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

Thank God I thought the series had ended

Would you listen to Cold Days again? Why?

I have listened to it twice already, it is a good read and very entertaining. never a dull moment.

What about James Marsters’s performance did you like?

So glad James Marsters is doing the reading he is just great. He is very good with the characters change. He is one of my favorites.

I love the Harry Dresden series.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if they like science fiction/fantasy. Even if they don't, the story is compelling.

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

The confrontation on the island between Butcher and friends and the Winter Court.
I don't want to give it away by saying more.

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

Harry Dresden

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

Yes, but it was great having it to return to when I could.

Any additional comments?

James Marsters is one of the best narrators out there. I am looking for books he narrates no matter who wrote them.

Didn't see that coming!

As always, I was wonderfully entertained and absolutely loved the installment. Hate to listen to the next one because it will be the last! :-(

Harry finds new things to blow up

Harry Dresden, who is fond of blowing up buildings and finding new and inventive ways of getting injured, does not spend much time in this book commiserating his appointment as Winter Knight even though he basically attempted suicide to avoid the job (Ghost Story). Instead he works out his issues in his usual way -- blowing things up, rushing around looking for clues and did I mention blowing things up?

Most of Harry's still-living compatriots make some sort of showing in Cold Days, except Marcone. I don't think he shows up and he is one of my favorites. The book contains many dramatic developments that will keep me waiting eagerly for book number 15.

As I mentioned in another book review, I have read in print all the previous Dresden books and Marsters' voice isn't as deep as the one my imagination gave Harry. Also, his squeaky renditions of Toot-toot and other tiny fairies were hard for me to understand. Cute, but hard to understand. On the other hand, Marsters' has a wonderful professional actor's command of narration, using a full range of pitch, pacing, and tone to evoke the content of dialog and Harry's first person comments. I believe that first person stories like Cold Days are basically a long, one-sided conversation between the narrator and the listener. And a really good narrator like Marsters remembers that.

Always 5 stars for Harry

Harry wakes up from death and now it's time to be the Winter Knight. Maab prepares him as only Maab would do, 72 days of fighting for his life. This does get him ready for his real quest where he is enlightened by the Summer Mother, of the real fight humanity faces daily. Harry and company are together again, in their battle against evil as only the combination of Jim Butcher's imagination and James Marster's magic delivery can do it.

excellent as always

it has been several years since I last read ghost story, so decided to use audible and a road trip to start catching up. excellent story and excellent experience.

Do Not miss this book!

What did you love best about Cold Days?

The way Harry's mouth continues to get him in trouble. Also James Marsters does a magnificent job in reading these books for audio.

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

Harry meets Santa.

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

Bob the Skull

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Winter Knight is coming.

Another good one

Epic story, I wasn't bored for a minute. I love the new turn at the end. Awesome. Keep em comin'.

Cannot get enough!!

In line with the rest of his novels and delivers a hero that wins and struggles but constantly pays a higher toll...

Dresden Files Series excellent series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an excellent series to read in order but one of the nice things about Jim Butcher is the fact that he writes the books in such way that they compound on previous story but also he give little synopsis of previous tales so the reader is not left in the dark; also this great so you don't have to go back and read all the book all over again.