Side Note: In this sense, the books are a little formulaic, but that’s what makes them so ‘comfortable’ to me– Someone comes to Harry for help. Big baddies come after Harry while he investigates. Help is going to take a lot more than Harry anticipated. Harry outsmarts/outlucks/outmaneuvers baddies. Harry saves the day.

Oh boy. I couldn’t have been more wrong *looks contrite*. Changes begins in the usual Dresden manner–fast, gritty, and in your face. You are left sputtering “Harry has a daughter????? With Susan???” (not a spoiler, it’s on the back cover!) and the book just keeps getting better from there.

The beginning of the aforementioned formula begins to weave itself together, and I can almost see Jim’s face while he says “Ha! Take that!!” while pulling out the rug from under the reader’s feet. Just when you begin to fall under plot’s hypnotic spell, everything Changes. The book title is significant in that Harry’s relationships with many supporting characters also undergo some form of Change. He learns that Mouse, while often a great help in a tight spot, has even more to offer. He finds out about his mother’s relationships and how they affect him and those in his care. He discovers Susan’s reasons for keeping such a life altering secret, and the list goes on.

Finally, there is a HELL of a cliffhanger ending that kept me reading right into the author’s note. I realized that Jim’s living arrangements and vicious guard dog have nothing to do with Harry’s story, and had to go back a few pages and reread. I simply kept on reading because I assumed there would be more!

I’ll end with that, as MORE is what I am left wanting. Maybe that will be the next title (Eh? Think about it, Jim!).

The first four chapters can be found on Jim Butcher’s site.

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.

You can check out the first few chapters on Jim Butcher’s site here!

I love being a wizard. Every day is like Disneyland.

So says Harry Dresden, caught in the midst of a White Council meeting gone bad. The search for a turn coat in the White Council is Harry’s current predicament. It all started when Harry, (now a warden of the White Council) finds a badly injured Morgan on his doorstep, begging for help (uh, you may recall Morgan as Harry’s Number One Antagonist and Constant Evil Shadow). A White Council member, LaFortier has been murdered, and Morgan was found at the scene of the crime holding the murder weapon. Now, we all know that Harry has gotten by partly on luck and his extreme paranoia. Is Morgan for real? Does this mean Harry’s suspicions about a supposed “Black Council” is true? (After all, we know that “someone” has been causing trouble–giving wolf belts to FBI Agents, riling up Red Court Vamps, and making Faerie Queens idealistic and overthrowing Faerie’s status quo, the list goes on. Basically everything that has happened since book one!)

But first Harry must deal with a powerful a Skinwalker, a Native American nightmare, drawn by Morgan’s weakened state.

Side Note: In this sense, the books are a little formulaic, but that’s what makes them so ‘comfortable’ to me– Someone comes to Harry for help. Big baddies come after Harry while he investigates. Help is going to take a lot more than Harry anticipated. Harry outsmarts/outlucks/outmaneuvers baddies. Harry saves the day.

So, Harry finds a Skinwalker (promptly dubbed Shagnasty, Dresden-style) after him while he tries to follow the clues in LaFortier’s death, leading him to ally with his old werewolf friends Billy and Georgia, as well as Lara Raith, head of the White Court vamps. On the home front, Harry has to deal with his apprentice Molly (who has grown up fast!) and her interest in dark magic. Also, it’s worth noting that Harry has gotten used to relying on Thomas for backup. In Turn Coat, Thomas suddenly goes missing and Harry has to deal on his own. We also find out that Mouse, Harry’s Foo dog, has quite a few abilities, including acting.

Turn Coat involves a myriad of characters, leading to a sprawling plot line. However, it ensures that the action never quits and that we learn much more about characters who were previously sidelined, including leaders of the White Council, Captain Luccio and more. As usual, Harry’s sardonic sense of humor will make you laugh out loud. Overall a fun, excellent read—just what the wizard ordered.

My only regret is that Bob the skull only made one appearance, and a late one at that—you won’t see him until Chapter 29!

Preview the first five chapters, posted on Jim Butcher’s website, and make sure to enter my giveaway!