Summer Knight

Summary:

After defeating Bianca of the Red Court and losing Susan to the vampire thirst, Harry goes into a bout of deep depression and disconnection for months. He’s forced to snap out of it when Mab, a fae queen of Winter, buys his contract with his Godmother and forces him to solve a murder case that will prove her innocence in the matter. On top of this, his actions sparked a war between the Red Court and the White Council, threatening his identity as a full wizard. Can he solve the case in time to earn the wizards safe passage through the Nevernever and give them a leg up in the war with the vampires?

Review:

The more I read Jim Butcher’s works, the more he rises in the ranks of my favorite authors. I’d say he is firmly planted in my top five, if not top three at this point.

One thing I have grown to appreciate about the Dresden Files is how each book builds upon the last, but manages to keep the cases interesting and not feel like we’ve been there and done that thing already, even when they involve repeat characters.

I also appreciate how he layers in several sub-plots that add complexity and depth to the story, all of which tie into the climax in one way or another. He does a fantastic job of fulfilling promises and catching all the plates he spins up in the course of the story.

I enjoyed this one, perhaps not as much as I did Grave Peril, but it was still very well done. I think Harry is very relatable in Summer Knight as we’ve all gone through difficult times that make us want to disappear and wallow in sadness.

As a fellow writer, I see how well he handles the craft of telling a story and it drives me to want to improve at my own storytelling. From interviews I’ve listened to with him, I know that he is a different sort of author than I am (he’s a plotter, while I’m a discovery writer), but I can’t help but hope that I can write half as well one day.