Peace Talks

The Dresden Files, Book 16

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) wizard PI. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. 

But he's forgotten his own golden rule: magic - it can get a guy killed.

©2020 Jim Butcher (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK

Half a book

It's the first half of a book. It introduces the dilemma, then abruptly stops. Great narration from Marsters, but this feels like a cash grab from the publisher. Wait for the complete book.

Awesome! Can't wait for the next one.

Surprised to read some reviews saying it's not a full book. It absolutely had a storyline that concluded and had a climactic scene. And it sets it up perfectly for Battleground, which will no doubt be epic! Amazing job from Jim and James - what a duo!

Dresden is back! Hooray!

I love this series. I only have one thing to say about this book - it is too short! I won’t give away any of the plot, but Harry is up to his neck in trouble - again. Or still. Whatever. James Marsters is brilliant as usual, bringing each character to life, instilling such emotion at times it could make you weep.
Please, Jim Butcher, don’t make us wait too long for the next book!

Titanic Throwdown Threatening

I enjoyed the latest Dresden Files so much I couldn't even be angry about the cliffhanger ending - though I'd probably feel different if the next entry was more than a few months away.

An attempt to forge peace between the ascendant Fomor and other signatories of the Unseelie Accords was never going to be a simple thing, but thanks to blackmail, dirty dealing and the ceaseless idiocy of the White Council, even Harry soon finds himself surprised by how dire the situation becomes. Add to that the return of a power-hungry, bloodthirsty major player that nobody was expecting, and the board is being set for not only a battle, but a war like the supernatural world has never seen, against more than one foe they never thought to face.

A lot of questions are asked and left unanswered for the time being, but the arrival of the latest Big Bad hints at answers to questions readers have been asking for some time. Are we finally starting to see the power behind the Black Council? What exactly does being "starborn" mean for Harry in the coming conflict? Is Karrin Murphy finally starting to grow on me?

The Dresden Files has been my favourite series for a long time, and James Marsters' reading is among my favourites, right up there with Stephen Fry. I can't wait so see what happens next. Thankfully I won't have to wait too long.

Great but not nearly enough!

Loved it but felt a little cheated as the story remains in a standstill. It is not unlike Butcher to leave it to a cliffhanger. However, peace talks feels like a preparatory story to the main thing, which hopefully comes in the next book.
All in all, always great performance with a couple of minor hiccups as if they rerecorded half a sentence with the narrator having a cold.
Looking forward to the next book that is now setup to be a grand finale, I only hope it lives up to the amount of build-up!

It just ends

I waited years for the new chapter and I was worried that the bar had been set too high.

To start with I found small incongruities in this story. But I am a Dresden fiend, having read most books twice. I got over these niggles quickly.

If I hadn't known there was a follow-up book I would have been pissed off.

But I did know and the book was pure Harry and I really enjoyed it as part one of a bigger story.

James is Harry so the narration was perfect. that said, the inflection in Mabs voice makes her sound haggish.

short story. previous and this book should have be

short story. previous and this book should have be. but exept that it was good as usual

Dresden Fan

As always, Loved it, but i feel a bit cheated, it felt a little unfinished.

It's half a book.

I suppose it ran too long so they decided to split it into two books, but this book has no climax. I'm very excited for the rest of the story though, it started off really well.

The next merlin

Yet another "binding" book. I have to say just as think you know Harry he comes with a surprise.
It's on edge and a fantastic read/listen.
Can't wait for the next one.

Half a story

Narration is up to the usual good standard, but the story is not. It has very obviously been split in half, just like many Hollywood films. When you get to the end it is a surprise and a great disappointment. There is no conclusion to the story. The overarching plot goes nowhere, the sub plot also goes nowhere, questions raised in the book are left unanswered. More powerful enemies are introduced, but add very little. In fact as a plot device the idea seem worn out. There are many references that will only add meaning to those that have recently read the entire catalogue, including short stories. The meta references that used to be part of the franchise do not seem as frequent or fun. There is little added to scene settings - as there used to be in earlier books, also lacking is the way that many plot threads were interwoven, like a detective/mystery genre.

After waiting years for this story this is disappointing. Too much effort is spent on Dresdenverse and not enough on developing an interesting story.

6 years for half a story?

I love the Dresden Books, I have read them many many times but this was so not worth the 6 years wait since Skin Game. Its half a story it's too busy setting up the next one to be concerned with an interesting overall story. I am very disappointed and I would be angry if it wasn't for the fact the next book has been confirmed for September. I am just disappointed

short changed

Disappointed that after all this time we only get half a story. Marster's performance was very depressed though the story was laboured in nature we could have had a variety other than the melancholy that it was. oh how I was looking forward to a developing of the relationship with him and his daughters but not to be. Makings of a good episode but do feel cheated. God I feel depressed now, think ill have to replay bobiverse just to clear me up.

This book was bad guys.

I love the series. However, this should not have been a stand alone. Awful decision.

Finally! Oh wait, not finally.

I am a big fan of Dresden and have been waiting years for this book. I was really excited to get into Peace Talks, and was enjoying James Marsters performance. However, having reached the end, I am hugely disappointed to find that it has been patently spliced in two (just look at the duration compared with previous instalments). I am back to waiting again, only this time I am waiting for an ending! Cunning strategy given the book is not half the price! Jim has been widely criticised previously for abandoning his fans in favour or LARPing and board games, now I feel exploited too.

Good but…

This was very good but… even though it’s a two-parter it could of done with a better closing, I would say you are probably best waiting two months for the next part and getting them both at once.

half a book

I realise that the given reason for splitting peace talks into 2 books was the length and scope the developed during the writing.

However I can't help but feel that the split was the wrong editorial decision. Without the option of immediately moving on the Battle Ground, Peace Talks is left just feeling like a glorified, unsatisfying prologue.
I'm looking forward to the next part but not with the sheer excitement of the build into Peace Talks, but in the sincere hope it will help me shake the feeling that I've wasted 10 hours of my life.

I've often debated which Dresden Files novel is the best/weakest. There's always been some variety in the debate and I've been able to others points of view. Now I know hands down which would be my answer as the weakest.

Long awaited, fell slightly short of expectation.

Love the series. I prepared myself for this book by re-reading previous works and just found this story not quite as enthralling. Maybe its just me and the anticipation built too high a level of expectation. Still enjoyable, just not what I had hoped for...

was it worth the wait ......Nope

Worth the wait ? - probably not. It reads/sounds like a YA novel and a bad one at that. I am only on Chapter 16 and am losing the will to live. What is it with James Marsters - world weary or what. I'm also getting a bit fed up of Harrys need to save everyone, like they could'nt do anything without him. Even the fight scenes just go through the motions. I see the reviews talk of half a novel with the rest in September and the last of the books. I will no doubt finish this dreadful Book 16 but not sure about the next one. Jim Butcher has obviously lost total interest with Harry Dresden ( who can blame him) and has moved on. That is a wise decision in my opinion.

Filler Book

I love Thee Dresden Files generally but this book is pure filler, very little actually happens other than building up to the next book... We've all waited an infuriatingly long time for Butcher to crack on with this instead of pissing about on a naff board game and a mediocre RPG and books around new worlds that didn't need to come out until DS finished. As a fan you don't feel rewarded and honestly this is just a filler book to wet the appetite before the next one. There's obviously a reason the next one comes out in September as this one is just a drivelling prelude to the ACTUAL book that comes out then. To other more casual readers, my advise would be to wait until September and read them both as a longer than normal book.