History YMMV / SkinGame

* AnticlimaxBoss: [[spoiler:Lasciel and Hannah]] are defeated disappointingly quickly; they could have been great returning villains. [[spoiler:Lasciel]] in particular is a ''major'' letdown; after several books' worth of establishing just how powerful, manipulative and dangerous she is, [[spoiler: especially after seeing the effects Lash had on Harry, when we meet Lasciel proper - she basically acts like a jilted stalker who is furious with Harry for rejecting her. [[WomanScorned Which is admittedly what Jim promised, but still...]] ]]

* BrokenAesop: Some fans may see Harry's internal monologue on how size as a defensive adaptation is pretty much unbeatable to be this trope, as he took down "Tiny" in about five minutes back in Literature/SmallFavor.
** Despite being shaped like a goat, the Gruffs were acting as ''predators'', not prey, hunting Harry down. Thus Tiny confirms the Aesop, not refutes it.

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler: the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate in secret -- to wit, Grey would call Harry "wizard" to allow himself (or Harry) to ask a question about the current situation, with the first word or so in response being the true answer --]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting. It also puts a new perspective on Harry's reticence with Butters, and a great many other conversations, knowing that Harry knows someone may be listening.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: This is the first time Harry has come face to face with Marcone since before his death in ''Changes'', and both of them act as they always have to each other for a frustratingly-brief scene. Granted, he and Mab have probably discussed it so he's aware of the circumstances, but given the loaded reunions Harry had with most characters in ''Cold Days'', his first meeting with Marcone after those events is somewhat underwhelming.

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler: the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate in secret -- to wit, Grey would call Harry "wizard" to allow himself (or Harry) to ask a question about the current situation, with the first word in response being the true answer --]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting. It also puts a new perspective on Harry's reticence with Butters, and a great many other conversations, knowing that Harry knows someone may be listening.

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler: the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate in secret -- to wit, Grey would call Harry "wizard" to allow himself or Harry to ask a question about the current situation, with the other's first word in response being the true answer --]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting. It also puts a new perspective on Harry's reticence with Butters, and a great many other conversations, knowing that Harry knows someone may be listening.

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler:the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate secretly]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting. It also puts a new perspective on Harry's reticence with Butters, and a great many other conversations, knowing that Harry knows someone may be listening.
** For a much less happy example... [[spoiler: Tessa's motivation for getting in Nicodemus's way, and her private conversation with Deirdre, makes a ''lot'' more sense if you know Dierdre's ultimate fate...]]

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Butters complaining to Harry that the first thing Harry does after seeing him again was to pay off a debt like a sidhe would instead of asking how he's been doing. Actually, the first thing Harry does is to inquire about their relationship. It's supposed to show Butters' shattered faith in Harry, but it comes across as Butters being irrationally angry at best and an argumentative asshole at worst.

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler:the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate secretly]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting.

** It may also be a ShowDontTell example of how Harry TookALevelInBadass-now he's the WeakButSkilled one, facing an opponent who's UnskilledButStrong.

*** It's later revealed that [[spoiler: Hades' vault is actually an armoury, designed to allow the worthy access to the treasures, and thus not actually be impenetrable]], which may mitigate this.

* BaseBreaker:[[spoiler: Butter's ascension to Knighthood and reforging the Sword of Faith into a lightsaber has been met with vast approval or intense dislike and hatred, especially considering Murphy was badly and permanently injured to achieve it]]

* BrokenBase: [[spoiler: Harry managing to turn the tables on Nicodemus by having made a secret deal with Goodman Grey]] is probably the most contentious part of the book. Some think it's awesome, and admire that Harry was actually able to plan ahead. Others think it's a cheap DeusExMachina, and a writing cheat that just does not work in a first-person narrative.

* UnintentiallyUnsympathetic: Butters complaining to Harry that the first thing Harry does after seeing him again was to pay off a debt like a sidhe would instead of asking how he's been doing. Actually, the first thing Harry does is to inquire about their relationship. It's supposed to show Butters' shattered faith in Harry, but it comes across as Butters being irrationally angry at best and an argumentative asshole at worst.

* DesignatedHero: Butters complaining to Harry that the first thing Harry does after seeing him again was to pay off a debt like a sidhe would instead of asking how he's been doing. Actually, the first thing Harry does is to inquire about their relationship. It's supposed to show Butters' shattered faith in Harry, but it comes across as Butters being irrationally angry at best and an argumentative asshole at worst.

** For a much less happy example... [[spoiler: Tessa's motivation for getting in Nicodemus's way makes a ''lot'' more sense if you know Dierdre's ultimate fate...]]

** FridgeBrilliance: [[spoiler: Which actually makes Butters realizing how WRONG he was much more compelling. A lot would have been avoided, had he just TRUSTED Harry.]]

** For a much less happy example... [[spoiler: Tessa's motivation for getting in Nicodemus's way makes a ''lot'' more sense if you know Dierdre's ultimate fate...]]

** For a much less happy example... [[spoiler: Tessa's motivation for getting in Nicodemus's way makes a ''lot'' more sense...]]

* RewatchBonus: Upon a second reading, the knowledge of [[spoiler:the codeword Harry and Grey were using to communicate secretly]] makes quite a few conversations more interesting.

* AnticlimaxBoss: [[spoiler:Lasciel and Hannah]] are defeated disappointingly quickly; they could have been great returning villains. [[spoiler:Lasciel]] in particular is a ''major'' letdown; after several books' worth of establishing just how powerful, manipulative and dangerous she is, [[spoiler; especially after seeing the effects Lash had on Harry, when we meet Lasciel proper - she basically acts like a jilted stalker who is furious with Harry for rejecting her. [[WomanScorned Which is admittedly what Jim promised, but still...]] ]]

* AnticlimaxBoss: [[spoiler:Lasciel and Hannah]] are defeated disappointingly quickly; they could have been great returning villains.

** After the build up surrounding the difficulty of [[spoilers: bypassing the various Gates]], they are rather disappointingly one note.

** [[UnfortunateImplications Well, Butters]] [[JewsLoveToArgue is Jewish . . .]]

** [[UnfortunateImplications Well, Butters is Jewish . . .]]