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| Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jim Butcher
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $12.70
You Save: $11.25 (47%)
New (43) Used (14) Collectible (4) from $12.70
Avg. Customer Rating:  120 reviews
Sales Rank: 3264
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:
 Fallen Angels and Fey April 2, 2008
12 out of 24 found this review helpful
The Queen of Air and Darkness cashes in the 2nd of the three favors Harry owes. Harry must rescue his frenemy Gentleman Johnny Marcone from unknown kidnappers. Harry is caught between his friends in the Summer Court and an obligation to the Winter Court with accompanying death threats from both sides. Denarrians and Knigts of the Cross vie for for souls and Harry has too many obligations to count.
 Where's Harry? April 4, 2008
11 out of 30 found this review helpful
*spoilerish?*
I'm not sure about any of these other reviews, if they read it or not it's hard to tell, but I have one major question...where's Harry Dresden? The Harry we have come to know and love seems somehow absent in this volume.
After all this time of holding off amd waiting, he just suddenly gives in to his urges over a woman he has not really shown any interest in over the course of the series? Instead of one of the many current women in his life and throughout the books. I don't understand it. If he has been able to resist for this long, waiting for his love that just doesn't seem to be, why suddenly just give in on a whim. Not only does that open him up more for a White court vamp but it just does not seem to fit his style.
Fearing and cowering so much before Mab? Temptation and resisting it, or giving in to it, is what made him such a great character for me. By the end of this book, he seemed to be losing much of what makes him a great character.
And now, I hope I am wrong, but being a warden without a sword, I had hoped he would take up the winter knight role instead of the Knight's sword, now that would be entertaining, filled with temptation and the strength to avoid or succumb. Getting rid of Lash was bad enough, now it seems even more... churchy?
It feels that way when the Knights are involved, I'll give you that, but come on. This a lot like religious fiction to me. Again...given the Knights role I can understand that much, but Harry just wasn't himself for me in this book.
It wasn't a bad read by any means and I'm sure I'll be in the minority that did not like it, but there it is. It didn't feel like Harry to me. Maybe my hopes were too high? I can only hope the next one will get back to his roots and take him more strongly along the thin line between good and evil and keep him leaning one way, towards the light, but still tightly gripping the other side, needing the dark to fight dark things.
 The Series Keeps Getting Better April 3, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Harry Dresden and the cast are back for another round in A Small Favor. All of the major players have a piece in this tale, from the Faerie Courts to the Wardens and White Council, Marcone and his cronies as well as the entire Blackened Denarius (Nicklehead) crew, the Archive, the Knights and some of the powers unseen. The story is driven strongly by the sub plot of the last few books, with the formation of the Black Council and how their manipulations across the supernatural world are causing havoc.
Harry has been called in for a favor from Queen Mab of the Winter Court of the Sidhe. His job; rescue Marcone. Do this while dodging hitters from the Summer Court who have a knack for finding him, as well as hitters from the Winter Court who seem to disregard the fact that Harry is on their team, and doing battle with various enemies of the Fallen, the Order of the Blackened Denarius. From the first chapter to the last, the book is a rush of organized anarchy, with everything depending on Harry and his talent for being the wrench stuck in every dark plan that swings his way.
Its the 10th book of the series and doesn't disappoint. Now starts the countdown to Book 11.
 Harry sorta won... July 21, 2008
10 out of 10 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.
Excellent private investigative urban fantasy April 2, 2008
9 out of 27 found this review helpful
Finally a respite for Chicago's only openly practicing professional wizard Harry Dresden as no one has tried to kill in quite a while. However, Harry's serenity abruptly ends when the Queen of the Winter Court of the Sidhe and Queen of Air and Darkness Mab arrives to call in his IOU. Harry prayed this day would never come when he asked her for a favor years ago, but he now owes the ever dangerous Mab two favors.
Harry is relieved when all Mab asks of him is to rescue crime boss John Marcone, who was recently kidnapped. He figures how hard this can be as dealing with a mundane mob killers seems easier than some of the supernatural soul stealers he normally contends with. Still he is confused why Mab wants this done and bewildering him further she does not know why. Harry investigates to understand better the scenario as he finds it difficult to fathom how John was abducted from a highly guarded safehouse. He asks his friend Michael Carpenter, father of his apprentice Molly, to help him, but the "Knight of the Sword" hesitates as he distrusts Harry since the wizard was exposed to a curse. However, Harry soon realizes that by abetting Mab, he has brought onto him and his friends, the most powerful adversary of the Queen of the Winter Court, the Queen of Summer.
Dresden is at his best in this private investigative urban fantasy as his R&R ends with paying his debt. Fans will appreciate the hero as the favor seems simple enough, but soon spirals into soul threatening danger that would have hard core sleuths like Marlowe peeing in their pants. Dresden's inquiries are cleverly done to set the stage for the usual lethal fantasy spin. Readers will relish Jim Butcher's latest tour of Chicago's underground as the sunny skies abruptly twist into deadly tornadoes.
Harriet Klausner
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