Cold Days: A Novel of the Dresden Files [Kindle Edition]

First and foremost, I thought this book was a lot of fun to read. While the Dresden books have never been slouches in terms of rip-roaring adventure, Butcher has been gradually refining his style across the course of the fourteen Dresden books and his six Codex Alera books and now he really knows how to keep his books moving. While this book downplays the detective aspect of his work more than any of the books in the series so far, that does technically fit - he's a Knight now, not a PI - the action scenes and the banter have never been better. It's a real page turner. After a slow beginning that sets the tone for what Dresden's life in Winter is going to be like, things pick up and then don't let up until the conclusion some 450 pages later.

As far as this book goes as an entry in the Dresden series, the changes started in book 12 (aptly named Changes) have not stopped. One weakness in this book is that the main conflict is somehow lacking in importance. While it involves some of the heaviest hitters known so far in the Dresdenverse, it doesn't feel like the climatic battle is actually the point of the book. This book goes to great lengths to tie together a lot of seemingly unrelated elements from the first eleven books, fleshes out some secondary characters, hints at more unusual aspects of Dresden's parentage and upbringing, so it seems more like this book is intended to round out the changes started in book 12 and set the stage for the next books rather than be an epic setpiece in its own right. The book constantly emphasizes that Dresden is swinging in a different weight class now and that each battle he fights is going to be of great importance. The climax may seem to fall a little short, but its all the legwork put in to reach that point that is the real attraction here - the final 50 or so pages are a long sequence of "holy s***!" moments that don't really have a payoff in this volume, but will have huge ramifications in the books to come.

The tone has certainly changed to match the newer, higher stakes Dresden faces as the Winter Knight. I would say writing has gone from a light PG-13 on the first 11 books, to a hard PG-13 in Changes, and now to an R in Cold days. The mantle gives him some animalistic tendencies which are reflected in the writing. It can be disturbing at times to see Harry thinking of his female companions in those terms, when before he only referred to possible relationships with them tangentially. It could also explain the books propensity for lingering on his descriptions of beauty, now supplemented by hints of what Harry would do to them. While this has always been a common occurence in the books, in this one it has taken on a seedier turn and from time to time starts to come across more as a type of fanservice than a well justified part of the writing. The Sidhe women and Molly get the worst of it, but thankfully even through the changes the mantle forces on him Murphy is largely spared this same treatment.

On the flip side, while Harry's interactions with the female part of his supporting cast have ventured into some murky territory, him and his brother have never been so good together. They are constantly bantering and riffing back and forth whenever they are within earshot of each other. The book has a bit of a Blues Brothers "getting the band back together" kind of feel - almost all of Dresden's previous allies make appearances or are mentioned. They've all been busy growing while off-page and many of them now having allies and resources of their own.

In summary, I think this is one of the strongest entries in the series - up there with or equal to Changes. While on its own it does not have a wholly satisfying plot arc, the hints at where the books will go from here and the glimpses given of the web tying the previous thirteen books together are so enticing it is well worth reading if you are a Dresden fan.

Harry is now the Winter Knight and struggling to deal with the dark thoughts/impulses that come with the role. It seems that the mantle of the Winter Knight taints the wearer, eventually molding them into the role.

This was an interesting change in the Dresden series. This novel, as one might expect, deals more with the Fae than any of the previous installments. We learn in Cold Days of a war between Faerie and their enemies that transcends even the boundaries of Winter and Summer. In Cold Days, Harry must prevent an attack on Demonreach which, if carried through, could destroy the city. At the same time, he must also distinguish between truth and lies as he decides whether, or not, to carry out The Winter Queen's first task for him.

Why only four stars? I really enjoyed this book, but I am not sure what to think of the major twists at the end. It almost seems too convenient. Also, I don't like the direction Jim Butcher seems to be heading in terms of Harry's romantic life. Unlike earlier books in the Dresden Files, this is not a standalone novel. The last few books have been building a more cohesive story (which can be both good and bad ).

The interaction between the world of Faerie and humans is becoming very interesting. Jim Butcher has done a phenomenal job in creating new twists and turns for the reader. Typically, a series that goes on this long needs to be put out of its misery. However, this is not the case with the Dresden files. Characters continue to grow and the plot-lines remain fresh and interesting. I am awaiting the next installment with bated breath.

Ghost Story gave me some hope but I still wasn't sure the Dresden files would continue. I'm glad that the characters are back even though the world is in jeopardy once again.