Saturday, June 14, 2014

Skin Game Harry Dresden Files book #15 Written by: Jim Butcher




Do you ever just feel like a pawn in some much bigger game readers? Have you yourself ever plotted or created a scheme and watched others do exactly what you imagined? No? Well, let us refresh your memory on how that feels readers, let us jump back into the world of Harry Dresden. Since this is book 15 it is nearly impossible to not provide a few spoilers into this world, so if you are just starting the Dresden Files then may I give you some advice... start at book 1. The last Dresden book readers left me with a feeling of anticipation so great I could barely contain my excitement for the next one, and after having completed Skin Game, well, I am not disappointed in the least. This book readers is as usual a race against time and clothing will be lost, blood will be spilled, friends and enemies will once again blur into one another, and oh there will be Parkour! So, seeing as Harry is continuing to be Winter Knight to Mab the Queen of Air and Darkness it is only fitting that he have absolutely no idea what this Fei Queen could possibly have up her sleeves. Usually though readers, it is something quite complex and awful. We readers have about us much knowledge as Harry does and so we too are absolutely clueless. In this book Mab wants a favor... does anyone remember what happened the first time Mab wanted a favor from Dresden when she didn't have any control over him? No? Well, it wasn't pretty that's for damn sure. Mab it seems has decided to turn in a marker and to fulfill her debt Harry must now help a group of supernatural all time big baddies. I know readers, you're thinking, "but Harry made it so he can refuse to do the work he disagrees with." Right? Well, turns out Mab has a bit of knowledge and a bit of leverage that when she asks Dresden to do her this favor, he cannot possibly refuse. So, looks like we're going to have an Ocean's Eleven gone magic type of tale. Complete with a huge array of characters and cameos. Some we love and some well... Nicodemus Archelone... one of the oldest enemies of the Church, humanity, and Dresden is asking that a group of them break into one of the highest security vault in town, and that is just the beginning as after they break into this super high secure vault they will then have to break into the highest security vault in the Nevernever. Ha! Cake walk right? But, wait, wait, there's more! They are on a mission to obtain... something very faith imbued. Business, this is what it is, pure and simple business. Dresden of course knows there is going to be a double cross and he wants to make sure he's the one who will be pulling these puppet strings to his own tune, but is he still him? Can Harry handle his Winter mantle and still be Table top gaming, Za lord, defender of those weaker than him, and all around bad ass Wizard with a comeback line for everything? Can Harry Dresden still be our local Chicago wizard and be the Winter Knight who also just so happens to be tied to Demon Reach on an island that none can withstand being on, say him? Well, I always have faith readers, but would you if you were Dresden's friend and have seen the power he has gained and witnessed him vanishing as he has recently? There's so much plotting and Mab is so not the only one making plans, judgments, and changing the course of events in the mortal world. Oh and what's a Dresden book without a dash of sexual tension? Dresden has his work cut out for him, he's been training and working out, but he's been alone for a long time now, and he needs his friends now, he needs faith, he needs his family. There's a lot of feels too in this book readers, Butcher is evolving this tale slowly and yet incredibly fast... I have no clue where he is taking us. I felt so happy beginning this book and I felt happy upon its ending, but now... well now I'm so sad because the road will only get harder because that is what Jim Butcher does at the end of the day he's the man pulling the strings and James Marsters is the man giving vocal voice to his creation. Oh, and Marsters does a brilliant job as usual too readers, I'd happily listen to this man talk for another seven plus hours everyday. This most recent Dresden book is just masterful and full of layer upon layer of plot. You won't be disappointed at least not until you finish.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Undead Pool (The Hollows Book 12) Written by: Kim Harrison


Oh my Stars! I mean it readers, Oh my stars! I am absolutely, positively, completely, well... Giddy! This most recent Rachel Morgan book was just... well... Zazzy! So, of course something is up in the city of Cincinnati and this time a strange magical occurrence could mean civil war for the Hollows, the state, perhaps the entire United States if Rachel can't counter this bizarre and frightening magical mishaps. Witchy day walking Demon Rachel has faced quite a few challenges in her short life and if you've read the series you know they only escalate for her as time goes on. This character in the beginning had some major trust issues readers and a lust for excitement that was downright suicidal, but as a well written character will develop she's matured and what was once a guaranteed death warrant Rachel has managed to grow into an asset. Now though Rachel is going to have to grow up a bit more and learn to trust all the allies she has made as now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races thought to be solidified between Inderlander and human is shattering quite fast. And, if that wasn't bad enough another incident is occurring simultaneously as the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are falling asleep and not waking up, Rachel is trying to figure out why and fast as if these masters don't wake up and perish the living vampires might just lose control and cause an all out supernatural war. Rachel does not really have any idea what is going on readers, but these odd occurrences are tinged with something, something wild, something... elven? It seems Rachel might need to help ensure the peace by turning to this ancient wild elven magic which carries its own costs and Rachel has learned time and time again no good deed ever goes unpunished or unnoticed. The gang readers is all here or at least mentioned and as I've said before in other series as long as this by book 12 well times they are a changing. People who were once aquiences have become family, enemies have become allies, and those who were once passing figures have made a place for themselves in Rachel's life, and those thought to always be there are memories or shadows. Harrison is holding nothing back in this most recent book and with the series coming to an end she has quite a bit to wrap up and is exploring all the races and their abilities it seems. Rachel, Jenks, and Ivy it's always been these three, but this group is expanding and evolving and if you think about it in such a short time! This recent tale really brings some laughable moments and even happy moments. But, this book also dredges up old and new prejudices and arguments that reverbrate from the pages of fictions to the realm of reality. I very much enjoyed this book and wonder where Harrison will exactly take the upcoming last book because there was just so much tied up and accomplished in this most recent book sure there was a lot of destruction, death, and loss, but somehow that was acceptable. The writing was quite fluid and Harrison kept the book moving along with no yawn or get on with it already moments as she has been known to have in quite a few previous books. The build up and anticipation readers, well, it felt right. Harrison has left some questions for us and revealed enough to create a few new ones, but I like where she is going and before her series becomes stale I am happy she has decided to begin ending this particular tale and maybe just maybe give Rachel and her friends a chance at happiness? If I had to put a song to this recent book Escala's rendition of Requiem for A Tower that totaly fits this most recent book as it just builds and twists and builds again before BAM! The End.