Changes by Jim ButcherMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Jacket Blurb: 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 Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it—against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...
He's fighting to save his child.
This book started out fast paced and never slowed down. Butcher really pulled out all the stops and probably should have left a couple in. What could have been nicely intense book became a roller coaster in over-the-top Marvel comic style action: one thing blowing up after another, lots of running, huge improbable situations to get out of. It's one thing to suspend my disbelief, it's completely another to try and convince me the rickety rope bridge is made of high tensile steel.
If you're reading the series, this may contain spoilers. Stop reading now.
Okay, fairly warned.
Half-vampire, ex-lover Susan comes knocking on Harry's door and inform's him their 8 year old daughter has been kidnapped by the Red Court for Nefarious Deeds. Harry sets off balls to the wall to rescue her. The Red Court takes exception to this and tries to kill Harry. Again. Dresden enlists the aid of the usual suspects: Karin, Thomas, Sonya, Molly, His Fairy Godmother, and as a desperate last resort, Harry makes a deal with Queen Mab.
Harry is harassed and harried from page one to the cliffhanger ending. I felt harried and harassed for having put up with this.
My other complaint with this book was the rather male fantasy scenes. Harry is what? 38ish? Molly is about 19? So the reader gets to watch Harry watch Thomas and Molly get their rocks off after Thomas's vampire is drained and Molly is vulnerable. Mouse saves the day - but I'm really wondering why Mouse took so long. Ah, it was so we could see Harry being angry with Thomas for succumbing to his vampiric nature...no, it was so we could watch Molly's tits pop through her thin t-shirt! Then we have Susan throwing herself at Harry, but no, Harry doesn't become angry with Susan for letting her vampire up to breathe like Thomas did, he fantasizes about screwing her right then and there on the rug, never mind the extra company. Oh, and lets not forget all of Fey witnessing as Queen Mab and Harry get it on on The Stone Slab. Mostly I was icked out and wanted to give my brain a good scrubbing from this overly dramatic male wet dream.
Characters continue to be interesting. Plot was over the top. Yet, I'm curious (not fanatical, mind) how Butcher is going to pull everything back together again. This is what intrigues me most.
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