Peace Talks (Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher

Peace Talks (Dresden Files) (original 2020; edition 2020)

by Jim Butcher (Author)

Series: The Dresden Files (16)

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jmchshannon's review

It has been over two years since we received a new Harry Dresden novel from Jim Butcher. Given the length of time that we had to wait for a new book, readers could only have high expectations for the next book in a serious. Thankfully, Peace Talks is completely worth that wait.

I love how Mr. Butcher eases us back into Dresden’s world. He balances telling his story along with reminding readers of the key players and their relationships with Harry. Even better, we get to see some of what Harry has been doing in the time away as well. His relationship with his daughter and his experiences as a father are particularly poignant, as is his amazement that he has Karen as his girlfriend.

The thing that strikes me the most about Peace Talks is that I feel like we are getting the chance to see Harry as a person rather than Harry the wizard. Not only do we see his careful protectiveness towards his daughter, but also most of the novel shows him choosing family over duty. This is a man who values family above all else and who is willing to turn friends into enemies because of this.

Between Karen and Maggie, his interactions with Butters and Michael, as well as his choices surrounding Thomas, we see Harry as happy and content as we have ever seen him. As the situation turns sour, his determination to protect that happiness impacts the choices he makes. At the same time, this Harry is not the same Harry from the first few books. He most definitely is wiser and more cautious in his actions, which shows that he learned his lessons well.

Peace Talks is not the most action-packed of novels, but I believe that is a deliberate choice by Mr. Butcher. For one, the slower pace allows us to remember everything Harry faced over the course of the first fifteen books. Secondly, it highlights the physical, emotional, and psychological changes Harry incurred during those books. Lastly, the slower pace emphasizes everything Harry now values above all else and hints at just what he is willing to do to protect his part of the world he holds most dear. As we enter the last portion of the whole series, I suspect this last point will become even more salient.

At first, it feels unusual that Peace Talks ends without a major battle, one hell of a cliffhanger, and a story very much left untold. However, it does explain why Penguin released the next book a mere two months after this one. One could argue that Peace Talks is nothing more than the first half of a two-part story, which is okay. I enjoyed the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with Harry and friends and appreciated the lack of constant action. Peace Talks is much more cerebral a story than past ones, and I like that. It also means that the next book should make up for the missing action. (

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jmchshannon | Dec 12, 2020 |

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Oh how this sets up the next book.
Can't wait! (

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Lefthandrob | Mar 9, 2024 |

I don't know why this says I've read it twice, I did not. I read it one time and I will NEVER pick it up again. (

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sraedi | Feb 2, 2024 |

"Some free advice for you: Never fight an old man. They've been there, done that, written the book, made and starred in the movie, designed the T-shirt, and they've got no ego at all about how the fight gets won."

Peace Talks is the sixteenth entry in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. The Accorded nations have decided it is time to end hostilities and have chosen Chicago as the location to host Peace Talks. The White Council is providing security for the event and have drafted Harry Dresden as part of the team. Nothing could possibly go wrong with all the main powers of the supernatural community gathered in one place...

Butcher sure packed a lot into this one. While the story mostly serves a set up for Battle Ground, a lot was covered. The story was surprisingly deep with poignant thoughts and moments around family, home and love, in addition to all the politics surrounding the talks. Harry being Harry there are plenty of eye roll worthy ogling and funny moments too.

Speaking of family, Harry and Ebenezer finally face some of the outstanding issues between them. I feel bad about Ebenezer. He's let his hate run away with him. I don't really expect anything much here other than him being a royal pain in Harry's side. And scaring poor Maggie. Maybe I'll be surprised and he will come around eventually about Thomas. Even though he can be a difficult old man, Ebenezer is truly a bad ass. It was highly enjoyable witnessing a battle with a Senior White Council member in it.

Butcher also did his research on Irish myths for this story. I hope I didn't spoil the second book for myself by looking up the Fomor and Ethniu as he's been pretty true to the myths so far.

If they had to break it into two books, I like where this ended. The stage is well set for Battle Ground without really being a cliff hanger. The only thing missing is Lugh of the Tuatha if Butcher is going to keep following the myth. I hope Chicago survives the battle to come. (

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Narilka | Nov 21, 2023 |

An excellent book as are all in this series. I personally love the gritty feel with the mix of magic, mythology and the modern world. Dresden is easy to identify with, and easier as the books go on as at points in the beginning I found his need to run himself into the ground harder to accept, but Dresden is a man of honor who firmly sticks to his ideals and his guns and this is easy to like (plus he is finally allowing himself a little happiness in his life now). I was left a little high and dry as the book ends quite abruptly. However, I get the point, Battleground is coming soon. I will be getting it as soon as it comes out as this is one of my favorite series. (

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PREagles | Oct 20, 2023 |

I was wondering why he was putting out two Dresden books so close together. Now that I have finished "Peace Talks" I understand that he probably wrote both it and the forthcoming "Battle Ground" as one book, realized it was too long, and split it into two books to release close together. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to getting the questions answered when the next one comes out. (

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Fatula | Sep 25, 2023 |

What the cliffhanger? Glad I'm already on the waitlist for the next one. (

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Kiramke | Jun 27, 2023 |

2825

freixas | Mar 31, 2023 |

3/5 rather than 4/5 only because it is a set-up book which introduces several questions and plot threads without resolving them. Presumably, that will be done in the next book, but personally, it’s not my favorite type of book. Besides that, classic Dresden: fast, gripping, clever, humorous, ... if you’ve made it this far in the series, then you know what I mean. (

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jhellar | Jan 14, 2023 |

This book is set not too long after Skin Game and if the reader has also read all the comics and short stories then there will be no mystery or wondering if they missed something when the entire cast of characters is introduced during the peace talks. Of course there is very little peace talks in the book and more of Harry trying to save Thomas from a looming execution.
If you watched the online trailer it does cover most of that plot but I’m not reviewing anything that hasn’t been released in that trailer. There is still a huge bombshell that goes off in the last quarter of the book that is the setup for the next one. I’m very happy that we will not have to wait long for Battle Ground.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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Glennis.LeBlanc | Jan 4, 2023 |

Advance copy provided by NetGalley
Spoiler alert for previous books

I was so excited to get an ARC of the new Dresden Files! I had been planning on rereading the series in preparation for the summer release, but when I got my hands on it early, I had to drop everything and read it. I still think I’ll go back and reread from the beginning because I had so much fun with a long series reread last summer of the Mercyverse. The Dresden Files will be fun to blow through back-to-back too. If you haven’t read Brief Cases yet, I recommend reading it before this, even if you usually skip the short stories.
I love this series, and this was a good installment after an extra long stretch between novels. There were some great action sequences, and it was good to be back again with Harry and the gang. The stakes are extra high in this one, and the last half of the book especially had me turning pages (whatever you call it with an e-book) as fast as I could.
I’m not thrilled with the cliffhanger ending, and I really wish I hadn’t had to hear about Lara Raith’s sexy White Court allure quite so much, but I feel like that probably won’t change as long as she’s a character. It’s clear where his heart is, and one scene in particular in that regard really warmed my heart, and that covered a multitude of Laras.
I think series fans will be as glad as I was to have Harry back. (

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Harks | Dec 17, 2022 |

Finally. Took me almost two months to get through this one, although the second half went much faster than the first half, which reads like it was padded out. My theory is this one and Battle Ground were one manuscript, but publisher and/or author divided it into two. Peace Talks is the setup. I knew it going in, and it helped me get through the overly wordy parts (which, gods, I hate) and why I tell you. Yes, you need to know a bunch of this. Have #17 ready when you hit the end because this one ends at the top of the roller coaster. (

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terriaminute | Dec 4, 2022 |

3 1/2 Stars

This is a middle book, and it feels like it. It doesn’t really end, it’s more that it sets up the next book on a cliffhanger. That’s not to say that it isn’t good. It is. I enjoyed it. There were a few weird tangents that I didn’t really understand the purpose of, but it was a fun book and I’ll read the next one for sure. (

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Anniik | Nov 26, 2022 |

Great work, it does have some drawbacks, I think honestly, Jim played the failure to communicate a bit much in this book with his other characters, there is a bit more character progress than in his other books, there are some nit picks that I have about this book, but still those small, great book, highly recommended! (

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LedzMx | Sep 4, 2022 |

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher
I will tell you up front I am a big Harry Dresden fan and have read them all, more than once, except the last one (Battle Ground). I crave reading another Dresden adventure, and I have felt it was time well spent reading just about anything Butcher writes. I enjoyed Peace Talks, all of us Dresden lovers were ecstatic to have another book featuring our favorite Chicago wizard. Except… for the small fact that I felt cheated out of an actual story ending! As a fan it felt like dirty dealing to have the book end where it did and make you wait for the next one, which the publisher knows you will surely buy since you waited so long for Peace Talks to come out. It does not feel good to know you, as a fan are being used in this way. I suspect, along with many other readers that Peace Talks and Battle Ground were supposed to be one novel that was separated into two, as a marketing gimmick. Bad call publisher, and on you Jim, for abusing loyal fans this way! Reviews of Battle Ground all seem to agree it is just the rest of the story that should have been told in Peace Talks, but with a lot of filler. (

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kaida46 | May 27, 2022 |

Harry Dresden comes roaring back, and boy, how I have missed him in all his irreverent, sarcastic glory. Peace talks, indeed, with all the unseelie accord nations assembled to try and work out a treaty with the Fomor. Dresden's surreally stable living circumstances come crashing down almost immediately, and it's a wild ride to see how all the various alliances will work out.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. (

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jennybeast | Apr 14, 2022 |

I loved this book! At this point in the series, I have been through a lot with Harry and I feel like he is one of my old friends. I care about the things that happen to him. Once I started reading this one, I was obsessed and couldn’t put it down until I made it to the last page. I had such a great time reading this book and Love the way that each book seems to get better and better.

Harry is faced with some impossible situations in this book. He has so many things to juggle and he is determined to protect and care for the people he cares about. When all of the powerful forces decide to meet in Chicago, Harry not only has to deal with his responsibilities to Mab but also is a part of the wizards’ security team. Before things even get started, there is an assassin to deal with. Let’s just say that Harry has his hands full. This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series.

James Marsters continues to do an amazing job with this series. He does such a great job in bringing these characters to life. I feel like he is Harry at this point. I love how much emotion he is able to add to the narration and how realistic the character interactions feel. I do believe that audio is the way to go with this series and would highly recommend it to others.

This is a favorite series that I have found to be incredibly enjoyable. I feel like I know this group of characters and always enjoy watching them work together in whatever situation they are facing. This is the sixteenth book in the series and I would recommend reading the series in order. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and purchased a copy of the audiobook. (

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Carolesrandomlife | Apr 8, 2022 |

Super happy I only have to wait two months for the next book. Six years was entirely too long. My kid graduated from high school AND college between Skin Game and Peace Talks. (

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tsmom1219 | Feb 24, 2022 |

So...long awaited...and fulfilling on many levels, but, as numerous other reviews have asserted, feels like it’s only a piece of something bigger; more than just a prologue but yet still only part of a larger work. Maybe it would have been better to keep both works together....
And I’m guessing (hoping?) many of the unanswered issues in this are addressed in Battle Ground when it comes out in a few months. (

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jimgosailing | Nov 18, 2021 |

Seemed like it was over just as it was getting started - I wasn't expecting a cliff-hanger ending. (

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KrakenTamer | Oct 23, 2021 |

It's been a while since I read a Dresden book. I needed to skim summaries of the last few to remember what's going on. Once things got rolling the familiar cadence returned and the large cast was fun to revisit.

One of the things I really like about these books is how the supporting characters grow and change over time. This book continued that somewhat. It also showed some tough decision making scenes for Harry. That's the bread & butter. There's also the familiar with edges, an underlying sense of wish fulfillment from the author, over-sexualized women, and that feeling you get when someone tells you a story about their witty comebacks that you suspect were thought up much later in the shower.

This book is a set up for the next one. It shouldn't be it's own book at all. I'm not sure if that was an action by the publisher or author scared of a big page count. I'll start on the next one right away. I'm eager to see how this turns out as we enter act 2. (

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jamestomasino | Sep 11, 2021 |

Another fantastic entry in the Harry Dresden series.

sigshane | Aug 31, 2021 |

Home, like love, hate, war, and peace, is one of those words that is so important that it doesn't need more than one syllable. Home is part of the fabric of who humans are. Doesn't matter if you're a vampire or a wizard or a secretary or a schoolteacher; you have to have a home, even if only in principle-there has to be a zero point from which you can make comparisons to everything else. Home tends to be it.

Holy crap.

It's been years since [b:Skin Game|19486421|Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)|Jim Butcher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387236318l/19486421._SX50_.jpg|23811929] and then we learn that we're going to get two books in a year? Well, really one book big enough to be split into two more normally sized books. I actually put off reading [b:Peace Talks|49381341|Peace Talks (The Dresden Files, #16)|Jim Butcher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579336858l/49381341._SY75_.jpg|40515430] until [b:Battle Ground|23106013|Battle Ground (The Dresden Files, #17)|Jim Butcher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587778549l/23106013._SY75_.jpg|42654036] was out and really, that's the best way to read these books. They really are two halves of a whole and the better for it.

It's fascinating to get glimpses of the bigger world, with all of the major players coming into town for 'peace talks' (we all know how that's going to go). We don't get as much of the bigger scenes as I would have liked and Dresden certainly takes not talking to or trusting anyone to an art form, but he's certainly got his reasons. I really do wonder what McCoy's beef with the Vampires is. Just a long life to fight them? Something more?

In the end though, it's all about family.

Now I want to go back and listen to the audiobook version! (

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jpv0 | Jul 21, 2021 |

This story rocketed forward with even more speed than most Dresden books, and I read it at equal speed. I don't think I've finished any other Dresden book in less than 48 hours. The cost of the pace was less character development than some of the other books, but we get to see virtually all the familiar friends and enemies at one point or another.

The threat level in this book gets cranked *way* up, but to say anything else would be a spoiler.

NOTE: If you haven't yet read "Cold Case" in the "Brief Cases" anthology you'll want to do that before starting this one, otherwise you won't understand the condition of one of the characters. It won't make any difference to your understanding of the plot, but it adds some otherwise missing context. (

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jsabrina | Jul 13, 2021 |

Good start to a story, but didn't really stand alone. Fortunately the sequel is out now. (

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jercox | Jun 2, 2021 |

This is book sixteen in the Dresden Files series. I'm not sure if I have previously written a review for any of the other books, so this is going to be a little different.

The book can be read as a stand-alone story, but obviously there has been so much going on through the previous books, it is best read in order. There isn't a lot of bringing facts and 'how that came to be's written in, which I'm happy about. I hate the waste of space and story when authors do that sort of thing in every book after the first one. I'm not going to say much about the story, because come on, if you are in this at book sixteen, you are pretty much a die hard fan of the series anyways.

As usual, Butcher's writing style is just what I like - pretty fast and somewhat of the cuff. Basic on his character and world building, the usual elements of sarcasm, irony, and bull-headedness run pretty rampant. Our MC follows the modeling that was written, including the changes made due to events in previous installments. I enjoy the way Butcher has been able to build a world and characters from multiple backgrounds (ie. all the different types of paranormals, etc) and make them fit together to make the story. Definitely waiting for the next book to be released! (

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