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

by Jim Butcher (Author) "Winter came early that year; it should have been a tip-off..." (more)
Key Phrases: blackened denarius, blasting rod, shield bracelet, Thorned Namshiel, Arctis Tor, White Council (more...)

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover; Later Printing edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451461894
• ISBN-13: 978-0451461896
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,353 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 10 in The Dresden Files Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 53 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 (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

17 of 18 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 (East TN, USA) - See all my reviews

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

11 of 11 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 (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.