This is the fourth installment in my favorite urban fantasy series and I couldn't have been happier with it. While number three was all about the action, this one was all about the color and the imagination. The NeverNever was amazing, the faeries were amazing, the everything was amazing! Butcher's descriptions were so real I felt like I was watching a movie. He pulled from Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, and other assorted fairy tales to populate his magical world and I never wanted to leave (which is the very point of the fey). In fact, I think the cover is perfect for this very reason. At first glance it's nothing special. You might use the word nice to describe it. But then you look closer. You look at the shades of yellows and greens, the monsters, the small red accent, and you go, Oh! This is sorta amazing. Which was how I would describe Butcher's imagination leaking into the pages.
Equally amazing was Harry's growth. I feel like, out of all the books I've read so far, this is the one that has most defined him. In this book I can really see who Harry is and I can understand him. Somewhere along the way we shared a soulgaze, because finally, finally, I truly understand this character. All walls have been broken down and every installment after this will be all the better because he has grown into a permanent thing in my life.
Plot-wise I was completely surprised by the big revelation. The lead-up investigation was my favorite so far and the hints throughout the novel towards where it was going were well placed and subtle. The re-appearance of old characters made my heart sing and the insight on the White Council was great, as well. The battle at the end really takes the cake, though, and I can see that Butcher has a talent for fantasy (Codex Alera, his other series).
My biggest problem is that I would like to see more of Murphy. Yes, in this book, she does make great leaps and bounds into the world of the supernatural, and that was awesome and kick-ass, but she still remains sidelined for the majority of the story. I want to a see her take center stage with Harry for a bit longer at some point, but there are many books to go, so my wish may yet be granted.
Overall, I'm giving this book a 4 3/4 stars, just shy of a perfect five.
Hell's bells, that was a good book.
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