Hounded (Iron Druid Chronicles) [Mass Market Paperback]

This must be my year for discovering new urban fantasy, though to be honest, I haven't read that much urban fantasy to begin with, so maybe that should be discovering urban fantasy period. After reading and loving Ben Aaronovitch's The Folly series, when I heard about The Iron Druid Chronicles, I had to read Hounded. It's a completely different form of urban fantasy - where The Folly is a magical police procedural, The Iron Druid Chronicles is what seems to be the more classical supernatural kind of urban fantasy - it is just as good.

Hounded is told in a first-person narrative. The success of this sort of story depends on the strength of its narrator and protagonist. Luckily Atticus is a great one; he's a fun mix of old soul and modern kid by choice, trying hard to blend in by learning the vagaries of modern language and technology. I would have loved to have learned more of his history and what he's seen in his long life, but that might be the historical fiction fan in me coming to the surface. In Hounded we only get tantalizing glimpses and hints, hopefully they'll be explored in future books. The same goes for some background history on the werepack and Leif. I thought the idea of Viking werewolves and a Viking vampire is very cool, especially them teaming up to start a law firm. And their payment plan is quite interesting as well!

Women are Atticus' kryptonite. Let's say our favourite druid has a very healthy libido, perhaps fitting for his seeming age of twenty-one, and it leads him into all kinds of trouble. On the one hand, I found this amusing, as you'd think that after twenty-one centuries, he'd have learned to deal with this by now. On the other hand, it was rather annoying to have him be distracted by every bit of skirt walking by! However, the irritation was smoothed away as we learn how there are several goddesses who happily exploit this weakness to manipulate him into doing what they want. You can't help but groan every time Atticus let's himself be led astray by his baser urges and misses some pertinent facts during these exchanges, not just with the goddesses, but with mortal women as well.

Oberon, Atticus' hound, was fantastic! A hound who quotes Star Wars, what can be better than that? I like that Oberon's voice is still quite doggy and not some all-wise familiar's, where it is even hard to discern you're still dealing with an animal companion. For example, when he sees Atticus coming home, he goes all mad with happiness as dogs are wont to do. He has some of the funniest lines in the book and his desire to be the canine version of Genghis Khan, including a harem of French poodles, is classic. I adore Oberon and I can't wait to read more of him.

The plot centring around Atticus' conflict with Aenghus Óg about the sword Fragarach is quite interesting too. While it could have been rather straightforward, it is anything but, and it's the intricacies that make it engaging. At the heart of these intricacies are the Tuatha De Danann and their manipulations. I roundly fell for some of their schemes right along with Atticus. Add to this a coven of witches, who Atticus isn't sure he can trust, a disgruntled across-the-street neighbour, the lovely Mrs. MacDonagh from up the street and a witch-possessed bartender wishing to become his apprentice, and you can see how Atticus might be feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. However, with the help of both Oberon, and his friendly Viking laywers, Atticus manages to keep his head afloat and manages to come through this conflict, if not unscathed, at least alive.

Hounded was so much fun, I raced through it. It'll be interesting to see where Hearne will take his characters next in Hexed. Once the book-buying ban is lifted I'm definitely getting Hexed and Hammered! Good news for Hearne (and the reader) is that Orbit has snapped up the UK right to the first three books and even better news is that Del Rey has signed Hearne to deliver three more books in the Iron Druid Chronicles. So it looks like there will be plenty more Atticus and Oberon to enjoy in the future. If you're a fan of urban fantasy, of the different mythologies out there or just looking for a fun read, Hounded is definitely a book to pick and give a try.

Introducing Atticus O'Sullivan, a Druid of 21, and see a slice of modern times through his eyes as he battles for his friends, his neighbours, his dog ... and a really good cup of tea.

The story is well constructed, the dialogue is 'laugh out loud' funny, and the pace is gripping. If you are a fan of Jim Butcher and his creation Harry Dresden, you will not fail to appreciate this balance of magic and modernity, humour and action.

By the way, when I said that Atticus was 21, you didn't assume I meant years did you? Through the last 21 centuries, Atticus has seen the best and the worst of humanity, and the best and the worst of many immortals and deities; being the last of the druids interests quite a few of them, and some really know how to keep a grudge going for a long time. Walking the true path does not make it the only path.

Witches, werevolves, vampires and a very special magical sword, this story has it all ... more please!

A cracking good read.

i finished this almost in one sitting!
great characters - hot female goddesses, witches, vampires and werewolves. Great plot.
A page turner to the very end. Cant wait for the next title in the series!