Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) [Hardcover]

Jim Butcher (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 1, 2008

The new novel in the New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.

No one's tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.

An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness-and she's calling in her marker. It's a small favor he can't refuse...one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skills- and loyalties-to their very limits.

It figures. Everything was going too well to last...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Intricate yet accessible plotting and near-Arctic winter weather mark the 10th Harry Dresden adventure from bestseller Butcher (after 2007's White Night). A friendly snowball fight opens the Chicago-based wizard-detective's latest tale, but it's not long before a host of more dangerous foes are out for Harry's blood. A missing human mobster is said to be seeking greater influence among Chicago's extranormal population, but the true threat proves both more subtle and of much greater consequence. Butcher smoothly manages a sizable cast of allies and adversaries, doles out needed backstory with crisp efficiency and sustains just the right balance of hair's-breadth tension and comic relief. Encounters with a series of increasingly dangerous Billy Goats Gruff unfold with particular cleverness, and key developments involving Sgt. Karrin Murphy, Harry's reluctant police liaison, will intrigue seasoned fans as well as newcomers attracted by last year's TV adaptation of the series. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

Investigating a questionable crime scene, Harry Dresden realizes something much nastier than simple arson is involved. Then the Winter Queen Mab shows up, requesting one of the two favors he still owes her. Soon Harry is embroiled in Fae maneuvering and fighting an even nastier enemy, all because Mab maneuvered him into helping crime boss Marcone. Fortunately, Harry has amazing friends, including some characters he hasn’t gotten along with in the past. Packed with the epic battling characteristic of the Dresden Files, promising something fascinating for the next volume, this is another fine combination of mystery and fantasy, seasoned by Harry’s appalling sense of humor. --Regina Schroeder

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451461894
• ISBN-13: 978-0451461896
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (232 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jim Butcher read his first fantasy novel when he was seven years old--
the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. By the time he turned eight,
he'd added the rest of the Narnia books, the Prydain Chronicles, every
book about Star Wars he could find, a great many Star Trek novels and
the Lord of the Rings to his count.

So he was pretty much doomed from the start.

Love of fantasy, his personal gateway drug, drew him toward a fairly
eclectic spread of interests: horseback riding (including trick riding,
stunt riding, drill riding, and competitive stunt racing), archery,
martial arts, costuming, music and theater. He played a lot of role-
playing games, a lot of fantasy-based tactical computer games, and
eventually got into live-action roleplay where players beat each other
up with boffer weapons.

So, really, he can fly his nerd flag with pretty much anyone, and
frequently does.

He took up writing to be able to produce fantasy novels with swords and
horses in them, and determinedly wrote terrible fantasy books until,
just to prove a point to his writing teacher, he decided to take every
piece of her advice; fill out outlines and worksheets, and design
stories and characters just the way she'd been telling him to do for
about three years. He was certain that once she saw what hideous art it
produced, she would be proven wrong and repent the error of her ways.
The result was the Dresden Files, which sure showed *her*.

She has not yet admitted her mistake and recanted her philosophy on
writing.

Jim has performed in dramas, musicals, and vocal groups in front of
live audiences of thousands and on TV. He has performed exhibition
riding in multiple arenas, and fallen from running horses a truly
ridiculous number of times. He was once cursed by an Amazon witch
doctor in rural Brazil, has apparently begun writing about himself in
the third person, and is hardly ever sick at sea.

He also writes books occasionally.

Jim stands accused of writing the Dresden Files and the Codex Alera.
He's plead insanity, but the jury is still out on that one. He lives in
Missouri with his wife, romantic suspense and paranormal romance writer
Shannon K. Butcher (who is really pretty and way out of his league),
his son, and a ferocious guard dog.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#10 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#14 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#16 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#10 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#14 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#16 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never owe a faery queen a favor... April 5, 2008

By R. Kyle TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

You are never going to believe what Queen Mab wants Harry to do in exchange for a favor owed her. She wants him to rescue Gentleman Johnny Marcone (one of Chicago's most nefarious gangsters) from unknown kidnappers.

Now, having Johnny out of the scene could be a good thing? Well, not if the folks holding him are the order of the Denarians. And yes, they want Gentleman Johnny to take one of those ill-fated coins and the demon possession that goes with.

Unfortunately, Queen Titania is not in agreement with her sister regarding Johnny's possession and she sends some heavies of her own to get Harry's goat. What is described as a small favor turns out to be a serious threat to many of the people Harry cares about.

As always, Jim Butcher puts a lot of heart into his novels. He's kept Harry a good man, someone who'd risk his own life for others, a real hero in the urban fantasy genre.

We get some favorites returning: Michael Carpenter and his family; Sanya, the Black Russian Knight; Captain Luccio; Gard (remember Monoc Security, part of Marcone's protection?); and others.

"Small Favor" is one of the faster paced Dresden novels around. Jim had me hooked from the beginning and didn't let up until I turned the last page. I was glad to read that Butcher has ideas for 20 or so Dresden novels on the books and I seriously hope that his publisher will allow him to continue writing them.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Faeries, why did it have to be faeries? April 3, 2008

By Spence the Elder

Format:Hardcover

Small Favor
By Jim Butcher

Once more author Jim Butcher has given his readers a thrill packed roller coaster ride through the wild & woolly world of Harry Dresden's Chicago. The 10th book in the series shows us an ever evolving and maturing Harry Dresden. Almost all of the old gang are back, Murphy, Mab, Thomas, Marcone, Knights of the Cross, Fallen Angles ...etc.... and of course ...Bob. While Butchers books are far superior to the enjoyable , if somewhat short lived TV series, is there anyone who doesn't visualize Terrence Mann in a smoking jacket as they read about Bob?

Butcher seamlessly moves his story from the world of the hard boiled gumshoe through the occult and into magical realms of Faerie, (not to mention a few stops at the Godfathers), with all the in's and out's that we've come to expect in a Dresden novel.
I normally don't do reviews of novels because I would hate to inadvertently ruin the story for someone. So here`s the nutshell version without giving anything away. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend. The book has most of the cast and crew that we've grown to love (or hate). Fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the plot, no surprise there. The Good guy's finaly get to.......... I'll stop there. Oh, ya.... There's something better than hellfire, (be careful what you wish for Harry!). Enjoy!

In Frith,
Spence the Elder

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
M. Addams

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Harry, the Billy Goats Gruff and other nasty creatures May 7, 2008

By L. J. Roberts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

SMALL FAVOR (Para/PI, Harry Dresden, Chicago, Fan) - VG
Butcher, Jim - 10th in series
ROC, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780451461896

First Sentence: Winter came early that year; it should have been a tip-off.

Wizard Harry Dresden is having an enjoyable snowball fight with his apprentice and her siblings. It comes to an abrupt, and violent, end when they are attacked by three Billy Goats Gruff. These are no mild fairytale creatures and Queen Mab is calling in one of the favor's Harry owes her.

With a missing mobster, creatures galore and even his friends not quite trusting him, Harry has to fight to save himself and those important to him.

Once you get past the oozy, gory descriptions, these are great books. The character of Harry is a wonderful one--he's tough, loyal, brave, dedicated and has a wicked, wry humor. Even though this is part of a series, there is always enough back story so you understand the relationships.

This book was a real page-turner. It is, sometimes, hard to keep track, among the fantasy creatures, of who is whom, and on whose side, but the action just keep you going.

The story is not cliché and some of the more real characters have a strong moral code. For me, these books are always a treat to read.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Harry sorta won... July 21, 2008

By Jem TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like many others, I was disappointed in this installment of the Dresden Files. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the same caliber as previous books. I also think there was way too much Michael, and not enough Murphy. And a lot of characters seemed to be thrown into the mix just so they could appear. Really, was driving Harry around all Thomas could do? Molly has the potential to be a good character, but she has little substance at this point so why not have her hide out with the rest of the kids? Yet, these were minor problems for me. My main objection was yet another hollow victory.

I agree completely with the reviewer who said, "the action is relentless to the point that it sometimes seems like movement for its own sake and simply to grind Harry down." I'm all for a nemesis, or powerful villain that recurs to tempt or taunt the hero. However, the endless parade of uber-powerful foes has become too much. I find myself thinking, "put the poor bugger out of his misery" instead of "go Harry!" He (still) owes a favor to Mab. Summer wants him dead. Then we have The Fallen, The Red Court, and The Black Council. Not to mention all the individual evils that pop up. And the White Council which still doesn't trust him. And to top it all off, his friends are doubting him and he keeps getting beaten up - literally! When I reached the end of the novel, it didn't feel like Harry saved the day. The little progress that was made was taken back and then some, and the Fallen are just regrouping over a minor setback. The plot, such as it was, didn't seem to serve any purpose. You'd think Summer would be just as concerned over a breach of the Accords as Winter, yet they're too intent on killing Harry? All this manipulation by Nicodemus on the chance the Archive would arbitrate?... It just didn't mesh. I miss the Harry Dresden who investigated, prepared careful spells in advance (with Bob's running commentary), and came out ahead because of wits and bravery. I miss when the Voltswagon Beetle took the brunt of the damage instead of Harry. I was surprised to find myself happy at the potential romance between Harry and Luccio. I think because I just wanted something good to happen to our hero. But a kiss on the last page isn't enough to make up for how depressing the rest of his life, and this book, is.

Overall, I can't deny this was a page turner. Fans of the series will want to know what happens, and I did enjoy some of it. There is a lot of action and Harry is still a great, chivalrous hero. Butcher's trademark humor is here and a lot of good one liners. I've already pre-ordered the next book, but can't help but hope it gives us a real victory for the good guys. Harry deserves it. Read more ›