Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) by Jim Butcher
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Book Reviews of Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
Book Review: Continued Brilliance
Summary: 5 Stars
Butcher continues with his Dresden Brilliance. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of this series, and this one is no different.Book Review: loved this book
Summary: 5 Stars
As Always, Jim Butcher has written a book I could not put down. Curse him for my sleepy face at work all week!!Book Review: I want the next one!
Summary: 5 Stars
Love the series. Very good and I can't wait until the next one comes out.Book Review: Evolutionary Book in the Series
Summary: 4 Stars
The one other novel where the Summer/Winter conflict was the major plot point (Summer Knight, Book 4) was probably my second least favorite of the series (least favorite was Blood Rites, Book 6), so I did not have high hopes for Small Favor (Book 10). And I'm on record in my review of Fool Moon that I'm not a fan of another character in this novel, Marcone. So I was really surprised that this turned out to be my favorite book of the series yet.
I thought Butcher's use of humor was more balanced and less forced, his spin on the foes hunting Dresden was imaginative and amusing, and the main character, Harry, as written actually seemed to be changing, evolving into a more mature and therefore formidable wizard. The city of Chicago actually seemed more real than in any other book in the series although I really so wish Butcher would have someone in the series eat more than just junk food. When I go through Chicago, I eat so much of so many different ethnic dishes, it takes a week for my jaw muscles to recover. Back on point, the main plot was written and executed well, and the new plotlines hint at some new possible roads Butcher may travel with the series. I prepared to read Small Favor by rereading all the previous books and I felt that was a good thing to do. I was able to see how the series characters were mostly unchanging up until around Dead Beat (Book 7) where Butcher starts to shake things up and hint at the end game for Harry.
While I have no real complaints about Small Favor, I do think that it's taken too long for Butcher to address the traitor to the Wizards in the series, hinted at way back in Summer Knight, to be (hopefully) rectified in Turn Coat, Book 11 (which I'm reading now). Another issue not addressed in a timely manner is Harry's family history, specifically more background on his mother, father, godmother and Justine, his first mentor, which I believe Harry would have investigated by now. Other than those minor, unrelated to the story issues, I believe you'll enjoy this new chapter in the life and times of Harry Dresden and I look forward to reading a series that I believe I will reread many, many times over the years.
Book Review: Small Favor, Big Changes
Summary: 4 Stars
When coerced into repaying one of the three favors he owes to the Winter Queen, Harry Dresden is forced to involve his friends. See, it's not as simple as finding and freeing Gentleman Johnny Marcone, noooooo. The Knights of Blackened Denarius make a reappearance at long last, while agents of the Summer Court are after Harry to stop him at all costs in his capacity as the Winter Champion. What results is the typical Harry Dresden romp, full of humor and tragedy in disproportionate amounts.
The Winter Queen Mab makes it clear that Harry has no choice but to aid her cause, though she will not say why the mobster's fate is so important to her. First, Harry has to fight off the Summer Court minions, whose nature leads to a number of hilarious one-liners. Then he has to track down Marcone's associates. Then he has to figure out how to make contact with the kidnappers. After that, it's a simple matter of getting some powerful friends to stand up with him against the forces of evil. This leads to some big developments in the lives of Harry's friends, a status that is never safe to hold. Harry's friends rarely fare well in these adventures.
While lives are changed, other things stay the same. Besides the Fallen Angels and their cursed coins, other characters recur. The other Knight of the Cross, Sanya, takes part in this one, along with the Archive and Kincaid. Some of the White Council, plus Thomas and Murphy and Michael, also do their parts.
The war with the vampires is on hold after the prior book, but the Black Council is hard at work. They have hands in many pots, stirring things up. And apparently, even the Denarians are not immune from treachery among their own.
This is another fantastic effort, but it starts to seem a little familiar. At this point, it's more the interest in the fates of the characters than the story specifics. Not to take anything away, but it seems that once again Harry's friends suffer for his mistakes. It's been a while since he himself suffered.