Sure there is a skeleton of familiarity but it so often obscured by a totally different body that it is barely worth commenting on (save, I guess, for this once).Īs in previous novels Dresden is a snarky, arrogant lone wolf. If Butcher were a lesser writer that formulaic quality would be a major let down but here it lets the rest of his creativity shine. What matters here is how you dress it up. I don’t mean to sound dismissive but this type of formulaic plotting is kind of the bread and butter of main stream fiction. Harry is presented with a problem, said initial problem is likely revealed as symptomatic or related to a larger problem or problems, Harry is tossed about either (physically, emotionally or both), Harry pulls out some amazing and mostly unexpected Hail Mary play that saves the day though often with consequences. If I’m being completely honest I should point out that the Dresden Files have a pretty standard formula with minor variations from novel to novel. There are gobs of gallows humor tossed about, the best snippets coming by way of Sanya, that despite their disparate backgrounds hints a surprising amount of camaraderie amongst the group. As the true plot behind Harry’s daughter’s abduction are revealed and the scope of what her rescue might entail this group takes on a very Dirty Dozen like feel. Thus Harry sets out on a quest to save his daughter from certain death.Īlong the way Harry acquires a cadre of old friends to aid him in his quest including Murphy, Bob, his apprentice Molly, Knight of the Cross Sanya, Harry’s fairy godmother the Leanansidhe, and the ever vigilant temple dog Mouse. Unfortunately for Harry the news isn’t as happy as it could be as it seems that in a bid for revenge against Harry’s meddling the nefarious and bloody minded vampires of the Red Court have abducted his daughter. As the jacket copy tell us it seems that Harry may be father by way of half-vampire ex-girlfriend Susan Rodriguez. Changes weighs in at a fairly impressive 448 pages yet it reads like it’s half as long. Point in fact I’m almost convinced that when it comes pure edge of your seat action few authors come close be being as skilled as Jim Butcher. Not because it isn’t good, but because it is so consistently excellent I find it hard to not recommend this series to anyone and everyone. Of all the series I read the Dresden Files is one I most frequently question whether or not I should even bother reviewing.

Changes is the 12th novel in Jim Butcher’s consistently excellent Dresden Files.

Changes by jim butcher