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Changes (The Dresden Files #12)

by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author)

4.50 · rating details · 11,176 ratings · 1,240 reviews

The new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.

Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.

Now...more

Hardcover, 438 pages

Published April 6th 2010 by Roc Hardcover (first published March 18th 2010)

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Aug 17, 2010

Mike (the Paladin) rated it

Shelves: favorites, urban-fantasy, fantasy, action

Okay, full disclosure I love the Dresden books. If you have read my reviews of them you know this. This one is no exception and is possibly the best so far.

I can't say much about the book's storyline without spoilers, but there are parts of the story...threads if you will, that have been running through the other volumes more or less underneath other "Main story lines". (These books can really make you rethink the concept of a "fairy godmother" for instance) A lo...more

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Mar 05, 2011

Dan rated it

Shelves: fantasy-detective, 2010

In the space of a phone call, Harry Dresden learns he has a daughter with Susan Rodriguez and that she's been kidnapped by the Red Court of vampires. The vampires are setting up a bloodline curse that will kill the child and everyone related to her. Meanwhile, the White Council of wizards seems to be buddying up with the Red Court to put an end to the war between the wizards and the vampires. Can Harry save his daughter and stop the bloodline curse?

I have mixed feelings about this...moreIn the space of a phone call, Harry Dresden learns he has a daughter with Susan Rodriguez and that she's been kidnapped by the Red Court of vampires. The vampires are setting up a bloodline curse that will kill the child and everyone related to her. Meanwhile, the White Council of wizards seems to be buddying up with the Red Court to put an end to the war between the wizards and the vampires. Can Harry save his daughter and stop the bloodline curse?

I have mixed feelings about this one.
Pros: As usual, Jim Butcher delivers all the thrills of a summer blockbuster. Big explosions, action, a touch of comedy. The showdown with the Red Court would look great on the screen. Old favorites like Sanya and Susan Rodriguez make return appearances. Forgotten plot elements like the holy swords are finally used. There's even some closure to one of the long-running plot lines and new plot lines are set up.

Cons: While I liked Changes and found it entertaining, I wouldn't say I thought it was great. The same things that bothers me about summer blockbusters bother me about this book. Everyone has stupid smart ass quips for every situation. When in the middle of a city of thousands of vampires, shouldn't at least one person maybe BE SCARED OF THE VAMPIRES rather than making inane "witty" remarks?

Most of the story was fairly formulaic for the series, almost as if Butcher took the outline for one of the earlier books, changed some names and places, and started writing this one. Even though I'm glad the vampire plot line went the way it did, how much more of a Mary Sue can Harry Dresden be?

Another thing that bothered me is that the ongoing plot about strife within the White Council didn't advance one inch. I think Butcher is going to milk his cash cow for all it's worth, considering he's already got the titles listed for books that come out in seven years on his Wikipedia page!

The ending was a cliff hanger after a cruel tease.

Conclusion: While I enjoyed Changes as much as I enjoy most Harry Dresden books, they are like the Cadbury Creme Eggs. While I like them when they're in stores around Easter, I'm glad when they're gone and I get a year to let the memories fade so I can enjoy them again the following year. See you in 365 days, Jim Butcher!(less)

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May 16, 2010

Dana Stabenow rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I honestly didn't think Butcher could write a better Harry Dresden book than Dead Beat. Boy, was I wrong.

*****

Big. Fat. Spoiler. Alert. Don't read any more until you've read the book.

*****

If I may speak of this from a personal perspective, I have done the same thing with the Kate Shugak series that Jim Butcher has now done in Changes. I took her job away, albeit off stage, I killed her lover, I burned down her house. But in Changes Butcher does...more

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Jun 20, 2010

Ben Babcock rated it

Shelves: 2010-read, fantasy, mystery, urban-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The title of this book, breaking as it does Jim Butcher's pattern of two words of equal length for each previous title in the Dresden Files, says it all. There are definitely changes; as such, the spoiler warning here is not to be taken lightly.

If you haven't read the book and at all plan to read it, turn back now.

So it's just me, the people who have read it, and the people who won't read it (apathetic people and haters alike), yes? Well come closer, and I shall tell you a ...more

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Jun 05, 2011

Richard rated it

Recommends it for: any fan of the dresden files up to date on the series.

Wow...This one is aptly named, and that's an understatement.

Most of the casebook files focus on one of Dresden's many foes/friends: the black council, the fae, the knights of the cross/Denarian, the white council, the vampires, or Marcone.

This book has some part of ALL of these factions woven into a pivotal moment in Harry's story, after which NOTHING will be the same as it once was. It's hard to think of any single element or relationship formed in the previous 11 books tha...more

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Apr 28, 2010

Kevin rated it

Wow! I'll say it again, WOW!! Book 12 of the Dresden Files is the best one yet. I don't even know what I can say without giving it away. READ THIS BOOK!!!!

4/29/30
Okay, time to try to write an actual review. Warning!!!! May contain spoilers.

Harry gets a call from his old girlfriend Susan Rodriguez. "They've taken our little girl." Harry pauses for 5 seconds and then, "Um, what?"

For those who've read about Harry in the past you ...more

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Mar 05, 2010

Erica rated it

I must preface this with "I was really really really looking forward to this book." I had loved Turn Coat and was really enjoying where the Dresden saga was going.

Then...I read Changes. I think that Butcher may have many disappointed fans after this book. It had nothing that endeared me to the series in the first place. Plus, the ending was awful.

Goodreads peeps, it always is so misleading when you rate books before even reading them! Wait until it comes out or ...more

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May 08, 2011

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, dogs-wolves-foxes, fairy, fantasy, jrrt, latin-south-america, norway-norse, vampires, urban-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm rounding up to four stars; Butcher has earned that right. Also, fair warning, if you haven't seen all of Xena or Buffy (the televisions series), the end of this review will contain spoilers for both. (Don't say I didn't tell, cause I did).

Things I didn't like

1. The power boosts (but see below) and the fact that Harry is the smartest wizard. If he ran the Council, no problems! (Snort. There is no below for the second part of number 1).

2. Harry's increa...more

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Jul 13, 2010

Valerie rated it

Recommends it for: Ian

Shelves: vampires

Harry does it for me. Smart, nerdy, wiseass, with a self destructive desire to do the right thing.

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May 02, 2010

Angela rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: dresden-files, ebooks, urban-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I am a diehard Dresden Files fan, and with each successive book, I've gone in expecting to be thoroughly entertained. This time around I was not.

I was absolutely mindblown.

Jim Butcher knew what he was doing when he titled this book. From the very first sentence, everything you think you know about Harry Dresden, all the people he knows and loves, and the world in which he operates is turned completely on its ear. The biggest of these changes was revealed on Jim's own site...moreI am a diehard Dresden Files fan, and with each successive book, I've gone in expecting to be thoroughly entertained. This time around I was not.

I was absolutely mindblown.

Jim Butcher knew what he was doing when he titled this book. From the very first sentence, everything you think you know about Harry Dresden, all the people he knows and loves, and the world in which he operates is turned completely on its ear. The biggest of these changes was revealed on Jim's own site, so I will go so far as to say that yeah, revealing that Harry has a small daughter he never knew about? WHOA.

But that's only just the beginning. Sure, it's an earth-shattering revelation for Harry, but the fact that it's a daughter by Susan, the long-lost lover who'd left him to go to South America and fight the vampire transformation that's been enforced upon her, is only the first of a one-two punch. The other blow? The kid's been taken by the Red Court vampires. And she's going to be sacrificed.

I have to admit that I was deeply leery of the idea of setting Harry up with a kid. He's matured a lot through the course of the series, and the Harry of this book is absolutely better father material than the Harry of the initial books would have been. That said? Harry also lives an extremely dangerous life, one which is not suited under any circumstances to caring for a small child. But I needn't have worried. Jim handles everything pertaining to the kid quite believably, including what eventually happens to her. If anything, my only beef about her at all is that little Maggie is barely an actual character presence in the story; she's way more of a MacGuffin than she is a member of the cast.

And. And. And. Really, this book's way less about Harry going "ZOMG I'M A FATHER" (though don't get me wrong, it's absolutely about that) than it is about how Harry's determination to save his little girl lays unutterable waste to everything about his life. And I do mean everything. Long time fans of the series, you better be prepared to have all of the little signature details you've come to know and love about what makes Harry Harry to be blown to kingdom come.

And be prepared for a cliffhanger, because Jim Butcher is a cliffhanger-writing BASTARD. Hopefully he won't actually be making a habit of this--hopefully this'll just be a feature of the fact that this is the midpoint of the series. But I can forgive him the cliffhanger just because this is hands down the best novel he's written yet. The writing is flawless, and Butcher's got his sense of pacing down to a finely honed art by now; in the big climactic battle sequence, I had that thrilling "MUST! READ! NEXT! PARAGRAPH!" urgency that comes with truly epic adventure.

Five very, very well deserved stars.(less)

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Jun 20, 2011

Sally rated it

I just finished the last of the Dresden books today, both Changes and Side Jobs. I started reading them a few months ago and the series started well and I believe it just kept getting better.

The pop culture reference in the first few were a little irritating but not overly so and overall they were very good and got consistently better. There are no books that disappointed me in the entire series so far and the stories remained fresh.

Harry himself is not materialistic, c...more

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Aug 29, 2011

Hester rated it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, mexico, novels

My two favorite series are Discworld and the Dresden Files. The Dresden Files started off as a paranormal mystery series with a wisecracking noir PI, but as the series has continued, the books have grown deeper and more emotionally complex without losing the suspense and action. Unlike most series, it never stagnates and drops in quality.

'Changes' continues to maintain this high quality while upturning Harry's life. He suffers loss after loss and, in some ways, grows up, which i...more

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Apr 11, 2010

Kevin Hearne rated it

At first, I wasn't too sure the title was going to work out well. I couldn't think of it without David Bowie stuttering it in my head, and that didn't mix well with Harry Dresden—especially since we see him on the cover turning to face the strange ch-ch-changes. But as I read along, it became clear that this book couldn't possibly be named anything else. Harry has to deal with many changes to his life in this book, and one of the decisions he makes is going to have far-reaching consequences and ...more

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Jun 05, 2010

Richard rated it

Recommends it for: Everyone who has read the previous eleven in the series (duh!)

Shelves: fantasy-vampires, fantasy, series, fantasy-urban

I wish I could give Butcher five stars, but I try to save that for books that changed my life, or made my jaw drop to the floor, or did something fundamentally innovative.

What Butcher gives us in Changes is a rollicking fine adventure. Of the the dozen books in the series, his skill has tremendously. His characters are more nuanced and their flaws and strengths are integrated better into the story. Only two missteps jarred me — Butcher sometimes gets a little preachy, letting Dresden...moreI wish I could give Butcher five stars, but I try to save that for books that changed my life, or made my jaw drop to the floor, or did something fundamentally innovative.

What Butcher gives us in Changes is a rollicking fine adventure. Of the the dozen books in the series, his skill has tremendously. His characters are more nuanced and their flaws and strengths are integrated better into the story. Only two missteps jarred me — Butcher sometimes gets a little preachy, letting Dresden spout on too long about morality, or what God must be like if he exists, that kind of stuff. But here it was over in about three paragraphs, so even that wasn't too bad. The other was something about the dog, but no spoilers.

Folks that haven't read the previous entries in the series are likely to be completely bewildered by this; everything here is mind from Dresden's history. Lasciel and the Nickleheads, for example, are mentioned only fleetingly, although in a fairly pivotal scene. He provides a little background on Susan, but none at all on other major characters.

And, ultimately, this is pulp fiction. As fun as the romp is, we're not talking Pulitzer material, here. It has been fun watching Butcher's skill develop, but the characters are still pretty basic stereotypes and the plot riddled with cliches. I mean, c'mon: he has a kid he never knew about? And he'll go to hell and beyond to save her?

So if you go in expecting the subtleties of serious litchature, you'll be disappointed. Just dive in and enjoy the over-the-top chaos.

P.S.: By the way, according to Wikipedia:

Harry's story will continue in Aftermath, told from Karrin Murphy's point of view and running from roughly half an hour after the end of Changes. The story will be released as part of Side Jobs, a collection of Dresden shorts due for release in late summer or early autumn of 2010.

Jim Butcher has already signed for a thirteenth Dresden novel, tentatively listed as Ghost Story on his official forums, and confirmed by Butcher at several signings (his publishers wouldn't let him call it the more prosaic Dead). He has also confirmed that Changes marks the midpoint of Harry's story and there will be at least 7 more books, possibly 10, to finish Harry's story. In addition, despite the previous books playing out in more or less real time, with the elapsed time between books approximately equaling the time between their release dates, Ghost Story has been confirmed as taking place immediately after the conclusion of Changes.

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Apr 03, 2010

Ami rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: harry-dresden-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I only have three words to sum up what I feel after finishing this book.

HOLY F*CKING HELL!!.

I'm speechless. Gosh, when Jim Butcher means "Changes", he MEANS changes!!! There are so many things happening in this book, starting with the startling knowledge that Harry and Susan had a daughter (one that she kept from him). Susan told Harry that their daughter had been kidnapped by vampire of the Red Court. It went from there. From a rescue mission to literally, a ...more

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Apr 18, 2011

Pilars Scott rated it

Wow! Changes is the right name for this entry in the series. A major shakeup changes the game for all the characters. One of the best entries into the series in a while. The last couple books had me feeling a little burnt out on the plotlines but this one came out swinging and wrapped up some major story lines and upped the stakes. I'm not sure I can wait for the next one to come out in paperback. If you aren't reading and loving the Harry Dresden books.. you should be.

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Jan 26, 2011

Melissa rated it

Shelves: fantasy

Wow, this was a pretty exciting book. It also lived up to its name, Changes. There were a lot of plot twists, some I liked, some I didn't. I'm not going to bother going through the previous books, there's simply too many. The most important thing about this series is that Harry Dresden is a wizard, living in Chicago, who more than often is saving the world.

Harry Dresden has a daughter. That's how the book opens. His old girlfriend Susan has called to tell him that their eight year old ...moreWow, this was a pretty exciting book. It also lived up to its name, Changes. There were a lot of plot twists, some I liked, some I didn't. I'm not going to bother going through the previous books, there's simply too many. The most important thing about this series is that Harry Dresden is a wizard, living in Chicago, who more than often is saving the world.

Harry Dresden has a daughter. That's how the book opens. His old girlfriend Susan has called to tell him that their eight year old daughter Maggie has been kidnapped. And oh yeah, she informed him at that precise moment that he even had a daughter. She'd been taken by the Red Court of Vampires, who are currently at war with the White Council of wizards and she needs Harry's help to save her. Of course it won't be easy, he'll have to call in a few dangerous favors and people are trying to kill him in the meantime. But anythings worth it to save the daughter he has never met. Even if it means dealing with some of his darkest foes.

Harry really stepped it up in this novel. He stopped being so goody-goody and really expressed a wide range of characteristics. In other words, he was tough. Susan was a bit irritating in this book. I never really liked her in the first place and since she played such a large role, it was hard to avoid her in this book. The rest of the characters had minor roles, but they were all well written. We got to see a little more info on Mouse, Harry's dog, and it was definitely very interesting. Although animals are just wonderful anyway so its always nice to read about them.

Butcher's writing style has definitely improved. He's stopped over detailing things and started really focusing on the important aspects of the novel, like plot and motivation. There were a few plot twists I didn't particularly care for. The first being the notion of Harry having a daughter. I don't know why that bothered me, but it just did. The other was the constant attempts on his life, that line of writing is getting a little stale with him, even though its realistic. The rest of the plot twists however, were excellent. This was definitely an edge of your seat kind of book. Not to mention, the endings a real cliffhanger.

I'm not sure what I'll do until the next book comes out. I know Side Jobs is out and I have it sitting on the shelf waiting for me, but since its only a side book instead of a continuation of the series I don't think it'll satisfy my wanting to know what happens next. Regardless, I've enjoyed reading the series and can't wait to read the next one.

Changes
Copyright 2010
438 pages (less)

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Jan 27, 2012

Lena rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 15, 2011

Tamela rated it

This is book 12 of the Dresden Files. I have read this entire series and I have to admit right now... I'm more than a little in love with the wizard Harry Dresden. Let's face it. He's geeky and adorable and he cares about the women in his life. Often, he cares too much. What's not to love?

The characters in these books are funny, charming and always able to get themselves into a whole heck of a lot of trouble. Harry most of all. There are a whole host of magical beings, creatur...more

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Nov 21, 2011

Jessie rated it

I have been steadily working my way through the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher over the last few months and just yesterday I finished listening to Changes, one of the more recent books in the series. The following review will contain spoilers and my own personal opinions of the book, so click the break if you want to read about my thoughts.

First off, I’m going to let you all know that this was definitely not my favorite book in the series. While there are many reasons for it, I’m p...moreI have been steadily working my way through the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher over the last few months and just yesterday I finished listening to Changes, one of the more recent books in the series. The following review will contain spoilers and my own personal opinions of the book, so click the break if you want to read about my thoughts.

First off, I’m going to let you all know that this was definitely not my favorite book in the series. While there are many reasons for it, I’m pretty sure a lot of it falls on the fact that Susan is in this book. I didn’t like Susan when Harry was dating her, I didn’t like her when she became an almost-vampire and hung around Chicago like a bad shadow, and I didn’t like her when she became a badass almost-vampire. She’s manipulative, ignorant to anything she doesn’t immediately deem important, and she just brings trouble for Harry. He started a freakin war because of her after all! Now that that’s out of the way…
What a way to start a book, huh? Hey there Harry, just calling to let you know that you knocked me up when I saw you six years ago. Oh, and also, she’s been stolen by the red court. I’ll be in Chicago in a few, ttyl. Just one more reason for me to dislike that woman. I’m not going to go on about how absolutely absurd and hurtful what she did was because I think Harry pretty much covers it throughout the book but, seriously, that’s some crap.
This book continues to reinforces the message that has been predominating throughout Harry’s life for the last few years: Family matters. Even Thomas pitches in to help when he hears what has happened. I am pretty sure that Thomas had his mind whipped by aliens though because I absolutely do not see the evolutionary connection between the current Thomas and the one we met in Grave Peril. Honestly, I miss the hoity toity funny Thomas who we met years ago and not the dreary, love-sick angst-boy he has become.
Speaking of family becoming Harry’s focus, I have really loved watching the bond between Harry and Molly over the last few books. The playful banter and the fatherly way that Harry looks out for her is just heartwarming. I know that Molly had a thing for Harry before she became his apprentice and in this book Susan mentions that Molly is in love with him, but I really just don’t see that. Their interactions seem far too genuine for Molly to still be harboring a secret crush. I really think that they’ve moved on to a very strong and protective friendship. They may notice that the other has attractive qualities but it’s not something that either would want act on.
I wasn’t so crazy about the idea of Ebenezar being Harry’s grandfather though. I feel like all the major characters in these books are turning out to be related. Is Ivy going to turn out be his third cousin twice removed? Maybe her mother was his sister but they were separated (like he and Thomas were) and she couldn’t take it, which would make Ivy his niece! Sorry, but his mom’s side of the family tree is getting a bit ridiculous.
I know that I’ve spent a lot of time talking about his relationships rather than the plot of the book but I feel like his relationships are the real plot. I mean, yea he gets a map through the fairy world because his mom left it with his fairy godmother until he was old and wise enough to figure out how to get it from her. I feel like most of this is just in place so that Butcher can constantly reiterate how hot White Court vamps are and VERY VERY important family is.
Overall, not the best book in the series. I’m really hoping that the next couple books are less preachy.
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Oct 29, 2011

Aaron rated it

Changes was a pretty solid entry into the Dresden Cannon. The ending (which I will try not to spoil here) had me concerned, not for how it would affect the character, but rather, for how it would affect the series. There were many ways that it could have been a nuking of the fridge moment in the series. It was also a return to the familiar stomping grounds of Harry gets brutally beaten again and again and again, until he finally manages to find some success. That's always been, in my opinion, th...more

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Oct 15, 2011

Brendan rated it

It's another Dresden Files book, much like any other Dresden Files book in many respects, so I won't waste time discussing the commonalities. By this point in the series, you either like Butcher's blend of noir and urban fantasy, or you don't.

However, I did want to comment on a couple of things that bothered me in an otherwise excellent book. It is very aptly named, as literally everything changes in this book; relationships, possessions, powers, alliances, and literally the gods thems...more

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Sep 11, 2011

Grete rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: owned, favorites

Harry Dresden, the only Wizard in the phone book is in for the shock of his life. After a phone call from his ex-girlfriend Susan rocks his world, he realises Arianna Ortega has sworn revenge for the death of her husband and she is going to get it by killing his daughter.

The White Council, still reeling from betrayal and foolishly trying to garner peace with the Red Court vampires can’t help him and his list of allies is thin. Those who mean the most to him however are ready to ...more
Harry Dresden, the only Wizard in the phone book is in for the shock of his life. After a phone call from his ex-girlfriend Susan rocks his world, he realises Arianna Ortega has sworn revenge for the death of her husband and she is going to get it by killing his daughter.

The White Council, still reeling from betrayal and foolishly trying to garner peace with the Red Court vampires can’t help him and his list of allies is thin. Those who mean the most to him however are ready to stand and fight by his side and Harry must find a way to take on the Red King and the entire Red Court, or lose the daughter he’d never known about. With few options open to him, some of them down a very dark road, and growing more desperate, he must choose the best way he can to save his daughter and his friends.

Since Changes is the twelfth book in the Dresden Files series, there are certain things you have come to expect. Fast paced action, Harry being witty, heroic in the face of all evil and being regularly beaten into a pulp. This book has all that and much, much more. The very first sentence of the first paragraph gives you a big UH-OH moment and really, it doesn’t stop til the OH MY GOD moment at the end of the book. It’s an emotional, engaging, gritty ride that doesn’t really let up apart from the laugh out loud sections that Butcher has such a talent for.

This book is a much more personal look into Harry’s life and what he believes in than previous novels. The sections that show just what he’s capable of and willing to do for those he loves reduced me to tears. I really can’t say more than that without spoiling it.

I absolutely love these books and while they have never become formulaic and samey for me, some are better than others and I honestly feel Changes is one of the best. The title says it all really, there are some big changes in store for Harry and if you like this series, it’s an absolute must read. Jim Butcher at his very best.

This review and others can also be read at http://www.bookthing.co.uk
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Aug 18, 2011

Amanda rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone who has a taste for adventure, mystery and a terribly witty wizard for a main character.

I adore the entire Dresden series, truly. It's full of action and mystery and wonderful works of sci-fi magic. One finds themselves lost entirely in Butcher's works feeling compassion and hatred and betrayal from each of his characters even the ones that aren't around for long.

I must say that Changes was a different experience entirely. You find yourself fretting for the people of this book much like Harry himself. You find yourself angry for their sakes and sad for others. During t...more

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Aug 18, 2011

Megh rated it

The end of this book was ridiculous. Butcher is a fan of the avalanche ending-- he builds up a huge mountain of story plot points and strings the eager along until the last three chapters, where magically everything falls into place. Discoveries are made, not just about this plot, but about the overall character arch. If you're a fan of this style of writing, you'll love this series. It is well written and Butcher has refined his technique.

But personally I found my self tired of the "...more

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Jul 15, 2011

Belinda rated it

Shelves: audiobook, fantasy, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 11, 2011

Mike Lee rated it

· review of another edition

Though disappointed with Turn Coat, I picked up Changes in hopes that Butcher had managed to recapture the same rollicking storytelling and deft characterization that can be found in many of his earlier Dresden novels. Sadly, this proved not to be the case. There are certain scenes in the book that recall Butcher's earlier, more entertaining works (one scene with Mouse in particular had me laughing out loud), but the rest is surprisingly tedious. I think the overarching problem with the series a...more

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Jun 28, 2011

Ryan rated it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

this book is simply amazing; it's practically one of the only books I've ever read that's left me coming back for more.

First of, let's just say that yes the book more then lives up to it's title. story arcs that have been a part of the series for most of it's run finally get tied up in a way that is mostly statisfying (the war with the red court finally ends, the winter knight offer is finally adressed, and finally, harry's romance with Susan is finally tied up for good.) At the same t...morethis book is simply amazing; it's practically one of the only books I've ever read that's left me coming back for more.

First of, let's just say that yes the book more then lives up to it's title. story arcs that have been a part of the series for most of it's run finally get tied up in a way that is mostly statisfying (the war with the red court finally ends, the winter knight offer is finally adressed, and finally, harry's romance with Susan is finally tied up for good.) At the same time, many changes come that are totally out of the blue both in the small world and in the larger scale. For instance, most of the things that defined Harry (his car, his house, his office, his cat even his duster) are either destroyed (or in the case of his cat mister) vanished. It is safe to say that the series will never be the same again after this.

The mystery (which is to find out where maggie is being held and when the sacrificial ritual is to occur) is largely wrapped up before the halfway point, but the chain of events to do so is quite logical and believable.

Characters: While the character who changes the most is harry, the other characters also evolve, albeit to lesser degrees (molly's feelings for harry, murphy's fear of loosing her job and her reluctance to take up the sword, Susan's fear of loosing her child) is all very well done. Harry's transition is believable and sympathetic; you want him to save his child, and when harry sacrifices his morals to save the daughter he never knew he had you can sympathize every step of the way. What surprised me is that Butcher took a villain mentioned in passing a few books ago (Arianna Ortega) and fleshed her out into one of the most deadly and monstrous antagonists in the series. Let me just say that I wanted to punch this bitch in the face I hated her so much. I mean she tries to kill a child purely because the kid's dad's mentor (and grandfather) killed her asshole husband who she didn't even love. Needless to say her death from being impaled by ice spears is VERY well deserved. The Red King, mentioned a few tiems is also shown to be a deadly threat even though he only appears in 5 chapters and more then lives up to the threat. Like Arianna he is also highly despicable and watching him get destroyed by his own ritual (as well as impaled in the eyes, which are then set on fire as well as having his arm broken in half) is also pretty satisfying.

The final point is the third act: having lea help them get to the temple early enough to hammer out a deal to allow harry to duel arianna was clever, and all of chapters 45-48 are gauranteed to keep the reader glued to the page, culminating in a shocking and ultimately gut wrenching sacrifice to save Harry's daughter. Let's just say that you better have kleenex ready.

Finally, the last chapter is genuinelly effecting, and is the textbook definition of bittersweet ending. Yes the child is saved and the monsters who have enslaved tortured and murdered south and central america for centuries finally go down for their crimes but Harry had to sacrifice both the woman he loved and his free will to do it (for the next three books he can pretty much consider himself the legbreaker of a psychopathic goddess and there isn't a god damn thing he can do about it.) Everything he had four days ago has practically vanished (all he has is his housebout, a pentacle and a daughter he has no choice but to put up for adoption, and who will probably hate him should he reveal what he did to save her life.) while others hated the cliffhanger I personally did not mind it, since it was confirmed that harry's choice to become mab's legbreaker will continue to haunt him even into book 14

All in all, Changes lives up to it's title, and is a book I heartily reccomend.

(less)

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May 30, 2011

James rated it

Amazing.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

This book is really a step up in the quality of the series, and I mean a massive, huge, gargantuan step up. And it was good before, this is amazing.

Normally I don't like the idea of the protagonist having a kid or other stuff like that as I feel it hems the character in a bit. However, Butcher brings this twist in at the perfect moment in the series, so perfect that I th...more

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May 27, 2011

Forrest rated it

Shelves: cbriii

More book candy. Jim Butcher does a nice job of straddling the divide between raw book candy and something more substantial. At 12 novels and counting, Dresden’s litany of supernatural victories is getting a little long in the tooth, but Butcher has so far managed to keep the series from spiraling into utter worthlessness. Changes does as advertises and manages to really shake up the established circumstances, while utterly failing to move the over-plot forward.

Dresden Files books p...moreMore book candy. Jim Butcher does a nice job of straddling the divide between raw book candy and something more substantial. At 12 novels and counting, Dresden’s litany of supernatural victories is getting a little long in the tooth, but Butcher has so far managed to keep the series from spiraling into utter worthlessness. Changes does as advertises and manages to really shake up the established circumstances, while utterly failing to move the over-plot forward.

Dresden Files books proceed in a very orderly fashion. Harry gets a case, gets pummeled, stumbles onto a second seemingly unrelated case, gets pummeled, starts putting it all together, Deus ex Magicka, plot resolution. The pummelings move around and vary in severity, but the overall plot is pretty stable. Changes does a really god job of abandoning the increasingly extraneous second case and exchanges the extra page volume turning Harry into a bloody pulp. The character always takes a beating, but this book pushes it to the extreme.

In some ways this is what the series has been building up to. Dresden has been going up against things that should have wiped the pavement with him over and over again. It isn’t surprising that he would get annihilated. Butcher uses this as a catalyst to upend the hierarchy of powers in the series. Dresden always had a strong moral compass, and thus far had managed to avoid the trending toward moral ambiguity that seems to plague the uber-powerful of his universe. But he gets one last fling as the knight in shining armor before his Faustian bargain comes back and bites him in the ass.

Changes is very much a middle novel. If the Dresden Files were condensed into a trilogy, this book would occupy much of the middle chapter. Even though the status quo is forever altered by the events of the book, we’re left in a place that feels pretty much like the place we started. The big bads that have been lurking in the background for the last half-dozen books are still off camera and will probably remain so for the next book. Any sense of forward momentum is stalled by the breakneck cliffhanger on the last page. Very much a setup for the next book.

The Dresden Files aren’t for everyone. The first person narration can get tiresome, and Butcher recycles dialogue concepts from book to book. Especially the one that goes “You can’t come. It’s too dangerous!” But the rewards are a great world setting that gets richer with every novel and a surprisingly dynamic approach to serial storytelling. Its not going to change your life, but it is still a great read. (less)

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About Jim Butcher

A martial arts enthusiast whose resume includes a long list of skills rendered obsolete at least two hundred years ago, Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives in Independence, Missouri, with his wife, his son, and a ferocious guard dog.

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“Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka.” — 176 people liked it

“The man once wrote: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. Tolkien had that one mostly right.

I stepped forward, let the door bang closed, and snarled, "Fuck subtle.” — 73 people liked it

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Changes (The Dresden Files #12)

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