Eager to get a taste of Changes, book 12 of The Dresden Files? The first of four sample chapters will be posted tonight at midnight MST (GMT-7)! When the time comes, you’ll be able to read them here. We’ll release a new chapter each Tuesday until all four are posted, then the book will hit stores April 6th!
You can preorder Changes through the Jim-Butcher.com store.
Author: priscellie
Priscilla Spencer has been Jim's creative consultant since 2007. In addition to managing content for Jim-Butcher.com and its social media channels, she beta-reads all of Jim's works, serves as a thematic consultant on the graphic novels and role playing games, and illustrates the maps for his books. The whole "Year of Dresden" thing is largely her baby. Her latest claim to fame is directing the official book trailers for Peace Talks and Battle Ground.
In her professional life, Priscilla is a Producer, Writer, Photographer, and Fantasy Map Illustrator working towards a career in producing TV. She enjoys musical theatre, gluten-free cooking, sci-fi/fantasy, and weightlifting. She aspires to travel the world and pet every dog.
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Yeah, some red court vamps are about to have a REALLY bad day.
The question is: how much will this change Harry?
What if he can’t save his daughter?
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
Since Harry’s back to fighting the Red court, wonder if there will be any further background on Shiro’s Jade court reference from Death Masks. Ever since Jim threw that in I’ve been wondering what type of vampire would be in their court and when they would make an appearance in the series. Possible outside hit person for the Red court during a truce with the White Council or ??????
If you thought “Turn Coat”‘s epicness can’t be beaten…think again.
I love the theories about Mac / Merlin. I just have one question. Don’t most magical practitioners have the ability to ‘sense’ magical energy/ability in one another? If it is Merlin, is it likely that he has learned to mask his abilities?
I can see Mac as someone magical. His apron is always spotless; his décor, while dissipating grumpy-wizard energy, might also serve to protect Mac from detection.
Could he be the original Merlin? A previous comment reads, “Also, it’s hard for me to imagine Merlin as a bartender or even a brewer.” We had the angel, Uriel, as an airport janitor… I and others have suspected that Harry, himself, is the original Merlin, which is what connects his memories with Demon Reach.
Anyone else pick up on Mr. Butcher’s ‘change’ in titles? All the other Dresden books have the same number of letters in the first word as in the second word. It may become tedious at some point to find new, appropriate titles using that pattern. But I think the change runs deeper. This new, succinct, single word, “Changes”, speaks like a door slamming shut on the Old Dresden. Hey, where’s the light switch?? It’s cold and dark. And there’s somethin’ movin’ around in here…
No, Harry’s not Merlin, or even a reincarnated Merlin. That would be way to disappointing and cliche`. While recognizing and remembering the existence of wizards out of western legend and lore, I just don’t think Jim would appropriate one as the main charactar.
And yes, I noticed the title pattern change when I first heard the name of the new book. W/o having read anything other than the first two chapters (Oh how I envy those who got to read the advance copies. My son who works in a bookstore received one of the advance copies of Turn Coat and I got to read it a month before the release date) my guess as to the changes are as follows:
Susan dies, Maggie comes to live w/ Harry and Harry moves to Demonreach.
I agree that Harry isn’t a reincarnated Merlin. Mac isn’t either. I think Mac is more along the lines of what Kincaid is. Some kind of half-blood. He is probably powerful in some respect though.
“I burn things to ash and smash holes in buildings when I’m angry,” I said. “I’m a couple of steps past that point right now.” This is the best line so far. I can only imagine Harry’s expression when he said this to Susan…chills…
As much as I would want Mac to be the original Merlin, its more likely that he is a half-blood like Kincaid. Speaking of the Hellhound, I REALLY hope that we hear from him soon. I think he is an awesome character.
I am not so sure about Harry being Merlin reincarnated.
For me, all books combined sound more as if his mother was trying to create someone new and supremely powerful in magical terms. Something beyond what there is now. Think about his- Harry’s- bond with demonreach or choosing a fairy as a godmother. And this godmother was punished by Mab for trying to reach too far, very telling all in all. Something going on there or my imagination??? This is as well why Thomas was the son of a mighty vampire and born on the 14th of february and Harry as a wizard – by a stage magician by the way- on helloween. The only question is what she was trying to achieve through this accumulation of power in her kids. Did she know something about the black court? Is she maybe one of the good guys all in all? And what about Harry’s father- is there more to him then being intrinsically good- or is this his unique gift to Harry to balance all this power she was trying to bestow her son with?
My guesses so far are as well that Susan dies, and the kid lives -but has to be hidden somehow, Demonrach as a new safe haven for Harry? Very good idea! Susan is already playing with this idea of moving in the second chapter- when she states that nothing has changed- a big hint?
Jessi, I hope your dead on about Harry plowing through his enemies in this book
Been reading what everyone wrote about Mac and…
Don’t think hes Merlin and hope hes not in Chicago just to help or watch over Harry, takes away some of Harry’s thunder. I bet hes unique in his own way but nothing as famous as Merlin.
I’ll bet money Martin gets killed, any takers?
Read chapter’s 1 and 2 about 3 times and can’t wait, this books gonna be good! Jim Butcher’s the MAN!
Claudia, just read yours after I posted. Good thoughts. I don’t think theirs anything special about his father, hope not. I bet Susan’s gonna try and sacrifice herself to save her daughter, Harry will stop her and Martin will sacrifice himself. That’s how I see it playing out.
i met jim when he was on tour for his last new release, and he had some interesting things to say about mac. apparently he is going to be playing a much larger roll in the latter books.
i loved the previews, i cant wait for the book!
here is a crazy thought just from reading chapter 1 and 2, what if there is no child, its all a trick to unleash Harry on the red court. but who would do that,
the white council?
the black court?
maybe just susan?
i think jim is a good enough author to write something that we will be unable to predict just from the first few chaptors, or even the first 11 books
heh, love the Dresden files, I hope Jim Butcher continues to deliver. So far every book has been as good as the previous or better and that is an amazing achievement for such a long series.
One thing I really would like to see is Harry really kicking some ass. He always does, but it’s always the underdog triumphing against adversity. It’s a simple formula and it works for a great read, but Butcher has pushed the story and characters far enough to really try something different. I’m not saying to make a 180 degree turn, but obviously Harry has gathered quite a lot of power and it would be interesting to see him struggle not just to survive but with the moral dilemma whether to unleash his power or withhold it. The addition of a child in the mix can make for a very intense character development and internal struggle. Perhaps even link with his mother who may or may not have faced a similar situation.
Anyway, Butcher hasn’t disappointed in the slightest so far and I just can’t wait to enjoy the new book as well. Jim, thumbs up from a grateful reader! 🙂
PS No reincarnations or Merlins please! It would be too… trite and deus-ex-machina imho. 🙂
I don’t see the white council as an allie in this book since they’re in a truce at the moment. Marcone has a soft spot for litle girls caught in the fray, Kincaid owes him for saving Ivy and Ivy isn’t keen on the Red court even if she is supposed to be neutral. Summer lady and Knight also still owes him a little and toot toot will die for Harry (and a pizza). I’m sure Thomas will help and this may be where Murphy get’s fired for leaving her job and going out of the country, but she may take up Shiro’s sword.
Here’s a scary thought. What if the picture that Susan shows Harry is not out of date? What if Maggie is younger than Harry realizes and is actually Susan’s daughter with her half blood boyfriend. She’s been stolen and Susan is willing to do anything (even lie to a powerful ex boyfriend) to get her back. That might be a nasty twist for the end, having Harry cut loose and sacrifice and then realize that it’s not even his daughter. I don’t actually think this is the twist but i thought I’d see if anybody else finds it plausible.
I don’t think it’s very plausible that Susan’s lying about Harry being the father. She knows Harry well enough to realize that no deception is needed to persuade Harry to come to the rescue of a little girl, no matter whose daughter she is.
I wonder if Mavra is going to make an appearance in this book. She has been out of the picture for a while. I really want to see Harry wipe her off the face of the planet. Why isn’t it Tuesday already. I need to read this next chapter.
Audio book of Changes, Blood Rites and Dead Beat are not available for pre-order to ship April 15.