Audible Book Review: Tricked: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4 by Kevin Hearne

Oberon, the Irish wolfhound, plays a big role in making this fourth book fun.
Tricked: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4
Written by: Kevin Hearne
Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4
Format: Unabridged
Release Date:04-24-12
Publisher: Random House Audio
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.
But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shape-shifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.
©2012 Kevin Hearne (P)2012 Random House Audio

Review:
Atticus reluctantly helped the Vampire, Leif, kill Thor and other norse gods and beings in the battle (see Hammered). Now the Norse are out to get him and Atticus knows his days are numbered unless he can trick them into thinking he is dead. He enlists the aid of the god of Tricksters, Coyote. Of course any deal with Coyote comes with a tradeoff.

Coyote has announced that Atticus needs to help him re-establish a gold mine to help his Navaho tribe. Atticus soon learns the task is much more complicated than working with the local ground elemental. It appears that Atticus will have to kill some very vicious shape-shifters who steal human, as well as animal, skins.

Atticus has to fend off attacks from another goddess as well as try to disengage himself from Leif who claims he needs Atticus’ help to win back the vampire’s territory. Things are just never simple in Atticus’s world.

This is the fourth book of an engaging series. We learn a little more of Atticus’ history as we wonder about the relationship between him and his apprentis, Granuaile. I enjoyed the flashback on the death arrangements that had to be sufficient to convince local authorities, some who had targetted Atticus. There is plenty of action although the final attack in this one is a bit over the edge far-fetched. The telepathic dialogue and friendship between Atticus and his faithful Irish wolfhound, Oberon, made this installment even more fun for me. I recommend this series to those looking an unusal hero with lots of action and humor to entertain the reader.

Audio Notes: Luke Daniels continues to add to this series with his wonderful narration. He successfully manages different voices to fit the characters and his portrayal of Oberon is lol fun. If you enjoy action and fun audios, I recommend you try this series.

I picked this from my own Audible TBR library.

Audible Book Review: Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 3 by Kevin Hearne

This is another fun offering in this fantasy, action series.
Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 3
by Kevin Hearne
Narrated by Luke Daniels
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 3
Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
Release Date: 07-05-11
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully - he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant.

Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plane of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.
Listen to Iron Druid Chronicles

©2011 Kevin Hearne (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
This is another fun adventure with the Iron Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan. He gained a reputation from the prior installments when he killed the celtic god, Aenghus Óg. Now he has people, especially his friend, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson, wanting him to help take on the Norse god of thunder, Thor. Atticus may not like Thor but he has no inclination to take on this battle. Besides he has another quest to complete first. He accepted help from a friend in his last battle to protect the witches and he promised to procure a special apple of immortality. Atticus sneaks into the magical land of Asgaard and manages to steal the apple after killing a few legendary guardians in the process. Although he tries to blame the theft on Bacchus he ends up with enemies on his track.

Atticus prepares to leave his beloved Tempe and move to a new place.  Morrigan (goddess of death with whom he has a pact) and Jesus meet with Atticus to warn him that chasing down Thor will have unwanted consequences In spite of the warningsAtticus reluctantly agrees to help Leif in his fight. Leif brings along the leader of the local werewolf pack and three other unusual warriors. They prepare by bonding together with each warrior shareing his experience with the brutal, ruthless behavior of Thor who killed their friends or family.

The small band enlist, through a bit of Atticus trickery, the help of an army of frost giants and set out to face the Valkyries, Thor and his hordes. An epic battle of super-hero proportions ensues.

I really enjoy this series. Atticus is a two thousand year old druid who is full of wisdom and trickery, but also kindness. I like his unique friends, including his lovely apprentice, Granuaile, and his faithful wolfhound, Oberon. The plots include some real to life situations but also some almost outrageous characters and encounters. The adventure and action keep it faced paced and fun. I recommend stating at the beginning and enjoying them in sequence.

Audio Notes: Luke Daniels does a great job narrating this series. He adds to the characters and the excitement. This is a fun series to listen to.

I had this audiobook in my Audible library.

Audible Book Review: Hexed, The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 2, by Kevin Hearne

I really enjoy the interesting blend of action and humor in this series.
Hexed: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 2 [Unabridged]
by Kevin Hearne (Author), Luke Daniels (Narrator)


    Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 2
    LENGTH  8 hrs and 52 mins
    RELEASE DATE  06-07-11
    PUBLISHER  Brilliance Audio
Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.
With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.
Listen to more Iron Druid Chronicles.
©2011 Kevin Hearne (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Atticus is a two thousand + year old Druid living in modern day Tempe, Arizona. He draws his magic primarily from the earth in a beneficial sharing of care, healing and power. Atticus’ closest companion is his Irish wolfhound, Oberon, with whom he mind-speaks. Oberon’s mind is mostly dog-like with treats, runs and females taking priority. Atticus’ other friends include his attorneys who are a pack of wererwolves and a vampire, Leif Helgarson. He has an interesting relationship with Morrigan, the goddess of death, with whom he has a deal: she has agreed to never take his life in exchange for him sharing the secrets of his protective iron amulet.

Atticus has become quite sought after with the spreading news of his killing one of the Celtic gods. (Book One, Hounded.) Leif wants him to kill Thor, the thunder god, and numerous other parties want him to kill their enemies too. Atticus isn’t interested but, in the meantime, he has to fight off the demons, and fallen angels, that have been bound with the mission to kill him.

Atticus is in the process of negotiating a treaty with the local witches. When he suffers a magical attack, he discovers that the witches suffered too, with the death of one of their own. Now they seek his help to eliminate a clan of Bacchants who are encroaching the territory and threatening not only the safety of the local coven, but the precarious balance of paranormal groups in the Tempe community. The Bacchants are being tracked by Russian witch hunters, in the guise of a priest and a rabbi, who view most paranormal beings as evil.

This series deals with a complex balancing of powers among the Greek Gods and the paranormal groups. There is wonderful action and great humor with Atticus’ “customary curtain of wit.”  I love the fun language contrasts and word games: formality with the formal Vampire and earthy fun with the doggy Oberon. Atticus is a great character--part hapless, part fearless, part magical, mostly male and surprisingly not arrogantly obnoxious. There is some gratuitous sex alluded to with the details kept pretty much behind doors.
I recommend this series for action and fun entertainment.

Audio Notes: Luke Daniels does a super job narrating this series. He really nails the characters through voices and expression. The narration enhances the danger and fun of an already good story.

This selection is from my own Audible Library.