In a previous book, ‘Dead Beat’, Dresden is forced to become a Warden because the Red Court vampires are so out of control that they violated the territory of both Faerie Courts and brought in demons from Outside.

Hundreds of Wardens have died in the fighting, and only five are able to show up for the battle against the necromancers in Chicago. The White Council itself is tottering, and the Faerie Courts themselves will soon enter the struggle. The Red Court vampires have so violated the otherworld norms of conduct that the battle will be to the death, no quarter asked or given.

All of a sudden the urgency disappears and everything is just rocking along. The Summer Queen then decides, for reasons which are not well explained, to go after Dresden with her Gruff enforcers.

All of these seems very contrived, simply for the purpose of generating another book.

I hope Mr. Butcher gets back on track, because, overall, the Dresden Files series is excellent.