As requested, beginning from smack dab in the middle of Small Favor: a live reaction to reading Dresden Files. (Pt. 1, I guess?)
9:16: A giant billy goat fae has strolled into Mac's and asked Harry to stop acting in self-defense. Because that would be nice. This will go well, I think.
9:18: Love the concept of Murphy taking a page from Harry's playbook and deciding to speak in Shakespearean English and assume false bravado when addressing supernatural creatures. She knows that bullshit actually works.
9:20: I love that Harry literally goes weak-kneed when Murph kicks ass and admits it out loud, to her face. He practically channels Johnny Bravo.
9:22: Is Mac a god? Like, possibly even THE God? (I know he's not the Big Man but. It would be funny.)
9:26: The gang is wondering who in all of his outfit could possibly sell Marcone out and I'm wondering if Harry has a brain in his head. Gee. Who is currently working for, sleeping with, and yearning revenge from Marcone? Get real. The gang has an excuse, but Harry knows damn well that Helen Beckitt is a grief-stricken powderkeg with the fuse lit.
9:30: It is so interesting that Harry seemingly has no full idea what he looks like and is so surprised by his reflection. I wonder if aging slowly has given him dysmorphia or something, like he doesn't know how old he's supposed to look. It's nice when he notices his shared features with Thomas, though, even to dab on himself. "My brother is so breathtakingly hot that I've seen people walk directly into traffic just looking at him. Me? I kinda look like him, I guess, if he lived underground and survived on jerky and dryer lint."
9:34: Despite their chance interactions, Harry clocks Marcone every time as a ruthlessly competent strategist. In a lot of ways, Harry is Batman (funny version) and Marcone is like if Bruce Wayne decided Gotham needed a better Black Mask than a hero. Down to the "collecting DNA/blood from all employees including himself for tracking purposes in case of emergencies" part.
9:41: One day- and it better be soon- Jim Butcher will stop sexualizing Molly Carpenter. Or I will break into his house and break all of his fucking dishes.
9:45: Harry and Michael love each other very much. Augh. It's cute as fuck and I wish Michael would stop being benched in all the Carpenter storylines. He's practically psychic when it comes to reading Harry's fears and foibles, but he's rarely present when Harry tends to need a friend most. (Intentionally, I'm sure, for narrative reasons. But I want bestie time, dammit.)
9:50: Hendricks is sooo catching feelings. I don't blame him. A six foot tall ripped-to-fuck Valkyrie who wears suits and reads fiction to understand pop culture? Put me on her dance card.
9:55: Single Harry flirts with everything that breathes, including platonic friends. No one is safe. Not Lara Raith, not Murphy, Marcone, not Michael. Don't do anything hot in front of Harry unless you want a compliment.
9:58: How is Harry still broke as hell when he's now a Warden Captain at war with men deployed across multiple cities? There's no way that McCoy, Morgan, or the stupid Merlin are living so rough they can't afford winter clothes. Is the evil Black Council even embezzeling his paycheck...?
9:59: Just now realizing Butcher has a fetish for M names. Murphy, Marcone, Michael, Molly, McCoy, Morgan, Merlin, Mouse, Mister, Mac, Margaret, Madrigal, Madeline... dude. Pick another letter.
10:08: IVY! MY BABY! MY BABY IS HERE!!
10:15: Harry: "Step one: Get the kid out of here. Step two: we hopefully live." Kincaid: "Step one: I carry my weird child out of this hellhole and leave you all to die. Goodbye and fuck you."
10:25: Apprenticeship is shaping Harry into a father figure whether he likes it or not. That said, this dynamic between him and Luccio forming is sudden. And odd. But she seems like a healthy option, I guess, given how Susan is 1) unavailable, Elaine is 2) the past, 3) Murphy is unwilling to commit. There's no one else for him to pursue that isn't a morally diabolical option. That said. I miss Lashiel.
10:30: LUCCIO BATHED HARRY WHILE HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS?? WHY??? WHY WOULDN'T MICHAEL DO IT IF IT HAD TO BE DONE?
10:32: Wait. How old is Luccio?
10:30: SHE'S ALMOST TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD???
10:32: I feel like there's potential for Murph to wield one of the Holy Swords. She's definitely righteous enough.
10:34: Ivy and the otters ;w; I love her so much omg
10:37: IF SHE GETS HURT, I'M GONNA START BLASTING.
10:38: Son of a bitch!!!!!!!
10:38: Kincaid is going to shit fully formed bricks if he isn't dead.
10:40: Ivy is giving herself up to the Denarians for Harry's sake... _OTL ... Sobbing. Crying. Drowning in the bathroom sink...
Okay, that seems like a fairly riveting place to stop. At this rate, I'll finish this book in tomorrow... especially since I'm motivated by the fates of Ivy and Marcone, who are definitely some of the more original characters in this series. đ Signing off for now.
