Journal

The Dresden Files #12.2

by Jim Butcher

A little insight into what was going on in Morgan’s head during the events of Turn Coat. WARNING: Contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Turn Coat, Changes, and Cold Days!

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Adult

2 pages, ebook

First published February 4, 2020

About the author

Jim 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.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't supposed to read this after Turn Coat, the Dresden Files short stories numbering is messed up. It's one of Morgan's journal entries. It’s super short.
Also, the bolded warning on the website that I missed because this 2 pages story clearly says my number is: 11.1
WARNING: Contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Turn Coat (#11), Changes (#12), and Cold Days(#14)
So watch out.

[Jim C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story that is considered micro fiction as it is very, very short. It is available on the author's website. It is part of a long running series that includes various types of media. In this one we get a peek into Morgan's diary. We get some revelations that we eventually see in the novels. (I am ahead in the novels of the timeline when this takes place).

I am a completionist so when I enter a universe I have to read everything it offers. That is the only reason I am reading these micro fiction stories. They just don't resonate with me like they do with other fans of this universe. I will say this one hit harder than other micro fiction stories from this universe. This one had a purpose while others seemed superfluous. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love that the author offers these and puts the time in to expand his creation. The thing is that these are really not that important to the overall arc and it shows. If you skip this you will not miss a thing in the overall story. I get why it is done this way. Readers of the novels should not be lost when they read the next one in the timeline because they did not read something like this offering. I guess I am saying I wish it had a little more oomph.

I want to give this a higher rating because I respect that the author does this for his fans. I just can't because for me it is just okay. That being said I have another micro fiction on deck in the timeline and I am jumping right into it. It is a quick read and I am always up for some more Dresden.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a literal journal entry and by none other than Morgan. Yes, he's been dead since the second-to-last novel but since there are major spoilers for at least the previous volume, I didn't want to read it until now (plus, GR says it is supposed to be read now).

Shortly before Morgan died, he wrote this, granting whoever gets to read it insight into A LOT of things related to Harry.

It was interesting to learn of Morgan's true connection to Harry but if anything, it made me hate him for his behavior even more! The end rarely ever justifies the means.

[Nanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY DID I READ THIS AND NOT SEE THE WARNING FOR SPOILERS???
SO MUCH NEW INFO!!!

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. Loved!

[Dylan]

This contains "MAJOR SPOILERS for Turn Coat, Changes, and Cold Days" According to Jim Butcher's website, all I can say is this was a very good microfiction. Saying anything beyond will be a spoiler so I will just urge you to read this story yourself.

Click this Link: https://www.jim-butcher.com/posts/202...

The final words I would like to say are quoted from the story:

I wish I’d done better by that child.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've come to... not like but respect Morgan. And this little insight into his mind, his fears and his regrets made me respect him even more.

I bore the fear of multitudes in silence and fought the darkness as best I knew how. (...)

But I wish I’d done better by that child.

[Wolfkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bite sized story with just a hair of fun information.

[Sabetha Ablar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't need to like you to respect you, man. 🤐

[Hildeloke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two pages. That’s all. And somehow Jim Butcher manages to reframe years of tension, suspicion, and resentment through Morgan’s voice alone. What I loved most is that this doesn’t ask us to like Morgan so much as to finally understand him.

As someone who has been with this series for a long time, reading this felt like one of those rare moments where a side character suddenly shifts from black-and-white into something painfully human. Morgan has always been one of the series’ hardest men to read — rigid, infuriating, relentless — and yet here we are given the burden beneath the armor: duty, fear, regret, and a kind of tragic loyalty that changes the way you look at every one of his interactions with Harry.

This is exactly why I love Butcher’s worldbuilding. He has a gift for making the past move under your feet. A single journal entry, a single perspective shift, and suddenly scenes from earlier books carry an entirely different emotional weight.

More than anything, this left me with that bittersweet reader feeling of I wish I had known this sooner, while also knowing the story is stronger because I didn’t.

Tiny in page count, enormous in impact.

For devoted Dresden readers, this is not just extra content — it’s one of those quiet pieces that deepens the soul of the entire series.

[Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

You lose track of time, as the years go by. The things that seem significant, that rise above the rest, become your measure of its passage. And the longer you live, the more significant the event has to be to catch your notice.

This microfiction from Jim Butcher.com is a journal entry by Morgan, containing nuclear level spoilers, from during the events of Turn Coat.

[Lauren Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! What a bomb drop of a micro story! Took me less than two minutes to read (available free on J.B.s website), but I cant believe it never even occured to me that Harry could be suspected of being infected by the Adversary! I mean... I seriously doubt J.B. had this particular plot evolution in mind from the introduction of Morgan, but it elegantly fits into the developing narrative. Explains some of the apparent character holes for Morgan. Great stuff!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This micro fiction available on https://www.jim-butcher.com/posts/202... is only a couple pages long but gives the reader insight into Morgan's actions. This is a short journal entry as Morgan lies dying, hense it is labled 12.1 but because of spoilers it should be read after Cold Days and be labled 14.1.

[Lisa Feld · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one’s okay, not a lot at stake emotionally, mainly interesting for the teasers that Morgan knew (and was involved in) a lot of the dark dealings that Harry only becomes aware of years after Morgan’s death. We’ll have to see whether any of these pan out. Huge spoilers for all the books through Battle Ground, even though it takes place during Changes.

[Sammm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am like crying inside, very figuratively though, because I'm not actually that sad, but also really am quite saddened at the same time. That specific death to me is still rather shocking after years of first reading it.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, an interesting little read. Without giving spoilers myself, I’ll admit I’ve read enough to get the full implications of what is said here and the impact it has. That said, after reading Battle Ground, I wonder if I really understand them.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really short Journal entry that sheds a little light on the events earlier in the series, but it's main selling point is WHOSE journal entry it is.

If you know, you know, and it hits pretty hard -- despite all that came before.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool little bit of micro fiction. Adding some colour to Morgan's apparent hatred and dislike for Harry. All seems legit now you know the otherside. Love the shades of grey that Butcher adds with these snippets and his novellas from the Dresden Files. Love this series.

[Khari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It contains major spoilers...that I somehow missed even though I've read all of the books it's spoiling...

Morgan was a friend of Margaret?!?!?!?!?

I didn't know that.

Gosh. I miss stuff when I read...

[Carol]

Microfiction- 2pp
Backstory on Morgan

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan POV

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go read my review of “Mike” since this one would simply mirror that one

[Nickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warden Morgan and his journal of why he is always hard on Harry

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

517 - 2020

Confession of a Warden of White Council.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective as Warden Donald Morgan describes his relationship with Dresden over the years.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse at the thoughts of one of the series' more interesting side characters.

[Justin Gasal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating window into the thinking of Morgan, Dresden's warden tormentor for so long. Lot of things implied and teased that would bear thinking on for a while.

[Scott Fogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the bit of backstory on Morgan.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story, loved this journal entry from Morgan! Must read more!

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fills in a few gaps with some haunting reflections from a side character