Hammered (Iron Druid Chronicles Series #3)

Best of the Series so far!

After reading HOUNDED and completely falling in love with this series, I read the synopses for the next two books - HEXED and HAMMERED. I thought HEXED sounded great - who doesn't want to see Atticus mix it up with some more witches and fight an honest-to-goodness fallen angel? I wasn't disappointed, and Hearne exceeded my every expectation with the book - it was even better than HOUNDED with more action, a continued development of the world and the relationships among characters, and more Leif (the guy I want backing me up in a fight!). But the synopsis of HAMMERED left me a little cold [no pun intended ;-)]. I loved the Celtic mythology at the heart of the series so far, and I really liked the Southwest as a setting for urban fantasy. Heading to Asgard and focusing on the Norse gods.I was a little apprehensive. I was wrong. I can admit it. HAMMERED blew me away! It was the best of the series, hands down. The series has always been entertaining - lots of action, plenty of humor, and great characters. These are all present in HAMMERED, but this book offers more. It packs an emotional wallop, and poses some interesting questions. What is the price of revenge? How much are you willing to sacrifice, both for yourself and for your friends? How do the events in our lives shape who we are, what we become, and the choices we make? One thing I really liked about the book was the handful of chapters written from the POV of a different character. Each of these chapters has a very different feel, rhythm, language, etc. It really shows Hearne's skill as a writer that he can make each narrator feel so unique and real. I'm not going to give a plot summary here, since the synopsis is given on the back of the book and in many other reviews. All I can say is that this is the most emotionally satisfying book of the series. If you liked the first two books, this one won't disappoint.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

cant wait to read it

i cant wait till Monday to read this book. i've read both HEXED and HAMMERED, and if this is anything like the others, then it will be fantastic. also, Atticus is 2100 years old, not 1200.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great!!!

Great!!!

Wow!!!

I am a huge fan of the series. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. I am saddened by the loss of characters I have come to enjoy but I am looking forward to reading Tricked to see what will happen next.

Best of the Trilogy

It's important to read this trilogy in order because there are so many characters. The first one, 'Hounded" was great. The second one 'Hexed' was pretty good. This one I absolutely LOVED. You do NOT have to be a fan of scifi/fantasy to enjoy this. I never was, until now. The main character, Atticus is such a hero. He is thoughtful and brave and so funny. I laughed during this whole trilogy. Out loud. Kevin Hearne has a great sense of humor. The storylines and characters are so over-the-top... but its supposed to be. It works. You will be introduced to gods, goddesses, vampires, weird creatures and more. You will be carried away to other lands with good and evil. And you will laugh often. As of today, the 4th novel is not yet released.. but you can be sure that I have it pre-ordered and will be waiting for the mailman that day.

I love the Iron Druid Chronicles!

Although I must say, being a big fan of Thor, I'm disappointed to find out what an ass-hat he is. Oh well, such is life...

More please, Mr. Hearne.

So sad :(

I'm sad that the next book isn't out yet! How can we be expected to wait? I love the way alll of the worlds religions and myths are integrated. The whole world makes me want more. I'd love to see off shoot stories about some of the other characters that Atticus encounters.

Awesome battle scene!

Highly entertaiming series. Fans of Jim Butcher will feel right at home.

Just keeps getting better!

Liked the whole series so far. Fun read. Highly reccomend

One of the most original urban fantasies to date

Well written by some one who understands Celtic mythology, world building, and humor.

Very Entertaining Fantasy Series

I have really enjoyed this series. This is the third book and is just as well done as the first two. If you like Sandman Slim, Dresden Files, or Kell's Legend series you will enjoy these books, too.

This was a fun-to-read book

This book, as well as the other two in the series was a delightful read. The characters are interesting, the plot is light-hearted despite fairly serious subject matter. I enjoyed all three of them and will definitely read #4 when it comes out.

One caveat, this series is a little off beat-if you are a die-hard, serious urban fantasy lover be aware there is a fair amount of humor mixed in. I would imagine that some folks won't think the two things go well together-though I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Great series

It is quite a jump from Tolkin to Hearne. But I like the modern lifestyle, although Hearne doesn't have a lot of description, there are details in personality.

Maybe cause I am reading from a Nook, I might get a different perspective, but there is good humor, and I love Oberon.

I wish Clan Rathskeller was on nook..... hint, hint.........

Had me laughing the whole way

This book was great. Cannot wait for the next one

A Phenomenal Modern Day Odyssey.

Odysseus Who? Atticus continues his modern day odyssey in Hammered, and Hearne's druid is making Homer's hero look like a little punk with his epic adventures. After all, even Odysseus didn't go after a full fledge god like Thor.

Too bad Dos Equis isn't an Irish brew because Atticus could definitely win the bid for the Most Interesting Man in the World. Delight in the oddities and misfortunes that have become Atticus' life. Drinks with Jesus. A Shakespearean duel with a vampire. Suggestive salad spinning with a young beautiful apprentice. A bareback ride on a giant squirrel. And getting slapped around by the Morrigan. Sounds like just another day for Atticus O'Sullivan.

The Iron Druid is a man of his word, and it's time to make good on some promises he made. Even if it kills him. First he has to retrieve a golden apple for a certain witch. Then Atticus is to escort Leif to Asgard to take on the patron God of Jerks. They'll pick up some backup along the way and introduce us to some new and endearing characters all with a grudge against Thor. And honestly when someone like Jesus concedes your a thundering D-Bag, you probably deserve the angry lynch mob coming for you.

But O'Sullivan's actions aren't without consequence. Not everyone will come out of the fray alive and with the possible relocation of the local coven, pack upheaval within the werewolf community, and vampire unrest in Arizona the cost of revenge could be too high. The wait for the next installment definitely too long.

Again I have to reccomend the audiobook version of this series. Hammered was just as excellently performed as Hounded, and Hexed. Kevin's words are pure magic when Luke Daniels is narrating them. He did another outstanding job with Atticus and company. I particularly liked his rendition of a giant squirrel which sounded a lot like a cross between the Chipmunks and Gollum. Lets face it Hearne doesn't make it easy on Daniels who has to voice multiple accents and languages. I love that a new deal is going to give us more Atticus, Kevin, and Luke to come.

Hearne's third effort is yet again another gem, embodying all that is awesome. Fans of the first two books will be pleased with Kevin's usual wit and candor. But he steps things up a bit, with the addition of some different POV's that shows Hearne's more serous side. The pace is a little slower than in the past but I think that is because of the grandeur of the task Atticus has to achieve. There's plenty of the action and unexpected quirkiness that comes with Hearne's twisted imagination, and his ability to blend mythos, theology, folklore, and pop culture is pure genius. As always you can tell Hearne did extensive homework for Hammered, or that he's an amazing literary con artist, either way the words he puts down on the page are completely believable.

With all the delicious threads planted for future tomes, the end will have you trying to conjure up more pages, and cursing the long year wait ahead.

Recommend

I recommend all 3 of the books in this series. Very fun read with lots of action. Of the 3 books the first is my favorite. I would have liked this one to end a little more completely but that's just me.

Keeps getting better!

Siohioaban now trys to teach another in the mysterios was of the ancient Druids of a millemina. While balancing the promises to old & new "friends." You'll enjoy this series!

Spectacular!

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Pure enjoyment

In Tempe, Arizona Atticus O'Sullivan enjoys life to the fullest except when the Irish Gods locate him as they want to execute him for some affront or two or more he made over his twenty-one centuries of life. The last known Druid would like just drink beer or whiskey and eat fish and chips with friends like Jesus, but he muses some enemies never forgive.

He currently wants to kick his naked butt for promising Lakasha that he would stealthy visit Asgard to steal an apple. That would be enough problems, but his pal Viking vampire Leif Helgarson asks for his help in assassinating the abusive Thor. Jesus and Morrigan warn Atticus to stick to suds rather than mess with a raging god who shoots bolts, but his promise means he must act at the same the Russian demon hunters Hammers of God are making Arizona a dangerous place to be.

The Third iron Druid Chronicles (see Hexed and Hounded) continues the fun escapades of the antihero who just wants to drink beer and dine on Jesus' fish and chips, but lands in one predicament after another because his word is golden. The satirical urban fantasy lampoons testosterone heroes as they get into a penis contest to determine who the female amongst them is; the "loser" washes the dishes and serves the drinks. Atticus keeps the plot focused as he ignores the warnings of his deity friends and his canine buddy to fulfill a promise that could end his two millennia plus existence. This is a great series as no god walks away unscathed in Kevin Hearne's vision of Arizona, home for a lot of illegal deities and other unlawful paranormal immigrants.

Harriet Klausner

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