I just finished reading it as well. Had to re-read the first four novels in Game of Thrones in order to remember everything so I could read the new 5th novel, otherwise I would have read Skin Game a month ago when it came out.
Damn good book. The usual antagonism with Mab, some interesting bad guys to fight with (octokongs, anyone?), and a helluva good twist at the end.
Write faster, Butcher. I’m ready for the next one!
“Octokong” is good, but the best Harryism was the “chlorofiend”.
I’m tempted to punch Butcher in the nose because
after several books’ worth of build-up, Harry and Karrin finally get together, and it was all a dream! Curses!But that train seems to be still rolling in the right direction, so I won’t. For now. 
Tastes (readers) vary and people (readers and writers) change over time, but the latest book in Butcher’s Dresden Files series is one of the very few books I’ll buy pretty much as soon as I can, without any quibbling or dithering. I just likes 'em!
That was my least favorite part of the book. Partly because of the “it was only a dream aspect”(more cheating on the part of Butcher), and partly because when it happens, if it happens, I don’t want any details. Pick up at the point where people are coming out of the bedroom with grins on their faces and I’ll be happy.
I liked it. It was a fun read. I like his books, Changes is probably the only one I could remotely say I didn’t like.
I like the fact that he doesn’t belabor recaps and just expects you to keep up, but I don’t like that he’s including short stories only released in anthologies in canon.
Also, I’m a little confused at the turns the books are taking. What happened to the previous storylines? The Black Council?
And I’m still waiting for ‘Hawaii’.
When did it come out? I preordered it a while ago and only got it last week. I thought it was released end of May?
Can’t say I really minded it, but I did register it as the hottest - well, most explicit - sex scene in any of the books. Sounded like Jim’s been reading a few romance novels.
Like I tell people about my favorite cheap Chinese lunch place: “I can’t recommend it, but I go there all the time.” These books are not what I’d call good, but they are entertaining.
I’m mostly blind, so I don’t read them in print (or ebook), but get the Audible versions, which are read by James Marsters (with the exception of Ghost Story, which was read by John Glover). Marsters is really good as Harry’s voice, and alters his voice for the other characters just enough to make them interesting without sounding silly. Since I can do other things while reading an audiobook, I’ve been able to go through most of them at least twice. That has helped quite a bit with retention of backstory. I can’t imagine reading this one at all without reading or re-reading Cold Days shortly before. Too damn much happens in that one that is essential for understanding this one. I also re-read Small Favor before Skin Game came out, as that has the last encounter with the Denarians, where Michael is hurt and Harry almost kills Nicodemus.
I liked this one pretty well, although I have the same objection to Butters’ new role as he does. Being a Red Sea Pedestrian myself, I can’t quite get my head around how anyone could be a non-Christian Knight of the Cross. Even Sanya’s agnosticism seems inexplicable, given what he knows.
Also, Alfred Demonreach? Heh.
Put me down as one who quite enjoyed the book. I liked the early “detective” novels, but I think I prefer the movement from “monster of the week” (or book in this case) to the exploration of a larger series arc. And I do believe it is an arc and not just meandering as some have said. Butcher has stated that he plans to end the series at about twenty books with an “apocalyptic trilogy”, so he definitely has an end game in mind.
I do agree that characters and situations being referred to or actually popping up from the early books can sometimes be hard to follow, but having him explain every situation with some sort of flashback or exposition would seriously bog down the narrative flow. The simple solution is a site like this. If some people prefer not to do research with their leisure reading, that’s perfectly understandable. I find Butcher’s work to be worth the effort.
That I can agree with. I’d rather a new reader have to go back to the beginning of a series than drag everyone through an entire chapter of recaps. This was my one mild gripe about the Twenty Palaces series (which I’m still kinda pissed at the world for not reading/buying).
I used to read a lot but have really fallen by the wayside.
Except for Butcher.
Love his Dresden Files and I was done too quickly on this one. Well, all of them. I did reread Cold Days a few months ago and he is one of the few people I can read again, from the beginning, and devour them as fast as I can.
I have also enjoyed the switch to the bigger arc. It works well for me.
I guess I’m not understanding about the short story gripe people have? The fact that it’s in universe? Or that it expands on things that are hinted at in the books? I like that some of the things from the books get explained in some fashion! I want him to do more of those!
With the whole River People thing in this book, it took a little bit for me to figure out that these are the basis for Bigfoots (Bigfeet? What the hell is the plural for that noun anyway?). Things happen fast in the Dresden books, and I spent far too much time trying to figure out just what that hulking monster could be. Also, since Harry referred to actually dealing with that race before, I was racking my brain trying to remember in which book he did that. I was a distraction that wasn’t really necessary.
I have read a lot of the short stories from this series that show up in other books, I just missed these ones.
Also, Butters has a lightsaber!!!
I like the series, and am in it for the long haul. (This one was a bit of a haul, however.) Harry does seem to be amassing more and more power, presumably to equip him for the apocalyptic series-ending trilogy.
My favorite part?
Hades introducing Harry to his dog, Spot.Yes, Spot. Cerberus means “spotted”. Cool.As to Butters’ new role:
Butters isn’t a Jewish Knight of the Cross, he’s a Jewish *Jedi *Knight of the Cross!
I, too, really enjoyed it. I liked Butcher’s take on the Underworld.
Also–
Something tells me that the new-born spirit of intellect may play an important role later on.
Gee, ya THINK?
I’m just now reading, and about halfway through it. I gotta say, I find it annoying that almost every chapter has something appear from one of the past books, with little to no description, we just have to remember. It’s damn annoying.
I’m torn on this sentiment. I certainly understand it with some books. I have several series that I find that annoying as well.
With Butcher, though, I love his writing and Dresden books and have read, re-read and talked about them enough with friends who are also fans to keep the book in my mind. But I get that not everyone does that!
I feel like, in this day and age, there are solutions to this problem that didn’t exist before. How about a preface that says “here’s a web page with a reminder/summary of some past events in the series that will be relevant, read it if you like, but be aware that that might slightly ruin some surprises” or something like that.
It would be nice if they’d let you click on certain items in the e-book, and a paragraph or 3 would pop up reminding the reader about the subject. Like, when Harry exclaims, “You’re a freakin’ Naagloshii!?”, you could click and be told a brief definition of the word, and a brief summary of where Harry saw one.
Something like that, only better. That way, those readers who need the reminder have it, and those that have read all the books several times won’t need to read through yet ANOTHER tiresome recap.
Since I have an actual hardcover (autographed) copy rather than an e-book, that wouldn’t help. How about an Appendix with such information? Or a footnote on the page?
Once the story got rolling, I enjoyed it, but until we got there, I kept feeling confused about who these people/things were. If there were one or two, or even three or four, without explanation, OK. I’d deal. But there’s dozens! Hundreds, even.
Well HELLO Mr Fancy Pants! 
Yeah, something like you said would be nice for the hardcover/paperback. It seems to me like they could better utilize e-books as well. I don’t think they care enough to try.