Weekly Reading Update: Dresden Files Return & Sun Eater Finale Thoughts

Table of Contents

Where we are right now

December always arrives faster than we expect. The holidays pull at our schedules, deadlines loom a little closer, and the stack of books on the nightstand grows taller with each day. This week felt like that—equal parts finishing, pacing, and planning. We wrapped a big reread, made progress on a series finale that’s been with us for years, and stared down one of the largest books of the year that we want to finish before the new year.

We talk about what we finished, what we’re still reading, what’s next, and a couple of surprising wins from television and film. Along the way we try to be honest about expectations, pacing, and the weird guilt that comes with TBR lists. We’re not trying to win any races—just trying to enjoy the books and shows we love while learning from what didn’t go so well this year.

What we finished and why it mattered

We finished Twelve Months, the latest entry in the Dresden Files, and it felt like a warm return to an old neighborhood. Jim Butcher knows how to balance darkness with the kind of wisecracking narration that kept us glued to Harry Dresden for years. This new book takes a few turns we didn’t fully expect and lands with the same mix of heartbreak and levity that made the series a comfort read for many of us.

What stood out most was the emotional weight. There are moments that dig beneath the surface, and Butcher still has a knack for making upsetting things feel cinematic and oddly fun, even while you’re bracing for the sting. We closed the last page and immediately felt that familiar twinge—contentment mixed with impatience because now we have to wait again. For anyone who’s kept up with the series, that feeling will be familiar: grateful we got another visit, annoyed the visit ended so soon.

We’re planning to write something longer on the Dresden Files once the new book has been widely out for a little while. We’ve done full spoiler reviews for these books in the past, and there’s a good chance we’ll host a spoiler-focused discussion at some point. If that’s the sort of deep-dive you like, let us know and we’ll gather a group to dig into the twists and choices in detail.

What we’re reading now: finishing a massive series finale

Our primary focus right now is Shadows Upon Time, the final volume in the Sun Eater sequence. This book is a beast—over 600 pages and a conclusion to a saga we’ve followed closely. We’ve been slow and deliberate with it, because when a series means a lot to you, you want to savor the ending while hoping it does justice to what came before.

We had a complicated relationship with this final installment. For the first quarter of the book we felt like it was dragging. There was a lot of recap and setup that read as repetitive, and we started to worry it might be one of those long endings that needed more momentum. The structure of epic fantasy means authors sometimes have to backtrack or establish context for readers who haven’t been immersed in the series for years, but when that recap overshadows forward motion it can trigger impatience.

Then, about the quarter mark, the book found its stride. The pacing opened up, the stakes sharpened, and our excitement returned. There are twists and character moves that surprised us—some we loved and some we strongly disliked. We particularly struggled with one character whose arc felt off to us. That sense of being at odds with a character’s choices is a reminder that even in a series we adore, not every beat will land the way we hoped.

Right now we’re skeptical this will end up as our favorite book in the series. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s more a matter of comparison: earlier volumes in the series set an unbelievably high bar, and anything short of extraordinary will feel like a step down. We still expect a solid finish, and we’ll share final thoughts when we close the book. For now we’re being careful not to rush the ending but also nervous about whether the finale will bring everything together in a way that satisfies that very high hope inside us.

Notes on pacing and author constraints

Part of our impatience with pacing likely stems from the practical realities of publishing. Split books, word counts, editorial choices—these things shape the reading experience. Sometimes a book feels like it needs to be a single, continuous surge and instead becomes segmented to hit a publisher’s needs. That’s not the author’s fault and it often explains those chapters that feel like they could have been condensed.

We try to keep that in mind while still being honest about our reading experience. We expect to finish Shadows Upon Time in the next week or two, and then we’ll decide if a full spoiler review is warranted or if a thoughtful final-thoughts post will do. Either way, this series has been a major part of our reading life for years, and it deserves a proper sign-off when the time comes.

What’s next: can we really get it all done?

After finishing Shadows Upon Time, we want to jump straight into one of the biggest books scheduled for the year: the next Raymond Feist volume, which we’re planning to read for a New Year’s Day readalong. We love Feist’s Riftwar saga, but the series is dense with dozens of characters and interlocking threads. We’re leaning on recaps and community notes to help remember who’s who and what happened in previous volumes.

Brian, a community member who maintains detailed recaps, has produced a particularly helpful 11,000-word summary for one of the prior books. That kind of resource is invaluable for anyone returning to a long series after a multi-year break. We’ll use the recap as a refresher so we can dive into the new book without being lost in the first few chapters.

We’ve learned over the years that some books—especially at this scale—take us two to three weeks to read. That’s fine. We’re not on a clock, though we do want to be prepared for the readalong. The honest truth is that finishing everything we want before the new year is optimistic. There’s a lot on our plate, and the biggest book on that plate is a real ‘honker’ as we like to say. But we’ll try our best. It’s not a race: the goal is to enjoy the journey and show up ready for the discussion in January.

How we balance expectation and reality

Expectations can be dangerous. When a prior book in a series becomes a touchstone—a performance that defines a writer’s career—anything that follows will be unfairly compared to it. We’ve seen this in music and sports, and it’s no different with books. We can either set ourselves up for disappointment or accept the new book on its own terms and see what it offers.

We’re choosing to temper expectations slightly. Yes, we loved the last book we read in one series, and we hope Feist’s new book will measure up. But we’ll also allow it to be itself. We’ll try not to demand miracles just because we had a stellar reading experience previously.

Channel work and community highlights

The recent book haul for November was one of our larger reveals this year. Those videos are more than unboxing; they’re a way to say thank you. We feel lucky that authors, publishers, and viewers send books, special editions, and other thoughtful items. Showing those shipments is our opportunity to give a boost to smaller authors and share something that excited us.

We love putting links in descriptions or show notes when something deserves more attention. A small signal boost can make a difference for independent authors and small presses. If we can help a book find an audience by simply featuring it and adding a link, we’ll gladly do that.

On the practical side, gifts matter because they reflect community and connection. One small example: a bag of coffee sent to us that we thought we would savor eventually is already halfway gone. That’s how good it is, and how meaningful small gestures become over a year’s worth of content. Thank you is not an overstatement here.

End-of-year content plans

We’re finishing the year with the usual reflections and lists. Our most requested pieces always include rankings of the new series we tried during the year. We’re considering a twist for this year: instead of a strict numeric ranking, we may present the new series in tier format. Tier lists let us group books by degree of enjoyment—those we loved, those we liked, and those we were lukewarm about—without the false precision of a single number.

Tier lists can be fun and candid. They allow for nuance and let us point out why a book sits in a particular tier rather than simply labeling it “best” or “worst.” If you like the idea of a tier list for 2025 new series, we’ll go that direction. If not, we can do the typical ranking. We’ll decide soon and try to keep the format engaging.

Big lessons from 2025 (and the plan for 2026)

One of our planned videos will be the biggest surprises of the year and the biggest failures of the year. We’re framing failures constructively. Those videos are less about melodrama and more about reflection: what didn’t work, and how can we do better. For a creator, the only way to grow is to look at missteps honestly and fix them.

Examples of “failures” might include reading plans that didn’t happen, a series we started and abandoned, or content choices that didn’t land with the audience. We’re going to be candid: these posts will highlight realistic improvements rather than self-pity. We want those lessons to inform 2026, whether that means better pacing, clearer content planning, or more thoughtful engagement with the community.

TV and movie talk: a surprise that worked

We’ve always had a complicated relationship with adaptations—especially those that feel like fanfiction of big-name authors. There’s a natural skepticism when creators re-enter an iconic world. But one of the biggest surprises this week was a show that managed to do something we did not expect: create a version of a familiar universe that mostly works.

The prequel series set in Derry performed better than we anticipated. Much of that success comes down to the team behind it. When the filmmakers and writers understand the source material and find smart ways to expand on it, they can build something that feels worthy of the original while still being its own creature.

One episode in particular delivered an intense, single-shot sequence depicting a devastating fire that changed everything for many of the town’s characters. The sequence captured pandemonium—the claustrophobia of flame, the unpredictability of panic, and the uncanny ways trauma creates visions. It felt raw and cinematic, and it reminded us that television can still produce moments that reverberate.

Another winning element was the psychological game Pennywise plays with a character who has a special, psychic gift. Those mind games were by far the most interesting scenes of the season. Bill Skarsgård continues to make the role his own, balancing menace and mischief in a way that stands apart from the original. There’s room for multiple strong interpretations and both can be valid. This adaptation takes risks—some land better than others—but it has heart and ambition.

On adaptations and casting: how we decide to care

We try to follow a simple rule: wait before deciding. Trailers, first impressions, and casting headlines can color our expectations. They can also mislead. A good performance can arise from unexpected casting if the actor understands the role and the creative team surrounds them with the right material.

For instance, one casting in a separate superhero franchise looked spot-on in a single trailer blink: a muscular, world-weary character captured perfectly in one second. That kind of instant alignment between actor and character is rare but delightful when it happens. Other cast choices demand more patience; the final performance will determine whether a role works, not early promotional clips.

We’re optimistic but guarded with superhero properties. The genre’s dominance is evolving. Big box-office numbers aren’t automatic anymore. Production teams and studios now face audience fatigue and higher standards for originality. We still enjoy great superhero storytelling, but we recognize the landscape is shifting and that measured hope is the healthiest stance.

Wrapping up the week

This week was a mix of endings and preparations. We felt the joy of closing a Dresden Files installment, the tension of finishing a beloved epic, and the logistical scramble of preparing for a massive read for a January readalong. We celebrated community gifts, reflected on lessons from 2025, and allowed ourselves a bit of guarded excitement for television that surprised us.

We don’t expect perfection. We do expect honesty. We want to be the kind of readers and fans who admit when something works and why, and when it doesn’t. We want to celebrate the books that lift us, analyze the choices that stumble, and keep trying new formats for sharing our thoughts in the coming year.

Practical tips for big readalongs and series finales

Revisit concise recaps or community write-ups for books you read years ago. They save time and refresh memory.
Don’t treat long books like a sprint. Break them into manageable sections with mini-goals.
Use spoilers carefully—if you plan to participate in spoiler-heavy discussions, set aside a post-read space to share detailed thoughts.
Temper expectations. A favorite entry in a series raises the bar, but no book has to beat a classic to be worthwhile.
Have a buffer book. If you finish a big book and aren’t ready to jump into a long new one, keep a comforting reread or short novel handy.

How long do we usually take to read large epic fantasy books?

Large epic fantasy novels typically take us two to three weeks, depending on life and other commitments. Some books speed by in a week if the momentum is strong, but most sprawling finales and doorstopper books benefit from a slower, more deliberate pace.

Will we do a full spoiler review of Shadows Upon Time?

We’ll decide after finishing the book. If there’s enough interest and we feel a spoiler discussion would be useful, we’ll host a group conversation. Otherwise we’ll publish a spoiler-free final thoughts piece that captures our reaction and major takeaways.

Why are recaps so useful for old series?

Long series accumulate dozens of characters and plot threads. A detailed recap saves time and prevents us from getting lost in the first chapters of a returning volume. It’s especially useful if it’s been a few years since we last read a book in the series.

Is the Derry prequel worth watching even if you don’t love the book?

Yes, it can be. The series expands on background events and characters in creative ways, and some episodes deliver cinematic set-pieces that stand on their own. It’s helpful to approach the show as its own thing—connected to the novel, but not beholden to it.

How should we set expectations for adaptations and trailers?

Trailers are rarely definitive. They’re marketing tools. It’s better to reserve judgment until the finished product arrives. When a creative team understands the source and has a clear vision, that’s a better signal than early promotional material.

How do we decide what to include in end-of-year content?

We pick content that reflects growth and honesty: lists of best and worst surprises, what didn’t work, and what we learned. The goal is to be constructive—identifying improvements rather than simply lamenting them.

Final thoughts

We close this weekly update with two reminders. First: reading is not a contest. There will always be more books, more shows, and more opinions. The point is to enjoy what we love and to learn from what we don’t. Second: be generous with the small connections. A handwritten note, a small gift, a thoughtful recommendation—these things matter more than we often admit.

We’re excited and anxious in equal measure about the coming weeks. There’s a large book waiting for us, a long-running series reaching its finale, and a community readalong kicking off on January 1. We’ll keep sharing honest reactions, takeaways, and recommendations as we go.