Release Day Giveaway! Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher

Synopsis: Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day….Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it’s something awful.  Mab has just traded Harry’s skills to pay off one of her debts. And now he must help a group of supernatural villains—led by one of Harry’s most dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone—to break into the highest-security vault in town so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.

It’s a smash-and-grab job to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure hoard in the supernatural world—which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character. Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about. And he’s dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Especially Harry.  Dresden’s always been tricky, but he’s going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess—assuming his own allies don’t end up killing him before his enemies get the chance…

Review:
My favorite quotes:

“I can’t tell you how many jobs I’ve done without a hitch since the last time I saw you, Dresden. You walk through the door and everything goes to hell.”“That’s embroidered on my towels, actually,” I said.

“”What you are telling me,” she said, “is that you have never shared your life with another over the long term. The closest you have come to it is providing a home and affection for a being which is entirely your subject and in your control.”
“Well, not at bath time…”

“I know you’ve been aching to have your hands on my staff,” I said to Ascher, as Nicodemus examined the altar for himself. I held out my hand. “But I’d rather be the one fondling my tool. Wizards are weird like that.”

PARKOUR! Because Harry Dresden says so.

Cold Days was easily one of the best entries of the Dresden series. It’s probably my favorite.  And it definitely left big shoes to fill for any book that would follow it.  Well, Skin Game does it wonderfully.  I was hanging on to every word.  The tension between Harry and Nicodemus was beyond palpable and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop! And boy does it drop.

This book was really exciting, gripping, and a true nail biter.  I wasn’t sure where Butcher planned to go with this one putting Nicodemus front and center. Either we’d finish the book with a better understanding of the character (potentially liking him more) or we’d see Harry do away with him once and for all. He is definitely a character you love to hate.

The heist plot was great and we got to see more focus on potential future players in the series. I liked that everyone was out for themselves since it kept things unpredictable.

I did miss Thomas in this entry as well as Molly, but the story is still fantastic.  We get a great deal of Murphy, Michael, and Butters to make up for it so that’s good enough for me.  There were some really great twists and turns and several characters get upgrades in power.  One of my favorite aspects of any series are the strength of the relationships.  Harry never has it easy, ever. You really feel for the guy.  While Cold Days certainly had emotional moments, there are some pivotal developments here too that make his journey even more special to me.

I am a newer fan of these books having marathoned the entire series back to back this year.  Admittedly a lot of the story blurs together for me so it’s difficult to distinguish one book from the next (save for books like Changes and Cold Days). Of course that stops now since I’m all caught up with everyone else. But I will say that I am glad it happened with this book because it was a particularly satisfying read!

Harry juggles plenty of hats as it is, but I’m looking forward to how he handles just a few more in the next entry.

Oh, and…PARKOUR!!!

*Review copy provided by the publisher.

Giveaway

I promise the hardcover is even shinier and prettier in person! So now that you’ve read my review are you looking forward to having a copy of your own?  Well one lucky winner of my blog will receive an ebook or hardcover version of the novel! All you have to do is comment and tell me what you’re most looking forward to in this book.

How to Enter (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): My giveaways are only open to followers of Your Urban Fantasy who are 18 years of age or older. In order to enter YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT POST AND INDICATE YOU HAVE DONE SO ON THE RAFFLECOPTER WIDGET! If you’re a new member, sign up on the right panel to follow my blog via email. (Make sure to check your email to confirm your subscription. You should receive a notification immediately, so check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away). Current followers can just say so in their post. The next four opportunities are for bonus entries. Overall, there are up to 5 chances to enter:

  1. Follow this blog via email and comment on your preference to win the ebook or hardcover (THIS IS REQUIRED)
  2. Like my review on Amazon (bonus entry)
  3. “Like” Your Urban Fantasy on Facebook (bonus entry)
  4. Follow me on Twitter (bonus entry)
  5. Tweet about the giveaway (bonus entry – you can do this daily for more entries)

The more entries the better your chance to win! Good luck! And don’t forget to tell me what you’re most looking forward to in this book! 

The giveaway will run from 5/27/14 – 6/8/14. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This article has 62 Comments

  1. I would love to get a copy. To honest, I haven’t read the series yet. I have the first 3 books waiting on my bookshelf to be read – I actually intended to keep up with that re-read this year, but live thought differently… But I will be my next new series I intend to start.

    1. It took me this long to get into it myself so I definitely feel you. I’m just glad I pushed through to get all caught up!

  2. It I am lucky enough to win a copy I would prefer an ebook. I’ve been looking forward to this book since I finished Cold Days. I just that plain missed Harry, there is no other hero that has the right amount of everything –sarcasm, geekiness, strength of character, and well he’s just awesome. I haven’t found another series remotely like his. Omg, I almost had a breach and started gushing like a dork….

  3. It is so close! I so NEED to know what is happening to Molly, I don’t think I could take it if I don’t find out.
    I’m so excited!!

  4. I have read this series before but I’m not caught up yet. I am currently working on that now and would love to win.

  5. I love this series! I can’t wait to read more of Harry’s humor, I always end up laughing loudly and creeping out the people around me. Would love to win the hardcover!

  6. I would love to win the ebook version of this book. I love Harry and can’t wait to see how he gets out of this scrape.

  7. I would love to win an ebook. I’ve only read the first book so far. I got the next five or six on sale a few weeks ago.

  8. I’ve been reading Harry’s stories from the beginning. Granted the last 2 books haven’t exactly kept me awake while reading them. But I’d love to win this book and share it with my oldest son who is also a big fan.

  9. I look forward to more interaction between Dresden and Murphy. I’d love to win the hardcover of this.

  10. OK… Long-ish time follower; I have entered the widget…. I have to admit, it sounds (based on your review) that I’m not getting what I want. I want more Molly. Although, Butters may be able to hold me over – maybe. Other than that, I just want to know if Harry’s mantle is going to change him for the worse, or if he’ll have some of that kismet thing going on to squirrel out of it, or enough snark to keep him sane – or whatever. I just have to know!

  11. Oh man I can hardly wait for this one! From the first book until now I have had Dresden/Butcher as my most often read and reread books.

  12. I’d love to win a copy of the hardback. It would motivate me to start reading these. I have a few, I wanted to wrap up a series before I started another big series, but hey what’s one more awesome series? 😉

  13. I just finished Shannon K Butcher’s Sentinel Wars series, and have been meaning to move on to Jim’s Dresden Files series. My friend also recently recommended it as a good read, so I’m still on the first book, but winning the hardcover of this would be fantastic.

  14. I would love a hardcover copy of this book. There are a few series that I keep in hardcover (if released in that format) and Harry is at the top of my list. Great review!

  15. Still working my way through book 2. I love starting a well established series. I have plenty of books left to read before I catch up and have to wait!

  16. Last year, I decided to do a “Big Year” and read 500+ books. The time and commitment was huge (but thanks to my Nook, Overdrive and the library, I was able to afford it). On the plus side, I exceeded my goal… the minus was I was unemployed. On both the good and bad days, Harry stood out and helped me smile with his particular brand of magic. (of course, I’d like the ebook)

  17. I’d go for a hardback copy. I’ve started reading the Dresden Files and I’ve fallen rather hard for Harry’s snarky wordplay. It’s very attractive, a man who has a way with words. 🙂

  18. I love this series and have all the books in the series except Skin Game! Love love love Harry! He’s absolutely yummy!

  19. Sounds great. I am especially glad to hear there is lots of Murphy in it. I love Murphy. My preference is hardcover but would be happy with either format. The important part is getting my hands on the story.

  20. I would like a hard cover although thanks to a recent sale on Amazon, I have the first four books on my Kindle. 🙂 Thank you for this opportunity.

  21. I would love to get a copy of the e–book. This is one of my favorite series ever! Thanks for the opportunity!

  22. I really would love to win this. It’s one of my favorite series and one I can talk about with my h without his eyes glazing over.

  23. OMG — I just found this website! I MUST have a copy of Skin Game now! I had been resorting to lesser authors to fill in the gaps and feeling like I’d fallen into drinking Boone’s Farm, or worse, to sooth my woes. PLEASE give me the antidote!

    1. I should add that I’m looking forward to Harry’s wit, snarky comments, and badass attitude. Would love to see a relationship with Karen blossom into something serious, but that may be asking too much. An eBook would be great, amazing, wonderful. It would make my day! No, make that week… no, month… Year? Maybe!

  24. I love your reviews, your reading tastes are pretty much the same as mine.plus you don’t give away the whole story. i’ve been a dresden fan for years and would love to own this book in hardcover

  25. I’m new to your site but so far I like what I see, but that wasn’t hard, anyone that likes the wonderful world of Harry Dresden is OK in my book! Really liked your review and an looking forward to reading my ebook copy. (Kindle)

  26. Harry Dresden is one of the richest characters I’ve ever read. I cannot wait to read this book! I’m actually trying to blow through the entire series via audio to prep for reading Skin Game. Love your review and it makes me wonder what role Michael has in this one as he has been out of the past several books in a large way.

  27. I am reading this series now while I am waiting for the final hollows book to come out. (Sniff) I am enjoying reading a male author, and he makes bust out laughing regularly. I am hoping to win! And I like your blog, your pretty funny yourself.

  28. I don’t think the Facebook widget log in works. I’ve been trying to comment for days.
    I can’t wait to read this book and would love to win a hardcover!

  29. I would love to win the hardcover book. It would be amazing to be able to touch the book!
    I’m most looking forward to reading about Harry and his adventures and how he would get out of the difficult situation he’s in. I’ve been following the Harry Dresden series since 2007 and I’ve never missed a single book! Love them all!

Leave a Reply to April V. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *