Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) by Jim Butcher
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.44 You Save: $16.51 (69%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.11 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
Book Review: The canon continues to grow, the mystery deepens...
Summary: 5 Stars
The best novel series out there have several defining factors - a number of common points. First, they have to have memorable characters that grow and change as the series progresses, but retain enough of the characteristics that the readers has come to expect and love.
Secondly, and this follows closely with the characters, there has to be a wide variety of interesting supporting characters as well - not only heroes, but the villains. Both we look forward to seeing in the future.
Third, and this is really important, the mythology, the canon behind the series itself. How the author sets up the world he's created, and his eye for detail. This goes hand in hand with continuity. You lose the continuity, you lose the detail and the canon becomes, at best, haphazard and a real mess.
These are the three things that I love about two different series. The Dresden Files, and Outlanders.
Of course, this review is about Small Favour - Book ten of the Dresden files by Jim Butcher.
Poor Harry Dresden. He's been through a lot over the years. He's been tempted by a fallen Angel, had his girlfriend taken from him by the Red Court, been in trouble more times than he can count with the White Council... just to name a few of the things that have happened to him. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
A man that he despises has disappeared, and the Winter Court forces Harry to search for him, by calling in a marker, one of the two remaining favours owed to Mab, the queen of the Winter Fae.
Of course, as much as Harry would like to tell her to shove it, he has no choice but to do as she asks.
And that only invites more misery into his life.
Don't fret, as tempted as I am, I won't give any of the plot away, I don't want to spoil it for any potential readers.
It has been a year since I read the ninth book, and at that time, I had devoured the entire series in less than a month. Consider this... I have a wife, son, full time job, and hobbies I like to pursue, so you have to realize that I loved the series if I would finish off the books that quickly.
You can forget a lot in a year's time.
I forgot about the rich world that Jim Butcher created. Sure, there are people out there who would say that it's nothing more than a cheap rip-off of Harry Potter, but to Hades with that noise!
The Dresden files takes fantasy, all aspects of it, and melds it wonderfully together in a modern setting, and does so without removing or sullying any of the fantasy elements.
With each progressive novel, the world he's created fills out more and more. We learn more about the various factions of the fantastic world of the Dresden Files - more about the wizards, more about the Fae, more about the various vampire houses, and so forth.
Most importantly though, is we learn more about each character that we, the fans, hold near and dear to our collective hearts.
Even minor characters that have only appeared a couple of times get more detail, we learn more about them, and they fill out in our minds, becoming more complete.
And, that's one other wonderful thing about the series... such a rich rogue's gallery of characters, friends and foes alike. Again, characters - heroes - that you grow to care for, and on the flip side of the coin, villains that you despise, but know that they're needed because the hero is as only as good as the villain he has to face.
Another thing that I really respect about the series is that there is an overall major story arc in development. A story that will eventually be brought to closure in the future, but one for which each and every passing novel is setting the stage.
There is something huge in the making, something that will be biblical in proportion once it finally comes to the forefront.
But, until then, each novel has its own story to tell, and bits and pieces of the overall puzzle are falling into place.
And, of course, the characters are all growing and developing with each passing offering.
The only downside is that anyone who is just starting to read the series at this point will have a lot of catching up to do. Even though each novel is a stand alone story, there are more than a few facts brought up that will leave a new reader wondering just what is going on.
For a few, this can be intimidating, but more often than not, it will simply whet the readers appetite to go out and find the previous novels so that they can read them, and discover for themselves what happened to bring up a particular point... such as how did Harry burn his hand? What's up with this Vampire Thomas who just happens to be his brother?
Things like that.
One last thought - the humour that long time readers has not diminished one iota. It's there in full force and more than once I laughed out loud while reading.
Just one of many reasons I will continue to follow this series until it does finally come to an end.
For veteran readers, it was a great addition to the series. For newcomers - all I have to say is this. Welcome to the club and get ready for the ride of your life!
5 out of 5.
Book Review: Absolutely Mabulous
Summary: 5 Stars
Wizard PI Harry Dresden returns for the 10th entry in Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, Small Favor. It has been over a year since the events of White Night, the largest gap between books in the saga, and we first find Harry having a snowball fight in the Carpenter's backyard while training Molly, his young apprentice. An enjoyable family affair is soon smashed as Harry is attacked by real fairytale creatures: The Billy Goats Gruff.
Thus begins another fine entry into the Dresden Files. Jim Butcher is really in the zone when it comes to writing Dresden, as I have been blown away at how high a level he has maintained over the course of the saga. It seems sometimes as if my favorite Dresden book is just whatever one I happen to be reading at the time. At this point, I have given up on deciding what book is the "best" of the saga, because I just know that whichever one comes out next will make me re-assess regardless! Small Favor is no exception to this, as it continues to meet the high standard set by previous novels.
White Night is an especially strong entry in the Files, but with the (temporary?) loss of one of the strongest character in the saga in Lash, I was somewhat worried that Small Favor would not be able to ascend to the same heights. I needn't have worried, as both Harry and Jim are more than up to the task. Even though Harry has lost the adviser in his head, and the extra charge to his spells from Hellfire, he is still growing in knowledge and Power with each passing book. While losing Lash cost him his Hellfire, his ability to rise above the Temptress' machinations earns him respect from the Other Side to compensate.
Small Favor revolves around Mab and the Denarians. The Denarians are back in town and have kidnapped John Marcone, and surprisingly enough, Mab wants Harry to get him back. Why would Harry do such a thing? Well, it is a Small Favor for Mab, and as we know he still owes her two. Of course, being an emissary of Winter means you make yourself an enemy of Summer: enter the Gruffs.
Any story about the Denarians would be incomplete without the Knights of the Cross, and both Sanya and Michael are major supporting characters in the novel. Bob, Thomas, Toot-toot (a much bigger version!), Murphy, Molly, Mister and Mouse all enjoy plenty of page time as well. Part-timers Kincaid, The Archive, and Luccio also appear to assist in Harry's latest adventure. Harry has not seen the Denarians since Death Masks, which is coincidentally how long it has also been since he saw Ivy. And with Marcone in the mix, it is inevitable that Harry will run into Hendricks and Gard along the way as well.
While his allies and sort of allies are all very well-written as usual, it is really the villains and major players that make Small Favor so good. Mab is always interesting and slippery, but it is her Summer counterparts that really make the book. Elder Gruff is perhaps the coolest character in the saga if you weigh coolness versus page-time. He may not be on page long, but when he is it is very memorable! The Denarians are definitely my favorite villains of the Files (maybe tied with Cowl), and their leader, Nicodemus, is the scariest Big Bad Harry has had to face. It is also just so perfect to have the Denarians come to town in the book right after Harry loses Lash, really could not have been a better time to bring them back into the Files.
Unfortunately, the coolest part of the book would be super spoilery to tell, so I can just say that the "helping hand" Harry gets in this book is one of my favorite developments in the series. The lessons he learns and his questioning of a Higher Power is really one of the most poignant chapters I have read by Butcher.
Ultimately, Small Favor is another high quality entry in the Dresden Files. While not quite as good as White Night, it is an excellent transition away from Lash and Hellfire that had been a big part of the previous three novels, and a very solid novel in its own right.
420 HC pages 4.5 out of 5 stars
Book Review: Action-packed urban fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Dresden has his problems with the White Council, problems with Chicago gangster Marcone, problems with both the Winter Court of Seelie, but his biggest problems lately have been with the fallen-angel-haunted Denarius. What he doesn't expect is problems from the Summer Court, but when the Queen of the Winter Court calls in a favor--and the Summer Court sends its top enforcers to kill him, Harry realizes he's found the worst of all worlds--just about everyone is out to get him.
The Winter Queen wants Harry to track down Marcone, who's been kidnapped in a huge display of magical power--and hellfire. Someone is messing with the accords, possibly trying to start a war, and Harry can guess the most likely candidates--the Denarius knights. The good news is, Harry can count on help from his friends Michael and Murphy--and from his young assistant, Molly. The bad news is that all of a sudden, none of them seem willing to trust him. And then there are bigger and bigger Gruffs coming after him.
The Denarius Knights don't think small and it takes Harry time to piece through the clues and learn their ultimate goal. When he does, though, the usually unshakable Harry Dresden has a real concern--both for what they'll accomplish if they're successful, and for the fate of his young friend Ivy, the Archivist. Harry may not be perfect, but he'll give an awful lot to make sure nothing bad happens to her. Unfortunately for both of them, it's entirely possible that he'll end up giving an awful lot without helping her at all.
Author Jim Butcher continues his Dresden Files series with a fast-paced adventure. Dresden gets mangled by magic--and by physical force, attacked by just about every power around, gets his brain warped when he isn't looking, and generally stays about a half-inch ahead of his many pursuers through the course of the story. Once in a while this means that he can't wise-crack, but not often. Harry works with familiar sidekicks including cop Murphy, knight Michael Carpenter, Harry's half-brother (and vampire), Thomas, and others in what appears to be one hopeless battle after another. Fortunately, Harry is far from incapable of defending himself. Even more fortunately, his friends have their own powers and aren't afraid to use them.
Harry makes a charming character partly because he doesn't mind mocking himself, partly because his friends so obviously care for him, and partly because his first response to trouble is to try to blow something up. We don't get quite the moral complexity Butcher has offered in some of his other recent Dresden Files stories, but that certainly doesn't keep SMALL FAVOR from being a completely enjoyable treat.
Book Review: Harry Does it Again-At What Cost?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the tenth adventure for Chicago Wizard, Harry Dresden. Harry is the only wizard listed in the Chicago yellow pages, and most of his business consists of finding missing people. But lately there have been other duties for Harry, he has become a Warden of the White Council, and in such capacity, he goes around the country helping keep peace between the NeverNever inhabitants who fight among themselves and protecting the innocent humans who are blissfully unaware of the parallel universe that inhabits their space.
But Harry always comes back to Chicago, and it is here that the majority of his strange cases take place. As he explains it, there is more magic in the Midwest. Well, those of us from that area can definitely believe this statement. Besides, even a very good wizard such as Harry sometimes needs a little help from friends, and this is where the White Knight, Michael and his family live. Michael's daughter Molly is an apprentice to Harry. Also living here is Karrin Murphy, Chicago Police sergeant. Karrin works in the Special Investigations department and lo and behold, paranormal activity certainly comes under her jurisdiction.
In this book we have Mab, the Queen of the Winter Court of the Sidhe who asks a small favor of Harry. Of course he owes her, and there is no saying no to a Queen. So Harry is in it up to his eyeballs, with every faction coming at him from all sides. We have weregoats, and Gruffs and Trolls and shape shifting fallen angels, along with local human mobsters to contend with. The Archive, an all-knowledge human vessel, who is also a twelve year-old child gets involved, on the idea she may be able to negotiate a peace, but gets captured instead. Now this really upsets Harry. He not only has a fondness for Ivy, but she is a child and to Harry, children are supposed to be exempt from evildoers.
He employs all his friends, the White Knights with their sacred swords, Sgt. Murphy, the Captain of the Wardens, even some fairies and especially his vampire brother, Thomas. What they go through tests everyone's loyalties and beliefs.
The action is fast and furious, the elements extreme, the bad guys can't seem to stay dead, and Harry is trying to save everyone including himself.
The ending leaves a few untidy loose ends, and what is Harry going to do about them? Because as a Wizard who believes in the truth and doing the right thing against evil, it's a big job and someone has to do it.
Book Review: More serious, but just as fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars
So, the Dresden series now having become my very favorite paranormal books, of course I read this as soon as I got the chance (Still well behind the curve, of course -- 'cuz I'm a big rebel, yeah.). It was as excellent and fun to read as the rest.
I will say that the feel of it was different. There was much less humor in this one than in several of the others. It seems that, with each book, Harry grows in maturity, in power and influence, and also in pessimism -- because how can you not be a little dark in your outlook, when you're facing necromancers who are immensely more powerful than you, the entire Red Court and much of the White and Black Courts, the Fae, the Black Council (or at least the disapproving White Council), and, of course, the Knights of the Blackened Denarius? But as Harry grows, he becomes too self-conscious of his own smartypants defense mechanism, and so loses his flair for it. The comment is made at one point that he is actually left speechless by an enemy, and that seems to be happening throughout the book, and the series. I wouldn't be surprised if part of it is Butcher getting burnt out on making up witty sarcastic repartee -- I would guess that any character trait would get somewhat tired after ten books.
Anyway, there is some wittiness, and there are some really funny parts -- the moment when Harry raises a fist in praise of the ugly dolphins, the ones who didn't sell out to a plastic surgeon to be on Flipper, and says, "Represent," cracked me up. And there is also a lot of banter between Harry and Thomas, which seems a good place for it. But there is a new romantic entanglement for Harry, which is excellent since the poor guy is so lonely and yet so surrounded by incredibly beautiful and monstrously evil temptresses; and there is some good progress made toward endgame. Though we don't find out anything terribly momentous about the Black Council, apart from them being even more powerful and nasty than we may have thought. And the good side takes some serious losses as well, so it isn't all wine and roses. Which just makes me eager to read the next book, of course.