Book Log #48: Small Favor, by Jim Butcher
Aug. 11th, 2008 09:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annathepiperGive it up for the local library, who quickly provided me a hardback copy of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jimbutcher's Small Favor not too much longer after I'd put it on hold. I am now officially caught up on the Dresden Files. Go me!
And, as expected, this installment failed to disappoint. As with White Night, so too here: we get a lot of characters we've seen before, all following up quite splendidly on events that have gone before. Ten books in on the series, it's quite satisfying to see this sort of advancement. Harry has matured, which by itself is great to see, but the world continues to change around him as well. In several predictably oh-shit-inducing ways--but in some highly intriguing positive ways as well.
This time around we have the Sidhe making another comeback, as Queen Mab of Winter calls in one of the favors she's holding over Harry's head. Which is to say, demanding that he rescue none other than Gentleman Johnny Marcone, who's gone and gotten himself kidnapped by the Order of the Blackened Denarius. Which of course also means that the Summer Court thinks Harry's gone to the Dark Side. And which means in turn that things are trying to kill Harry every chapter or so... but then, it's all in a day's work for a wizard.
The pacing of this installment was particularly fabulous. Harry barely had time to breathe between the various action scenes, and yet, the flow of it seemed absolutely perfect. Lighter touches including Harry's trademark smartassed pop culture references and some great banter between him and Murphy brought the Funny. And it just makes my heart glad to see an archangel drawing on Tolkien to impart his wisdom. Like ya do. ;)
Four stars all around, and I'll look forward to adding this one to my collection when the paperback comes out!
jimbutcher's Small Favor not too much longer after I'd put it on hold. I am now officially caught up on the Dresden Files. Go me!And, as expected, this installment failed to disappoint. As with White Night, so too here: we get a lot of characters we've seen before, all following up quite splendidly on events that have gone before. Ten books in on the series, it's quite satisfying to see this sort of advancement. Harry has matured, which by itself is great to see, but the world continues to change around him as well. In several predictably oh-shit-inducing ways--but in some highly intriguing positive ways as well.
This time around we have the Sidhe making another comeback, as Queen Mab of Winter calls in one of the favors she's holding over Harry's head. Which is to say, demanding that he rescue none other than Gentleman Johnny Marcone, who's gone and gotten himself kidnapped by the Order of the Blackened Denarius. Which of course also means that the Summer Court thinks Harry's gone to the Dark Side. And which means in turn that things are trying to kill Harry every chapter or so... but then, it's all in a day's work for a wizard.
The pacing of this installment was particularly fabulous. Harry barely had time to breathe between the various action scenes, and yet, the flow of it seemed absolutely perfect. Lighter touches including Harry's trademark smartassed pop culture references and some great banter between him and Murphy brought the Funny. And it just makes my heart glad to see an archangel drawing on Tolkien to impart his wisdom. Like ya do. ;)
Four stars all around, and I'll look forward to adding this one to my collection when the paperback comes out!
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I enjoyed it . . .
Date: 2008-08-12 05:07 am (UTC)My only complaint is the plot. Honestly, I could do with less of the fae stuff; it's getting a little old. Besides, if I want Butcherly faerie-tale goodness, I know where to go; I hear he's got a whole 'nother series all about faeries and nothin' but(*). It's not what I'm reading Dresden for.
(*) isn't Codex Alera just begging to be turned into a filk of Downeaster Alexa?
Re: I enjoyed it . . .
Date: 2008-08-12 05:19 am (UTC)I have not actually read any of the Codex Alera books! I keep meaning to rectify that and do in fact have Book 1 patiently waiting on the To Read shelf, but no dice yet. We'll see if I can do something about that during my next surgery downtime. :)