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Changes   Author Jim Butcher Illustrator Christian McGrath Country United States Language English Series The Dresden Files Genre(s) Fantasy, Mystery novel Publisher Roc Hardcover Publication date April 6, 2010 Media type Print (Hardcover) Pages 432 ISBN 045146317X Preceded by Turn Coat Followed by Ghost Story Changes is the 12th book in The Dresden Files, Jim Butcher's continuing series about wizard detective Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Changes was released on April 6, 2010,[1] and debuted at #1 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list,[2] dropping to #3 in its second week on the list.[3] Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover—until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it. Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world... He's fighting to save his child. —Amazon.com[1] Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Summary of changes in Harry's life 3 Plot points introduced 4 List of characters 4.1 Returning characters 4.2 New characters 5 Aftermath, Ghost Story and beyond 6 References 7 External links Synopsis Changes focuses on three tumultuous October days of drastic changes in the life of Harry Dresden. It all starts when Susan Rodriguez tells Dresden they have a daughter. Margaret "Maggie" Angelica was born after their romantic interlude in Death Masks. She named Maggie for Dresden's mother. Susan had hidden Maggie from Dresden for the child's safety, not only because of his list of enemies, but for hers as well. Part of her reasoning is also based on Dresden’s dangerous lifestyle and his inability to provide a stable home life. Before they can rescue Maggie, they need to know where she is being held. Susan and Martin attempt to retrieve digital information from the Red Court's Chicago office on the top floor of Dresden's office building. The Red Court had purchased Dresden's building eight years earlier. Dresden has been paying increased rent to the Red Court's Duchess Arianna, who is Ortega's widow. Arianna is behind Maggie's kidnapping. While Dresden is keeping watch outside, he notices a Red Court hit squad entering the building. During the ensuing fight, Martin reveals that the Red Court has wired the building to blow up. These C4 explosives are placed around Dresden's office. Just as they escape, the building blows up and Dresden's office is erased from the map. Dresden groans, "I mailed in the rent on my office this morning." Dresden and his apprentice, Molly, go to the White Council's headquarters in Edinburgh for help. They find Duchess Arianna and newly-appointed Senior Council member Cristos giving speeches about peace. Arianna had outmaneuvered Dresden. By dangling a peace proposal in front of the Council members, they would be more interested in saving their own lives than rescuing one kidnapped girl. Dresden furiously demands that Arianna return the kidnapped girl. He has the presence of mind not to refer to Maggie as his daughter. In front of a thousand wizards, Dresden challenges Arianna to a single combat under the Code Duello. As the ambassador of an Accord signatory, Arianna has diplomatic immunity. She graciously declines, simultaneously giving him a backhanded insult and challenge. Dresden storms out. While cooling off in the warden’s lounge—the Worry Room—he encounters the White Council leader. The Merlin does not believe Arianna's words of peace. He vows to exterminate the entire Red Court. The life of one child is nothing compared to the long-term benefit to all mankind. The Merlin wants the vampires to tip their hand, by attacking and exposing their vulnerabilities. If Dresden interferes with the Merlin's plan, he will kill Molly. Dresden and Molly return to Chicago. Dresden goes home and asks Bob about the images Martin recovered from the Red Court office. Bob says they are ritual objects used for the sacrifice of an innocent. Murphy drops by to inform Dresden that he is about to be picked up by the FBI. Taking advantage of the explosion at Dresden's office building, Internal Affairs Agent Rudolph sent a report of lies to his superiors, the FBI and the local PD, naming Dresden as "good perpetrator material." With the FBI pounding on his door, Dresden manages to get Bob, the two Swords of the Cross, and various suspicious materials out of his basement lab. He escapes into Nevernever. Dresden had never been into the Nevernever adjacent to his apartment, because the last thing he needed was to thin the barrier protecting his apartment. He had no intentions of making it easier for things to enter his lab. After a run-in with one very tough re-generating centipede, Dresden buries Bob, the Swords and various materials in the Nevernever near his apartment. Returning to his lab, Dresden is captured by the FBI. At the FBI headquarters, he is questioned by FBI Agent Tilly and Rudolph. After Rudolph starts ranting and prodding Tilly, he evicts Rudolph and talks to Dresden, one on one. Tilly feels that Dresden is innocent and lets him go. Dresden notes that Tilly has a minor psychic talent, but says nothing to upset the FBI agent. Exiting the FBI building, Dresden is shot in a drive-by. He is saved by the defensive spells on his duster. Dresden realizes the assassins were supposed to shoot Rudolph, to tie up the loose ends. Rudolph is being manipulated by the Red Court; now that his usefulness is over, Rudolph is a walking dead man. Dresden returns home, expecting to find his apartment trashed by the FBI. Instead, he finds all his books piled on the floor, the couch cushions a tad misaligned and Susan & Martin in big green cocoons stuck to the wall by the fireplace. Leanansidhe is sitting by the fire, cuddling his cat, Mister. She has always been very protective of him—and yes, that is her giant centipede on the Nevernever side of his apartment. He has an epiphany and asks Leanansidhe if his mother had asked her to safeguard anything for him. Leanansidhe smiles and gives Dresden his mother's legacy, a gem which fits into the center of his pentacle. This gem contains the totality of her knowledge of the Ways through the Nevernever—which is notable, to say the very least. After Susan and Martin are freed from their cocoons, Dresden uses the gem to take the three of them to the Red Court's storage depot in the Nevada desert. During their raid, they find several Mayan ceremonial artifacts that were in transit to Mexico. Maggie is somewhere in Mexico, or will be there very soon. Returning to Chicago, Dresden finds a letter from Anastasia—delivered in the event of her disappearance. It warns him not to go back to Edinburgh. About 40% of the senior wardens, his friend Ramirez included, have been either illegally-detained by Cristo, or like Anastasia, they have simply vanished. Dresden briefly contacts his mentor, Ebenezar. He warns Dresden about the turmoil within the White Council; and then, he refuses any assistance on behalf of the Grey Council. Dresden writes a message to the Archive, Ivy, asking for help. Kincaid, her bodyguard, phones Dresden and informs him that Ivy cannot help him directly, due to the forced limitations as a neutral entity. But Ivy can help, indirectly. She tells Kincaid to tell Dresden, "the last man you want to see might have useful information." The clock is ticking on Maggie's life, so Dresden swallows his pride and meets with Johnnie Marcone, the crime lord of Chicago. Marcone directs Dresden to Ms. Gard, his supernatural consultant. Ms. Gard transports Dresden to her employer's headquarters in Norway, Monoc Securities. She introduces Dresden to the CEO, Donar Vadderung. He gives Dresden free information, which makes Dresden greatly suspicious. Apparently, the Red Court is going to use Maggie for a "bloodline curse" over the ley line conjunction at Chichén Itzá. A bloodline curse travels up the family tree from the sacrificial victim to all her siblings, then to her parents—Dresden and Susan, then to all their siblings—like Thomas Wraith, to the grandparents, to the grandparents' siblings, ad infinitum. Even though Thomas is greatly changed, Dresden needs any help he can get. Shamelessly, Dresden tells Thomas about Maggie and the bloodline curse. Thomas is against this curse, especially the part about killing all the siblings. He offers to help any way he can. The next catastrophic change hits Dresden's car. Following up on Rudolph's involvement, Dresden, Molly, and Thomas stake out his house. They hope to intercept Rudolph's "handlers" or "cleaners," and squeeze out any intel they can, such as when the ritual is happening. They run into the same Red Court hit squad from the office building explosion and a Mayan demon, Ik'k'uox, which Dresden calls "the Ick." Dresden comes face to face with Rudolph's handlers, the Eebs. Esteban and Esmerelda, a husband-wife team the Red Court uses for fieldwork. The Eebs excel in planning and execution—literally. Mouse scares off the Eebs before they can kill Dresden. During the battle, the Blue Beetle is crushed into a solid mass with Thomas' Jag. Dresden expresses the reaction typical of Dresden, "It wasn't an expensive car. It wasn't a sexy car. It was my car." Dresden's oak staff is also destroyed with the Beetle. Thomas is badly injured. Regenerating from his wounds awakens his Hunger and he almost goes after Molly, Dresden kicks Thomas out of his apartment until he can control himself. The worst catastrophic change hits Dresden's apartment. The Eebs toss a Molotov cocktail from a passing car. They miss Dresden by a hair, but his apartment catches fire. Dresden breaks a window, so his cat, Mister, can escape. Then, the rest of the building starts to burn. Dresden rescues his elderly landlady, Mrs. Spunkelcrief. While trying to rescue his second floor neighbors, Dresden falls from the ladder and fractures his spine on a brick planter. Sanya, the only active Knight of the Cross, appears at the right moment and saves the neighbors. Dresden's apartment burns to the ground, along with everything he owns. The whereabouts of his cat Mister are unknown. Dresden and his friends take refuge at St. Mary's of the Angels. Alone, paralyzed, and strapped to a backboard, Dresden tries to get help from the Archangel Uriel. Since the paralysis is a result of Dresden's free will, Uriel cannot directly interfere by healing him. However, Uriel confirms that Maggie is Dresden's daughter, even though the blood-based tracking spells had failed. As a last resort to heal his body and save Maggie, Dresden thrice calls the name of Mab, The Winter Queen of the Fae. In an out-of-body experience, Queen Mab brings Dresden to the Stone Table (Summer Knight) Dresden accepts Queen Mab's offer to become the new Winter Knight, if and only if, he is allowed time to save Maggie and bring her to safety, as well as enough strength and knowledge to do so. Queen Mab agrees. She orders Dresden to kill Lloyd Slate, the traitorous Winter Knight (Summer Knight). The power of the Winter Knight flows from Lloyd into the Stone Table. The Winter Queen consummates her agreement with her new consort, Dresden the Winter Knight. The power of Winter flows from the Table back to Mab and into Dresden. He notes, "You can't have sex with a thunderstorm, an earthquake, a furious winter gale." Keeping her word, Queen Mab orders Leanansidhe to aid Dresden in his final quest—ominously, Leah may "indulge herself" in how she helps Dresden. Upon waking, Dresden sees that Molly had called medical examiner Waldo Butters for medical help. Butters had restarted Dresden's heart. As Butters pronounces a grim prognosis for Dresden's apparent paralysis, a hit-man bursts in and shoots Butters twice in the back. Forthill and Butters subdue the hit-man. Butters is only bruised, thanks to his Kevlar vest. Dresden has made a miraculous full recovery thanks to Queen Mab. The hit-man, Stevie, refuses to cooperate until Dresden threatens to give him to Marcone, for operating in Chicago without the crime lord's permission. Terrified, Stevie confesses that he was hired by a woman. The description matches Susan. But, Susan has disappeared. Dresden and Sanya track her down with help from Toot and the "Pizza Lord's Guard." Toot very unsubtly reveals that Queen Mab announced her new Winter Knight by reflecting the Stone Table consummation rite in all water bodies throughout the Nevernever. Sanya gives Dresden a strange look. Then, Sanya tells him to stay strong and keep laughing no matter how difficult it gets. And if Dresden turns into a hideous monster and Sanya is sent to slay him, he will make it as painless as possible, out of respect for their friendship. What else are friends for? Toot reports to Dresden that Susan is being held in the FBI building. Dresden enters and finds Murphy speaking with Tilly. With Murphy vouching for his honesty, Dresden tells Agent Tilly the truth about the building explosion and the existence of vampires. Rudolph interrupts and orders Murphy off the Dresden-office-explosion case—or else, he'll have her badge! Then, the lights go out and they hear a vampire's hunting screech. Rudolph panics and regresses into his "happy place." Murphy leads Tilly and Rudolph to safety, while Dresden and Susan cause a distraction. They lure the vampires and the Ik through a portal into the Nevernever. They land in the feasting hall of the Erlking, the Lord of the Hunt (Dead Beat). The hunters become the hunted. Dresden takes advantage of the Erlking's verbal slip to obtain protection under the rules of hospitality. But, lying to one's host about their intentions in his realm negates the protections of hospitality. The Erlking orders a trial by combat. The winners will be judged honest and be permitted to leave. The losers will be severely punished for lying. Dresden and Susan defeat a vampire and the Ik, thereby gaining their freedom. The Eebs and the Red Court vampires are whisked away to the torture chambers by the Erlking’s goblin horde. Back in the real world, they discover that 30 minutes with the Erlking was seven hours in Chicago. They are too late to save Maggie. Then, Leanansidhe pulls up in a limo, which is supernaturally fast, seemingly invisible (think of Harry Potter’s "Knight Bus"), and loaded with all the magical items Dresden had stashed in Nevernever. In typical Sidhe fashion, Leanansidhe plays word games and jibes at Dresden, while assisting him. She outfits Dresden and Susan with powerful magical armor. She fashions Dresden's clothing into a Conquistador's armor, as an insult to Arianna, who hated them with a passion. Susan's clothing morphs into a rather slinky, Mesoamerican, ceremonial robe and headdress, both infused with protective spells. They arrive at the church to find Murphy, Thomas, Martin, Sanya, Molly and Mouse already armed and waiting. Dresden gives Murphy the sword Fidelacchius, the sword of Faith. Murphy declines, but Dresden convinces her to use it for the moment—for the sake of his daughter. He gives Amoracchius, the sword of Love, to Susan, telling her that love will allow her to wield it despite her vampiric half—which it does. Ebenezar contacts Dresden via a magic stone. He warns Dresden not to go near Edinburgh. Arianna had spread a disease there during her "peaceful" visit. Beset by their own problems, the White Council cannot help them. So what else is new? Using his mother's gem, Dresden opens a series of Ways to arrive at Chichén Itzá. But the jungle is so thick they cannot possibly arrive at the main temple before the sacrifice. Leanansidhe turns them into hounds. In mere minutes, they race through the dense jungle to the temple compound. Leanansidhe wants to keep them that way, but Mouse reveals that he's as intelligent as Dresden—and just as blunt—by threatening to literally rip off Leanansidhe's rear, if she does not comply. Nonplussed, Leanansidhe returns them to human form. Himself again, Dresden asks why Mouse never talked to him. Leanansidhe replies that Dresden never listened. Time is running out for Maggie. A couple hundred preliminary sacrifices are being completed to build up vast amounts of energy needed to propel the curse, which will be released by Maggie’s death. After a few exhausting skirmishes, Dresden stands at the compound entrance and challenges Duchess Arianna to single combat under the Code Duello. Speaking through a translator, Dresden negotiates an agreement with the Red King. Dresden will fight Duchess Arianna, here and now, and his daughter will not be harmed during the duel. The Red King declares they will fight to the death, dueling with Power alone, no physical contact. Arianna uses water spells and Dresden uses his usual fire spells. After several steamy clashes, Dresden calls forth the power of Winter and triumphs. Suddenly speaking perfect English, the Red King refuses to honor their agreement. Using a loophole, the Red King states that he never spoke a word to Dresden—only his slave spoke, so their bargain is void. The Red King does not bargain with "cattle." And, he only agreed that Dresden's daughter would not be harmed "during" the duel, not after. The Red King orders Maggie's immediate death. The epic battle begins. Susan, Sanya, and Murphy effectively wield the Swords of the Cross against the most ancient vampires, the Lords of the Outer Night. Murphy apparently becomes possessed by an Archangel, decrying the Red Court as murderers and blasphemers. She becomes a one-woman wrecking crew. Crowned with a protective halo of light generated by Bob, Murphy plunges into the mob and slices through attackers with spectacular ease. She starts clearing a path toward the main temple, where Maggie is being held. Sanya and Susan follow with their swords dealing deadly damage. Molly conjures her signature One-Woman Rave. The senses of the Red Court vampires are overwhelmed and they fall back. Thomas simultaneously shoots and slashes away at the mob. Using the smooth moves one generally sees at a club or disco, Thomas makes the vampires die and die. Mouse and Martin deal their own kinds of deadly damage. Leanansidhe tosses brutally destructive magic about, all the while laughing like she's a child playing in the park. Dresden's group is badly outnumbered and beginning to tire. Leanansidhe uses a magic gem to open a dimensional rift. Ebenezar and the Grey Council emerge and enter the battle. Ebenezar loans Dresden his staff. Dresden marvels as Ebenezar pulls the "Blackstaff" out of nowhere. Ebenezar unleashes his power as the White Council's sanctioned hit-man. He points the Blackstaff at a 100-man group of mortal security guards. They "simply die." Ebenezar mows them down, again and again. One of the Grey Council opens a Way for an army of Kenku, bird people. The Kenku take the brunt of the Red Court's attack and clear Dresden a path to the main temple. Then, Molly is shot. Thomas and Mouse stay behind to stop the bleeding and protect her. Dresden and the others fight their way up the steps of the main pyramid. At the battle's climax, Dresden rushes into the Sacrificial Room to stop the ritual. Susan stops the sacrifice. Using her Fae armor’s glamour and the light of Amoracchius, Susan tricks the Red King into thinking she is the manifestation of the Mayan elder god, Kukulcan. Martin betrays Susan. He strikes her down. Martin reveals that he is the Red King's spy in the Fellowship of St. Giles. He has lived longer than any other Fellowship operative, because the Red Court had orders not to kill him. Martin reveals that this ritual is not directed at Dresden, but at his grandfather, Ebenezar McCoy, the Blackstaff of the White Council. And, he admits that he betrayed Maggie's location and divulged her true parentage to Arianna. Enraged, Susan tears out Martin's throat. Drinking Martin's blood completes her transformation into a Red Court vampire. As Martin dies, he and Dresden soulgaze. Dresden learns that all of Martin's actions have been a 200-year-long con run the Red Court. Betraying Maggie to Arianna was Martin's way of ensuring that Dresden would confront the Red King and destroy the Red Court. Susan is now the youngest Red Court vampire. Still in the throes of transformation, Susan begs Dresden to save Maggie—and, to do what is needed. Dresden carries Susan to the sacrificial altar. With the obsidian knife, Dresden kills Susan. The completed bloodline ritual releases a massive wave of curse energy, destroying every Red Court vampire in existence. Exhausted and in shock, Dresden holds Maggie on the temple steps. Leanansidhe is sitting next to him, running interference. Dresden speaks briefly with Ebenezar, who explains how the Red Court must have found out about their family ties. Dresden wonders if Cristos is Black Council, or just stupid. Ebenezar snorts, "Stupid's everywhere, every day." Donar Vadderung looks up from his position among the Grey Council and salutes Dresden—a rare act, indeed. Ebenezar explains that Vadderung only gets involved when things are about to get exceptionally bad. The Grey Council leaves. Dresden hands Maggie to Murphy, telling her to give Maggie to Father Forthill. Maggie must disappear into the safest place possible—and Dresden cannot know where. Sanya tells Dresden that Molly is safe. She, Thomas, and Mouse had been airlifted to a US naval vessel for treatment, courtesy of Lara Raith. It's almost sunrise, so they need to leave before the Mexican authorities arrive. Dresden hesitates. In a rare act of pure kindness, Leanansidhe promises to take care of Susan's remains. Dresden may even pay his respects to them, whenever he wishes. Dresden puts Bob back into the skull before the rays of sunrise can touch and destroy him. Sanya gives Dresden something Thomas left: the key to Thomas' boat, the Water Beetle. Thomas is giving him a place to stay. They leave Chichén Itzá through a lightning gate and return directly to Chicago. Dresden is on the Water Beetle trying to absorb all the changes in his life. As the clock chimes noon, the leather duster Susan had given him, returns to its original form. With the protective spells removed, the leather disintegrates from the accumulated damage. He drops the shredded duster into the lake and watches it sink. He showers and changes in preparation for a potentially romantic interlude with Karrin Murphy. Murphy is depressed and despondent after learning her job as a police officer will be lost due to Rudolph's machinations. Hoping she might be early, Dresden goes topside. On the deck, he hears a pop and a splat behind him. It looks like someone splashed red paint on the boat. He wonders, "Why did I pick the shirt with a bullet hole in it?" and falls overboard into the water. From somewhere, Dresden hears Cassius' death curse, "Die Alone!" Then, a familiar female voice says, "Hush now." Dresden begins moving toward a white light; and then, he hears a roaring sound, like an on-coming train. His last thought is, "Even when you're dead, it doesn't get any easier." Summary of changes in Harry's life Susan Rodriguez reveals the last sexual tryst between her and Harry yielded a daughter Susan named Margaret. Mac makes a long speech to Harry regarding Harry's future and his path. Harry's office building is revealed to be owned by The Red Court of Vampires, that building is summarily destroyed by C-4. The White Council and a majority of the Wardens are either struck with a mysterious illness or arrested by Cristos. Harry receives his mother's (Margaret LaFey) collected knowledge of "The Ways." Several of Harry's friends shock him by revealing Molly has fallen in love with him. Harry's car, "The Blue Beetle," is crushed by "The Ick" into a ball with Thomas' car. Harry's oak staff (made from the same oak tree on McCoy's farm) is destroyed along with the Beetle. Harry's apartment and the entire boarding house where he lives is burned to the ground along with all his possessions. Harry accepts the Mantle of "Winter Knight" from Queen Mab to heal himself and save Maggie from the Red Court. Susan becomes a full Red Court Vampire when she murders Martin during his reveal of working for the Red King. Harry kills Susan as she completes her Red Court transformation enacting the blood curse and destroying the entire court. Murphy apparently loses her job due to Rudolph's continued political maneuvering. Harry is shot and apparently dies at the end of the book. Plot points introduced The White Council: Tensions increase in the White Council as Gregori Cristos garners more influence among the members. Cristos has had several members of the Wardens arrested, including Carlos Ramirez. In addition, about 40% of the Senior Wardens have gone missing including Captain Anastasia Luccio. A large portion of the Council has become sick with a mysterious illness, believed to have been spread by Arianna Ortega when she visits as an 'ambassador'. This includes Injun Joe, the Council's best healer. The Senior Council is backing away from Cristos, giving him room to hang himself. The Grey Council: The Grey Council makes their first appearance outside of Harry and Ebenezar to help in the battle against the Red Court. Donar Vadderung, CEO of Monoc Securities, actually the Norse god Odin, is revealed to be a member. Dresden's family: Harry has a daughter. Relations between Harry and Thomas have improved somewhat since Thomas decided to "Stop nibbling and start taking big bites" of his victims again. However this improvement is slight, as Dresden says before taking Thomas' help to save Maggie they have only spoken for minutes since the end of the prior novel. Soulfire: Harry has a tough time controlling his use of Soulfire when in the heat of battle often drawing a significant amount and wearing himself down rapidly. However, he does use it frequently in combat conditions. Winter Court of the Fae: The old Winter Knight Lloyd Slate dies at Harry's hands in the Valley of the Stone Table. Harry and Mab then went through the induction ceremony for Harry to become the Winter Knight on the condition that Harry could save his child first. Sanya the Knight of the Cross said, "You...tapped that ass. Presumably, it was phat," in regards to the ceremony when he learned Harry was the new Winter Knight (the ceremony is magical 'intercourse' on the Stone Table with Mab, though as Harry puts it, "You don't have sex with a thunderstorm"). Harry's fairy General Toot-toot can speak Russian. Dresden's Mysterious Past: Dresden's mother is actually a McCoy and is Ebenezar's daughter, thus making Ebenezar Dresden's maternal grandfather. Margaret LeFay left a powerful gift with the Leanansidhe, a gem which fits into his pentacle, containing her extensive knowledge of all the methods to navigate the Ways. We also learn that the entity on the other side of the Nevernever from Harry's house is the Leanansidhe, and she has been protecting him from those who would try to attack him from the Nevernever for a very long time. Dresden's Mysterious Future: Throughout the course of the book, Harry occasionally hears Cassius's voice saying "Die Alone." In reference to the curse he laid on Harry during the events of Dead Beat. At the end of the book a female's voice is heard telling the voice to "Hush now". The Knights of the Cross: Michael Carpenter is still retired. Susan and Murphy became pro-tem members during the battle against the Reds. Harry offered Murphy the full-time position of wielding Fidelacchius once more, but she is undecided. The War: No longer enjoying a lull. Harry's actions during the course of the battle against the Red Court ultimately resulted in the complete and utter destruction of every Red Court Vampire in existence. Half-vampires lost their half-vampire side and powers, becoming fully human again. As a result, every former half-vampire became their true age again, killing off many of the older half-vampires and withering many who had been alive for a long time but not long enough to expire in human years. The Fellowship of St. Giles: The Fellowship and its support structure are supposedly almost completely wiped out by the Red Court due to Martin's treachery, but when the Red Court is annihilated it seems as if the reverse is true. In addition, the vampiric portions of the Fellowship's curse are wiped away, leaving the survivors whole and human; however, the survivors also aged accordingly. This means that anyone who had been a partial Red Court Vampire for more than their natural lifespan aged and died quickly after the ritual was completed. The Blue Beetle: Harry's Volkswagen Beetle is apparently totally destroyed. Also, his home is completely destroyed by arson. Harry breaks his back escaping the fire; it is the "cure" for this injury that requires him to take up as the Winter Knight. List of characters Returning characters Main article: List of The Dresden Files characters Many major characters who have appeared in a Dresden Book have at least a cameo appearance here. Notable in their lack of appearance are the Alphas, Harry's werewolf friends. At the end of the previous novel, Harry explained things in full to their leader Billy, making it appear he would have a larger role in later novels. This list primarily notes characters who had an important role or changed as a result of this book. Harry Dresden: The protagonist and a professional wizard—he loses his office, home, and car during the course of the book as well as becoming the Winter Knight and killing two people in cold blood. Sergeant Karrin Murphy: Detective Sgt. and former head of Special Investigations. At the end of the book, she is under investigation and looks likely to take early retirement. She may take up Fidelacchius and become a Knight of the Cross. Mister: Dresden's 30+ pound house cat. Missing at the end of the book. Mouse: Dresden's Tibetan Temple dog. Mouse speaks to Harry and the others while they are transformed into hounds by Leanansidhe. Bob: A spirit of intellect who resides inside a skull in Dresden's sub-basement laboratory. Molly Carpenter: Michael and Charity's eldest child; Harry's apprentice. She soulgazes Thomas during the story and has become protective of him. Thomas Raith: A White Court vampire, Harry's half-brother, and favorite of Lara Raith (effective head of the White Court). Ebenezar McCoy: White Council Senior Wizard, Blackstaff, head of the unofficial Grey Council, revealed to be Harry's grandfather. Susan Rodriguez: Red Court half-vampire and Harry's former lover. Revealed to be the mother of their daughter, Maggie. Killed by Harry to destroy the Red Court. Martin: Red Court half-vampire and a member of the Fellowship of St. Giles for over 100 years. Revealed as a Red Court agent within the Fellowship, appears to betray Dresden and Susan in the battle at Chichen Itza. Leanansidhe: Winter Court sidhe and Harry's Godmother. New characters Margaret Angelica Dresden: eight-year-old daughter of Harry and Susan. Raised by a family in Mexico, kidnapped by the Red Court, and nearly killed. Entrusted to Father Forthill by Harry to hide. Agent Tilly: FBI agent investigating Harry, disbelieves Harry when he, Murphy, and Susan explain the Red Court to him, but sees the attack on the FBI's building in Chicago. Harry calls him "Slim". Donar Vadderung: the one-eyed CEO of Monoc Securities. Revealed as Odin (was hinted at being him several times in past stories). The Eebs: Esteban and Esmeralda Batiste, a husband and wife team of Red Court vampires used by the Red King for assassinations. Deceased. Steven Douglas: "Stevie D", hitman, hired to kill Dresden by the Eebs. Aftermath, Ghost Story and beyond The story continues in Aftermath, told from Karrin Murphy's point of view and running from roughly forty five minutes after the end of Changes. The story was released as part of Side Jobs, an October 2010 anthology of Dresden short stories and focuses on Murphy's efforts following Dresden's apparent death. Jim Butcher has already signed for a thirteenth Dresden novel, tentatively listed as Ghost Story on his official forums, and confirmed by Butcher at several signings (his publishers wouldn't let him call it the more prosaic Dead). He has also confirmed that Changes marks the midpoint of Harry's story and there will be at least 7 more books, possibly 10, to finish Harry's story. In addition, despite the previous books playing out in more or less real time, with the elapsed time between books approximately equaling the time between their release dates, Ghost Story has been confirmed as taking place immediately after the conclusion of Changes, though Butcher has also equated the immediate jump to Ghost Story as being akin to the Back to the Future series time jumps, implying that what seems to be happening within moments of the end of Changes may actually be happening over a much longer timespan. References ^ a b "Amazon.com: Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12) (9780451463173): Jim Butcher: Books". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045146317X/. Retrieved 16 November 2009.  ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". New York Times. April 15, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/books/bestseller/besthardfiction.html?ref=bestseller. Retrieved April 26, 2010.  ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". New York Times. April 23, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/books/bestseller/besthardfiction.html?ref=bestseller. Retrieved April 26, 2010.  External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Changes The first four chapters of the book are found on the author's official website. v · d · eThe Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Books Storm Front · Fool Moon · Grave Peril · Summer Knight · Death Masks · Blood Rites · Dead Beat · Proven Guilty · White Night · Small Favor · Backup: A Story of the Dresden Files · Turn Coat · Changes · Side Jobs · Ghost Story · Cold Days Graphic novels Welcome to the Jungle  · Storm Front  · Storm Front Vol 2 Characters Harry Dresden · Karrin Murphy · Thomas Raith · Other characters · Major organizations · Other groups · Seven Laws of Magic