Not a top tier Dresden book, but it was all right.
Dresden was too depressed in this book. Susan's death (mother of his daughter, whom he had dated for years) didn't bother him nearly as much as Karen's, and he killed Susan himself.
Speaking of Karen's death, I think we're eventually going to learn that Rudolph was mind controlled to persecute Dresden.
F Rudolph, sure, but F Martin harder. It seems like Martin's plan could work two ways:
1) Manipulate Susan into killing him, and then hope Dresden and Susan could work out the plan to kill Susan on the altar. Resulting in Dresden killing Susan in front of his daughter.
2) Kill Susan himself, and let Dresden kill him on the same altar. Resulting in Dresden avenging his baby momma in front of his daughter.
Spice 'Goyles was dumb.
Margaret's curse on Lord Raith fails if Dresden and Thomas die. (And Maggie and the new baby, now? Does the entire bloodline have to be wiped out?) At one point I thought Peace Talks was going to center around a plot by Lord Raith to make that happen. Lara's been in charge long enough she should just gank him as he's going to keep making trouble. Alternatively, Dresden can apparently rip the Hunger out of any White Court vamp. Maybe do that to him.
Learning that Lara raised Thomas like her own son has changed my head canon about her. Now I think when she was born one or more of her older brothers were alive, only to die mysteriously. Then she had a younger brother (or more than one) that she raised like Thomas that also died mysteriously. Eventually she caught on that her Dad was arranging for them to die. Thomas is her last brother/foster son, and that's why I think she would do anything to protect him.
In Turn Coat, when the Naagloshi attacked Raith Manor and hurt her family, she threatened it: "I am going to kill you". I keep hoping to see that, because I feel like she needs to follow up on that promise. I really hoped we would see Dresden and Lara lead a White Court strike team to do the deed. It would make a good short story.
At Lara's party when Drakul shows up, he preemptively accepts a challenge from the White Council. Anytime, anyplace, he says. I thought Dresden would accept immediately and name the place as Demonreach. I assume that one or more White Council powerhouse would have even more dangerous sanctums, though.
I'm glad Fitz is back, and that he has the potential to be a major talent. Could be good for the story.
I want more from the Paranet. It seems to have the manpower and potential to find all the probable warlocks and start their training, then hand them over to the White Council for serious training if they've got talent.
The ending was unmemorable. I can't decide whether I disliked Dresden and his allies near-effortlessly crushing the bad guys for once. I mean, eventually a big climactic fight should be well-prepared for and fairly easy.
I've got a fan fic running around my head (set back when Dresden was still a Warden) where the Paranet in New Orleans calls Dresden down for a case, and he gets met by their representative, a young man with a little talent who helps him solve the problem with his small talent and maybe some magical one-off devices or potions that the local Paranetters supply him with. Sort of like pre-Knight Butters but with some talent of his own and no Bob. Anyway, the guy keeps one-upping Dresden as they work through the problem until it's solved, and the thing he says to Dresden as they part ways is "I told you before never to interfere with me again."
I keep seeing in fan spaces that Butters is in a three-way relationship with two hot werewolves.
1) Marcy isn't hot. She's described as skinny and mousey.
2) Unless there's Word of Jim out there, the books don't indicate that Butters has access to Marcy. Andi and Marcy are definitely having sex, but Butters may not be involved in that. "Don't mess this up, Harry" could just mean that Butters is worried he may lose Andi to Marcy altogether.
Anyway, fun to talk Dresden to someone. How did you like the book?
