Jim Butcher’s Dresden Information is without doubt one of the greatest promoting and most beloved fantasy sagas on the cabinets. How can a collection that’s now 25 years previous with 17 books on the selves keep recent? Nicely, a technique is to vary up* how the story is informed. Jim Butcher has stated {that a} Dresden Information novel is basically the worst weekend of the yr for the one wizard within the Chicago Yellow Pages. Nicely, the title says all of it – Twelve Months. In contrast to some other novel within the collection (delicate exception to that rule can be Chilly Days which cowl just a little greater than Butcher’s allotted “weekend), the 18th novel within the collection takes place over the course of a yr. However that type of pacing and consideration within the story itself is a welcome respite from the chaos of the final two novels and the largely breakneck tempo of the final third or so of the collection. I’ll say this and get it out of the best way, this is without doubt one of the greatest Dresden Information novels and a few of the greatest writing of Butcher’s profession (that I’ve learn).
One yr. twelve months. Twelve months.
Harry Dresden has been by means of lots, and so has his metropolis. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to avoid wasting Chicago from being razed to the bottom, every little thing is totally different—and it’s not simply the present lack of electrical energy.
Within the battle, Harry misplaced folks he cared about. And that’s the type of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his degree greatest to assist the town and his pals get better and rebuild. Nevertheless it’s a heavy load, and he wants time.
However time is one factor Harry doesn’t have. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and taking out harmless civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know assist him. And final however actually not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Courtroom of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, lethal vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.
It’s been a troublesome yr. Greater than ever, the town wants Harry Dresden the wizard—however after loss and grief, is there sufficient left of Harry Dresden the person to rise to the problem?
The earlier novel within the collection, Battle Floor was maybe probably the most emotionally devastating novel since Modifications. Issues have modified drastically for our wizardly pal and in loads of methods, he’s in a spot hasn’t been in a few years and is at a significant crossroads, particularly from an emotional perspective. Twelve Months is a novel about ache and loss, making an attempt to return to grips with probably the most devastating issues an individual can expertise. Whereas the Battle of Chicago might have been a victory for the nice guys, it was a bittersweet victory in some ways. I’m making an attempt to stroll the road of not spoiling Battle Floor as a result of as I sit with this novel extra, I really feel it will be an attention-grabbing experiment to be learn as a standalone.
The loss Harry is struggling making an attempt to deal with is compounded by an organized marriage to Lara Raith, of the White Courtroom of Vampires. She additionally occurs to be the sister to Harry’s half-brother Thomas Raith and Thomas is in a predicament from which Harry is making an attempt to avoid wasting him. This betrothal to Lara is on the behest of Harry’s liege queen and supreme boss, Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness, the Winter Queen. Numerous the turmoil on this novel, the battle, includes Harry making an attempt to belief probably the most highly effective vampires on this planet (historically enemies of wizards and The Wizard Council), persevering with his interior quest to grow to be a greater particular person, following the orders of Mab, whereas coping with probably the most painful loss he’s ever suffered. Yeah, Harry will not be bodily thrown about and overwhelmed up like he usually is in these novels, however he’s emotionally wrecked and making an attempt to get better and be near his former self as attainable.
Serving to Harry to “discover himself” are his former apprentice and Winter Woman, Molly Carpenter; Molly’s father and certainly one of Harry’s greatest pals, Michael Carpenter, Knight of the Cross; Harry’s deal with making an attempt to avoid wasting/redeem his half-brother Thomas; Harry’s daughter Maggie; and even his grandfather Ebenezer.
Even Lara Raith. Even Mab, who is usually very a lot at odds with Harry. Positive, she is sort of strict as is her nature in that she is one thing of a rule monger. However Mab wants her Winter Knight to be sturdy – bodily, mentally, and emotionally.
Twelve Months… it’s a very long time to be in Harry’s head and offers Butcher the chance to point out a cumulative progress and extra thoughtfulness than we’ve come to count on from Harry and this collection. Once more, I liked what Butcher did; each within the what he needed to do and the way he executed his plan for the novel. Giving this novel a yr’s value of time additionally permits for an enchanting technique to discover Harry and Lara’s relationship. We as readers are conditioned to not belief vampires, largely as a result of Harry is our first-person narrator, however she got here throughout as very real in her actions and conversations with Harry.
This perhaps seen as a “transition novel” for the collection by some and perhaps it’s. For me, I’d contemplate it probably the most vital novels within the collection. It’s a guide that reveals a author who’s keen to take dangers this far into his profession and with a collection which means a lot to so many readers. I really like this collection and this guide moved my feelings as a lot and greater than a few of the earlier installments. I hope followers of the collection get pleasure from Twelve Months as a lot as I did and I’d even have an interest to be taught of any readers who determine to offer the collection a attempt with this installment.
Extremely advisable.
© 2026 Rob H. Bedford
Hardcover | Ace Books
The Dresden Information (E book 18)
January 2026 | 480 pages
https://www.jim-butcher.com/
Excerpt: https://websites.prh.com/twelve-months-landing-page-aug-25?ref=PRHD99966B35334&assist=15745&linkid=PRHD99966B35334
Evaluate copy courtesy of the writer, Ace Books
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