Review - Changes (The Dresden Files, Book 12) by Jim Butcher (5/5 stars)

This is the twelfth book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butchers.  I seriously think this was the best book in this series so far, and that is saying something given how much I love this series.

Harry gets a call from his old flame Susan, she has a surprise for Harry.  Harry has a child and his daughter has been stolen by the Red Court.  Harry will stop at nothing to save his child from the Red Court.  He will petition all his allies for whatever help he can get. With the Red Court and the White Council at an uneasy truce; Harry won't be able to depend on the other wizards for help.  Harry make have to make some deals to increase his power and call on help from unlikely sources.

I am afraid all I can do is gush about this book, it was amazing!  Harry increases in power and gets pulled through a non-stop course of events that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time.  There is a reason this book is called "Changes".  Harry goes through a number of huge changes in becoming a father and in having to make some tough decisions about how he will bend his morals to get the power he needs to save his daughter.  Murphy goes through changes when she take up one of the Three Swords.  Heck even Mouse, the dog, goes through Changes. 

The pace of this book was phenomenal.  Harry is catapulted from one interesting and creative situation to another; all of them life-threatening.  Things happen to Harry in this book that make you want to cry, yet Butcher does an excellent job at not letting things get too heavy by throwing in some of the gallows humor he excels at.  The action scenes were exquisite, the character development perfect (even for side characters).  I feel like no side characters were forgotten, yet the book never seemed cluttered.  There is a lot going on in this book.  You have the White, Grey, and Black councils involved, the vampire courts involved, fairy involved, and the Three Holy Swords thrown in there.  Molly has become a steadfast character as Harry's apprentice.

Harry is beginning to really become a force to be reckoned with.  He is using his power in more intelligent ways and making better decisions; the way he resolves impossible situations is interesting and engaging. Butcher's writing is very readable and engaging and in general is just a joy to read.  I forget how top-notch Butcher's writing style is and then I read one of his books and am reminded again and again.

If there is one thing to complain about in this book it is the ending.  The book literally ends in the middle of a very important scene for Harry and I couldn't believe it.  I was looking for more story and was sad that the book was over.  Now, my next question is when is the next book coming out!!??

If you have been reading this series, get this book and read it.  If you haven't started this series, get the previous eleven books and then read this one.  Or read a summary of the plot online and then get this book and read it.  Just make sure you read this book!!

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge
- Thiller and Suspense Challenge