This is, as the title suggests, the battle ground.  The whole story – one humungous battle. This is the battle for Chicago against the Fomor and the Last Titan.  And everyone is involved.  No one can afford to sit on the sidelines as everything is on the line.  If the Titan can’t be stopped, she will utterly destroy Chicago and every living being she can find.  While there are plenty of heavy hitters lined up, it does tend to devolve down to Harry to save the day.  Because…well, these stories are all about Harry; who and what he is, how he got that way and why he’s something special.  But to administer the coup d’etat will take more than Harry’s willing to give, and strain his will to a breaking point.  Despite his massively overwhelming sense of justice and stubbornness, there’s only so much a person can lose and still be that person. Harry has such a defining moment.

This story has so many defining moments, so many insights into important supporting characters that nothing will be the same again.  It’s so true to human nature that no matter how much Harry puts on the line, no matter what he sacrifices to save thousands of lives – all the Council sees is a young, headstrong wizard whom they can no longer control; and that scares the beejesus out of them.  Even his own grandfather can’t bring himself to trust Harry – who now has even more power than ever.  And the world doesn’t appreciate that Harry is the only person who can manage the power with ethical values.

There isn’t any point to summarizing the plot; as I said, it’s just one big fight.  It’s all the singular moments; all the choices each person had to make for the greater good that make this book.  But believe me – you don’t want to miss it.  I have trouble imagining where Butcher can possibly take this except down…how do you go up, after something so epic?  But Mab, in her usual inimitable style, puts Harry into yet another untenable position – you won’t believe what she does.  And after that, there’s not a chance in hell of the Council ever welcoming Harry back. Fortunately, that while he might miss the companionship of other wizards, he has the best friends; and they’re no slouches.  Hell, he might even have God on his side…~~  Catherine Book

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