Audiobook Review: Cold Days (The Dresden Files #14) by Jim Butcher (Narrator: James Marsters)

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Cold Days Book Cover Cold Days
The Dresden Files #14
Jim Butcher (Narrator: James Marsters)
Urban Fantasy
Penguin Audio
November 27, 2012
Audiobook
18 hours and 47 minutes
Library

 

Harry Dresden lives!

After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad - because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness.

After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill. Guess which one Mab wants first?

Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own… his soul.

 

Cold Days is book fourteen in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and narrated by James Masters.

When we start Harry is alive, yet still recovering, and under the care of Mab who is determined to shape him into her Winter Knight. 

I like this series, but this one is my least favorite of the bunch. I had such a hard time getting through it. It was oh so slow too start and just dragged for me. I really don’t like the Fae in this series nor do I care for Mab. Having Harry spend all that time at the start in Mab’s care just irritated me, but finally he makes his way back to Chicago and reunites with his friends and brother. 

Cold Days tackles a lot. We get a lot of surprise. Butcher always surprises his readers in each installment. He also gives us humor and wit. This one was no exception. 

Good god, Harry has a lot on his plate. He’s back from the dead, has the mantle of the Winner Knight, has to figure out how to fulfill Mab’s first task, save Chicago by making sure Deamonreach doesn’t implode, and much much more. Whew! That’s a lot on one wizards plate, yet alone for the reader. It was a lot for me to handle. Their where so many close calls, but this time it was a bit much and added to the drag I was feeling in the story. 

The best scene and the ones I liked the most where the ones in which Harry reconnects with his brother and friends. I cried a few times. And, Karen… man she changed after Harry’s death. 

Audio: The narration was brilliant! I felt that the audio helped move things along even if the story did drag a bit, it still moved. Masters is a marvelous narrator. He brings out the scenes and the voices. The vast array of voices he does are unique, distinct and well done. I enjoyed his portrayal/dialogue of the inner battles of Harry the Wizard vs Harry the Winter Knight 

All and all Cold Days was ok. I like exploring this series; wither I’m reading or listen. Thou I will say that I prefer the audio; because Masters is exceptional in his portrayal of The Dresden Files series.

Rated: 3 Stars
Narration: 4 Stars

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I'm an outdoor sun loving reader living near San Fransisco. I’m a mother, wife, animal & book lover. I'm the owner, reviewer & mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. My favorite animals are horses & dogs. As for reading I love all things paranormal & urban fantasy & my favorite shifters are dragons.

5 comments on “Audiobook Review: Cold Days (The Dresden Files #14) by Jim Butcher (Narrator: James Marsters)

  1. I do recall this one was a bit tough; to see what happened to Harry’s friends… I do know that I loved the next one, so that brightens my recollection a bit. lol
    Jen recently posted…Listen Up! #Audiobook Review: Loyalty in Death by J.D. RobbMy Profile

  2. Ah Mab..the b@tch. LOL
    Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer recently posted…The Bright Lands by John FramMy Profile

    • Ya!

  3. This is definitely a tough time for Harry and hard for us to see. I can’t say I’m a big fan of Mab either.
    Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…Thrifty Thursday – No Simple Death by Valerie KeoghMy Profile

    • I haven’t been able to read/listen on in the series since this one. It was a hard listen and Mab is just awful.