Turn Coat

Just when you think Harry Dresden has faced the biggest, baddest baddie you (or he) could imagine, here comes an even bigger baddie! This time, the supernatural shapeshifter comes after Harry in search of Harry’s White Council nemesis, Morgan, who has shown up on Harry’s doorstep, wounded and running, accused of murder. Of course Harry’s outsized sense of justice kicks in and he agrees to help his enemy, since he knows how it feels to be wrongly accused by his own kind. But, because of his commitment, he must fight—and possibly lose big, to a fearsome, virtually immortal creature. Once again, wizards and vampires engage, in a kind of uneasy alliance, as they search out the true perpetrator, and try to halt a major undermining of show more both of their societies and governing bodies. The politics and philosophies are getting increasingly complicated here, and the stakes for Harry have risen sharply, as his nearest and dearest are gravely threatened. The danger must eventually accelerate to maximum velocity, and then what? I wonder if this series will keep being engaging if/when all the politics come to a head. Or maybe they never will. I’ll just mention that in the climactic battle sequence, I was reminded of a Greek myth in which a god and a silly opponent get into a metamorphosis contest, which ends when his opponent changes into a fly, and the god swallows her. It didn’t quite end that way here, but that tale was clearly its inspiration, and the Dresden Files are getting seriously mythological. show less

Morgan, the Warden who has made Harry's life a misery, the Warden who has assumed Harry was a Warlock, persecuted him, attacked him, constantly looked for an excuse to drive Harry over the edge and give Morgan an excuse to execute him – arrives at Harry's door. He's injured, he's been framed for a crime he didn't commit and he's being chased by the other Wardens. And he wants Harry's help – to shelter him, to hide him and to help clear his name.

The Black Council is upping the ante – the White Council is buzzing with news of treachery and it's manipulations not only dragging in the White Council, but setting them up for a confrontation with the White Court as well as involving some of the greatest powers in the US. The White show more Council itself seethes with politics where truth and justice are rapidly pushed aside in the name of power, appearance and strength.

And Harry dives into all this feet first, as he ever does.


Yet again I liked this story and I have to say it was another story that brought the epic. Especially when Harry began to draw all the forces together at Demonreach. It was an epic moment and an epic battle. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jim Butcher can write some truly immense battle scenes. The description of magic, the right balance of the action without it being too wordy or convoluted – it just works. It's exciting, it draws you in and makes me love every word of it.

Similarly we have the same staples that Jim Butcher does so well – there's a mystery, it is neither ridiculously convoluted nor boringly simple. There are nuances and red herrings, there are hints and there are multiple things and factions happening at the same time. It all comes together into a well woven and complex story balancing metaplot with current plot, the mystery with character development, action and excitement with exposition and dialogue. What can I say? The man writes an incredible story.

I also loved how the Senior Council was portrayed in this book. Because we see a lot of the poor decisions they make, the Council has made the impression of being bumbling, incompetent buffoons in need of a good slap. And I'm not saying the slap isn't still warranted but the greater insight into the politics that bind the White Council have fleshed them out a lot more (the Merlin and Ancient Mai are still; not my favourite people, however). I also liked to see the power of them – yes I admit to liking my flashy shiny scenes, but seeing Listens-to-the-Wind, Ebenezer and especially the Merlin turn round and make it abundantly clear that THIS is why they're in charge – ultimately because they're brilliant, amazingly powerful wizards who can go toe-to-toe with anything else in the world was something we needed to see. And I'm glad we're not just settling for the simplistic “boss is an arsehole” trope. Yes, he's an arsehole – but he's a capable arsehole with reasons for his arseholery.

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Did I know who was the "turn coat"? Yup. As soon as they showed up.

Did it lessen my enjoyment of the book? Nope.

Butcher's series just seems to grow in leaps and bounds now. He's found his soap opera rhythm of wrapping up a plot thread from an earlier novel, providing a full storyline for the current novel, while introducing an element that will play a role in an upcoming novel. Yes, "soap opera" is a dirty term, but hey, it worked for Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum/John Byrne in the glory days of the X-Men comic series, why wouldn't it work here?

Initially, when I started this series, I took on the next book just because I'd committed to reading them. But now? Now I truly look forward to the next installment with excitement. Butcher show more keeps raising the stakes, and a storm is very obviously coming. show less

Turn Coat is the eleventh full-length installment of the Dresden Files series and like all the others, it keeps the series story arc churning along. In this book, Warden Donald Morgan, Harry’s nemesis of sorts, who’s had it in for Harry since he was caught breaking the laws of magic years ago, shows up on Harry’s doorstep, wounded and on the run from the White Council. Morgan has been charged with a murder he didn’t commit, and with few options left, he reluctantly asks for Harry’s help with clearing his name. Even though there’s no love lost between the two, Harry knows in his heart that Morgan couldn’t possibly have done such a heinous thing, so he agrees to offer his assistance as an investigator. Unfortunately the show more trail of evidence starts leading to a possible conspiracy between the White Council and the White Court vampires. Add in an evil skinwalker who just won’t quit, a mercenary wizard who knows just enough about spells to conjure up some trouble, and an abundance of friends and foes alike, and you have the makings of a rollicking story full of action, adventure, and just the right dose of magical intervention that was a pleasure to read.

Harry is definitely one of the best male characters of any series that I’ve read and he keeps me coming back for more each time I finish one of his stories. He’s a complex hero, in that he doesn’t always play by the rules, but he tries to stay on the side of good and in the White Council’s graces. When Morgan shows up at his door, he has no real reason to help the guy. After all, Morgan, the council’s executioner, has been jonesing for years to catch Harry in a mistake so that he can take him down. But Harry knows how loyal Morgan has always been to the White Council, which makes him certain that Morgan could never murder a White Council member in cold blood. He’s also a strong fighter for the underdog and when he realizes that, for political reasons, the White Council may let Morgan take the fall no matter what, it makes him want to fight that much harder to clear Morgan’s name. He just simply won’t quit even when the villain sends a powerful, nearly unbeatable skinwalker to take them all out. In fact, he’s prepared to die if necessary for the greater good, because it’s just that important to him. I love Harry for his honorable nature and his desire to help those who, for whatever reason, can’t help themselves. He inspires steadfast loyalty in his friends and a healthy dose of caution and even fear in his foes. Time and time again, he’s proven himself to be a powerful wizard, not quite White Council powerful, but he definitely has plenty of raw talent that promises to grow to the level of a council member given time. I really can’t wait to see what he might do next.

As always, there are plenty of great supporting characters to round out the cast. Morgan is a crusty old coot who’s not easy to like, because of the way he’s had it out for Harry since the beginning, and now Molly as well, believing them to be irredeemable warlocks. However, he proves to have some hidden depths and given that he spends most of the story in a very vulnerable state, I couldn’t help but muster some sympathy for him, especially when he keeps fighting despite his weakened state. I also respected his loyalty to the council and to a certain other warden. Karrin Murphy is perhaps Harry’s closest friend and the one he trusts the most, and I’m still rooting for them to hopefully get together at some point in the future. Molly keeps growing as an apprentice and learning more about her powers, which are pretty impressive in their own right. She, too, proves her loyalty by putting her life on the line for Morgan. Mouse is the smartest, bravest, and best dog a wizard could ever hope to have. Mister and Bob also put in brief appearances. A lot happens for Thomas in this installment, as he finds himself used as leverage against Harry, something that damages his psyche and possibly more. I’m hoping that these changes won’t be permanent, while still trying to be optimistic about a real future for him and Justine, who also appears in this story. Thomas’s sister, Lara, once again shows off her brilliant, but ruthless and deadly power as a frenemy, helping Harry and the council fight a common enemy. The wolf pack puts their lives on the line to lend an assist as well. Anastasia Luccio, captain of the Wardens and Harry’s latest lover, can’t help getting involved for multiple reasons, but we learn something surprising about her along the way. Brave little Toot-toot, my favorite pixie, really gets into the action in this one, showing off his fortitude against a formidable foe. All the White Council members are present, but it’s Ebenezer McCoy and Listens-to-Wind who still seem to be Harry’s most likely allies in the conflicts still to come.

As I mentioned, there’s a lot going on in Turn Coat that makes it not only a great stand-alone story but one that adds intrigue to the overall series arc. I very much enjoyed trying to guess the mystery of who the real killer was. It all suggests that there’s definitely some hinky stuff going on in high places, adding credence to Harry’s theory of a Black Council that’s operating in the shadows in opposition to the White Council. I love Harry’s commitment to figuring it all out and I also love how that even when he’s outnumbered and outgunned, so to speak, he manages to work smarter not harder. There are some humorous moments when Harry leaves home a couple of times, only to come back to a bizarre tableau involving Morgan, Molly, Luccio, and Mouse, in which Mouse appears to be the only one of the bunch with a cool head who’s using his superior doggie brain. In counterpoint, there’s also some grief as we say a sad goodbye to two long-time characters who’ve been a part of the series since the beginning. Everything taken together, Turn Coat was another excellent read in the Dresden Files series that I had a hard time putting down. I very much look forward to seeing what comes next for our intrepid wizard PI. show less

*Book source ~ Library

My Guest reviewers:
A: My 17-yr-old daughter
T: My 15-yr-old son
K: My 13-yr-old son

Serious shenanigans are afoot in Chicago and the White Council. When Harry opens his door to an injured Warden Donald Morgan he has a choice to make and quickly. Trust that Morgan didn’t commit treason by killing Senior Council Member LaFortier and help him uncover who did to clear Morgan’s name or toss him out on his ass and let him fend for himself. It’s a well-known fact Harry and Morgan don’t get along, but Harry finds it hard to believe Morgan would kill a Senior Council Member. It would be easier to just kick Morgan out and go about his business. But when has Harry ever done the easy thing?

Things really get complicated in show more this tale. Harry is set upon by a skinwalker that is really super badass. Something far stronger, faster and powerful than anything he has come up against before. We had no idea how he was going to beat the damn thing since it was nigh immortal. Harry’s solution is, as always, daring and highly entertaining. As for Morgan’s predicament, we all agreed that even though Harry can’t stand Morgan, he is an honest guy who just isn’t the type to commit treason, so we approved of him helping Morgan. Plus, Harry has this thing about doing the right thing even if it’s for someone who can be a regular asshat (my word).

The kids did not like the ending even though it was inevitable considering everything that was going on. I can’t say more without posting multiple spoilers. Yes, this one is a bit complicated, but totally worth it though I agree with the kids about the end. We had an “Oh, shit” moment when…nope, can’t say more. Let me just say that there is a lot of info, a lot of cool magic, a lot of shadow chasing, some serious ass kicking and the usual humor. It is quite the roller coaster ride!

Favorite quotes:

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

“You," Madeline said, her voice hollow and wheezing, "are like a bad case of herpes, wizard. You're inconvenient, embarassing, no real threat, and you simply will not go away.”

“This is Waldo Butters, and his geek penis is longer and harder than any of ours put together.” show less

Turn Coat is the eleventh book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. In this week's episode... Warden Morgan (yes, that Morgan, the one who has hounded Harry for years) turns up at Harry's door seeking help. Morgan's been accused of murder and needs Chicago's best private detective to help clear his name. Life is full of irony at times.

The banter in these books continues to be one of my favorite things in these books. This quote is one of my favorites:

Thomas stopped his Jag in front of the boarding house where my apartment was and said, "I'll have my cell phone on me. Try to call me before things start exploding."

"Maybe this time it'll be different. Maybe I'll work everything out through reason, diplomacy, dialogue and mutual show more cooperation."

Thomas eyed me.

I tried to look wounded. "It could happen."

Keep dreaming Harry!

That seems like these events are going to have profound implications for the future of the White Council. The series is taking a darker, more serious turn. I'm glad Butcher keeps the funny banter going to help lighten things up. I feel bad for Harry and how his life is turned more and more on its head with every book. I did enjoy seeing more of the senior wizards - they are impressive when they aren't playing politics. I have no idea if Thomas is going to recover from what happened to him. Toot Toot was pure awesome and deserves extra pizza. Mouse remains the best boy ever and steals every scene he's in. show less

Six-word review: Everything depends on whom you trust.

Extended review:

Among the Dresden Files novels I've read so far (this being the eleventh), I'd place Turn Coat toward the "best of" end of the scale.

There are interesting complexities and clashes of character, physical and political conflict, love and tenderness, compelling displays of treachery and loyalty, and a toweringly nasty adversary. There's a nice depiction of a mystical bond with place, and the development of Dresden's apprentice is turning out to be far less obnoxious than I had feared.

As usual, the pacing is good, and as usual there are the deft phrases that slip by so easily that they almost seem like throwaway lines. Here's one (page 49): "His abs look like they were show more added in with CGI." And another (page 311): "Lara and her two sisters walked toward us, and they were good at it." The description that follows is so sensual that it's bound to affect the pulse rate, as does every description of Lara and her kin--without being repetitive; and that's a feat.

Yet somehow Butcher seems to have an absolutely blind eye to repetitions of another sort. For instance, I want to tell him not to use the word "quietly" ever again. It's not just that he uses it a whopping 87 times between the covers of this book (as counted by Amazon's Search Inside feature). It appears five times on one page--368--and three times more on the next two.

And that's not the only word he gets a run on (or the only volume marred by this overuse). People's eyes blink and eyebrows arch, and they chew lips, and they growl and snarl and howl things, as uninhibitedly as if they were auditioning for an operatic version of Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.

I don't like it when people purr things all the time, either. It happens only nine times in this book; it just seems like more.

I do like the sly little allusions he slides in. For instance, he acknowledges just in passing--in a way that no one would notice who hadn't caught the error in the first place--the messed up quasi-German title of a book that appears in Dead Beat, title 7 of the series (so now we know that he does notice some feedback). He tosses in a plug for the authentic, non-Disneyfied versions of folktales. He spares a scornful sidelong glance at the well-known principle voiced by Arthur C. Clarke: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

He also knows how to use "O" as opposed to "oh," says "lent" instead of "loaned," and respects a number of other subtleties of grammar and usage, even if his editor lets a lot of lapses with the subjunctive ("as if he was") pass without remediation.

Another nice aspect is the fact that Harry has helpers, people (and other entities) whom he can trust and who do have his back, people who actually save his life, just as he would do and has done for them. He's not a solo act. The fact that he allows himself to rely on others is not a weakness; it's part of his strength. He tells his apprentice, Molly:

Hell's bells, kid. I choose to trust [her] because that's what people do. You don't ever get to know for sure what someone thinks of you. What they really feel inside.... Even psychomancy doesn't give you everything. We aren't meant to know what's going on in there. That's what talking is for. That's what trust is for. (page 256)

Harry's down-to-earth manner is part of what keeps him from being a Super-duperman that we just can't identify with.

There's also the fact that he habitually tackles things that are a little too big for him, whether they be assignments or foes or forces he taps to fuel his magic. The only assurance we have of a favorable outcome (since we can't even really trust first-person narratives) is that there's still another volume in the series.

So keep them coming, please, Jim Butcher. And don't do it quietly. show less