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)

Captivating!

This audio book series was recommended to me by my 20yo son who has finished the series, and listening again. I’m 53 and just finished my first book, Hounded. Looking forward to the next book in the series. With lots of details and twists, this book is easy to visualize the story, while being captivated by what is happening. Enjoyed the mystical fantasy while tying in to present time. Loved Luke Daniels voices. This is a great series for any age and gender reader.

literally an all time favorite

Comfort series of mine and I love the narrator so yea definitely a good read if you like mythology.

This is me and my husbands favorite book

I have read and reread this book countless times. I have never written a review but this deserves it! The characters are witty and the story is well formed and engaging the entire time. Oberon is the best, and so is Atticus.

Love the series!

Have listened to this series twice now. Narration is amazing! Oberon steals the show. Must listen

Clever & full of humor! Love this series!

Re-read 3/2/23. Just as good as the first time! Listened straight through in one day.

Thoughts: It's funny how your reading tastes change over the years. I'm no longer a pure romance junkie, but tend to gravitate to mystery/thrillers with a bit of romance and Urban Fantasy. Since writing the review below I've read a lot of UF since first reading, and The Iron Druid Chronicles continues to be one of my favorites nine years later.

Original review posted January 14, 2014:

I’m first and foremost a romance junkie any genre I read usually must contain some amount. So it was shocking to me that I enjoyed this so much when there isn’t any! I credit that to the highly entertaining and quick-witted Atticus O’Sullivan!

Atticus O’Sullivan may look like he’s twenty-one but in reality his age is over two thousand. He’s last of the Druids, trying to live a peaceful life running a New Age book and tea shop. Unfortunately, he’s had an age long feud with the Celtic god, Aenghus Og over a magical sword and this god is ready to take what he thinks is his.

Hounded was entertaining and fun. A definite must for any Urban Fantasy fan or just anyone who loves a great story! Witches, werewolves, vampires and Celtic mythology factor in heavily, and you’d think this would be overwhelming, but the story is fast paced with just enough information to keep you clued in without slowing the story down.

Atticus is a clever and thoughtful hero, who always seemed to be several steps ahead of any opponent like a strategic game of chess. Loved his encounters with Emily the witch!

There’s lot of witty humor and laughs, and it was a treat being in Atticus’ head. Oberon, his loyal best friend and dog was also quite funny with his obsessive love of sausages and French poodles.

There is no romance *sniff* BUT there is a hope and a hint (maybe?) of something to come.

I listed to the audio version of Hounded, which I highly recommend! Luke Daniels was an excellent narrator!

Dangerously good.

The total listen time is short enough to do in one shot, be warned :)

Fantastic series!

This is one of my top favorite series and writers of all time. I absolutely love these books endlessly and I hope you do too!

In my rotation

I can't get enough of this series. Luke Daniels does an amazing job bringing these stories to life.

Druidic Dresden Files

If you like Dresden files, then this is for you. The reader takes some time to warm up to the reading, but by mid book he hits his stride.

Fantastic

A much loved favorite. Totally worth your time. Give it a listen or a read.