Cold Days

The Dresden Files, Book 14

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 18 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2012 Jim Butcher (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Dream team

"Okay, come on," I said. "You're going to buy me a lawsuit, Bob."
"Hush, Harry. Or you'll go to the special hell."
I blinked at that, confused. I'm not supposed to be the guy who doesn't get the reference joke, dammit.

I find it … yes, inconceivable that Harry Dresden has not seen Firefly. That's terrible. Someone get him a shielded DVD player, stat.

Somehow I seem to read the Dresden Files at just the times when they'll hit me hardest.

...I could almost pretend I was there again. That I was home.
But they'd burned down my home. I had repaid them for it, with interest, but I still felt oddly hollow in my guts when I thought about how I would never see it again. I missed Mister, my cat. I missed my dog. I missed the familiarity of having a place that I knew, that was a shelter. I missed my life. I'd been away from home for what felt like a very long time.

I didn't get to repay anyone for losing my home and my dog. It just happened. This was not the first time I had to put aside a Harry Dresden novel and … well, anyway. (Changing the subject rapidly) Gosh, I think there were more f–bombs dropped in this one; I haven't done a count or anything, but they seemed more frequent. Of course, Harry more than had reason.

I went into this one with a little reluctance. I didn't want to hear about Harry Dresden, Winter Knight. I wanted his old life back almost as much as he did. I wanted the Scooby Gang. But the reunions made it all worthwhile. My note at 20%: "That is, and probably always will be, the only time a heartfelt "Asshole" has made me curl up and cry like a little girl."

Warning: embarrassing levels of FanGirl ahead

I always loved these books, always. But I may never read one again – not when I can have James Marsters read them to me. Are they perfect narrations? Not one hundred percent, really; there's an occasional missed accentuation that tweaks the meaning of a sentence – but a lot of narrators do that. And what he lacks in the occasional mundane accent, he more than makes up in dialogue, both standard and Harry's internal dialogue. Why would I go back to reading these books off paper or pixel when the "Oh" in my head wouldn't carry half the meaning that the single syllable can bring off when voiced by James Marsters? That man, my God... I want to lock him in a room and make him read me all my favorite books. (Hush about any other things that might come to mind, this is a family show.)

I don't like using cliches; "Dream Team" is a cliche. But nothing else comes to mind that so perfectly describes these books: Jim Butcher providing the universe, Harry Dresden living in it, and ... just reading the books is like the first scenes of The Wizard of Oz. There's nothing wrong with that – black and white can be lovely and perfectly sufficient, and after all "Over the Rainbow" comes during that part – but for some things you just can't beat fully saturated technicolor. James Marsters's narration is wide–screen, HD technicolor. Practically 3–D.

I always did crush a bit on Spike. It's nice to still be in love with James Marsters. It's a perfect marriage, this; Butcher's geekiness makes mine look like I'm not trying, and the wisecrackery with which he imbues Harry Dresden is PHD level. JM's Spike was part of one of the geekiest of geeky shows, and the wise Spike cracked was always among the sharpest and most fun (and quotable). Long may it wave.

As always, a wonderful story and top notch narrati

Loved the story. James Marsters is the perfect narrator. Getting ready to start the next one.

Lacuna killed me.

I love James Marsters. Please pick a new voice for Lacuna. That voice was hard to understand and hurt my ears.

Jim + James = GREAT!

Great pick up of where Jim left off. Greatly read by James. Dresden is genius a great read or Listen.

Dresden leave you satiated

But action is never ending in Jim butchers masterpieces in the Dresden files. James Marsters reading is impeccable and adds so much to the series. Yet again another fine experience listening to this book.

Great

loved it, so much going on! Can't believe the ending! Can't wait to listen to the next one.

Another excellent installment! Jaw dropping twist!

If you could sum up Cold Days in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, fast paced and timely all describe the latest installment of The Dresden Files. True to form, Jim Butcher delivers on the (mis)adventures of Wizard, Harry Dresden

What did you like best about this story?

The twist at the end leaves you wanting more!

Have you listened to any of James Marsters’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

James Marsters's performance is masterful as he effortlessly switches between characterizations. His performance completely brings you into the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was left stunned with the twist at the end!

Another solid Dresden novel.

Enjoy a wild ride with Harry and friends including Santa Clause​. You like Harry Dresden, read this book.

Epic

Where does Cold Days rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

5 stars along with the rest of the Dresden Files! Glad to have James Marsters reading again. It just wasn't the same without him.

What did you like best about this story?

In the last few books we have seen Harry lose absolutely everything. In this book he gets a little of it back.

Which character – as performed by James Marsters – was your favorite?

Um.. Harry! (All of them!) Marsters is fantastic!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Of course. Did I mention its epicness? You will be absolutely shocked, I promise.

Any additional comments?

Mouse is back! I love that dog.

Dresden's #14 Doesn't Disappoint

My favorite wizard is back in the flesh with the regular cast of friends, enemies, and frenemies to help and harm him. Jim Butcher gives Harry his usual sarcasm and ready wit as well as a dire situation for the universe that only Harry and his unique positions as the Winter Night and a private eye can save.
There's a great twist at the end that I'm still trying to decide if I like or not, but it sure sets the stage for more stories set in in Harry's crazy world of modern day Chicago and the fairy realms. I would have given the story five stars, but sometimes Butcher gets carried away on the descriptiions and detail of everything--and I don't just mean the violence and blood. I think, as Butcher's fame grows, his editors get more timid about cutting down his verbage.
James Marsters is back as the narrator. Though John Glover's performance of "Ghost Story" was excellent, Marsters has grown as much as a narrator of Harry as Harry has grown as a character.
Well worth the credit!