Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Changes by Jim Butcher starting December 9, 2022.

Went ahead and made this thread myself, since it's getting close to the start date.

I'm actually probably gonna start this tomorrow... so hyped...

First line of the book: (view spoiler)[I answered the phone, and Susan Rodriguez said, "They've taken our daughter." (hide spoiler)]

The first time I read that line, over a decade ago, I knew this was going to be THE BOOK... and it is/was... such a memorable opening line...

I have the kindle version, audio and paperback. I am ready to go!

I will be here tomorrow with bells on! Excited as well:)))

Thanks Iain for making the thread!

Then I clicked your spoiler about the first line of the book figuring how spoilery could it be? Pretty spoilery hahaha OMG, can't wait to read.

Haha! That is a great line !!!

I’m the little devil on your shoulder, telling you to forsake all other books and come read Dresden… :D

Oh I probably will. I'm not enjoying my current read that much. I'll probably pause it and start Changes tomorrow.

You should... it's awesome... when it's not heartbreaking...

The book is rife with foreshadowing and ironic dialogue, on re-read...

I'm at the part right now, where Dresden meets the CEO of Monoch Security (Ms. Gard's boss)... (view spoiler)[Doner Vadderung, aka Odin, aka (view spoiler)[Santa (hide spoiler)] (that's a spoiler for book 14, I think?)

With a little googling, I just learned that Doner Vader is like old German for Thor's Father... and Derung, with a bit of linguistic gymnastics, (view spoiler)[is old dutch for curve/twist, the origin of the term that eventually became the Kringle pastry... Kris Kringle... Santa (hide spoiler)] (spoiler for name meaning that works for the book 14 spoiler, again) (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 3... Well, this reveal came out of nowhere! No wonder Dresden is shocked and hurt at the same time... I would be too. His conversation with Mac was awesome:) And his keeping blonde bland dude out of his apartment was also pretty cool. Also smart, because if he ever turns fully, he will not be able to enter without an invitation.

Dresden is very rough on buildings...

Iain, that is some good research on the names! I would have never known...

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 3... Well, this reveal came out of nowhere! No wonder Dresden is shocked and hurt at the same time... I would be too. His conversation with Mac was awesome:) And his keeping blonde bland ..."

Who knew Mac could speak entire sentences? :D

Choko wrote: "Iain, that is some good research on the names! I would have never known..."

Butcher is big on layers of meaning, and clues...

I read about 2/3 of the book... need to charge my ipod... might finish today, might not...

I'm at the part where the power line was cut after talking to Agent Tilly... nearing the Final Sequence... altho there's 1-2 more big chunks left before that, like (view spoiler)[getting trapped in the Goblin King's Feast Hall for a day with the Eebs... (hide spoiler)] making the timeline for the climax super tight...

Chapter 1 and 2 sure have my head spinning. Excited to continue!

Chapter 4: I can't believe that the (view spoiler)[red court (hide spoiler)] own Harry's building. They sure make it personal.

RachelG. wrote: "Chapter 4: I can't believe that the [spoilers removed] own Harry's building. They sure make it personal."

They definitely play a long game... (view spoiler)[increasing his rent, lol (hide spoiler)]

Haha! The rent increase is a petty revenge, but darn it, it is very effective! You know how horrible it feels when your property taxes go up every year, I imagine this is what it feels like when they upcharge on the rent:)))

I made a mistake. I read the first chapter this morning before starting my day :D

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes... turn and face the strange... (Why do I feel like that Bowie line is going to be very relevant hah)

Ch 1. What the what?? (view spoiler)[Man I wish I could buy Harry a drink. His brain just got short circuited. And since when does Mac speak in complete sentences????? I love Mouse. (hide spoiler)]

Do we ever find out more about Mac?

And just look at the book cover -- Hmm (view spoiler)[Does Harry go to Mexico or is that where Susan was hiding? It looks like a Mayan ruin in the background, like Chichen Itza. (hide spoiler)]

I was wondering the same thing about the book cover, Narilka. I suppose that because Susan was in South America they go there? I am currently sick with a cold and my mind is having trouble remembering exactly where Susan was.

You guys are cheating… looking at the book cover for clues… besides, Harry is anti-hat, so how accurate can it really be?…. ;)

I know, and he is with a hat in every cover so far!!!!!!! But the rest of the cover appears to be relevant. Just got to the point where someone said that the bitch from the Red Court, may she suffer in eternity!, "never leaves Mexico City"... And the White council needs to get some balls!!!

Timelord Iain wrote: "You guys are cheating… looking at the book cover for clues… besides, Harry is anti-hat, so how accurate can it really be?…. ;)"

How is that cheating when I'm reading a physical copy and I see the cover literally every time I go to read?? :P

Ebook/audio users rarely see the cover…

Boy, the CYPD sure has a hard-on for Dresden! At this point, those who want to kill him are the overwhelming majority...

I meant just CPD... Don't know where I got the Y from... Habit from Eve and her NYPD I guess:)))

I think they're being manipulated by powerful factions... not too hard... doesn't even need to be magic... money and politicians works, too... Marcone, Red Court, who knows who else...

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[ Rudolph really lost his cool once Harry was arrested. It was nice to see Rudy make a fool of himself. (hide spoiler)] It does seem like someone with a lot of connections is pulling strings to get Harry out of the way.

Chapter 42: forte, pronounced for-tay by James Marsters... anyone from the In Death thread will know what I'm talking about :D

Haha! Haven't gotten there yet, but I know that from now on I will always notice how people pronounce it:)))

Just got to Ch. 14... Rudolph is an ass! He needs to be spanked, only if he doesn't enjoy it, of course...

Godmother is back with a very cool present and right when Harry needs it! How fortuitous:)))

end of Chapter 20: I can't believe the CEO is named (view spoiler)[ Donar Vaderung (hide spoiler)]. I had to roll my eyes at that one.

Rachel, yeah, Iain had a great breakdown of the name:) I guess it's clearer for you, but I had no idea...

Chapter 25- Possibly made my heart drop the quickest in the series. (view spoiler)[Poor Mouse! I can't believe this creature picked him up and threw him around. For once I was glad Molly could cause a distraction so Thomas and all could regroup. (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "Rachel, yeah, Iain had a great breakdown of the name:) I guess it's clearer for you, but I had no idea..."

The comment section I learned the name meaning stuff in, was kinda hilarious... it mentioned how Germans weren't very surprised when Darth Vader / Dark Father turned out to be Luke's dad, with a name like Darth Vader / Dark Father...

Napped... reading the climax now... things about to get bonkers...

Chapter 30= WHOA!

RachelG. wrote: "Chapter 30= WHOA!"

That encapsulates this book in a nutshell... and sets up alot of elements for the rest of the series, published and unpublished...

(view spoiler)[this book is very much about tearing away Dresden's security blankets... his office, his apartment, his car. his magical tools (staff, blasting rod, pewter model of the town... years of work), his SPINE... and making him make hard decisions about how far he's willing to go to save his daughter (pretty far)...

MacAnally set this up, right from the beginning, with that line about how "you're about to enter the Badlands."

Everything since then has just been hammering it home... (hide spoiler)] <-- this isn't spoilers for later books... for once... just more commentary on what's happened in this book, so far...

There's still alot of humor to the book, tho... somehow... there's a Toot Toot scene coming soon, that really hammers that home... and brings some levity...

I'm in the epilogue now, basically... the climax of the climax of this book gets me every time...

(view spoiler)[I used the knife. I saved a child. I won the war. God forgive me. (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 26... Rachel and I are reading at about the same speed:) Those two weird vampires are hilarious in a very disturbing way... Rachel, I agree(view spoiler)[ my heart was sinking with fear that Mouse was going to get hurt:((( And after, Thomas almost feeding on Molly, while Mouse was trying to protect everyone, how can a person not be completely in love with that dog?!?! I was impressed with Dresden taking a hard line and throwing Thomas out. He had to... (hide spoiler)]

3 pages from the end of the book: (view spoiler)[Jim Butcher is an asshole... this is like the closest Dreden/Murphy come to a relationship, for a long time (not sure if anyone is a shipper, but it's common in the fandom, for people not shipping Dresden/Molly)... (hide spoiler)]

That ending: (view spoiler)[yea... that happened... nothing is ever simple, tho... book 13 is widely considered one of the weaker entries in the series, but it's not bad... Dresden just doesn't have the capacity for action he usually does, being a ghost... it's a more cerebral book, where he tries to solve his own murder... and sees the consequences of his actions in this book (creating a vacuum in the evil power structure, dying, and leaving his friends/apprentice alone in a more dangerous world) (hide spoiler)]

We should read the anthology after this, if you guys are willing / able of getting a copy: Side Jobs... it includes Murphy story that picks up 45 minutes after the end of the book, and introduces new important villains for the future of the series, and has some of the Bigfoot stories... Bigfoot enters the main series in book 16/17, I think?... some other stuff too...

EDIT: Actually, all the Bigfoot stories are in Brief Cases, which should be read after book 15... and explains alot about the existence of that anthology, actually, coming right before 16/17, where the main Bigfoot character become relevant to the main series... Bigfoot is more of a species than a single entity...

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 26... Rachel and I are reading at about the same speed:) Those two weird vampires are hilarious in a very disturbing way... Rachel, I agree[spoilers removed]"

Told you guys... this is a really strong entry in the series... no real missteps on Butcher's part... unless we count his description of Molly's attractiveness and use of some youth slang?!?... hawt...

I agree that there is a lot of humor even with some tough situations.

For some reason I can't stand when James Marsters does the "voice" of Toot Toot. I always have to turn off the audio version and read the text.

ETA- I am leaving off at chapter 34 for the night.

My local library has Side Jobs so I would be interested in reading it.

Iain, it is too early for me to see your last spoilers... However, I am totally in for the Side Jobs read!

This is such a good book, you were right, it is horrible how Butcher strips Harry from everything he has been relying on... The way he was going, I was seriously scared that he will incapacitate Mose somehow as well... But yeah, most things near and dear to him are gone! That (view spoiler)[ apartment fire scene was horrible and he still made it funny with the deaf landlady:))) And his poor car!!!! And the staff with it! Maaaaaannnn! That sucks!

I just finished the meeting with the angei Uriel, and I have no idea how he is going to proceed from here, but things are looking bleak... (hide spoiler)]

I am tired and I have to go to sleep, but I will be back first thing tomorrow morning:)))

Mrs. Spunglekrief... that's a straight up Gail Carriger character name, if I've ever read one... I think I kept associating it with her, too...

Mrs. Barnaclegoose...

Sophronia

Mrs. Histlepenny...

Re:Mouse: vague spoilers for the future, but also a weight off your shoulders?... (view spoiler)[Harry DOES lose 24/7 access to Mouse for awhile... but not because something bad happens to Mouse... more because of events surrounding Harry... and how he chooses to keep Maggie safe... Mouse goes to live with Maggie, as her protector... (hide spoiler)]

RachelG. wrote: "Chapter 4: I can't believe that the [spoilers removed] own Harry's building. They sure make it personal."

Agreed. F*cking vampires.

Ch 5. Murphy. (view spoiler)[I admit I had mixed feelings a couple books back when Murphy turned Harry down for a romance. Now I think their relationship is even better. She is such a great friend. (hide spoiler)]

I am very much team Murphy, but I don't need them to be lovers. As long as they are such wonderful besties, I am good! I have been rooting for her since book one, if you remember. She is my favorite female character here...

I have been thinking about it and I really do think it was time for the life Dresden has been used to needed to change and this book is one way to go about it. Hard for Harry to lose everything at once but hopefully it will make things better in the future.

Chapter 34 to the start of 35: (view spoiler)[ I wish that Murphy and Harry either killed Rudolph themselves or left him there for the vampires. He is sooooo annoying. (hide spoiler)]

Or worse... I am kind of scared for our heroes. This is not going well for any of them.

Butters (view spoiler)[ putting on a Kevlar vest immediately when he even hears Harry's name, speaks of the type of life Harry leads and the danger everyone around him is in. Being shot isn't funny, but the author made me laugh with Butters... (hide spoiler)]

Iain, you are so right about the Gail Carriger type of naming!!! Haha! And just the whole old lady character belongs in one of her books:)))

Thank you for alleviating my anxiety with your mild spoiler!!! I need that so I don't have a heart attack every time he gets in the mix...

Rachel, I hope you are right and things do change for the better, but I just can't see how that could happen...