A brief review of the 2015 Hugo Nominees in the Novel category.
I read this as an audio book. I have also read the previous 15 books in the Harry Dresden series. This is a series where you do need to read the previous books to really understand what the characters motivations are and the story arc.
Skin Games, chapters 1-8, I was wondering if I had stepped into some male wet dream. The first four female characters were pretty much Barbie-doll copies: long legged, big chested (as in they filled out their sweaters quite nicely, or so I was informed), long hair of all shades, and quite fuckable. Then we morphed right into a 20 minute (on audiobook) dream sex scene. Gack. I seriously contemplated pitching the whole audiobook right out the window right there and paying the library the fine for not returning it.
But I kept going.
And listed to Harry wallow in self pity. Poor Harry. Everybody Loves Harry but Harry thinks nobody loves him. I am beginning to wonder why anyone likes Harry because he's a major git.
But I digress.
And I listened to Harry wallow in self flagellation on how he killed Susan (his former lover and wife of his child). Again. And again. And yet again.
And I listened to Harry's soliloquy on how he's brought all this harm to his friends because he's been freezing his ass off on Deamonreach trying to protect everyone.
And I listened to Harry pontificate on his terror of raising Maggie (the daughter).
And I listened to Harry's tough guy exterior snarkiness.
And somewhere in all of this I *think* there was a plot. Something about raiding Hades for the Holy Grail, but not really, because it wasn't about the Grail, but it wasn't about Harry, and it wasn't about the money, but maybe it was? Too many loose ends left floating around like bits of sticky ectoplasm.
I read this as an audio book. I have also read the previous 15 books in the Harry Dresden series. This is a series where you do need to read the previous books to really understand what the characters motivations are and the story arc.
Skin Games, chapters 1-8, I was wondering if I had stepped into some male wet dream. The first four female characters were pretty much Barbie-doll copies: long legged, big chested (as in they filled out their sweaters quite nicely, or so I was informed), long hair of all shades, and quite fuckable. Then we morphed right into a 20 minute (on audiobook) dream sex scene. Gack. I seriously contemplated pitching the whole audiobook right out the window right there and paying the library the fine for not returning it.
But I kept going.
And listed to Harry wallow in self pity. Poor Harry. Everybody Loves Harry but Harry thinks nobody loves him. I am beginning to wonder why anyone likes Harry because he's a major git.
But I digress.
And I listened to Harry wallow in self flagellation on how he killed Susan (his former lover and wife of his child). Again. And again. And yet again.
And I listened to Harry's soliloquy on how he's brought all this harm to his friends because he's been freezing his ass off on Deamonreach trying to protect everyone.
And I listened to Harry pontificate on his terror of raising Maggie (the daughter).
And I listened to Harry's tough guy exterior snarkiness.
And somewhere in all of this I *think* there was a plot. Something about raiding Hades for the Holy Grail, but not really, because it wasn't about the Grail, but it wasn't about Harry, and it wasn't about the money, but maybe it was? Too many loose ends left floating around like bits of sticky ectoplasm.
Not my favorite Dresden book.