Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Roc (New York, 2012). 1st edition, 1st printing. 528 pages. $27.95.
Description
Following his death by a mystery assailant, Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness, must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own ... his soul.
User reviews
LibraryThing member hlslibrary
I loved it. I thought Ghost story a little weak but this one was back to form. Since I ended up with a copy a couple of days early by lucky chance I don't want to spoil anything because that's just mean. But I really did love it!
LibraryThing member jnwelch
Cold Days, the 14th(!) in Jim Butcher's series about Chicago Wizard Harry Dresden, is a particularly enjoyable entry for fans. It ties a lot of previously loose ends together, and has Harry in fine form as an enhanced employee of Mab (due to events in the last book). We get to learn a whole lot
With new powers in play and old powers revealing more than ever before, will Harry finally come up short? Will the action slow up enough for him to finally hook up with ex-cop Karrin Murphy? Or will he fall for the Winter court's mysterious Sarissa? Or let down his guard with his yearning apprentice Molly? If you've been hooked by this series, you'll have a blast finding out.
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more about his island Demonreach and its secrets, and about the complex world of Faerie and its relationship with the White Council.With new powers in play and old powers revealing more than ever before, will Harry finally come up short? Will the action slow up enough for him to finally hook up with ex-cop Karrin Murphy? Or will he fall for the Winter court's mysterious Sarissa? Or let down his guard with his yearning apprentice Molly? If you've been hooked by this series, you'll have a blast finding out.
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LibraryThing member halkeye
All I can, and want to say, is dammit, when is the next one coming out.
LibraryThing member nnschiller
I a big fan of the Dresden Files. I read a bunch of pulp series, but there is something that sets Butcher and his stories apart from and above other writers in the pulp genre. I'm not sure I can articulate it well, but here goes.
Above and beyond everything else he does, Butcher has rock-solid
Beyond that, he writes good characters that change from book to book. He makes a bunch of pop culture references that don't annoy me. He also has a way of building up to climax events that makes what is going on seem reasonable, when taken out of the context of his structure, would just seem over-the-top.
I guess that is as good a way of summing up Butcher and the Dresden Files as any: he does the background work to make ridiculous seeming plot resolutions appear reasonable and natural. There's a LOT of bad fiction out there that has similar elements. It's not rare to have an Urban Fantasy wizard who blows stuff up and has a temper, but really a softy on the inside. It is rare to read someone in the genre with enough restraint to put these elements into a disciplined order.
So, yeah. Jim Butcher, master craftsperson. He knows how to construct a novel very well. So well, it is hard to tell if there is a deeper art to his work. I don't (DON'T) want to make a ham-fisted artisan-artist distinction. I just want to say that Jim Butcher does what he does really, really well.
Above and beyond everything else he does, Butcher has rock-solid
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fundamentals. He plots his novels well. He's disciplined, so there aren't continuity errors or imbalances in the story. There is something very workmanlike (or a non-gendered synonym I can't think of) about Butcher's work, and I say this not to point out a lack of deeper work, but as a compliment. Butcher takes care of business on a fundamental level. He's not just making stuff up as he goes along, but his stories are laid down on top of well-thought out foundations.Beyond that, he writes good characters that change from book to book. He makes a bunch of pop culture references that don't annoy me. He also has a way of building up to climax events that makes what is going on seem reasonable, when taken out of the context of his structure, would just seem over-the-top.
I guess that is as good a way of summing up Butcher and the Dresden Files as any: he does the background work to make ridiculous seeming plot resolutions appear reasonable and natural. There's a LOT of bad fiction out there that has similar elements. It's not rare to have an Urban Fantasy wizard who blows stuff up and has a temper, but really a softy on the inside. It is rare to read someone in the genre with enough restraint to put these elements into a disciplined order.
So, yeah. Jim Butcher, master craftsperson. He knows how to construct a novel very well. So well, it is hard to tell if there is a deeper art to his work. I don't (DON'T) want to make a ham-fisted artisan-artist distinction. I just want to say that Jim Butcher does what he does really, really well.
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LibraryThing member tockenboom
I regard most of Butcher's Dresden series to be something of a guilty pleasure. The first few were jolly good fun if nothing particularly special. I admittedly had some serious issues with the ending of "Changes". When I learned of the planned interim release of "Side Jobs" I felt it was an
Butcher seems intent on throwing everything including the kitchen sink into the metaphysical reality of his series. In a reveal reminiscent of the scene in Men In Black where they kick open the door to reveal that our entire world exists inside a locker in a ginormous otherworldly bus station we are shown the Lovecraftian opponents from "outside" our reality that Harry now has to deal with. It all reminds me of nothing more than a journal of someone's high school role playing game. Harry levels up every couple of adventures but the only real result is that the DM Butcher just levels up all the opponents. Harry, albeit more powerful, remains a tortured underdog who behaves exactly the same way he did 13 books ago. I'm sorry but power levels should not be the primary sign of character growth in a series this long so I'm not sure I'm going to stick around to see what baddies Butcher dredges up out of his old copy of Deities and Demigods for Harry's next installment. I'm sure he's a nice guy but I don't think I owe him a living for essentially rewriting the same book every year or so.
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unconscionable money-grabbing betrayal of his fans. The disappointing "Ghost Story" was a rather lackluster reward for the additional wait. Now we have "Cold Days" and I have to say that this series, which I initially regarded as the equivalent of a fun popcorn movie, has become far too formulaic for even that level of enjoyment. Butcher seems intent on throwing everything including the kitchen sink into the metaphysical reality of his series. In a reveal reminiscent of the scene in Men In Black where they kick open the door to reveal that our entire world exists inside a locker in a ginormous otherworldly bus station we are shown the Lovecraftian opponents from "outside" our reality that Harry now has to deal with. It all reminds me of nothing more than a journal of someone's high school role playing game. Harry levels up every couple of adventures but the only real result is that the DM Butcher just levels up all the opponents. Harry, albeit more powerful, remains a tortured underdog who behaves exactly the same way he did 13 books ago. I'm sorry but power levels should not be the primary sign of character growth in a series this long so I'm not sure I'm going to stick around to see what baddies Butcher dredges up out of his old copy of Deities and Demigods for Harry's next installment. I'm sure he's a nice guy but I don't think I owe him a living for essentially rewriting the same book every year or so.
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LibraryThing member chymekeeper
A wizard that sometimes his plans don't work quite what he always plans . He has to save Chicago from a disaster about to happen. Will his friends believe he is back from the dead , will they believe it is him? Will they help him out to save Chicago? The book kept me on edge . I couldn't wait to
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find out all these answers to the questions. I give this book 5 / 5 stars. It is a must read!!!! Jim Butcher did it again!!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
After being somewhat disappointed with the last instalment of the Dresden Files series I picked this one up with a little trepidation. Had Jim Butcher’s wizarding express run out of steam or had this one brought it back on track?
[b]The rest of this review will contain at least minor spoilers for
This one picks up with Harry’s recuperation at the hands of his new employer, Mab the Winter Queen, and having to come to terms with the pecking order of her court. It’s not long before his strength is tested and he quickly makes some new enemies. He is also given his first task as the Winter Knight – to kill an immortal. As if that wasn’t going to be hard enough, Harry also learns of a threat to his island, Demonreach. A danger that will not just destroy the island but take half the Midwest along with it.
Even though the time span for the action contained in this book is just over 24 hours, there’s a lot going on and with plenty of information to take on board. Not only do we get to learn more of the fae through Harry’s new role but we also get introduced properly to Demonreach as well. What it is and what Harry’s relationship is to it also. There is more to the story but that would be giving too much away. Most of the Scooby gang make an appearance and it’s good to reconnect with the likes of Molly, Thomas, Bob, Karrin and the rest. The action and pacing of the story is all done at breakneck speed with barely a moment for the reader to catch their breath.
It’s great to be back on the Dresden express and I can’t wait for the next part of the journey to arrive.
[b]The rest of this review will contain at least minor spoilers for
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the preceding books of the series.[/b]This one picks up with Harry’s recuperation at the hands of his new employer, Mab the Winter Queen, and having to come to terms with the pecking order of her court. It’s not long before his strength is tested and he quickly makes some new enemies. He is also given his first task as the Winter Knight – to kill an immortal. As if that wasn’t going to be hard enough, Harry also learns of a threat to his island, Demonreach. A danger that will not just destroy the island but take half the Midwest along with it.
Even though the time span for the action contained in this book is just over 24 hours, there’s a lot going on and with plenty of information to take on board. Not only do we get to learn more of the fae through Harry’s new role but we also get introduced properly to Demonreach as well. What it is and what Harry’s relationship is to it also. There is more to the story but that would be giving too much away. Most of the Scooby gang make an appearance and it’s good to reconnect with the likes of Molly, Thomas, Bob, Karrin and the rest. The action and pacing of the story is all done at breakneck speed with barely a moment for the reader to catch their breath.
It’s great to be back on the Dresden express and I can’t wait for the next part of the journey to arrive.
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LibraryThing member Hubert.Smits
After a few very dark and violent books in the Dresden serie, this one is back to the original caliber. Sure, it is still good fights evil, and of course, good wins (most of the times). In this book Butler shows his broad fantasy, more so than his dark side. He impresses me with the different
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scenarios, the unique solutions to all the bad situations that the hero finds himself in. He builds the personal relationships back into the story line, there is hope again for Dresden and the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member dearheart
Harry is back from the dead. It turns out he hadn’t died, but had been in a coma in the last book, with Mab and the spirit of the island fighting to reattach his soul to his body. As the new Winter Knight, he’s immediately faced with a challenge that appears to be impossible and fills him with
The gang is back with Molly, Thomas, Karrin, Mouse and even Mac helping Harry save the world. There are some new revelations and a turn of events that will have a big effect on future stories. The story is filled with a great deal of action, humor and explanation by Harry to the readers on the pros and cons of different decisions and options. Some of that last gets to be a bit much as there is a lot of it. But it wouldn’t be a Dresden book without it, especially since there’s often some humor buried in it. The true reasons for what's going on and why are nicely convoluted and not easily guessed.
It’s also a book about relationships; his reunion with Thomas and Karrin in particular. Harry’s fear of being Maggie’s father is touching, and something he needs to deal with. We see a more grown up Molly and how Harry’s new position changes things for all of them.
Definitely a worthwhile edition to the Dresden storyline.
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doubt. And of course since this is a Dresden book, there are all sorts of other things when back in the human realm, that vie for his attention when Harry is already fighting a deadline.The gang is back with Molly, Thomas, Karrin, Mouse and even Mac helping Harry save the world. There are some new revelations and a turn of events that will have a big effect on future stories. The story is filled with a great deal of action, humor and explanation by Harry to the readers on the pros and cons of different decisions and options. Some of that last gets to be a bit much as there is a lot of it. But it wouldn’t be a Dresden book without it, especially since there’s often some humor buried in it. The true reasons for what's going on and why are nicely convoluted and not easily guessed.
It’s also a book about relationships; his reunion with Thomas and Karrin in particular. Harry’s fear of being Maggie’s father is touching, and something he needs to deal with. We see a more grown up Molly and how Harry’s new position changes things for all of them.
Definitely a worthwhile edition to the Dresden storyline.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
So Dresden is the Winter Knight and has to figure out what to do with it, or if he even has a choice in the matter. Imminent danger and the end of the world or at least of the Chicago area, are piling up around him and all the bad guys are out to get in his way.
I won't say it left me cold, but it
I won't say it left me cold, but it
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wasn't my favorite. I'm not sure I like this turn for Dresden. Also, maybe it's just me, but it seemed like the F-bomb was dropped a lot more than before. The end was intriguing though, and even though this wasn't my favorite of the series, it was good enough that I'm not going to quit reading them if Butcher writes more. Show Less
LibraryThing member AnnieMod
When an author pulls the "Hero is dead; Hero is not so dead; Hero is alive" stint, things usually go downhill from there. And for a little while, it looked like that for Dresden - the last book was much weaker than any of the others in the series and I almost dreaded this new addition. I did not
Plus a thread that ties together previously unrelated events from previous books (the name is really cliche though...), new information for old characters, a few changes characters (if someone had told me 5 books ago who will end up being the Winter knight and lady, I would probably have laughed...) and leaving a few dangling threads still dangling. When things started shaping this way, I was not so sure I like it - it almost looked as if Butcher just needed something to get his plot moving. It does work out at the end and sets the stage for a somewhat interesting next few books but... we will see where all that leads. I don't look forward to rehashing of old events and this might happen (to get everyone up-to-speed for example)...
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need to - Butcher is back to form. It is different from the early books - Dresden did die a few books back after all. Kinda. And unlike the previous one, this one actually does not feel like a filler. The fact that Harry has troubles is not exactly unexpected; the fact that he decides to play solo or that noone allows him to is what one would expect as well. And of course Chicago is about to be blown up again (well, this time for real) - it won't be interesting otherwise. But despite the old plot, the story works out - and there are a lot of nods to the older books. Plus regrets and memories. And a few deaths. And the sidhe.Plus a thread that ties together previously unrelated events from previous books (the name is really cliche though...), new information for old characters, a few changes characters (if someone had told me 5 books ago who will end up being the Winter knight and lady, I would probably have laughed...) and leaving a few dangling threads still dangling. When things started shaping this way, I was not so sure I like it - it almost looked as if Butcher just needed something to get his plot moving. It does work out at the end and sets the stage for a somewhat interesting next few books but... we will see where all that leads. I don't look forward to rehashing of old events and this might happen (to get everyone up-to-speed for example)...
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LibraryThing member EowynA
Bought this last Wednesday at a Jim Butcher book-signing event. I usually wait for the paperback - glad I didn't have to wait. At this point in the projected 20-book series, Harry Dresden is the Winter Knight, serving Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. She gives him a command he doesn't expect -
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kill her daughter, Maeve, the Winter Lady. And meanwhile, Demonreach is bubbling up to be an apocolyptic style problem Real Soon Now. And there are bad guys trying to kill him (so what's new?), and his old coterie of Chicago buddies to touch base with again. It's all fun till someone gets hurt - right? Question is, who? Show Less
LibraryThing member mysterymax
After Ghost Story I thought The Dresden Files were over as far as I was concerned, but I decided to give this one a try just to see where it was going. So glad that I did! Harry is back to his old self with more action and wide-ass dialogue than ever. Mouse is back...Bob...Murphy...Thomas...the
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whole crew. It is absolutely great. NOW I can hardly wait for the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member ufreview
He's baaaaaaaaaack! Harry Dresden is back amongst the living and he's back to his usual ass kicking self. Ok I admit I wasn't the biggest fan of Ghost Story, kind of an understatement really but it did inspire a little fear as to whether I was going to continue enjoying one of my favorite series.
While almost every Dresden book is filled with action from cover to cover and this one is no exception, it has sooooooo much more. Harry is now the Winter Knight for Queen Mab and the Mantle of the Winter Knight turns most who have it into a complete and utter asshole and while Harry at heart has always been a nice guy he has challenges fighting what the Mantle wants him to do. The mantle gives a whole lot more understanding of what his brother Thomas goes through constantly, oh and Thomas is back in this book fighting along side Harry and the reunion scene was awesome.
This book ties so many story lines together that have been in previous books and answers so many questions while still having a killer cast of bad guys. You find out so much more about the Sidhe, the island Harry is tied to, the Black Council and who is the new big bad that has been organizing events throughout most of the previous thirteen books. Don't get me wrong while it answers a bunch of questions it also leaves you wanting more... sooo much more.
Cold Days also has some humor, the usual one liners and pop culture references that are so amusing. One of the reasons I liked this book so much is that while Jim Butcher could always write a killer action scene he's getting better with the emotional aspects of Harry's character. Harry has to deal with his relationships with other people in this book and he is forced to learn that his actions have consequences involving more than just his friends' safety but the relationship between them as well.
The ending....holy shit the ending. While it is not the cliff hanger we got in Changes thankfully, it definitely set up the story line for future books and there are some big changes that have happened! Cold Days is to date my favorite in the series and thus begins the wait for book 15....sigh.
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That fear was for nothing, Harry is back along with his posse that I missed so much in Ghost Story and up until I read Cold Days I didn't think any book could be as good or better than Changes. Once again I was wrong....oh so wonderfully wrong.While almost every Dresden book is filled with action from cover to cover and this one is no exception, it has sooooooo much more. Harry is now the Winter Knight for Queen Mab and the Mantle of the Winter Knight turns most who have it into a complete and utter asshole and while Harry at heart has always been a nice guy he has challenges fighting what the Mantle wants him to do. The mantle gives a whole lot more understanding of what his brother Thomas goes through constantly, oh and Thomas is back in this book fighting along side Harry and the reunion scene was awesome.
This book ties so many story lines together that have been in previous books and answers so many questions while still having a killer cast of bad guys. You find out so much more about the Sidhe, the island Harry is tied to, the Black Council and who is the new big bad that has been organizing events throughout most of the previous thirteen books. Don't get me wrong while it answers a bunch of questions it also leaves you wanting more... sooo much more.
Cold Days also has some humor, the usual one liners and pop culture references that are so amusing. One of the reasons I liked this book so much is that while Jim Butcher could always write a killer action scene he's getting better with the emotional aspects of Harry's character. Harry has to deal with his relationships with other people in this book and he is forced to learn that his actions have consequences involving more than just his friends' safety but the relationship between them as well.
The ending....holy shit the ending. While it is not the cliff hanger we got in Changes thankfully, it definitely set up the story line for future books and there are some big changes that have happened! Cold Days is to date my favorite in the series and thus begins the wait for book 15....sigh.
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LibraryThing member sumik
I thought it was very enjoyable. Have been most curious as to how Dresden would handle his new position. I've read remarks that he was more unlikable but I am willing to blame the Winter Knight Mantle for his overt (yet mostly internal) aggression against women.
LibraryThing member rivkat
I devour the Harry Dresden books like bags of peanut M&Ms, and this was no exception. Now the Winter Knight, Harry takes on bigger and badder enemies, and gets closer to the Big Conspiracy that’s been emerging over the course of the last few books. Once you roll with him always being just barely
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powerful enough to survive whoever’s coming for him, it’s all good. Except that it’s a mistake to lampshade that Harry can’t use the internet and then have him utter the line “Awkward conversation is awkward.” On the other hand, any book whose tough-guy lines include “Wizard, please” in exactly the way you’d expect “Bitch, please” to be used gets some leeway from me. Show Less
LibraryThing member les121
At this point, it’s impossible for me not to love each new Dresden Files installment, but Cold Days is a satisfying book on several levels. Important questions are finally answered - about Mab, the Black Council, and Harry’s island - while raising even more questions that will leave you eager
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for the next book. There’s also major character development in Cold Days. Harry is still the “Gandalf on crack” that readers have come to know and love, but he is changing as he grows into his new job as the Winter Knight. Whether those changes are good or bad, or both, is still unclear. Harry’s friends, including Murphy, Molly, Thomas, and Butters, have also gone through changes of their own in Harry’s absence and, in many ways, they are struggling to adjust to Harry’s new role just as much as he is. In essence, this book is about Harry trying to redefine himself and his relationships in the wake of a major life upheaval. It’s a heavy installment in the series, with an ending that is heartbreaking yet hopeful. Needless to say, I’m already counting down the days until book fifteen. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
Harry's consented to be the Winter Knight so Mab's 'bought him back from the dead' (in quotes because it’s a bit more complicated than that) and has set him a difficult task, to kill her daughter Maeve, the Winter Lady. Back in Chicago he reunites with Molly and Thomas and discovers that
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Demonreach, his island, is about to blow up and unleash, well, everything onto the world. Harry's trademark humour is back, thank god, and as he reconnects with his friends, the plot twists and turns its way to a shocking ending, The series is back on form. Show Less
LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
Harry is back from the dead thanks in great part to Mab and, in exchange for her help, he is now her Winter Knight. Being the Knight isn't as much fun as it sounds. Oh sure, he has lots of new strength and agility but there are some pretty extreme downsides. For one thing, people keep trying to
Cold Days is perhaps the most complex of all the books in this series. There is a great deal going on and in several different places. But it is all leading to a really bad ending for Harry, his friends, and possibly the world if he is unable to avoid his enemies, overcome his new new urges, and win the biggest fight of his life. Oh, and there may be a new romance blooming for Harry - or maybe it's an old one.
Cold Days is the fourteenth in the Dresden Files series. With this many books, you would expect the franchise to falter. Not so! It is still the best urban fantasy series around and Cold Days is no exception to the rule. It is a little more complex than others in the series, Harry is a little more mature, but it is still one fun read.
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kill him including half of Queen Mab's court. For another, along with the strength, Winter Knight comes with a built-in bad attitude which Harry must fight constantly to overcome.Cold Days is perhaps the most complex of all the books in this series. There is a great deal going on and in several different places. But it is all leading to a really bad ending for Harry, his friends, and possibly the world if he is unable to avoid his enemies, overcome his new new urges, and win the biggest fight of his life. Oh, and there may be a new romance blooming for Harry - or maybe it's an old one.
Cold Days is the fourteenth in the Dresden Files series. With this many books, you would expect the franchise to falter. Not so! It is still the best urban fantasy series around and Cold Days is no exception to the rule. It is a little more complex than others in the series, Harry is a little more mature, but it is still one fun read.
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LibraryThing member shannonkearns
Once again a wonderful story from Butcher. However! There was something really off in the tone of this one for me: Really hated the pretty constant gender stereotypes and the interlude on whether or not gay people are sinning was out of place and offensive. Those things really made me dislike this
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book. I wish he would have kept to the story and not relied on stupid tropes. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
The latest installment in the Dresden Files series sees wise-cracking wizard Harry Dresden back from the mostly-dead, installed in a new job he's not exactly thrilled about, and once again caught up in dealing with a nasty, complicated supernatural threat.
I do think this series is starting to
I do think this series is starting to
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suffer just a little bit from a couple of problems natural to long-running series like this. One is that it's perhaps getting a little top-heavy under the weight of its own continuity, which is particularly difficult for someone like me who doesn't necessarily find it easy to remember everything that happened in previous volumes. The other is that Harry's now come through so many impossible situations that it's harder to generate real suspense as to whether he'll be able to handle yet another one, even if he is now fighting in a higher weight class, so to speak. I think those two things together are probably the reason I was a little slow to get into the plot of this one, although, as usual, by the end everything came together in an interesting and exciting way, complete with some significant developments to be explored in future novels, and left me feeling happy enough and eager to read the next one. And Harry in is fine form though much of this story; despite all the changes he's been through, he's still his entertainingly smart-alecky, pop-culture-spouting, never-knows-when-to-quit self, this time with full sidekick accompaniment again, which was very welcome. (Although don't tell any of his friends I called them sidekicks, okay?) That, in itself, would be enough to make this fun, whatever creeping issues the series may or may not have. Show Less
LibraryThing member nnschiller
I a big fan of the Dresden Files. I read a bunch of pulp series, but there is something that sets Butcher and his stories apart from and above other writers in the pulp genre. I'm not sure I can articulate it well, but here goes.
Above and beyond everything else he does, Butcher has rock-solid
Beyond that, he writes good characters that change from book to book. He makes a bunch of pop culture references that don't annoy me. He also has a way of building up to climax events that makes what is going on seem reasonable, when taken out of the context of his structure, would just seem over-the-top.
I guess that is as good a way of summing up Butcher and the Dresden Files as any: he does the background work to make ridiculous seeming plot resolutions appear reasonable and natural. There's a LOT of bad fiction out there that has similar elements. It's not rare to have an Urban Fantasy wizard who blows stuff up and has a temper, but really a softy on the inside. It is rare to read someone in the genre with enough restraint to put these elements into a disciplined order.
So, yeah. Jim Butcher, master craftsperson. He knows how to construct a novel very well. So well, it is hard to tell if there is a deeper art to his work. I don't (DON'T) want to make a ham-fisted artisan-artist distinction. I just want to say that Jim Butcher does what he does really, really well.
Above and beyond everything else he does, Butcher has rock-solid
Show More
fundamentals. He plots his novels well. He's disciplined, so there aren't continuity errors or imbalances in the story. There is something very workmanlike (or a non-gendered synonym I can't think of) about Butcher's work, and I say this not to point out a lack of deeper work, but as a compliment. Butcher takes care of business on a fundamental level. He's not just making stuff up as he goes along, but his stories are laid down on top of well-thought out foundations.Beyond that, he writes good characters that change from book to book. He makes a bunch of pop culture references that don't annoy me. He also has a way of building up to climax events that makes what is going on seem reasonable, when taken out of the context of his structure, would just seem over-the-top.
I guess that is as good a way of summing up Butcher and the Dresden Files as any: he does the background work to make ridiculous seeming plot resolutions appear reasonable and natural. There's a LOT of bad fiction out there that has similar elements. It's not rare to have an Urban Fantasy wizard who blows stuff up and has a temper, but really a softy on the inside. It is rare to read someone in the genre with enough restraint to put these elements into a disciplined order.
So, yeah. Jim Butcher, master craftsperson. He knows how to construct a novel very well. So well, it is hard to tell if there is a deeper art to his work. I don't (DON'T) want to make a ham-fisted artisan-artist distinction. I just want to say that Jim Butcher does what he does really, really well.
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LibraryThing member jshillingford
It has been a while since I enjoyed a Dresden File book this much! The last few books were so depressing, with Harry beat down so much that it seemed every "victory" was Pyrrhic. I just didn't enjoy them. Cold Days finally brings back the old, smart ass Harry who relies on his friends and never
At the end of Ghost Story, Harry is in the care of Demonreach and Mab after being "assassinated." He's still the Winter Knight with a boatload of problems, and the world is about to end. Again. Which Thomas and Harry sarcastically say is "same old, same old." That is perhaps the best thing about Cold Days. Butcher returns to the trademark wiserassery and snark that makes Harry so enjoyable and relatable. I laughed out loud when Molly says to Thomas "Wait a minute.... We're his flunkies!" and Thomas snidely replies, "I'm his thug. I'm way higher than a flunky." There was a lot of humor, especially in the dire situations. There are also multiple plot threads, which do eventually tie into each other, but which kept the book engaging with lots of twists and turns.
Mab gives Harry his first assignment - to assassinate a member of her court (I won't reveal who) and the target stuns Harry. This tiny beginning blossoms into an overarching plotline that will likely expand many more books, and which reintroduces an enemy that had been on the periphery. An enemy which is a danger to everyone, including all of Harry's foes and frenemies. This plot also allowed for serious expansion on the world-building of Faerie. Readers get a lot of detail on the hows and whys of Summer and Winter, and Mab specifically. When Harry is taken to the distant border of Faerie, the revelations there were a complete surprise and absolutely fantastic. We even learn just what is special about Harry's island, Demonreach, and its purpose. Also very cool. Moreover, though Harry does take some blows (physical and psychological), his victory is decisive and satisfying. Major plots are left open for further development, but the specific missions Harry was on are fully resolved.
Overall, this was a wholly satisfying book that I could not put down. So glad to see Dresden in top form, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
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loses hope. And to my delight, Thomas comes front and center again too.At the end of Ghost Story, Harry is in the care of Demonreach and Mab after being "assassinated." He's still the Winter Knight with a boatload of problems, and the world is about to end. Again. Which Thomas and Harry sarcastically say is "same old, same old." That is perhaps the best thing about Cold Days. Butcher returns to the trademark wiserassery and snark that makes Harry so enjoyable and relatable. I laughed out loud when Molly says to Thomas "Wait a minute.... We're his flunkies!" and Thomas snidely replies, "I'm his thug. I'm way higher than a flunky." There was a lot of humor, especially in the dire situations. There are also multiple plot threads, which do eventually tie into each other, but which kept the book engaging with lots of twists and turns.
Mab gives Harry his first assignment - to assassinate a member of her court (I won't reveal who) and the target stuns Harry. This tiny beginning blossoms into an overarching plotline that will likely expand many more books, and which reintroduces an enemy that had been on the periphery. An enemy which is a danger to everyone, including all of Harry's foes and frenemies. This plot also allowed for serious expansion on the world-building of Faerie. Readers get a lot of detail on the hows and whys of Summer and Winter, and Mab specifically. When Harry is taken to the distant border of Faerie, the revelations there were a complete surprise and absolutely fantastic. We even learn just what is special about Harry's island, Demonreach, and its purpose. Also very cool. Moreover, though Harry does take some blows (physical and psychological), his victory is decisive and satisfying. Major plots are left open for further development, but the specific missions Harry was on are fully resolved.
Overall, this was a wholly satisfying book that I could not put down. So glad to see Dresden in top form, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the fourteenth book in the Dresden Files series and it was an excellent read.
Harry Dresden is back from the dead but was forced to become Mab’s Winter Knight as part of the deal. As he struggles to recover after his ordeal, Mab gives him a command...kill Maeve. Harry returns to Chicago
This was a great read. Harry is back to his old self in this book, but with new and awesome powers of the Winter Knight at his beck and call. We meet a great new character in the sarcastic and uber powerful Cait Sith. We also reunite with a lot of old favorites; Molly, Murphy, and Thomas all play large parts in this story.
A lot of things happen in this story and a lot of truths are revealed that just absolutely blow your mind. There were two or three times where I was like “Woah, no way!” We learn the truth behind the purpose of the Faerie Queens and the truth behind all of the strange things that have happened throughout this entire series. This is a book that truly brings together everything that have happened previously in this series.
I really really enjoyed it. This was a long book, but a good one. There are just so many awesome things in here. As you might guess Faerie is present in a big way; but we also get to learn more about the Outsiders.
This series continues to be very well written and very engaging. I am impressed that Butcher has been able to keep up the quality storytelling and wonderful momentum throughout this series.
Highly recommended to fans of this series. Also highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy; this is the series that started it all. It’s hard to believe that this series is still going strong and is still incredibly well done after 14 books! Can’t wait to see what the next book holds!
Harry Dresden is back from the dead but was forced to become Mab’s Winter Knight as part of the deal. As he struggles to recover after his ordeal, Mab gives him a command...kill Maeve. Harry returns to Chicago
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in an effort to figure out why Mab wants Maeve dead, but while there he finds out that something very very wrong is going on with the island of Demonreach. Now as Harry tries to reunite with old acquaintances he is left with very little time to kill Maeve, figure out my Mab wants Maeve killed, and figure out how to save Demonreach.This was a great read. Harry is back to his old self in this book, but with new and awesome powers of the Winter Knight at his beck and call. We meet a great new character in the sarcastic and uber powerful Cait Sith. We also reunite with a lot of old favorites; Molly, Murphy, and Thomas all play large parts in this story.
A lot of things happen in this story and a lot of truths are revealed that just absolutely blow your mind. There were two or three times where I was like “Woah, no way!” We learn the truth behind the purpose of the Faerie Queens and the truth behind all of the strange things that have happened throughout this entire series. This is a book that truly brings together everything that have happened previously in this series.
I really really enjoyed it. This was a long book, but a good one. There are just so many awesome things in here. As you might guess Faerie is present in a big way; but we also get to learn more about the Outsiders.
This series continues to be very well written and very engaging. I am impressed that Butcher has been able to keep up the quality storytelling and wonderful momentum throughout this series.
Highly recommended to fans of this series. Also highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy; this is the series that started it all. It’s hard to believe that this series is still going strong and is still incredibly well done after 14 books! Can’t wait to see what the next book holds!
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LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
Another fun romp as Harry wrestles with the impossible, every time he tries to find out what's actually going on, someone tries to kill him - or maybe just maim him.
with a 48 hour window to save the Midwest AND the Fairy realm, can Dresden pull yet another miracle out of his hat?
with a 48 hour window to save the Midwest AND the Fairy realm, can Dresden pull yet another miracle out of his hat?
Awards
SF Site Reader's Choice (2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-11-27
Physical description
528 p.; 9.75 inches
ISBN
9780451464408
Local notes
Inscribed (Phoenix, June 2014).