A crescendo of deliberate continuity errors

[Snark Knight]

To be honest, Mab was quite hard in her first appearances. I mean, we have no reason to believe she is evil per se but she is not only ruthless but apparently a sadist. Later, that was not so much the case. So, even when I agree with you Mira that Harry was quite biased in his storytelling, there are some facts that justified his perception.

In the bigger sense, did Mab change?  Or did she have a calculated reason to think that fronting as extra sadistic in her first meeting with Harry was a strategic route to getting something she wanted?

[Mira]

In the bigger sense, did Mab change?  Or did she have a calculated reason to think that fronting as extra sadistic in her first meeting with Harry was a strategic route to getting something she wanted?

I think she knows who and what Harry is, but he doesn't know who he is, so she is establishing who is boss.

[g33k]

I think she knows who and what Harry is, but he doesn't know who he is, so she is establishing who is boss.

The "Queen" outranks the "Knight," and dominance-games seem endemic to Winter.
I don't think Mab can help herself.

OTOH, I think Mab has largely lost touch with her humanity.  Harry keeps surprising her, and she regularly underestimates (is surprised by) those who still have theirs, such as Lady Winter Molly.

[Mira]

The "Queen" outranks the "Knight," and dominance-games seem endemic to Winter.
I don't think Mab can help herself.

OTOH, I think Mab has largely lost touch with her humanity.  Harry keeps surprising her, and she regularly underestimates (is surprised by) those who still have theirs, such as Lady Winter Molly.

Yes, as Queen, Mab does outrank her Knight, Harry, but when has a little thing like that stopped Harry?  No, she was giving him a firm lesson on who is the boss.

[g33k]

Yes, as Queen, Mab does outrank her Knight, Harry, but when has a little thing like that stopped Harry?  No, she was giving him a firm lesson on who is the boss.

My point, though, is that I don't think the Winterqueen mantle permits Mab to allow the bearer of the Winterknight mantle to perform certain kinds of defiance; at least, not without rebuking him.

She actually likes his defiance... "finally," she says, "a knight who's worth the effort."

[Mira]

She actually likes his defiance... "finally," she says, "a knight who's worth the effort."

My point also, because Mab may like Harry's spirit, she doesn't want any crap from him, especially in public.  Because it is
a mixed message she is sending him.  On one hand, Harry is right, the last thing she wants or needs is a mediocre Knight, she wants one that can use his own head when needed even if it isn't exactly what she ordered. On the other hand neither Winter Mantle Mab nor human Mab can afford a openly defiant Knight because that would reveal weakness, something she dare not show.
When she says finally a knight worth the effort, she usually is speaking to herself or just to Harry. 

[g33k]

... she doesn't want any crap from him...

It's not a matter of "want" -- The Queenmantles are much stronger than the Knightmantles.
And Mab has been subject to one for about 1000 years.

Mab cannot help but punish Dresden's defiance; the demands of the Mantle are her ever-fixed mark.

[Mira]

It's not a matter of "want" -- The Queenmantles are much stronger than the Knightmantles.
And Mab has been subject to one for about 1000 years.

Mab cannot help but punish Dresden's defiance; the demands of the Mantle are her ever-fixed mark.

  I think Mab has her mantle under control, that's why she is an effective queen.. She uses the mantle, it doesn't use her.