Small Favor

by Jim Butcher

Other authorsRay Lundgren (Cover designer), Chris McGrath (Cover artist), Alissa Amell (Designer)
Hardcover, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

PS3602.U85 S63

Publication

Roc (New York, 2008). 1st edition, 2nd printing. 432 pages. $23.95.

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. HTML:In this novel in Jim Butcherâ??s #1 New York Times bestselling series, an old debt puts Chicago wizard Harry Dresden in harms way... Harryâ??s life finally seems to be calming down. The White Councilâ??s war with the vampiric Red Court is easing up, no oneâ??s tried to kill him lately, and his eager apprentice is starting to learn real magic. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.   Mab, monarch of the Sidhe Winter Court, calls in an old favor from Harry. Just one small favor he canâ??t refuse...one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skillsâ??and loyaltiesâ??to their very limits.   And everything was going so… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member BeckyJG
Harry Dresden owes Mab, the Winter Queen, two favors. She's here to collect one, but it's only a small favor that she needs and, as she assures him, baring "her delicately pointed canines. 'I am going to help you.'" "Yeah," as Harry notes, " This couldn't be good." And with little further ado
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they're off. The small favor requested of Wizard Dresden is that he find and rescue "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone, local hoodlum, dabbler in the supernatural, nemesis and sometime ally of Harry's, who's been kidnapped by the Order of the Blackened Denarians. Meanwhile, as if dealing with the baddest bad guys around isn't enough, the Summer Court is sending assassins right out of a fairy tale after Harry for some perceived hurt he did them at some point...

It's complicated. And delicious. And really, really clever.

The series gets darker and darker, yet loses none of its smart-ass snarkiness along the way. The usual suspects--apprentice Molly, Knights of the Cross Michael and Sanya, cop Karrin Murphy, et al--are along to help. The action is close to non-stop, and the ending is a doozy: several lives are irrevocably changed and you won't be able to wait to pick up the book eleven to find out what happens next.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
It was this book that also made me realize the series is becoming more about the overarching drama that is Harry's life, and less about the individual stories within the novels. In this way the series reminds me of TV shows that start off as monster-of-the-week and gradually evolve into complicated
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soap operas over time.

I've always loved the drama in Harry's life, but this is the first time I've felt bogged down by it. The entire story was a rather confusing affair. Even as urban fantasy mysteries go, Dresden books are usually characterized by a string of events that follow logically from one to the next. He might not be doing much detective work anymore, but things generally unfold in a way to bring all the pieces together in a way that makes sense. I didn't get that so much from this book. Several loose ends were explained away in a convoluted manner or simply not touched upon at all.

All in all, I liked Small Favor, but remembering how good some of the previous installments of this series had been, I just can't give it the same high rating.
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LibraryThing member pmtracy
Butcher’s Dresden novels are all about plot so it’s difficult talking about one of these novels without spoiling it for others. In Small Favor, Butcher again uses some irony in the naming of the book since Harry needs to complete a task for Mab, Queen of the Winter Sidhe. Readers of the series
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know that this will obviously not be any “small” favor.

Butcher seems to be taking more time on the character development aspect of his writing. Small Favor is still a fun, exciting page turner, but there’s a lot of psychology going on here. Imagine actually feeling sorry, if only briefly, for The Fallen Nicodemus. The cast of characters are being developed so that we have a better better understanding their motivations. Small Favor was great in this regard because all of your favorites return. While the “Fists of God” and Denarians play the greatest roles (maybe even more so than Harry himself) you get a great refresher of all of the major players. The only obvious omission is the Red Court. Even though the war continues, they have no part in this particular installment.

I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone, but here are a few teasers in case you’re wavering; Harry develops a new love interest (you may or may not have seen this coming but it’s not the obvious choice), we ALMOST get a new Knight of the Cross (small and feisty) and you won’t believe what the Archive does to the Denarians in the aquarium sequence.

All of the Dresden Files novels have been entertaining and I think each has been better than the last. Keep in mind that each novel builds on previous books in the series so if you’re interested in Small Favor, take the time to first read its predecessors.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
Noooooo! I hate this book. No, I LOVE this book. Gah! It tore me to pieces, made me cry, laugh, holler and just about every other reaction you can imagine to a book. Butcher is a fiendish author and I am thoroughly addicted.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
Like many others, I was disappointed in this installment of the Dresden Files. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the same caliber as previous books. I also think there was way too much Michael, and not enough Murphy. And a lot of characters seemed to be thrown into the mix just so they could
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appear. Really, was driving Harry around all Thomas could do? Molly has the potential to be a good character, but she has little substance at this point so why not have her hide out with the rest of the kids? Yet, these were minor problems for me. My main objection was yet another hollow victory.

I agree completely with the reviewer who said, "the action is relentless to the point that it sometimes seems like movement for its own sake and simply to grind Harry down." I'm all for a nemesis, or powerful villain that recurs to tempt or taunt the hero. However, the endless parade of uber-powerful foes has become too much. I find myself thinking, "put the poor bugger out of his misery" instead of "go Harry!" He (still) owes a favor to Mab. Summer wants him dead. Then we have The Fallen, The Red Court, and The Black Council. Not to mention all the individual evils that pop up. And the White Council which still doesn't trust him. And to top it all off, his friends are doubting him and he keeps getting beaten up - literally! When I reached the end of the novel, it didn't feel like Harry saved the day. The little progress that was made was taken back and then some, and the Fallen are just regrouping over a minor setback. The plot, such as it was, didn't seem to serve any purpose. You'd think Summer would be just as concerned over a breach of the Accords as Winter, yet they're too intent on killing Harry? All this manipulation by Nicodemus on the chance the Archive would arbitrate? It just didn't mesh. I miss the Harry Dresden who investigated, prepared careful spells in advance (with Bob's running commentary), and came out ahead because of wits and bravery. I miss when the Voltswagon Beetle took the brunt of the damage instead of Harry. I was surprised to find myself happy at the potential romance between Harry and Luccio. I think because I just wanted something good to happen to our hero. But a kiss on the last page isn't enough to make up for how depressing the rest of his life, and this book, is.

Overall, I can't deny this was a page turner. Fans of the series will want to know what happens, and I did enjoy some of it. There is a lot of action and Harry is still a great, chivalrous hero. Butcher's trademark humor is here and a lot of good one liners. I've already pre-ordered the next book, but can't help but hope it gives us a real victory for the good guys. Harry deserves it.
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LibraryThing member Aeyan
One person's small favor is another's world-shifting, death-skirting onus. Especially when the one asking, nay demanding, the small favor is the Winter Queen of Faerie and saying 'no thanks' just isn't in her realm of acceptance. Poor Harry Dresden. Again. One would almost feel abounding sympathy
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and terror for him if it wasn't so darn funny the situations that seem to coalesce around him.

At least Harry has his trusty Mouse, a pair of holy sword-bearing Knights of the Cross, an apprentice and cop friend with attitudes, and a super-hot vampire brother to keep his butt from being roasted by the arrayed forces of antagonists - including some very irate Billy Goats Gruff.
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LibraryThing member MaryWJ
good, but...spending most of the book rushing from fight to fight - more story please!
LibraryThing member monica67
One thing I like about Jim Butcher's stories is, despite the unrealism of magic and wizards, they're realistic. Things don't always go right for Harry -- okay, they don't usually go right for Harry. If he's taking a shot at a demon, he's more likely to miss. If he needs to get into somewhere, it's
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likely to be locked. Nothing's easy, obstacles are everywhere. And as the reader, you never get off the edge of your seat.

One thing you must love, to love Harry Dresden, is his wiseass, wise-cracking attitude. When he came face to face with Mab, Queen of the winter half of Faerie, he was so scared, "I couldn't summon up a single wiseass comment, and that just doesn't happen to me." He's reassured that if he can still crack some snark, he's doing okay. It's part of him. While in some other character it would feel forced and out of sync, it's what you expect from Harry Dresden. He proved it in the short story "Heorot," when, after not making any snarky comments to that Black Court vampire, he spit a mouthful of garlic powder onto her with the warning that if he's not mouthing off, something's wrong.

The plot in Small Favor is a bit more complicated, a bit harder to keep track of. I wasn't always quite sure of the relationship among all the players, but once I thought it through I was a bit clearer. On my second reading, I didn't have that problem, but knowing the general story probably helps that. [SPOILERS AHEAD!] I did notice a bit of foreshadowing this time: when Harry said if Titania wanted to stop him, all she'd have to do is break his back and land him in the hospital. Poor choice of words, Harry...

I was hoping to see more of Bob in this one, after he made such an early appearance, but that turned out to be not so much. In fact, we saw less of a few of the usual characters, including Murphy and Thomas, though they made their usual spectacular entrances at the end. Michael was the prominent secondary character, and he came through for Harry in ways Harry wouldn't have expected.

Ok, I knew Murphy had cajones, but standing up to that gruff who wouldn't notice if he sat on her, she proved they're big brass cajones. But one thing I saw coming -- I always knew that sword was meant for her! Go Murphy! She'll take it up sometime. She has to. And on my second reading, I noticed that Mab refers to Murphy as the "Lady Knight." If Mab thinks of her that way, come on...

And Michael - ack! I hope the price he's paid turns out to be worth it. I also noticed something on my rereading. Everyone referred to Harry as "bound to Winter" or otherwise beholden or owned by Winter. As if it was a done deal. Perhaps it was...

While Harry deserved the ending, it did NOT make me happy. Still waiting for the ending I'm hoping for!
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LibraryThing member maughta
This is a nonstop roller coaster of a ride, exactly what you expect from the Dresden Files. Another episode in the how-can-we-hurt-Harry-some-more-and-yet-he-still-makes-jokes series. I love all these characters and recommend this book to anyone who's read the series and this series to anyone who
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likes mystery and urban fantasy all rolled into one.
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LibraryThing member yarmando
Good, fast-paced series entry. Mab maneuvers Harry into acting on her behalf to rescue the crime-lord Marone, captured by the Denarians.
LibraryThing member slothman
Harry Dresden is back, and this time he has to juggle repaying a favor for the Unseelie Court (and thus being targeted for some impressive violence by the Seelie Court) and a power grab by the Denarians, a particularly nasty batch of demons that are out to make a mess of the human world. He manages
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to hold it together with the help of friends and allies, and gains a bit more data on the larger-scale conspiracies in his world. Butcher keeps the action going the whole way; don't open this one up if you don't have some good stretches of uninterrupted reading time ahead of you.
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
I love these books - Harry Dresden is an interesting and complicated character, who always tries to do the right thing, but not always in the right way. He owes Queen Mab, and she ask him a seemingly small thing, which has huge consequences
LibraryThing member slpenney07
Summary: Queen Mab calls on Dresdyn for payback of the second of the three favors he owes. Before too long he is hip deep in deception and intrigue. Really, just another day for Dresdyn.

The Take Away: I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to learn that total of 20 books are planned. Thrilled beyond
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measure. I'm already planning a back to back read through. It would go better if I had copies of the kooks. Must look into that.

I love how nonchalant Harry is about the bad guys chasing him, again. I like Molly as a foil to his wizarding strength and Charity as a moral compass. Butcher really handles the massive quantity of secondary characters better tan most authors I read. I don't forget who they are and they continue to have important - not gratuitous - roles.

Considering that this book really is the midpoint of the series, Harry has a lot of adventure ahead of him. Enough, I believe, that he just might take up that sword.
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LibraryThing member EowynA
Fun, as always, but not as compelling as the last one. Possibly the difficulty focusing the eyes affected my enjoyment. On the other hand, the author very clearly and carefully planted a clue in the first or second chapter that I totally missed, as did Dresden, until most of the way through the
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book. Very well done. I went back to review it, and found it in hindsight. Even warned that something went wonky, I doubt if other readers will pick it up. At first, it feels like "lots happening, but plot not going anywhere" and then you find out that what has been going on is not the whole story. Second half more satisfying than the first.
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LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
Wow, these just keep getting better and better. Queen Mab of the Winter Court is calling in a favor and Harry is up to his eyebrows in enemies, as usual. Nothing is as it seems and soon Harry discovers that the stakes are higher than ever before.

It is really hard to summarize one of these books.
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Just know that Harry is his usual wise-cracking self. This book may actually have more action than any of the other, if you can believe that.
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LibraryThing member reannon
The Dresden files series is still going strong after 10 volumes. Harry Dresden is a wizard in Chicago, in a fictional world similar to our own...except for such minor matters as the reality of magic, wizards, demons, fairy folk, angels (fallen and otherwise), and the Nevermore, the magical lands
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that intersect with the real world. Harry is a good guy, but it isn't always easy to tell who's on the side of good, or even what the good is. Often Harry is faced with difficult choices, such as two good things being mutually exclusive, or NO good options, or options in which some things are good and some are bad. Rather like reality, in fact.

The hardest part of the series to believe is that Harry is always called upon to save the world against almost impossible odds. He always comes through with the help of preparation, thinking ahead, imagination, courage, and the help of other people with the same qualities.

In this case the fallen have conspired to kidnap the Archive, a young girl who holds humanity's collective memory and is immensely powerful. If they can break her, well, the world is in danger AGAIN.

Overall, a really good series, and a really good entry in the series. And, oh, by the way, a whole field of raspberries to the SciFi Channel for canceling the TV series based on the books. That was a Bad Decision.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
This was not the best entry in the Dresden series. I almost felt like Butcher was vamping along while he figured where to go next with the characters. Personally, I think it's time to stop the hints about the larger conspiracies and move on to dealing with them, rather than these small side
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trips...but it's not my series.

I liked seeing more of Michael and family, would have liked to see more Thomas as he's one of the most interesting characters, am finding Murphy a little stagnant—but, all-in-all, this is still a solid addition to a good series.

The Billy Goats Gruff was wonderful!
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LibraryThing member mtnbiker1
This the second of Butcher's Dresden Files books that I've read, and I have to say it was a thrilling ride! At first I felt like I might not be up for the ride, as it seemed like it was going to be bumpy from the very beginning and I thought that it would be too painful a journey if the main
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character was traumatized from page one so to speak, but it leveled out and got interesting very fast. The Dresden file cast is a finely wrought group, and after 10 books, Butcher knows them all pretty well. Through two thirds of the book I was thinking about it a lot and trying to figure out what would happen and historically, how it would happen, but the ending was a nice finish to the book and I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the adventures of Chicago's resident wizard.
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LibraryThing member hafowler
The best Dresden in a while, and I've loved them all! I adore Ivy, and I feel like I missed something with Karin and Ivy's caretaker, but man this story had me on the edge of my seat! My only complaint? MORE THOMAS! LOL His Hummer was awesome. Best moment of the book was Gard coming over the island
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in the helicopter, blasting Ride of the Valkyries. Awesome book. Can't wait for the next one!
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LibraryThing member hairball
Dresden finally gets to have sex again and it happens...after the book ends? What happened to the hot vampire sex?

I enjoy all of the Dresden books at about the same level, and devour them like a pint of yummy (in my case, soy) ice cream, all in one sitting. Probably because I've read all of them
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within the space of a couple of months, I do tire of the same things being explained over and over again.

If you like the Dresden books, you won't be disappointed, but regardless of all the 'splaining, I wouldn't drop into this series midway through.
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LibraryThing member Cormac_The_Bald
Another excellent addition to the series. Some very interesting character development that I personally find more interesting than the actual story itself. I particularly liked the development of Molly, Harry's apprentice.
LibraryThing member Caspettee
In Small Favor Harry is called to a crime scene by friend and sometimes work college Murphy. A building has been destroyed and its front seems to have been cut off cleanly. But as always this is just the start, and pretty quickly Harry has found himself smack in the middle of a whole lot of
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trouble.

I dont know how Jim Butcher does it after ten books but he managed to write another roller coaster of a book which had me turning the page at blistering speed to find out what happens next.

The reader gets to see a lot of character and story development in this book and a lot more "hints" about Harry and his past/future were dropped.

A highly recommended book but start at the beginning if you are new to the series.
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LibraryThing member Alexandria_annex
Jim Butcher’s Small Favor, has Harry in the most trouble he has been in yet. It seams that everybody involved has something against Harry; Summer Court, Winter Court, the Denarians, local organized criminals, the police force, the Knights-of-the-Cross, even his friends. While this is everything
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we want and expect from Harry Dresden there are some wonderful ways his character develops. His magic, while as large and dramatic as always, has also become more refined with experience. And he gets the chance to see a more powerful wizard in combat and realizes just how much he has to learn.

After teasing us for several book, Butcher finally starts to explore the question of to whom the third sword of the Knights-of-the-Cross should be given. Also after a long wait, there might, just might be some romance returning to a young wizards life.

This is a fast moving novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation and expectation until the end. There are even a few ticklers for future stories that leave you wondering when you can read the next exciting adventure of the Dresden Files.
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LibraryThing member cannellfan
The tenth volume in the popular on-going Dresden Files series finds Chicago wizard Harry Dresden enjoying some down time between crises. Quiet times never last, and Harry soon finds himself under attack from mystical assailants, while also having to repay a favor to Mab, the Queen of the Winter
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Court of the Sidhe. Allies and enemies keep popping up to make things even more complicated, including a group of Fallen Angels who may be trying to bring John Marcone, Chicago's biggest mob leader, into their midst. With his friends, the Knights of the Cross, Sgt. Karrin Murphy, mercenary bodyguard Kincaid, and his vampiric half-brother Thomas backing him, Dresden finds himself opposing a mystical power play that could have permanent global repercussions. All while Chicago endures one of the worst white-out blizzards its ever faced! The Dresden Files books will be a hit with anyone who is a fan of the hip, pop-culture sensibility of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or who doesn't mind a hefty dose of spell slinging with their noirish detectives. One caveat: If you've never read any of the Dresden Files books before, don't start with Small Favor -- there's way too many returning characters to enjoy without knowing how they fit into Harry's world from previous adventures. The series starts with Storm Front.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
Though this series is becoming incredibly complicated (I had a hard time arranging past events properly in my mind to keep up with the action), it still is a fantastically good time. Harry is a wonderfully complex, sympathetic, and sarcastic character, and his struggles feel very real. I'll be
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reading this series to its very end...
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Awards

RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2009)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2008-04-01

Physical description

432 p.; 9.28 inches

ISBN

9780451461896
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