There is something mildly addictive about a series that just rolls along like life, twistng and turning as it wraps up the juiciest events of an exaggerated existence into an easily consumable package. Butcher weaves such a narrative with deft expertise of long practice, and continues the stride he caught in the previous Dresden book with unexpected grace.

I really enjoy how he has gone back and integrated the less examined elements of the series, such as faerie and the council, into more considered narratives that better house his clearly loved protagonist. I think that we are seeing the reflections of Butcher's personal aspirations and ideals lived out in the ever developing Dresden.

The series format has, for me, become a liability, but within its tight formulae of mystery and resolution Butcher has begun to craft an epic similar in scope to his Codex Alera series, but with an edge that I appreciate. I wish the man could write romance as well as he writes an action scene, but then there is something charming about the painful awkwardness of the relationships, and while any intimate scene with
Dresden remains perplexing I can't say that they are out of character.

In summary, I am grateful for this brief escape from moribund reality, for the opportunity to imagine a world with such fleeting vibrancy, and for the steps I got to take in Dresden's intriguing shoes.