Cold Days
A Novel Of The Dresden Files
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Jim Butcher
Roc Books
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Cover Price: $27.95

This week saw the release of Cold Days, book fourteen in what is arguably the greatest urban fantasy series of all time. I want to gush and talk about all the greatness that I bore witness to by reading this novel…but I cannot. That wouldn’t be a review, it would be a spoiler fest because this book upended the entire Dresden Files universe. Jim Butcher created a masterpiece of intrigue and adventure. Again.

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard/private investigator, is back. And back in a major way. As the new Winter Knight for the Unseelie Court, he is Mab’s right hand man. Harry finds himself with ridiculous amounts of power that augment his own innate magical abilities, which is impressive considering how much he is feared already. Mab definitely has plans for him, though. Plans that he may or may not be carrying out.

With a lot of the normal references from Spider-Man and Star Wars, of which it is obvious that Butcher is a fan, we get a feeling of things being almost back to normal…almost. Remember, Harry’s friends and family pretty much all thought he was dead. He has no place to call home and he was, for the most part, dead for a while. His humor is intact, just a bit darker. His outlook on life is certainly tainted after the time he is forced to spend in the Nevernever, healing and training.

We see him reunited with the vast majority of the supporting characters, some of my favorites are mentioned but not heard from in this volume. Newer creatures and people are brought to light and we see Harry’s world for it is, almost completely different and far, far darker. Two words for you as far as characters go: Cat Sith. Oh boy, did I love that one. But I won’t spoil anything for you, you’ll have to read it to find out more.

Several people are also altered forever in this book, though I refuse to spoil it by mentioning names. I will drop a single pseudo-spoiler here, however. There is a very passionate and long awaited kiss between Harry and another character. It doesn’t end the way I would have liked but I can see where Butcher wants to leave that avenue for another time. That said, my biggest disappointment was not having enough of Harry’s pets, I love the interaction he has with Mouse and Mister.

But that was the only near-complaint, I loved this freaking book from start to finish. I was unhappy that I had to put it down to go to bed the first night (stupid day job) but I did finish it the next day and I’m giving some serious thought to an immediate reread this weekend. If you have ever read any of these books then you know how great they are and you can’t not read the new one. If you haven’t then I can only ask “what the hell is wrong with you?!?!” This series is off the charts awesome. I have never, NEVER, recommended this series to anyone that didn’t end up loving it. Trust me, after working in the book business for over a decade this is not a statement I can make often. But seriously, I’m not asking you to go buy this one…I’m asking why you haven’t done it already. Geez…Go. Now. Buy.

And if that wasn’t enough to make you go get it, then let me tease you with this tidbit: Santa Claus makes an appearance, though he’s not the jolly old elf you might think you know.