Review: Peace Talks and Battle Ground (The Dresden Files, Books #16-17)

He's back! Things are about to get serious for Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard ...

Peace Talks, by Jim Butcher, is the sixteenth novel in The Dresden Files series. As Chicago's only professional wizard, life seems relatively stable for professional wizard Harry Dresden and his daughter. He has settled into Mollys' apartment. One day, Thomas Raith, his brother, updates him that his lover, Justine, is pregnant. He also receives a mission assignment to join the White Council's security team at the upcoming peace negotiations to end hostilities between the Fomor and other signatories of the Accorded Nations in Chicago. As the Winter Knight, Harry Dresden is contacted by the Winter Queen to serve as her envoy.

Nonetheless, things start to stack against Harry very quickly. Unexpectedly, Thomas attacks the King of the Svartalfars, fails, and is imprisoned for his crime. Lara Raith uses her favor with Mab to force Harry to rescue her brother. Before they can leave Chicago, Harry must fight his wizard grandfather, Ebenezer McCoy, and finally reveals that Thomas is his grandson, much to his anger and disgust. Dying from his hunger, Thomas is safely trapped on the island of Demonreach to prevent his death. To make matters worse, there are rumors that the Senior Council may convene to expel Harry from the powerful wizard guild.

Battle Ground, by Jim Butcher, is the seventeenth novel in The Dresden Files series. The events pick up immediately after the conclusion of Peace Talks. After Lara and Harry escaped the meeting, the King of the Fomor declares war on humanity and unleases the last Titan, who is in possession of the Eye of Balor. Additionally, she will posssess an army that aims to oblierate Chicago. The various signatories and present parties realize this threat will certainly create a genocidal war against the supernatural and the extinction of humanity. After the Titan Ethinu declares war against humanity, Harry Dresden attempts to stop the being from destroying Chicago.

Upon their return from Demonreach, Harry and his lover Karrin Murphy rush to warn their friends in the Paranet about the upcoming supernatural war. Harry also returns to Castle Marcone, where the Accorded Nations are ready to defend the city from the Titan and her Fomor army. They will face more powerful and dangerous beings never seen on earth in over a millennia. Furthermore, Harry must survive an apocalyptic battle at a magnitude that will test his odds. While he attempts to save the city and defeat the Titan, he may not be able to save all of those he holds dear.

Harry Dresden has returned! Author Jim Butcher finally released these back-to-back novels with action-packed suspense. Fans will not be disappointed by the plot details. I thought that Harry Dresden's smackdown performance in Changes was epic, but these novels, particularly Battle Ground, take the adventure to a whole different level. Butcher always find a creative opening for Harry to outwit his powerful enemies. In particular, the Titan's powers seemed formidable and destructive. In this case, however, the war comes with a major price for Harry and the survivors that will leave psychological scars for years to come. The climatic ending also signals that the series may finally come to a close in the next subsequent novels. As I understand, this series was originally scheduled for 20 novels. Time will tell what will await for Harry in his next mission. The final chapters do leave a big clue on of his next investigation. I highly recommend reading both novels sequentially because they complement each other.

Stay tuned for the next novel in The Dresden Files series.