I really liked the book. I devoured it, as usual.

So, my feelings on how this book stacked up to the others.

I think it did really well. I know that a lot of people seem to think that the book was an opportunity for Butcher to figure out where he was going to go with the series, but I think Ghost Story was more important to the character of Harry than anything else.

This book really gave Harry an excuse to slow down and do some thinking. Jim hasn't really had Harry in a place where he couldn't help much, or just walk in and blow things to pieces to save the day. The character development that went on in this novel will pay big dividends all the way to the end of the series. Where Changes was all about major changes to the story arc, Ghost Story was about changes to the characters themselves.

Murphy - At war with herself for not always being able to do things on the level with the law. Broken over Harry's death.

Bob - We get to see inside the skull. Bob becomes more fleshed out as a character, and somehow more honest and friendly.

Harry - Harry finally realizes that results aren't everything. How you kill the big toad demon is just as important as why, and sometimes the cost is just too high. This will pay off later as Harry can now be written as a greater thinker when it comes to his plans. He'll be thinking about the ramifications of his actions from now on, and he'll be a better wizard for it.

And especially at the end of the book

*MAJOR SPOILERS*

Where you see Harry coming back to life with Demonreach and Mab around him. Harry has realized that he can never be broken again by torture or by pain. He's been through it, and he's willing to take a moral stand against Mab, and win the argument, because she doesn't have the leverage she thought she did. He'll be her Knight, but on his terms, or he'll be all but useless for her, and can't be tortured into behaving any other way.

Molly - Devastated over the part she played in Changes, we literally get to see inside Molly's head and learn a lot about her. Harry now sees her as a woman, and she's been out on her own. Her character can go in a completely different direction. It's not just going to be "Molly, stay in the car," anymore.


There are more. Butters gets some courage, Daniel becomes a dangerous man, Mort becomes a much cooler character, etc.

The action wasn't nearly as epic as Changes, but I think this book is just as important, because the characters are completely different now.