Skin Game (The Dresden Files)

Skin Game

Author	Jim Butcher
Cover artist	Christian McGrath
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Detective Contemporary fantasy Urban Fantasy
Published	Roc Books
Publication date	May 27, 2014
ISBN	978-0-451-46439-2 (US) 978-0-356-50090-4 (UK)
Preceded by	Cold Days
Followed by	Peace Talks

Skin Game is a novel in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. It is the 15th novel in the series^[1] The book debuted at number 1 on the New York Times best seller list the week of June 6, 2014.^[2] In 2015, Skin Game has been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel.^[3]

Plot summary

The novel opens with Harry Dresden still living on the island of Demonreach, unable to reach his allies and plagued by increasing headaches. Queen Mab offers him a job, in return for her aid in the headaches. He is to help Nicodemus steal something from the vault of Hades. Wary of the potential for betrayal, he enlists the aid of Karrin Murphy to watch his back.

Harry and Karrin meet Nicodemus and his crew, which includes Binder and a female warlock, Hanna Ascher, and soon Anna Valmont, the only surviving member of the group of thieves who had stolen the Shroud of Turin in Death Masks. Harry and Karrin accompany Dierdre and the shape-shifting new addition to the group, Goodman Grey, to collect a sample from an insider, who is immediately killed when Tessa unexpectedly intervenes. Dresden learns that the heist's target is the Holy Grail.

At the third meeting, they realize that they are being spied upon by Butters. Giving chase, Harry manages to keep Binder's henchmen from catching him with the help of Bob. Nicodemus catches up with Dresden, Murphy and Butters on the street in front of Michael Carpenter's house, and a fight ensues. Murphy draws Fidelacchius and seems to be getting the better of Nicodemus, until she is tricked into using the sword to attempt to kill him while defenseless, in violation of the nature of the sword, which results in the sword shattering. Michael then appears, offering to leave his angel-protected house in exchange for the release of Harry, Karrin and Butters. Nicodemus accepts the deal, but before Michael leaves, Uriel appears, giving Michael Amoracchius and his own Grace. Nicodemus surrenders the fight and agrees to accept Michael as Harry's replacement for the wounded Murphy. While Michael informs his wife of his temporary return to service, Harry spends a short time bonding with his daughter, Maggie.

The heist begins by breaking into a real world high security vault, owned by John Marcone. Despite another attack by Tessa, they make their way into an inner vault owned by Hades, where Dresden opens a Way to the true vault, in the Nevernever. With no major mishaps Ascher and Dresden quickly pass gates of fire and ice, leading the group to the Gate of Blood. Nicodemus sacrifices Dierdre to gain entrance to the vault. Dresden has a private conversation (unbeknownst to the others) with Hades himself. Nicodemus takes the grail and turns immediately on Harry and Michael, and the group erupts into combat.

Hanna Ascher and Genoskwa, an aggressive Bigfoot-like entity, are revealed to be the new hosts for Lasciel, and Ursiel, respectively. Nicodemus orders them and Goodman Grey (who had supposedly killed Valmont) to attack. At this point, it's revealed that Harry had earlier hired Grey to back him up in anticipation of this fight. Grey turns on Genoskwa/Ursiel, while Dresden kills Ascher/Lasciel and the Genoskwa, and Michael chases off Nicodemus. They then gather up the still-living Valmont and make their escape from the Nevernever, but not before Nicodemus escapes and heads for Michael's house implying that he knows now about Maggie. With Binder's help, they get out of Marcone's vault and confront Nicodemus at Michael's home. During the final fight, Butters takes up the broken Fidelacchius, which emits a light-saber style blade and chases off Nicodemus again.

Afterwards, the group divide up a backpack full of diamonds Valmont had stolen from Hades' vault. Dresden pays Grey's special fee and uses Grey's unwanted share of the diamonds as a "weregild" to pay for the death of Marcone's vault guard, especially after he mentions that Marcone and the Winter Queen colluded on the plan in order to exact vengeance on Nicodemus, then visits Karrin in the hospital where the two share a passionate kiss, agree to try an actual relationship, and kiss again. Talking with Michael that evening, they reflect over the events of the past few days, leading them to worry about a few things including Harry's future as the Winter Knight.^[4]

References