Book Review: Summer Knight

Summer Knight, by Jim Butcher

Summer Knight is the fourth novel of The Dresden Files by author Jim Butcher. The story revolves around Harry Dresden, a wizard living in present day Chicago.  Dresden works with Karrin Murphy, a police officer with the Chicago PD, to help solve cases that seem to have happened by supernatural forces.  Usually.  This time, Dresden is enlisted by Mab, Queen of the Winter Court, to solve a murder and clear her name - all while stopping an apocalyptic battle between the Summer and Winter Courts. 

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Warning: Spoilers follow here.

In Summer Knight, Harry is a total wreck trying to procure a cure for Susan, who is still dealing with the vampire toxin.  For nearly a year, Harry has been down in his lab running experiment after experiment to no avail.  One day, Billy the Werewolf from Fool Moon calls Dresden and tells him that something wonky is happening in the park.  The Alphas have been patrolling areas of Chicago since the events of Fool Moon, and there's been a sudden "rain" of toads.  After a juvenile attempt at an assassination on Harry, supposedly due to the vampire war that is now raging since the end of the last book, and after deducing that the toads are real, Harry begins to wonder what else is going on.  Meanwhile, Billy has taken it upon himself to try and wrangle Harry's life back in order and set up an interview with a client at his office.  Harry meets up with his client, who turns out to be Mab, the Winter Queen.  Turns out the Summer Knight has been killed, and the obvious answer of suspect is Mab.  She says she didn't do it, and wants Harry to help clear her name.  In addition, Mab has purchased Harry's debt from Lea, his godmother, and now "owns" Harry.  Harry and Mab come to an agreement: after performing three tasks for Mab, Harry's debt will finally be released.  The first task is clearing Mab's name of the murder.  That same evening, the White Council meets to discuss what to do in light of the vampire war.  It is brought to light that Mab has offered safe passage through the Nevernever for the wizards, only after an unknown task is completed - Harry's case.  It is because of this that the Council can't abolish Harry, they have to keep him on the council in order to have a getaway plan for the vampire war.  So they adjourn the meeting and Harry goes to talk to Bob.  Bob tells Harry that there are six people of higher order in either Court: Winter and Summer Mother, the highest; Winter and Summer Queen, in the middle; and Winter and Summer Lady, the lowest power.  Under each Lady is a Knight who fights on that Court's behalf.  The Summer Knight is now dead, and Harry has to figure out who killed him, how, and why in order to clear Mab.  One night, Harry returns to his apartment to find it open.  He prepares a spell since he could be facing anyone inside, and opens the door to find Elaine, his first love who was thought to have burned in the fire alongside Justin, Harry's teacher.  We know Harry's side of the story: Justin tried to bring Harry over the dark side, while Elaine tried to hold him down, and Harry ran.  Lea, technically an advocate of the Winter Court, offered Harry power with which to defeat Justin and now Harry is still paying off that debt.  But there's another side.  When Harry returned with this new power to defeat Justin, Elaine ran out of fear.  She was offered protection from Aurora, the Summer Lady.  Unknowingly, both Harry and Elaine were offered some sort of protection from, and now owe a debt to, both Courts.  As such, both are put up against each other to see which side wins out.  After a lot backstabbing, and a lot of trickery, Harry, the Alphas, and two Changelings who were loyal to the Summer Knight, walk the stairs to Faerie and prepare to take down Aurora, the Summer Lady, who killed the Summer Knight.  Turns out Aurora is trying to wreak complete havoc, even though she somehow thinks she's doing the right thing 'cause she crazy, and Harry and the Gang are trying to stop her.  After lots of cool battling, they do, and Harry is returned home, his first task to Mab paid off.  Elaine tells him to stop feeling sorry for himself before skipping town, and he goes over to the Alpha's place for pizza.
 

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Whew!  This book has a lot to offer.  There's a lot of story and a lot of back story as well, which I appreciated.  I really want Harry to find a cure for Susan, or to find something that can help her.  I want her to come back in the next book and there be a way to fix her.  All the battle scenes were so well written.  The story, to be honest, was a little convoluted.  There was never a real answer as to why Aurora was doing everything, trying to ruin the Courts.  I'm sure the answer of, "She effing crazy" makes perfect sense, it just doesn't seem Butcher's style.  I like that Harry's debt now lies with Mab, because I like Mab.  We'll see if that changes.  I'm liking the return of characters with the Alphas.  I hope more characters make returns.  Simply because the story made my head hurt a little, I'm giving the book a 4/5.  But so far, it is my favorite.

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For Next Time:
Death Masks, by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, is hired by a mysterious priest to find the stolen shroud of Turin. -barnesandnoble.com