Hounded

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

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)

Pleasantly surprised

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator was excellent, the book interesting and well put together. I didn't really enjoy the voice used for Oberon, but understand the direction they were trying to go. A few folks have complained he doesn't sound like a 2000 year old druid, but if they'd been listening intently they'd know why. Besides, I would choose the distinction between characters that this narrator was able to produce over one that sounded like an ancient druid.
There was a surprisingly wide range of characters and the asides to explain the workings of the beyond-mortal were surprisingly unobtrusive and usually flowed with the story. I think that anyone who enjoyed American Gods might enjoy this.

Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1

Excellent listen! I couldn't stop listening and awaiting the time I could get back into the book.

Funny and entertaining.

I've struggled through several audiobooks with terrible narrators because the story was very good. This book was just the opposite. While the story is good, it was not exactly great. The narrator Luke Daniels however, made this audiobook a entertaining listen throughout. At times I thought to myself that for a story that only lasts 8 hours, the main character didn't seem to do much. But the reading of Mr. Daniels kept the story funny and kept me listening. His reading reminded me a lot of David Aaron Baker's reading of the Odd Thomas books from Dean Koontz, and the first person narrative of the two stories is similar as well. If you liked those books, you will like this one. If you haven't read the Odd Thomas books, you might want to try them after these. They are different than anything else from Koontz.

Overall I enjoyed this book, and will probably listen to the next two books of the series as well.

A nice surprise. Will be getting the next book.

Being a Harry Dresden fan I really enjoyed "Hounded" and found the similarities and differences in the worlds of these two series to be interesting. I love the characters, especially that of Oberon which had me chuckling aloud every now and then. Like others have commented, my only reservation was that I wish the book had been longer because it's one of those where you're not ready for it to end. I'm off to get the next in the series and will hope to see more.

Stunning

I enjoyed this story so much I bought Hexed and Hounded before I even finished Hounded. Unexpected twists, turns and the very interesting perspective of a 21-hundred year old Druid combined to tell an intriguing tale of revenge and the lengths people (and deities) will go to get what they want. Truly entertaining from start to finish. I loved the relationship between Atticus and Oberon. Luke Daniels was spot on with the characters; he has a way of voicing novels that emphasizes the immediacy of the story making it doubly hard to pause the story before it's ended.

Good Book

This is the kind of book that will never be considered great literature, but it is a lot of fun to listen too. I will defiantly get the next book.

Finally I found a fantasy book that was enjoyable

If you could sum up Hounded in three words, what would they be?

It's a hit!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Atticus, and Obrion were a combination that works well as a unit

Have you listened to any of Luke Daniels’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I really enjoy Luke Daniel's presentation, timing and inflections...he really adds to the story and characters

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

For sure I got caught up in the story and enjoyed it so much I stayed up most of the night, then went back and listened again to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this as Amun as I enjoy Harry Dresden

Love the anti-hero theme, The Dog is great!

What did you love best about Hounded?

Humor, interaction of characters, allusions to other literature and movies.

What other book might you compare Hounded to and why?

Can you say Dresden files?

What about Luke Daniels’s performance did you like?

I really like the reading and all the voices. Easy to listen to, and get into the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

When Heroes are really heroes and the gods should grow up.

Any additional comments?

Just glad real life is nothing like this. The philosphy of life that is lived out isn't real and will never work in the real world. It is like writing what some people wish the world was like.
But it sure is entertaining, and exposes the inner nature of people, and the weaknesses that destroy peoples lives. Wish it could all be fixed.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Hounded by Kevin Hearne is a great read. Story is exciting and character engaging
Very enjoyable

Excellent work Mr. Hearne!!!

Ever wonder what an immortal Druid would do in the Modern World? Actually, I have, and after reading Hounded, I realized my imagination is a bit lacking.

Atticus O???Sullivan and Oberon are two of my most favorite characters of all time now! Fresh perspectives, wit and a good dose of Celtic realism and charm brought this book alive for me. All the subtle, and not so subtle blending of mythologies and religions, heroes and villains added to the already rich story line without bogging the reader down.

Excellent work Mr. Hearne, I am eagerly awaiting you next novel!