Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher Narrator: James Marsters
Series: The Dresden Files #16
Published by Ace, Penguin Audio on July 14, 2020
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 348
Length: 12 hours, 53 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
When the supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago - and all he holds dear?
I have listened to most of the Dresden Files series on audio from the library and then went straight to Audible to buy them. I have Peace Talks (and Battle Ground) both pre-ordered but am delighted to have had the chance to read them a bit early for review. I would read this series in order and not miss a single book. They continue to improve as you read the series.
Urban Fantasy is my favorite genre and this series is definitely in my top 5 series ever. Harry has all the things I love in UF. He has collected a group of allies of all types. He shows compassion for others and some intelligent strategy. He puts others before himself, often risking his life, pushing himself to his limits. And I love the humor.
I LOVE this world and its characters. I was particularly happy to see Harry interact with his daughter Maggie, his brother Thomas, his grandfather, and his long-time partner, Karen Murphy. I was especially glad to see him work well with Karen because they have had a rough road.
The plot is not what I expected from the title. Yes, the supernatural world sets up peace talks, and of course, they will be in Chicago. There are some efforts to take Harry down and remove him from the White Council while he is working in security at the talks. Mab sets him to work doing favors for Lara Wraith, which is dangerous and uncomfortable. His brother, Thomas, ends up in trouble.
As usual, Harry is juggling multiple issues, loyalties and trying to save everyone from any hurt or pain. This isn’t possible most of the time and it certainly goes sideways here in spectacular fashion. I loved the clever strategy, the edge of danger, and the battles here. It’s another amazing tale from a master storyteller.
I suspected since the next title is Battle Ground that perhaps the talks didn’t go well. That’s an understatement and you will be thrilled Battle Ground is only a couple months away with the ending here. I know I am ready and incredibly excited.
Narration:
I love the audiobook narration by James Marsters. He brings these characters to life and I can’t imagine anyone else. Even if I read, which I have only done with a few novellas, I hear him. I love his performance and own everything including the novella collections on audio. I now listen comfortably at 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About James Marsters
AMERICAN actor, singer and songwriter James Marsters first found international fame playing punk-goth Brit vampire Spike in the critically acclaimed American TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the equally popular spin-off Angel.
Film roles include live action film Dragon Ball, romantic love story P.S. I Love You with Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler and Kathy Bates , USA Original true-crime film Cool Money, independent thriller Shadow Puppets, Winding Roads, The House On Haunted Hill and Chance with Buffy co-star Amber Benson.
The Californian actor, who grew up in Modesto, has also played Brainiac in TV’s Smallville and guest starred in Without A Trace, Millennium, Andromeda, The Mountain, Saving Grace and mostly recently Caprica. James is currently filming in CBS’s Hawaii Five-O.
James’s voiceover talents can be found portraying Lex Luthor on the DVD release of Superman: Doomsday and he continues to read for the very popular Dresden Files books on tape series.
He has received numerous nominations and awards, including the Spacey Award, the Saturn Award, the Cinescape Face of the Future Award, the Golden Satellite Award, and the Teen Choice Award.
James attended New York’s prestigious Juilliard, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and the American Conservatory Theatre and spent 10 years doing stage work before moving to LA to work in film and television.
He worked in Chicago’s famous Goodman Theater and also set-up and ran companies in Chicago and Seattle. One of his early television appearances was as a hotel bellhop in the television series Northern Exposure.
James is also a singer songwriter and has enjoyed sell-out concerts in America, Canada, Australia and Europe. He brought out his first solo album, Civilized Man, in 2005 and has followed it up with Like A Waterfall.
About Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
James Marsters narrates?? I didn’t know that! I may need to check out the first book in audio?
He’s AMAZING! I own them all, including this one which I pre-ordered. They get better as you go along in the series but the early ones are still 4 hearts at least for me.
I listened to the first 5 of the series and took a break and never made it back. I will one day though. James Marsters is so good as the narrator for the series.
I love him in this narration. He adds to the story so well. But the story is great also. The books get better and better so you got through the beginner ones and quit about the time they got amazing.
This series is on my keeper shelf. I love the audiobooks also. I started them early on so I had to wait each year for a new book.
Good for you! This series is one of the first I listened to on audio. I only read mystery for a long time (more than 10 years) because I worked about 80 hours a week. Then I read an anthology which edited by a mystery author which turned out to be urban fantasy and scifi. I never looked back. There were short stories in the anthology on Sookie Stackhouse (Harris), Riley Jensen(Arthur) and Kitty Norville (Vaughn) The first ones I read after that were Cat & Bones, Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson – still top favorites.
now i know i have to check with the library and see if they have this series. you hooked me with your great review, even though he had already been on my radar
Thank you! They probably have them; that’s how I started although I bought every one after I read it. They get better as you go along so don’t give up on the first few. But those are at least 4 hearts, and they get amazing.
It was so good to finally have this book. Hearing James Marsters… I was so happy. The book tackles a lot and I’m so glad that the next one will be out in two months – Peace Talks is really just the start of something much bigger, right?!
Yes exactly. I really love this series so much. It was so easy to get right into it. That’s how the very best ones work, no matter how long since you read the previous book.
Yay, lovely review. Your comment about the title made me giggle. Totally true.
I’m just so glad it is being released this year. I really love this series.
Great review. I’ve got 2 more to listen/read before I’m to this one. Glad you enjoyed!
I love this series so much. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I need to get back to this series! I’ve listened to two books and I love James Marsters performance! I miss Buffy! Spike was my favorite character.
Oh yes, the books only get better as you go along. Actually I am considering this for the 2022 Read-along. It’s one of my top favorite series.
I have heard so many great things about this author, and even though UF isn’t my favorite genre, I am really intrigued by this author and seeing how he deals with this genre.
Glad you had such a great time with this one. 🙂
It’s just one of my favorite series ever.
That’s it! I have to get started on this series. It sounds perfect for me. Excellent review:)
Thank you! They do get better with each book partly because I know and love and care about these characters.
I miss this series. Wonderful review, Anne?
Thank you! It’s definitely one of my favorite series ever, so you can always get back to it sometime.