Changes by Jim Butcher

Changes

Book Twelve of the Dresden Files

Publisher: Penguin Books USA as Roc (2010)

Author: Jim Butcher

Genre: Fantasy, Urban

Pages: 546

Price: $9.99

Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover—until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.

Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it—against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...

He's fighting to save his child.

Changes is right. This book ratchets up the sheer unpredictability of Harry Dresden's life. There is no possible way that life as he knows it will remain the same after the events in this book. Dresden is forced to make many tough decisions in this one. Unlike previous books it's hard to read through this one and know that Harry will be okay. He cuts a deal with a power far greater than himself, and is forced to use a horrible weapon that was aimed at him on his enemies, making a huge sacrifice along the way.

Due to the heavier subject matter than usual some of the trademark humor of the series is absent in this book. While it makes sense, I missed some of the laugh out loud moments that have been present throughout the series. One thing Changes has in common with the past books is the sheer number of characters. Jim Butcher does a great job of balancing his attention between a huge cast, giving everyone their own moments to shine. We also learn more about one of the major mysteries of the series, Margaret LaFay, Harry's mother.

It's hard to talk much about this book without revealing major spoilers, suffice to say that it might be my favorite Dresden book to date. The scope of the problem and it's solution, along with the things Harry must do to realize that solution point to big things on the horizon. Another notable thing about this book is that it lacks aftermath portion of the story. Generally the readers of a Dresden Files book can count on ten to twenty pages detailing the ramifications of the story at the end. In Changes we are left instead of with a heart stopping cliffhanger that will leave you begging for the next book.

Conclusion: Changes lives up to its name. By the end it is apparent that nothing will be the same for Harry Dresden ever again. He's made deals and made sacrifices in the past, but never like this before. The ending is infuriating at first, we've never had a Dresden book end that way before, but it does serve to make you want the next one even more.

Rating: 9/10