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* ChekovsGunman: Two brief instances. Both Sanya and Shiro are seen right before Harry runs into Ursiel.
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* ConvenientTerminalIllness: [[spoiler:Shiro]].
to:
* ConvenientTerminalIllness: [[spoiler:Shiro]].[[spoiler:Shiro reveals he is suffering one to Harry in a letter]].
* KillItWithFire: When Bob sees the sigil of Ursiel on a piece of paper Harry has drawn, he tells Harry to burn it then and there.
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* ObfuscatingStupidity: Thomas, who acts like a drunken, unreliable playboy with no sense or restraint. In reality, [[spoiler: he warns Susan and Martin about Ortega's attempt to force Harry into combat by champion and thus saves Harry's life, and even manages to bag a Red Court vampire in the ensuing chaos.]]
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]]. This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribe Judas]]. One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the noose itself]]. They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]]. Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]]. This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribe Judas]]. One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the noose itself]]. They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]]. Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
to:
* ObfuscatingStupidity: ObfuscatingStupidity:
** Ortega acts stupid about all things supernatural on the Larry Fowler show, claiming it is all fake and those who profess it to be real are charlatans.
** Thomas, who acts like a drunken, unreliable playboy with no sense or restraint. In reality, [[spoiler: he warns Susan and Martin about Ortega's attempt to force Harry into combat by champion and thus saves Harry's life, and even manages to bag a Red Court vampire in the ensuing chaos.]]
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct: Bob reveals he works under one. Bob is a spirit of knowledge and logic. That is his domain. As such areas involving faith, such as the Shroud, are out side his jurisdiction because such items don't have a sound rational basis to them. To accept on faith is to accept a truth without an logic proving it. He is wary to tred into the faith domain for fear of angering angels, fallen or otherwise.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Bob is terrified when he sees a sigil of a Fallen and warns Harry to burn the piece of paper Harry drew it on.
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]].
** This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribeJudas]]. Judas]].
** One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the nooseitself]]. itself]].
** They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]].
** Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
** Ortega acts stupid about all things supernatural on the Larry Fowler show, claiming it is all fake and those who profess it to be real are charlatans.
** Thomas, who acts like a drunken, unreliable playboy with no sense or restraint. In reality, [[spoiler: he warns Susan and Martin about Ortega's attempt to force Harry into combat by champion and thus saves Harry's life, and even manages to bag a Red Court vampire in the ensuing chaos.]]
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct: Bob reveals he works under one. Bob is a spirit of knowledge and logic. That is his domain. As such areas involving faith, such as the Shroud, are out side his jurisdiction because such items don't have a sound rational basis to them. To accept on faith is to accept a truth without an logic proving it. He is wary to tred into the faith domain for fear of angering angels, fallen or otherwise.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Bob is terrified when he sees a sigil of a Fallen and warns Harry to burn the piece of paper Harry drew it on.
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]].
** This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribe
** One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the noose
** They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]].
** Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
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* ThanksForTheMammary: Harry accidentally grabs hold of Anna Valmont's breast when she stumbles against him while getting out of bed. [[spoiler:The stumble was actually deliberately staged so she could pick his pocket.]]
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* RunningGag: Harry loses his coat halfway through the book, which ''everyone'' comments on afterwards.
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* CurbStompBattle: Shiro holds that [[spoiler:the Red Court's initial war plan was essentially this. They wanted to break the White Council in a matter of months. To achieve that, they had been preparing for years but Harry's actions caused the war they wanted to come pass sooner than anticipated. The purpose of killing Harry in the duel is to sue for peace, and then in another twenty years launch a surprise attack once more.]]
* GoodHurtsEvil: The Swords of the Cross don't like to be touched by creatures of darkness, like vampires. [[spoiler:And even half-vampires like Susan if she isn't of a proper mindset.]]
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* ISurrenderSuckers: [[spoiler:Cassius gives up his coin willingly and claims he has seen the error of his ways. The Knights can no longer touch him, despite guessing these words are all bull. Cassius even says it is, but because he surrendered they cannot do him harm.]] [[AntiHero Harry]], as he isn't a Knight, has no such restrains and takes a bat to Cassius' knees.
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* ISurrenderSuckers: [[spoiler:Cassius gives up his coin willingly and claims he has seen the error of his ways. The Knights can no longer touch him, despite guessing these words are all bull. Cassius even says it is, but because he surrendered they cannot do him harm.]] [[AntiHero Harry]], as he isn't a Knight, has no such restrains restraints and takes a bat to Cassius' knees.
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* KryptoniteFactor: Flowing water disrupts magical power. It is harder to toss a magical spell over water than dry land. Even standing in it is a deterrent to proper casting for a human mage. [[spoiler:For this reason, Nicodemus binds Harry under some dripping water so he couldn't pull out a spell and escape.]]
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* SpannerInTheWorks: It is Shiro's honest belief that Harry [[spoiler:did not cause the war. It started because taking vengeance on the darkness that wounded her, yes, but Shiro notes the Red Court had been slowly preparing for the war for years. Harry messed with their plans kick-starting it a decade or two sooner than anticipated.]]
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Considering there are two of them, it seems fitting.
* BigBadDuumvirate: [[spoiler:Unlike all the other Denarians, it is said Nicodemus and his Fallen Angel Anduriel are more equal partners rather than either Nicodemus in control and the Fallen Angel acting as counsel or the Fallen Angel breaking his will and having full control over the body.]]
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** [[spoiler:Harry Dresden knowingly picked up the coin of the Fallen Angel Lasciel to save Michael's son Harry from touching the cursed coin.]]
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** [[spoiler:Harry Dresden knowingly picked up the coin of the Fallen Angel Lasciel to save Michael's son Harry from touching the cursed coin.coin, knowing he could end up much like Ursiel's host and trapped inside his own body.]]
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* NauseaFuel: In-Universe. To combat the addictive saliva of the Red Court vampires, Harry whips up a potion to ruin the bliss the heroine-like saliva gives. With a base ingredient of stale coffee, Harry added hairs of a skunk for scent. Some sandpaper for touch. A photo of Music/MeatLoaf for sight. A rooster's crow for hearing. He used powdered aspirin for taste. For the mind, the surgeon general warning on a cigarette pack.
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* ISurrenderSuckers: [[spoiler:Cassius gives up his coin willingly and claims he has seen the error of his ways. The Knights can no longer touch him, despite guessing these words are all bull. Cassius even says it is, but because he surrendered they cannot do him harm.]] [[AntiHero Harry]], as he isn't a Knight, has no such restrains and takes a bat to Cassius' knees.
* MartialPacifist: Shiro advises Harry that he should try to make peace before going into the duel. To offer some olive branch to the Red Court. And if that fails, fight to win as sometimes fighting is the necessary action.
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* NotSoDifferent: Ortega offers to turn Dresden into a vampire rather than kill him in a duel, claiming they are not so different. Dresden fishes until he establishes that Ortega preys on children and cites it as a difference.
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* NotSoDifferent: NotSoDifferent:
** Ortega offers to turn Dresden into a vampire rather than kill him in a duel, claiming they are not so different. Dresden fishes until he establishes that Ortega preys on children and cites it as a difference.
** Ortega offers to turn Dresden into a vampire rather than kill him in a duel, claiming they are not so different. Dresden fishes until he establishes that Ortega preys on children and cites it as a difference.
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* TrueNeutral: For the duel to commence under the writings of the Accords, a neutral party must be picked to arbitrate the circumstances of the duel. The Archive was chosen as neutrality is one of her strongest traits.
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* TruceZone: Mac's pub comes up again as a place where both sides set up the particulars of the duel.
* TrueNeutral: In-Universe. For the duel to commence under the writings of the Accords, a neutral party must be picked to arbitrate the circumstances of the duel. The Archive was chosen as neutrality is one of her strongest traits.
* TrueNeutral: In-Universe. For the duel to commence under the writings of the Accords, a neutral party must be picked to arbitrate the circumstances of the duel. The Archive was chosen as neutrality is one of her strongest traits.
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* WouldHurtAChild: Harry considers [[spoiler:making peace with Ortega, but upon learning he and his ilk feed on children in a nearby village, Harry refuses any offer the man could make him.]]
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* AndYourLittleDogToo:
** Ortega promises Harry should he refuse to accept this duel, he will have his men and mortal assassins go after his friends, loved ones, and every living client.
** During the duel, [[spoiler:Ortega does this again, now naming [=McCoy=], Mac, the Alphas, and Harry's PI mentor, if Harry does kill him.]]
** Ortega promises Harry should he refuse to accept this duel, he will have his men and mortal assassins go after his friends, loved ones, and every living client.
** During the duel, [[spoiler:Ortega does this again, now naming [=McCoy=], Mac, the Alphas, and Harry's PI mentor, if Harry does kill him.]]
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* ILied: [[spoiler:Ortega had no intention of honoring his side of the duel. He not only brought a gun to the fight to shoot Harry, if Harry won his men would still kill Harry's friends and loved ones.]]
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* LittleMissBadass: Harry understands quickly that the Archive, despite being a young child in body, is not one to mess with in a fight. She could kill him if it was needed. [[spoiler:She used mordite, ''Deathstone'', against some vampires who attack her near the end of the book.]]
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* SecretKeeper: Harry discovers Marcone's deepest secret. [[spoiler:A young 20-something woman who is in a coma. It is for her Marcone acquired the Shroud in hopes it could revive her from her long coma.]] Marcone tells him if he ever tells anyone this, he will kill him personally.
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* TrueNeutral: For the duel to commence under the writings of the Accords, a neutral party must be picked to arbitrate the circumstances of the duel. The Archive was chosen as neutrality is one of her strongest traits.
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* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Michael and Sanya both find Harry's final gift to Cassius a funny one.
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* BrickJoke: "Asteroid Dresden". Larry Fowler also.
* CallBack: When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such injuries before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer Knight'']].
* CallBack: When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such injuries before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer Knight'']].
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* BrickJoke: BrickJoke:
** Ebenezer asks "AsteroidDresden". Dresden", an old satellite he and Harry found when he was a boy living with him.
** Harry was on the Larry Fowleralso.
show in chapter 1. The man gets back to him about what happened there at the end of the book.
*CallBack: CallBack:
** When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such injuries before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''SummerKnight'']].Knight'']].
** When discussing just how bad things are going to get, Harry tells Murphy things will be worse than the Loup-garou from ''Fool Moon''.
** Ebenezer asks "Asteroid
** Harry was on the Larry Fowler
*
** When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such injuries before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer
** When discussing just how bad things are going to get, Harry tells Murphy things will be worse than the Loup-garou from ''Fool Moon''.
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: There's a subtle hint that [[spoiler: Martin]] isn't really on the up-and-up when he tells Harry [[spoiler: Susan was playing him for a patsy and actually had no interest in seeing him or retrieving her things otherwise. Susan denies this to Harry at the end of the book. Come ''Changes'' of course we find out just what an artful liar Martin really has been all along]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
to:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: {{Foreshadowing}}:
** There's a subtle hint that [[spoiler: Martin]] isn't really on the up-and-up when he tells Harry [[spoiler: Susan was playing him for a patsy and actually had no interest in seeing him or retrieving her things otherwise. Susan denies this to Harry at the end of the book. Come ''Changes'' of course we find out just what an artful liar Martin really has been all along]].
** Nicodemus calls Harry [[spoiler:Maggie's youngest.]] In ''Blood Rites'' it is discovered [[spoiler:Thomas is Harry's elder half-brother by his mother.]]
*HeroicSacrifice: HeroicSacrifice:
** [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
** [[spoiler:Harry Dresden knowingly picked up the coin of the Fallen Angel Lasciel to save Michael's son Harry from touching the cursed coin.]]
** There's a subtle hint that [[spoiler: Martin]] isn't really on the up-and-up when he tells Harry [[spoiler: Susan was playing him for a patsy and actually had no interest in seeing him or retrieving her things otherwise. Susan denies this to Harry at the end of the book. Come ''Changes'' of course we find out just what an artful liar Martin really has been all along]].
** Nicodemus calls Harry [[spoiler:Maggie's youngest.]] In ''Blood Rites'' it is discovered [[spoiler:Thomas is Harry's elder half-brother by his mother.]]
*
** [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
** [[spoiler:Harry Dresden knowingly picked up the coin of the Fallen Angel Lasciel to save Michael's son Harry from touching the cursed coin.]]
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* InMysteriousWays: [[spoiler:A piece of cloth nearly 2,000 years old suddenly gaining the tension strength to haul two large men, one with armor, out of a river.]]
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* RetiredBadass: Father Forthill makes light mention of somethings he used to fight in his younger days.
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* SpotTheThread: Harry finally realizes [[spoiler:the man he knows as Father Vincent is not him because the man lacks the tattoo of the Eye of Thoth.]]
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* WellIntentionedExtremist: Marcone is revealed to be one [[spoiler:when Harry learns he had the Shroud stolen not for his own personal collection but to try and save the life of a woman currently in a coma.]]
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Natter.
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*** [[HumiliationConga Don't forget, the payphone was on the other side of a patch of broken glass.]]
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*** [[HumiliationConga Don't forget, the payphone was on the other side of a patch of broken glass.]]
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** And boy, [[Literature/Changes is it ever plot important]].
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** And boy, [[Literature/Changes [[Literature/{{Changes}} is it ever plot important]].
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** And boy, [[Literature/Changes is it ever plot important]].
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: There's a subtle hint that [[spoiler: Martin]] isn't really on the up-and-up when he tells Harry [[spoiler: Susan was playing him for a patsy and actually had no interest in seeing him or retrieving her things otherwise. Susan denies this to Harry at the end of the book. Come ''Changes'' of course we find out just what an artful liar Martin really has been all along]].
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* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: Thomas brushes off Ortega's contemptuous sneers and most of Harry's lip, but objects to being told his outfit looks like something MichaelJackson might wear.
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Now has its own [[ShoutOut/DeathMasks Shout Out]] page.
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* ThrowAwayGuns: Used deliberately by Kincaid. He loads a series of sawed-off shotguns with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_breath Dragon's Breath]] rounds -- rounds that generate a massive cone of extremely hot flame, but warp the barrels of the guns to the point where they can not be used again. Kincaid thus keeps several shotguns loaded with these on hand, and they prove extremely effective against Red Court vampires.
to:
* ThrowAwayGuns: Used deliberately by Kincaid. He loads a series of sawed-off shotguns with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_breath Dragon's Breath]] rounds -- rounds that generate a massive cone of extremely hot flame, but warp the barrels of the guns to the point where they can not cannot be used again. Kincaid thus keeps several shotguns loaded with these on hand, and they prove extremely effective against Red Court vampires.
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* BrickJoke: "Asteroid Dresden".
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* BrickJoke: "Asteroid Dresden". Larry Fowler also.
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* NeverHeardThatOneBefore: Calling Dierdre "Madame Medusa" isn't exactly original.
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* {{Expy}}: As a character, Larry Fowler owes a ''lot'' to JerrySpringer.
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* {{Expy}}: As a character, Larry Fowler owes a ''lot'' lot to JerrySpringer.JerrySpringer. He's even ''called'' "Jerry" in an editing gaffe at one point.
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* {{Expy}}: As a character, Larry Fowler owes a ''lot'' to JerrySpringer.
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* BoundAndGagged: Harry's reunion sex with Susan. Partly this is a case of Kind Restraints; partly this is probably fetishistic AuthorAppeal (he's had the protagonist call normal, mundane, non-magical people "vanilla" on more than one occasion, also, Jim Butcher has listed the novels of John Norman as one of his earliest literary influences - YMMV, but it's a pretty safe bet)
to:
* BoundAndGagged: Harry's reunion sex with Susan. Partly this is a case of Kind Restraints; partly this is probably fetishistic AuthorAppeal (he's had Susan, after Susan's vampiric hunger threatens to get the protagonist call normal, mundane, non-magical people "vanilla" on more than one occasion, also, Jim Butcher has listed the novels best of John Norman as one of his earliest literary influences - YMMV, but it's her. This is Butcher's response to a pretty safe bet)challenge/dare that you could not write a bondage sex scene and make it plot important.
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-->'''Michael:''' Harry payphones cost more than a quarter now.\\
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-->'''Michael:''' Harry payphones Payphones cost more than a quarter now.\\
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* NobleDemon: Ortega does a very good job of pretending to be one (and even makes Harry think that he's responding to the crisis [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure far more reasonably]] than the [[ObstructiveBureaucrat White Council]] have been,) but ultimately his problems with the war are purely pragmatic, and he's as much of a monster as any of the Red Court.
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* VillainousValour: While his NobleDemon act may have been a facade, Ortega was still willing to face Harry's Death Curse in order to give the Red Court an edge.
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* StealthPun: Ursiel's demonic form is bear-like. Presumably this was an ''overt'' pun back in Roman times.
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* StealthPun: Ursiel's demonic form is bear-like. Presumably this was an ''overt'' pun back in Roman times.times, when everyone knew "Ursus" was Latin for "bear".
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* StealthPun: Ursiel's demonic form is bear-like. Presumably this was an ''overt'' pun back in Roman times.
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Wanted to add.
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* BoundAndGagged: Harry's reunion sex with Susan. Partly this is a case of Kind Restraints; partly this is probably fetishistic AuthorAppeal (he's had the protagonist call normal, mundane, non-magical people "vanilla" on more than one occasion, also, Jim Butcher has listed the novels of John Norman as one of his earliest literary influences - YMMV, but it's a pretty safe bet)
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* CallBack: When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such wounds before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer Knight'']].
to:
* CallBack: When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such wounds injuries before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer Knight'']].
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* CallBack: When Butters describes how the mystery corpse's wounds came from a narrow blade like a utility knife's, Harry says he's seen such wounds before. Which is true: [[spoiler: he'd sicced a swarm of utility-knife-wielding dewdrop faeries on Aurora at the end of ''Summer Knight'']].
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Moving to proper Namespace.
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'''''Death Masks''''' is book #5 of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''.
Sometimes being Harry Dresden really sucks.
Not only does a vampire named Ortega wants to duel Harry in a challenge that he says will end the war between wizards and vampires, but Harry’s semi-vampire girlfriend Susan has showed up again, and now Harry has been hired by a priest to find the stolen Shroud of Turin.
Some days it just isn’t worth chewing through the restraints...
----
!!''Death Masks'' provides example of the following tropes:
* BigEntrance: After hearing a minor character state "There's nothing that anyone can do to hurt me anymore," Nicodemus blows down the wall, steps through with his two Mooks and shadow, and declares "No matter how many times I hear that, it's always a fresh challenge."
* BrickJoke: "Asteroid Dresden".
* ColonyDrop: Committed by [[spoiler: Ebenezar [=McCoy=]. You do ''not'' want to piss off Harry's mentor.]] Also qualifies as a BrickJoke.
* CombatByChampion: Harry ends up being the White Council's champion against the Red Court's champion, Ortega. [[spoiler: Ortega cheats, Harry wins anyway, the war goes on]].
* ConvenientTerminalIllness: [[spoiler:Shiro]].
* CreepyChild: The Archive, or "Ivy" as Harry names her. The latest of a hereditary line of women whose daughters inherit perfect knowledge of everything that has been written down, in any form, anywhere...as well as all the accumulated memories of every other previous Archive. What makes her creepy is that all this was forced upon her prematurely; a new Archive usually takes on the position ''after'' puberty, but her mother [[strike:was killed]] committed suicide before Ivy was old enough. Harry makes an effort to treat her like the little girl she is, and as a result she flipflops back-and-forth between being the Archive (and thus creepy) and a normal child, which even Kincaid believes is ''even creepier''.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Nicodemus is not only insulted by the idea of telling Harry his plans and vulnerabilities when he has the wizard on the ropes, he also keeps Harry in a completely inescapable position and wants to kill him by simply cutting his throat after breakfast. It takes a HeroicSacrifice by [[spoiler: Shiro]] to save Harry.
* DemonicPossession: The Knights of the Blackened Denarius act as hosts for the Fallen.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
* IAmNotLefthanded: When the three Knights are fighting Ursiel, they hold back in an effort to try to get through to Rammussen and convince him to give up the coin and repent. When he refuses, Michael ends the fight immediately with a single stroke.
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: In Harry's defense, the guy [[SmugSnake deserved it]] so much that even ''Michael'' did not object. Well, not ''much''.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Harry does this to Cassius by beating him (breaking all of his limbs in the process) with a baseball bat.
** He then gives him a quarter and tells him he can call for an ambulance from the payphone at the other end of a wide parking lot.
-->'''Michael:''' Harry payphones cost more than a quarter now.\\
'''Harry:''' I know.
* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown
* MysticalPlague: In the Dresdenverse, the Black Death was originally created by Fallen Angels through magic. This book centered on Harry recovering a religious artifact before the Fallen could use it to create another plague.
* NotSoDifferent: Ortega offers to turn Dresden into a vampire rather than kill him in a duel, claiming they are not so different. Dresden fishes until he establishes that Ortega preys on children and cites it as a difference.
** At one point another villain, Nicodemus, actually says "We are not so very different, you and I..." to Harry. That said, Harry's response on how they aren't is pretty accurate.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Thomas, who acts like a drunken, unreliable playboy with no sense or restraint. In reality, [[spoiler: he warns Susan and Martin about Ortega's attempt to force Harry into combat by champion and thus saves Harry's life, and even manages to bag a Red Court vampire in the ensuing chaos.]]
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]]. This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribe Judas]]. One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the noose itself]]. They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]]. Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
* RingRingCrunch: An exhausted Harry is woken up by his Mickey Mouse alarm clock and nearly smacks it, but stops because he "wouldn't sleep in the same room with a person who would want to smack Mickey Mouse."
* SelfDestructingSecurity: The stolen [[PublicDomainArtifact Shroud of Turin]] is kept like this, with a remote to deactivate the security. In this case it's a precaution against the seller being subjected to YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after handing it over.
* ThrowAwayGuns: Used deliberately by Kincaid. He loads a series of sawed-off shotguns with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_breath Dragon's Breath]] rounds -- rounds that generate a massive cone of extremely hot flame, but warp the barrels of the guns to the point where they can not be used again. Kincaid thus keeps several shotguns loaded with these on hand, and they prove extremely effective against Red Court vampires.
* YouSaidYouCouldntDance: Harry sweeps Susan off her feet as a means to get away from some Mooks. She quotes this trope — it turns out Harry moonlighted early in his career as a dance partner for a senior citizen organization. He told her he could not do rock-and-roll-type dancing, but ballroom is another matter.
-->'''Harry:''' Tough to tango with someone with lumbago. It requires great skill.
----
Sometimes being Harry Dresden really sucks.
Not only does a vampire named Ortega wants to duel Harry in a challenge that he says will end the war between wizards and vampires, but Harry’s semi-vampire girlfriend Susan has showed up again, and now Harry has been hired by a priest to find the stolen Shroud of Turin.
Some days it just isn’t worth chewing through the restraints...
----
!!''Death Masks'' provides example of the following tropes:
* BigEntrance: After hearing a minor character state "There's nothing that anyone can do to hurt me anymore," Nicodemus blows down the wall, steps through with his two Mooks and shadow, and declares "No matter how many times I hear that, it's always a fresh challenge."
* BrickJoke: "Asteroid Dresden".
* ColonyDrop: Committed by [[spoiler: Ebenezar [=McCoy=]. You do ''not'' want to piss off Harry's mentor.]] Also qualifies as a BrickJoke.
* CombatByChampion: Harry ends up being the White Council's champion against the Red Court's champion, Ortega. [[spoiler: Ortega cheats, Harry wins anyway, the war goes on]].
* ConvenientTerminalIllness: [[spoiler:Shiro]].
* CreepyChild: The Archive, or "Ivy" as Harry names her. The latest of a hereditary line of women whose daughters inherit perfect knowledge of everything that has been written down, in any form, anywhere...as well as all the accumulated memories of every other previous Archive. What makes her creepy is that all this was forced upon her prematurely; a new Archive usually takes on the position ''after'' puberty, but her mother [[strike:was killed]] committed suicide before Ivy was old enough. Harry makes an effort to treat her like the little girl she is, and as a result she flipflops back-and-forth between being the Archive (and thus creepy) and a normal child, which even Kincaid believes is ''even creepier''.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Nicodemus is not only insulted by the idea of telling Harry his plans and vulnerabilities when he has the wizard on the ropes, he also keeps Harry in a completely inescapable position and wants to kill him by simply cutting his throat after breakfast. It takes a HeroicSacrifice by [[spoiler: Shiro]] to save Harry.
* DemonicPossession: The Knights of the Blackened Denarius act as hosts for the Fallen.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Shiro sacrifices himself to save Harry's life. That Shiro was soon going to die of cancer gives it an interesting edge, but considering how horrible his death was...]]
* IAmNotLefthanded: When the three Knights are fighting Ursiel, they hold back in an effort to try to get through to Rammussen and convince him to give up the coin and repent. When he refuses, Michael ends the fight immediately with a single stroke.
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: In Harry's defense, the guy [[SmugSnake deserved it]] so much that even ''Michael'' did not object. Well, not ''much''.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Harry does this to Cassius by beating him (breaking all of his limbs in the process) with a baseball bat.
** He then gives him a quarter and tells him he can call for an ambulance from the payphone at the other end of a wide parking lot.
-->'''Michael:''' Harry payphones cost more than a quarter now.\\
'''Harry:''' I know.
* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown
* MysticalPlague: In the Dresdenverse, the Black Death was originally created by Fallen Angels through magic. This book centered on Harry recovering a religious artifact before the Fallen could use it to create another plague.
* NotSoDifferent: Ortega offers to turn Dresden into a vampire rather than kill him in a duel, claiming they are not so different. Dresden fishes until he establishes that Ortega preys on children and cites it as a difference.
** At one point another villain, Nicodemus, actually says "We are not so very different, you and I..." to Harry. That said, Harry's response on how they aren't is pretty accurate.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Thomas, who acts like a drunken, unreliable playboy with no sense or restraint. In reality, [[spoiler: he warns Susan and Martin about Ortega's attempt to force Harry into combat by champion and thus saves Harry's life, and even manages to bag a Red Court vampire in the ensuing chaos.]]
* PublicDomainArtifact: [[UpToEleven So many]]. This book introduces the Denarians, who are humans given power or possessed by fallen angels residing in [[Literature/TheBible the thirty silver coins used to bribe Judas]]. One of them, Nicodemus Archleone, wears the noose with which Judas hung himself, which makes him effectively impervious to harm [[spoiler:except from the noose itself]]. They're after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin Shroud of Turin]]. Also featured heavily in this book are the Swords of the Cross, named so because they supposedly each have a nail from the cross in them. [[spoiler:A later book reveals that Michael's sword, ''Amoracchius'', is actually {{Excalibur}}. ''Literature/GhostStory'' reveals that ''Fidelacchius'' and ''Esperacchius'', introduced in this book, are Kusanagi and Durendal respectively]].
* RingRingCrunch: An exhausted Harry is woken up by his Mickey Mouse alarm clock and nearly smacks it, but stops because he "wouldn't sleep in the same room with a person who would want to smack Mickey Mouse."
* SelfDestructingSecurity: The stolen [[PublicDomainArtifact Shroud of Turin]] is kept like this, with a remote to deactivate the security. In this case it's a precaution against the seller being subjected to YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after handing it over.
* ThrowAwayGuns: Used deliberately by Kincaid. He loads a series of sawed-off shotguns with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_breath Dragon's Breath]] rounds -- rounds that generate a massive cone of extremely hot flame, but warp the barrels of the guns to the point where they can not be used again. Kincaid thus keeps several shotguns loaded with these on hand, and they prove extremely effective against Red Court vampires.
* YouSaidYouCouldntDance: Harry sweeps Susan off her feet as a means to get away from some Mooks. She quotes this trope — it turns out Harry moonlighted early in his career as a dance partner for a senior citizen organization. He told her he could not do rock-and-roll-type dancing, but ballroom is another matter.
-->'''Harry:''' Tough to tango with someone with lumbago. It requires great skill.
----
