Interesting observation about Grave Peril

[kbrizzle]

Upon a re-read of the book, I realized that the fight between Bianca & Harry loosely parallels the war between the Ramps & White Council.

Plot of Grave Peril

• Bianca has been plotting to take on Harry for a few years, getting stronger & making deals with shady characters (Mavra etc).
• She thinks she is ready to take on Harry after having made alliances with the likes of Mavra & the Nightmare ; working on changing the overall environment to her favor (futzing with the spiritual world barriers, using Kravos to Weaken Harry & remove his police allies) & setting up a public confrontation at her center of power.
• Bianca sets up a masquerade party which she believes will lead to Harry’s doom. There are signs that the masquerade is being used by Nemesis for its own ends (athame to Lea)
• However despite taking her best shot, she narrowly misses. The tide turns in Harry’s favor after the masquerade
• So then she goes to plan B, which is to take Susan hostage & use her to sue for temporary peace. She eventually plans to use Susan to neutralize Harry.
• However she miscalculates & Harry uses the fact that the confrontation is at her mansion to destroy her.
• Unfortunately despite defeating the Red Court in Chicago, Harry loses Susan.

The Red Court/ White Council War

• It turns out that the Red Court has been gearing up for a war with the White Council for years on the sly, making secret alliances with shady groups such as Necromancers, Outsiders etc.
• So after Harry kills Bianca, the Ramps decide they are in a position to win a war against the wizards. Like Kravos taking a huge bite out of Harry before the masquerade, the Ramps take out the brute squad at Archangel as the opening salvo. From Summer Knight - Deabeat, the Red Court is winning the war, pushing the Council against the ropes
• Deadbeat is analogous to the masquerade - the Ramps believe they have set up events in such a way that the WC is doomed. There are hints that Nemesis is using the Ramp war to further its own ends
• Just like in te masquerade, the Ramps & their allies launch an all out offensive against the Council & it’s more active allies (Venatori). Just like Bianca narrowly misses getting Harry, the Council is just about able to survive the events of DB. The WC starts winning the war after DB
• As result, the Ramps go to plan B, which is to sue for peace for long enough that they can rebuild their forces. They plan to neutralize Harry through kidnapping Maggie
• The Ramps miscalculated & it was involving Maggie for a personal feud that eventually unravels their plan. Harry is able to use their own bloodline curse against them at their center of power, just as he is able to use the ghosts of Bianca’s victims against her at her mansion
• Unfortunately despite destroying the whole RCV, Harry loses Susan

[Yuillegan]

Goof pickup kbrizzle - I wouldn't know if it was intentional but it would further show Jim's skill if he did plan it like that. Either way it makes for nice symmetry. Grave Peril is definitely one of the most significant in the series - I suspect we won't really know how much until the very end.