He most likely encouraged Susan to keep the child in the area, he plotted with the Red King to murder the innocent family she stayed with and kidnap the child.   

I find myself curious where this steady assumption of Susan keeping Maggie "in the area" has arisen from. The text specifically says that Maggie was with placed with a family "away from the fighting". The only indication of where that family may have actually been located would be assumptions based solely on their surname.

Which reminds me of how, in one book signing, someone put their foot in it by suggesting that Injun Joe might have been a suspect as being responsible for the naagloshi--because, after all, he's a Native American.

Jim...well, I'll politely say that he refuted that one emphatically. Canon said long ago that Injun Joe was an Illinois medicine man, and Jim pointed out just how far removed the tribes of the Southwest are from those of the Midwest. Matter of fact, he made a point of making a parallel of just how distant that relationship would be if we were talking in terms of European nations. I believe his reference was something like from Italy to Norway.

Saying that Maggie was "in the area" simply because the family she was with had a Hispanic surname is nothing but more of the same. And it didn't really matter where she was, because even if Maggie was in Alaska, after Martin tells them where she was, the exact same thing would have happened.

I've seen a number of misapprehensions about Susan Rodriguez in this thread. Please pardon me of I get back on topic my next post.

I'm really excited about Harry's run to the bank; explaining the whole no ID situation, clarifying that he's not dead anymore, etc.
Bank runs are awesome!

I'm afraid you're out of luck.

Wizard Rashid in Cold Days, explaining the "help" that he would give:

"...There's some paperwork to fill out to get the Council's office to reestablish your official identity with the government, but I'll see to it that it happens. I think I remember all the necessary forms".

In other words, that box of mail that Harry has in Jury Duty probably includes a temporary ID, until he can get to a State of Illinois Driver's License station. Oh, and his back Warden pay is probably also among those envelopes. So, I guess Harry will be needing some deposit slips.

I think it's "upside down" because that's how Mr. McGrath did it. I don't think it means anything more than that. The ruby is also absent in Cold Days and Peace Talks. I also that's just a choice Mr. McGrath made (or he just didn't know about the ruby).

This. I don't know if the artist actually reads the books, or is merely informed of important elements of them. In this case, the ruby was a throwback from all the way back in Changes, so perhaps Mr. McGrath simply didn't think of it. Not everyone is a Dresden nerd. Poor them!

That's the likely explanation. Not the guaranteed one, because…Jim.  Harry might simply have had reason to remove the stone temporarily. Until we read the book, we don't know.

The first thing that I thought significant in the artwork is that though there is a great deal of artistic license (the hat has become a cover trademark), specific weapons Harry uses in a book usually show up in the cover art. That was so in Cold Days and Skin Game, though I don't know how accurate the representation was for either—especially in Skin Game, Remember, Murphy gave Harry the short barrel version of the S&W 500—but the long barrel portrayed on the cover looks much cooler. Sells more books. The same reason for the hat.

Thus the blade that has suddenly appeared atop Harry's staff may appear shaped the way it is simply because the artist (and Penguin) thinks that it will sell more books. I learned a bit about Greek and Roman blades the last few days. Of course, none of it really fit the appearance of that blade.

In any case, the moment that I saw the image, that blade jumped out at me. Sure, the background is the middle of Chicago, but we all knew that was going to happen. Harry's anguish in the Christmas Story is there for a reason.

Upon reflection, I see three possibilities.

A. That isn’t Harry’s staff—or at least not the one he made on Demonreach—at all. Perhaps something entirely different.
B. As mentioned by others, the blade is the one from the knife Harry retrieved from Hades’ Vault.
C. The actual blade pictured is…something else.

As for the blade itself, two options popped into my head. One is that this is indeed the blade that was attached to the knife that he retrieved in Skin Game. A distinct possibility, but there are a couple of arguments against that. The overarching one being that as Skin Game concluded, I assumed that the four items Harry retrieved wouldn't come into play until closer to the endgame three book sequence. Say, Book 20 or so.

Specifically, Harry's intent was to stash them away safely in the depths of Demonreach, and do research on how best to use each of them. Unlike previous books, there has been a relatively short period since the events of Skin Game, a period where Harry has been busy both rebuilding his life essentially from scratch, and establishing his relationship with Maggie. How much time would he have for research right off the bat?

I don't know how much ready information Bob would have on the subject (Harry really needs to take full possession of him once more) because those are items of faith, and Bob has repeatedly referred to them as off his wavelength.

Now, Bonea would likely have more information in her database, courtesy of a Fallen Angel’s knowledge and memories...but from WOJ, I think that we'll see that access to that information is an issue. As Jim said, it takes centuries to build a spirit like Bob. Bonnie needs to build connections, establish frameworks of reference for all of the information she has loosely floating around.

And of course, perhaps everyone's assumptions (including Mab's) as to the spirit holding onto Lasciel's knowledge were incorrect.

In any case, I doubt that Harry has discovered how to correctly or effectively use those four items as of yet. And Jim wouldn't make something that easy for Harry.

On the other hand, in case of fire, break glass. Since when has ignorance stopped Harry from using something he thought would help  when in dire need? Think about how he bonded with Demonreach. And how different events in a couple of encounters there could have been had he managed to learn what he knew a couple of books later, at the start of Skin Game.

And, looking at the background of the image,  Harry certainly does seem to have a fire on his hands. Literally so. So, I've almost dispensed with my own argument. Still, I won't give up on that point, because there is a distinct second possibility.

Harry is hardly one not to steal good ideas. Gee, I wonder where he gets that particular trait from? After seeing Elaine's lightning chain, he went out and whipped up his own--which proved useful, though we haven't seen it again. Perhaps in practical use, he saw shortcomings he didn't like.

In any case, in Changes (along with all of the other impacts of that particular book) Harry saw that Vadderung's "wizard staff” was also a spear. I think he saw that as an inspiration. And seriously, can you see his weapons consultant, Murphy, arguing that having sharp and pointy things to stick on the end of a staff is a bad thing?

Tactically, staves are intended to serve a specific purpose. One completely different from a spear. And spears are not intended for either the same purpose or usage as a staff. The shaft of your average spear would not make a good staff. I had to look it up--but Jim Butcher doubtless already knows that.

So, I think that perhaps Harry decided to innovate, to expand his armament repertoire. And no, I don't think Vonnerung loaned him his spear, the way that Ebenezar made a quick loan in Changes. Probably. See later.

That said, there is another familiar type of magical blade in the Dresden Files that we know is fairly common. It's pretty well known, though we've seen fewer of them recently. And we know that Harry thinks they are useful. At one point he even considers all of the things they can do. And we've seen Carlos use his--more than once. Anastasia Luccio as well.

A Warden's sword.

Now, we all know that Luccio said that she can't make them any more, in her new body--though she also added that perhaps someday she'd be able to reacquire those skills. I have been wondering about when that might happen. But I think that's something that Jim considers as "too easy for Harry", simply having things given to him.

I am also certain that the blade being mounted on a staff is a clear indication that Luccio did not make it. As Harry repeatedly says, "old things get set in their ways", and Luccio definitely qualifies. Harry even mentioned at one point that she was near to candidacy for the Senior Council.

None of that is a stumbling block. If Luccio didn't make a blade that has the enchantments of a Warden's sword, who did?

Let's put it this way. I think that there have been enough hints lately that Harry is about to have a closer relationship with the svartalves. I have little doubt that if he asked them, that one of their craftsmen could make a blade with the same or similar abilities to a Warden's sword. Or better. He has some liquid assets available for fun—um, useful things now.

Yes, I know it's the blade of a spear rather than a sword. Fortuitously, utilizing that form would eliminate some of the nagging inherent issues of a Warden's sword. As in, you wouldn't have to change hands, or set aside your staff and take the time to draw your sword when you needed it. See? Portability.

That degree of innovation Harry (or the svartalves) could provide. And besides--Harry has to have something to blow…ah, spend his diamonds on. And I'm pretty sure that rather than Harry taking the time of carefully selling them, the svartalves would likely—gleefully—take high quality diamonds as cash.

But that for another time.

As far as the staff on the cover not being Harry’s own, well…first point, Eb said at the end of Changes that he’d get Harry a blank from his lightning-struck tree. Harry’s had enough time to make a new staff away from his limitations at Demonreach.

Next, by the time this book rolls around, there’s a whole lot of battle going on, and a whole lot of powerful entities wandering around. Who knows who might have reached into their toy box for a powerful magical item for Harry to play with?

More on that, perhaps, another time. Enough meandering for now.

A Titan wouldn't be in crystal, that is for smaller fry, a Titan would warrant one of the cells deeper down in the tunnel.Thomas cannot just regenerate, he needs to feed to do that.  So unless that happens he will suffer and even die like any vanilla human.

A. The "cells further down the tunnel" are crystal covered--and the size of buildings.

B. Harry had the impression that something was "off" about Thomas. As in, he was Hungry. It seemed implicit to me that if Justine was pregnant and the bab was feeding off of her, Thomas was not feeding. Off of Justine or anyone else. Not even nibbling.

Thus if he got in a fight, he would be able to regenerate until his reserves were empty. In this case, he might have regenerated as much as possible--and the fight kept going, and he got beaten up even more.

Alternately, I suppose that after the fight was over, he had just enough "left in the tank" to heal critical internal injuries and keep himself from dying. Which still left him looking like hamburger.

And unable to feed.

Kim is dead, so whatever her sins in Harry's world she paid the price.  Ditto for Susan.  And Harry bears no responsibility for either of those deaths. There is nothing about his behavior in either case to improve. Would this be a cogent summation?

Yeesh. I thought the Kincaid microfiction was an interesting topic, then I got swamped. May as well get this out of the way.

As in other threads, other subjects here, people seem to see a topic as black and white. It's not a binary solution set. Is Kim largely responsible for her own death? Yes. Is Harry partially responsible for Kim's death? Yes.

The important point being that Harry feels responsible for her death. Because...Harry.

Yep. Also that kid from Zoo Day.

Austin, IIRC. And since he seemed to have more power than some (his summoning ability may be on a par with Molly's talent for veils and illusions), I'm wondering if Harry will have a new full time apprentice as of Peace Talks.

You are a minority depending on what you consider magic.

Hah! Pardon me while I digress. I was speaking with an author who had written an urban fantasy series that seemed to include...more than its fair share of truth, based on my experiences. I mentioned what I thought was too close to "real", and the author was silent for a minute.

Then proceeded to tell me A. that my (what I thought I had imagined) "abilities" were real, B. Not to do a certain thing, because it would have a certain result (he couldn't know that I had already done that--with that result), and C. was surprised that I hadn't picked up on this being real on my own. Apparently there are...resources.

And then clammed up.

And while I looked, I still have absolutely no idea where I was supposed to look. If there is a Paranet parallel for that fictional universe, it's in a niche that isn't easily found.

Which I think the Dresden Files' Paranet would be.

Anyway, as far as the actual microfiction is concerned:

A. Yes, Ivy did indeed fire Kincaid. She didn't want to have to look at the face of someone she knew had shot her only other friend.

B. Kincaid realizes that he "didn't say good-bye" because he knows that Ivy isn't going to give him a chance to after he does what he does.

C. Having friends isn't about driving Ivy insane. It's about keeping her human, from being insane. Harry understands that.

D. The Archive/Ivy is neutral. Because we're talking "neutral" in terms of the Accords. She doesn't make alliances, or officially help people. Come to think of it, the only time we've seen her acting against anyone is when someone has violated those Accords. At which point they are dealt with. With extreme prejudice.

E. Ivy would be about 16 as of Peace Talks, right?

Just a thought, She's going to have to have a baby one day to provide her own heir. See "C" above. I don't think it's likely that she conceives artificially--or fails to raise her own child.

Honestly the thing I'm most confused about is that Harry doesn't consider Vadderung/Kringle a friend. They've fought alongside each other in atleast 2 battles. He's given good advice, crucial on separate occasions. Plus he seems like a genuinely fun guy,

They have the basis for a friendship--at least, one of the personas. Wait until you see the two of them watching a movie at a drive-in theater in Kringle's sleigh.

  Yeah, about Thomas, he usually doesn't get his ass kicked.  The last being to do that if I remember correctly was Shaggynasty...

In one of the Bigfoot stories, Harry is extremely wary of a svartalf posing as a gym coach. So I think we have a likely answer here for the likely culprit.

Given his "hosts", I'm guessing the cage Thomas is in may prevent him from regenerating. Either that, or he's completely out of gas.

Given that text indicates that Demonreach's prisoners include "Dark Gods", I'm willing to entertain the possibility that "mere" Titans could be imprisoned there.

Also, that the summoning circle exists for an ascension ritual for in extremis emergencies for the Warden.

I found myself wondering how that would work. The one ascension ritual that Harry knows involves necromancy, and absorbing the life of ghosts and other undead spirits. I'm fairly sure there aren't many dead people in the island.

Perhaps there is another ritual that only involves "spirit" power, and I'd guess that either the spirit of the island--or Alfred--would suffice. However, I'd think that sucking the power from either would be counterproductive to the Warden's responsibilities. And I'm pretty sure that Alfred would...quibble.

Then there is the fact that if the Warden were to ascend to godhood, he'd probably find himself opposed by thirty or forty beings of the same power level.  Not to mention all of the "lesser" beings.

I suspect that someone, somewhen here has calculated just how many could be imprisoned every few feet in twelve tunnels a "mile or two" long.

After all, I recall that someone did make a good estimate of just what Harry's share of the diamonds was actually worth!