Audiobook review: Tricked by Kevin Hearne
NOTE: My review contains spoilers from Tricked and the previous three books in the series.
Tricked opens with Atticus’s planned death so that he, Granuaile, and Oberon can move on and complete her training to become a Druid. However, Atticus must first fulfill a promise to help Coyote since Coyote literally died for Atticus. Well, knowing that Coyote is a trickster god means that nothing is as it would appear.
After the self-serving adventures into Asgard that dominated the previous title, I was thankful to see that there are indeed consequences to Atticus’s actions. Hel has been unleashed on Earth, and she looks to start Ragnarök for her father, Loki, on an accelerated time schedule since so much of the Norse pantheon is dead or incapacitated. While this wasn’t the primary plot of the book, I was glad Atticus now realizes the mistakes he made when he indulged Leif’s vengeance. And speaking of Leif… he is back, and he has changed. Or maybe he hasn’t changed, but now that he’s used Atticus for the purpose he intended, we are privy to his true vampiric nature.
As I’ve mentioned in my previous Read-Along reviews, this is my second reading (via audiobook) of the Iron Druid Chronicles. In the case of Tricked, I found that while I still enjoyed it, I didn’t like it as much as I did the first time. I felt that Atticus has too many near death (pretty much dead) experiences from which he recovers in a very short period of time. It got to be a bit unbelievable. Additionally, I was annoyed with those who use Atticus. While he has made poor decisions, it’s also evident why he chose not to befriend people for so long. It was frustrating to watch him being used by people / gods who he is friends with / bargained with in good faith.
Narration: The series is shared via the first person of Atticus, who continues to speak with an American accent. Mr. Daniels successfully alters dialogue based on gender, species, age, and ethnic origin, making each character wholly unique. Once again, Mr. Daniels expands his repertoire of voices, adding a few more gods and accented characters, each appropriately fitting the persona of the character. 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 listening to Tricked. I liked seeing Atticus deal with the outcomes of his actions from the previous book. It’s refreshing that the 2,000 year old Druid is humble enough to still learn new things, yet remains arrogant enough to survive. I have to imagine after living that long, you can get set in your ways and let grudges grow, but he is good at letting go. I like the deepening relationship with Granuaile, and his relationship with Oberon is the best.
My Ratings
Story: B
Narration: A
Jen
About the Book:
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.
Author: Kevin Hearne
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles #4
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Audiobook Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
Source: purchased
Audio Speed: 1.5x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)