[polishgenius]

Was off work sick today so I got and read it.



Interesting. In many ways it feels like an anti-Changes: where that book was about burning down the status quo, this was about building, or at least finalising, the new one. Where that put Harry in the post desperate of places, this was about bringing him out of them. There's even a bit of bookend with his vampire opponents- that ended the Red Court, whereas this seems to be bringing the Black Court to the fore. Think we're very much in act three of the overall series.


The one-month-at-at-time structure of it actually suits Dresden very well. It's juggling a lot of things, but the structure made it possible for him to flit from plot to plot and it not feel messy.


If there is a nitpick I had, it's that the final battle felt a little... not tacked on, but the real finale was at Demonreach. There wasn't really any way for Butcher to wrap up all the other stuff completely cleanly, but there's a notable double-beat there.

I suppose another potentially would be putting all this weight on Thomas's anger at Harry and then 'for a while' is like two chapters, but I think that was part of the anti-Changes rebuild-Harry agenda, so I didn't mind.



Anyway, to the meat of it: the relationship between Harry and Lara is obviously the heartbeat of this novel, and it was done very well. Butcher's gonna have to be careful to make sure Harry doesn't cross any lines so that he doesn't become a monster (to us, as readers), but I think that's the aim here, to keep him this side of that line and that's his moral bulwark. And Mab's manipulative nature is delicious, but I'm fairly positive she's laid the seeds of Harry breaking free. Also: well, now we know there's an out to free Thomas- and maybe Lara- for a happy-ish ending.


That we got fresh information on Outsiders also makes me think this was the set-up book after Changes burn-down. Basically everything between Changes and Battle Ground was the dark forest, the Empire Strikes Back, and we're in the endgame now.

[Chance]

I really liked it and read it in basically two sittings.

The book does some interesting things with outsider/vampire connection. Reveals that Dracul is not just powerful but easily on the next level from what Dresden has handled recently, he also does not seem entirely malevolent what is this contest he is speaking about?

Will the next book open with a wedding? Will it open with a wedding going really really wrong or what else will trigger the speculated about time travel in Mirror Mirror? It basically needs to be something worse than Murphys death to Dresden or just the world in general.

Will Kumori and Cowl reappear they where mentioned a once/a couple of times as unsolved mysteries. Butcher tends to not do such things unless it is relevant.

polishgenius, on 22 January 2026 - 06:40 PM, said:

Interesting. In many ways it feels like an anti-Changes: where that book was about burning down the status quo, this was about building, or at least finalising, the new one. Where that put Harry in the post desperate of places, this was about bringing him out of them. There's even a bit of bookend with his vampire opponents- that ended the Red Court, whereas this seems to be bringing the Black Court to the fore. Think we're very much in act three of the overall series.

Very much so, Battle Ground was the end of the Change era and this is the epilogue for that era or the prologue for the next, probably more prologue setting up relationships and probably our next main enemy.

polishgenius, on 22 January 2026 - 06:40 PM, said:

If there is a nitpick I had, it's that the final battle felt a little... not tacked on, but the real finale was at Demonreach. There wasn't really any way for Butcher to wrap up all the other stuff completely cleanly, but there's a notable double-beat there.

I think the ghoul "plot" and "final" battle was Butcher feeling like he had to have at least three conflict in his formula for the books, they where basically action filler thought the final battle was a way for Butcher to show how dangerous Dresden is right now.

polishgenius, on 22 January 2026 - 06:40 PM, said:

Anyway, to the meat of it: the relationship between Harry and Lara is obviously the heartbeat of this novel, and it was done very well. Butcher's gonna have to be careful to make sure Harry doesn't cross any lines so that he doesn't become a monster (to us, as readers), but I think that's the aim here, to keep him this side of that line and that's his moral bulwark. And Mab's manipulative nature is delicious, but I'm fairly positive she's laid the seeds of Harry breaking free. Also: well, now we know there's an out to free Thomas- and maybe Lara- for a happy-ish ending.

He was pretty close a few times walking the edge of monster / hero, he is also building up Lara for being far more human than what we have seen before.

I was kinda surprised how fast Thomas plot was resolved especially the child/justine part of it. The child becoming a ward was perfect but I had expected it to take a few books.

[polishgenius]

Chance, on 23 January 2026 - 12:45 AM, said:

I think the ghoul "plot" and "final" battle was Butcher feeling like he had to have at least three conflict in his formula for the books, they where basically action filler thought the final battle was a way for Butcher to show how dangerous Dresden is right now.

I will say I suspect the Ghoul thing is, in part, a long-term play. A reminder at this point in the series that Dresden and Ghouls have beef, for a more central conflict coming soon.

[Chance]

polishgenius, on 23 January 2026 - 12:12 PM, said:

Chance, on 23 January 2026 - 12:45 AM, said:

I think the ghoul "plot" and "final" battle was Butcher feeling like he had to have at least three conflict in his formula for the books, they where basically action filler thought the final battle was a way for Butcher to show how dangerous Dresden is right now.

I will say I suspect the Ghoul thing is, in part, a long-term play. A reminder at this point in the series that Dresden and Ghouls have beef, for a more central conflict coming soon.

I guess they can be henchmen for the badguys but they aren't exactly very threatening anymore, so at best extras for the action scenes

[Cause]

End of books thoughts spoilers. Entire book covered. You are warned.

Spoiler

A slow burn of a book. Not gonna be one of my top rereads. Some decent set up for future books but some stuff seems tome to have not made sense or been resolved too quickly.

One of the key set ups of the books seems to be that Harry is no longer the wizard of Chicago but a major player. He has Demonreach, a castle, bob the skull, Bear, Gargoyles, New and improved werewolves (at least will), the Za Guard, a temple dog, eye of Balor, religious relics.

There was not enough mister. Not really important but too me it highlights that despite the idea of 12 months going by to let harry heal. It didn’t always ring true. Michael and Will are there to support Harry but where is wills wife? Where are the rest of the alphas? Where was butters? It felt uneven at times but also yes, I don’t want ten chapters of boardgame night with friends either. Every now and then we just get Bear, Michael, gargoyles, Matias saying your a good man Harry’s we are here for you.

Gargoyles. This came out of nowhere and didn’t seem to be important at all, at least yet. I imagine they were not just introduced on a whim but why.

The twelve months intersects at least a couple short stories that I know about. This could be a really cool way to pad out the twelve months story but I don’t think this was thought out that much.

Mr Raith being back in action seems somewhat interesting. However how he can be a thrall and under Lara’s surveillance but also taint harry outside his castle without anyone knowing is not fully addressed.

Main Plot twist warning:
Warning
Warning
I enjoyed the twist. I thought the book was doing a half decent job of seducing Harry and me the reader into thinking Lara could almost be sympathetic and somehow this could even work but also kept waiting in the back of my mind for the shoe to drop. As I was expecting it, I also thought it was too cliche because we kept being warned by everyone, Harry himself included in previous books, to expect it. Having Lara get played by Mab was a nice way to avoid the obvious and still have drama. Not sure how the accords and alliances work but Also just because Lara is bound to the alliance it seems to weak a hold to just assume the white court is bound if Lara should die.

Mab appearing in Harry’s bed seemed so out of character. Also still don’t understand why she needed to threaten Justine to help revive Tomas. That whole climax Just felt weird. Also Mother Summer and Winter both summoned for this?

After what felt like plot railroading for Harry to alienate both his grandfather and Ramirez in the previous books both seem to have come around remarkably easily in this one book alone.

After we are warned that even the keeper of the gates at the gate can’t always be guarenteed to detect nemesis. The svartelve king says they can no problem. Hubris?

Harry threatened to kill every ghoul in Chicago but then seems to have forgotten about this threat. Also given that in the supernatural world guest right and always keeping your word are foundation of your reputation this seems like it should have been a bigger deal.

The order of st Brigid also felt like it came from nowhere. I think it fits. The church knows about the supernatural. Father fort hill, Michael etc are all in the know. However this is a force that gets called up ad-hoc when shit hits the fans and some of its members are just youths who go to church and like guns… part of twelve months was Harry healing but Al’s to show how st leading Chicago the world will move on with knowledge of the supernatural.

That in some ways reminds me of Marvels snap. World changing steaks that despite being described in detail also don’t seem to be as big as they should be. If the whole of Chicago was knocked out of the economy for 12 months the ramifications would be so much bigger.

EDIT-Apprently Butcher is a fan of the animated TV show gargoyles and that some characters are based on characters from the show. I hope the gargoyles are not just a homage to the show. I found their random appearance jarring.

This post has been edited by Cause: 26 January 2026 - 08:12 PM

[amphibian]

I'm wondering how much of Butcher himself went into this book. Normally, I'd be fairly clear, but there's a specific segment about failing in love twice and the long plot line of not being able to bounce back from that.

That being said, there's good Dresden action, serious ties into Outsider stuff, and foreshadowing for the time travel book. I do think the Mother Winter stuff was well done, but correspondingly, I think Mab was a bit all over the place in this book.

Having Dresden deal for so much of the book with grief, building back, and connecting to all of these characters was a good idea. I think the Marcone absence (as Baron) was felt even as we got Drakul in for some heavy time.

Butcher made clear that he's willing to put in some commentary about the US descending into fascism, but I think he hasn't fully parsed out how the MMA landscape is tied into the bad stuff and how bad the bad stuff is regarding the attitudes of those working for the descent.

It's interesting how being star born allows Dresden to strike deals with Outsiders. I think this is a foreshadow of the eventual end of the war after some big fights.

[Cause]

I noticed the book was dedicated to people who helped him through a difficult year. I’m paraphrasing but I thought that was very interesting given the tone of the book. Art imitating real life is a very real possibility.

The lack of baton marcone was interesting. Even a throw away line about him being involved in the rebuilding of such would have gone a long way. Given what we know of the baron just ignoring him for a year is also crazy. Harry should maybe tell butters and sanja?

[amphibian]

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 03:24 AM, said:

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

During the 'research' chat Lara tells Harry that before Morgan's death curse Daddy Raith was down to one feeding every year, made an entire ritual of it, and killed the meal. It's implied but not stated that she's been allowing him to feed somehow.

[BK (NTS no politics)]

Daddy Riath is old and running solely on battery power ever since Margaret cut off his ability to feed 35+ plus years ago. He has a lot in the tank to not have died already. Also magic slides off him. It’s certainly very…..interesting how he is now acting after Lara’s out sexing him to bring him to heel in Blood Rites.

Something is afoot.

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 28 January 2026 - 04:10 AM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 03:24 AM, said:

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

During the 'research' chat Lara tells Harry that before Morgan's death curse Daddy Raith was down to one feeding every year, made an entire ritual of it, and killed the meal. It's implied but not stated that she's been allowing him to feed somehow.

The way I read it put in my head a picture of Old Man Raith eating many in one big go with some sort of ritual involved to make it better for the Hunger. It could have been a singular Star born each year or something like that.

[Cause]

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 05:50 AM, said:

Abyss, on 28 January 2026 - 04:10 AM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 03:24 AM, said:

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

During the 'research' chat Lara tells Harry that before Morgan's death curse Daddy Raith was down to one feeding every year, made an entire ritual of it, and killed the meal. It's implied but not stated that she's been allowing him to feed somehow.

The way I read it put in my head a picture of Old Man Raith eating many in one big go with some sort of ritual involved to make it better for the Hunger. It could have been a singular Star born each year or something like that.

My read was that Harry’s access to the winter mantle was what makes him super food not that he is starborn? Starborn just keeps him safe?

We still don’t really know what that means. Outsiders can clearly hurt him and the white court mojo works on Harry no problem. Supposedly it keeps his mind free from taint when they talk mind to mind.

[Chance]

Cause, on 28 January 2026 - 02:58 PM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 05:50 AM, said:

Abyss, on 28 January 2026 - 04:10 AM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 03:24 AM, said:

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

During the 'research' chat Lara tells Harry that before Morgan's death curse Daddy Raith was down to one feeding every year, made an entire ritual of it, and killed the meal. It's implied but not stated that she's been allowing him to feed somehow.

The way I read it put in my head a picture of Old Man Raith eating many in one big go with some sort of ritual involved to make it better for the Hunger. It could have been a singular Star born each year or something like that.

My read was that Harry’s access to the winter mantle was what makes him super food not that he is starborn? Starborn just keeps him safe?

We still don’t really know what that means. Outsiders can clearly hurt him and the white court mojo works on Harry no problem. Supposedly it keeps his mind free from taint when they talk mind to mind.

My read was the ritual was pumping in raw life/soul/magic into the hunger, which is rather more nourishing than taking nibbles from people's souls.

Just to confuse it even more.

This post has been edited by Chance: 28 January 2026 - 04:09 PM

[Cause]

Chance, on 28 January 2026 - 04:08 PM, said:

Cause, on 28 January 2026 - 02:58 PM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 05:50 AM, said:

Abyss, on 28 January 2026 - 04:10 AM, said:

amphibian, on 28 January 2026 - 03:24 AM, said:

There is a bit of a plot hole in that the Once King Raith has not eaten in several years. His Hunger should be killing him unless he has found an immortal to feed from or some way to deal with that larval outsider.

During the 'research' chat Lara tells Harry that before Morgan's death curse Daddy Raith was down to one feeding every year, made an entire ritual of it, and killed the meal. It's implied but not stated that she's been allowing him to feed somehow.

The way I read it put in my head a picture of Old Man Raith eating many in one big go with some sort of ritual involved to make it better for the Hunger. It could have been a singular Star born each year or something like that.

My read was that Harry’s access to the winter mantle was what makes him super food not that he is starborn? Starborn just keeps him safe?

We still don’t really know what that means. Outsiders can clearly hurt him and the white court mojo works on Harry no problem. Supposedly it keeps his mind free from taint when they talk mind to mind.

My read was the ritual was pumping in raw life/soul/magic into the hunger, which is rather more nourishing than taking nibbles from people's souls.

Just to confuse it even more.

I will have to revisit that chapter I think.

I don't think Harrys Soul enters into it because he would never do that and be crazy to boot to try it.

The winter mantle made him of Faerie and so Lara eating it 3 times (ritually significant number) made her bound to winter/Faerie (Don't eat the food). This doesn't seem to be the primary hook though, Lara instead implies that the Hunger is simply now addicted to Harrys super food and if she tried going back to regular feedings he hunger would kill everyone she feeds on and still not be satisfied. It came across that Lara could go this route if she was willing but it would mean becoming a raging addict always desperate for the next hit and would leave a trail of bodies. This would also make her look weak and she would be ousted. It may be that eating faerie food doesn't enthrall you outright but rather by their rules eating their food obligates you pay back that debt and so Mab and her agents may simply be able to act against lara in ways they couldnt before.

My read on the super food was that Harry was feeding her raw magic, the energy of creation, and part of his magic juice is now at least powered by the winter mantle (hence fae food). It almost seems absurd that no one in the white court ever tried this before. The outsiders goal is to consume our reality of all energy/matter/creation/souls/anything until literally nothing is left, Empty Night, so pure magic is the super food. What exactly is magic and if its finite is still too esoteric to eveen know. I mean wouldnt regularly feeding lara then slowly weaken winter? I liked that there had been enough forshadowing of this that the White court being outsiders felt believable.

___________________________________

Something I glossed over too quickly. Mab said nemesis had 13 puppets. Is down to 12 (loss of leansidhe) and will be down to 11 with the loss of Justine. However Nemesis has lost the leansidhe and Maeve no? or am I not remembering the numbers right? Also interesting that Mab knows their are 13 puppets and is the implication that the lost puppets cant be replaced or is there simply a maximum of 13 at a time? What happened to elder Malk I forget if he died or escaped?

Mab finding justine without any problem also seems perhaps completely in keeping with her power and resources but also came across as too easy. When Harry began to worry about a set up from nemesis and he may have been about to summon it to demonreach it seemed entirely plausible.

I would love to know how much of the dresden files late game Butcher had in his head when he wrote the first 3 books say versus how much of it just came together as he went. I could see it either way. Nemesis really could be responsible for all the crazy magic from the beginning or it could just be a good villain he created later to fit that role. Its even a question fo which came first Nemesis or the black council.

[Chance]

Cause, on 29 January 2026 - 04:14 PM, said:

I don't think Harrys Soul enters into it because he would never do that and be crazy to boot to try it.

Butcher has been a bit inconsistent with the soul and its relation to your magic over time in some places implying that they are quite deeply connected and sometimes less so but harry not being crazy enough to try is just not true. Harry does crazier things about a dozen times per book

Cause, on 29 January 2026 - 04:14 PM, said:

I would love to know how much of the dresden files late game Butcher had in his head when he wrote the first 3 books say versus how much of it just came together as he went. I could see it either way. Nemesis really could be responsible for all the crazy magic from the beginning or it could just be a good villain he created later to fit that role. Its even a question fo which came first Nemesis or the black council.

Probably not in the first two books but from Grave Peril on the big plot is rolling in the background for sure, even if Nemesis isn't needed to explain it.

[amphibian]

I think Nemesis took us on a different plot line than the Black Council, which had been introduced earlier and likely was earlier in terms of being thought of due to the White Council being front and center earlier on.

I've forgotten what happened to Malk. Will see if I can find.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

amphibian, on 26 January 2026 - 08:33 PM, said:

I'm wondering how much of Butcher himself went into this book. Normally, I'd be fairly clear, but there's a specific segment about failing in love twice and the long plot line of not being able to bounce back from that.

I've just finished, and I also have this question. Something about the writing feels more raw and personal to me - although that might just be because it's an unusually slower and more introspective entry in the series as well.

I'll have more to say once I've thought about it all, but in short, this is my favourite in the series since Changes.

I don't usually get emotionally involved in Dresden books (with the exception of Changes) but I felt a fair few things reading this one. The rare moments of sunshine for Harry (usually involving Maggie and Mouse) made me quite emotional.

Considering I was pretty "eh" about Peace Talks and Battle Ground overall, this feels like a big step up. It's the fastest I've read a book in a while too.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 08 February 2026 - 08:39 AM

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 31 January 2026 - 06:19 AM, said:

I think Nemesis took us on a different plot line than the Black Council, which had been introduced earlier and likely was earlier in terms of being thought of due to the White Council being front and center earlier on.

I've forgotten what happened to Malk. Will see if I can find.

I understood that the Black Council are/were Nemisis' first wave, the initial foray at Earth while the larger force continues to hammer at the gates and Winter.

Malk are the Cat Fae, i think you're referring to Cat Sith, who helped Harry for a while during Cold Days, was taken by Nemesis and thrown into the lake by Harry. We haven't seen him since.

[Abyss]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 08 February 2026 - 08:38 AM, said:

amphibian, on 26 January 2026 - 08:33 PM, said:

I'm wondering how much of Butcher himself went into this book. Normally, I'd be fairly clear, but there's a specific segment about failing in love twice and the long plot line of not being able to bounce back from that.

I've just finished, and I also have this question. Something about the writing feels more raw and personal to me - although that might just be because it's an unusually slower and more introspective entry in the series as well.

Butcher's personal challenges have been somewhat publicized. I don't recall details but i vaguely remember there was a death in his family and his then current relationship (that had followed his divorce) ended.

Quote

I'll have more to say once I've thought about it all, but in short, this is my favourite in the series since Changes.

I don't usually get emotionally involved in Dresden books (with the exception of Changes) but I felt a fair few things reading this one. The rare moments of sunshine for Harry (usually involving Maggie and Mouse) made me quite emotional.

Considering I was pretty "eh" about Peace Talks and Battle Ground overall, this feels like a big step up. It's the fastest I've read a book in a while too.

Whereas i loved the great big kaboom of PEACE TALKS / BATTLE GROUND and still very much enjoyed this quieter book for some of the same reasons.

[Cause]

Abyss, on 10 February 2026 - 03:40 PM, said:

amphibian, on 31 January 2026 - 06:19 AM, said:

I think Nemesis took us on a different plot line than the Black Council, which had been introduced earlier and likely was earlier in terms of being thought of due to the White Council being front and center earlier on.

I've forgotten what happened to Malk. Will see if I can find.

I understood that the Black Council are/were Nemisis' first wave, the initial foray at Earth while the larger force continues to hammer at the gates and Winter.

Malk are the Cat Fae, i think you're referring to Cat Sith, who helped Harry for a while during Cold Days, was taken by Nemesis and thrown into the lake by Harry. We haven't seen him since.

Well initially it seemed only mortal wizards could summon outsiders into our reality. So there was s time I think when it was unclear whether the dark council summoned outsiders to serve there purposes or whether nemesis tricked wizards into founding the black council or just created it. I actually wont be surprised to learn that while nemesis may have fingers in the black council if it isn't something that exists on its own as well.

Only mortals being able to summon outsiders doesnt seem to be that strong of a lock in any case since mind controlling wizards seems to be possible in so many ways. Including simple addiction to red court venom.