Skin Game

Executive Summary: While not quite as good as [b:Cold Days 12216302 Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14) Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg 17189468], [a:Jim Butcher 10746 Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1400640324p2/10746.jpg] once again shows why he's the king of Urban Fantasy and one of the best fantasy writers out there.Audio book: [a:James Marsters 169487 James Marsters https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1252176950p2/169487.jpg] once again makes this series a must listen. It's not even the fact that he does voices for the characters that makes it great. It's the WAY he does the voices. The emotion when Harry casts a spell. Or him actually yelling PARKOUR! instead of simply reading it. He may not be the voice I originally expected for Harry, but he sure is now.Full ReviewIt's been 18 months give or take since [b:Cold Days 12216302 Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14) Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg 17189468] came out and I've been in withdrawal. I tried to hold myself over with an Iron Druid and a Libriomancer. They just didn't do the trick. In fact, I've decided that apart from Dresden Files, Urban Fantasy just really isn't for me. Nothing else compares. Not even close.I barely made it halfway down the first page and I was already laughing out loud. I had to spend an extra ten minutes deciding which one-liner was best to use for my status update, and just opted for one of the shorter ones because I had already stayed up too late reading.I really wanted to finish this book in two days, but managed to constrain myself and go to bed so I wouldn't be a zombie at work the next day. That shows that this book is a slight step down from [b:Cold Days 12216302 Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14) Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg 17189468].We see a return of the Nicodemus and Order of the Blackened Denarius. By far one of the best villains of the series, if not all of fantasy. I was yelling at my book and Jim Butcher a few times.My only real complaint is that many of the questions and issues created by [b:Cold Days 12216302 Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14) Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg 17189468] go largely unanswered. It almost feels like things were put on hold for a side story.That said, the book once again combines great characters, great dialogue and great action in a way that makes it nearly impossible to put down. I always hate waiting between books, but I can't help myself from spending every free minute reading until I finish. It's just that good.Anyone who reads the first few books and wonders what all the fuss is about, or balks at having to read a few books before the series “gets really good” is just missing out. If for some reason you still haven't caught up on this series after [b:Cold Days 12216302 Cold Days (The Dresden Files, #14) Jim Butcher https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345145377s/12216302.jpg 17189468], consider this another recommendation to get on it.Thankfully I'll have [b:The Aeronaut's Windlass 17403559 The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1) Jim Butcher https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-6121bf4c1f669098041843ec9650ca19.png 24239884] to read to tide me over over while I return to vigil of waiting for the next Dresden Files book. Maybe I'll take up Parkour!

Quick review for people who haven't read up through Cold Days:
Why are you reading this? Go and catch up. You're missing out on one of the best series being published today. You've got about a year ‘til Peace Talks comes out, so you have plenty of time to read up through Skin Game (which you really should read, because it was great).

Longer take for those who have read Cold Days (still, spoiler-free):

Okay, this is book 15, which means it's time for The Denarians to return. But this time, Harry's not opposing them (directly, anyway), but thanks to his service to Mab, he's working alongside (for?) Nicodemus. Nicodemus has assembled a team of magical types to go rob a vault belonging to Hades. Harry, of course, is itching for a fight, but he doesn't get the chance for one. If he doesn't do what Mab & Nicodemus require, those closest to Harry will pay the price. Skin Game takes the basic plot structure of a heist film, and it works really well as such. A great, gripping story, doing things with the supporting characters involved (new and old) that you wouldn't have guessed were possible with Harry's past and attitude.

Beyond the plot – there's something going on with Harry. Small, incremental changes are creeping in to our wizard's character, as part of the aftermath of Changes. He's dimly aware of them, but thinks he's in control. Those close to him see them, too and make the same judgment call – it's Harry, he's got it taken care of. But there are those, like Butters, who aren't as willing to believe that Harry can do it all. He sees trouble on the horizon and is willing to speak truth to Harry about it.

There's other character development to take note of as well: Michael, Charity, and Murphy all continue to grow in positive ways – slowly, organically, and in ways you really only notice when you take a long look at them. Molly's changing a lot, too – and not that slowly or organically, but after the end of Cold Days, what do you expect? Butters continues to grow and develop in ways that feel right, but are undeniable. When you think of who he was back in Death Masks and what he's grown into by the end of Cold Days, it's truly impressive. And he takes some major steps forward this time around, that I really want to talk about, but won't. I have no shame in admitting that he choked me up. He could've easily been Butcher's version of John Chen from the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike/etc. books – around for a little comic relief, some science help (some medical help, too), but nothing major. Instead, Butcher's turned this polka-loving nerd into his Neville Longbottom.

In between the banter, the quips, the forzare-ing and fuego-ing, the action, you get things like this...it's what separates guys like Butcher from the pack

There's power in the touch of another person's hand. We acknowledge it in little ways, all the time. There's a reason human beings shake hands, hold hands, slap hands, bump hands.
It comes from our very earliest memories, when we all come into the world blinded by light and color, deafened by riotous sound, flailing in a suddenly cavernous space without any way of orienting ourselves, shuddering with cold, emptied with hunger, and justifiably frightened and confused. And what changes that first horror, that original state of terror?
The touch of another person's hands.
Hands that wrapt us in warmth, that hold us close. Hands that guide us to shelter, to comfort, to food. Hands that hold and touch and reassure us through our very first crisis, and guide us into our very first shelter from pain. The first thing we ever learn is that the touch of someone else's hand can ease pain and make things better.
That's power. That's power so fundamental that most people never even realize it exists.

Friday Night Lights

Peace Talks