This is one of the more standout books of the Dresden Files, as we see that Harry has to join the bad guys for once, and rob a vault. After the lackluster experience that was Ghost Story, and the merely ‘okay' reading journey that was Cold Days, I was ready for a book that would knock my socks off. Did it? Not as much as I would like.
Most of this book was a positive experience for me, as I read about Harry and his latest endeavor to rob the bank of a Greek God. Truth be told, most of this book is very plot heavy, as we see the team become assembled. All of the members are fighters, but we see them being the antagonists of the story, as opposed to the heroes. Think Ocean's Eleven, but for the bad guys, and you have some idea as to what this book is about. I enjoyed seeing the team being built, and all of the obstacles they face along the way.
Then there is Harry himself. This was the only part of the book that I feel lukewarm about. In the book, we find Harry questioning his motives, as he wonders if he is turning into a twisted version of the monsters he claims to battle against. Thankfully, Michael is there to set him straight. I love seeing him and his family, as they are a bright spot whenever they are on screen (page?). The only issue is that I feel like this is an arc that Harry has gone through before, and we are just hitting the main points again. The idea that Harry is not making time for his friends and family and becoming a monster is one that I felt had been handled better in other, stronger installments. This is a minor gripe, sure, but a noticeable one, for me.
Overall, this one was good, but not one of the greats of the Dresden Files. Perhaps it is just me, and what I am currently going through that made me not want to devour this book, but I think that this novel is one that I liked because of Michael, in particular, and not necessarily because of Harry this time around. I give it a four out of five.
