talks Trailer appears to be from Battlefield, Marcone and Harry getting dressed;
2. Harrys’s lab survived and Harry knows about it surviving, presumably Little Chicago also survived and is being stored somewhere by Marcone, so Harry can use it in the Battle it was really mean’t for;
3. Eb is not just a loose cannon, his barrel has a flaw in it which can blow at any time. And Harry knows rhis and used it to bear him;
4. We know Titania hasn’t spoken to Mab since the Battle of Hastings, we know now that it was about a boy;
5. Someone pressurised Thomas into trying to assassinate Etri, but this is a distraction as regards the Outsiders/Black Council they don’t need it to achieve their ends, so there is a second plot afoot (they don’t like flying) someone who knew how they would treat Thomas in circumstances where Mab would disavow Harry as her Knight, just at the time the Merlin is trying to oust him from the White Council;
6. My theory about a blood summoning appears to be borne out as regards the Titan, using the Athame to draw blood and use that as a summoning to take her below;
Only three weapons looks likely to injure the Titan the Athame and the Swords, so of course Sasha is in Town;
7. Butters Andi and Marci, Butters was complaining only a few books ago of a lack of a sex life, obviously Butters isn’t a once a Knight guy;
8. We still I do not think have the full identity of Ethnui, most of the old supernaturals have more than one name;
9. Mab is also Nimue, The Lady of the Lake which makes total sense;
10. Vadderung and Ferrovax could Ferrovax be the Midgard Serpent, stabilising the geology would suggest yes, making him Vadderung’s Grandson by that rascal Loki
1. I wonder if following this Harry gains ownership of the damaged BFS building for the wardens? It’s as heavily protected as Edinburgh
2. Demonreach is capable of withholding things from the Warden, that’s a worry;
3.Harry needs to get Carlos laid at the end of Battlefield, seriously, perhaps, he can throw him at a frisky red headed Valkyrie;
4. Harry has an indestructible suit, but is wearing his Duster on the cover of Battlefield, obviously it doesn’t go with the hat as it creates a JR Ewing vide;
5. The Genowskwa survived and escaped Hades realm, regret on the part of Jim on killing him? Perhaps we are going to see a Legion of Doom against Harry Nick, Gen, the Skin-walker, Mavra, Evil Harry etc.did Gen take the coin with him?
6. Harry’s dad did exactly the same with a stray kitten as Harry did with Mister, one of his beloved memories of his father. If I was going to plant a spy in Harry’s household, this is how I would do it if I were Mab or Lea. Mister may indeed be a Malk changeling;
7. why the placard? In the Crucifixtion it was in scribed with INRI Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews, and the swords can only be wielded by the descendants of kings, perhaps it establishes authority or allows for announcement to the world? The latter important in the aftermath of the Battle, perhaps Harry uses it to avoid mortal v supernatural conflict.
if you go outside your suit is under your coat.
The suit will give extra core protection and cover his legs better. Harry really needs to spell up a set of gloves and cowboy boots though. Oh and something to protect his head, some sort of hat? Maybe. It is telling that the suit includes a pocket for his new blasting rod
Gotta say never even heard of Ethniu, or the myths she was in.
1. She's the last Titan? not even a Greek one.
2. Does this mean Hekate and Gaia aren't considered alive Titans?
3. Mab rode with the Conquerer does that mean Titania fought for the opposite side at Hastings?
4.Strategically uniting the Accords seems if not stupid then reckless for someone whose the last of her kind. Which means presumably the other Ttitans were all killed before modern weapons and armies.
5. 666 years ago was the Black Plague.
6. That was when Nicodemus was plotting according to Forthill, also when Nicodemus got his favour from Mab, before Mab recruited Leanansidhe, and when Merlin was around obviously.
7. Grendel was a Bigfoot or atleast closely related.
8. Vadderung was Beowulf, fought Bigfoots as a mortal.
9. Listens to Winds 'is a good kid'.
10. Rivers in his Shoulders details on the 3 paths. He's atleast 1000 years old and is middle aged by his standards
11. Genowska's alive?
12. Most importantly. Sexy Times abound. I salute you Butters. Oh and yeah Harry and Murphy finally, kinda na anticlimax, probably not for them.
[/spoilers]
has a working lightsaber and two cooperative girlfriends, all he needs now is for Brioche to die horribly at the eye of a Titan Dvorak his life to be complete. Still won’t satisfy his mother though.
Mab is being undersold by Jim here. I think the giveaway is "So there you are", Corb throws insult after insult at her until she starts to get sufficiently furious that she weakens her Mantle by starting to act more human than Sidhe. Only then does Ethniu lay the smackdown.
Mab got sucker-punched. You just *know* there's going to be payback for that one.
I don't see Mab being anything other than Uber-powerful until the BAT, when the stars fall from the sky, and she's undone. I think this is a set-up from a certain wily author to make us think she's out of it :) I guess we'll see in September :)
“Isn’t” - which bit ?
Because if Jim revealed something contrary to ‘I think...’ then I missed it.
Reread Christmas Eve
Could be Mab is diminished, but that isn't the impression I got and it takes place after Battle Ground.
I thought you were saying "We know Mab isn't Uber-powerful".
To be clear, I think we'll see her come back and play a major part in Ethniu's downfall. Jim has already written Mab's #2 in Winter cutting loose, and I think we'll see a part of what Mab can do this time. She was offered personal insult at her own Accords meetings, and the Erlking goes so far as to caution Harry about her pride.
I admit I am slightly wondering if Battleground will be a total win for Harry though - this is book 16 (I think) and there were supposed to be 21 before the BAT. Getting rid of the Fomor as an enemy (by defeating their empress, putting her in the well) so quickly might not be on the cards, I guess it depends on how long it takes Harry to deal with the Black Council before all hell (probably literally) breaks loose.
Ah, I misunderstood your comment :)
I thought you were saying "We know Mab isn't Uber-powerful".
To be clear, I think we'll see her come back and play a major part in Ethniu's downfall. Jim has already written Mab's #2 in Winter cutting loose, and I think we'll see a part of what Mab can do this time. She was offered personal insult at her own Accords meetings, and the Erlking goes so far as to caution Harry about her pride.
I admit I am slightly wondering if Battleground will be a total win for Harry though - this is book 16 (I think) and there were supposed to be 21 before the BAT. Getting rid of the Fomor as an enemy (by defeating their empress, putting her in the well) so quickly might not be on the cards, I guess it depends on how long it takes Harry to deal with the Black Council before all hell (probably literally) breaks loose.
I
doubt it will be a total win, he was weeping over all the death.. So even a win is a loss, and that doesn't include the personal ones.
Molly's Favor
I think the favor Harry owes The Winter Lady is going to be to claim the Blackstaff after Eb dies. Here's why; If Harry is not tossed from the White Council(WC) the Blackstaff ties Harry as a De facto spy in the White Council. If Harry is tossed it prevents the WC from having someone able to break the laws of magic.
BFS
Harry will wind up owning the BFS building and land as a reward from Marcone at the end of battleground due to being critical in the destruction of the titian and saving his reputation. Please note the description of the wards surrounding the place. If Harry has claim to someplace almost as secure as WC headquarters they will have a kitten.
swords
The purpose of the swords is to fight the nickleheads, I expect that at the end of BG Nic and crew are able to take the anthame after the titan is trapped
Thomas
I think he will remain trapped I think he was blackmailed into the attempt by the nickleheads
The senior council
Think EB and LTW are both dead in the next 2 books. The WC changes how it selects the Senior Council wind up adding Chandler and Anna.
Lara
Harry has completed his favors owed by Mab to Lara. Harry is going to start collecting favors from the White Court and others. Mab will consider the favors hers to call in.
Summer Court
Mab and Titanna wind up preforming a ritual together Fire and Ice to hold the Titan in place for Harry to trap the Titan.
The favor:
what is harry going to do for Molly?
Molly is in charge of stealing away Winter's children to be trained, then fight at the gates. What if (after Maggie shows magical talent, and after Christmas Eve), what Harry has to give Molly is his Firstborn child?
It's terribly grim, but fits the Winter Lady. Doesn't really fit Molly, but by that point maybe she's too far gone and corrupted by the mantle.
Eb was obviously not himself, and I'm assuming we'll find out why in the second half.
But I also felt like Harry was... Depressed? He seems like he's off his game for the entire book. It's somewhat understandable, but still surprising.
To say nothing of Carlos and the Wardens acting like goons. I can't recall the last time Harry saw any of them. I'm not sure if there was a short story in there or not, but it might have been from before Changes, which means a lot has happened, but still.
Think back to Changes. Lea is able to remove the Demon. The threat to Justine isn't external, the threat is the baby. The easiest way to push Thomas, is to offer to remove the Demon from his child and possibly Thomas himself. If true, then the question is, who would want to kill Etri? Possibly Thomas's lover as part of attempt for an internal coup, assuming that his lover was, say, nemfected. Or someone unknown to us yet.
Another point. Starborn's can't be nemfected. Which might explain something about Rashid.
Lara, oddly enough, says that she babysat Thomas while Margaret visited Eb. This is a strange thing to reveal.
Was Eb's wife killed by a White Vampire, maybe Lara? Lara's 'haunted' look as Harry and Eb go back and forth at the dock.
On what kind of pressure could make Thomas attempt to assassinate the Etri(is that right?). Think back to Changes. Lea is able to remove the Demon. The threat to Justine isn't external, the threat is the baby. The easiest way to push Thomas, is to offer to remove the Demon from his child and possibly Thomas himself. If true, then the question is, who would want to kill Etri? Possibly Thomas's lover as part of attempt for an internal coup, assuming that his lover was, say, nemfected. Or someone unknown to us yet.
Another point. Starborn's can't be nemfected. Which might explain something about Rashid.
Lara, oddly enough, says that she babysat Thomas while Margaret visited Eb. This is a strange thing to reveal.
Was Eb's wife killed by a White Vampire, maybe Lara? Lara's 'haunted' look as Harry and Eb go back and forth at the dock.
Re: Thomas... Lea didn't remove the demon in Changes, she put Rampire demons to sleep. But an offer to do the same for the pregnancy might be enough.
Re: Lara... The bit about looking out for Thomas when he was a baby makes sense. Raith didn't have any sons survive, so someone had to look out for him until he could defend himself. For all we know, Lara and Margaret were besties.
As for possibly having killed EB's wife... Maybe? Although if so, Butcher could have said she looked guilty or ashamed or something. The haunted thing seems more like she knows something, rather than being the one. Given the nature of the Court, it seems more likely that it was a male that was responsible. And given EB's response to Margaret having Raith's kid... I mean, if he seduced her mom, too, that might drive a man insane.
It does not have to be anyone else. Thomas managed his hunger badly and it went out of control. Though it could be that someone helped with the process. He was warned by both Harry and Justine about it.
But if you look for a culprit. The skin walker who had Thomas captive earlier knows everything about his weaknesses and was hired by the black council. The fomor now have a clear outsider connection as does the black council.
Ouch! But it sounds plausible.
But what's the motivation? At first it seemed like the Fomor were trying to pit the White Court against the Svartalves, but with the Last Titan coming to kick the doors down, why would they bother?
Different theory: In Bombshells, Justine spends most of the story dancing with Etri, while Molly and Andi deal with the Fomor and Thomas pays off his debt. What if they did more than dance? What if Etri is the father of Justine's child? Perhaps there's no blackmail at all, just a carefully timed revelation.
I think it's still fairly likely it was Lara who arranged the hit. I still don't know to what end but perhaps it was to keep Dresden distracted. It seems likely that if Thomas had wanted to kill Etri, Etri would be dead. So I think Thomas purposely screwed up the hit. I think it is plausible that Justine is actually not as nice as we thought. It often fools Dresden when there is a woman upset (especially a vulnerable one).
Morris -
1. If Starborn's can't be nemfected, that implies that regular mortals can. So Victor Sells, Agent Denton, Leonid Kravos and likely Cowl are all nemfected.
2. I suspect Lara and Eb had a thing. She is old enough. Part of the source of his anger.
3. Not sure if the White Court killed his wife...but I think he was betrayed. I think he had an affair or romance. He is more ruled by his passions than Harry.
Grifter - I think you are correct about the characters being a little off. But they were essentially the same. Although Sanya seems to have gained about 40lbs of muscle. I swear he was much leaner in Death Masks. Harry, Eb, Carlos etc are all really about where they should be. Harry has been through so much. If he seems a bit cynical it's because he is. He has been through enough. But I wouldn't have said he was depressed. A bit stressed obviously. But he's in love. And he seemed to be enjoying his time with Murphy. I do think he feels a bit out of time. Part of that is getting older. Part of which was having a lost few years. Ebeneezer is really just revealing who he always was. That was a point made rather clearly. Harry, as people often do with their idols, saw him as superhuman. Carlos is different because life has made him so. I do wonder if Carlos will make it. What Molly did to him changed him.
Cleo - Scary theory! Harry would probably go to war though again for Maggie. Don't know how many more wars winter can fight. They currently have at least three on the go. I agree about the Chekhov's guns. But there will plenty of book to resolve them in the follow up. I think the Murphy thing is pretty obvious, has been for a while. Harry wouldn't cry over nothing. Also, not sure about the whole Little Chicago thing. But we'll see.
Wrane -
1. Molly's favor has been repaid. It was the ring. And the suit.
2. He might get his old home back. But I wouldn't be surprised if he chooses a more secure location. Remember he is staying at the Carpenters for Christmas. And clearly the BFS headquarters isn't.
3. Purpose of the Swords is to balance the Denarians. But the Knights also exist to fight evil etc. Michael killed a Dragon after all. And destroyed one of Mavra's nests. And many, many other monsters.
4. Probably most if not all of the Senior Council will die by the end. But in what order and how quickly is hard to say. Unless most of the Senior Wizards on the planet die I don't see how Chandler would get on the Senior Council. Would hardly need to call it that as there wouldn't be many left!
5. I disagree. Unless the favor is to Winter, it's Harry's favor. Mab gets no say. She could buy favors off Harry. But she would have to give him something of equal value. Or Harry could gift them to her in order to pay his debts. But there must always be balance, as that's the rule.
6. Interesting idea. But as currently Titania isn't even talking to Mab I don't see it happening. I wouldn't be surprised if Titania was actually working actively against Mab. Harry has all he needs to bind the Titan but he has to force her to the shores of Demonreach. Currently, I don't think he is capable of it. He would have to trick her...which might not be easy considering she likely doesn't view time quite the same way as Harry. She seems closer to the Mothers than Mab in power (although it's difficult to say if she is of their level...). But perhaps Mab and Titania will team up to force her there or keep her distracted. I doubt Harry will be able to bind the Titan easily.
Spaced Cowboy - I am surprised you read it so differently. It very much seemed to me that Mab is far from uber-powerful. In fact, Harry got a front row seat in a title fight in a weight class he hasn't seen. The only things stronger than Ethniu so far seem to be the Archangels and the Mothers. Possibly regular Angels...but we'll see. It would be quite the cop out if so. The only being at the Peace Talks stronger than Mab was Ferrovax (although I suspect even if Vadderung isn't outright stronger than Mab, he fights dirty. Like Harry). And all of the divine beings present were freaking terrified of Ethniu. King Corb was probably in the same league as Vadderung etc. But all of them were a weight class below Ethniu. Although, it seems Vadderung was once stronger even than her.
Remember, Mab herself is more like Vadderung as doesn't always fight straight forward (even when she can). Because she knows those fights are too easy to lose. She will find other ways to defeat the Last Titan.
As regards the faithsaber going through the wash
Cleanliness is next to godliness, so the angel probably appreciated getting that little closer to the White God.
Justine is responsible for Thomas' actions. Or whatever is pretending to be or controlling Justine. Thomas is not trying to say her name because he is worried. He is telling people who is responsible for the attack. He is warning them not to trust her.
As for what happened to her, I don't know. Maybe Outsiders? Red Cap & Ace? Perhaps she has a coin?
I guess we'll find out.
Edit:
Also, Goodman Grey is never wrong.
Whampires are nearly sterile, they need to put it about A LOT to produce any progeny. The fact that Justine got pregnant despite precautions is significant.
we had an acknowledgement from Harry that Thomas has a measure of their mother’s power, we’ve not had that before from Harry, although we have seen that from Thomas
Thomas always tried to tell Harry J something when he could barely talk (I didn't really care for the whole plot point that no one ever asked Why Thomas would do something like this or that he couldn't even talk well enough to explain it). A lot of people are already speculating that Justine might have caused Thomas to try the assassination. But this just doesn't make any sense. In one of the short stories, Justine is kidnapped by the Fomor and there is something about mind control in it. Yet it makes no sense that Thomas' actions would be the result of the Fomor meddling. It is very obvious that they had no worries at all about the state of the Accorded Nations. So inner strife between those nations did not matter. The Fomor were kicking off a war no matter what. So who benefits from Thomas' actions? Because as far as I can tell, no one does. That whole plotline is just left dangling with no reason for it at all. Then you have Harry and Mccoy acting like the Dwarves are about to bust up to get Thomas back when a Titan is about to invade which seemed a lot silly.
It really showed that Butcher wrote this over 6 years. There were so many explanations whenever someone was introduced. I think Butcher explained the ghouls and kids and why Harry hates them at least two times. It was just really not necessary. The Mantle trying to dominate his thoughts was always a background thing, but at least he gets points for denying it all the time? I don't need to know Butters' life story or Michael's every time he appears in the book. Its book 16. It can be assumed no one is starting with Book 16.
I am getting kind of tired of Butcher waffling back and forth about the Winter Knight Mantle. Between it actually giving him strength or just loosening his limiters. Running 6 miles through sand with a 220 pound vest on screams super strength to me. It reads like Butcher just doesn't want to give Harry a real strength powerup, so whenever he does something amazingly strong Butcher starts trotting out the line about limits of humanity. The limits excuse just doesn't work for me after we see some of the things he does.
I liked Lara in this novel. The chemistry between her and Harry just works for me. Murphy was... alright in this novel to me. She wasn't too bad, but I still hated the line about how Harry had her so he wouldn't end up like Ebenezer... Like, What? Ebenezer is over 300 years old with a dead wife and daughter. Plus he is the assassin of one of the major powers in the world. Harry Dresden is in his 40s and Murphy will be dead long before he ever reaches 100. I don't know if Murphy's statement is just arrogant or very stupid. I am rooting for her to die in Battlegrounds. In Christmas Eve it has been 6 or more months since Battlegrounds took place. 6 months and yet Harry is still haunted by the deaths. He still cries his eyes out. Since it seems like Thomas will live, that raises the questions of who will die. Harry would be hurt by Ebenezer's death, but it says in Peace Talks that they barely know each other. He would be hurt because of his family dying, but they haven't really talked to each other for 20+ years. Harry's pain makes the most sense if Murphy is dead. Just my 2 cents on that.
Butters was also alright in this novel. Butcher made sure to Balance the lightsaber out. I will echo how Butters was in such good shape to be strange. It seemed like Butcher kept getting mixed up in how long ago SG was. At some points it seems like months, but other times it mentions it being only 1 month ago. Butters couldn't be that good with a sword or so buff in only 1 month. It was also a weird mistake when Harry mentions he has only been to the castle in spirit form, but he went there at the end of SG. I don't know how that got past the betas.
I saw someone mention that the Fomor king brought up all that info to weaken Mab's hold on her mantle which makes sense. Made her more human so her power weakened. I still think being kicked through 2 walls was stupid. Mab is Winter. She is a huge player in Dresden Files. No one else should be that much more powerful than her. That also brings up the Peace Conference. I was expecting a global conference because we know that the Accords include worldwide groups. But it was weird to see only North American groups show up... Heck, I don't think we even saw anyone from Canada or Mexico. So it was only the American groups show up. That was a little disappointing to me. I was expecting a lot more from these Talks. Even the White Council sent their American members for the most part! Just doesn't make much sense. Disappointing conference to me. Ivy was completely ignored which a strange choice.
I was not a fan of the short stories being so important in this book. Their info was everywhere. Molly and the Dwarves, Molly and Carlos, Molly, Butters and his training, Marcone, the bigfoot, etc. Very excessive for a main series book. I was also not a fan of the FBI/police storyline in this book. It feels completely pointless, and I am not sure how Battlegrounds will change that since the electricity is out citywide. That book will last a night or so I assume which means there is no way to resolve any police storyline. So that makes the whole thing pretty pointless.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I read it in a few hours, and it was a fun read. Butcher still has talent after a 6 or so year break in Dresden. There were a lot of small problems however. Butcher's 6 year writing span really shows through in places. I think they probably should have just made 1 book as Butcher originally intended because this book is incomplete, and it needs the next one to payoff all that it has promised. Good thing Battlegrounds is out in a few months.
The question of Mab's power has already been settled. It has always been her command of her forces of Winter. And this attack at the gates is a plot device Jim has used before to justify her not hitting back at the Reds. Power constrained. It looks like he's pulled out the stops on that particular device. She will exercise her power through her Knight. He will wield the the Sword in Destiny in her cause. Otherwise as a power up exclusively for Harry it's too soon.
@Yuillegan
Any mortal can be nemfected. The only question is, why would you in most cases? Perhaps a more interesting question is who can't be infected? Per Eb we now know of at least two. Harry and Elaine. Assuming Elaine is indeed Starborn. This plays to her being Kumori since it would be to Cowl's best interest to have a ally that can't be, since he in effect, is playing with a deadly virus which he himself is subject to if he is careless. This would explain something he says during Dead Beat.
Jim just put Thomas on ice, and the biggest threat to Justine is the baby. Margaret survived, which suggests the possibility that she knew something about the child's demon and might have shielded herself in some manner. She at least knew enough to be able to block Raith's demon from feeding. Which suggests that there is a solution. Assuming of course that Jim wants there to be. Somebody has already suggested that there are some interesting similarities to Lea encased in ice to be cured of her affliction and Thomas being put in a crystal.
I have read it now, and by the time you have all finished it I imagine I will be asleep.
Spoilers below read at your own peril!!!
First things first. Oh. My. God.
Secondly, what was your favorite part? What did you like and dislike?
I really enjoyed some call backs to Harry's former cases. Things like old potions being used again was lovely. Also lots of great one liners.
Some truly incredible reveals as well.
6. We are closer than ever to knowing who Mab is. We know she is rode with William the Conqueror when she was a teenager/young adult. We know she was a personal friend (possibly lover) of the original Merlin. My guess is that she is Morganna le Fey.
Aren't Mab and Titania Twins? Sisters? I feel like I read that early on in the series.
Some of the characters all of a sudden don't act like themselves. Thomas? Fine, we'll have to wait for the conclusion of that one.
Ebenezer? Unable to keep his temper after a few centuries? That's not how it works. He'd have killed Dresden during his apprenticeship. He does fine while dealing under the influence of mental whammy ink, but NOW he flips out. Necessary hamfisted plot-device for a heart-to-heart much?
Dresden: What should I say? A guy who goes through stuff like Dresden has will bear the scars for a long time. Decades in my experience. But people like that learn from their mistakes. And they never flip parts of their character. For people who go through enough the face, the persona you see is just a mask they are wearing among other humans. It's not actually their character you get to see. Again, I speak from real life experience.
The Fiddler at the party: "They are called Unseelie Accords..." I won't even bother going to further elaborate.
And finally... Morgana la Fey...? Seriously? Mab is Morgana la Fey? Who was madly in Love with Merlin... kinda like Molly is in love with Dresden? Seriously?
And frankly, the preachy tone in some parts of the book feels... weird. There are ways how to work certain messaged into the dialogue without making them poke out an eye. It's why people in real life rarely get to make cool sentences that carry a deep message. Most people simply don't realize when to shut up and keep adding. That's precisely how the "important messages" in this book feel. And THIS is the part of reality Jim decided to incorporate into the story?
Seriously, I have no idea who's responsible for these changes having happened, but I hope the person will take a long vacation. A decade or two sound good.
mister was living at murphy's house3 last I heard,
Until Peace Talks. Assuming everyone here has read it...
Anyway, when we finally came all the way into the living room, Mister, my big grey tomcat, appeared as he always did and flung himself at my shins in a welcome-home shoulder block. I leaned down to rub the base of his ears the way he liked, which he received with great magnanimity, before dismissing me to continue my day. He walked by Thomas, rubbing his cheek against my brother’s leg once and once only to mark him as Mister’s property; then he walked off in regal disinterest. Mister wasn’t as young as he used to be, but he still knew who ruled the apartment.
When they're packing up to leave the Svartalf embassy, Harry specifically tells Hope Carpenter how to bait the cat carrier so Mister will get in it, and then Hope tells him that Mister's in the carrier.
They didn't forget him. And he's currently safe as houses at the Carpenter residence with a choir of angels and a giant foo dog backing up his natural feline immortality.