I am a big Butcher fan and enjoyed the book in general, but frankly there were several events in the book that simply did not make a lot of sense to me.

1) The book made a big deal in the beginning to explain why the naval warships could not really damage the naval port in their surprise attack because it would take too much time and the naval defensive batteries would blow them apart.  However, later in the book a single armed merchantman totally destroyed the Landing port both quickly and easily.   Presumably this port also had defenses given its obviously vital importance?   Presumably the merchants weapons were not more powerful than that of the full warships that attacked the naval port?     

2)  The whole naval fleet is concentrated in a defensive formation around the Spire.   So how did an attack on Landing happen without any of these naval vessels noticing and intercepting the merchant ship.    The whole point of such a formation would be to protect the Spire and keep the fleet concentrated to respond to any attack on the Spire.  Landing was one of the most important hubbles in the Spire and one of the most exposed to attack.  The Spirach made precautions against an attack on Landing, but no naval precautions were made?  At least some ships should have been nearby and in a position to intercept the merchant ship/transport, especially as there was no Aurora attack in place to distract them.    And if all these ships would be completely unable to see what was happening when on full alert/at war/defensive focused formation/not distracted, then that is an argument that the spire is effectively unable to spot an attack/effectively defend itself.   Yes I know the merchant ship is fast, but it takes time to pick up speed and the naval ships would already be in motion/nearby.     

3) Grim identified the merchant ship as most likely the escape ship for the invading marines.  So why did he not take any action to prevent the enemy marines from making their escape?  More guards on the landing?   Some naval vessels on guard?   A few crewman on a weapon and ready to fire.   Grim did not even send a warning to the landing when he knew the enemy marines were starting their major attack.   

4) There was also this big discussion on the ship about electricity and why the Spire did not make such available to its people.  The counter-argument was that power crystals are in short supply.   But presumably a very huge power source is already in place to keep afloat the Spires themselves.   Multiple comments about etheric flow of energy passing through the conduits designed by the builders.  Why not use that energy to power electric devices.  I doubt all the people the spire can use enough energy to make up more than a tiny fraction of what is required to hold all that massive stone complex in the air.   And given the series implies the builders were space explorers (from earth), they would naturally be inclined toward a technological society anyway.  So why no power outlets?   Lighting and cooking fuel would be far more expensive/disruptive to bring from the surface than to tap in the core power for some electric lights and stoves. 

5) Why not stainless steel?   This one is a minor objection as presumably there is something about this planet that really rips into iron and maybe stainless steel is no solution.  So why not molded plastic or some alloy.   Presumably the builders would have the expertise to design a process that can do that.   If they left behind the knowledge to make power crystals, they could leave behind the knowledge to make special alloys or ceramics or plastics or crystals that can serve the same role as iron.     Of course, the back story may explain this.   There might be some very good reason why technology was extremely limited except for those elements essential for survival.   Power crystals are needed to leave the spire (a necessity as they are not a closed system), but plastic is not.   Copper clad weapons are particularly problematic as copper is a soft metal.  A single parry of another sword might break the copper clad coating and expose the iron to the air – a very bad thing.   

6) Why did nobody give a status update to the Spirarc on what they found?   they could easily have sent a messenger to let him know the target was almost certainly the landing and that the Marines were located nearby.   They would have needed to get his help to coordinate the guard forces to attack the marines, once they found them.   Again no communication at all. 


Not meaning to throw stones at a good story, but the above items cause me a mental itch that detracts from my enjoyment of the story.   It feels like the author really did not think things through and/or chose to ignore these concerns.  A few words or a small paragraph could have alleviated any one of the above "plot problems" without changing anything meaningful in the story at all.   

Anybody got some good theories as to why the above are not a real problem.   

Just a genetic tangent here.   Some thoughts
1) I wonder if warrior born have issues breeding?  Given an aristocratic house values the bloodline, they would avoid warrior born marriages simply because of the risk of no kids.   Nothing said in the book on this, but it is possible.

2) Warrior born are clearly a genetic recessive "type", but obviously a very complicated one.  It feels like they were bred into in people for some reason.  Either the recessive gene provides some value or warrior borns cannot breed true.  Either way, it makes for interesting social implications.

3) Warrior born seem uncommon.   There were only a small number among the invading marines.   Given the advantages of warrior born to a marine, that implies that they are very uncommon.   Or possibly that they are urgently needed for some other purpose. the 2nd seems unlikely as there seemed no pressure on the warrior borns in the book to "serve in some specific way"

•   Justine:  Her presence enabled Maeve to inform the reader that Lara is clean of Nemfection.-Second Aristh
•   Sarissa:  See Molly above.
•   Mac:  Huh... Um why WAS he there?

Justine was NOT to say that Lara is free of Nemfection, as we have already had quotes that imply she is infected.  Who says Maeve has any real insight other than to know Lara is a good target.  Given Maeve "could" cure herself, why give her more info than needed.   However, Justine's involvement has been there in a lot of Dresden books, always in these modest support roles.   I think the groundwork is being set for her to play a more significant role - or set her up as a very tragic death.   

The most important thing about Mac on Demonreach is the way his actions are different than those in his pub when Sharkface the Outsider shows up.

In his pub, he actively gets weapons and tells Harry to kill the Outsiders.  He knows about Outsiders and wants them dead.  He does not act passively.  On Demonreach, Mac is back to standing around waiting for things to happen.  He does not join the fight nor does he provide any commentary that would be helpful.  He simply does not offend. My assumption on his shooting is different.  Nemesis gets a nice clean shot at him.  Maeve thinks she is going to win, so no need to kill him quickly.  However, she does put him out of commission.  I think this comes from Nemesis in knowing who/what Mac is from an Outsider perspective (my base assumption is that Nemesis and the Outsiders act in concert - though we have no absolute proof of that).

Mac has stated he is "Out" and you can hear the capital letters.   Some other comments imply he is Watching, again with the capital letter in Watching.   Who or why he is watching is unknown.   It is clear that he is NOT supposed to impact events.   This gives some explanation of both his actions and why he is there.

1) He fights against outsiders as they are "outside" and thus probably in another category.  Ie - it is a loophole in the rules that normally keep him neutral.  I am guessing that watching is linked to non-interference.  Same reason he could not fight the fey - they are part of our world and probably no loophole exists.   And he stays quiet as even providing information is interfering.  Although even against the outsiders Mac showed no real supernatural powers although clearly he had them.  So maybe the outsider loophole is limited.   

2) Mac's biggest interference was with Harry giving advice in Changes -- and that was limited to saying the choice is important.   That is a man who is very careful about impacts.    But note that Mac could perform first aid, assist Sarissa/Justine and help move people.  It may be that he can do some things to help people(another loophole), but how big a loophole is not clear.   

3) I think the reason Mac was here (meta-story wise) is that Dresden needs to learn to pay attention to Mac.  He gets a few hints Mac is different in earlier books, but this is the first book where it is really obvious that Mac is really worth paying attention to as he is NOT a small player.  Not necessarily a threat, but important and potentially a source of knowledge/power that Harry might need in the future.   

This part doesn't track with what we've seen. Mab would never make a bargain with an invading enemy at the heart of her power to go away. To do so would be to indicate weakness, and Mab never shows weakness. I get how you are tying her inaction into a larger plan, but Mab's larger plans always have her dealing from a position of strength. If Thorned Namshiel and his forces had invaded Winter, won their way to the gates of Arctis Tor itself, and Mab says "If you go away and not attack me any longer, I'll give you _____ ", then it would appear to one and all that Mab was unable to defeat TN's forces in the middle of her domain. Regardless of whether it was part of a larger plan or not, that sort of show of weakness would never happen by Mab.

Totaly agree.  My arguement is that somebody made the deal with Mab much earlier, before Mab began to realize the Outsiders were making a major play.   Because this agreement existed, the Black council KNEW that they could attack Mab in her place of power and not be destroyed by Mab.    I would argue that Mab has been trapped in this way since she first began to recuit Dresden due to all her talk about adoring freedom then.   

Nemesis hoped to capture Lea before she could tell Mab about Maeves infection. Mab feigned some weakness and send all her troops away and waited for the attack. Nemesis hoped with Maeves help to get in and take Lea away but failed because Mab was ready and Maeve was revealed anyway. Lea was the bait and Nemesis went for it.

No way to capture lea or attack Arctis Tor without negating Mab.   They fought Mab's guards outside the citadel --- it is not like they tried ot sneak in.   Which means they either wanted Mab go fight (suicidal in her place of power) or they were confident that Mab could not fight.   

Maeve might oppose Mab, but counting on Maeve to oppose Mab on your attack would have thrown away a secret and highly valuable asset (Maeve).  The Black council woudl never have done that withought great need.  And arguably, even if Maeve threw down with the black council folks, they still would have lost.   Mab would have destroyed Maeve and created a new Winter lady who was not infected.     yes we know now Mab was paralyzed by her love of her daughter, but I doubt anybody else knew this at the time of PG

IMO Wnter stayed out of the war because Maeve was out of the game. I dug up a bunch of info on celtic lore a little while ago and based on that, (it really all lines up very neatly with what we know of the queens allready, although the idea that they might have acquired some hellish mantles at some point is worrisome, but that's a bit more speculative), Maeve would be the one who should have done the smacking around. Sure Mab could have done it but that isn't really whether power is about and she probably has a lot of annoying limitations making it harder than it should be, and she has a lot fo other responsibilities she may not be able to ignore for long enough. Not to mention it would have clearly stated Maeve wasn't doing her job to anyone with more than Harry's level of knowledge of the courts which would be baaaad.

Mab could have supported the war pretty easily and it woudl have been pretty devistating to the Red Court even if Mab and Maeve never got involved themselves.   Harry was pretty clear.  If Winter and Summer got involved, it was suicide for the Red Courts. There are a lot of very powerful fey that would have a ball killing Red Court Vampires anytime they went anywhere near the never-never.   

The first indication that Mab knew about Maeve was small favor, which is after these events.   Does not mean she did not suspect Maeve earlier, but your argument still seems a stretch. 

Why did Mab not destroy any intruders attacking her citadel in Proven Guilty?
Again, this is a plot understand who was under the influence of Nemesis.

Not following this.  Allowing an attack on Arctis tor is accepting a huge insult and a direct challange to Mab's authority and thus her power.   She might do it to find out who is infected, but you need to explain how allowing outsiders to attack her home helps her identify infected fey.   There does not seem to be an obvious connection to support this claim.    In fact, the opposite would be true.  Capture the intruders, torture them for information and see who among her people tries to free/kill them.  Much better strategy to find infected individuals.   

Consider that Nic now is in a much different place. His secret of how the noose can be used against him is out. Anduriel's power has been revealed, and with it, a way to counter one of Nic's biggest advantages. Nic's following has never seen him take it on the chin like that in their lives. Setbacks, yes, but not to that degree. Nic's standing among the supernatural set has taken a huge hit. He no longer has a favor he can call in from Mab. His two biggest Denarian supporters are either dead (Deirdre) or now bitterly opposed to him (Tessa). He has trespassed into the Vault of Hades and could conceivably be on Hades' list of People To Do Bad Things To.

Old Nic had his secrets intact, his followers (mortal and Denarian), his Marker with Mab, and his reputation. New Nic has none of that. He's going to be different now. How he is different, remains to be seen. He could become reckless, fearful, overly cautious, etc. It'll be interesting to see if/how Jim decides to shape Nic going forward.

I am not seeing Nic as seriously weakened.   Yes he will go quiet for a bit to heal his wounds and compensate for his losses, but he is still a nasty threat

*  Nic lost Dedrie, his trusted and very powerful lieutenant.   That hurts in a big way
*  Nic's reputation is trashed, which will make it harder for him to recruit mercenaries or temporary allies.   But let's put that in perspective.   All Denarians have a horid reputation as backstabbers and liars.   They are freaking fallen angels.   The fact that he burned some allies will make it harder/more expensive get future allies/mercenaries, but there are clearly enough bad creautres in the world that his pool of available assistance is still pretty deep.

Nic sitll has a lot of sources of power
1) obviously sitll very wealthy
2) still has the vast pool of information that Andurial collects for him
3) still has all the powers and knowledge of the captain of the Fallen
4) still has his reputation as the most deadly Fallen of them all
5) still has the Noose.  And while Harry could tell everybody about that weakness, he has not to date told anybody.  Even if Harry tells the world about this weakness, it is only a small weakness.  Conditions have to be just right to make it work and Nic is deadly in melee combat.   
6) still has at least one coin to hand out, and perhaps several more.   
7) still can rally the rest of the fallen to his banner for a big operation such as occured in Small Favor.   
8 ) still has the Holy Grail, an artifact of such great power that it makes the swords seem weak.
9) still Nic, one of the two most dangeorus beings Harry has ever faced.  the other is, of course, Marcone who has no powers at all.