Review ~ Changes by Jim Butcher (book #12)

TITLE: Changes

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher
COPYRIGHT: 2010
TYPE: fantasy/urban fantasy
PAGES: AUDIO
SERIES:  yes…

1.  Storm Front (re-read review)

2.     Fool Moon

3.     Grave Peril

4.     Summer Knight

5.     Death Masks

6.     Blood Rites

7.     Dead Beat

8.     Proven Guilty

9.     White Knight

10.  Small Favor

11.   Turn Coat

12.  Changes (original review)

12.5 Side Jobs

13.  Ghost Story

14.  Cold Days

15.   Skin Games

REASON FOR READING: 

Have read this series numerous times over and was wanting to hear it in audio version

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

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

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

Hello I forgot how freaking INTENSE this book was my goodness...

Okay I have to say that while White Knight is by far my  favorite book that I have read up until Cold Days this one is just wow. I have been listening to Book 1 Storm Front and this one side by side (one in the car and one on my phone) and I can tell a massive difference in writing skills from the two 10 fold. The writing here is crisp, on point, exciting, and jammed pack with action from the moment Susan calls to the moment it ends. I have to admit this is the book that I was like HOLY CRAP where can they go with it from here. It is amazing to see how much Harry has changed and learned. Yet at the same time is still the same Harry. Then again the length he will go to save his daughter nearly broke my heart. This book ends on such a cliff hanger that I wanted to rip my hair out begging for  more and it reminded me of when I first read this book in 2010 and how upset I was that I had to wait another WHOLE FREAKING YEAR to see how the cliff hanger ended OMG seriously. Thankfully the library was waiting for me and I could grab the next in the collection. I have to put a warning here. If you have not read the whole series you need to while this book could stand alone and Mr. Butcher has done a good job of it a lot of the story lines tie in from other books. Mr. Butcher is excellent at using lines and characters from all of his previous 11 books to help this one tie into the over all picture and story arc of Harry Dresden. 

NOW ON TO THE REVIEW OF THE AUDIO

THE PROBLEMS:

The main problem with audio books is the fact that someone is reading them to me and they don’t move as fast as I would like. So that resulted in many a times where either I drifted off or rolled my eyes like, “come on man speed it up.”

That being said the reader James Marsters does a fantastic job when reading. His voices of the different characters especially the women were disconcerting at times and yet still done with a masterful flare.

THE WINS

Mr. Marsters did a fantastic job with the influx of the voice and when Harry yelled James did and when Harry whispered so did James.

His voices were so good I found times when I actually didn’t realize there were not separate voices in the story. I began to look forward to what Butters, Susan and Harry sounded like. Each character was done in such a way I could distinguish between who was talking without clarification.

The story was interesting in its own right but with Mr. Marsters it was heightened in the right amount at the right times. I found myself tensing when I should and sad when I knew that others were. I almost got to the point when Mr. Marsters mentioned someone tilted their head I found I was doing the same thing.

Very good book read by a very talented man who seemed to understand the character.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? This was a library borrow that I am passing on simply due to the fact I won’t re-listen.

Goodreads grade: 4 stars

Would you recommend this book? Yes but I happen to be a massive fan of the whole series.