This was the first truly good Dresden novel so far, though it is still hampered with some issues that have been normalized throughout, so I wonder what someone would think if this were their first novel at all. Murphy isn’t present but, of course, our chauvinist needs an impetus, and blackmail involving her after tensions are introduced between the two is a pretty standard jump for this series. It also starts out pretty slow and snowballs, which I imagine is why it’s the longest book so far.

However, the character work finally comes into focus throughout, there’s an actual character arc for a side character, who displays agency—which is a milestone, let me tell you (sad, but true). The plot builds nicely, the conflicts are well-paced. Mouse The Dog and Butters (sp? Hard to see how they’re spelled in an audiobook) are excellent sidekicks. And Dresden, self identified as an archaic personality, especially regarding women, feels more toned down on that front. This gets put more under a lens and a long standing plot development comes to fruition nicely.

Honestly, quite solid. 3.5 rounded up because I’m positive on it. Had it not been a very slow burn at the start and the Murphy eye roll, it might have been higher.