It’s strange writing a review of Skin Game. As the 15th book of The Dresden Files it is not the place to start for the new reader, and for the long time Dresden fan, I can’t imagine any review would make any difference. So I’m writing this review because my other option for celebrating the publication, taking up the sport of parkour, just isn’t an option.
Nicodemus Archleone and the Denarians are my favorite of Harry’s foes. Nicodemus has inflicted terrible damage on Harry and his friends, and the books in which he is an adversary seem to have an extra frisson of danger. I suspect the Denarians will be back in future books as well. For all that Harry himself is not a Christian, Jim Butcher has a strong Christian background, and it is reflected in the dynamism given to the Knights of the Cross and the Denarians.
Skin Game is felt like the most confident book since Harry had his world burned down. I’m already dying to know what happens next. Things are getting weird. Harry has some complicated relationships with the women in his life and they all became more complicated during Skin Game. Harry clearly needs to figure out how to get out of being The Winter Knight without dying. It’s going to be a damn long time before book 16 comes out. I will probably have time to re-read all the books in the series. Again.
Ok, one complaint. It’s a complaint I have with almost every single book – Harry leaves someone in the dark to protect them and they get hurt because they didn’t have the information they needed. Harry feels bad and chastises himself, and then does it again. I know it sets up conflict and tension, but it’s old.
Other than that great read, lots of fun and a blistering pace.
Damn you woman, you beat me! I was hoping to be the first to publish my Skin Game review, but considering how long I’ve waited, I have no one to blame but myself.