I just finished Jim Butcher’s Changes (2011), book twelve in The Dresden Files series and it is over-the-top great.

Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read this book yet, are a fan of the series, and want to be surprised STOP READING HERE!

You have been warned.

One of the dangers any series faces is falling into a pattern or formula. After all, as a writer, if you’ve found something that works, you tend to repeat it over and over for the sake of success. Publishers like success too, so they might even encourage such repetition for the sake of profits.

But as we’ve seen in all forms of entertainment, becoming “formulistic” can also mean the death of creativity and the loss of readers.

So Butcher changed all that.

Here’s the “spoilers” part.

Dresden has a daughter by half-vampire ex-girlfriend Susan Rodriquez. Susan and her (platonic as far as we know) partner Martin belong to an organization operating in Central and South America fighting the vampire Red Court.

The Red Court has kidnapped Susan’s eight-year-old daughter Maggie and intend to use her as the final victim in some archaic Mayan human sacrifice ritual.

Susan comes to Harry for help.

And that’s just the beginning.

Butcher normally messes up Harry’s life pretty good, but this time he outdoes himself.

In the process of gathering his forces to fight the entire Red Court, thousands upon thousands of literally blood-thirsty vampires, plus half-vampires, human retainers, and mercenaries, Harry loses pretty much everything including his office, his home, and his beloved Blue Beetle VW bug.

He also finds out that his sneaky fae Godmother has secretly been protecting him (not that she’s regained her sanity) and is one of his most avid supporters (with a catch).

The White Council has been subverted by a new leader who thinks they can make peace with the Reds and so they won’t help Harry. In fact, his fellow wardens kick him out of a meeting where he caused a big ruckus.

If you’re a fan, you probably remember the various baddies who were always trying to tempt Harry to join their side. He finally picks one and joins up. Unfortunately, he has to murder his predecessor to do it, and this won’t be the last time he puts someone under the knife.

Harry picks up enough allies and power to maybe, sort of, hopefully, try to rescue Maggie but even then, he’s hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned.

As an aside, a really cool thing happens to his police sergeant friend Karrin Murphy, but it’s complicated and I won’t spill the details here. Besides, it may not be permanent.

Molly gets into this really, really big fight and amazingly holds her own for as long as she can.

Thomas steps up, not only to help Harry and his niece, but the ritual the Reds are planning might end his existence as well.

The last remaining Knight of the Sword, an actual black Russian Sanya joins the team with his usual humor and enthusiasm.

But within Harry’s inner circle, there is also a dark traitor who reveals themselves (not saying if it’s a guy or gal) at the last possible second, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

There is more heartbreaking loss and tragedy.

Oh, when Harry’s home was burned to the ground, he got his cat Mister out in time, but now he’s among the missing.

In the aftermath of the battle (yes, it finally ends), something bad happens to Molly and she has to go away (temporarily) with Thomas and his dog Mouse, and he doesn’t rejoin them by the end of the novel.

Just when we think we see Harry get a new home and maybe a new relationship, right on the last page of the book, something horrible happens to Harry and the reader is left with a cliffhanger.

You do not want to miss Changes. I can’t wait to read the next book to see how Harry gets out of this one. It’s a killer.