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As a Tear Jerker page, all spoilers are unmarked as per wiki policy.
!'''As a TearJerker page, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per wiki policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!'''
Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler:Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', directly and deliberately provoking her to [[spoiler: do what would doom her to transform into a vampire, to use as a sacrifice for the bloodline curse.]] Lying as well to do so. Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
to:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler:Susan]] Susan to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', directly and deliberately provoking her to [[spoiler: do what would doom her to transform into a vampire, to use as a sacrifice for the bloodline curse.]] curse. Lying as well to do so. Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
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** [[spoiler: For that matter Susan’s perspective as well, separate from Harry’s anguish. Betrayed and utterly terrified, as she is agonisingly twisting into a monster…and even still holding onto her mind enough, so that her beloved daughter can be saved. Tears falling, her last word Maggie’s name. On a fridge level as well, since she died as a vampire who knows if this will mean something horrible for her afterlife or not too.]]
to:
** [[spoiler: For that matter Susan’s perspective as well, separate from Harry’s anguish. Betrayed and utterly terrified, as she is agonisingly twisting into a monster…and even still holding onto her mind enough, so that her beloved daughter can be saved. Tears falling, her last word Maggie’s name. On a fridge level as well, since she died as a vampire who knows if this will mean something horrible for her afterlife or not too.]]
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury [[spoiler:Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
to:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury [[spoiler:Susan]] Susan with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
Changed line(s) 25,26 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]] via InstantDeathBullet]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]] via InstantDeathBullet]].
InstantDeathBullet.
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* Whenever the mask that Susan has been trying to hold together slips and her fear and pain (just as much as Dresden’s) shows for her daughter. Martin’s account of how she is doing and what she witnessed with the disappearance, especially hammering down the tragedy for her.
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Changed line(s) 9 (click to see context) from:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler:Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
to:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler:Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', directly and deliberately provoking her to [[spoiler: do what would doom her to transform into a vampire, to use as a sacrifice for the bloodline curse.]] Lying as well to do so. Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
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** [[spoiler: For that matter Susan’s perspective as well, separate from Harry’s anguish. Betrayed and utterly terrified, as she is agonisingly twisting into a monster…and even still holding onto her mind enough, so that her beloved daughter can be saved. Tears falling, her last word Maggie’s name. On a fridge level as well, since she died as a vampire who knows if this will mean something horrible for her afterlife or not too.]]
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* While he was undoubtedly a five star bastard it's hard not to feel nothing for Slate after seeing what being [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured for the better part of a decade has reduced him too.]] Even Lilly and Fix, who have more reason then anyone to want to see Slate get his comeuppance, don't think even he deserved ''that.'' Hell, if anything, he seems thankful when Harry slits his throat and finally ends it all.
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** Even before that, Marsters' performance had a heartwrenching moment where Harry starts rambling wildly about all the things his paternal instincts are telling him to do when he finally sees his daughter in person. When he gets to how badly he wants to give her a teddy bear he sounds like he's about to break down.
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Changed line(s) 6,8 (click to see context) from:
-->"For you, little girl. Dad's coming. [[GodzillaThreshold Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!"]]
** An extra Tearjerker comes in the fact that it's very obvious Uriel isn't being a jerk, here-he genuinely ''wants'' to help Harry, but GodsHandsAreTied. All he can do is to remind Harry about the other option, and watch, and hope Harry will continue to choose well.
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler: Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
** An extra Tearjerker comes in the fact that it's very obvious Uriel isn't being a jerk, here-he genuinely ''wants'' to help Harry, but GodsHandsAreTied. All he can do is to remind Harry about the other option, and watch, and hope Harry will continue to choose well.
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill [[spoiler: Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
to:
-->"For you, little girl. Dad's coming. [[GodzillaThreshold Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!"]]
come]] ''[[GodzillaThreshold forth]]''!"
** An extra Tearjerker comes in the fact that it's very obvious Uriel isn't being a jerk,here-he here - he genuinely ''wants'' to help Harry, but GodsHandsAreTied. All he can do is to remind Harry about the other option, and watch, and hope Harry will continue to choose well.
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill[[spoiler: Susan]] [[spoiler:Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
** An extra Tearjerker comes in the fact that it's very obvious Uriel isn't being a jerk,
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury [[spoiler: Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
to:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury [[spoiler: Susan]] [[spoiler:Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]] via InstantDeathBullet]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]] via InstantDeathBullet]].InstantDeathBullet]].
----
----
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Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
-->"For you, little girl. Dad's coming. Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!"
to:
-->"For you, little girl. Dad's coming. [[GodzillaThreshold Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!" ''forth''!"]]
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Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill Susan to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
to:
* When Harry realizes that he has to kill Susan [[spoiler: Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury Susan with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
to:
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will bury Susan [[spoiler: Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].chump]] via InstantDeathBullet]].
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature. Just when you thought it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature; just when you thought you were in the clear, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature; just literature. Just when you thought you were in the clear, it was all over, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's he'd faced, and without even the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest DownerEndings in recent literature; just when you thought you were in the clear, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's faced, and without even seeing it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
to:
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest DownerEndings [[DownerEnding downer endings]] in recent literature; just when you thought you were in the clear, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's faced, and without even seeing the chance to see it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
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Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.
to:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.have.
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest DownerEndings in recent literature; just when you thought you were in the clear, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's faced, and without even seeing it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
* The last few minutes of the book manages to pull one of the cruelest DownerEndings in recent literature; just when you thought you were in the clear, after all the terrible odds and hardships he's faced, and without even seeing it coming, [[spoiler: Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden [[TheHeroDies dies like a chump]]]].
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Tearjerker pages are Spoilers Off pages. Also removed some Word Cruft
Deleted line(s) 1 (click to see context) :
* The majority of [[TraumaCongaLine the book.]]
Changed line(s) 3,7 (click to see context) from:
-->[[spoiler: "Hell of a hard thing to do."]]
-->[[spoiler: "It wasn't hard," I said quietly. "Just cold."]]
-->[[spoiler: "Oh, Hoss," he said. There was more compassion in the words than you'd think would fit there.]]
* Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to [[spoiler: save his daughter]]. Finally, he makes the choice he's been avoiding for years.
-->"For you, little girl. [[spoiler: Dad's coming. Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!]]"
-->[[spoiler: "It wasn't hard," I said quietly. "Just cold."]]
-->[[spoiler: "Oh, Hoss," he said. There was more compassion in the words than you'd think would fit there.]]
* Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to [[spoiler: save his daughter]]. Finally, he makes the choice he's been avoiding for years.
-->"For you, little girl. [[spoiler: Dad's coming. Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!]]"
to:
-->[[spoiler:
--> "It wasn't hard," I said quietly. "Just cold.
-->[[spoiler:
--> "Oh, Hoss," he said. There was more compassion in the words than you'd think would fit
* Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to
-->"For you, little girl.
Changed line(s) 9,12 (click to see context) from:
* When Harry realizes that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]\\
[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]\\
[[spoiler:I won a war.]]\\
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]\\
[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]\\
[[spoiler:I won a war.]]\\
to:
* When Harry realizes that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] Susan to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I -->I used the knife]]\\
[[spoiler:Iknife\\
I saved a child.]]\\
[[spoiler:I\\
I won a war.]]\\\\
[[spoiler:I
I saved a child.
[[spoiler:I
I won a war.
Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
* Hell, Marsters' reading the entire last chapter. Especially when Harry [[spoiler: asks Murphy to take Maggie to Father Forthill and put her someplace safe, and that he doesn't need to know.]]
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will [[spoiler: bury Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will [[spoiler: bury Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
to:
* Hell, Marsters' reading the entire last chapter. Especially when Harry [[spoiler: asks Murphy to take Maggie to Father Forthill and put her someplace safe, and that he doesn't need to know.]]
know.
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will[[spoiler: bury Susan]] Susan with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will
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** An extra Tearjerker comes in the fact that it's very obvious Uriel isn't being a jerk, here-he genuinely ''wants'' to help Harry, but GodsHandsAreTied. All he can do is to remind Harry about the other option, and watch, and hope Harry will continue to choose well.
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Changed line(s) 8,12 (click to see context) from:
* When Harry that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]
-->[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]
-->[[spoiler:I won a war.]]
-->God forgive me.
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]
-->[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]
-->[[spoiler:I won a war.]]
-->God forgive me.
to:
* When Harry realizes that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I used theknife]]
-->[[spoiler:Iknife]]\\
[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]
-->[[spoiler:I]]\\
[[spoiler:I won a war.]]
-->God]]\\
God forgive me.
-->[[spoiler:I used the
-->[[spoiler:I
[[spoiler:I saved a child.
-->[[spoiler:I
[[spoiler:I won a war.
-->God
God forgive me.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
-->''I looked down at the child, a sleepy, warm little presence who had simply accepted what meager shelter and comfort I had been able to offer. And I thought my heart would break. Break more. Because I knew that I couldn't be what she needed. That I could never giver what she had to have to stand a chance of growing up strong and sane and happy.\\
to:
-->''I looked down at the child, a sleepy, warm little presence who had simply accepted what meager shelter and comfort I had been able to offer. And I thought my heart would break. Break more. Because I knew that I couldn't be what she needed. That I could never giver give what she had to have to stand a chance of growing up strong and sane and happy.\\
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Happily subverted as of Skin Game
Changed line(s) 20,21 (click to see context) from:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.
* And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
* And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
to:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.
* And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]have.
* And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
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Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Changes'', Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to [[spoiler: save his daughter]]. Finally, he makes the choice he's been avoiding for years.
to:
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
** When Harry that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
to:
Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
** And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
to:
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** What also makes it even more poignant is that Harry has always kept his distance from religion of any sort and has expressed his rage against God on numerous occasions. So to see him breaking down and ''begging'' God for forgiveness is very painful.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.
to:
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.have.
** And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
** And [[spoiler: Maggie's scared of her own father's face. Oh sweet merciful God.]]
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Added DiffLines:
* The majority of [[TraumaCongaLine the book.]]
* There's also a part of Harry's conversation with Ebenezar in the last chapter of ''Changes''.
-->[[spoiler: "Hell of a hard thing to do."]]
-->[[spoiler: "It wasn't hard," I said quietly. "Just cold."]]
-->[[spoiler: "Oh, Hoss," he said. There was more compassion in the words than you'd think would fit there.]]
** In ''Changes'', Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to [[spoiler: save his daughter]]. Finally, he makes the choice he's been avoiding for years.
-->"For you, little girl. [[spoiler: Dad's coming. Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!]]"
** When Harry that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]
-->[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]
-->[[spoiler:I won a war.]]
-->God forgive me.
** What makes it extra powerful is that for the majority James Marsters' reading of the audiobook, he's fairly calm. Sure, there are scenes where he tinges his reading with the anger, disbelief, weariness, pain, and fear that Harry has to be feeling, but when he gets to "God forgive me," the line is delivered with a heartbreaking half-sob. It almost sounds like Marsters ''himself'' was breaking down crying while reading that chapter.
* Hell, Marsters' reading the entire last chapter. Especially when Harry [[spoiler: asks Murphy to take Maggie to Father Forthill and put her someplace safe, and that he doesn't need to know.]]
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will [[spoiler: bury Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
-->''But maybe I shouldn't have been surprised: [[DarkIsNotEvil Even in Winter, the cold isn't always bitter, and not every day is cruel.]]''
* When Harry is cradling Maggie:
-->''I looked down at the child, a sleepy, warm little presence who had simply accepted what meager shelter and comfort I had been able to offer. And I thought my heart would break. Break more. Because I knew that I couldn't be what she needed. That I could never giver what she had to have to stand a chance of growing up strong and sane and happy.\\
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.
* There's also a part of Harry's conversation with Ebenezar in the last chapter of ''Changes''.
-->[[spoiler: "Hell of a hard thing to do."]]
-->[[spoiler: "It wasn't hard," I said quietly. "Just cold."]]
-->[[spoiler: "Oh, Hoss," he said. There was more compassion in the words than you'd think would fit there.]]
** In ''Changes'', Harry has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is succumbing to despair, and prays to the archangel Uriel to help him. Uriel arrives and says he can't, but then reminds him that he does have a couple of other avenues open to him to [[spoiler: save his daughter]]. Finally, he makes the choice he's been avoiding for years.
-->"For you, little girl. [[spoiler: Dad's coming. Mab! Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you come ''forth''!]]"
** When Harry that he has to [[spoiler: kill Susan]] to win the day at the end of ''Changes'', Butcher makes clear how horrible it is for him.
-->[[spoiler:I used the knife]]
-->[[spoiler:I saved a child.]]
-->[[spoiler:I won a war.]]
-->God forgive me.
** What makes it extra powerful is that for the majority James Marsters' reading of the audiobook, he's fairly calm. Sure, there are scenes where he tinges his reading with the anger, disbelief, weariness, pain, and fear that Harry has to be feeling, but when he gets to "God forgive me," the line is delivered with a heartbreaking half-sob. It almost sounds like Marsters ''himself'' was breaking down crying while reading that chapter.
* Hell, Marsters' reading the entire last chapter. Especially when Harry [[spoiler: asks Murphy to take Maggie to Father Forthill and put her someplace safe, and that he doesn't need to know.]]
** A small but powerful moment afterward: the Leanansidhe says that she will [[spoiler: bury Susan]] with all the respect and honor that Harry would wish to do himself, and even ''gives her word'' that she will do so without expecting anything from Harry in return - something incredibly rare among TheFairFolk. But the hammer comes from Harry's thoughts immediately afterward.
-->''But maybe I shouldn't have been surprised: [[DarkIsNotEvil Even in Winter, the cold isn't always bitter, and not every day is cruel.]]''
* When Harry is cradling Maggie:
-->''I looked down at the child, a sleepy, warm little presence who had simply accepted what meager shelter and comfort I had been able to offer. And I thought my heart would break. Break more. Because I knew that I couldn't be what she needed. That I could never giver what she had to have to stand a chance of growing up strong and sane and happy.\\
Because I had made a deal. If I hadn't done it, she'd be dead--but because I had, I couldn't be what she deserved to have.