Finally done playing catch-up with The Dresden Files. Umm, what??
Skin Game
5 out of 5 Hiest-Filled stars
"Thank you, Mab, for this wonderful, wonderful game. Maybe next time we can play pin the tail on the wizard."
I'm all caught up on The Dresden Files. How did this happen so quickly? Well, that's an easy question—this series is so completely epically awesome that I couldn't put any of the books down. The more important question: how am I going to wait until MAY OF 20-FREAKING-16 for the next book?!?! Butcher you're killing me here! Although I guess I can't complain too much, since everyone else who's caught up has been waiting a year already, with another several months to go. Gonna be a looonnnggg year. But worth the wait. As always, Butcher does not disappoint, and Skin Game is no exception.
"If you want to live, if you want your friends and family to live, I expect you to do more than survive it. I expect you to skin them alive."
Plot-Line:
Fast-forward a year from the end of Cold Days. Harry's still on the island, has a ticking time bomb inside his head, and Molly has yet to have spoken to him since she became the Winter Lady. So Harry's basically been spending his days doing Parkour while Alfred Demonreach (yes the island's spirit has been given its own name) is limiting the pain the parasite is causing Harry. And then, lo and behold, Mab shows up, telling him that he only has three days to live before the parasite kills him, and that she's been the one stopping him and Molly from communicating. Harry needs Molly's help in order to survive, but first he needs to complete Mab's newest mission for him: use his skills to pay off one of her debts. And what exactly does Harry need to do? Help Nicodemus, leader of the Knights of the Blackened Denarius, break into the vault of the Lord of the Underworld, Hades himself. Easy peasy. Nothing like being a part of a group of supernatural villains to up one's paranoia. But a quick snatch and grab seems too simple, and Nicodemus is known to be a tricky, back-stabbing bastard. Harry needs to find out what other game is being set into motion and quick, before his own 'allies' take him out of the equation. Just another day in the average life of the Winter Knight.
"This is what it looks like when someone's fighting for his soul."
Notable Parts:
Harry has developed a preference for Parkour. This includes shouting "parkour" whenever he finds himself doing it, whether that be while running through the Well of Demonreach or in the middle of a fight. Mostly in very absurd scenes, which always makes me crack a smile. We also learn more about the parasite in Harry's head, and have another get-together with Harry's double, which is always interesting. And Michael is back! Giving wise words of advice to Harry—it's great finally getting to read about him since the terrible attack all the way back to Small Favor. Karrin is a big help, as always, and even Butters gets some time in the spotlight. The little villain gang that Nicodemus brings together is quite the interesting group, and it was fun getting to read about all of these non-trustworthy people working together. Never know what someone is going to do next. As always, there's great setups for future novels, added in eloquently without it feeling like plans are just being thrown in our faces. And I always love it when Harry proves how much he has grown since Storm Front, using his head before his magic, planning and being prepared. Time to win some games, Harry.
"You think your power is what shapes the world you walk in. But that is an illusion. Your choices shape your world. You think your power will protect you from the consequences of those choices. But you are wrong. You create your own rewards. There is a Judge. There is a Justice in this world. And one day you will receive what you have earned. Choose carefully."
Overall:
What another great read to an amazing series. The Dresden Files is one of the best urban fantasy series out there, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to read next. 15 books in 3 months. 15 years of work all caught up. I can no longer finish one novel and move onto the next installment. I'm stuck in the same boat as everyone else: waiting patiently (ha) for the next book. At this point, I'll be happy to get a cover release. May, why are you so far away? It's going to be a looonnnngggg couple of months. I will now join the wait with all the other readers, taking whatever scraps of info Butcher will give us until the next release. Peace Talks sounds freaking awesome, and I can't wait to see what Butcher has in store for Harry next. Knowing him, it's going to be intense, action-filled, a rollercoaster of emotions, and, quite simply, epic. As each and every book in The Dresden Files has been.
"What happens if she does it? What happens if she turns me into her personal monster? What is she going to do with me then?"
"Oh, Harry. You're asking exactly the wrong question."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He looked at me, his face serious, even worried. "What is she going to do with you if she can't?"
No comments:
Post a Comment