Old Friends and New

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Al is back with all of his friends plus some new ones. While there is plenty of tension and danger there is still a big amount of laughter. Some characters just stay true to form while others are a little bite off center. A old favorite joints Al. Your. guess as to who. Entertaining but Al's biggest problem is still not solved.

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Another New Series

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great new series by Kevin Hearne. Set after the time line in The Iron Druid and in the same world this takes a very different track. The main character is human and one of five sigil makers. He has wide duties and it is when he is working on one of those that something comes into his life. Great characters, interesting plot, and tension by the bucket loads. In addition there are some very good laughs. One thing is settled but much remains. I will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 226 - In the Market for Murder by T E Kinsey , Scourged by Kevin Hearne

In the Market for Murder by T E Kinsey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are once again trying to solve a murder (or is it a murder?) This time they are working at the bequest of the constable who is chasing bank robbers and does not have time to work on another crime. Turns out a walk in the woods gives the murder weapon and there is more than one crime to be wrapped up. Again there are hints to both Lady Hardcastle and Flo's past. A nice mystery with great characters. The voice reading the book gives a great sense of being on the scene as everything moves. Again told in Flo's voice.


Scourged by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is allways tough to come to the end of a series and to like how the author ended things. I have enjoyed the Iron Druid from book one and have pulled for Atticus O’Sullivan as he worked though all of the trials in previous books. Scourged brings him to his most important battle. One he caused and must win or all will be lost. Told from the viewpoint of Atticus, Owen, and Granuaile we see the action and leave them for a final time. While it was a interesting end for me it was a little disappointing. Read it and see what the think and how you feel.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8) by Kevin Hearne

Paranormal

From Goodreads:

The New York Times-bestselling author returns with another installment in the wildly popular Iron Druid Chronicles—a fantasy adventure that’s Harry Dresden meets American Gods.

This hilarious and action-packed urban fantasy series is set in a modern world in which all the gods of every pantheon are alive and well, as in American Gods; its hero is a smart-mouthed, butt kicking magician, like Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden. But it’s told in a smart, witty, unforgettable voice that’s all Kevin Hearne—a star in the fantasy world. This addictive and wildly imaginative series stars hero Atticus O’Sullivan: a handsome, tattooed Irishman who looks like a young rock star, but is in actuality a 2,000-year-old Druid with extraordinary magic powers. In Staked, Atticus has his final confrontation with the clan of vampires who have been bent on destroying him—including Leif, his former best friend and now enemy.

Staked continues finding Atticus in danger.  Atticus, Owen, and Granuaile are on individual journeys and the chapters skip among the three.  It is not until the end of the book that all three come together.  As you might expect from the title, Staked, when they all get together it is to fight vampires.

The vampires are still trying to rid the world of Druids and Atticus is fighting back.  Loki has his mark on Granuaile and she is working to get if off and find a way to block her presence from other of the magical world.  Owen is trying to adjust to the modern world and start a new Grove of Druids.  The fight with the vampires impact all three.

I enjoyed seeing more of Owen and Granuaile.   As usual both Oberon and Orlaith (Owen and Granuaile’s dogs) add humor to the story.  Look for a big change for the two.  The story moved at a brisk pace.  There were surprises and some unexpected deaths.  All this leads to changes for Atticus and friends.

Staked is a nice addition to the Iron Druid series.  Be warned that there is a novella, A Prelude to War that fits between Shattered and Staked.  It was published in a ebook mini-anthology, Three Slices.   As a result Staked does not start where you might expect.

Del Rey published Staked by Kevin Hearne in 2016.

I received an ARC of Staked from Amazon Vine in return for an honest review.

Shattered, The Iron Druid Chronicles # 7 by Kevin Hearne

Paranormal

From Goodreads:

For nearly two thousand years, there was only one Druid left walking the Earth—Atticus O’Sullivan, the Iron Druid, whose sharp wit and sharp sword kept him alive while pursued by a pantheon of hostile deities. Now he’s got company.

Atticus’s apprentice Granuaile is at last a full Druid herself. What’s more, Atticus has defrosted an archdruid long ago frozen in time, a father figure (of sorts) who now goes by the modern equivalent of his old Irish name: Owen Kennedy.

And Owen has some catching up to do.

Atticus takes pleasure in the role reversal, as the student is now the teacher. Between busting Atticus’s chops and trying to fathom a cell phone, Owen must also learn English. For Atticus, the jury’s still out on whether the wily old coot will be an asset in the epic battle with Norse god Loki—or merely a pain in the arse.

But Atticus isn’t the only one with daddy issues. Granuaile faces a great challenge: to exorcise a sorcerer’s spirit that is possessing her father in India. Even with the help of the witch Laksha, Granuaile may be facing a crushing defeat.

As the trio of Druids deals with pestilence-spreading demons, bacon-loving yeti, fierce flying foxes, and frenzied Fae, they’re hoping that this time . . . three’s a charm

Shattered is another exciting adventure featuring 3 present day Druids.  Atticus’s apprentice Granuaile is now a full fledged Druid and now there is another Druid in the picture. Owen Kennedy has been on a time island for 2000 years and Atticus has just brought him into the 21st Century. So three Druids. Shattered is told in all three voices. We hear Atticus, Granuaile and Owen in different chapters. It is interesting but can be confusing at times. There are still battles to fight. Someone thinks that three Druids are three too many and Atticus and company find themselves in a pitched battle to survive. Loki is still around at least briefly and we can look for more of him in future books.  Each book builds on the previous book. Don't skip around or try to start anywhere but Hounded, book one.  This is a series that needs to be read in order so start at the first or be very lost.

I received a free copy of Shattered, The Iron Druid Chronicles from Amazon Vine.  DelRay will release Shattered by Kevin Hearne June 17, 2014.  You have plenty of time to pre-order.

Stacking the Shelves April 26, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves.

All of my new books this week are from Amazon Vine.

The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson

Half A King by Joe Abercrombie

Willowleaf Lane by RaiAnne Thayne

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles) by Kevin Hearne

Stacking the Shelves November 17, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books I am adding to my shelves each week letting me share with you my excitement for my newest books.

From Amazon:

Tricked  by Kevin Hearne
The Clone Sedition by Steven L. Kent
Immortally Yours by Angie Fox
The Final Battle  by Graham Sharp Paul
The Creative Fire by Brenda Cooper

Won:

Murmur of the Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey
 

Stacking the Shelves August 11, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books I am adding to my shelves each week, sharing with you my excitement for my newest books.

Purchased on a trip to Barnes and Noble:

Wild Texas Rose by Jodi Thomas
An Officer's Duty by Jean Johnson

Purchased from Amazon:

Starlight by Carrie Lofty
A Duchess to Remember by Christina Brooke
Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper
Heart Secret by Robin D. Owens

From Netgalley:

The Enchanted Truth by Kym Petrie

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Forever a Lady by Delilah Marvelle

Kept by Shawntelle Madison

Trapped by Kevin Hearne

Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Paranormal/Fantasy

Hexed is the second in the Iron Druid Chronicles.  Here is what Goodreads says about the book.

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.

Plot:  There is a problem in this book and I enjoyed reading about the solution.  However, I felt that most of the plot and action was put in place to set up the next book.  To get help Atticus ended up promising to do some very difficult jobs for other people.  I am sure that all will show up in the next book.

Characters:  The whole cast is back and the only new characters were the bad witches who did not make it until the end of the book.  There was not that much additional character development in the book.

Writing:  The writing flows along with the story.  Everything is told from Atticus’s point of view.  Kevin Hearne manages to get all the information in while preserving the point of view.

Tension:  I did not feel a much tension in this book as in the last.  Again it seemed much of the action was a set up for book 3.

World Building:  There was some additional world building in the story.  We learn more about Atticus and his gods.  There is a great blend of people who have lived for a long time and life in the modern world.  It is very believable world.

I did not see many surprises in the book.  It is a good filler to keep the Chronicles going.  I have book three in my TBR pile so I will be reading it in a few days.

Ballantine/Del Rey published Hexed by Kevin Hearne in 2011.

Teaser Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser today is from Hexed, book two in The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.  Hexed is a paranormal adventure.

"No, we'll get ourselves some special arrows," I said.  "I think I know where we can get us some holy ones, some demon-slayin' arrows,"  

page 33

Hounded by Kevin Hearne – The Iron Druid Chronicles

Paranormal

Remember me saying I needed two books on that Amazon order.  Hounded has also been on my recommendations from Amazon and it is the other book I used to fill my order.  Let me start by saying that Hounded is a paranormal not a paranormal romance.  Don’t let that keep you from reading the book.  Hounded is a great story.

Kevin Hearne has created a world filled with Celtic mythology set in modern Arizona. When Atticus O’Sullivan is tells people he is 21 they think years, he means centuries.  Atticus is just the first of a large cast of wonderful characters.  There is a very angry Celtic god that wants a sword belonging to Atticus, a goddess of death, a vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender who shares her body with a Hindu witch and best of all is Oberon, Atticus’s Irish wolfhound, a dog that can communicate.

Filled with well-developed characters, a great story line, and fast paced action Hounded kept me reading.  This is the first of a series.  Books two and three, Hexed and Hammered, are on the list for my next order.  Book four, Tricked, will be out in April of 2012.

Ballantine/Del Rey published Hounded by Kevin Hearne in 2011.