Small Favor
5 out of 5 Not-So-Small-Favor Stars
"I am wizard; hear me roar!"
Oh, Harry, you poor guy. Seriously, you can never seem to catch a break. But all these ordeals that you face make for some seriously great reads! Small Favor is no exception, and Butcher continues on with his plots for Harry in the best ways possible. Whenever we think something is resolved from previous novels, Butcher shows us just how talented he is, bringing back things most readers overlook. You'd think by book 10 I'd be better at figuring out what's going to happen, but that's what I love most about The Dresden Files -- I'm surprised again and again with each new installment. Mr. Butcher, you know how to weave a damn good story!
"There's nothing as exhilarating as being shot at and missed."
Plot-Line:
Let's jump right into the action! Butcher really knows how to grab his readers from the first chapter, and Small Favor does not disappoint. The sidhe are getting involved, and whenever that happens, we all know that matters are about to get extremely messy. Remember that time Harry made a deal with Mab and now owes her some favors? Well, the Queen of Air and Darkness has decided to cash in: Harry's to be her Emissary and protect a certain someone (whose name I'll omit to avoid any mini-spoilers, although you can probably take a good guess who it is). The Denarians are back to cause more trouble, and the Summer fae aren't too cozy with Harry either. Harry's got some dangerous enemies to face (as always) but his allies aren't exactly who you'd expect, adding a bit more tension to the novel. Good luck with this "small favor," Harry. You're gonna need it.
"Don't think, Harry. You know too much about what you're up against. Analyze, decide, and act."
Notable Parts:
The HUMOR. Oh, my gosh, Butcher, you've really outdone yourself! Harry's always been an entertaining character, but the snark and bits of comedy are phenomenal in this installment. Witty banter, hilarious situations, and grin-like-an-idiot-while-you-try-to-hold-in-your-laughter lines. Absolutely over-the-top fun. Of course, there's still danger and action and tension and whatnot, but Butcher's comedic skills really shine in this installment. Now, onto the serious stuff. Ivy and Kincaid are back, which is always cool to read about -- Ivy is one kickass kid! Our Knights of the Cross make their appearances, too, and without Sanya and Michael, Harry would be in some serious trouble. Luccio also helps out, and, I have to say, Gard is a pretty awesome character. The Denarians are great villains, and Nicodemus does not disappoint in his role of evil leader to the blood-thirsty gang of vicious fallen-angel hosts. We're introduced to some new powers, which I'm happy about, as I was wondering when we'd get into this area of magic. And then there's Harry, who seems to be acting a bit strange at times. Okay, maybe seriously strange -- but this is explained in the best way, and I love the shift in plot-lines here. What will be done with this new information?
“We're always disappointed when we find out someone else has human limits, the same as we do. It's stupid for us to feel that way, and we really ought to know better, but that doesn't seem to slow us down.”
Overall:
I love this series! Have I said that enough yet? Probably, but I'm going to keep saying it anyways! Jim Butcher has created the most epic urban fantasy series, and I just love everything about The Dresden Files. There's always action, dangerous battles, character development, and changes that you don't see coming. I love the way Butcher intertwines plots and how he takes them in directions you don't always expect. Small Favor is a great read in a fantastic series, and I can't wait to see how things develop in future novels. So many great setups, where to next, Mr. Butcher?
“Its amazing what you can get used to if your daily allowance of bizarre is high enough."
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