Skin Game (Mini-Review)

Skin Game is the fifteenth book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. In it Harry Dresden is ordered by Queen Mab to work with Nicodemus in order to pay off a debt. But working with an evil man like Nicodemus is never what it appears. And Mab is never honest about her true intentions. With three days until he dies, Harry must figure out what's really going on which probably isn't as simple as robbing a vault.

The Knights of the Sword began as a cool faction in the series. Their entrance helped by the fact that Micheal Carpenter is a believable character who could wield one of the famed swords. But by this book they have sizzled out to a mess. The problem with having swords that follow rules that our minds can't fully comprehend is that it feels like the author has no real sense of what's going on. During this book one of the swords is destroyed and the moment is supposed to be dramatic. However...the reason why it's destroyed is supposed to boil down to "the wielder didn't have the right mindset" which doesn't make sense. Said person was fighting to kill someone who would harm those they loved. It also makes less sense when later in the book another person wields a sword with none of the "I'm fighting to save the people carrying a Denarians' coin" mindset and doesn't destroy their sword.

This book was the first place I learned that Cerberus translates, long story short, to Spot. Knowing the rough translation makes it hilarious when other media uses Cerberus as something threatening as all I can think of is Spot. The Punisher, the Marvel Netflix show, brings this up at one point in its first season. With one character laughing about the fact that this top secret mission was named Spot.

Back to this book...I'm so glad that Hades wasn't made to be a villain like other modern interpretations of the character do. In fact, Hades and Persephone are made to be a healthy couple. With Hecate leading Persephone's mother around in circles in the Underworld as a wedding present for the loving couple.

Harry has been getting mysterious migraines for a few books. Their presence has been subtle but noticeable. This book finally explains what they are and that he may die in three days because of them. He's been staying on Demonreach to keep them at bay and leaving the island will mean they come back in full. So Mab gives him an earring so that he will be able to work with Nicodemus. Now Harry has three days left to live at this point and that should be one of his primary concerns. But, nope, he hastily tells Mab to put it in his left ear and not his right. If you're a guy and only have an earring in your right ear that means you're gay. So even though Harry would die in three days, he was more concerned with being perceived as gay. Man, straight people can be so weird.

I would recommend Skin Game to fans of the Dresden Files. I would also recommend Skin Game to those looking for an urban fantasy mystery. I would also recommend Skin Game to those wanting a good heist novel.