Skin Game (Dresden Files, #15)

by Jim Butcher

Chicago wizard Harry Dresden must help a hated enemy, Nicodemus Archleone, break into a high security vault to steal something belonging to the Lord of the Underworld.

• ISBN10: 0451464397
• ISBN13: 9780451464392
• Publish Date: 27 May 2014 (first published 1 May 2014)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Roc
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 454
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

In Skin Games we find Harry hiding out on his island since that thing in his head is seriously trying to kill him. Mab shows up demanding a task from her Winter Knight. She twists things until Harry has no choice but to comply. Get ready folks because this tale is non-stop action! Filled with cool happenings and plenty of FEELS.

Harry’s services have been bartered and he’ll have to aid Nicodemus Archleone. They are going to break into a highest-security vault in town. Why? So, that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever. The vault belongs to none other than Hades himself! Harry isn’t stupid and realizes something more sinister is afoot. Oh man, the tale that unfolds was addictive. After the past few listens I was delighted to sink into one case.

So much happens in Skin Games in the overall development of the series but we also see character growth from key characters. Close encounters with death and conversations with the innocent will keep you listening. Then there is Micheal, oh my goodness and Murphy and let’s not forget Butters! I love Butters and Bob.

I cannot imagine Dresden without narrator James Marsters and he did such a stellar job with Skin Games. His ability to translate the emotions of the characters, capture snark and even evoke tears from me as I connected with moments and characters. Bravo! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[jamiereadthis]

Never let it be said I can’t enjoy a series by starting at the end, not the beginning. (Oops. My bad for grabbing what the library had on the shelf without looking it up. I just saw “heist” and had to start there.)
Anyway, the friend of mine who said I’d get a kick out of Dresden was right. I’ll have to work my way back through the books in no kind of order. And I’ll do at least one by audiobook to see which is more fun.

[tweetybugshouse]

I am big dresden fan i love how he so witty, strong and determined to try to do good even when he has been aligned with some of the most evil characters of fairy and the underworld. This book has everything you come to expect from a Harrry Dresden novel magic, fairies queens, a bit of blood shed and characters redeeming themselves and becoming so much more then you thought they could be. Can not wait for the next one.

[Linda]

Amazing installment in the Dresden Files series! Harry has several epiphanies thanks to his friends, and there are lots of bad guys to fight, while protecting the innocent.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Heather]

Wizard Harry Dresden has been in some rough spots in his life. The roughest was an attempt to save his daughter from death where he was critically injured. In order to be magically healed in time to save her, he accepted a job with the Queen of the Winter Fae, Mab. Now he is her reluctant knight. Reluctant because Mab is pretty evil and Harry does want to think of himself that way. He’s worried that working for her may turn him whether he likes it or not.

Now Mab wants him to work with a group of very evil people headed by Nicodemus Archleone, one of Harry’s most despised people. They are going to break into a vault belonging to Hades. If that wasn’t suicidal enough, Mab wants Harry to double cross Nicodemus as soon at a particular point in the heist and Harry is sure that Nicodemus is planning to kill him as soon as possible too.

What I love about this series is the character development. No one in these books is in the same place that they were when the series started. Bad decisions are made and then there are consequences. No one gets a magical “Get out of jail free” card so the character can slip back into the role that they filled previously.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy at all, you need to read these books. There are 15 now but don’t let that stop you. I didn’t start until around book 10 or so and I was immediately hooked. I read them all in a few months. Start at the beginning. Let yourself fall in love with these characters to the point that they are totally real to you. I’ve had to walk away from reading a few times because I knew if they killed the character that was in peril in the scene I was reading that I would totally lose it.

I listen to these on audio now both to extend the enjoyment and because they are narrated by James Marsters. He’s amazing. There is a large cast in this world and all of the voices are believable and appropriate for the character. The pacing is good and the essential smartassedness of the books comes through. My only caveat is that I wish I had a paper copy of these because there are some passages that I’d like to go back and reread after I knew the ending. That’s not so easy with 15 hours of audio.