Small Favor

The Dresden Files, Book 10

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The new novel in the New York Times best-selling Dresden Files series.

No one's tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.

An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness - and she's calling in her marker. It's a small favor he can't refuse, one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skills-and loyalties-to their very limits.

It figures. Everything was going too well to last....

Please note: A few lines of text from one section of the original book are missing from this 2008 recording. This is the best available source audio from the publisher.

©2008 Jim Butcher (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Superlative.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Butcher...spins an excellent noirish detective yarn in a well-crafted, supernaturally-charged setting. The supporting cast is again fantastic, and Harry’s wit continues to fly in the face of a peril-fraught plot.” (Booklist, starred review)

“A tricky plot complete with against-the-clock pacing, firefights, explosions, and plenty of magic. Longtime series fans as well as newcomers drawn by the SciFi Channel’s TV series based on the novels should find this supernatural mystery a real winner.” (Library Journal)

very good listen

the book was everything I was looking for, though there was a strange moment where there were several minutes that seemed missing from the file, where a large portion of a conversation was missed. that happened at about 9:42 in chapter 18 I believe.

Love how the characters evolve

This has become a favorite series of mine and I am not sure how it happened. I generally don't go in for this particular genre, but I am hooked! Love the colorful characters and most of all I love that you could really just about jump in on any given book in the series and still be able to track and appreciate the story as a stand-alone. The narration is spot on. Love this series and can't wait to get started on the next one.

Great Book. Damaged Audio

I won't rate the book or performance down due to the condition of the files. it's another great book in the series. There are however 3 places in the files where the audio jumps. 2 spots where entire conversations are skipped and 1 spot where a conversation is repeated. I downloaded the book on 3 different devices just to be sure, and they all contained the flaws.

A roller coaster of emotions.

There's nothing to say but that this book was incredible. though there was missing something in xhaper 13 nothing effected the performance as a whole.

good. gripping story

still a good part of Dresden frolic. the downside is it's a bit overbearing with the tone in places.

Harry kicks it up a notch...

What made the experience of listening to Small Favor the most enjoyable?

James Marsters captures the essence of Harry Dresden. The story line keeps unfolding while some issues from the past get resolved.

What other book might you compare Small Favor to and why?

This is the 10th book in the Dresden series, and for me, they just keep getting better

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

Equally great

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

Wanted to, but who has 13-14 hours to sit at one time?

Any additional comments?

Jim Butcher's writing keeps pushing the limits- surprises laced with plausibility...well perhaps re-animating a T-rex is a bit of a stretch, but I simply loved it anyway!

Marsters nails it.

Probably my favorite reader, James Marsters delivers an excellent performance as usual. He has a good grasp on how Harry thinks, acts, and he has a great arsenal of voices for the other dozen characters that Butcher writes.
The story is great, and I won't spoil it by saying anything, but if you like Dresden you're going to enjoy this book just as much.

Love all of these books.

As usual the Dresden books are all wonderful, and James Marsters was amazing. My only complaint is that I despise when character's voices get changed. Kincaid and Marcone both had severely noticeable accent changes in this one, I found it to be quite distracting. After so many books you get used to (and come to expect) the characters sounding a certain way.

Other that that, another solid book and a great listen!

Love The Dresden Files

Every new book is full of adventure, magic, and the best snark. I wish the tv show was still on.

Excellent

Would you consider the audio edition of Small Favor to be better than the print version?

It is at least equal. I don't know that I can say that it's better since it's the same book and disobeying anything in print is always an adventure in imagination.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The denarians wow me every time.

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

I have several other dresden files.

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

Yes. I laughed many many times.