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The Dresden Files #18
Twelve Months
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the Dresden Files, can he save himself?
One year. 365 days. Twelve months.
Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed, everything is different—and it’s not just the current lack of electricity.
Harry lost people he cared about in the battle, and that’s the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild, but it’s a heavy load. He needs time.
Time is one thing Harry doesn’t have, however. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and killing innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.
It’s been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard—but after loss and grief, is there enough left of him to rise to the challenge?
One year. 365 days. Twelve months.
Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed, everything is different—and it’s not just the current lack of electricity.
Harry lost people he cared about in the battle, and that’s the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild, but it’s a heavy load. He needs time.
Time is one thing Harry doesn’t have, however. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and killing innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.
It’s been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard—but after loss and grief, is there enough left of him to rise to the challenge?
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2026
3124 people are currently reading
37279 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
204 books51.2k followersJim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
Want to read
February 6, 2023how can you all be rating a book you haven't read because it has not been published yet? The date of release is still TBA. Rating and Reviews should be turned off right now for this book as it is misleading. I am impatiently awaiting the release and this was a letdown.
Want to read
September 18, 2021Well Duh I'm gearing up to read it, especially after finishing the last one. Dresden Files books and waiting for them to come out is just part of my life now.
maybe
March 5, 2022I'm going to be waiting for reviews on this one before I waste any more time on this series. Whenever it eventually gets published.
January 20, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Twelve Months by Jim Butcher. Below is my honest review.
MORE DRESDEN! FINALLY!
So it's no secret that this is one of my absolute favorite series ever, and I've been anticipating this book since the end of the last one. In 2020 we got TWO Dresden books, and I was in heaven. Until the thing happened, that is. THE THING. I can't speak it out loud, because it's spoilery and also because I still am in denial, five years later and having read the next book following THE THING where it's solidified over and over that THE THING is real. And I can't. Like seriously, I liked that character so much that I named my dog after them. I was (and still am) devastated.
But this book really felt like a tribute to that character and the impact that they had on Dresden, and that I can appreciate.
I couldn't give this one the fifth star that I usually would because it did feel kind of... filler. It was moving chess pieces to get the world ready for the next BIG STUFF, and didn't have a huge plot other that Harry and Chicago trying to heal from the huge battle of Peace Talks/Battle Ground.
But I still loved it. So much.
Overall, this got a four and a half stars from me. I couldn't bring myself to round it up to 5, and since I had to do full stars, it got rounded down to four. Still part of a masterpiece series.
Highly recommended but please, please don't start with this one if you haven't read the series. Go binge it all. It's worth it.
MORE DRESDEN! FINALLY!
So it's no secret that this is one of my absolute favorite series ever, and I've been anticipating this book since the end of the last one. In 2020 we got TWO Dresden books, and I was in heaven. Until the thing happened, that is. THE THING. I can't speak it out loud, because it's spoilery and also because I still am in denial, five years later and having read the next book following THE THING where it's solidified over and over that THE THING is real. And I can't. Like seriously, I liked that character so much that I named my dog after them. I was (and still am) devastated.
But this book really felt like a tribute to that character and the impact that they had on Dresden, and that I can appreciate.
I couldn't give this one the fifth star that I usually would because it did feel kind of... filler. It was moving chess pieces to get the world ready for the next BIG STUFF, and didn't have a huge plot other that Harry and Chicago trying to heal from the huge battle of Peace Talks/Battle Ground.
But I still loved it. So much.
Overall, this got a four and a half stars from me. I couldn't bring myself to round it up to 5, and since I had to do full stars, it got rounded down to four. Still part of a masterpiece series.
Highly recommended but please, please don't start with this one if you haven't read the series. Go binge it all. It's worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
HELL, YES!
After the mess that was Battle Ground, I really wanted a win from Butcher and this newest installment in the beloved Dresden Files delivered.
I completely understand and respect Butcher's decision to change up the order of the books now that I've read this one - and it's impossible to expound further without giving away spoilers - but if you're a die-hard fan of the series, then I promise you will too.
Finishing this book fired me UP. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one (a novella in May, I think?) and I might just have to kick off another reread of the series in the meantime....even though I just read them all again last year, lol
After the mess that was Battle Ground, I really wanted a win from Butcher and this newest installment in the beloved Dresden Files delivered.
I completely understand and respect Butcher's decision to change up the order of the books now that I've read this one - and it's impossible to expound further without giving away spoilers - but if you're a die-hard fan of the series, then I promise you will too.
Finishing this book fired me UP. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one (a novella in May, I think?) and I might just have to kick off another reread of the series in the meantime....even though I just read them all again last year, lol
July 29, 2025
It must have been at least 15 years ago that I started reading The Dresden Files books, so it was a big treat to get to read this book before publication-- a big thank you to Ace Books and Penguin Random House for sending me the ARC of 'Twelve Months"!
This book is about hurt, healing, heart, and happiness. And it was just what I wanted and Harry needed (and I perhaps needed as well).
Starting off immediately where book 17 left off, Chicago is left in ruins. As is Harry's life. He and his are being tested from all sides, all the while dealing with the rebuilding of the city.
All in all, I had a great time hanging out with Harry, Mouse, Mab, and many more that I do not want to name because of spoilers (some of my favs were introduced in this book!), as well as their friends, loved ones, and of course enemies.
The jokes and one-liners were A+ as well (spice, *that* mountain, hell, stuttering, the Irish, pearls, cars, French, hot chocolate), and I must find a way to export my highlights because the writing was just fabulous.
Also, I want to be at that one party with the oldies for sure, sounds so fun! Only if, of course, the hosts can promise I am safe the whole time
At times I did feel the story was a bit slow, but the final 10% of this book had all the action I could have wished for. Still, I would have preferred a better balance. As well as all the answers to all the questions I am now left with!!!! What do you mean citadel, what do you mean dreaming?!
A solid 4 stars.
It might take a few years, but looking forward to the next one.
And do not forget: do not show weakness to the Winter Fae. They get ideas.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
This book is about hurt, healing, heart, and happiness. And it was just what I wanted and Harry needed (and I perhaps needed as well).
Starting off immediately where book 17 left off, Chicago is left in ruins. As is Harry's life. He and his are being tested from all sides, all the while dealing with the rebuilding of the city.
All in all, I had a great time hanging out with Harry, Mouse, Mab, and many more that I do not want to name because of spoilers (some of my favs were introduced in this book!), as well as their friends, loved ones, and of course enemies.
The jokes and one-liners were A+ as well (spice, *that* mountain, hell, stuttering, the Irish, pearls, cars, French, hot chocolate), and I must find a way to export my highlights because the writing was just fabulous.
Also, I want to be at that one party with the oldies for sure, sounds so fun! Only if, of course, the hosts can promise I am safe the whole time
At times I did feel the story was a bit slow, but the final 10% of this book had all the action I could have wished for. Still, I would have preferred a better balance. As well as all the answers to all the questions I am now left with!!!! What do you mean citadel, what do you mean dreaming?!
A solid 4 stars.
It might take a few years, but looking forward to the next one.
And do not forget: do not show weakness to the Winter Fae. They get ideas.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
January 22, 2026
It's hard to believe it's been nearly 6 years since Battle Ground came out. I absolutely adored the utter chaos that was that book, albeit I H-A-T-E-D a certain thing that happened and how it happened....
Twelve Months has a lot of familiar tropes and story beats that you'll expect from any Dresden novel and yet it's probably the most unique entry to the series since Ghost Story. It's hard to explain without spoilers but this book just had a different tone for most of it and was less copy/paste of the typical structure of a Dresden book.
The action is still incredibly engaging and exciting. Butcher has written so many fantastic characters and I love getting to read about each and every one of them. This book had so much heart in it that I was highlighting various quotes throughout, something that I never do for books. There were several times that I read a passage and thought "Butcher is saying this directly to the reader".
I love the dynamic between Harry and everyone around him. He's taken on a much wiser and methodical approach to overcoming obstacles that are hurled in front of him. He makes tough decisions, albeit occasionally not fully understanding the decisions he's made until it punches him in the face. Lara is great. Mab is great. Dresden is great. I adore him becoming more of a mentor/teacher in this book as well.
This was another great book in a series that let's be honest, continues to be one of my favorites. I don't know where the story will go or how wild and crazy it will become but I'm here for it.
Twelve Months has a lot of familiar tropes and story beats that you'll expect from any Dresden novel and yet it's probably the most unique entry to the series since Ghost Story. It's hard to explain without spoilers but this book just had a different tone for most of it and was less copy/paste of the typical structure of a Dresden book.
The action is still incredibly engaging and exciting. Butcher has written so many fantastic characters and I love getting to read about each and every one of them. This book had so much heart in it that I was highlighting various quotes throughout, something that I never do for books. There were several times that I read a passage and thought "Butcher is saying this directly to the reader".
I love the dynamic between Harry and everyone around him. He's taken on a much wiser and methodical approach to overcoming obstacles that are hurled in front of him. He makes tough decisions, albeit occasionally not fully understanding the decisions he's made until it punches him in the face. Lara is great. Mab is great. Dresden is great. I adore him becoming more of a mentor/teacher in this book as well.
This was another great book in a series that let's be honest, continues to be one of my favorites. I don't know where the story will go or how wild and crazy it will become but I'm here for it.
August 5, 2025
My (nonspoiler) Twelve Months review.
(If you don’t want to read it, look away)
xxx
xxx
xxx
Cumulative storytelling.
Fantasy readers especially have come to expect that the stories in series within the genre build upon one another. JKR shows this in seeding clues in early books that do not bloom until later books. Names are dropped with a casualty that masks their later importance. Robin Hobb, too, is a classic master of this art and skill. This type of dynamic world-building and plot accumulation is not a skill everyone has; we’ve all read books that can be read as standalones even in a series that spans tens of novels. This isn’t terrible writing, just different.
However, every once in a while, we get a series like Harry Potter, October Daye, and the Dresden Files. The cumulative storytelling anchors us into the world; the changes the characters go through from book to book give them a sort of Velveteen Rabbit-esque reality. Their pain and joy, trials and triumphs, their dynamic internal narration turn them into friends.
And in Twelve Months, our friend Harry is experiencing his lowest year. I had complete faith in Butcher’s ability to change the formula from “worst weekend of Harry’s year” to an entire year of riding along in Harry’s head. I was curious how this would be managed — would it be split into essentially twelve novellettes for each month? Would it be split into four novellas for each season? In reality, I was surprised (though I shouldn’t have been).
Having the novel take place over the course of the year gave Butcher the opportunity to flex his dynamic world-building muscles in several different ways: we get callbacks from earlier books, we see slow, realistic change, we get carefully laid foundations of new alliances. The sheer expanse of time available allows for 1) callbacks to several past cases, 2) refamiliarization with characters long off-page, and 3) for Harry to take a deep breath and divine. He needed more time.
As much as I am dying to read Mirror, Mirror, Twelve Months is so very necessary to both the series and us, the reader. After the events of Peace Ground and Battle Talks, we needed something just a little quieter. It’s possible that Butcher pulled everything in Twelve Months out of the Sea of Stories, but I don’t think he did. At least, not all of it. I think we would have gotten a lot of off-screen information told to us in the beginning chapters of Mirror Mirror to tell us How We Got Here, but by allowing himself to write this unplanned book, the series is so much richer than two gym socks full of diamonds.
My only questions are: Will book 20 still be a Denarian book? Did Butcher nix some future books we don’t know about in favor of limiting the series to 25 books? Will we get that professional wrestling book, the dragon book, another Halloween book?
I guess we’ll know in a few years. 🙂
We just need more time.
Harry’s non-existent hat off to Mr Butcher, who has created something wonderful… again.
(If you don’t want to read it, look away)
xxx
xxx
xxx
Cumulative storytelling.
Fantasy readers especially have come to expect that the stories in series within the genre build upon one another. JKR shows this in seeding clues in early books that do not bloom until later books. Names are dropped with a casualty that masks their later importance. Robin Hobb, too, is a classic master of this art and skill. This type of dynamic world-building and plot accumulation is not a skill everyone has; we’ve all read books that can be read as standalones even in a series that spans tens of novels. This isn’t terrible writing, just different.
However, every once in a while, we get a series like Harry Potter, October Daye, and the Dresden Files. The cumulative storytelling anchors us into the world; the changes the characters go through from book to book give them a sort of Velveteen Rabbit-esque reality. Their pain and joy, trials and triumphs, their dynamic internal narration turn them into friends.
And in Twelve Months, our friend Harry is experiencing his lowest year. I had complete faith in Butcher’s ability to change the formula from “worst weekend of Harry’s year” to an entire year of riding along in Harry’s head. I was curious how this would be managed — would it be split into essentially twelve novellettes for each month? Would it be split into four novellas for each season? In reality, I was surprised (though I shouldn’t have been).
Having the novel take place over the course of the year gave Butcher the opportunity to flex his dynamic world-building muscles in several different ways: we get callbacks from earlier books, we see slow, realistic change, we get carefully laid foundations of new alliances. The sheer expanse of time available allows for 1) callbacks to several past cases, 2) refamiliarization with characters long off-page, and 3) for Harry to take a deep breath and divine. He needed more time.
As much as I am dying to read Mirror, Mirror, Twelve Months is so very necessary to both the series and us, the reader. After the events of Peace Ground and Battle Talks, we needed something just a little quieter. It’s possible that Butcher pulled everything in Twelve Months out of the Sea of Stories, but I don’t think he did. At least, not all of it. I think we would have gotten a lot of off-screen information told to us in the beginning chapters of Mirror Mirror to tell us How We Got Here, but by allowing himself to write this unplanned book, the series is so much richer than two gym socks full of diamonds.
My only questions are: Will book 20 still be a Denarian book? Did Butcher nix some future books we don’t know about in favor of limiting the series to 25 books? Will we get that professional wrestling book, the dragon book, another Halloween book?
I guess we’ll know in a few years. 🙂
We just need more time.
Harry’s non-existent hat off to Mr Butcher, who has created something wonderful… again.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Full disclosure, this is a series that I own both in audio and Kindle format. As with any urban fantasy, it is essential to read/listen to this series in the order of its release. I always listen first and read second with the voice of Marsters still in my head. I also make it a point to read all short stories from this world.
It’s been almost a year since the events of Battle Ground. Harry is healing physically, but emotionally he is mourning a loss. It’s deep and raw, but Harry also knows the city has suffered and has opened up his home to some of the displaced.
Demands from Mab, the Winter Queen of Fae, who has formed an alliance with the White Court of vampires, see Harry as her knight betrothed to Lara Raith. He’ll need to go on three dates with her. We have Ghouls attacking in the streets of Chicago, and then there is Harry’s brother Thomas. Toss in a bodyguard and a new apprentice, and there is no time for Harry to be tired, and mentally he is exhausted.
Butcher pulled me in, and it was great seeing characters I am so familiar with. Despite what has happened, life goes on and needs need to be met. The situation with Thomas is time sensitive and Harry will need to figure out how to save him. It was interesting seeing him and Lara work together to save him, even if their ideas don’t always align. Meanwhile, Mab has made her demands clear. She is scary, and Harry pushed with his interactions with her.
In signature style, Butcher weaved in humor and terrific one-liners that made me chuckle even as a wiped a tear. The pace was slower, but I think we all needed it after the events of Battle Ground. It helped me reconnect with Harry and others and showed us the devastation caused. The last three-fourths were intense and more action-packed and left me craving the next installment.
I don’t think I will ever tire of this world and characters. James Marsters has become the voice of these characters and does an exceptional job of showing this side of Harry.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
It’s been almost a year since the events of Battle Ground. Harry is healing physically, but emotionally he is mourning a loss. It’s deep and raw, but Harry also knows the city has suffered and has opened up his home to some of the displaced.
Demands from Mab, the Winter Queen of Fae, who has formed an alliance with the White Court of vampires, see Harry as her knight betrothed to Lara Raith. He’ll need to go on three dates with her. We have Ghouls attacking in the streets of Chicago, and then there is Harry’s brother Thomas. Toss in a bodyguard and a new apprentice, and there is no time for Harry to be tired, and mentally he is exhausted.
Butcher pulled me in, and it was great seeing characters I am so familiar with. Despite what has happened, life goes on and needs need to be met. The situation with Thomas is time sensitive and Harry will need to figure out how to save him. It was interesting seeing him and Lara work together to save him, even if their ideas don’t always align. Meanwhile, Mab has made her demands clear. She is scary, and Harry pushed with his interactions with her.
In signature style, Butcher weaved in humor and terrific one-liners that made me chuckle even as a wiped a tear. The pace was slower, but I think we all needed it after the events of Battle Ground. It helped me reconnect with Harry and others and showed us the devastation caused. The last three-fourths were intense and more action-packed and left me craving the next installment.
I don’t think I will ever tire of this world and characters. James Marsters has become the voice of these characters and does an exceptional job of showing this side of Harry.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 5, 2025
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
All in all, a pretty solid return to form for the series. Twelve Months is all about Dresden recovering from the events of Peace Talks and Battle Ground. He knows (and repeatedly mentions — these are arc words) that he just needs time — to grieve, to heal, to figure things out. His stack of urgent to-do items does nothing grow as his myriad obligations pull his attention multiple directions, and of course the stakes are high… perhaps not as high as a titan attacking a mortal city, thankfully, but high enough.
It’s at least 6 months before the city really starts having any feeling of normalcy after the attacks. Streets are blocked, food supplies are irregular, and everyone is fearful and on edge, especially about magic-using weirdos who live in castles (and the magic-users in turn are increasingly on edge about harassment from the normals). And then (not a spoiler, it’s in the summary), ghouls are feasting like mad, which doesn’t help.
Fortunately, Harry’s not alone. He hasn’t been the lone wizard for a long, long time now, but the true motif of this book is the importance of social ties. He has his Knights of the Bean to help keep some peace and protect the home front; he has family he builds new connections with; he has friends around him, like Michael Carpenter, Billy, Molly; he even has Lara Raith who you can’t really call a love interest but is definitely a strong ally. There’s some *interesting* developments in that quarter that will definitely impact how they interact with each other moving forward, but We see a lot of supporting characters this book! Some are practically just cameos, but their time is meaningful. Harry even picks up some new strays.
Harry lets go, and lets go again. One of the subplot resolutions demands a very steep price, and for once, Harry isn’t the one to pay it (at least not directly). (I actually wish that had been left dangling longer, but I suppose Butcher wanted to give us some proper resolution and relatively lighter fare!)
All in all, a pretty solid return to form for the series. Twelve Months is all about Dresden recovering from the events of Peace Talks and Battle Ground. He knows (and repeatedly mentions — these are arc words) that he just needs time — to grieve, to heal, to figure things out. His stack of urgent to-do items does nothing grow as his myriad obligations pull his attention multiple directions, and of course the stakes are high… perhaps not as high as a titan attacking a mortal city, thankfully, but high enough.
It’s at least 6 months before the city really starts having any feeling of normalcy after the attacks. Streets are blocked, food supplies are irregular, and everyone is fearful and on edge, especially about magic-using weirdos who live in castles (and the magic-users in turn are increasingly on edge about harassment from the normals). And then (not a spoiler, it’s in the summary), ghouls are feasting like mad, which doesn’t help.
Fortunately, Harry’s not alone. He hasn’t been the lone wizard for a long, long time now, but the true motif of this book is the importance of social ties. He has his Knights of the Bean to help keep some peace and protect the home front; he has family he builds new connections with; he has friends around him, like Michael Carpenter, Billy, Molly; he even has Lara Raith who you can’t really call a love interest but is definitely a strong ally. There’s some *interesting* developments in that quarter that will definitely impact how they interact with each other moving forward, but We see a lot of supporting characters this book! Some are practically just cameos, but their time is meaningful. Harry even picks up some new strays.
Harry lets go, and lets go again. One of the subplot resolutions demands a very steep price, and for once, Harry isn’t the one to pay it (at least not directly). (I actually wish that had been left dangling longer, but I suppose Butcher wanted to give us some proper resolution and relatively lighter fare!)
December 18, 2025
It’s been a few years since we’ve been in the world of The Dresden Files, and wow I’m so relieved this book didn’t disappoint. You can feel how much Harry has grown. He’s older, more deliberate, making thoughtful choices…but he’s still Harry. The sarcasm, the stubbornness, that big messy heart, it’s all here.
This book sits in a quieter emotional space than the last few. Harry is grieving, and Butcher really lets us sit with that weight. We see the depression, the long recovery, the way loss can linger. It felt honest and painful in all the right ways. I appreciated the slower pacing because it gave room for character work: rebuilding relationships, laying groundwork for new alliances, and reconnecting with characters we haven’t seen in a long while. There are some great callbacks to earlier books that add to the sense of cumulative storytelling long time fans love.
We also meet a few new faces I immediately adored, and we get to spend time with plenty of old friends even in the middle of Chicago’s devastation. The rebuilding arc felt necessary for both Harry and the series.
Yes, it’s slower than a typical Dresden novel…but that final 10%!! Pure chaos in the best way. Action, emotional payoff, and threads tightening toward what comes next. This installment feels like a breath, a chance to heal before whatever storm Butcher has planned next.
Overall, a solid and moving addition to the Dresden universe and one I really enjoyed. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see where Harry goes from here. Thanks to Ace books for the gifted ARC.
This book sits in a quieter emotional space than the last few. Harry is grieving, and Butcher really lets us sit with that weight. We see the depression, the long recovery, the way loss can linger. It felt honest and painful in all the right ways. I appreciated the slower pacing because it gave room for character work: rebuilding relationships, laying groundwork for new alliances, and reconnecting with characters we haven’t seen in a long while. There are some great callbacks to earlier books that add to the sense of cumulative storytelling long time fans love.
We also meet a few new faces I immediately adored, and we get to spend time with plenty of old friends even in the middle of Chicago’s devastation. The rebuilding arc felt necessary for both Harry and the series.
Yes, it’s slower than a typical Dresden novel…but that final 10%!! Pure chaos in the best way. Action, emotional payoff, and threads tightening toward what comes next. This installment feels like a breath, a chance to heal before whatever storm Butcher has planned next.
Overall, a solid and moving addition to the Dresden universe and one I really enjoyed. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see where Harry goes from here. Thanks to Ace books for the gifted ARC.
Want to read
April 7, 2025I have only waited years for this....
November 11, 2025
Disclaimer: I won an ARC of Twelve Months through a Goodreads giveaway. Every opinion in this review is my own.
This is a great book. It’s not explosive or relentless like Proven Guilty, Changes, or Skin Game (my favorites), but great in a quieter and more introspective way.
The pace isn’t breakneck; in fact, the first real fight scene doesn’t appear until past the hundred-page mark. Most DF installments cover a single catastrophic weekend, but Twelve Months unfolds over an entire year, as the name implies. It begins just three weeks after the devastation in Chicago and follows Harry through a year of PTSD, grief, debilitating depression, and slow recovery.
Much of this story happens through conversation, and by nature it’s a little repetitive. Harry carries immense guilt from the events of Peace Talks and Battle Ground, and that repetition reflects his state of mind. He revisits his trauma again and again, needing reassurance and connection from those around him. It’s not action-heavy, but it’s emotionally raw with the occasional good joke thrown in.
In tone and structure, Twelve Months feels closer to Ghost Story. It’s a bridge book, slower and more focused on rebuilding and smaller conflicts. Some readers might find that frustrating, but I think it’s exactly what the series needed after the chaos of the last few installments.
And then there’s the courtship between Harry and Lara, which I loved. I can’t wait to see where that relationship goes from here.
Overall: Twelve Months may not deliver the wild spectacle fans may expect, but I really appreciated the quieter character moments and the chance to see the consequences of everything that came before.
This is a great book. It’s not explosive or relentless like Proven Guilty, Changes, or Skin Game (my favorites), but great in a quieter and more introspective way.
The pace isn’t breakneck; in fact, the first real fight scene doesn’t appear until past the hundred-page mark. Most DF installments cover a single catastrophic weekend, but Twelve Months unfolds over an entire year, as the name implies. It begins just three weeks after the devastation in Chicago and follows Harry through a year of PTSD, grief, debilitating depression, and slow recovery.
Much of this story happens through conversation, and by nature it’s a little repetitive. Harry carries immense guilt from the events of Peace Talks and Battle Ground, and that repetition reflects his state of mind. He revisits his trauma again and again, needing reassurance and connection from those around him. It’s not action-heavy, but it’s emotionally raw with the occasional good joke thrown in.
In tone and structure, Twelve Months feels closer to Ghost Story. It’s a bridge book, slower and more focused on rebuilding and smaller conflicts. Some readers might find that frustrating, but I think it’s exactly what the series needed after the chaos of the last few installments.
And then there’s the courtship between Harry and Lara, which I loved. I can’t wait to see where that relationship goes from here.
Overall: Twelve Months may not deliver the wild spectacle fans may expect, but I really appreciated the quieter character moments and the chance to see the consequences of everything that came before.
October 1, 2025
An ARC of this book has been sent to a friend in my workplace to share around. I am lucky to have read it already and thankful for those sending ARCs that we got one!
This book was fantastic. Slow and steady pacing takes precedence over the last two installments which took place over a day or two collectively. Dresden has lost a lot in the last couple books, and this is about coming to terms with that. In a variety of different ways. And then there’s the engagement to Lara Raith to handle…
I really loved this book. I’ve recently reread the first few books in the series and it’s amazing to see how far Dresden has come as a character and how Jim has grown as a writer.
This book was fantastic. Slow and steady pacing takes precedence over the last two installments which took place over a day or two collectively. Dresden has lost a lot in the last couple books, and this is about coming to terms with that. In a variety of different ways. And then there’s the engagement to Lara Raith to handle…
I really loved this book. I’ve recently reread the first few books in the series and it’s amazing to see how far Dresden has come as a character and how Jim has grown as a writer.
January 21, 2026
This book is a fucking masterpiece. Like genuinely, it's fucking perfect. It's content is so well-placed within the series and especially the context of the last few books, but simultaneously, you can tell that Jim was also going through some serious shit when he was writing this. His experience, his struggle, his progress, his healing, it all permeates through every sentence in this book, and it's just the perfect lens to read this book through, considering Dresden's journey in this book.
The character relationships and interactions are also well-fucking-done. Without getting into spoilers, the core relationships and side characters of this book needed to be handled delicately, as authorial missteps within this regard would threaten to undermine what Jim has worked so hard towards building in this story. But he handles and writes these relationships and characters in a way that remains so true to who the characters fundamentally are, while moving them forward in their relationships and selves through the story and through them simply talking and learning more about each other. In a book like this it is easy to get preachy through side characters, but this series has gone through 17 books up to this point, so every message just feels earned, and not corny.
This book is far from a typical Dresden Files book. There isn't really a case to solve. There isn't really a big bad that Dresden needs to stop before time runs out (in this book, at least). There isn't really a lot of action. But nonetheless, and somehow, it might just be the best written book in the series. The Dresden Files is fundamentally about Harry Dresden, and this book is just such a good reminder of who he is, and all that he has done and earned up to this point of the story, and that weight carries itself through the book.
This is a 15/5 type book. Genuinely. Holy shit.
The character relationships and interactions are also well-fucking-done. Without getting into spoilers, the core relationships and side characters of this book needed to be handled delicately, as authorial missteps within this regard would threaten to undermine what Jim has worked so hard towards building in this story. But he handles and writes these relationships and characters in a way that remains so true to who the characters fundamentally are, while moving them forward in their relationships and selves through the story and through them simply talking and learning more about each other. In a book like this it is easy to get preachy through side characters, but this series has gone through 17 books up to this point, so every message just feels earned, and not corny.
This book is far from a typical Dresden Files book. There isn't really a case to solve. There isn't really a big bad that Dresden needs to stop before time runs out (in this book, at least). There isn't really a lot of action. But nonetheless, and somehow, it might just be the best written book in the series. The Dresden Files is fundamentally about Harry Dresden, and this book is just such a good reminder of who he is, and all that he has done and earned up to this point of the story, and that weight carries itself through the book.
This is a 15/5 type book. Genuinely. Holy shit.
January 20, 2026
A well needed pause in an 18 book series that forces the reader to sit in grief and healing.
Want to read
May 14, 2023Huge fan of the Dresden Flies books! With a clift hanger in the last book I can't wait to read Twelve Months!!
January 21, 2026
TWELVE MONTHS is the eighteenth installment of the Dresden Files. I was pleasantly surprised to get a ARC of this book and sat down to read it almost immediately so this has been a delayed review for some time. Still, I have managed to keep my opinion to myself until now and am happy now to share my thoughts. Take note I’ll be honest about this book and its flaws, despite the fact that I am mostly positive about it. A warning there will be SPOILERS for the books leading up to this.
Basically, Twelve Months comes from a very mixed reception to Battle Ground. Killing off one of the most popular characters in the series is always controversial and there was the fact she died in a way that was unrelated to the epic battle around it. Worse, many thought it was solely to end the relationship that she and Harry had gotten into. Because God forbid a couple break up naturally (under no circumstance do I think they ever could have been endgame nor would I have wanted them to be). Yes, I speak of Murphy.
It goes beyond that, though. The Dresden Files has been suffering something of a slump for pretty much the entire time from Changes onward. Part of this is due to RL issues of Jim Butcher that would take an article to explain but amount to, “lots of shit happened.” Still, a mostly regular output of books every year was interrupted and the books shifted from quirky episodic cases with a continuing plot behind them to endless misery all tied together in a metaplot that wasn’t really forwarding despite it. Lots of fans complained and quite a few dropped the series. What is Twelve Months and is it worth coming back to the series for?
Twelve Months is essentially the year after Battle Ground and Harry attempting to rebuild his life, the city of Chicago, and his connections to all of his allies in that order. He’s deeply traumatized by Murphy’s death and the event is given the weight it deserves. Not only was she Harry’s girlfriend and partner but one of the guiding forces in the city’s paranatural community. He is, simply put, out of gas and the city isn’t much better off. Harry’s in no condition to be a champion of good anymore and the city needs his old private detective self versus the broken shell he’s been left as.
At heart, Twelve Months is a soft reboot that brings everything back to the more grounded Chicago-based stories that have been missing for a long time. It feels like an anthology of many smaller stories strung together but that was missing for awhile. The serial escalation of Harry against gods and archwizards is dialed back to more mundane threats ranging from ghouls (the orcs of the Dresden Files) to White Court politics to helping terrified Paranet members avoid being executed by the White Council.
Much of the fandom was outraged by Harry getting engaged to Lara Raith at the end of the last book and thought Murphy’s romance would be replaced with her. Instead, it feels more like a year long mutual therapy session. Lara has always been a fun but somewhat rote character as the sexy female vampire badass. Here, we get to see her softer side and also the fact that she’s just as messed up as Harry. Her goal isn’t to gain power via Winter but to try to heal her brother/foster son, Thomas, and get him out from under his death sentence for his actions in Peace Talks. Romance or not, they actually become really believably good friends.
The book feels feels almost like an apology or, at the very least, an awareness things went very much off the rails. One might speculate that it might also reflect that Jim Butcher is in a better place now but that may be reaching. It isn’t perfect due to the fact that some of the beats are a bit tired. Seriously, did we really need Harry persecuted and distrusted by the Wardens again? At least they died down Carlos’ anger at Harry. I felt that was out of character when they set them up as enemies in the last book.
Overall, I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars, which goes to show that I was always willing to take the series back but I also feel like it is trying to correct a lot of mistakes that were made. This sounds very much like an entitled fan and I almost certainly am. I’ve been reading The Dresden Files since Dead Beat was in stores and it’s probably the longest running series in my life aside from A Song of Ice and Fire. Still, I give people the recommendation to try this again if they felt burned out on Harry. It has more of the magic than anything since Harry made his choice to end a war and save a little girl (and all it cost him was everything).
Basically, Twelve Months comes from a very mixed reception to Battle Ground. Killing off one of the most popular characters in the series is always controversial and there was the fact she died in a way that was unrelated to the epic battle around it. Worse, many thought it was solely to end the relationship that she and Harry had gotten into. Because God forbid a couple break up naturally (under no circumstance do I think they ever could have been endgame nor would I have wanted them to be). Yes, I speak of Murphy.
It goes beyond that, though. The Dresden Files has been suffering something of a slump for pretty much the entire time from Changes onward. Part of this is due to RL issues of Jim Butcher that would take an article to explain but amount to, “lots of shit happened.” Still, a mostly regular output of books every year was interrupted and the books shifted from quirky episodic cases with a continuing plot behind them to endless misery all tied together in a metaplot that wasn’t really forwarding despite it. Lots of fans complained and quite a few dropped the series. What is Twelve Months and is it worth coming back to the series for?
Twelve Months is essentially the year after Battle Ground and Harry attempting to rebuild his life, the city of Chicago, and his connections to all of his allies in that order. He’s deeply traumatized by Murphy’s death and the event is given the weight it deserves. Not only was she Harry’s girlfriend and partner but one of the guiding forces in the city’s paranatural community. He is, simply put, out of gas and the city isn’t much better off. Harry’s in no condition to be a champion of good anymore and the city needs his old private detective self versus the broken shell he’s been left as.
At heart, Twelve Months is a soft reboot that brings everything back to the more grounded Chicago-based stories that have been missing for a long time. It feels like an anthology of many smaller stories strung together but that was missing for awhile. The serial escalation of Harry against gods and archwizards is dialed back to more mundane threats ranging from ghouls (the orcs of the Dresden Files) to White Court politics to helping terrified Paranet members avoid being executed by the White Council.
Much of the fandom was outraged by Harry getting engaged to Lara Raith at the end of the last book and thought Murphy’s romance would be replaced with her. Instead, it feels more like a year long mutual therapy session. Lara has always been a fun but somewhat rote character as the sexy female vampire badass. Here, we get to see her softer side and also the fact that she’s just as messed up as Harry. Her goal isn’t to gain power via Winter but to try to heal her brother/foster son, Thomas, and get him out from under his death sentence for his actions in Peace Talks. Romance or not, they actually become really believably good friends.
The book feels feels almost like an apology or, at the very least, an awareness things went very much off the rails. One might speculate that it might also reflect that Jim Butcher is in a better place now but that may be reaching. It isn’t perfect due to the fact that some of the beats are a bit tired. Seriously, did we really need Harry persecuted and distrusted by the Wardens again? At least they died down Carlos’ anger at Harry. I felt that was out of character when they set them up as enemies in the last book.
Overall, I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars, which goes to show that I was always willing to take the series back but I also feel like it is trying to correct a lot of mistakes that were made. This sounds very much like an entitled fan and I almost certainly am. I’ve been reading The Dresden Files since Dead Beat was in stores and it’s probably the longest running series in my life aside from A Song of Ice and Fire. Still, I give people the recommendation to try this again if they felt burned out on Harry. It has more of the magic than anything since Harry made his choice to end a war and save a little girl (and all it cost him was everything).
January 17, 2026
After the explosive chaos of Battle Ground, Jim Butcher takes a very deliberate step sideways with Twelve Months—and that choice makes this one of the most emotionally grounded entries in The Dresden Files to date.
Rather than racing headlong into another apocalyptic showdown, Twelve Months slows the pace and lets Harry Dresden sit with the consequences of everything he’s survived. Chicago is damaged. The supernatural world is watching. And Harry himself is… not okay. This book is about what happens after the war ends—when the adrenaline fades and reality sets in.
The novel's structure, spanning a whole year, gives the story a reflective rhythm that feels intentional and earned. Each month brings its own challenges, from lingering supernatural threats to deeply personal reckonings. There’s still danger—this is a Dresden book, after all—but the tension here often comes from grief, obligation, and recovery rather than sheer spectacle.
One of the strongest elements of Twelve Months is its emotional honesty. Harry is forced to confront trauma he’s long buried under sarcasm and stubbornness. Watching him try (and often fail) to rebuild himself adds a quiet weight to the story that longtime readers will appreciate. The humor is still there, but it’s tempered—sharper in places, softer in others.
The political and relational fallout from earlier books also takes center stage. Alliances are uneasy, promises are binding, and the future feels increasingly complicated. Butcher does an excellent job of making these consequences feel meaningful rather than perfunctory, setting the stage for what comes next without rushing the payoff.
Twelve Months won’t be the book readers reach for when they want nonstop action—but it may be the one that deepens their connection to Harry Dresden the most. It’s a bridge novel in the best sense: reflective, character-driven, and quietly powerful.
Final Thoughts: Twelve Months is a thoughtful, emotionally rich entry in The Dresden Files—a necessary breath between storms that reminds us why Harry Dresden remains one of urban fantasy’s most enduring protagonists.
Rather than racing headlong into another apocalyptic showdown, Twelve Months slows the pace and lets Harry Dresden sit with the consequences of everything he’s survived. Chicago is damaged. The supernatural world is watching. And Harry himself is… not okay. This book is about what happens after the war ends—when the adrenaline fades and reality sets in.
The novel's structure, spanning a whole year, gives the story a reflective rhythm that feels intentional and earned. Each month brings its own challenges, from lingering supernatural threats to deeply personal reckonings. There’s still danger—this is a Dresden book, after all—but the tension here often comes from grief, obligation, and recovery rather than sheer spectacle.
One of the strongest elements of Twelve Months is its emotional honesty. Harry is forced to confront trauma he’s long buried under sarcasm and stubbornness. Watching him try (and often fail) to rebuild himself adds a quiet weight to the story that longtime readers will appreciate. The humor is still there, but it’s tempered—sharper in places, softer in others.
The political and relational fallout from earlier books also takes center stage. Alliances are uneasy, promises are binding, and the future feels increasingly complicated. Butcher does an excellent job of making these consequences feel meaningful rather than perfunctory, setting the stage for what comes next without rushing the payoff.
Twelve Months won’t be the book readers reach for when they want nonstop action—but it may be the one that deepens their connection to Harry Dresden the most. It’s a bridge novel in the best sense: reflective, character-driven, and quietly powerful.
Final Thoughts: Twelve Months is a thoughtful, emotionally rich entry in The Dresden Files—a necessary breath between storms that reminds us why Harry Dresden remains one of urban fantasy’s most enduring protagonists.
January 17, 2026
I love the thinking, feeling, learning, and growing Dresden. I would’ve happily read another 400 pages. So good.
January 19, 2026
6.5 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Twelve Months is, at its core, a tale of healing, set over the course of twelve months, in the city of Chicago as it rebuilds itself. But instead of a vaguely interconnected series of novellas and shorts like the Last Wish, some effort was made to tie everything together—and the story suffers because of it.
So, Harry Dresden has been away from the game for a while. Following the untimely death of his lover Karrin Murphy in Battle Ground, he’s been a wreck, barely holding it together while his city smolders around him. Jim Butcher also spent a great deal of time away from it all. Got divorced, remarried. In many ways, Twelve Months reflects this change in his own life. Out with the old, in with the new.
Told as a series of interconnected stories, Twelve Months is a bit like the Last Wish, our introduction to the Witcher. That said, unlike Sapkowski’s work (which was originally published in a Polish newspaper month by month), there is a concerted effort by Butcher to tie everything together. Which, honestly, didn’t really help. For example, instead of abrupt breaks between chapters, there’s been an attempt to bridge the gaps, that mostly comes in the form of mindless banter—something I often found myself skimming through. Additionally, some characters felt like they were tacked on to tide things over to the next scene. Oh, and there’s a final battle that seems tacked on just because someone thought there needed to be an epic conclusion.
And yet, I see why the attempt was made. There is one particular point where Dresden stumbles across a missing person and he goes down the familiar path of collecting evidence, preparing spells, and readying his arsenal. I was readying myself for a return to the past wizard from the yellow pages, something to occupy Harry, to help him heal. Then it’s abruptly abandoned. And this is a fairly big plot point. We get back to it, at the end, but it never feels resolved.
TL;DR
In the end, there’s a lot that either doesn’t feel resolved or didn’t sit right. This, despite the conclusion doing its best to tie up all the various plot threads. Twelve Months is a story of healing, but ultimately left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s not a return to the past (not that I expected it to be), a new beginning, nor a return to form. It just (I assume) will serve as a bridge between the death of Murphy and whatever new arc the overarching plot begins. There’s still a decent story within, and entertainment to be found. I enjoyed most of my time with the tale, though immersion wasn’t nearly as good as in past books, and it ended up leaving a sour taste. For similar reasons, I’m undecided whether or not I’ll be continuing the series. All things end; maybe this is as good a time as any other.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Twelve Months is, at its core, a tale of healing, set over the course of twelve months, in the city of Chicago as it rebuilds itself. But instead of a vaguely interconnected series of novellas and shorts like the Last Wish, some effort was made to tie everything together—and the story suffers because of it.
So, Harry Dresden has been away from the game for a while. Following the untimely death of his lover Karrin Murphy in Battle Ground, he’s been a wreck, barely holding it together while his city smolders around him. Jim Butcher also spent a great deal of time away from it all. Got divorced, remarried. In many ways, Twelve Months reflects this change in his own life. Out with the old, in with the new.
Told as a series of interconnected stories, Twelve Months is a bit like the Last Wish, our introduction to the Witcher. That said, unlike Sapkowski’s work (which was originally published in a Polish newspaper month by month), there is a concerted effort by Butcher to tie everything together. Which, honestly, didn’t really help. For example, instead of abrupt breaks between chapters, there’s been an attempt to bridge the gaps, that mostly comes in the form of mindless banter—something I often found myself skimming through. Additionally, some characters felt like they were tacked on to tide things over to the next scene. Oh, and there’s a final battle that seems tacked on just because someone thought there needed to be an epic conclusion.
And yet, I see why the attempt was made. There is one particular point where Dresden stumbles across a missing person and he goes down the familiar path of collecting evidence, preparing spells, and readying his arsenal. I was readying myself for a return to the past wizard from the yellow pages, something to occupy Harry, to help him heal. Then it’s abruptly abandoned. And this is a fairly big plot point. We get back to it, at the end, but it never feels resolved.
TL;DR
In the end, there’s a lot that either doesn’t feel resolved or didn’t sit right. This, despite the conclusion doing its best to tie up all the various plot threads. Twelve Months is a story of healing, but ultimately left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s not a return to the past (not that I expected it to be), a new beginning, nor a return to form. It just (I assume) will serve as a bridge between the death of Murphy and whatever new arc the overarching plot begins. There’s still a decent story within, and entertainment to be found. I enjoyed most of my time with the tale, though immersion wasn’t nearly as good as in past books, and it ended up leaving a sour taste. For similar reasons, I’m undecided whether or not I’ll be continuing the series. All things end; maybe this is as good a time as any other.
December 23, 2025
This was rough and so depressing for awhile but I’m glad I kept going and I will be excited to see what’s coming next. The last two pages made it all worth reading ❤️
November 12, 2025
It's been 5 years since Battle Grounds came out. Five years since I was last in the world of Dresden.
This book was worth the wait.
I was able to read an ARC of this book thanks to Netgalley.
I've actually had the ARC over a month now. I have been avoiding starting it, because Battle Grounds was so heavy, I knew this one was going to be intense. I wasn't wrong, it was intense and emotional at many times. But, Butcher has completed a work that was perfectly Harry Dresden, wounds and all.
Twelve months picks up a few weeks after the events of Battle Grounds. Harry is still recovering from the losses of the Battle of Chicago. This book was a beautiful look at grief, resilience, and hope, all wrapped up in the world we love of Dresden.
It's so hard to write about this one without spoilers, but I can tell you, if you are a Dresden Files fan. You will appreciate this one. It's definitely darker, as Harry deals with his grief, but watching this book take place over a full year was genius. Harry has grown so much since the series started and this book proves it. Harry is powerful, both as a wizard, and as a man.
Tiny spoiler: this is from a scene towards the end, and is perfectly Harry. It feels like a callback to the early books. He's Harry Dresden, Wizard, and he's in the book.
"I knew who I was.
I was a man.
I was a father.
I was a protector.
I was imperfect and flawed.
I was stubborn as hell.
I was a fighter.
I was a helper.
I was someone who worked every day to be a better man than I was the day before.
I was someone who would not stand by doing nothing when there was a clear need for action.
I was a wizard.
I was Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden."
This book was worth the wait.
I was able to read an ARC of this book thanks to Netgalley.
I've actually had the ARC over a month now. I have been avoiding starting it, because Battle Grounds was so heavy, I knew this one was going to be intense. I wasn't wrong, it was intense and emotional at many times. But, Butcher has completed a work that was perfectly Harry Dresden, wounds and all.
Twelve months picks up a few weeks after the events of Battle Grounds. Harry is still recovering from the losses of the Battle of Chicago. This book was a beautiful look at grief, resilience, and hope, all wrapped up in the world we love of Dresden.
It's so hard to write about this one without spoilers, but I can tell you, if you are a Dresden Files fan. You will appreciate this one. It's definitely darker, as Harry deals with his grief, but watching this book take place over a full year was genius. Harry has grown so much since the series started and this book proves it. Harry is powerful, both as a wizard, and as a man.
Tiny spoiler: this is from a scene towards the end, and is perfectly Harry. It feels like a callback to the early books. He's Harry Dresden, Wizard, and he's in the book.
"I knew who I was.
I was a man.
I was a father.
I was a protector.
I was imperfect and flawed.
I was stubborn as hell.
I was a fighter.
I was a helper.
I was someone who worked every day to be a better man than I was the day before.
I was someone who would not stand by doing nothing when there was a clear need for action.
I was a wizard.
I was Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden."
Want to read
May 3, 2024Why is there no release date put onto the description of this book?
Even if it is TBA, that should be put under the title of the book
it is aggravating to not be able to tell when these books will be released
Even if it is TBA, that should be put under the title of the book
it is aggravating to not be able to tell when these books will be released
January 21, 2026
4.5 - I’m putting this one on the same pedestal as Ghost Story, A Feast for Crows, The Last Jedi and The Last of Us 2 because I will defend it with my life against the fandom!!! Give me more character-driven Dresden novels!
Twelve Months is not like other Dresden Files, nor can it be, coming directly after Battle Ground.
Harry and the city of Chicago have just experienced an unfathomable trauma. You can't just move on to the next adventure as if nothing happened; you have to see the aftermath and that's what Twelve Months is all about.
It's an introspective, character-driven slice of life about Harry's grief, paralleled by the suffering of the people of Chicago.
Butcher takes a lot of time to show us all the small consequences like Harry's suffering, his attempt to maintain a facade for his friends or how a conflict is brewing between the magically gifted and the normal people of Chicago, but more importantly, he also shows us how Harry and Chicago are healing and that is exactly where the strength of the book lies.
The characters, both old ones like Michael and new ones like Bear, are just phenomenal and form a great support system for Harry. They motivate him in a healthy way to heal and he is open to their help, even if he is hesitant at first.
We see him cry in front of them, we see him talk about his feelings, we see him repair old bridges (Eb <3), we see him help the people of Chicago and we see him truly heal and move on, again paralleled by the rebuilding of Chicago.
There aren't many fantasy authors who would be brave or competent enough to tell a story like this, especially in a plot- and action-driven series like Dresden Files, but I deeply respect Butcher for doing so.
It definitely competes for my top spot between Ghost Story and Turn Coat. :D
(Plus, there's lovecraftian horror... obviously I'm going to love this book :D)
I only have a few minor gripes that keep me from giving it 5 stars like the treatment of Justine or the relationship between Lara and Harry.
I'm not interested in shipping and their chemistry is another highlight. I loved every chapter they were in together, but I don't think they should be dating. The whole White Court mechanic just feels icky to me, the same way love potions do, even though Butcher turned it around this time for Lana and Harry.
Twelve Months is not like other Dresden Files, nor can it be, coming directly after Battle Ground.
Harry and the city of Chicago have just experienced an unfathomable trauma. You can't just move on to the next adventure as if nothing happened; you have to see the aftermath and that's what Twelve Months is all about.
It's an introspective, character-driven slice of life about Harry's grief, paralleled by the suffering of the people of Chicago.
Butcher takes a lot of time to show us all the small consequences like Harry's suffering, his attempt to maintain a facade for his friends or how a conflict is brewing between the magically gifted and the normal people of Chicago, but more importantly, he also shows us how Harry and Chicago are healing and that is exactly where the strength of the book lies.
The characters, both old ones like Michael and new ones like Bear, are just phenomenal and form a great support system for Harry. They motivate him in a healthy way to heal and he is open to their help, even if he is hesitant at first.
We see him cry in front of them, we see him talk about his feelings, we see him repair old bridges (Eb <3), we see him help the people of Chicago and we see him truly heal and move on, again paralleled by the rebuilding of Chicago.
There aren't many fantasy authors who would be brave or competent enough to tell a story like this, especially in a plot- and action-driven series like Dresden Files, but I deeply respect Butcher for doing so.
It definitely competes for my top spot between Ghost Story and Turn Coat. :D
(Plus, there's lovecraftian horror... obviously I'm going to love this book :D)
I only have a few minor gripes that keep me from giving it 5 stars like the treatment of Justine or the relationship between Lara and Harry.
I'm not interested in shipping and their chemistry is another highlight. I loved every chapter they were in together, but I don't think they should be dating. The whole White Court mechanic just feels icky to me, the same way love potions do, even though Butcher turned it around this time for Lana and Harry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
It had been quite a while since the last Dresden Files story - almost five years! - so I had to comb through the Dresden wiki to remember everything to this point. I've been reading these books for maybe fifteen years, and it's impressive to me that this might be the best one so far.
Butcher so tenderly shows us Harry trying to heal from the scars and trauma he endured in Battle Ground that you get the sense Butcher himself was working through some life challenges. The man's been to therapy. You don't typically come to the Dresden Files for deep emotional work and development, but here we are.
There's also a ton of the usual wizard shenanigans, fights against ghouls and vampires and worse, high stakes drama, maybe even a courtship. Fun new characters and a plethora of returning favorites. This is the good stuff and I was glad to be back in this world again.
Butcher so tenderly shows us Harry trying to heal from the scars and trauma he endured in Battle Ground that you get the sense Butcher himself was working through some life challenges. The man's been to therapy. You don't typically come to the Dresden Files for deep emotional work and development, but here we are.
There's also a ton of the usual wizard shenanigans, fights against ghouls and vampires and worse, high stakes drama, maybe even a courtship. Fun new characters and a plethora of returning favorites. This is the good stuff and I was glad to be back in this world again.
Want to read
June 13, 2023I have created my Goodreads account for the sole purpose of sharing my excitement and my hope that this series continues its epic journey. If I could buy my copy in advance right now, I would.
January 22, 2026
I love this series. I spent the last few weeks rereading the whole series so I'd be fully ready for this new installment which came out yesterday.
I enjoyed reconnecting with the core characters and to see where they landed after the big war and the heavy losses. The humor is still there. The dialogue works. The relationships remain warm and endearing. Those strengths are very much intact.
But if I'm being completely honest, I struggled with this one. It's my least favorite in the series for two main reasons.
The first is Murphy. It felt like Butcher wasn't quite sure how to handle the Murphy-sized hole left in everyone's heart. Yes there is some moping and mourning but it's oddly glossed over. The story acknowledges the loss, circles it, and circles it again without really acknowledging the new trajectory they are traveling without her in their life. The constant dancing around this felt like a huge elephant in the room. Overall, that part felt unresolved.
And this leads directly to the second issue, which was pacing. For more than half the book, very little happens. The huge set up took a long time to put into place. Butcher excels at action, and once the story finally gets there in the last quarter, it works. He knows how to bring it home by anchoring it all down. Highly satisfying. The last quarter was 5 stars. I'll read anything Butcher writes. He speaks my language in so many ways. But sadly, 3 stars is all I have for this installment.
I enjoyed reconnecting with the core characters and to see where they landed after the big war and the heavy losses. The humor is still there. The dialogue works. The relationships remain warm and endearing. Those strengths are very much intact.
But if I'm being completely honest, I struggled with this one. It's my least favorite in the series for two main reasons.
The first is Murphy. It felt like Butcher wasn't quite sure how to handle the Murphy-sized hole left in everyone's heart. Yes there is some moping and mourning but it's oddly glossed over. The story acknowledges the loss, circles it, and circles it again without really acknowledging the new trajectory they are traveling without her in their life. The constant dancing around this felt like a huge elephant in the room. Overall, that part felt unresolved.
And this leads directly to the second issue, which was pacing. For more than half the book, very little happens. The huge set up took a long time to put into place. Butcher excels at action, and once the story finally gets there in the last quarter, it works. He knows how to bring it home by anchoring it all down. Highly satisfying. The last quarter was 5 stars. I'll read anything Butcher writes. He speaks my language in so many ways. But sadly, 3 stars is all I have for this installment.
January 3, 2026
I received an ARC of this from Netgalley.
I cannot express how much being back in the world of Harry Dresden meant to me. This is a series that I started at least 19 years ago and it was like being wrapped up in a warm hug to see all the characters again. As with all Dresden book of late this one is filled with battles and politics of the magical users of Chicago. I didn't feel lost jumping back into this world after a six year gap in books and I was expecting too.. I think the author did a really good job of getting the reader caught up without obvious info dumping.
There is a lot of talk of healing and grief that was laid pretty thick in this book, and I don't remember that being so much of an issue in the previous books, but considering what Harry has gone through it is understandable. The humour that I love was all still present and after finishing this book, it makes me want to go all the way back to the beginning and start again.
I'm looking forward to all the things coming in the future of this series that this book promises.
I cannot express how much being back in the world of Harry Dresden meant to me. This is a series that I started at least 19 years ago and it was like being wrapped up in a warm hug to see all the characters again. As with all Dresden book of late this one is filled with battles and politics of the magical users of Chicago. I didn't feel lost jumping back into this world after a six year gap in books and I was expecting too.. I think the author did a really good job of getting the reader caught up without obvious info dumping.
There is a lot of talk of healing and grief that was laid pretty thick in this book, and I don't remember that being so much of an issue in the previous books, but considering what Harry has gone through it is understandable. The humour that I love was all still present and after finishing this book, it makes me want to go all the way back to the beginning and start again.
I'm looking forward to all the things coming in the future of this series that this book promises.
January 22, 2026
Whew, Harry Dresden's been through a lot! This book is all about the aftermath from Battle Ground. While it has its moments, its vibe is slower and morose, signaled by Harry's constant mantra of "I just need more time..."
Any sort of recap will spoil prior books. What I can tell you is that just about everybody you've seen or heard about from the first 17 major novels in the series at least gets a mention (even if not much page time). I was very moved by Harry's herculean efforts to save his brother Thomas, and by his and the other Good Guys' efforts to save the denizens of the castle (Harry's new digs) from the Black Court and a host of ghouls.
I REALLY missed Harry Dresden. Do you guys realize it's been 5 years since a novel's been published?! I sincerely hope there won't be any delays before we get Mirror Mirror. May our beloved Spike, aka James Marsters, continue to be the voice of these novels - he's absolutely wonderful.
Any sort of recap will spoil prior books. What I can tell you is that just about everybody you've seen or heard about from the first 17 major novels in the series at least gets a mention (even if not much page time). I was very moved by Harry's herculean efforts to save his brother Thomas, and by his and the other Good Guys' efforts to save the denizens of the castle (Harry's new digs) from the Black Court and a host of ghouls.
I REALLY missed Harry Dresden. Do you guys realize it's been 5 years since a novel's been published?! I sincerely hope there won't be any delays before we get Mirror Mirror. May our beloved Spike, aka James Marsters, continue to be the voice of these novels - he's absolutely wonderful.
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