Chris Horne
In this book Jim Butcher takes on the difficult task of writing an entertaining book with a grieving, often passive, protagonist and he takes it seriously. There are no short cuts, no instant recovery, and no fading to black at difficult moments. Dresden repeatedly descends into dark periods of mourning and just when you think he’s out, he falls back in.
To my understanding what Dresden goes through in this book reflects many peoples reality of grief and in this way the writing is excellent. However, while this process of grieving feels real, it is difficult to make it interesting for a reader when it happens over and over again. Butcher has created a series that is famous for its fast moving plots, quirky characters, cheesy quips and big set pieces and while some of these are present they are toned down and seem less fun than usual. This is a well thought out book about grief, I just wish more of the things I love about Dresden were there to balance it out.
In this book Jim Butcher takes on the difficult task of writing an entertaining book with a grieving, often passive, protagonist and he takes it seriously. There are no short cuts, no instant recovery, and no fading to black at difficult moments. Dresden repeatedly descends into dark periods of mourning and just when you think he’s out, he falls back in.
To my understanding what Dresden goes through in this book reflects many peoples reality of grief and in this way the writing is excellent. However, while this process of grieving feels real, it is difficult to make it interesting for a reader when it happens over and over again. Butcher has created a series that is famous for its fast moving plots, quirky characters, cheesy quips and big set pieces and while some of these are present they are toned down and seem less fun than usual. This is a well thought out book about grief, I just wish more of the things I love about Dresden were there to balance it out.