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 enlarge | Author: Jim Butcher
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $12.52
You Save: $11.43 (48%)
New (46) Collectible (5) from $12.52
Avg. Customer Rating:  123 reviews
Sales Rank: 1817
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0451461894
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780451461896
ASIN: 0451461894
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dresden Files - Small favor August 11, 2008
I loved this latest Dresden Files novel. I love all of them, but this one was great. This is the one a really fine movie could be made of, in its entirety. The fight at the Shedd Aquarium would certainly work, as well as the final scene on the little island, with Harry strangling Nicodemos.
 Take No Guff From Billy Goats! August 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Jim Butcher's SMALL FAVOR is set in the dead of an icy Chicago winter but the plot operates on the same principle of a car with no brakes hitting the ice at 60mph. Harry Dresden, Chicago's favorite magical hero, has the Summer Queen of the Sidhe gunning for him when Mab the Winter Queen makes him an offer he can't refuse: he's got to help criminal kingpin John Marcone. In addition, the Denarians are back in town.
Fight scenes go by faster than snowflakes in a blizzard. There's some really clever action in this book! Fortunately, Harry has the aid of the Knights of the Swords, policewoman Karrin Murphy, his apprentice Molly, his vampire half-brother Thomas and Someone Else. Harry is always good company and his friends are welcome any time. In the small interludes between frantic action, almost casual insights into love, treachery, loyalty, family and religion detonate like hand grenades of wisdom.
I like the way Harry Dresden continues to learn and develop in front of our eyes. He's a man so caught up in action that he misses some of the subtler aspects of relationships--which his exasperated brother takes him to task for. Jim Butcher has left his loyal readers wondering if Harry is giving up on the idea of getting together with Karrin. I enjoyed everything about this book, while at the same time wishing for just a little more time with the inner Harry. I mean, come on, this is a book for adults. Did he or didn't he?
 Not quite up to the earlier ones August 3, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Good page turning book, but I never got a true reason for all the W's. Why was Summer suddenly trying to kill Harry? What is going to happen with Michael? Who destroyed the Winter Castle?
If the author can come up with a quick follow up book to answer all the questions that he posed, I would raise my rating. Waiting a year or more for the next one is a bit too much.
There were too much of the Fallen Angels to suit me. I personally enjoy the Vampire and Fae problems. The Fallen ones seem too hard to conquer without a large amount of Luck to come to play.
Will be interested when the next installment will arrive. And yes, I will be on the list to pre-purchase the volume.
Calvin P. Poole, Jr.
Who says it cant get any better than this? August 2, 2008
Normally after so many books in a series the characters and storylines start to feel recycled
HOWEVER,
This is NOT the case in the newest Dresden Files book. OMG I was happily reading this book nonstop and loathe to put it down to even go to sleep. Another one for my permanent collection for sure. Of course I already own all the other books in the series too:)
Harry sorta won... July 21, 2008
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
Like many others, I was disappointed in this installment of the Dresden Files. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the same caliber as previous books. I also think there was way too much Michael, and not enough Murphy. And a lot of characters seemed to be thrown into the mix just so they could appear. Really, was driving Harry around all Thomas could do? Molly has the potential to be a good character, but she has little substance at this point so why not have her hide out with the rest of the kids? Yet, these were minor problems for me. My main objection was yet another hollow victory.
I agree completely with the reviewer who said, "the action is relentless to the point that it sometimes seems like movement for its own sake and simply to grind Harry down." I'm all for a nemesis, or powerful villain that recurs to tempt or taunt the hero. However, the endless parade of uber-powerful foes has become too much. I find myself thinking, "put the poor bugger out of his misery" instead of "go Harry!" He (still) owes a favor to Mab. Summer wants him dead. Then we have The Fallen, The Red Court, and The Black Council. Not to mention all the individual evils that pop up. And the White Council which still doesn't trust him. And to top it all off, his friends are doubting him and he keeps getting beaten up - literally! When I reached the end of the novel, it didn't feel like Harry saved the day. The little progress that was made was taken back and then some, and the Fallen are just regrouping over a minor setback. The plot, such as it was, didn't seem to serve any purpose. You'd think Summer would be just as concerned over a breach of the Accords as Winter, yet they're too intent on killing Harry? All this manipulation by Nicodemus on the chance the Archive would arbitrate? It just didn't mesh. I miss the Harry Dresden who investigated, prepared careful spells in advance (with Bob's running commentary), and came out ahead because of wits and bravery. I miss when the Voltswagon Beetle took the brunt of the damage instead of Harry. I was surprised to find myself happy at the potential romance between Harry and Luccio. I think because I just wanted something good to happen to our hero. But a kiss on the last page isn't enough to make up for how depressing the rest of his life, and this book, is.
Overall, I can't deny this was a page turner. Fans of the series will want to know what happens, and I did enjoy some of it. There is a lot of action and Harry is still a great, chivalrous hero. Butcher's trademark humor is here and a lot of good one liners. I've already pre-ordered the next book, but can't help but hope it gives us a real victory for the good guys. Harry deserves it.
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