You know, I read the first four Dresden books, and I kept thinking, "this is okay, but what's all the fuss about?"

Then, I read the next couple, and thought, "okay, I can see how the books are improving, and he's tying things together now, it's a pretty good series."

Then I got to the seventh in the series, and thought, "damn, okay, Butcher's really hitting his stride with these now, I'm getting it. These are good." That lasted all the way through to the eleventh novel.

And then along comes this installment. And holy mother of god, Butcher ups the stakes in a way that could simply have fallen flat on its face, but instead had me blasting through this novel, wanting to find out what happens next more than I ever have with a Dresden novel.

Butcher literally strips Harry Dresden of everything. I mean every. Single. Thing. 

And it's a crazy rollercoaster, heart-in-your-throat ride. 

This? THIS is where Butcher delivers on his promise of this series.

And the crazy thing is, as of this writing, there's still five more books to go. I have no idea where he's going to take it from here, but I'm absolutely, completely along for the ride. 

This is turning into a top three series for me, and I'm mad at myself that I delayed so long in reading it.