I very much enjoyed previous books in this series, though as the stakes inevitably get higher and higher I find that I enjoy them less. My favorite things about these books have been characters and their relationships, but as main characters are killed off and relationships are strained to their breaking points, I found little about this book to keep me interested.

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.

Another absolutely fantastic installment of The Dresden Files. Jim Butcher does not disappoint. Peace Talks actually feels like half of a story, and that makes sense because it's the "calm" before the storm that is Battle Grounds. The powers that be are working to negotiate a Peace Treaty (hence the title) amongst each other and the adversary, and have decided that Chicago is the place to be. But Harry once again has a giant target painted on his back.

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher: Unexpectedly Engaging
When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago—and all he holds dear?

Jim Butcher is one of the best read authors for a reason. His urban fantasy series is now on book 16 and it is as amazing a story as the very first novel. I’ve read the series from the beginning so when I say this is unexpectedly engaging, it is because in many ways this novel continues the author’s trend of changes in the character and the world of Harry Dresden and while it is still as excellent and as engaging as the books have always been, it is intriguing to have a change in the character and in the series. And those changes will hopefully lead even better stories for the next few novels.
In “Peace Talks”, Harry Dresden is thrown by unexpected news from sources both new and old. And with the advent of negotiations, those events and manipulations could spell the existence of Chicago and all Harry holds dear. As much as I’d like to elaborate all the interesting ways in which Jim Butcher sets up the events in the novel, I really don’t want to spoil the story or the surprises for anyone else because trust me, those surprises are what make this story so absorbing.
I can elaborate on the writing, however. One of the ways that a story keeps your attention is by grabbing you by the throat and never letting go. This skill by Jim Butcher has never been in question. He absolutely gets your attention from the very first line and continues holding it throughout the novel until the very end. Some of the changes in Harry’s life continue though as we get more time with Maggie, Harry’s daughter. We also get some time with other notable people in Harry’s life, including continuing the direct consequences of the wizard’s actions from previous novels and how it impacts Murphy, Molly, and others. While consequences have always been part of the novels, they are even clearer in this novel and are one of the changes in this novel’s presentation in regards to previous books. The ending is also unexpected but leads the reader to wanting to read the next book even more.
I could list so many reasons for why I love this series but I will give you a few but likely, if you’ve been reading the books, you’re in full agreement and fully aware. One of the biggest reasons is the humor, witty and sarcastic and beautifully funny with on spot pop culture references that will make the geek in everyone cheer with delight. I also love the interactions between the characters which are described so well you can picture it as though you were in the room. Jim Butcher also has a talent with adding layers to the story that will entangle the readers in mystery and intrigue, in pulling the threads from previous books into the next and leading the reader to want those lingering questions answered. He always leaves you wanting more.
If you love urban fantasy, wizards, magic, unforgettable characters, and absolutely perfectly plotted novels, even if you don’t typically like fantasy, this is the ones series I completely recommend. If you haven’t read the other books, I do recommend catching up but even so, it will be worth your time. This is one of the best series I’ve read and with the changes, it is even better.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars and stones

Peace Talks s the first new Dresden book in 6 years, and it begins more quickly than though possible. Harry is beginning to get a handle on the Winter Knight's mantle, settling in raising his daughter Maggie and building relationships with his friends and family. Of course Harry can't be at peace for long before the world at large comes knocking and the Unseelie Accords are up for review as the White Council decides whether to eject Harry from their ranks for becoming less than human. As readers of this series know, Harry's going to do what's right for himself and those he cares about - damn the consequences. Get ready for a whirlwind of wizardry that cliffhangers sharply just in time for Battlegrounds.

Harry Dresden is one of the most realistically portrayed hero - sometimes anti-hero in urban fantasy. Peace Talks isn't a good place for new reader's the start - but fans of the series are sure to enjoy it.

Jim Butcher provides another action-packed adventure in the Dresden File series. It seems like it has been quite a while since I visited this world and yet it is always an enjoyable escapism read.

There are talks of peace, a lot of political jockeying, and then the plans quickly go from well-planned to chaos in a flash.

The plot is peppered with the snark that we’ve all come to love and the characters are quick to face all challenges that come their way.

So, you are wondering why 4 stars and not my normal 5 for this series? PEACE TALKS has all the hot points that I love about Butcher’s writing, but it feels like a set up for things to come. And, even leaves us with a HUGE CLIFFHANGER… That being said, PEACE TALKS is a must-read to know that state of the wizarding world but in the end, it seems like our imaginations are going to run wild until you can get your hands on Battle Ground.

Wow, it was fantastic to read these books. I actually feel a little bit of reading slump, because how could any book be as good as what I just read? These were just amazing to read, I loved continuing Harry's story, but boy is it a doozy in in these books!

I heard that originally, these were supposed to be 1 book. Given the size of the both of them, it makes sense that they were split into two. But I'm glad that I got to read them back to back, because Peace Talks sets things up, and Battle Ground is basically non-stop action.

Oh, Harry. It was hard to read that, to see him come so low. That was just a difficult moment, and it's not like he can take the time to work through his emotions, there's still a bad guy to defeat. But yeah, that was a difficult part of a really intense book.

The world is not going to be the same again. Humanity, at least the ones that live in Chicago, can't deny that the supernatural world exists anymore. And even that small population knowing, well, I'm excited to see where things go from there!

So there's a few things that I'm excited to continue on in the sequels. There's Thomas and his situation, the why he killed that one dude in Peace Talks. Plus there's Ebenezer's reaction to Thomas being related to him. There's Mab's bargain with Lara.

I'm so glad that we got Christmas Eve. It was cute, wholesome, and sweet and just what we needed after all the heart-wrenching moments from Battle Ground. Loved seeing Harry deal with his first Christmas with Maggie, and the visitors he got. It was just a cute read!

On Jim Butcher's site, it says that there's going to be 3-4 or so more case books like we've been getting, and then an apocalypse trilogy. Honestly, it's hard to see things getting worse from here, but this was a goddess from this world. The Outsiders seem like they'll be a bigger threat, which is a little terrifying!

Loved reading these stories, they were so fantastic, and I can't wait for the next installment in this series!

Author Jim Butcher's Book Peace Talks is one of my favorites from him. When Harry talks, people usually ignore him. Chicago's professional wizard is back at work trying to get his job while everyone tries to get him fired. As the Dresden Files continue, Butcher takes his reader on a ride that will leave you wanting more and frustrated...

until the next book comes.

Butcher deftly moves pieces around the chessboard so if Harry was real, he would just punch Jim in the face. Take a ride and enjoy.

Doesn’t it feel like it’s been forever since the last book came out? When PEACE TALKS landed in my lap, I was desperate for another Harry Dresden hit and I’m glad that this book lived up to my expectations.

PEACE TALKS is book sixteen in The Dresden Files and I’ve come to really enjoy this series a lot. It’s one of the few longstanding Urban Fantasy series that I think still has things going for it. I know that I have really fallen in love with Harry and all the other characters in this series, so coming back to this world was a real treat.

You can expect a lot of the same action and humor that is trademark of this series. I think Butcher does a fantastic job of melding the two elements together in a way that keeps the dialogue and narrative light and fun but also intense. This book was very easy to devour and I kind of wish I paced myself a bit more, but when it’s a page-turner, there’s not much you can do about it.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Butcher’s books, but in the meantime, I think it might be time for another reread of the series!

This book was worth waiting for! I love Dresden so it was no brainer to read this book. Jim Butcher is great at making his characters relatable. I would have loved more about Michael and his family but I am sure that there will be more in the next book. I can't wait for the next one!

This book unexpectedly diverts from other books in the series with surprisingly little actually happening. It reads as a set up for the next book, potentially, but readers might fare best if this is communicated clearly.

I am so glad I decided to start reading this series right before the latest two books released. Before starting this series I had no idea the last book came out was 6 years ago. I feel so bad for fans who have waited so long.

I started the series in May and have been working my way through them. Now I just have one more to go.

What a wild ride. It's been a pleasure to see Harry grow as a character.

Peace Talks was an intense, nail-biting read that ended too soon. Thankfully the second book of the duology is on my Kindle ready to be read.

Peace Talks focuses exactly on what the title hints at- Peace Talks among all the supernatural factions. But in this world things are never as they seem, the deck is always stacked, and it's never in Harry's favor.

Things go from bad to apocalyptic fast. And when shit really hits the fan, the book ends.

But it all leads to Battle Ground.

So I'm going in, starting the next book. I don't think I'll be disappointed.

The review of Peace Talks by Jim Butcher is in the October 2020 issue of SFRevu and is exclusive to them until November 2020.

I kept putting off writing this review because whenever someone wants a fantasy recommendation, The Dresden Files is the first series I mention… and Peace Talks by Jim Butcher just wasn’t as good as usual. Sure it was nice catching up with some of the characters, like Bigfoot, but some of the catching up was just a mention of seeing someone across the room and realizing years have passed and Ivy the Archive is now a teen.
➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅
Image Source Ace
And then there was the awkwardness of Harry acting like a teenage boy with all of his sexual urges because of the Winter’s mantle wanting to be in control of Harry’s sex drive. Although he didn’t have a lot of sex, all of the mentions of thinking about sex started to make me feel like I was reading an Anita Blake novel (and I stopped reading that series awhile back because of all the sex and not a lot of substance when it came to the plot.)

Besides all the repetition with thinking about sex, there was a bunch more in regards to mentioning how the Winter’s mantle allows you to ignore the pain of injuries but doesn’t cure it, Murphy with her not wanting to be handled with kid gloves even though she is still recovering from major injuries and is 100% human, and Grandpa McCoy stating over and over that vampires are evil. If you were to take out all the reiteration you could have taken the book down about 75 pages or more and combined books 16 and 17, since Battle Ground is just going to be the complete ending to Peace Talks.

And I missed Bob.

So as a long time fan of The Dresden Files, of course you are going to read Peace Talks… but maybe wait until right before the end of September when Battle Ground comes out so you can continue the book/story right away. And with all the lead up in Peace Talks I’m hoping/thinking Battle Ground is going to be epic… as long as Harry can stop thinking with his little head.

It was an interesting departure from the normal Dresden Files with an interesting twist at the end. Peace Talks starts with Harry actually seeming to have everything he ever wanted. Then he slowly deteriorated into the normal chaos as Harry gets pulled into politics of both the accords, the shecourt, and the white court. On top of all this he also is having family issues. It’s a wild ride that ends in a most unsuspecting way.

Peace Talks (Dresden Files #16). By Jim Butcher. 2020. Ace. (ARC eBook).

The sixteenth book of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series sees Harry Dresden gearing up for peace talks between the nations of the supernatural world. While Harry would prefer to focus on his daughter Maggie and girlfriend Murphey, as a Wizard, Warden and White Knight, he receives pressure from several directions to be present for the negotiations. But manipulations envelope Harry’s half-brother and now Harry is racing to save him from a death sentence. Peace Talks ends with Chicago facing dire circumstances after a power play unravels the negotiations and I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

With Butcher’s world-building and Peace Talks being book 16, most followers wouldn’t recommend this being the first book to pick up. I would agree but as I myself have only read a handful of the earlier books going into this I would say that if you have Storm Front (book 1) and Blood Rites (book 6) under your belt you will have some understanding of key foundational elements that will help you navigate this installment. That said, this series clearly has trademark action and humor that makes me want to go back and fill in all of the blanks.

I was beyond excited to read this! I have been following Harry Dresden since I was in my late teens. I love him and how his character arc moves. But this book was a little underwhelming. It was as if we have fallen into a rut with Harry; formulaic. I hope the next in the series picks back up again.

Jim Butcher is a masterful storyteller and he does not disappoint with this latest installment to The Dresden Files.

Full review at the Nameless Zine
(New reviews posted on the 15th of every month)

Adding to the Harry Dresden series - I found this book to be a fair addition to the series. I didn't LOVE it. It seemed like a book that you would have to read all the books that came before it. But I would recommend it to anyone already reading the series.

After a couple of perhaps more introspective volumes in the Dresden Files Jim Butcher is back with the most exciting volume in the series since early on in the tale. Now though, Dresden is not a young wizard (well maybe by Wizard standards) finding his power but is a true power to be reckoned with. The setting is a meeting of the Unseelie Accords set in Chicago with Harry there as the Winter Knight. At the same time his status as a wizard of the council is being challenged in another meeting. Things move quickly from there pulling Harry into a level of court intrigues beyond anything we have seen to date. This volume leads up to the already announced volume 17, Battle Ground, so one can imagine that the Peace Talks might not go as well as hoped. A fantastic book and combined with Battle Ground perhaps the highlight of the series so far.

I was provided this book as an eArc by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.