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I agree on how you pointed out that the sacrifices Harry was making were chipping away at his soul. But you glossed over one that I felt hit harder than all the rest. When Harry ‘chose’ to murder Susan. Not with the knife, but when he knew he could goad her into sacrificing herself. “One day I hope God will forgive me for giving birth to the idea that came next. Because I never will. I knew how angry she was. I knew how afraid she was. Her child was about to die only inches beyond her reach, and what I did to her was as good as murder.” That’s the line that sticks with me from Changes.
@@marcolechuga5292 Yes. The first couple of books are definitely rough since he didn't have any experience as a narrator at that point. By the third book he gets way way better.
He is amazing, sadly the last 2 books aren’t as well narrated. Probably mainly because it was recorded during Covid, the quality just wasn’t as high. He also dropped some accents for characters which bugged me. Otherwise one of my favourite narrators!
Those are the ones I have had in mind also, they are all good but especially with the characters that Merphy likes to talk about, and some of the favorite themes, those are essential. The Warrior is, I think, one of my favorite things that Butcher has written overall. Oooh, but I also just remembered that Backup, the Thomas novella is in that collection. Merphy will LOVE that!
“False gods!” she cried, her blue eyes blazing as she stared at the Red King and the Lords of Outer Night. “Pretenders! Usurpers of truth! Destroyers of faith, of families, of lives, of children! For your crimes against the Mayans, against the peoples of the world, now will you answer! Your time has come! Face judgment Almighty!” -Angel via Murphy So many great moments but this one always stands out to me, so powerful.
The Harry/Mab rape scene is actually treated exactly how most men I've met treat their own experiences of sexual assault and rape. It's joked about as if it were consensual and rarely, if ever, expressly called what it was. I've had a bunch of my friends tell me stories about being lied to, tricked, or physically forced into sexual encounters they otherwise would have avoided to the best of their ability, not one of them said they were raped until after I pointed it out. most still wouldn't use that word even after they acknowledged that it fit.
Merphy covered a lot, but I'm surprised she didn't mention that Mouse TALKS in this book. Also, the whole fandom loves the LOTR scene where Harry thinks he's Gandalf, but he's given the role of Sam (the actual hero of the story). Also, Martin is given the role of Boromir. Talk about a funny scene being revealed to be a major foreshadowing.
@@krissaunders6418 Oh, this is one of the obvious connections. The Dresden Files has no business being this rereadable with how fast and fun everything is. The discussions around this series are deep because there's a lot more going on for it than the fun romp you get in most of these books. For example, to illustrate my point I always ask people if they noticed that Dresden's mom has a "cameo" in book 1. But you can only realize it if you read Blood Rites. It's right before Dresden enters The Shadowman's lake house in the final showdown.
As I recall a fair few of the stories in Side Jobs have impact on future books so a spoiler review would be good. I really liked his verbal sparring with the Earl King to show just how sharp he can be.
First, some lighter notes: [1] Harry tries his best, but Sanya easily has the best one-liners in the entire series. "It was probably just a coincidence." "You are drug dealer. To tiny fairies. Shame." Gold. [2] Mrs. Spunklecrief is a stone cold Badass, and thirty years ago would have totally hatted up and killed her way across a field of vampires with her bare hands. [3] Butters proves he's the smartest character in the series by immediately donning body armor the second he hears Harry is up to shenanigans. [4] Sanya telling Harry that Sam was the true hero of LOTR gets me every time. [5] Harry's interactions with Mouse while transformed into a hound are hilariously awesome. Mouse is so gracious in letting his sidekick take the spotlight every so often. I think you covered all the Big Events, but there was one (comparatively) small thing I didn't really think about until later. When Harry loses his apartment, he also loses everything in it: the only photo he has of his mother & father, from their honeymoon. The postcard Susan sent him at the end of Grave Peril. The original Star Wars poster that Will gifted him. All the photos he must have taken with Susan. Harry doesn't have cloud backup; all he's got left are his memories.
So for side jobs i think it really should have a spoiler review because otherwise you cant really talk about it and some of the short stories are really good
Harry commits human sacrifice twice to power a magical rite/ ritual and he commits genocide and I am still on his side. I love that you recognise the SA that Mab does to Harry because the narrative buries that aspect of his trauma and Harry generally supresses this kind of violence. I really hope that this scene and what the Red Court vampires at Bianca's (in Grave Peril) did to him. Right after he kills Susan he blacks out. He can't remember how he got Maggie of the alter. We rarely get a fade to black like that and I think something interesting happened and he suppressed it/ an outside force blocks the memory to protect him.
"Die Alone" - Quintus Cassius in Death Masks. My mind instantly went back to this death curse at the end of Changes. I also love the ominous feeling of the title as it breaks the two same-length words format. It is rumored that this will be roughly the half-way point of the series, which is so appropriate. Butcher's growth as an author is so amazing as he goes through Harry's journey. I'd definitely watch a review of Side Jobs! Random thought: I really want an adult animated Dresden series, with Marsters as Dresden.
iirc Harry actually flashes back to the "die alone" curse as he gets shot, followed by a voice saying "Hush" or something (which is very interesting and Merphy should keep in mind)
About the sexual violence in the book that you mentioned: I found the confusion you expressed about how it was described/how other characters reacted vs what Harry experienced in the scene with Mab was very real to me. That's often how you're treated when that happens to you as a man, especially if people know about it. They joke, or ask probing questions, but never about you. The presumption is that you liked it and that its okay to joke about or treat casually. Like you said, the narrative rarely matches the experience. I'm sure some of that is projection, and maybe butcher didnt intend it, but that's what i saw.
In my opinion, I think Butcher wanted to remove more the pleasurable aspect of the act from Harry and ended up veering into SA territory without fully meaning to. Harry says things that highlight Mab's other-worldliness and how ritualistic the whole thing was with her saying "Mine". I think he wanted to focus more on Harry losing his freedom than him having relations with a fairy queen. Harry was SA'd way back then in Grave Peril, when Harry was ambushed by the vampire when he used the Nevernever to infiltrate Bianca's mansion and ended up all banged up and naked on the basement with Susan and Justine. That's why, IMO, he's in such a terrible state in Summer Knight. Because of that, I think Butcher would've referenced Bianca and the other reds if Mab just straight up hurt Harry. That's my take at least and I think the confusion and uncertainty we have comes from Butcher not being more clear with Winter Knight scene.
Ah Changes. The book that flipped the table on the status quo so hard we're only now starting to re-establish something resembling normalcy for our boy.
You think so? I feel like every book since has messed with that status quo even further. I imagine that the next one (“Twelve Months” I believe) will establish a new status quo that’s been building for a while but might give us a glimpse of the what’s leading to that Apocalyptic Trilogy.
Jim Butcher set it up so that Harry could either become the Winter Knight, take up Lasciel's coin, or use the Word of Kemmler and the Darkhallow. And, according to interviews, he didn't know which way it would go until he began composing that chapter after the call with Uriel.
Denarian would have been a quick solution, but doesn’t the Word of Kemmler and the Darkhallow requires special timing/convergences? I didn’t think the Darkhallow was a conceivable option to save her, just for a delayed revenge.
According to Jim Butcher, he found out exactly when his editor finished reading the manuscript when she called him in the middle of the night, and said as soon as he picked up the phone: "You Killed him!" His answer? "Now the fun can finally begin"
I love this book. One thing that always comes back to me is how Ebenezar does not come to Harrys aid untill he knows he himself is in danger. It always feels like that should have been noted more in this book. I would love a video for the short stories! I think they "deserve" them and that you will want to do one after you read them, (some of them stand out a lot but I like all of them tbh)
It's so clear, especially later on but I won't go into it, how much Ebenezar works towards what he views is the greater good. The bloodline curse affects him. Leaving a spot on the white council open, leaving the black staff open, getting rid of the organizer of the Grey council. I still hate it, and I think Ebenezer does struggle with it but man it feels so crappy to Harry, for whom family is sooooo important.
There are many things in Ebenezer and Harry's relationship that are not directly stated in the books, but are well laid out. This is one of them. That's why the THING that happens in Peace Talks is not really a surprise to anyone who knows these characters and these books (while a lot of fans at the time were complaining it was "too sudden"). It was not. There are major issues between Harry and Eb that Butcher does not highlight, but takes into account in Peace Talks.
@LightningRaven42 oh yeah, I know it's going to be a while but I'm excited to see what merphy's thoughts on Peace Talks will be. Maybe the next book will be out by then
If we're being generous he doesn't come to Harry's aid until he learns why Harry has to do this Before that he was still trying to talk Harry out of that suicide mission
@@Fawkes42 Even then, that just shows the underpinnings of his argument with Harry in PT. Harry's choice in PT are directly opposite to one of Ebenezer's core beliefs. He NEEDS Harry to be wrong, because if Harry's right, it means that Ebenezer was wrong, and the old man won't be able to take it.
Yes! Spoiler reviews are a must for both of the short story collections!!! Especially the novella at the end of "Side Jobs" that takes place from Murphy's perspective!
I remember when Changes first came out and people were saying as soon as Harry killed Susan they threw the book across the room, or or threw it in the trash and vowed to never read another Dresden Files books because "it went against Harry's character." Which was a very odd statement to me. This came out in 2010, I'd been reading since 2006, this seemed very in line with Harry as a character to me. NOW that you've gotten through Changes, the real stuff can begin.
My favorite moment in the book is when everyone was turned into dogs by L, and Mouse "talks". So many impactful moments in this book, and so many hard decisions for Harry to make. Butcher's writing is fantastic!
Was waiting for this! Glad you liked it and I'm still so glad you're reviewing this series in general. I am shocked by your ability to wait 2 months to read Ghost Story. I mean I didn't have a choice but to wait a whole year for it. But I was ready to drive to Butcher's house and demand answers personally when I finished Changes lol. I'd rather have a longer video on Ghost Story and nothing on Side Jobs than a shorter video on Ghost Story and also a video on Side Jobs. But I don't know if it works like that lol. Ghost Story is one of my favorites.
I have several friends who I got into the Dresden Files. In each case, as I’ve seen them get hooked, I’ve warned them that they must not start Changes unless they have Ghost Story ready to go, because that first sentence is about as strong a hook as has ever been. The first such friend did not heed my warning and said that as he put Changes on his shelf he ominously thought “I was warned…” Not only did he not have answers ready for him, but when he went to the bookstore the next day they didn’t have GS available and he had up wait several days😂
Murphy with the sword and Bob was so cool. Nothing like having a representative of the capital G speak through your best friend to say what happens next is officially sanctioned judgement Almighty. I also loved Lea in this book. Getting so giddy about turning everyone into hounds and her surprise attack in the battle made her more endearing and more creepy at the same time some how.
This book is what turned Lea from a character I didn't think much of one way or the other into one my favorite side characters in the entire series. I just love her.
@@chriswhinery925 Don't know how Butcher does it, but I've been highly invested in Harry having a healthy relationship with her from the beginning. One of the best scenes of Ghost Story is between both of them and I love every word of it.
On the hand, Mab IS supernaturally attractive and Harry has certainly described her that way. On the other hand, you don't have sex with a thunderstorm. So it's kinda tough to tell
I started reading the book the day changes was released, binged the 12 books in 2 weeks and i couldn't read anything for the next two. Just kept processing😮💨. A very beautiful but horrifying experience
Remember when one or two books ago we told you to keep in mind how Harry reacts when a child is involved ? Well... Now we know how he reacts when HIS child is involed: sells his soul, goes to war and does a bit of genocide on the way to hugging his kid Worth it Also, it made me think of this episode of Doctor Who where this poem is recited: Demons run when a good man goes to war Night will fall and drown the sun When a good man goes to war Friendship dies and true love lies Night will fall, and the dark will rise When a good man goes to war Demons run, but count the cost The battle's won, but the child is lost
As a not mom, I do agree Susan was super sympathetic in how difficult her choice was because you could also see how much it hurt her to not be with her daughter all the time. I also love how Harry always phrased it as a dad who Shows Up and talks about it with Molly and how he wants to be a dad who Shows Up for his daughter and now I'm crying again thanks. You're ruining my manly aura merphy
Susan reminds me of Halle Berry’s Sophia in John Wick 3 in that way. The badass has to kill her motherly side every day to keep from running to her baby
My favorite part of the book is when they all transform into dogs and we FINALLY hear Mouse talk. And he’s even more awesome than we thought. I agree that Butcher did a great job of making us empathize with Susan and Harry’s choices.
Yay! I've been waiting a year for this one! The next 3 are also top tier Dresden books. Listening to the end of this book with Marsters reading that scene... just haunting and perfect.
Oh man it was so powerful to relive this incredible book through you today. One of my favorites of all time, and right with you on how powerful the character work is in it throughout, hitting so hard emotionally. Not sure if Side Jobs will be worth a review, but maybe as part of a vlog where you can comment on a few stories at a time. Can’t wait for you to continue on with Ghost Story!!!
The voice acting for this book series is an absolute clinic on how it should be done and I hope that the guy who did it got awards for his skillful interpretation.
The guy who did it is award winning actor James Marsters (best known as Spike from Buffy) - the man who turned a throwaway single-season villain role into one of the best loved supporting characters in TV history, entirely because of how popular his performance was. One of the most inspired choices to narrate an audiobook of all time in my opinion!
definetly do Side Jobs, the final short story in the collection begins right after the final scene from Changes and is from the perspective of Muphy dealing with the fallout.
Please do a spoiler review with side jobs. I've really enjoyed these reviews with the rest of the series. It actually wouldn't feel right to me unless you do.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Side Jobs. Dohbly so for the stories with PoVs that AREN'T Harry, and thus give some really neat changes in perspective. By and large they're really well written and are nice little snippets of Dresden in lower stakes situations that still feel no less important.
I love this book so much. With how all these books being pretty self contained that slowly progressed other story threads this one truly felt like the culmination of the series so far and it was amazing. Also the title of the book is one of the most apt I've ever read. Nothing is the same after this. Also it broke up the title formula of two words with the same number of letters for a single word. It doesn't impact the story at all but just a neat detail that I've always liked.
First off, I would LOVE a spoiler review of Side Jobs. There are a couple of stories in there that are heartbreaking. Second, the Molly in love with Harry thread doesn't entirely go away, but it does get mentioned less and less as the series progreses. Rest assured, Harry NEVER goes for it. EVER. Finally, one thread in Changes that I found compelling which you didn't mention was that despite all of the parental emotions he was going through, a part of him couldn't shake the idea that this was all a setup. And that Maggie wasn't really his. He was still going to save the child but his experience with supernatural entities gave him doubts which reinforced the pain of not having family. The moment when he got confirmation from Uriel, and the relief he felt knowing she was actually his daughter (even with the current situation), made ME cry.
Really serious spoilers - you have been warned! I think that it’s safe to say that Harry is not a black and white character but one of many shades of gray. While I think he would never ever desire a child let alone hurt it, when Molly comes of age there is a vibe of: “if you were older and not the daughter of my best friend and me in a relationship, I could be attracted to you.” In the position Molly end up in later books, a consumption of that would be futile, anyway. (See the short story collection for that!) But: the winter knight is bound - in many ways - to the Winter Queen. With the winter court, there is a kind of maiden, mother and crone situation going on. What when Man can no longer be the Queen, either because she is killed or by moving to fill in the crone position? Then Molly will become the Queen. I don’t remember in which book Harry finds out what Man is fighting against, but that threat is big! It’s when the Dresden files go Big epic. I believe Butcher is steering in that direction: Queen Molly and the winter knight “bonding” to stand against that thread… What could save Harry’s humanity, especially after what happened at the end of Battle grounds? Let’s say I hope Odin finds a way around the rules for calling up Valkyries…
I would say do the spoiler review for side jobs and not just wait for Ghost Story. They may be short stories but some of them advance the world in ways the main series can't and I for one would like to hear your comments on the non Harry first person perspective ones
Oooh yes, finally the Changes video. And as an audiobook too? 10/10. The way Marsters delivers those four lines at the altar. Even on re-listens I'm never quite ready for them. "And thank goodness for Mouse!" could be the subtitle for so many of these books. Big yes for spoiler review for Side Jobs. Ghost Story is a big shift in many ways. It gets some flak from some readers. Especially the ones who had to finish it and then wait a long time for the next one to come out. I've apprechiated it more on rereads for sure. And let's be honest, how to you follow Changes except for with a little bit of a breather, at least compared to that madness. (ps: I think it's really funny how Martin wasn't mentioned in this whole half hour review, he really is bland and forgettable like Harry describes him huh)
This book was such a shock as Butcher upended every single thing the readers had grown accustomed to in the series. The book almost systematically takes Harry's life apart and gives us a new status quo going forward. What also was great was giving Mouse a character voice. Mouse vs Leah was absolutely hilarious.
Hey, this is the absolute best book in the series so far and that saying a lot because this is one of the best modern fantasy book series I have ever read
There are a few short stories in Side Jobs that I really want to hear your take on. Especially one called Aftermath and another called The Warrior. The short stories vary wildly in quality but even just these two make the book a worthwhile read in my opinion.
Whenever I tell people about Changes, I tell them it goes from zero to 100 in twelve words. I haven't watched the review yet, but I'm certain you've loved it as we all do. The bit that gets me choked up even thinking about it is Dresden's quote as the dust is settling after his blackout: "She leaned against me, using a fold of the cloak as a pillow, and I sat down on the top step, holding her, to see what I had paid for." Unrelated, but I'm eagerly awaiting your review of Toll the Hounds.
As for Mab raping Harry, it's described as having sex with a thunderstorm IIRC. Also this is the second time Harry has been SAed in the Files. At the end of book 3 their is a fade to black moment and it's heavily implied the Reds SAed him. A couple of books later he meets some of those vampires and actively refuses to remember that night while they taunt him about it. Really puts Harry in book 4 into perspective. It wasn't just losing Susan that made him act the way he was acting, he had PTSD.
So glad you seemed to like this book as much as I thought you would. Personally, I'm okay skipping Side Jobs but truists would judge lol. But I thought one of the really interesting plot threads was Martin! Ugh! I hated that dude. But he really did play the long game. Double-agent. The emotional roller coaster of "double-cross! Omg I knew we hated this guy for a reason", only to realize that his double-cross was really a triple-cross and THAT was the fake out, and that he would never really get credit for it, nor did he care. Changes is so much. But, the rest of the series is a level up after this. A lot of people think Ghost Story is mid- or low- on the list of best books. I rank it a little higher and really enjoyed it. Especially after Changes.
Oh Merphy Napier you and I could go for hours arguing the various points you brought up here even though we both ended at Amazing Book lol. Changes is my number 1 Dresden Book and a Top 5 at a minimum book overall for me. Your review of Side Jobs should be interesting to see and then we move on to probably the most polarizing book of the whole Files with Ghost Story. Can’t wait to see what you think!
Also - this series is one of if not my favorite fantasy series, and it is a joy to watch you react to it. Reminds me of when I read through it the first time.
I think you should read Side Jobs and Ghost Story together. Side Jobs is literally something you can pick up and spend a couple hours reading one of the novellas. Fair warning with Ghost Story (no spoilers): Changes is one of the fastest-paced and action packed books in the series. Ghost Story is probably the slowest. I think many end up completely under-valuing the book because of this. Over the years, my appreciation and love for Ghost Story has gone up and up. It is a very introspective book with a lot of fantastic character moments.
James Marsters is extraordinarily as the narrator of this series and he is integral. It was apparent in the next book when he had scheduling conflict. And as the absolute champion he is, he recorded the book later and Audible rereleased it.
Regarding the short stories: I think they are a little hit or miss (I think the early ones are particularly weak), but the later ones fill in a lot of important background material, and the novellas are excellent. I think the short stories suffer because they necessarily skew more towards the action sequences over the quiet character moments Butcher really excels at. The second short story collection is significantly better than the first and should be read just before Peace Talks, as it contains quite a few important developments you would otherwise miss. Without spoiling anything, but... Carlos. Just... Carlos.
Yes, please do spoiler review for Side Jobs. It might be short stories, but there will be a lot to say because of the variety of topics and points of view. I think you will really like them (although some are better than others). And no, I am not one of those who thought you would have to grab the next book immediately. Your current pace seems to be working well for you. I think you will find approximately zero people in the comments section who will be surprised by you liking Changes, but we will all nevertheless be very glad.
Happiness. All Dresden fans at listening to your reaction of Changes. 😁 Like all cliches, it's a cliche because it's true. Just wait for Changes. We all heard it, we all mock it, and those of us who have read the series also MEAN IT. You're bang on, from page one, Jim Butcher has us off and running, and it's a marathon distance sprint. Reveal after shock after bombshell after reveal it simply keeps going until the moment (in movie speak) the score goes silent. "God forgive me." The falling action is all the more resonant coming after the scale of the story, and to be left as Harry descents into the cold and dark? Man. Jim Butcher's come a long way since Storm Front. The scene you wanted feedback on, the one where Mab makes Harry the Winter Knight, I sort of agree with you? For me, while there's clearly a sexual aspect, it speaks symbolically to an intimacy Harry doesn't wish for but needs. That he isn't going in with arms fully open, or unwavering willingness, makes the necessary intimacy feel much closer to an assault, and I think that the uncomfortable feelings we have reading it shows that Jim did it right. That Toot had the innocent curiosity to ask about Mab's temperature helped me see it as Harry tries to describe it. She's the Winter Queen, not simply a woman. The scale of Power in her is elemental, for even a symbolic joining of Winter Powers they needed to inhabit a *different plane of existence*. The 'act' was on so many more levels than merely physical. Murphy and the Sword had a moment of breathtaking Glory, and I love love love that even having created her with such a strong Faith, Jim Butcher also created a woman who would cherish her individuality. Her right to be herself. On the one hand we see how immensely effective she would be if she chose to pick up the Sword, on the other we see that even the Swords allow for freedom of choice. 😥I wish Harry had soul-gazed her before he got fricken' shot.
Great video as always. I truly wish you'd had time to talk about every chapter of this book, I feel like every single one has brilliant bits that are worthy of discussion! It's really one of my favourite things on the internet to hear you discuss the Dresden books... I hope your life becomes less hectic, and perhaps when you have more time or are short of video ideas you could return to the series, and particularly to Changes, to discuss it in as much detail as needed. Also when Ebenezer gives Harry his staff and summons the Blackstaff instead is maybe the coolest bit of any book ever.
I would say that the mab "scene" and the reactions from harry's male friend's echo what a lot of men and boys that are sexually abused go through when they tell their male friends and family.
I think Side Jobs is definitely worth a spoiler review! Many fun stories and a few from new perspectives that merit spoilery stuff 👍 Great video. I love reliving the books through these reviews
Side Jobs is awesome, but contextualizing what it is is important. The stories were written between other books, so there is a bit of style change. but the last story is a novella that takes place immediately after the close of Changes. It is really awesome reading some of the stories that are from OTHER points of view. The Thomas story and the Murphy novella were awesome reads.
It's usually not the moment people bring up in terms of Harry giving up parts of himself but there's the passage where Dresden talks to Uriel when his back is broken: "Damnit," I said, my voice breaking. Tears started from my eyes. The colors and lines in my imagination began to blur. "Please."... "Please," I said again. "You know who I am, You know I'd rather have my nails torn out than beg. And I am begging you. I am not strong enough to do this on my own." It's a sequence that I still think back on because it's so reflective of the quiet desperation and the fact that we've never seen Harry pushed this far before. As you said he gives up parts of his soul, parts of his family, parts of his humanity, but even before those things he gives up his pride and his image of himself here. We've had 11 books to see Harry be defiant and a wiseass but also to see the kind of pride Dresden has in building himself up from a warlocks apprentice, to being one of the good guys who is the help people can call on even when he's scared. Here though he can't, and all the other sacrifices later hit hard, but this is the first real crack that Harry is never going to be the same. To have that then followed up with the kind of hope and what good represents in this (Uriel) vs what kind of evils he has to negotiate or bargain with later (Denarian, Darkhallow, Mab) where good in the Dresdenverse is only telling Harry the truth about whether Maggie is actually his daughter, vs all the evil elements that simply want to use his daughter to manipulate and control him. It's nuanced and specific the kind of factions and what they represent and how different and meaningful those differences actually are. I wonder if you feel like Changes was overhyped or not, it's your favorite now but do you feel your expectations were met based on the hype? Knowing the options Harry had to gain power do you like that we went with Winter Knight Dresden vs Denarian or Darkhallow and how do you think the series would have changed depending on those turns. Side jobs does fill in some perspectives and is a bridge, I feel like it doesn't warrant a full review so much as maybe a 5-10 min recap or highlights mention during the Ghost Story review but I understand the scheduling means one book at a time. Either way glad you got past this point because it was one of the major break points for spoilers so after this and the next few books it'll be easier to reference things and speculate. You probably won't do a full reread any time soon but if you do end up reading this in e-format or in paperback it'd be cool if you perhaps had some shorts covering some of the highlighted passages. There's a few details like in the Mab scene where if you know the magic system are pretty cool, as is the costuming of the fellowship and other neat things people have mentioned that I didn't pick up on until they pointed it out. It's a dense book and also putting it up against the context of the rest of the series and how far the world and the characters have come is perhaps another interesting thing to discuss in a short.
I don't know if Merphy will see your comment so just in case. I was with Merphy for a few days last week while she was reading it and the opening was definitely overhyped for her. But for for the book overall, no it wasn't.
The audio book is more heart wrenching by a lot. I've done both. I recommend the audio book but sometimes a reread tells you more the second time. Agree on the Mab thing. It was definitely the r-word. I don't see another way to describe it. Harry is in danger of doing a full Anakin fall to darkness. Really excited for you to see the fallout for this and how Molly deals with it. This book more than any other shows how different the Dresden Files reads if you think Harry is an unreliable narrator. He grabs a ton of power, murders his lover and all the witnesses are dead. If we didn't trust Harry, he would look like a bastard.
You could knock out a Side Jobs review in a 15 min video, I would really love to hear your take on three of the stories in particular, most of them you can just say a thing or two about them and it’s plenty. But the Thomas POV story, the Warrior, and the Merphy POV ones I think we would all love to hear your take on.
“The man once wrote: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. Tolkien had that one mostly right. I stepped forward, let the door bang closed, and snarled, "Fuck subtle.” MOUSE SPEAKS! This books is absudebalz amazing! And for the longest time it was my number 1, it was edged out of that space by #15 (Skin Game). But that's aways down the line for you.
You should read the short story Aftermath before starting the next book in the series ! And I would also suggest reading the rest of the short stories that you didn't read along the main narrative at this moment in the series. It's the perfect timing :D EDIT: The second I press enter, you talk about it in the video haha
I'd still enjoy a spoiler video after you read Side Jobs. The short stories and micro stories(available on his website) are the only times we get perspectives from other characters.
could you create a playlist of all your dresden videos? One of my favorite series and would love to have your thoughts on whole series in one place. thanks either way!
My favorite part of the book is when they all transform into dogs and we FINALLY hear Mouse talk. And he’s even more awesome than we thought. I agree that Butcher did a great job of making us empathize with Susan and Harry’s choices.
I agree that it was a rape. I always saw it like that. I think Harry himself doesn’t want to see it like that, so is going to try to ‘own’ it so he can lock away the trauma (what’s new?)
One of the big “changes” in this book that you circled but didn’t specifically pinpoint is that Harry fully departs from moral black and white in this book. He has clung vehemently to the idea of doing the right thing to get to the right outcome up until this point. Here, he finally finds the end that will justify any means. His actions in this book range from heroic, to morally grey, to actions devoid of any morals. Becoming a parent is just about the most irresistible form of forced character growth there is and it was incredible to read
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