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Hounded

Book 1 in the series:The Iron Druid Chronicles

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'Hounded' in 'The Iron Druid Chronicles' series by Kevin Hearne follows the story of Atticus, a 2100-year-old Druid living in Tempe, Arizona, who runs an occult bookstore and is being pursued by vengeful Irish gods. The plot involves a mix of mythology, folklore, and supernatural beings, with Atticus navigating through encounters with gods, werewolves, vampires, witches, and other unexpected characters. The writing style is described as fast-paced, full of snark, humor, and wit, with a focus on character development and interactions, particularly the unique relationship between Atticus and Oberon, his Irish Wolfhound who communicates with him through mind speak.

Characters:

Characters are lively and diverse, with Atticus and Oberon being especially memorable.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is fast-paced and humorous, providing an engaging reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Atticus O Sullivan as he navigates conflicts with Celtic gods, while attempting to protect himself and his friends.

Setting:

Set in a contemporary Arizona that encompasses rich mythological elements.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, with continuous action and minimal lulls, making it a quick read.
There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably goes like this: Someone shrugs off the weight of his cult...

Notes:

The protagonist, Atticus O'Sullivan, is a 2100-year-old Druid living in modern-day Arizona.
Atticus is voiced in a fun and humorous narrative style, making his character relatable and enjoyable.
The story blends Celtic mythology with contemporary life, featuring various gods and supernatural beings.
Oberon, Atticus's Irish Wolfhound, can communicate with him telepathically and provides comic relief throughout the story.
The book addresses themes of power dynamics between gods and humans, as well as the complexities of trust in relationships.
The author, Kevin Hearne, does not shy away from incorporating humor and pop culture references into the narrative.
There are significant influences from American culture, demonstrated through characters referencing movies and contemporary issues.
Readers appreciate the inclusion of various pantheons and mythologies, not limited to Celtic origins, suggesting a wider world in subsequent books.
The title 'Hounded' refers to both the action of being pursued by a vengeful god and the loyalty of Atticus's canine companion.
The series has garnered a strong fanbase, emphasizing its comedic and lighthearted take on the urban fantasy genre.

Has Romance?

While there are romantic undertones and interactions with various female characters, romance is not the primary focus of the story.

From The Publisher:

The first novel in the Iron Druid Chronicles-introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero

Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old-when in actuality, he's twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he's hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power-plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish-to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

Don't miss any of Kevin Hearne's phenomenal Iron Druid Chronicles novels:

HOUNDED | HEXED | HAMMERED | TRICKED | TRAPPED | HUNTED | SHATTERED | STAKED

Ratings (143)

Incredible (23)
Loved It (66)
Liked It (32)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (13)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (245):

Read It (148)
Want To Read (60)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (35)

6 comment(s)

Loved It
3 months

Hounded is a good mix of mythology, strong characters, bloody-good action and humor. Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,100 year-old druid, is so long-lived because of his magical knowledge and his ability to walk the line between sharing and secrets with more than one goddess. His Irish wolfhound companion, Oberon, is a hoot and offers much comic relief throughout their adventures.

My husband has been after me to start this series and I'm glad I finally did. I am looking forward to continuing this series. Kevin Hearne has done a great job of blending together my favorite aspects of UF.

 
Incredible
3 months

What an absolutely fantastic start to a series! I loved it! Everything from the hero to the world-building, to the tremendous sense of humor... everything was excellent.

If you're a fan of Dresden, you'll love this series.

 
Did Not Like
11 months

Despite getting bonus points for the dog sidekick, this book still totals bad due to: 90% of females being sex objects, the absurd inability of the main character to keep a secret, and disappointing lack of exploration of fascinating themes that were just mentioned (the personality rigidity of immortals, the loneliness, the weakness of too much male gaze + libido, etc).

A full video review: https://youtu.be/PaJucPAChNo

 
Loved It
1 year

This was something fresh and new. I liked Atticus and loved Polish witches. It was a funny read. I will definitely read the other books in the series.

 
Incredible
1 year

Good writing, fun story, interesting characters. Hidden gem of an author

 
Loved It
1 year

Excellent world building, fast paced, interesting way of combining mythology and UF, unexpected plots, witty (humour in the style of Dresden Files), very well written. A sure recommendation and in my top series... until... Yeah, sadly the last book - actually, it started the book before that - utterly ruined the series for me. That ending & writing turned Kevin Hearne from an 'always buy- blurb unseen' to a 'let's wait for the reviews' kind of author.

 

About the Author:

Kevin Hearne hugs trees, pets doggies, and rocks out to heavy metal. He also thinks tacos are a pretty nifty idea. He is the author of A Plague of Giants and the New York Times bestselling The Iron Druid Chronicles…

 
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