Butcher knows how to write a great adventure. It's easy to see this as a culmination of his growth as a writer during the Dresden Files, and while he may not be blazing any new trails he's certainly walking the existing ones with confidence.

Butcher has built an excellent world, and filled it with a myriad cast of character - all with their own motivations, emotions, and flaws. 

Most refreshing is his use of humor while avoiding ironic detachment. While there are lighthearted or even quippy moments in the book, it's never out of place or undermines the more serious emotional notes.

While there are undoubtedly comparisons to be made to The Dresden Files, the work compares favorably to his other fantasy work - The Codex Alera. Here we see a more mature writer tackle the genre, and we got something pretty great out of it.