White Night (The Dresden Files, #9) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Dec 18, 2020 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: mgr, urban-fantasy, detective-private-eye-sleuth, wizards

I flip flopped with the rating. It's better then 3 but not exactly 4 but it's close enough for the round up.

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Apr 04, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: why-favorite-series, what-modern-fantasy, why-favorite-author, what-cover-me-tickled, why-favorite, what-male-protagonist, what-vampires, what-fae

I don't know why I bother reviewing these anymore. They are almost always 5 stars for me. When I read one, I can't put it down. The plots are great, I love the characters, the action is exciting. The books always culminate in an amazing showdown that is seat-of-your-pants gripping. (I don't even know if that last clause works but I like it so I'm keeping it.)

I love Harry. I know a lot of you don't (though really, don't listen to the audiobooks, I hear the narrator is annoying) but I do. I actua I don't know why I bother reviewing these anymore. They are almost always 5 stars for me. When I read one, I can't put it down. The plots are great, I love the characters, the action is exciting. The books always culminate in an amazing showdown that is seat-of-your-pants gripping. (I don't even know if that last clause works but I like it so I'm keeping it.)

I love Harry. I know a lot of you don't (though really, don't listen to the audiobooks, I hear the narrator is annoying) but I do. I actually like that he's kind of chivalrous (NOT a chauvinistic) which is usually sexist but it's cute in him. His chivalry isn't about opening doors or covering mud puddles with his coat; it's that he is always trying to protect women even though he absolutely acknowledges and is impressed by the power of women. It tears him up when he thinks of women getting hurt and it moves him to violence against the perpetrators, which is funny because most of the women are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. He even acknowledges this about himself in a self-deprecating way. Murphy is always calling him on his crap and is always in the thick of things with him, equally powerful in her own human way. The supernatural people, both good and bad, are both male and female and are equally powerful. Leadership positions are help by both men and women, including the current leader of the wizard guard who is female.

I get the impression that Butcher isn't sexist but he likes this gallant side of Harry. There isn't any "she was in power even though she was a woman" or even acknowledging that someone might find it odd to find a woman doing that particular job. (Well, I can't remember the beginning books that well and he might have mentioned that it was hard for Murphy as a female cop. But when he met her she was already head of her division.) The de facto leader of the White House, who is the best White House vampire leader he's seen, is a woman who is very attractive and very dangerous to him.

I'm always annoyed that Butcher says people speak "quietly" way too often. I always love Bob the skull and wish he were in it more. I always wish he and Murphy would just do the nasty and get it over with. I'm really glad he's gotten rid of weak love interests. Thomas is so sexy and I love that he doesn't care about a person's gender in his sexual conquests. Ramirez is very hot, too. But Mouse is my favorite character.

Okay, specifics about this book. I liked how adamant/rigid/angry Harry was with his apprentice when she broke the rules and I like how the situation was resolved. I love the boat action sequence. Finally, a little more about Mouse is revealed. I even like the cat and was only mildly annoyed when someone referred to him as the master of the house.

Very mild spoiler (one tiny part of the book) that won't ruin the book at all:
(view spoiler)

The mini-city is ridiculous as it would be impossible to have created let alone maintain. The scale alone meant that it wouldn't have fit in his subbasement. It's an easy gimmick that I don't like. I'm mad at Murphy for being a commitment-phobe and love that Harry doesn't want short-term relationships (revealed in last book). They are meant to be together God damn it! One of the mini-plots was awkward and there were so many characters in the book, some with similar names (Anne and Anye in similar roles) that it was hard to keep them straight.

I love the ex love interest who comes back from his past and if Harry can't have Murphy, a woman like that is perfect for him: she's smart, sexy, sarcastic, imperfect and extremely powerful, much like he is. My favorite part of the book was the last three pages and I'll leave it at that.

What I love best of all though is that morality isn't always black and white and choosing the right path isn't always easy for Harry. He's still struggling with the demon in his head. (He mentions that it's been three years! I don't feel like it's been that long. Does anyone know what book she first appeared in?)

As I've come to expect from Butcher, this was another tight, focused novel with tons of action and drama and the usual snarky humor that I love, even when Harry is being an idiot. (The scenes between him and Ramirez are classic Butcher.) If you like this series, don't miss this one.
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