Hounded

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The first novel in the Iron Druid Chronicles - introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero

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 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.

Don’t miss any of Kevin Hearne’s phenomenal Iron Druid Chronicles novels:
Hounded | Hexed | Hammered | Tricked | Trapped | Hunted | Shattered | Staked

©2011 by Kevin Hearne. (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Hearne, a self-professed comic-book nerd, has turned his love of awesome dudes whacking mightily at evil villains into a superb urban fantasy debut.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A page-turning and often laugh-out-loud funny caper through a mix of the modern and the mythic.” (Ari Marmell, author of The Warlord’s Legacy)

“Kevin Hearne breathes new life into old myths, creating a world both eerily familiar and startlingly original.” (Nicole Peeler, author of Tempest Rising)

Entertaining Read!

This book was delightful and entertaining, thank you! I felt the narrator did a wonderful job with the different voices for each character. I plan on buying more if the same narrator is in the next books.

A good book

I normally hate talking animals, but I found Oberon to be one of my favorite characters.

I enjoyed the story and have already bought the second book. I am interested to see where this goes.

Fantastic narrator, great for Dresden Files fans

I've only listened to this book in the series so far, and I'm actually a little annoyed that it took me so long to find out about it. I'm a big fan of the Dresden Files, and in both writing style and world building it's easy to imagine this is part of the same universe. Not to say it's derivative or an imitation, it's definitely its own thing. But if you like one you'll probably like the other.

Additionally I think the narration by Luke Daniels is really what elevates this to 5 stars. There aren't many books where I think the audio version is a superior experience to reading, but this is one. In fact I found this series after listening to another book with the same narrator. That book was "meh" but I searched for other books by the same narrator and ended up finding this series as a result.

Page Turning Series

I liked the beginning book of this series. Seems like it's going to be an enthralling series!

Great book

Great book. Awesome performance. Lots of great voices and very easy to follow. Can’t wait to hear the next

Unexpected fun!

Where does Hounded rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to too many books to answer this question, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this urban fantasy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Atticus the 2100 year old druid, but Oberon his Irish Wolf hound is a close second.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last scene of the book when Oberon see his surprise.

Urban fantasy without sparkly vampires

This is a great urban fantasy series. The best thing that I can compare it with is Jim Butcher's Dresden series.

Ridiculousness

Kevin Hearne is a master of humor and epicness. The characters play off of each other so well that you start to predict how each will react. In depth development like I have never read before and it's fun not droning like some other reads.

clever,cocky and full of irreverence

Where does Hounded rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

definitely in the top seven. why eleven? prime number and it wasn't in the top ten. But I would (and have) recommend it to a) any scientifically-minded male nerd, b) any female that liked science fiction and enjoys mythology and c) someone with a sense of humor

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hounded?

oberon's (atticus' dog) voice. SO well-done

Which character – as performed by Luke Daniels – was your favorite?

oberon

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

just when you think the main character (the Iron Druid Atticus) is too cocky or irreverent, he starts talking about his love for the earth (Gaia) in such a ... well... reverent way, that you reconsider the thought: "does he take ANYTHING seriously?".

Any additional comments?

It is amazing how this author (and therefore the narrator) does such a good job of "maturing" the character over a series of books. At first, you want to smack him for the cocky arrogance (although I suspect guys would like this - women would want to throw cold water on him), but it really does fit and over the life of the series, his decisions will humble him. Even at his advanced years on Earth. You can tell by the way I am focusing on the story and not the writing, the author or the narrator, that the whole package is well-done.

Entertaining

What made the experience of listening to Hounded the most enjoyable?

Personally I loved Oberon. There book didn't lull with too much inner debate, or internal thoughts, the action was good and even points of the book made me smile with the sarcasm.

What did you like best about this story?

See above.

Which character – as performed by Luke Daniels – was your favorite?

Oberon. Don't get me wrong I thought Aticus was a fine character, but the relationship Aticus has with Oberon I loved!

Any additional comments?

Is the book award winning, no probably not, but I thought it was written and read well enough that I will look for more in the series. I did like the narrator, I had not listened to him before and I thought he was pretty good.

There is plenty of action and although as with any story with ancients and Gods there has to be some "romance" it was brief and implied and did not dominate the story or the chapter. So if you are looking for action packed fantasy without the lust, this book delivers.