Audiobook review: Hounded by Kevin Hearne
The Iron Druid Chronicles series follows the life of a 2,000+ year old Druid named Atticus O’Sullivan. Atticus is the only remaining Druid from a time long gone by, hiding out from Angus Og, the Celtic god of love and youth, who wants to kill Atticus for a perceived wrong-doing. Posing as a twenty-something new-age bookstore owner, Atticus has remained hidden in the Tempe region of Arizona. However, powerful Fae are playing a game of politics, and Atticus finds himself in the center of their machinations.
I have to admit that as I started my re-listen of Hounded, I became a bit apprehensive because I know what happens. But like any classic, it only gets better with each run through. It did take me a few chapters to get into the story because I was too busy trying to recall who was who or who’s going to betray who or what’s going to happen. While I remembered a lot, there were nuances and plot lines I’d forgotten, and I throughly enjoyed discovering them again. After a few chapters, I really hit my groove and got fully invested into the story rather than trying to remember things that happen.
I love that in Mr. Hearne’s world, every deity, Fae, witch, and paranormal creature is very real. Although the primary mythology focus is on the Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann, there is mention of the Christian, Norse, and Greek pantheons (and probably more, I just can’t recall). Atticus explains that they each exist. The primary focus of the story is the impending battle between Angus Og and Atticus, with each step serving to share more of the Iron Druid’s world. The book introduces several characters who will play roles at various points in the series.
Narration: Having listened to Luke Daniels perform each book in the series, I am more than familiar with his talent creating dozens of accents and voices. The story is shared via the first person of Atticus, who is hiding out as an American, and therefore speaks with an American accent. Mr. Daniels successfully alters dialogue based on gender, species, age, and ethnic origin, making each character wholly unique. And my love for Atticus’s Irish wolf hound, Oberon, is something fierce. He sounds just like I would imagine. Mr. Daniel’s captures the essence of Mr. Hearne’s characters and makes them more. He fills each with emotion, therefore making the events that much more memorable and real.
Overall, I enjoyed the world development and character interaction of Hounded and look forward to continuing this series over the year ahead.
My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: A
Jen
About the Book:
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 sexy 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.
Author: Kevin Hearne
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Audiobook Release Date: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
Source: purchased
Audio Speed: 1.4x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)