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

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!

beginning of the new era

a great butcher story that begins the new growth of Dresden. who started as just a Chicago gumshoe, to a wizard dealing with world affairs, to now a power in the supernatural realms.

Great grad and great surprises

I love the the series. The multiple factions and the characters and their flaws. I like that todays allies could be tomorrows enemies.

Great Story, OK Performance

I have read all the Dresden book until this one, so I figured I would buy the audio version to listen while driving for work.

I have to say that the book is on par with others in the series and I enjoyed it. The performance was ok, but hearing how Marsters voiced Dresden I was a little let down.

I have always read Harry with more fire and less monotone. Points in the book where I feel Harry would have had more emotion or wry humor felt a little dulled down by the voice acting. I found myself changing the character voices in my head to reflect how I thought the emotions/situations should have been presented.

Overall, this is a good book in what is probably my favorite ongoing series.

Best in the series

Its apparent Jim butcher got a solid ghost writer to make the dialogues better. Love it.

A Must Read

So good, yet so painful. Can't... Stop... Listening!!!
Best Dresden book yet. When will one of these books end well for the rage tag team of Dresden.

Awesome

Would you listen to Cold Days again? Why?

It is definitely on my re-listen list. I love listening to James Marsters. He is one of my favourite narrators.
After Ghoststory, I wasn't sure where the story could go, but this book takes a leap forward in keeping the series alive and exciting. Once again, can't wait for the next book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cold Days?

Without giving anything away, the choices made on the island.

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

I like James interpretation of Harry the best. But all of them are great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had the time, I would have listened all at once.

Any additional comments?

Jim Butcher's books just keep getting better.
Jim and James make a perfect pair.

great story

cannot wait for the next book in the series. I absolutely love the series and the way the characters continue to develop.

Good story, good narrator.

Would you listen to Cold Days again? Why?

I would listen to it again if I started the series from scratch. And I will, someday. But I will wait for the entire arc to finish before I do. Years down the road??? I hope not.

What did you like best about this story?

It is *almost* a reboot of the series. As has been seen in the earlier books, the changes here will carry on to future books. The tone is more gray and thus it has you thinking through motives, how YOU would have solved things, and in general, it involves your cerebellum and engrosses you in the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I woulda if I coulda.

Any additional comments?

It is a good story and the narration gives the characters better personality than if I had sounded their voices out in my head. That is why I like Audible and good voice actors.

Fantastic Narrator!

I like the Dresden series. Cold Days is one of the best stories so far. James Marsters is the perfect narrator for the character and the series.