When I rate so many books in a series 5 stars, like I do with "The Expanse" or here with "The Dresden Files," my ratings seem to have caveats, both good and bad. I rate this book 5 stars because I cannot rate it 6 with this system. This is truly the best book in "The Dresden Files," and I say this having loved every single book. Sure, some books hit stronger than others (hence some were 5 and some were 4 stars), but all books have been excellent. (Okay, I perhaps have some rose tinged glasses on Book 1, but can you blame me?)

Getting back to the point, this book knows what it's doing from the first damn sentence. Really, from the title. I mean, it's frustrating how clever such a simple title is. All of "The Dresden Files" books have had a title with 2 words. This book quite simply calls itself "Changes." The thought of going from 2 words to 1 word seems so simple, and yet, it really sets off a warning tone, like an unsettling off key note in a horror movie score. Seeing how worked up I am over the title of this book should tell you something.

It's hard to really tell you what happens in "Changes" without being a complete and utter spoiler. What I will say is that this book delivers on its promises. It takes the foundation of all that came before it, treats it with love and respect, and then sets it on fire (metaphorically, not so metaphorically...). This is a book that says even though Dresden was never truly comfortable, even though there's a Black Council, wars with vampire courts, allies lost and gained, you, Constant Reader, are going to made to feel a little uncomfortable. Butcher is going to burn down your expectations, the familiar beats, your understanding of Dresden and his world. And it's going to be amazing. I love when a series requires so much of what came before it like this one does, really earns the foundation that has been built since the beginning, and truly subverts your expectations. While Butcher isn't to George R. R. Martin levels, Butcher only pulls his punches when it makes sense. And boy, he didn't not feel like he needed to for this one.

I'll be thinking about this book for a while. Thank God I don't have a wait between books though and can quickly read on.