Skin Game (2014) is the 15th novel in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, a popular blend of urban fantasy, detective noir, and supernatural action. The story follows Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, as he’s reluctantly forced into a high-stakes magical heist.
In this installment, Harry—now the Winter Knight in service to Queen Mab—is tasked with helping his enemy, Nicodemus Archleone, the leader of the Denarians (fallen angels bound to human souls), break into the treasure vault of Hades himself. The goal: to steal a powerful artifact. Though Harry is under magical obligation to cooperate, he secretly plans to sabotage the mission from within.
The novel features a mix of mythology, high-octane action, clever plotting, and emotional depth, as Harry grapples with his role as Winter Knight, the strain on his relationships, and the increasingly blurred line between duty and morality. Returning allies like Karrin Murphy, Michael Carpenter, and Butters play key roles, with Butters undergoing a powerful transformation that becomes one of the novel’s highlights.
Packed with snappy dialogue, magical showdowns, and moral dilemmas, Skin Game is both a pivotal and crowd-pleasing entry in the series.
