Peace Talks (The Dresden Files #16) Review: The Calm Before the Storm

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

I started reading The Dresden Files back in 2017, years after the series first launched, and it quickly became one of my favorite comfort reads. Over the past nine years, I’ve gone through fifteen novels and multiple short stories, and it’s been incredible to see how this series has evolved while still feeling fresh. It’s the kind of series where I can switch my brain off and just enjoy the ride, yet somehow, it keeps getting better with each book. The last few have been some of the best I’ve read, and it’s no surprise they’ve been winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Fantasy consistently since Ghost Story.

Like any classic Dresden Files book, Peace Talks throws Harry into complete chaos—every time he tries to manage one crisis, three more explode in his face. With the supernatural world still reeling from past events, the White Council is now questioning Harry’s loyalty because of his role as the Winter Knight. Mab, in her usual fashion, throws him into the deep end by making him her emissary for the peace negotiations between the Fomor and the Signatories of the Accords. Since the talks are being held in Chicago, that also means Harry is responsible for keeping his city safe while juggling all this political maneuvering. On top of that, the cops are breathing down his neck, investigating him and Murphy for the bank vault robbery, and just when things couldn’t get more complicated, his grandfather, Ebenezar McCoy, decides he wants to take Maggie away so she can grow into her magic safely.

Amidst all of this, Thomas Raith makes a reckless move by trying to assassinate the King of the Svartalfar, failing spectacularly, and getting himself captured and nearly beaten to death. His sister, Lara, cashes in her favor with Mab and ropes Harry into helping her break Thomas out, all while the peace talks are still ongoing. It’s a desperate, dangerous plan, and just as they’re making their escape, everything explodes. The Fomor make their grand move, declaring open war and backing it up with the arrival of Ethniu, the last Titan.

This moment was peak Dresden Files—the room went silent as Ethniu, a being of unfathomable power, made her entrance. The true shocker? Watching Mab, the terrifying Queen of Air and Darkness, get utterly humiliated. She barely stood a chance, and that single moment made it painfully clear that this war was going to be unlike anything Harry has ever faced. Ethniu and the Fomor are planning to start the war at nightfall, and Harry barely has time to breathe before the next battle begins. With Thomas barely hanging on, Harry makes the difficult decision to imprison him in Demonreach, ensuring his safety while buying time to find a solution. And then—just like that—the book ends.

About halfway through, I had a sinking realization. I checked the audiobook runtime, saw how little was left, and it hit me—this entire book was just the setup for Battle Ground. The cliffhanger was brutal, but at the same time, it made me even more excited to dive into the next book immediately. Peace Talks is the calm before the storm. There’s plenty of action, but more than anything, it’s a chess game where all the pieces are being arranged for an all-out supernatural war.

The introduction of Ethniu was the highlight, not just because of how terrifyingly overpowered she is but because it shifts the entire balance of power in the Dresdenverse. If Mab herself couldn’t stand against her, then what hope does anyone else have? I also loved how Marcone, ever the master strategist, was the only one who wasn’t completely rattled by her arrival. While others panicked, he was already calculating his next move, proving once again why he’s such a fascinating character. On the flip side, it was tough seeing Murphy in this state. She’s always been a fighter, taking on supernatural threats alongside Harry, but now she’s injured and struggling, and it hurts to see her sidelined like this.

I had planned to take a break after this book, maybe read something else as a palate cleanser, but that ending changed everything. There’s no way I’m stopping now—Battle Ground is next, and I need to see how this war plays out. Peace Talks might just be setup, but it’s masterful setup—and I loved every second of it. Five out of five, no question.