The Sword definitely burned Harry. It also temporarily disable the WK mantle so he get all of his aches and pains. It was a warning- if he was truly evil the Sword would have cut him.

When the mantle kicks back in Harry’s aches and pains subside. Except the pain of the burn the Sword inflicted. Mab noticed the Sword burn and was jealous- mourning her lost humanity, I think.

So, I think this makes it clear that Mac is (or was) one of the angelic watchers talked about in the Book of Enoch. Retired? Fallen? Did he have a Nephilim child? More to be told, I’m sure.

I wonder how Dresden figured out the power of the placard. Seems pretty specific. And interesting. And small scale thinking if he gave it to Mac. He could have given it to Marcone and hustled many more people into the BFS castle.

My money is on Merlin (the original) and Mab.

Bob is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to mortal magic (see chapter 15 of Cold Days, where Bob says to Harry "I'm conversant in the course and application of the Art since the golden age of Greece"). We know the original Merlin was a magical genius. He learned from Odin (according to Ebenezer). We know he time traveled to build Demonreach. Plus there's a potential familial relationship (or more likely a master to apprentice relationship). Ebenezer has masters' journals going all the way back to the original Merlin. It would be only fitting that a spirit of intellect born of Merlin would end up in the hands of his penultimate protege. Heck, it may have even been intentional.

As for why Mab, his two key characteristics fit. Bob is about intellect and doesn't much understand emotions. He is horny as hell. In Cold Days, Titania talks about how her sister follows the mind and logic. From Cold Case, we know the creatures of Winter are filled with a hunger to procreate.

Interesting theory! I like it much better than believing Jim was sloppy.

I was disappointed. I’m hoping I can chalk this up to Jim’s long break and as he gets back into his groove the writing will improve. I expect Battle Ground will be about the same quality given they were originally one book. I’m still grateful to have the books. Not every book can be amazing, especially given how many he’s written. I will read as long as he keeps writing them. I enjoy the characters and visiting them in each story Jim tells.

I liked many of the free standing scenes that didn’t seem to advance the main story. Harry’s talk with Maggie exposition on how he prepared for her care if he died. The practice fight between Sanya and Butters and the revelation that angels are likely bound to the nails of the Cross. Harry summoning Molly and their conversation.

I liked Ethniu’s entrance and the response it garnered. I liked Harry binding Thomas.

The whole titular idea of the peace talks was amazingly underwhelming, as many have said. Few participants, no actual talks. The lack of any revelation about the why behind Thomas’s assassination attempt.

Things I enjoyed:
* The scene at Michael's house when they test the lightsaber of Faith and conclude there are angels bound to the nails, just the opposite of the Fallen in the coins. This was a nice reveal. It is well set up, to make sense (I immediately thought of Uriel saying he is only allowed to respond in a mirror of the original offense). Now as I re-read the series I will look at the Swords differently and wonder what the angels bound to them are thinking.

* Harry summoning Molly. Their conversations were great. Veered from metaphysical (the Lady's mantle and how it meshes with Molly being human) to the power dynamic between them (negotiating a favor), to Harry pushing Molly to talk to her family. As a gay man who was terrified to come out to his parents, even though I knew they would love me, I understood Molly's fear.

* Mab getting sucker punched. You can be a big shot and still be caught off guard. I would argue the political effect of creating doubt about Mab's power was far more devastating than the physical act. Ethniu is going to pay for that in spades later. Based on the Christmas Ever story Mab is still around and Ethniu is not. Mab will enjoy seeing Ethniu get screwed, and at the hand of her knight.

* Seeing the Accord signatories come together under Marcone's leadership to defend Chicago. In the end, the fate of the mortal world rests with mortal choices. Marcone's choices to remind his guests of their obligations made a difference. I could otherwise imagine the group fracturing. While brief, hearing Ferro and Vadderung say that in short order they could lock Chicago down between the two of them is a tangible way to show how powerful they are. 

* Binding Thomas. It was unique way to use Demonreach. I thought it was well-written and added richness to the island. I am wondering though how in the heck six thousand uber baddies got brought to the island to be imprisoned. I can't imagine them docile and chained up, riding a barge to the island.

I didn't enjoy:
* A lot of what others have said. It was short for a novel. It's unfortunately that the story was broken into two parts. It leaves Peace Talks with a lot of set up and no where to go...except wait.

* The bickering between Ebenezer and Harry. A little was fine. Eb turning into a raving mad man everytime they talked got old and seems out of character for someone as intelligent as Eb. Though maybe family is just his blind spot.

* Conjuritis. I don't know what the point was.

* The lack of actual peace talks.

* Murphy cutting off her casts and then voila, being able to catch a Valkyrie off guard with no problem at Chateau Raith. This is beyond credulity. Murphy herself says at the start that the doctors hope to get her back to a portion of normal functioning, not to athletic function. And she's walking and throwing down after weeks in casts? Either this is poorly written or there is something going on behind the scenes. Maybe a Faustian bargain was already made and she doesn't remember (intentionally). Maybe someone powerful hitchhiked into her body and is fueling her without her awareness.

And a theory or two:
* Now we know Starborn happens every 666 years. Anyone done any astronomy deep dives yet to see if there is a comet or some constellation that comes up that often? So who is hanging on, waiting? Rashid is the immediate first choice, given how old he is. Maybe Listens-to-Winds. I'm not sure how old he is. I don't think the Merlin or Ebenezer are old enough.
* I think Demonreach has a grudge against Rashid because he was the last Warden and he abandoned his post to become the Gatekeeper. I wonder if this will be Harry's path too. In the BAT the island is destroyed, the banefire is released, the baddies escape setting off the apocalypse. Since they are immortal they cannot be killed, but to win the battle they are exiled outside of reality. Rashid passes on the torch to Harry, and he becomes the new Gatekeeper. He writes the case files while manning the Outer Gates.

Mira- where did you get that the titans are older than Mac?

I didn’t realize we knew his age...or really anything apart from he makes amazing beer he’s out, Sharkface called him watcher, and Odin and Mab show him respect.

I’ve been wondering where the Tuatha de Danann are in all of this. The Formor are linked to that mythology. So is Balor and Ethniu. I was going to pin Mac for Goibniu because of the brewing and I love the Iron Druid Chroincles. Odin stayed “in the game” but Mac bowed out and gave up his power to stay on the sidelines. Heck, maybe he was one of the gods who shaped/dumped power into the fae.

Politics would take precedence here. I don't think the White Council would be dumb enough to piss Titania off by sending the Wardens to arrest Fix. There may be some posturing, and a hot head Warden could certainly cause a diplomatic incident if he caught Fix in the act and didn't stand down.