[Imperial Historian]

Does it make me a bad person to say that I seriously considered banning you for putting that spoiler box there to tempt me?

[Aptorian]

Spoiler

no

[Grief]

And that smiley at the end makes you know it's pure awesomesauce.

*sigh*

[Aptorian]

Actually, so far it's not really been one of the best of his books. It's like Butcher is just going through the motions and using the same MO for a story board as he' has for the other ones.

But it's still the Dresden Files and that makes it awesome. And I know that he's only setting things up for the big Convergence in the ending.

Also it feels like he's channeling a bit of the "harboring a fugitive" sketches with Tehol and Bugg in this one. I have been roaring with laughter a couple of times now.

[Use Of Weapons]

Forbidden Planet in London quoted a '7th April' at me when I asked, but said that because the UK publisher holds the rights, they embargo imports. Borders on CXR said 16th April. I'm gonna check FP tomorrow.

[Chance]

Aptorian, on Apr 5 2009, 09:21 PM, said:

Actually, so far it's not really been one of the best of his books. It's like Butcher is just going through the motions and using the same MO for a story board as he' has for the other ones.

It feels a bit like repeat preformance with new badguys...doesn't it...

[Aptorian]

It does. I mean the ending is okay, it further develops the stoy of internal strife in the White Council and many of the other sidestories, but it's just like the story was missing something. Admittedly the ending of the 9th book was pretty spectacular and not easy to outdo, but it's like the whole thing is just running on a slightly lower tangent.

Still lots of "holy crap" moments and strange new questions raised:

Spoiler

What's up with Dresdens headache? I was expecting it to tie in with the ending but nothing emerged. At first I thought there may had been a pattern with it being connected with his sleep. For the entire duration of his first run with no sleep we heard nothing, then when he woke... uhm, on the couch or something the headache was back. At first I was hoping that it was Lash coming back, but I now wonder if this is connected with the Evil Clerk guy? Has he been inside Dresdens head contrary to what we're lead to believe in the ending? Or even more sinister, has Molly been inside his head?

Molly was a surprise in this book. We all know that potentially she could become a very dark and very dangerous wizard but, I didn't expect her to just break the rules again so easily. It shows how weak she is. Personally I now suspect she will be turned or otherwise betray Dresden sooner or later. Dresdens going to have to cut her head off if he wants to live. Stupid girl is a liability.

I don't know if I liked the Skinwalker. Yet another supwerpowerfull being that Harry can't fight but only outsmart. In the start of the book I was expecting a demon of grand magnitude like "The one who walks behind" (or what ever that thing was called) or some kind of true outsider, the way it was able to flay Harry's mind. I found it unbelievable that the thing didn't have the same effect on the other people it got near, like the security guards and vampires. Even though they don't have the sight it should still have a "piss your pants, flee in terror" effect on other people. Don't get me wrong, the thing was awesome, everything it did just oozed "scary fairytale monster". Like Injun-Joe said it's the closest thing to true evil Dresden has faced.

The Listens-to-wind vs Shagnasty fight was without a doubt one of the highlights of the book. Goes to show how scary the Senior Council members really are. I didn't like Listens to Wind letting it go though. I have no doubt the Shagnasty will be back. It's obvious that it will serve as a new superpowerfull opponent to Harry like Nicodemous has.

Allthrough the book I was suspecting Listen to Wind as the traitor because of his aggressive attitude towards Morgan and his cultural connection with Shagnasty. Now that the book is over, you have to ask yourself... if he didn't send the Skinwalker, who did? The presence of the creature wasn't properly explanined in my opinion. It is implied that the Skinwalker wanted Morgan because it was promised/or needed something from the Black Council. But what could they possibly off the thing? To be quite honest it seems like it would be beneath a powerhouse like the Skinwalker to work for wizards.

Then there's Thomas, oh god Thomas! My heart went cold when Dresden and Thomas met at the Zoo. I really think Butcher underplayed that scene. Harry has a lot of room in his heart for Thomas but the guy is also one of extreme emotions, I am surprised he took that development, that shift in Thomas, so easy. I know Harry has grown and changed since the first books but I was appalled at his sudden lack of "outrage" when Lara Raith announced that she would be feeding and killing on her own men, who were right there for Dresden to save. I was also surprised that Harry didn't warn Thomas. I know he can't just declare war on the Raith and at the Mansion he needed Lara's help, but since when has Harry been good at making those sacrifices. I found it lacking in believability that he didn't order Lara to release the wounded guards. I also wonder if it hadn't been more believable if Harry had burned Thomas to a crisp when he met him in the park.

Thomas change will most likely be crucial story line in the next books, Harry trying to win him back and the demon having control. I can't really decide how that fits together with Thomas connection with the Elfking and the hunt. Thomas is a predator, but I expected more. I can't really see any other way that ending than Dresden killing Thomas, and his passive choice to do nothing when Thomas announced he killed 12 innocent women and would do it in the future, that doesn't sit well with me.

I wonder if Harry's change in behavior is another sign that someone has been in Harrys head again.

I love Butchers ability to introduce characters and eligantly ensuring that there is plenty of oppertunities to tie them into the series.

The PI is obviously going to pop up again. Harry connects with him on a personal level, Molly is going to date him and he is talented in areas of investigation that Harry doesn't have at his disposal.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Binder will pop up again. The guy is a killer and a thug, but he also has honor and smarts. He reminds me of Kincaid in some ways.

I was surprised that the island from the prior book popped up in this one again. Butcher seems to work with one or two book jumps between returning to older storylines. The island was less scary than I expected. I thought it would be a true horror, like the dead rising from the earth, roots flying about, killer bunnies going for the throats and all. I guess the story is still going to develop.

What were the sigils surrounding the cabin and tower on Demonsreach? We're talking heavy duty wards/words of power if they stopped a Shagnasty cold like that. Reminds me of the power of the runes of that "Scandinavian-merc business" from the last book.

I was not happy when Morgan died. I liked that old fool. He was hard as nails and could kick some serious ass. I found the plottwist that he fled to protect Luccio a bit thin. He has an unbending sense of duty towards the White Council but he would leave a mind controlled Luccio inside Edinbough, without making a fuss? Really? And he didn't say anything about it when she showed up in Dresdens appartment? Meh.

The Morgan, Molly and Mouse scenes where hilarious though. Like I wrote above, it felt like Butcher was channeling a bit of Eriksons Tehol and Bugg, in those scenes. You have to love Mouse, that dog is smarter than all of them put together, and a lot more intimidating. Those stalemates Harry kep walking in on were awesome. The third one was a bit more serious but the second one had me laughing for a good minute.

I was disappointed that we didn't hear anything concrete about Michael in this, besides him apparently being "crippled" at the island. I know supposedly this story was handled in a short story in some omnibus, but it wouldn't have hurt Butcher to drop a few words on the matter.

Finally, this whole Black Council business. I'm waiting for Butcher to actual bust this thing right open. So far we've seen the Black Council moving in the shadows, but somehow, somewhen, this had to become more than just cloak and daggers. Maybe when Dresden finally gets something solid and a lead bad guy goes down, we'll see the BC brought into the light and a real war starting. Right now, it's getting a bit old. It's mindnumbingling frustrating to listen to the likes of Ancient Mai dismissing the possibilities of such conspiracies. I know they are old and set in their ways, but fucks sake, you'd think that more than power and seniority was desired of a member of the senior council.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of this Grey Council. Sounds like this new Senior Member will be a real asshole, so sounds like the Merlin is going to have his work cut out for him.

[Use Of Weapons]

all those spoiler tags -- I don't believe em! I refuse to believe em! *sticks fingers in ears*

[Pig Iron]

Spoiler

Listens-to-wind vs Skinwalker was fun. And I liked the hints about what's to come for Harry. Usually the relationships to Harry's friends are more rewarding; Murphy, Michael, even Thomas. This book felt a little cold. And the Grey Council-plotline is rather Harry Potter by now.

Agree that it's a bit of a "between" book. Still, great fun and a page turner like all of them.

[Chance]

It does. I mean the ending is okay, it further develops the stoy of internal strife in the White Council and many of the other sidestories, but it's just like the story was missing something. Admittedly the ending of the 9th book was pretty spectacular and not easy to outdo, but it's like the whole thing is just running on a slightly lower tangent.


Spot on...all in all a good read but not upping the stakes as we are used to...

Quote

Spoiler

What's up with Dresdens headache? I was expecting it to tie in with the ending but nothing emerged. At first I thought there may had been a pattern with it being connected with his sleep. For the entire duration of his first run with no sleep we heard nothing, then when he woke... uhm, on the couch or something the headache was back. At first I was hoping that it was Lash coming back, but I now wonder if this is connected with the Evil Clerk guy? Has he been inside Dresdens head contrary to what we're lead to believe in the ending? Or even more sinister, has Molly been inside his head?

Molly was a surprise in this book. We all know that potentially she could become a very dark and very dangerous wizard but, I didn't expect her to just break the rules again so easily. It shows how weak she is. Personally I now suspect she will be turned or otherwise betray Dresden sooner or later. Dresdens going to have to cut her head off if he wants to live. Stupid girl is a liability.

Spoiler

I'd guess we don't know yet but if its Lash which I don't think but lots of others do /Happy Dance. I'd guess it aint the clerk guy they barely had any contact unless hes been mindwiped to not remember it. It could be molly who by the way turned out alot more wicked then in the last few books showing just how dangerous it is to go down the dark path. I don't think Butcher would have gone through the trouble of giving her one book just to cut of her head three four later. I think personal attachment makes her loyal as we see repeatedly in Turncoat but she ain't out of the dark side yet and hopefully won''t be grey is just more interesting.

Quote

Spoiler

I don't know if I liked the Skinwalker. Yet another supwerpowerfull being that Harry can't fight but only outsmart. In the start of the book I was expecting a demon of grand magnitude like "The one who walks behind" (or what ever that thing was called) or some kind of true outsider, the way it was able to flay Harry's mind. I found it unbelievable that the thing didn't have the same effect on the other people it got near, like the security guards and vampires. Even though they don't have the sight it should still have a "piss your pants, flee in terror" effect on other people. Don't get me wrong, the thing was awesome, everything it did just oozed "scary fairytale monster". Like Injun-Joe said it's the closest thing to true evil Dresden has faced.

Spoiler

I think it was just a bit too much and also it kinda had little relevance to the plot, it was just a random monster that turned up. Would rather have seen something a bit more plot related. Thought I guess one of the main points of having it in the book was to fuck up Thomas. Still it gave an excuse to have vampires in and some of those scenes where good/great

Quote

Spoiler

The Listens-to-wind vs Shagnasty fight was without a doubt one of the highlights of the book. Goes to show how scary the Senior Council members really are. I didn't like Listens to Wind letting it go though. I have no doubt the Shagnasty will be back. It's obvious that it will serve as a new superpowerfull opponent to Harry like Nicodemous has.

Allthrough the book I was suspecting Listen to Wind as the traitor because of his aggressive attitude towards Morgan and his cultural connection with Shagnasty. Now that the book is over, you have to ask yourself... if he didn't send the Skinwalker, who did? The presence of the creature wasn't properly explanined in my opinion. It is implied that the Skinwalker wanted Morgan because it was promised/or needed something from the Black Council. But what could they possibly off the thing? To be quite honest it seems like it would be beneath a powerhouse like the Skinwalker to work for wizards.

Spoiler

I don't know about the senior members it seems like they take so diffrent shape and power that they do what Butcher find them necessary to do. Comparing the Shagnasty and the fiend in the end for example Listen to the Wind beat Shagnasty easy a shadow fiend took the senior counsel + wardens how long. As well as their preformance on the island where truth to be told there is no resonable fucking explaination why they did not just make cinders of the zombish enemies or did I miss it because I read so quickly. At least not when I'm pretty shure Shagnasty would have been able to do so at a whim. Relative powerlevels seems awfully fluid...

Same here Listen to the Wind was prime suspect until Dresden spoke to him and we got the explanation sadly with him and the merlin of the charts the traitor was found

Quote

Spoiler

Then there's Thomas, oh god Thomas! My heart went cold when Dresden and Thomas met at the Zoo. I really think Butcher underplayed that scene. Harry has a lot of room in his heart for Thomas but the guy is also one of extreme emotions, I am surprised he took that development, that shift in Thomas, so easy. I know Harry has grown and changed since the first books but I was appalled at his sudden lack of "outrage" when Lara Raith announced that she would be feeding and killing on her own men, who were right there for Dresden to save. I was also surprised that Harry didn't warn Thomas. I know he can't just declare war on the Raith and at the Mansion he needed Lara's help, but since when has Harry been good at making those sacrifices. I found it lacking in believability that he didn't order Lara to release the wounded guards. I also wonder if it hadn't been more believable if Harry had burned Thomas to a crisp when he met him in the park.

Spoiler

Agrees...but I wonder if it was just a way for Butcher to get the white court out of the game for a while...making them less cuddly friends...reducing Dresdens allies for what is to come...

Quote

Spoiler

I wonder if Harry's change in behavior is another sign that someone has been in Harrys head again.

I was surprised that the island from the prior book popped up in this one again. Butcher seems to work with one or two book jumps between returning to older storylines. The island was less scary than I expected. I thought it would be a true horror, like the dead rising from the earth, roots flying about, killer bunnies going for the throats and all. I guess the story is still going to develop.

Spoiler

About Harrys change in personality could it be that he is growing like "most" older wizads a bit more cold and distant, hes been through a lot lately seen a lot of good people die. The island will appear again and again I think and gatekeeper and others seem to indicate that what we have seen is just scratching the top right, there is something truely wrong.

Quote

Spoiler

What were the sigils surrounding the cabin and tower on Demonsreach? We're talking heavy duty wards/words of power if they stopped a Shagnasty cold like that. Reminds me of the power of the runes of that "Scandinavian-merc business" from the last book.

Spoiler

Perhaps Im mixing it up with something else but wasn't it one of Dresden's trinkets one which had taken him a great deal of efford when he spoke to his master.

Quote

Spoiler

]Finally, this whole Black Council business. I'm waiting for Butcher to actual bust this thing right open. So far we've seen the Black Council moving in the shadows, but somehow, somewhen, this had to become more than just cloak and daggers. Maybe when Dresden finally gets something solid and a lead bad guy goes down, we'll see the BC brought into the light and a real war starting. Right now, it's getting a bit old. It's mindnumbingling frustrating to listen to the likes of Ancient Mai dismissing the possibilities of such conspiracies. I know they are old and set in their ways, but fucks sake, you'd think that more than power and seniority was desired of a member of the senior council.

Spoiler

I got the impression they where all very aware of the problem but had no interest in discussing it with dresden except at the end and then only those who had decided to take action. Some of them just ain't got that much good to say about our favorit wizard and certainly don't want him to ignite the conflict ?

One of the worst posts I've ever written all those spoiler and the tags....

/Chance

This post has been edited by Chance: 06 April 2009 - 05:02 PM

[Aptorian]

Weird, I had that same thought about the black council thread starting to get a bit Harry Potter

Spoiler

Dresdens crystal ward was merely a strong sphere designed to be extremly strong and eventually blow shit up when it failed., It sounds like it wasn't more than a few meters in diameter. the Skinwalker would have torn right through it and gotten blown to bits in the process if it'd reached it. The sigil thing was made by the genious locii. Dresden was himself wondering what they were, he talked about going back and examining them some time.

It was my impression, from the exchange on the island, that the matter of the Black Council is not something that is up for discussion among the more idiotic/arrogant of the council, like the Merlin, Ancient Mai, that guy who got gutted, etc.

[Chance]

Aptorian, on Apr 6 2009, 05:30 PM, said:

Spoiler

It was my impression, from the exchange on the island, that the matter of the Black Council is not something that is up for discussion among the more idiotic/arrogant of the council, like the Merlin, Ancient Mai, that guy who got gutted, etc.

Spoiler

Really hope that ain't it...would make no sense really these people have been around for ages sure arrogance probably build up but stupidity I'm highly doubtful. But then we are only getting Dresdens view kinda hard to know whats going on in their heads. Still found the view of the Merlin in Turncoat interesting and certainly layering him a bit more then arrogant jackass....

O about the potterism...I've been hoping he keeps clear of it but there really are a lot of parallels...

/Chance

[Abyss]

So screw all of you and your oh so precious black bozes...

But while Amazon advises me that Turncoat should, Canada Post and the Lord willing, arrive tomorrow or wed, i did get the anthology 'Many Blood Returns' from the library. Said book includes 'It's My Birthday Too' by Butcher. Harry and Molly go to deliver Thomas' birthday present. Thomas happens to be at a vampire larp. Baddies show uyp. Violence ensues.

It's not brilliant but it's a satisfying bit of Dresden fun.

I'm halfway thru the anthology and truth be told the rest of it has been from mildly okay (Elrod) to dismally bad (Harris).


- Abyss, will not look at black boxes, will NOT....

[Obdigore]

I have it reserved. It was at B&N and they showed it to me, but they would not let me take it, those bastards!

I shall get it tomorrow.

Finding black boxes hard to ignore, must leave thread.

[vaiski]

Chance, on Apr 6 2009, 09:15 PM, said:

Aptorian, on Apr 6 2009, 05:30 PM, said:

Spoiler

It was my impression, from the exchange on the island, that the matter of the Black Council is not something that is up for discussion among the more idiotic/arrogant of the council, like the Merlin, Ancient Mai, that guy who got gutted, etc.

Spoiler

Really hope that ain't it...would make no sense really these people have been around for ages sure arrogance probably build up but stupidity I'm highly doubtful. But then we are only getting Dresdens view kinda hard to know whats going on in their heads. Still found the view of the Merlin in Turncoat interesting and certainly layering him a bit more then arrogant jackass....

Spoiler

Yeah I had problems with this too. I mean, Ebenazar and Harry can do a 1+1=2 and figure out Peabody wasn't acting alone, so I really hope that the seeming stupidity of Mai and others is just a distorted view we get through Dresden.
Would be nice if the traitor business would at some point move forward without Harry needing to do all the work. Of course it makes sense to limit the actions of all the big wizards because it wouldn't make for much suspense if it were just Merlin blowing things up or whatever, but for instance there could be a little mention in the next book (provided that it doesn't feature WC politics as a main course) about how Merlin or Mai are following some lead or other. Nothing massive, but just to show that it doesn't all revolve around Dresden.

On the whole I was a bit disappointed how little the story really moved forward. Still a traitor(s) in WC, Harry & Ebenazar still all hush-hush about it.. just like in book 8. Character development in there sure, but I'd like it more if the plot moved a little faster.
Harry just shrugging aside the change in Thomas was weird, definitely not how I would have expected him to react. And Molly.. breaking rules way too easily, and Harry being way too easy about it. Okay a lot going on there at that moment but still.

Here's hoping that next book will get us a new Knight or two, because that would likely bring back Nicodemus. Awesome as Skinwalker was, that sort of pure evilness without any motivation other than causing misery gets boring fast. Nicodemus though never gets boring.

Wardens in the Island fight were bit odd too, if Murphy could take out a couple of those things I would have expected Ebenazar to be able to incinerate them all with a snap of his fingers or something. I mean this is the guy who blew up Krakatau and throws satelites around when other guys stick to grenades. Again wouldn't have done much for suspense but still.

All in all a solid entry in the series, but I feel it to be weakest since Fool Moon.

[Chance]

vaiski, on Apr 7 2009, 11:03 AM, said:

Spoiler

And Molly.. breaking rules way too easily, and Harry being way too easy about it. Okay a lot going on there at that moment but still.

Here's hoping that next book will get us a new Knight or two, because that would likely bring back Nicodemus. Awesome as Skinwalker was, that sort of pure evilness without any motivation other than causing misery gets boring fast. Nicodemus though never gets boring.

Wardens in the Island fight were bit odd too, if Murphy could take out a couple of those things I would have expected Ebenazar to be able to incinerate them all with a snap of his fingers or something. I mean this is the guy who blew up Krakatau and throws satelites around when other guys stick to grenades. Again wouldn't have done much for suspense but still.

All in all a solid entry in the series, but I feel it to be weakest since Fool Moon.

Spoiler

Must say I liked Molly breaking the rules, certainly hoping we get more morally grey/darker elements to the people around Dresden who mostly even the worse ones act very goody goody. And if warlocks are such a treat/ruined for life or next to it would make little sense not to see it in Molly as I hope the White Counsel doesn't just kill warlocks for fun but because they generally are hard to fix.

Would love some nicodemus but even more some nicodemus dresden team up against black counsel badasses...its implied in small favour right...make it happen !

Agree fully about the island fight...no sense what so ever in why mai, listen and mcCoy didn't clear it out in about four and a half second tops. Still I asume the satelite and Krakatau wheren't on the spot job but rather some pretty complex and long winded stuff...

/Chance...currently running through a re-read...on Dead Beat so far...



PS. Wonder if I should despair at others agreeing that this book was several notches down on the uberness scale or be glad that its just not me...

This post has been edited by Chance: 07 April 2009 - 07:56 PM

[Aptorian]

Chance, on Apr 7 2009, 09:54 PM, said:

Spoiler

Would love some nicodemus but even more some nicodemus dresden team up against black counsel badasses...its implied in small favour right...make it happen !

Speaking of Nicodemus.

Spoiler

The island doesn't like having Shagnasty present and makes wards around the tower, mostlikely to protect the entrance to the way.

Why then, did it not react that way when a dozen fallen angels were walking around everywhere? And a demigod like the Archive was suspended right over the entrance.

Doesn't really compute.

[Obdigore]

Its all spoilers, all the time.

Spoiler

1) I liked the book, although the ending was a little meh.
2) 'Demonreach', Sounds like Gatekeeper thought the name was oddly correct... dead/imprisoned demon is the heart of the island?
3) So Harry has lost influence on Luccio, lost Thomas (for now), and Murphy can no longer call in the whole department...
4) So the black council can call in outsiders, and control those spiders from nevernever?
5) The white council turn out and the bound people called in - Remember that Harry has been described as one of the strongest wizards, if not the one with the most control... destroying hundreds of hivemind nevernever baddies while not destroying the vampires, and keeping enough left over to defend against possible betrayal from the vamps? That is quite hard.
6) If Luccio is commander of the wardens, why does Ancient Mai always seem to have her own cotorie with her?
7) Someone came through with Peabody. Was it Martha Liberty, Merlin, the new guy, or an as yet unkown assailant?
8) The whole Molly thing dosen't suprise me. She watches Harry bend or break the rules on a monthly basis, when he thinks it is right, why wouldn't she follow her masters approval? And, Harry had learned that his mother may have been cast out by the white council for trying to make them a force of 'good', instead of just enforcing their laws of magic, and not caring what happens as long as they aren't broken. Do you really think he disagrees?
9) Merlin needs to do something about Harry. He keeps making him look like an idiot, and the Merlin seems to have rage/hate towards Harry, but I just cannot figure out why.
10) Why did the island react to the shapewalker? Didn't Harry describe the shapewalker as almost having his own ley line attached to him? I would imagine that if the shapewalker ate demonreach, demonreach wouldnt like it, eh?
11) Harry is no longer protected by his love for Susan, and Lara knows it. Dun Dun DUNNNN!
12) Harry might get access to journals from when the merlin, and ebenezer, and others going back a thousand years, those people are dealing with situations/researching new magic as they work on theirs.
13) Butters and Andi are going to become an item. You heard it here first.

Responses/Thoughts/Rebuttals?

[Aptorian]

Obdigore, on Apr 7 2009, 10:49 PM, said:

Its all spoilers, all the time.

Spoiler

1) I liked the book, although the ending was a little meh.
2) 'Demonreach', Sounds like Gatekeeper thought the name was oddly correct... dead/imprisoned demon is the heart of the island?
3) So Harry has lost influence on Luccio, lost Thomas (for now), and Murphy can no longer call in the whole department...
4) So the black council can call in outsiders, and control those spiders from nevernever?
5) The white council turn out and the bound people called in - Remember that Harry has been described as one of the strongest wizards, if not the one with the most control... destroying hundreds of hivemind nevernever baddies while not destroying the vampires, and keeping enough left over to defend against possible betrayal from the vamps? That is quite hard.
6) If Luccio is commander of the wardens, why does Ancient Mai always seem to have her own cotorie with her?
7) Someone came through with Peabody. Was it Martha Liberty, Merlin, the new guy, or an as yet unkown assailant?
8) The whole Molly thing dosen't suprise me. She watches Harry bend or break the rules on a monthly basis, when he thinks it is right, why wouldn't she follow her masters approval? And, Harry had learned that his mother may have been cast out by the white council for trying to make them a force of 'good', instead of just enforcing their laws of magic, and not caring what happens as long as they aren't broken. Do you really think he disagrees?
9) Merlin needs to do something about Harry. He keeps making him look like an idiot, and the Merlin seems to have rage/hate towards Harry, but I just cannot figure out why.
10) Why did the island react to the shapewalker? Didn't Harry describe the shapewalker as almost having his own ley line attached to him? I would imagine that if the shapewalker ate demonreach, demonreach wouldnt like it, eh?
11) Harry is no longer protected by his love for Susan, and Lara knows it. Dun Dun DUNNNN!
12) Harry might get access to journals from when the merlin, and ebenezer, and others going back a thousand years, those people are dealing with situations/researching new magic as they work on theirs.
13) Butters and Andi are going to become an item. You heard it here first.

Responses/Thoughts/Rebuttals?

Spoiler

2) There's certainly something on the otherside of the island. Maybe demonreach is the gatekeeper but I don't think it's anything purposely orchestrated. The spirit of the island just evolved over time, probably because of the ley line. What ever is in the Nevernever it is something much much worse than the Demonreach spirit. My theory remains that it is something like an Old One that is sleeping in there. Even Nikodimus feared it.

3) Indeed. And he's lost Michael aswell. Things are going downhill. But he gained the new PI ressource, and I figure Binder will become an associate in the same league as Kincaid

6) For the same reason Morgan and his cohorts were always hanging out with the Merlin. And Ebenezar also has a taskforce. I guess the highest tier has their own security detail. And if you think about it, Ancient Mais bunch also took orders from Ebenezar.

7) Dresden figured it had to be the new Senior Coucil member. That african/asia representative. I hate him already.

8) The difference between what Harry and Molly does is that Dresden never breaks the big rules (I think) and when he bends things he does it out of necessity and he knows it is very wrong. He is appalled and disgusted when he encounters black magic. Molly thinks she is right when she enters peoples minds and she feels no remorse, only guilt and shame when she is caught. I lost all sympathy for her in this book.

9) I suspect that Merlin and Dresden eventually will come to rely on each other. The Merlin showed much more common sense and capability in this one.

10) Dresden guessed that the Gatekeeper gave the spirit its limp. But maybe it was Shagnasty.

11) Indeed. It was also a dead give away when evil raith sister could kiss him with out being burned. I thought, wait a god damn minute. What about Luccio. Treachery!

12) The books/diaries where certainly one of the more juicy things in that book. Imagine the knowledge! First thing I would do, would be to feed the books to Bob, and then have him recite the most usefull stuff back at me.

[Chance]

Spoiler

3) I'm of the theory that Butcher is culling out some of the regulars to introduce or expand other characters or simply just chaning their relations/importance in the serie hes going to write around 12 more books we would get bored with trying to be good Thomas etc...
5) Still can't see how one counsel member > skinwalker != 3 counsel members + assorted friends !> a few hundred zombies really really dead really really quickly. Well I'll reserve judgment until the re-read at the same time it felt odd just as the outsider fight in the counsel hall did. I however think this is partially because we are really really limited in PoV. Having no clue why the heavy hitters doesn't let lose make them seem impotent...
6) I got the impression each counsel member has A) their own supporters some specific duty within the counsel which might require them to have wardens assigned...C) they most certainly have a decent security detail around them....
9) I don't know about that one...for some reason I found the Merlin both capable and able to rational thought in this one much more three dimensional then before. I hope for more friendly interaction unveiling more about the most powerful wizard around. He might be an ass but it would be more interesting to know why he is one then have him set as a outright enemy. Agree with apt on that I can easily see the Merlin and Dresden slowly moving closer as things spiral out of control. At the same time who knows...right now everything is so episodic that we have no clue even what the hero will fight in the next book.