Peace Talks, Jim Butcher’s newest installment in the Dresden Files universe is the culmination of all of Harry’s experiences, pain, and victories blending into one great explosion that resonates with, “I am enough.”

It has been a long, long time since I have read any new snark coming from the mouth of Harry Dresden. There is a giant hole in my TBR stack that only a Dresden book can fill. This series is books that make you smile and not take life so seriously; they are the best parts of Urban Fantasy as a genre. The series taken as a whole is half Sam Spade (trench coat and all) and half the tv show Supernatural. It is wizarding with an attitude. It is a take no bullshit, going to do what is right, Dresden is going to smite the bad guy kind of fun. It is heart and soul and so many things. Although there have been a few short stories since Butcher’s last book, it has been six years since the previous full Harry novel.

But let me tell you folks; this book is worth the wait.

We return to Dresden’s world very near where Skin Game left off. You can read Peace Talks singularly. However, I think readers should read Skin Game. There are many plot points that Butcher touches on that might be lost on readers if you aren’t vaguely familiar with them. Harry is still a member of the council and is the Winter Knight for Queen Mab. All of these twist and turn and pull Harry’s loyalty in many directions.
Complicating things is a situation with Thomas. Thomas, for some reason, does something very uncharacteristic for himself and gets in trouble.

In Peace Talks, Harry, an “every situation can be solved with a tornado” kind of wizard, is faced with something he is not known for talking and subtleties. Peace Talks is just that; it is the gathering of most of the world’s significant magical forces to talk. The idea is not to jump all over each other, whip fire around, or see who is wielding the biggest magical staff. Instead, it is talking in peace amongst your peers and hammering things out. Also, Peace Talks touches on familial issues: Dresden’s relationship with his brother and Grandfather play a large part in the Narrative. We are blessed with moments of Harry interacting with reoccurring characters. Butters, Karrin, Molly, and Mouse all have standout moments. Especially Mouse, that dog has single-handedly made me want a Foo dog so that I may name him Mouse. Don’t tell me Foo dogs aren’t real.

“Okay,” Butters said. “So… that just happened.” He regarded the ectoplasm and then me and shook his head. “Your life, Harry. What the hell?”
-Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

Dresden seems more at peace with who he is in this book more than any book or short story written. He has great interactions with Karrin that exude hard-fought-for calmness and familiarity. It is lovely to read as Harry deserves some peace in his romantic life for once. There are also moments later in the book where, while battling a foe, Harry realizes that he is his own man and does not need to explain or defend it. Even to his most trusted advisors, friends, and lovers. You would think that by book 16, he would have figured this out by now. But there is a difference in knowing something and internalizing it. I believe that Harry has finally internalized that he is enough; he always been enough, and given his history and experiences, people should start believing in him.

This book is also a love letter to the idea of found family.

“Yeah, one second.” I finally found the folded-up piece of paper with the weekly passphrases on it in the depths of the gym bag. I unfolded it, shook sand off it, consulted it, and read, “All of my base are belong to me. What does that even mean?”
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

A little back story on Harry’s character. He is an orphan, both of his parents have passed away, and his grandfather had raised him. He has few people to turn to that are blood-related. So instead, he finds his people, his family. They become as dear to his heart as much as anyone who shares his blood. It is part of what makes Harry such a fun character to read. He has a certain authenticity; he genuinely loves the people he adopts as family members. Sometimes this is used to hurt him as we have seen in previous books, with his daughter used against him as leverage.

“Yer a wizard, Harry.”
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

Pacing wise, this book feels different than previous Dresden stories. I know that this is marketed as having a small procedural arc like most of the Dresden file books do, this arc then sits inside a massive ongoing series arc. But although the end of the book does come to some conclusions as expected, it does not feel whole to me. Instead, it feels like it was written as 1/2 of a story to be concluded with Butcher’s next book Battleground. This might be why they are being released close together as Battleground is due to be released on September 29th of 2020. This is pure speculation; Battleground might feel very much like its own book. But I think that we are going to get a more solid feeling of closure for Peace Talks when Battleground has concluded. Either way, Butcher is blessing us readers with two Dresden stories this year.

If you take on the Dresden Files, 16+ books, it might seem overwhelming. A lot is going on. But trust that even if you haven’t read the previous books, you will enjoy this one. It is full of snark and quips, great plot, pacing, and standout moments. And, if you have read the previous books, you will fully appreciate it as it almost feels like he wrote it with the fans in mind. Butcher needed to remind longtime fans why this series is so much fun, and he does that in spades. As we have Battleground set to be released this fall, it is a banner year for Dresden Fans. If Battlegrounds is anything like this one, I don’t think fans will be disappointed.

Hell’s bells. I have waited for years for this book. And now it is here and I loved it! If I could hope for anything more, it would be more book. And Battle Ground is coming in September so woo-hoo!

Peace Talks takes place about a month after Skin Game does (which really was a peace of mind for me). It starts with an absolutely riveting sentence that I never expected to hear, and it just took it from there. This book had absolutely everything that I have been waiting six years to read. It had Dresden being himself, only he has somehow actually matured a bit. It had Murphy being an absolute badass. There was Molly in her new role, doing her actual duties. It even had Maggie being adorable, with Mouse and Mister, too!

It also had danger at every turn, of course. There are going to be Peace Talks between the players in the supernatural world that we have come to know and hate, and the Fomorians who have grown like a wildfire up to no good in the wake of the utter destruction of the Red Court Vampires. Despite being unsure of both his welcome in the ranks of the White Council and his duties with them after becoming the Winter Knight, Dresden is invited to act as Warden during the Peace Talks.

All while the White Council is voting to strip Dresden of his inclusion in the council entirely. And with all of his allies on the Council being in Chicago for the Peace Talks, this could turn out badly for Dresden. Also, his brother, Thomas, has been credibly accused of killing a svartalf in their embassy. Where Dresden just happens to live. And the svartalves are baying for blood (and justice, but mostly blood).

I debated with myself about how much I could say in this review, and it isn’t really much. Because this feels like half a book. And it is. Which is why I say my one complaint is that I wanted more. When I first learned that Peace Talks was in July and Battle Ground was in September, I feared that they were one book that had to be split into two due to length. And those fears were realized because that is exactly what Peace Talks feels like.

This is still an outstanding book. I loved it to pieces, every single moment of it. Even when it was breaking my heart. It hits all the parts a book needs to hit, including a sort of climax. But this is still only half the story, and you can tell. Because there is going to be pain, and anger, and just danger on an epic scale. In the next book. And it is only set up in Peace Talks. This isn’t going to happen in the distant future like it does in previous books setting things up for events far in advance, but it is going to happen soon. There is a date and everything.

And I can’t wait.

Very big thanks to Ace Books and Edelweiss for providing this copy for review.

This was a fantastic continuation of the Dresden Files. The writing felt effortless. Lots of action and Butcher expands the universe that much more. Highly recommend that all libraries purchase this title and the entire Dresden Files series.

My favorite resident magician of Chicago, Wizard of the White Council, Warden of Demonreach, Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness and general all-around wiseass, Harry Dresden is back! Action-packed with a cliff hanger ending, can hardly wait for the next book, BATTLE GROUND due out in September 2020. :-)

This book was a long time coming and sadly it did not live up to my expectations. Harry Is raising his daughter Maggie and trying to mana get his duties as the Winter Knight. His life is going well when he finds out that the Formor are apparently willing to negotiate a peace. He is called to act in his role as a Warden though his mantle as Mab’s enforcer make his “allies” uneasy and they are distrustful of Harry’s intentions. As if that wasn’t enough, Harry’s brother Thomas manages to get himself in a tight spot with the svartalves. So now Harry must help out his brother all while attending the peace talks between the signatories of the Unseelie Accords. No big deal right?

Like most Dresden Files books, this is a fairly fast paced read. Harry is slowly growing as a character and is trying his best to be a dad, a brother, a boyfriend, and maintain his humanity and sense of decency. However, I had trouble connecting to Harry in this book and I got tired of all the pop culture references which kept jolting me out of the story. It was entertaining at first, but the constant references to Star Wars, Spider-Man, and memes grated and took away from the story. I plan on reading Battleground but zI am starting to grow a bit tired of the Dresden Files and I hope Butcher wraps the story sooner rather than later.

Harry's back and at it again! This time, he's doing his duty by attending the titular peace talks between the powers-that-be of Chicago. And nothing ever goes wrong at a magical peace summit, right? Harry quickly finds himself up to his eyeballs in trouble. His competing loyalties are constantly tugging him in different directions, which quickly make things difficult for him and his allies. Thomas is in trouble, Harry's being framed, Karrin's stuck in a cast, and oh, who could forget about the Outsiders! Lots of past characters come back into play, and it seems like everyone wants a piece of Harry. Meanwhile, our calamitous Winter Knight-slash-Wizard of Chicago is trying out something new from his bag of tricks; diplomacy.
This book was everything I could ask for in the continuation of the series. Harry is growing up, getting used to being a father, and adjusting to his Winter mantle. The consequences of the previous book have come to bite him in the butt, along with family issues, political obligations, and sexy White Court vamps. Butcher excels once again with his intricate plotting and world-building. I was hooked from start to finish, and my only wish was that the book wouldn't end! I didn't realize how much I missed magical Chicago until I was back in the thick of things with Harry and co. It filled me with so much raw emotion to see Harry back in action and dealing with all the irreversible changes in his life. I think we've all longed to go home at one point or another; unfortunately Harry's old home has a mobster's castle built right on top of it.
Peace Talks was a delight, but I would definitely recommend a re-read (of Skin Game at the least) before diving in. So many past characters make appearances, each with their own motivations and secrets. I had to refresh my memory a few times, or risk missing the nuance of certain interactions. Butcher is a master of sliding in little details, and teases us once again with some "starborn" tidbits! Fantasy readers can rejoice at this installment of the Dresden Files, it does not disappoint! And even better, the next book is coming in just a few months!! Those new to the series may find themselves a bit lost at times, but Harry's smart mouth and wild shenanigans will keep any reader entertained!

4.5/5

I am one of Jim Butcher's biggest fans. Indeed, I did a massive re-read of his DRESDEN FILES books on RPG.net and was briefly a beta-reader before I had to drop out due to my father's death (that was a bad year for me). Still, I have waited for baited breath and great anticipation for the next installment of the adventures of
Harry Dresden, Wizard for Hire. Was the book worth the wait? Yes and no but mostly yes.

Harry Dresden is one of the biggest influences on my writing career and without him I wouldn't have completed Straight Outta Fangton, Esoterrorism, or I was a Teenage Weredeer. However, he's been gone since SKIN GAME in 2014. The Dresden Files have always had a strong forward momentum with near yearly releases keeping it going. The six year delay between books isn't the fault of Jim Butcher but still hampered fandom's ability to keep up with one of their favorite characters. I feared I wouldn't be able to keep up with what was going on.

So, what do I think of PEACE TALKS?

SPOILERS FOR UP TO BOOK 15#: Thankfully, this is not the problem as the book manages to give us an update on the status quo without too much confusion. Murphy is still recovering from her injuries sustained at Nicodemus' hands [and will never be 100% again or even 80%], Harry is still the Knight of Winter, Molly is the youngest Queen of the Unseelie, and Butter is now a Knight of the Cross. Things seem to be going actually quite well when he receives the bombshell that the Formor want to have a peace conference with the White Council after several years of low-level war.

Harry is not in a great space with the White Council due to being a representative of the Unseelie Court and it's surprising that they still recognize him as a member of the White Council. I actually assumed they would have removed him as a member but his position would have gone up due to the fact the Knight of Winter is an important delegation for a friendly(ish) foreign power. Harry can't be a FBI agent (Warden) while serving as head of China's secret service (Winter's Knight), at least that's how I assumed it would go. So when they threaten him with removal it doesn't really have the same level of sting to it.

I won't spoil the rest of the plot but Harry finds one of his loved one's endangered and must choose between their welfare versus starting an international incident that could derail the titular peace talks. We've been down this road before as far back as GRAVE PERIL. Harry is never going to be able to put the big picture ahead of the small one. The question is how he's going to screw things up, not if. Much to my surprise, I have to say the book did not go in the direction I expected though. It is full of believable but unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The standout character of this book is undoubtedly Ebenezer McCoy a.k.a the Blackstaff. Always an important part of Harry's life, we get new insights into him and what happens when their ideological differences come to an end. Ebenezer will always do what he feels will yield the greatest good while Harry will never cross certain lines in the name of love. Seeing this rock and a hard place crash is amazing and the reasons are entirely believable.

I also really appreciated the appearance of both Lara Raith as well as Molly Carpenter. I really enjoy whenever Harry has tension with either of them. I'm not a Karrin/Harry shipper and think they should never get together like Mulder and Scully. Unfortunately, this book leans heavily into that and I hope the next one will crash and burn the relationship. That's a very personal bias, though.

My biggest complaint about the book is the fact it very much ends in a cliffhanger and we won't find out what happens next until Battlegrounds. I really wanted to know more about the investigation, the peace talks (which I think didn't have nearly as much time as they deserved), and other central mysteries. I could have given this book a 4 out of 5 with these flaws but I'm just glad to have Harry back and have pre-ordered the sequel already.

I came late to the Dresden files. I binge read the entire series in a year and have been waiting for this newest book. I really enjoyed Peace Talks. The last couple of previous books had become really dark. Peace Talks brought back all the adventure and intrigue of the series with a bit less doom and darkness
Definitely a recommended read.

Super extra special thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas is coming early this year, everyone. TWO DRESDEN FILES books after years of waiting. Step aside, George Martin. Feel ashamed, Patrick Rothfuss. Jim Butcher has you beat. He went through a dry spell with quite a bit of personal turmoil and came out the other side writing a book so long it had to be split into two. Take notes, authors.

This one was fantastic after the long wait. We jump back into Harry's life, which of course is still cray cray, and it's like coming home.

Of course, Jim Butcher can't let things stay quiet for long. Soon, allies are in trouble, he's got Winter Knight duties, family decides now's the perfect time to add issues, the Council is being its typical self, and a bunch of supernaturals are in town for a peace talk convention that, let's be honest, we all know is bound to go wrong.

If you haven't read the side anthologies, read them before you pick this one up. You'll be happy you did - you'll recognize a character or two and you'll understand what's going on with Ramirez a little better.

Of course, since this was one book that ended up split into two, the ending is semi-cliffhangerish (yeah, I made up a word). Thank Queen Mab we only have a short wait until September for the next bit.

Highly recommended series, but start from the beginning and don't jump in here!

Harry Dresden must navigate a tricky line between loyalties and alliances, friends and family, enemies and...well more enemies. The Accords have been evoked to settle the war between the Fomor and well just about everyone else. Only if that was all there was too it. Harry is called upon as his role as a Warden of the White Council, Winter Knight of the Winter Court, and Chicago's only Wizard in the Yellowpages to help make sure these Peace Talks work out. Only there are foces at work that are well beyond understanding and way too many secrets to keep straight. Harry will have one of his most difficult challenges yet navigating this ever shifting minefield, and he can't do it alone. With the help of old friends, family and a few enemies and a heck of a lot of luck there is a moderate chance that he will come out of this ordeal alive...let alone in one piece.

This is only my second Dresden Files book, but the previous one (plus having seen the TV show) was enough to familiarize myself with this world well enough. There is a rather dizzying array of supernatural beings, both traditional (faeries, vampires) and of Butcher's invention (svartalves, outsiders). The titular peace talks are a summit meeting of all of the supernatural nations to decide on taking action against a mutual threat.

But just before the talks begin, wizard Harry Dresden's brother (the vampire Thomas Raith) attempts to assassinate the king of the svartalves. Much of the action revolves around the attempt his sister (the vampire Lara Raith) and Harry make to free him from imprisonment, since his eventual execution for the crime seems inevitable.

That rescue happens during the first night of the summit. Harry sticks around long enough to understand the huge, unexpected supernatural force that threatens not only the supernatural nations but all of the mortals in the city of Chicago as well. The novel ends with at least partial resolution of the rescue, but only a cliffhanger for the coming battle. The last page does not say "to be continued," but it might as well have.

Far and away the best Dresden Files book yet. Butcher has clearly matured as an author and it paid off in spades here. The plot is tighter, the character development is off the charts, and the stakes are clearer and higher than they’ve ever been before. The story also feels more modern, shedding some of the more problematic elements that just don’t fly in 2020. If you were afraid that Dresden wouldn’t be as good after such a long gap in publication, don’t fear - this series feels stronger than ever.

Please disregard or take this with a huge grain of salt, but this was my first experience with Jim Butcher and the Harry Dresden books. I did enough prep work ahead of time to know that while it, of course, helps to have prior knowledge of the characters, it would be okay not to have read all of the others--or in my case, any. So, yes, I jumped into the series at book #16, and I have to say I did not really care for it. For one, I dislike first-person narrative, so I really did not appreciate Dresden's droll outlook on the world. Some of the jokes and attempts at humor were so forced they were downright insufferable. In fact, there was no character with whom I truly connected (again, this could be a product of not having a background with them). The world-building and magic systems were fine, but not enough to carry my interest throughout.

I'm sure fans of the series will eagerly eat this up, especially as this is the first book in six years. I imagine the anticipation is quite high, as I have seen the early feedback on Goodreads. And I'm happy for them! I may go back and read the first book some day, because I have heard so many good things about the series, but for now, this entry was not for me.

I want to start out with a huge thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read and review a digital ARC of this book.

I have really enjoyed the previous Dresden Files and was ecstatic at the chance to read this book. It did not disappoint in any way, shape, or form. This picks up right where Skin Game left off, with tensions building among the various factions and Dresden in the middle of it all.
Peace Talk features a lot of build up,with the various factions interacting and competing. The majority of the book is in fact focused on peace talks, hosted by Marcone, and attended by the heavy hitters of every major faction in the accords. As always, there are competing interests and Dresden is torn between the various factions he works with. Things are never simple.
Without giving too much away, this book does a lot of work to set up the next one, Battleground. It wraps up some existing story lines from previous books, starts some new ones, and sets up a big conflict for the next book.

Its not as fast paced as some of the other books, but the stakes are higher than ever.

The Dresden Files have yet to dissapoint me and I am anxiously awaiting what comes next~

I have nothing but good things to say about this installment of the Dresden Files. I had read the first book in the series a long time ago and enjoyed it but never picked up another for whatever reason. This one was easy to fall into and was just as enjoyable as the first. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr. Butcher!

This title was a great addition to the series. I can't wait for the next one. I am going to have to go back and re-read now. The author had me fooled for a minute as I thought maybe we were going to be seeing the end of the series but no; Harry got up to fight again. This book was big on family, those by blood and those by choice. And, of course, there is the big, bad monster that shows up although this one is a bit bigger and badder than those that we have seen previously. As a redhead I really enjoyed the part where Harry muses that it takes a redhead to freak out Karrin.
I definitely enjoyed this book and now I need to go back and re-read. I just hope the next title in the series doesn't take quite as long as this one took.

Peace Talks is another thrilling episode in the life of Harry Dresdon. Fantasy fans will eat up this latest installment. The stakes are higher and the tension will keep readers on the edge. This is one book you shouldn't miss.

Peace Talks had an amazing storyline that kept me reading nonstop to find out what happens next. It is written beautifully with all the witty charm and sarcasm that is to be expected from Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden. I had been waiting to read this book for a while, and I can say it exceeded my expectations. Peace Talks was absolutely worth the wait and I’m excited to add it to my personal collection!

Vampires and werewolves and svartalves! Oh my! It's been a long time, Harry Dresden, and I missed you.

It almost seems like Harry has learned some life lessons (gasp!), although his hero complex is firmly in place. Older and wiser Harry is here to once again fight his way through a set of impossible circumstances with all of his bad ass friends (Murphy, I'm looking at you).

The good: typical Jim Butcher writing...intelligent, fast-paced, and filled with all of your favorite characters doing amazing things.

The bad (and really it's my bad, not the author's): my poor brain cells can't remember all of these characters and why they are important in the grand scheme because it's been years since I read the last book. You almost need a refresher or a character list to help you get started. Also, cliffhanger ending. Are we being set up for the end of this series?

This is a quality addition to one of my favorite series. Until we meet again, Harry.

I've been a long-time reader of the Dresden Files series and am so glad that we've got a new installment. I'd say the writing fits in well with Butcher's writing style, and there are tons of cameos from favorite secondary characters. Still, I do have to say this was not my favorite book in the series. I felt that the book kept building in momentum but never actually got where it needed to go. While it was nice to revisit so many of the characters we've known in previous books, I don't feel that all of the appearances were necessary and potentially got in the way of the bigger story itself.

If you've been a fan of Dresden for the first 15 books, this one is definitely worth reading. I do feel that it left a bit to be desired that I'm hoping will be resolved with the release of Book 17 in September.