So, forgive me if this is a known theory, and also forgive that I've not done the due diligence of fact checking everything. However, I've been on this sub for some time and a quick internet search didn't yield anything.

Could the Stones, of Stars and Stones fame, be Mordite? It's anti-life and from the Outside, I believe. Thus an intrinsic link to the major overarching plot with the Outsiders and the battle for reality.

And it's a stone.

One further thing I like about this theory, and it is purest conjecture, is that Hades has a crown of it. Yeah, that's a big swinging D representation of Hades' power. For sure. But, Hades is known for keeping items off of the mortal plane (the Christ artifacts, for example) until they are needed / relevant. It would be very cool, and quite a Jim move, if we've already been shown the Stones (or some of them), just obscured as an acknowledgement of Hades' clout but actually tied into his modus operandi.

Come at me, bro/sis. Thoughts?

Recently finished the series and thinking about doing a re-read soon, for those who have gone back which books did you get the most out of the second time?

Not looking to read the whole series again but maybe 3 or 4 books.

Skin Game is at the top of my list right now but would appreciate your thoughts on that or any others.

Reread Dead Beat on the plane on a trip and I had honestly forgotten how much world building was stuffed into one novel.

We all know Zombie Dinos and Butters first appearance and Harry becomes a warden.

Cowl being named and Ramirez first appearance are also things I remembered.

What I had honestly forgotten are a few details that become even bigger later:

The details of the attack on the White Council by the Reds, including mortal wizards letting in the outsiders, sets up Peabodys reveal in Turn Coat. Peabody is also mentioned as author of the book that summons the Erlking.

The Erlkings later roles as not really just evil are set up well.

Evil Bob popping up in Ghost Story was set up in Dead Beat (as well as much of the rest of GS).

Mavra and Drakul using Harry as a cats paw in TM is set up in Dead Beat - a payoff that had originally looked like just a plot device to get the action going.

And, most notably to me, I had completely forgotten that Lash's first appearance and reveal were in Dead Beat - for some reason I thought it one book later.

Crazy amount of world building and I am sure i missed a few - as Cowl said (about Biancas party earlier in the series), a whole lot went down that night, not all of which is apparent yet.

I'm re-reading Twelve Months, and I want to stop and read Out Law when I get to the part where it happens. So, when does it happen?

Hi everyone! After years of one of my best friend's insistence I finally just started Storm Front and I am hooked! His birthday is coming up soon and I'm heading to a con where Jim Butcher is appearing. I figured something autographed by Jim wishing him a happy birthday would be an amazing gift. DF is one of his favorite series. Changes is his favorite book. Any ideas on what I should ask Jim to sign? Thanks in advance!

Reading Turncoat for the sixth time It’s irritating because every page seems like an infodump or lots description But the takeaway seems to be use your own non fountain pen to sign anything… Also got a chuckle at the circuit city flyer comment

So I just finished Twelve Months and I’m curious to get the community take on some things.

1. Molly became untouchable to the Wardens once she became Winter Lady, so why is Harry still subject to their inspections? If they ever sent a Warden hit squad out to murk him wouldn’t they fear retaliation from Mab or Molly? Especially now that he is engaged to Lara, I bet the White Court and all her political allies could probably do some damage to the White Counsel.

2. Does anyone know if a Starborn is only born once every 666 years? (As in a single individual every 666 yrs). Or if for one day every 666 years anyone born on that day is Starborn?

3. Do you think Lara and Harry will actually go through with a wedding? If MM takes place in another universe, Harry likely won’t be interacting much with the characters in his own universe. I would be a little disappointed if their relationship doesn’t pan out given all the time dedicated to their dates / partnership in TM. I’m really hoping for further romance plot points for Dresden, he deserves it.

So Mab stated in Cold Days that Molly would have been better suited as the Summer Lady, but what about Harry? Would he have worked better under Summer instead of Winter as well? IMO, I think he would.

Even though he hasn’t met his Mom Harry has managed to lead a very similar life. We constantly hear how she fell in with all these bad people who coincidentally Harry also makes temporary alliances and enemies with. At this point, I wonder if our last major reveal regarding her plans or choices, will be Drakul telling us an insane story about her and how he is the first person since his mother caused that much property damage.

The bad guys are Emilio and Esteves.

I was to the final fight before I put it together.

Well played Butcher, well played.

I am currently in the final third of Changes (oh my god, there are so many things to unpack with this book on relisten). Specifically, I am at the vampire attack on the FBI headquarters. This part, while being a great action sequence, really got me annoyed because, of course, it starts that action scene with Rudolph showing up and being the sniveling little piece of shit we know he is. As such, I went digging through the subreddit to see if we had a dedicated thread for Rudolph hate because you just cannot hate this guy enough. From that I found there is a whole subreddit for hating him and honestly, I love that for us. Every story needs at least one "Fuck That Guy", "You Don't Hate This Character Enough" level character.

But yeah, seriously, after what he did to Karrin during the battle for Chicago, it is hard not to get angry when he shows up in earlier books and starts bitching and moaning about Karrin and Harry and how he intends to bring them down and his outburst in Changes is just a massive slap in the face after Battleground. Jim has stated he likes getting an emotional response out of his readers, and boy, did that response become pretty effectively stuck to the character at this point because seriously, Fuck Rudolph!

Fellow Dresden-philes, I need help.

I picked up the entire series, gobbled it up, then waited for Twelve Months.

In between, I asked for recommendations and picked up the Alex Verus series and loved it.

After Twelve Months, I asked for recommendations again and finally gave in two an overwhelming vote for Dungeon Crawler Carl. And Homaigawdszzzz, that series is unhinged.

Here's my problem: I'm almost through the first half of the eighth book and I'm now worried. I don't know what to pick up next that has similar "Harry" vibes.

Help?

The Dresden Files are getting a special edition!
Unfortunately I’ll be passing, not a huge fan of the artwork but I love that it’s happening!

Re-listening to 12 Months and a little while after Mab implied a threat to Maggie, I thought about how that might go. Considering Rivershoulder's local kin as well as personal connection and sense of responsibility, it would be near-impossible to even find, much less get a hold of Maggie once his people inevitably stepped in. And because it's a protection bound by personal debt to Harry, the political cost of trying to force any actions against her at that point would not be worth it. Mab is always one with other plans in place

And that's fully separate from any apocalyptic triggers Harry sets in place, or the internal Winter tinderbox ready to go off r/t going against the Winter Lady's wishes. Molly, who is now the successful and loved recruiter and leader of the newest generation of Winter, is not someone I'd want Scheming for my removal. She's far more competent and dangerous than Maeve ever was.

Plus, you know, any attempts would have to get past an Angelic-adjacent Good Boy. 😂

Going to be playing a DFRPG game soon, and I'm looking for ideas and inspiration.

Obviously spoilers for Twelve Months, but did anyone else think Harry and Lara got along too well, even at the start of the book?

Harry, classic misogynistic/chivalrous to a fault, Dresden has shown over every previous encounter with Lara that he finds her attractive because duh, BUT he does *not* like her. She scares him. He threatens her a lot. He keeps her at arms length at all times.

Lara, I do what I want and know how to get it, Raith has been *incredibly* cautious with Dresden. She also swore to kill him the last time they interacted, iirc.

This book opens with them being... genuinely friendly. Almost a cute date. I understand the overall nature of this book is "bits and pieces" along the whole thing, but it still feels like such a jump from "I will kill you" to "coffee would be nice, thank you." No apprehension or tension outside of Chicago is destroyed stuff. I don't mind them, as a couple, but I just feel like it didn't have the right legs to jump into where we are.

Another file tucked away nicely in the cabinet. This series just gets better and better! I'm so excited to start the next book. I'm glad I read something in between grave peril and summer Knight. It helped me refocus on the story and it made it more memorable personally. I think my new ranking is Summer Knight, a tie between grave peril and storm front, and way at the bottom, fool moon.

I really look forward to what's coming next if this is the kind of conflict Butcher is willing to bring in on book four.

Sometimes Harry takes a break from throwing cars at Necromancers and does normal stuff like taking Mouse out in the backyard to do his business or having a steak sandwich at Mac’s. So what are your favourite Dresden being cosy & safe moments?