Scan barcode
manhattanmike's review against another edition
4.0
Better than the last one. Thanked goodness he's back alive as the jeopardy of the action sequences was removed. Back on form. Thrilling.
redeyesinferno's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
acicca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katieinca's review against another edition
2.0
James Marsters was a FANTASTIC reader. And there were some good lines, and some great vivid imagery. But I'm not in a hurry to pick up the next one when it comes out later this month.
Possibly I just shouldn't listen to two of these back to back, but I just can't take any more Dresden-style expounding on Dresden's personal philosophies, or things like how the normal reaction to X is Y, but because he's been through this so many times he's able to think rationally, or dodge the punch, or whatever. Also there was too much exposition. Also too much "oh, that was just the diversion, here's the *real* crisis." Also too much clever last minute plans interspersed with "well I'm just this lug who doesn't handle complex thinking well."
Possibly I just shouldn't listen to two of these back to back, but I just can't take any more Dresden-style expounding on Dresden's personal philosophies, or things like how the normal reaction to X is Y, but because he's been through this so many times he's able to think rationally, or dodge the punch, or whatever. Also there was too much exposition. Also too much "oh, that was just the diversion, here's the *real* crisis." Also too much clever last minute plans interspersed with "well I'm just this lug who doesn't handle complex thinking well."
book_lizard42's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe I'm just in the wrong mood, but Dresden makes me tired. In the first books, there was as much story as action, and there was at least some hope that he would come out on top. The endings were big, and there was some relief for both Dresden AND reader. Not anymore.
Now it's one man against the Unseelie and the Outsiders. I'm tired of walking on broken glass. At this point, there is no soft place to fall. Butcher may have taken the underdog thing a little too far. I've kind of given up on Dresden being able to save the world single-handedly, and I don't even care that much that the odds are against him.
I get it. He's a big, tough character with a lot of emotional baggage. But he doesn't learn much from past mistakes, and it's like watching an alcoholic I love reach for another drink. There comes a point when I just can't watch anymore.
I'll finish it, and I hope that the ending gives me something worth coming back for.
UPDATE:
Finished it last night. Here's a plot summary. Feel free to apply it to any of the last four books.
Meets some being he's never encountered before.
Takes a beating that would kill an ordinary man.
Gets rescued by some unlikely source.
Gets heinie handed to him by another supernatural being.
Gets all broody and lonely, vows he'll never lead his friends into this danger.
Leads friends into danger anyway.
Notices how pretty his brother is. Down boy, he's your brother.
Safe place is breached.
Another beating ensues.
Shirks some kind of responsibility.
Feels like turd.
Regrets a choice he made two books ago.
Someone isn't who we thought they were.
Reminds the reader how long it's been since he was with a woman.
Some tidbit of the bigger picture is revealed. The plot thickens.
Faces insurmountable danger.
Doesn't succeed.
Chips are down! Chips are down!
Almost makes the wrong choice but changes his mind in the end.
Pulls some magic out of his heinie and saves the day. But just the day. Tomorrow is still screwed.
Still doesn't get the woman.
Now it's one man against the Unseelie and the Outsiders. I'm tired of walking on broken glass. At this point, there is no soft place to fall. Butcher may have taken the underdog thing a little too far. I've kind of given up on Dresden being able to save the world single-handedly, and I don't even care that much that the odds are against him.
I get it. He's a big, tough character with a lot of emotional baggage. But he doesn't learn much from past mistakes, and it's like watching an alcoholic I love reach for another drink. There comes a point when I just can't watch anymore.
I'll finish it, and I hope that the ending gives me something worth coming back for.
UPDATE:
Finished it last night. Here's a plot summary. Feel free to apply it to any of the last four books.
Meets some being he's never encountered before.
Takes a beating that would kill an ordinary man.
Gets rescued by some unlikely source.
Gets heinie handed to him by another supernatural being.
Gets all broody and lonely, vows he'll never lead his friends into this danger.
Leads friends into danger anyway.
Notices how pretty his brother is. Down boy, he's your brother.
Safe place is breached.
Another beating ensues.
Shirks some kind of responsibility.
Feels like turd.
Regrets a choice he made two books ago.
Someone isn't who we thought they were.
Reminds the reader how long it's been since he was with a woman.
Some tidbit of the bigger picture is revealed. The plot thickens.
Faces insurmountable danger.
Doesn't succeed.
Chips are down! Chips are down!
Almost makes the wrong choice but changes his mind in the end.
Pulls some magic out of his heinie and saves the day. But just the day. Tomorrow is still screwed.
Still doesn't get the woman.
subparcupcake's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly didn't think anything would be able to top [b:Changes|6585201|Changes (The Dresden Files, #12)|Jim Butcher|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1304027244s/6585201.jpg|6778696]. It was just so emotional and... Full of change (yep, I went there). But damn. Just damn. [b:Cold Days|12216302|Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14)|Jim Butcher|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg|17189468] didn't just top it for me, it blew it out of the park.
All of those little things in the previous books that didn't make sense? The things I just kind of went with assuming I had missed something? Those questions are all starting to be answered, and on a totally epic scale. I feel like this entry in the series just took Dresden from and bunch of semi-related stand alone Urban Fantasy novels to one huge Epic Urban Fantasy tapestry. Yeah, tapestry, I know. I squeezed reading this into a Wheel of Time re-read, deal with it.
I love Butcher's sense of humor. I love how I can go from tense and on the edge of my seat, to laughing out loud, and then to getting a little misty eyed all in one page. I love that he teases my stupid squishy romantic side a little, without the story turning into a another lame paranormal romance (sorry PNR fans, it's just not my thing). I just plain love this series.
What else can I say? If you're considering picking this book up, I'm hoping you've read the other thirteen books in the series first. And if you've read all thirteen, I'm guessing you're enough of a fan to want to continue. And if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed.
No doubt about it, five stars. Hell, make it six for that matter. Loved it!
Damn it... Now I have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next.
All of those little things in the previous books that didn't make sense? The things I just kind of went with assuming I had missed something? Those questions are all starting to be answered, and on a totally epic scale. I feel like this entry in the series just took Dresden from and bunch of semi-related stand alone Urban Fantasy novels to one huge Epic Urban Fantasy tapestry. Yeah, tapestry, I know. I squeezed reading this into a Wheel of Time re-read, deal with it.
I love Butcher's sense of humor. I love how I can go from tense and on the edge of my seat, to laughing out loud, and then to getting a little misty eyed all in one page. I love that he teases my stupid squishy romantic side a little, without the story turning into a another lame paranormal romance (sorry PNR fans, it's just not my thing). I just plain love this series.
What else can I say? If you're considering picking this book up, I'm hoping you've read the other thirteen books in the series first. And if you've read all thirteen, I'm guessing you're enough of a fan to want to continue. And if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed.
No doubt about it, five stars. Hell, make it six for that matter. Loved it!
Damn it... Now I have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next.
lannnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25