Hammered

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 3

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

BOOK 3 IN THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES

Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully - he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

Don’t miss any of Kevin Hearne’s phenomenal Iron Druid Chronicles novels:

HOUNDED | HEXED | HAMMERED | TRICKED | TRAPPED | HUNTED | SHATTERED | STAKED

Listen to more Iron Druid Chronicles.

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

Critic reviews

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

So glad I discovered this series

If you've been keeping up with the series you'll know that our favorite Iron Druid is somewhere in his 21st century of life, and what a century he's having so far!

Living in arid Arizona to avoid the fae hasn't really worked out for Atticus O'Sullivan in terms of peace and quite since he has encountered, so far, gods, witches and demons, as well as faeries, who would like to kill him and in some cases also eat him. It's a good thing he's got a werewolf biker gang, a vampire, a death goddess, his dog Oberon and Jesus on his side!

After tangoing with Thor in this book, Atticus is going to have hell to pay! It ends with a cliffhanger and some upcoming big changes in the life of the Iron Druid.

Kevin Hearne is a fabulous writer with a rich imagination. I can only wonder who, or what, we'll meet next in Book 4. I can't wait!

Excellent fantasy series

I'm not the most articulate person, so I'm going to make this brief and to the point. The storyline is very entertaining, well thought out and researched and incredibly engaging. If you're looking for a romance novel or a bloated pretentious novel, this isn't for you. However if you're looking for a fun read, with likeable characters and a great storyline, then I highly recommend this series. I for one can't wait for the next installment.

Kevin Hearne is the Bomb!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Totally! This book made me laugh out loud. I found myself rewinding to repeat certain lines that just cracked me up.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hammered?

Love the dialog between Atticus and Oberon.

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Luke Daniels is so good at making the story come alive. I can't imagine any other Narrator making Atticus and company come to life like Luke.

Thor gets the Hammer dropped on him.

Would you consider the audio edition of Hammered to be better than the print version?

Yes, the narrarator adds to the quality of the series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hammered?

The final fight in Asgard.

Which scene was your favorite?

The final fight in Asgard. (is it just me or are some of these questions a bit repetitious?)

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

The scene when each person in the quest told their stories about why they are there.

Any additional comments?

Each book in the series seems to improve on the previous one.

Hooked

I won't go into much detail because, if you've read the others you'll likely keep going with the series and if you haven't, talking about Jesus, a giant squirrel, and a naked Druid and vampire riding a hammer is just going to confuse you. I will say I might have given this one only four stars because Oberon couldn't go on the adventure, but it was right for him to stay home and I always give bonus points for books that teach me new dirty words, so five it is.

And now, I'm on to Tricked.

Still Fully Engaged!

In this third book of the Iron Druid Chronicles, Kevin continues to imaginatively integrate Norse mythology into the present-day world. Even though I'm still put off by the adult language, I'm delighted with the tale! Please tell me there's more! I haven't had my fill of the adventures of Atticus O'Sullivan!

Druid on a Quest

This third book in the series is a bit more serious as Atticus heads out on a quest to punish Thor for a number of egregious acts done over the years. Atticus is supported by his vampire lawyer and various legendary beings. A good story with lots of intricacies that pull together in the end.

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.

WOW!!!! What fun!!!!

This is a truly fun read?/ listen. You'll just love the Irish wolfhound Oberon. The series will give you a tour of the world's mythology and a glimpse of the geography of Arizona. I loved it! The story is told in the first person by a 2100 year old Druid, the last in the world. It is told in a simple manner and with a sense of humor. The narrator does a wonderful job of capturing the different voices. All I can say is: "Enjoy and be ready to laugh."

OMG

i loved all three and i cant waite for the next one these are the best fiction i have read in a while