Book Reviews: Changes (Dresden Files #12) and Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13), by Jim Butcher

Fell behind on my book review posts, so here are the last two:

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Date Published: April 2010
Publisher: Roc
# Of Pages/Listening Time: 438 pages/15 hours 48 minutes

Goodreads | Audible

Synopsis: Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover - until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.
Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it - against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...He's fighting to save his child.

My Rating:

 ★★★★ 1/2

.....For being dramatic and different from the norm.

My Thoughts:

"Changes" is certainly the right title for this book. Literally everything changes for Harry Dresden in this book. Everythikng. From beginning to end, something that was a constant for Harry gets taken away or changed into something else. I won't say more for fear of spoilers, but nothing will ever be the same for subsequent books.
There is a final twist in the end. One last unexpected change that, if you haven't read this series before, will catch you completely by surprise. I'm sure it was an immense shock when this book first came out.

Overall, this story is a whole lot more tragic than the previous novels, but it still made me laugh a number of times. Definitely a good read.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Date Published: July 2011
Publisher: Roc
# Of Pages/Listening Time: 481 pages/17 hours 36 minutes

Goodreads | Audible

Synopsis: WARNING! SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOK When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has no body, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends—and his own soul—Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

My Rating:

 ★★★★ 1/2

.....For being a fun re-read

My Thoughts:

I liked this story. It's not everyday that the hero is able to come back after dying and help his friends once again. It was nice to see Harry help/witness everyone move on from his death and find closure.
There was a lot of depth in this novel, which was a good continuation of the intensity we saw in Changes.

Of course, the story is still funny at times, surprising at other times, and exciting the rest of the time (as usual). Also of course, this series isn't over! So far, there are two books left and I'm determined to finish!