So, I re-listened to the audio books of PT and BG while doing some hiking before the Summer temperatures exploded here (St. George, Utah which is at the Eastern end of the Mohave Desert) a few days ago. I have to say I liked both books; especially BG, much more than when they came out two years ago. I think because I already knew that PT didn't have a lot of actions scenes and I didn't have any expectations that I had the first time I read BG, it made a difference; though I still wouldn't rate either book or both together as being near the top of my best of Dresden Files list.
I'm wondering about the sign that Harry got Mac to nail up at the pub. Talk about a Chekhov's Gun moment. It looked like Mac might be forced to make a last stand against the Fomor and then we never saw him again. I could be wrong, but I doubt Mac was with the crowd that followed Harry's Banner. Perhaps once he nailed up the sign Mac was compelled to stay and defend that spot or perhaps his not quite mortal nature precluded him from coming under the influence of the Banner. In any case, the sign and where it is now located will come into significance later, though I wonder when and in what way.
There has been some speculation about how long Thomas will remain imprisoned underneath Demon Reach, but I don't want to make guesses about that. Prior to PT and BG there was some speculation that Thomas will one day take up Amoracchius; and I guess I could still see that happening, but there's a problem; actually two, that I don't see The Sword of Love helping to solve.
I can envision a scenario where the new KotC saves Mr. Etri, his sister or perhaps both of them from some peril and that might balance the scales with Swartalves. That, and an explanation that Thomas was compelled to attack Etri, it wasn't something he wanted to do. Even if potential complications from that scenario get ironed out, how would that help Thomas with his need to feed? The island can protect Thomas from his Hunger but what happens the moment he's released from captivity? OK, let's say there's a solution to that problem, I don't see how taking up Amorachius would help Thomas with his Hunger and the demon behind it.
Well wait a minute, maybe I can. Removing the hunger demon from a White Court vampire would be fatal, but perhaps if Thomas took up Amorachius it would kill his inner demon; because love is poison to the White Court the Sword of Love should be equally poisonous, but protect the man who took up the holy sword. Thomas would become a mortal human. I suppose it could work, but that still doesn't do anything to get Justine back and free her from Nemesis. I doubt that even Amorachius could help with that task. That sword should be able to cut up Nemesis just fine; because when Michael was still a KotC Amorachius had no problem dealing with Outsiders, but unfortunately it would do the same thing to Justine, making the sword unusable.
Then again, we know one sword that appears to be capable of hurting Nemesis without harming Justine or her unborn child. Fidelacchius seems made for the task and it's likely Nemesis wouldn't know a thing about its new abilities and limitations. Nemesis would get a real surprise if Butters swung it at Justine. One possible complication to Butters freeing Justine is he might be in more danger than usual. If Butters didn't get sent a message from On High to help free Justine, if it was something Harry or Thomas asked Butters to do then Waldo might be at greater physical peril. At least Harry believed that Michael was injured more often when Harry asked the Knight for his help rather than Michael's mission was Heaven sent.
The only other questions I have after BG are mostly issues that have already been widely discussed in other threads, like the possible long-term influence of Thorned Namshiel on Marcone. It might take several books, but I suspect we will eventually see some sign that Marcone is changing for the worse. There's also the question of Thorned Namshiel's feelings about Nicodemus. Just because Marone would like to destroy Nicodemus that doesn't mean Thorned Namshiel thinks the same way. I'm remembering the time Nicodemus called on Lasciel's shadow to paralyze Harry so Nic could recruit him. There's no reason Thorned Namshiel shouldn't be able to do the same thing to Marcone. That's not even a WAG, just an extreme thing that could happen if Marcone and TN's interests diverged from one another.
When will Harry call upon Ethniu to do his bidding? My guess is not for a long time. One possible scenario would be when Harry has to deal with a kaiju, but that's just pure speculation without any real evidence to back it up.
There are questions about Lara and the White Court, but some of those predate PT and BG and it appears we will be seeing a fair amount of her in the next novel, so that should be fun. Of course, if the above scenario of Thomas taking up Amorachius and becoming a mortal human came true, Lara would not react well to that. However, there's no guarantee that Thomas will be released from Demon Reach in the next book, so this could be a long-term issue.
Just when I think I'm finished there's always one more issue to cover. I wonder what answer LTW will give Harry in one year, about what it means to be Starborn. When Harry asked the Starborn question the first time, LTW essentially told Harry that he didn't have any other options than wait for a reply. When LTW comes to tell Harry if he will answer his question, I'd like to see Harry start the conversation by telling LTW that if he can't or won't tell him what it really means to be Starborn, Harry has other sources who will give him the answers he's been seeking, and do so within the hour, because it's true. Harry could ask Bonea about being Starborn; though if Harry didn't ask the right questions or ask them in the right way, he might not learn everything he really needs to know, but it would be a way of telling LTW; and the others who are in the know, that they can work with Harry or he can go his own way without them. Mostly, I'm tired of waiting myself. We've been waiting a long time for many different mysteries to be solved, I think it's time some of this jigsaw puzzle starts to get filled in a bit.
