Red-Haired Ash Reads

After dying and spending some time as a ghost, Harry expected to pass on. Instead he wakes up in his body that has been repaired with the help of Queen Mab and Deamonreach. Now he has to face the fact that he is the Winter Knight and has been given his first task by Mab, kill her daughter Mave. 

After the previous book, I was very curious to see how Harry dealt with coming back to life and being the Winter Knight. While I enjoyed this adventure, I was a bit disappointed by some of Harry’s actions when it comes to talking to his family, mainly his daughter. In the previous book we see him reevaluate his life and actions and admit that he needed to be better when it came to his friends and family. Unfortunately we don’t really see him put that into practice in this. He puts off seeing his daughter and only talks to his friends when they force him to do it. I just was expecting a bit more, but we do see him struggling with the mantle of the Winter Knight throughout this and I can see how that would make him hesitant to reembrace his family. I just thought it would play out a little differently in this aspect. 

Like the previous books though, this one was nonstop action as Harry is dealing with trying to kill an immortal and handling the island Deamonreach, which dangerous things are happening with again. I really enjoyed the fast pace nature of this case and how it ended up with Harry’s friends helping him again. We see a lot of change in his friends in this because they have had a very hard year since his death, but it was still great to see the gang back together. I especially loved Murphy, even if I am sad about the harshness she has now and that she lost her dream career. 

The ending of this was nonstop revelations and danger. I couldn’t stop listening and was hooked to what was happening. The world of fae is changed forever in this one because we have unexpected deaths and power shifts. We also see Harry finally embracing his Winter Knight mantle and using it to help, not hurt like the previous Knight did. I will be very interested in seeing what will happen next after everything that happened in this. 

Overall, this was another action packed adventure for Dresden and it was again filled with a lot of changes. I will be curious to see how this battle ripples out into the world and how Harry handles it. I am also really curious to see how Deamonreach plays into the future. But also Harry, please start talking to your family and friends and don’t shut them out. 

TW: attempted murder; violence and graphic death; violence; bombing; gun violence; blood/gore;

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Previous books and reviews for the series:

#1. Storm Front
#2. Fool Moon
#3. Grave Peril
#4. Summer Knight
#5. Death Masks
#6. Blood Rites
#7. Dead Beat
#8. Proven Guilty
#9. White Night
#10. Small Favor
#11. Turn Coat
#12. Changes
#12.5 Side Jobs
#13. Ghost Story