Dresden Files: Battle Grounds Trailer

[Lost Soal]

https://youtu.be/xKsWndEku2Q

Ive got the audiobook on pre order, can't wait.

[Ralin]

It's not that I didn't enjoy Peace Talks, but I'm not enthused at paying full price again for what by all rights should have been the second half of the book.

[LadyTevar]

I pre-ordered my hard-back copy when I bought Peace Talks.

[Majin Gojira]

Quite ... Foreboding.

[Darth Yan]

Read through parts yesterday. It’s well worth the wait

[Broomstick]

So far, the second book is going much better than the first, although I'm only up to chapter 13.

I'm still feeling a little weird about a live-action trailer for a book, but it seems to be working.

[Ralin]

I'm most of the way through. I've been saying this for most of a decade now, and it seems I'm probably right.
Spoiler

Lacuna is the tooth fairy

[Crazedwraith]

Been putting off buying these since paperbacks. The books post Changes really haven't been as enjoyable to me. The one person i know on facebook who reads mentioned Peace Talks not being very good.

[Ralin]

Been putting off buying these since paperbacks. The books post Changes really haven't been as enjoyable to me. The one person i know on facebook who reads mentioned Peace Talks not being very good.

It's not bad. There just wasn't nearly as much violence as a book with that title should have had.

Currently 80 percent through. Holy fucking shit.

[Broomstick]

Been putting off buying these since paperbacks. The books post Changes really haven't been as enjoyable to me. The one person i know on facebook who reads mentioned Peace Talks not being very good.

Peace Talks was a relatively weak entry in the series, this is true.

Currently 80 percent through. Holy fucking shit.

Yeah. Holy fucking shit. I'm currently on Chapter 32 so getting near the end.

Spoiler

Murphy's DEAD! OMG!
[/quote]

[Ralin]

Spoiler

I like that it wasn't a motivational moment for Dresden the way the whole fridging trope usually works. It doesn't give him the strength to save the day, it doesn't push him to fight harder, she doesn't take one for the team. In fact, it pretty much destroys him and makes him less functional afterwards. It's just sheer bad luck and a dumbass with poor trigger discipline.

After she killed a giant, of course.

re: the ending

Hell Knight Marcone. Remember that time some idiot gave Batman a Green Lantern ring? At least it should lead to a rift between Marcone and Mab.

No idea where the hell they're going to go with this whole arranged marriage concept, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued.

TRR is going to be piiiiiissssssed when he reads that part.

[Broomstick]

Spoiler

Hell Knight Marcone does explain a few things.

He does seem to be a rather laid back Hell Knight, and has been for some time. Wonder if it's more of a partnership thing like Nicodemus than a master/slave relationship like some other Denariians.

[Lost Soal]

Spoiler

I have a feeling Rudy isn't going to jail for murder due the whole no body thing. Considering his past pathology Rudy will either blank that it even happened, or blame Dresden for it

[Ralin]

Spoiler

There's basically no question that Marcone is in a Nicodemus style partnership with his Fallen.

Note that Thorned Namshiel was one of the Denarians who led the attack on Arctis Tor. Mab can't be happy about Marcone allying with him.

Also, you do realize Marcone is going to be making a bid to be the new leader of the Denarians, right?

[Broomstick]

Spoiler

Also, you do realize Marcone is going to be making a bid to be the new leader of the Denarians, right?

He can certainly try...

That thought hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it, yeah, it could happen.

[Ralin]

Spoiler

Can, and he's made a good start given that he just burned down the previous leader of the Denarians.

Also, Dracul as a random encounter. And he's a Starborn. And so is Listen, apparently?

[Ralin]

Spoiler

Also god, that callback to the turkey.

More thoughts about Hell Knight Marcone. Back in Death Masks, when Nicodemus asked Marcone if he would be interested in working for him and Marcone said he was about to ask Nicodemus the same thing...could that possibly be foreshadowing?

[Broomstick]

Maybe, but frankly, I can't see either one be willing to submit to the other.

[Ralin]

Hard to imagine. But losing everything and staring death in the face after millennia can get someone to do things they thought they'd never do. And the guy has more reason to fear the afterlife than most.

[Ralin]

Spoiler

So, thinking about it, what exactly is stopping them from decanting Thomas at this point? He's apparently fucked up badly enough that the usual White Court orgy feeding wouldn't fix it, seeing as there's been no mention of even trying. But if Lara thought there was no chance of him recovering she probably would have mercy-killed him. She cares about him, but she's also pragmatic enough to make that kind of decision. She already did decide to kill him back in Blood Rites when he announced he was going after their father. After the battle they should have the time and breathing room to get whatever it is they need to treat him long-term. Harry can go to to the Svartelves and try to hash things out in a less tense environment, and even if he can't it's not like they can see or go after Thomas on Demonreach. So...what are they waiting for?

Also, apparently short range Twilight Sparkle-style teleportation is possible with this setting's magic. And White Council has a standing order to not allow Harry access to any of the books on how to do it. Nice.

[Lost Soal]

Lara was willing to kill Thomas in Blood Rites because she was terrified of her father, that's no longer an issue.
Spoiler

Odd he's surprised about the teleportation considering what he saw Dracul do.

[Ralin]

Spoiler

That was Drakul. This is Marcone. Someone who is supposed to be a mortal without anything in the way of magical talent. He probably didn't think Marcone would have been capable of using wizard magic even with a coin, and here he is being a better wizard than Harry.

Lara was willing to kill Thomas in Blood Rites out of fear of her father, and fear of what he would do to Thomas. She specifically phrased it in those terms, said she could be cruel but she would rather kill Thomas outright than put him through that.

Now yes, this was influenced by how terrified she was of her father at the time. But same general sentiment.

[Broomstick]

Spoiler

That was Drakul. This is Marcone. Someone who is supposed to be a mortal without anything in the way of magical talent. He probably didn't think Marcone would have been capable of using wizard magic even with a coin, and here he is being a better wizard than Harry.

You mean... like Ivy can work magic? Of course, Ivy "cheats" by being the Archive. The individual you name "cheats" by having access to magical knowledge. Butters "cheats" by having access to Bob the Skull.

Clearly, vanilla humans can do magic. It's just a lot easier if you also have natural talent like Harry. But even Harry had to study, and study clearly makes Harry a better wizard.

Maybe one reason involving humans is considered a "nuclear option" is that they can do magic if they have sufficient knowledge and instruction, in addition to sheer numbers.

On a non-related meta-level topic: Spoiler

Was it necessary for the overall narrative for Murphy to die, because otherwise Dresden couldn't marry Lara as his relationship with Murphy would make him untouchable by a White Court vampire? I have a feeling that marriage on paper as a political alliance wouldn't work for Mab's purposes, it would have to be consummated.

[Lost Soal]

Spoiler

Murphy being dead doesn't change his protective status, however we see it isn't as clear cut as originally stated. He can't be fed upon bu it doesn't mean they can't touch him, Lara has shown she has the control to touch him without being burnt.

[Ralin]

You mean... like Ivy can work magic? Of course, Ivy "cheats" by being the Archive. The individual you name "cheats" by having access to magical knowledge. Butters "cheats" by having access to Bob the Skull.

Clearly, vanilla humans can do magic. It's just a lot easier if you also have natural talent like Harry. But even Harry had to study, and study clearly makes Harry a better wizard.

Yeaaaah, but Ivy has access to not just magical knowledge but All Of The Magical Knowledge. And I'd guess the previous hosts for the Archive took the time to ensure actual magical talent got mixed in with their bloodline. Butters can do magic with Bob's help, but he seems to do it in a very by the numbers way. He understands the theory likely better than Harry, but he can't really improvise and he can't sense the forces he's working at like a wizard would.

This guy went from nothing to full blown wizard power and skill. Based on what we see he's possibly a better wizard than Harry.

I'm not saying that breaks the rules of the setting or anything, but I didn't think it would work that way and I'm betting Harry didn't either.
Spoiler

Cassius was described as a minor/mediocre talent who became deadly with centuries of practice. Not a normal who became a deadly practitioner with centuries of practice.