Trapped

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 5

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the fifth novel in the New York Times bestselling Iron Druid Chronicles, two-thousand-year-old Druid Atticus O’Sullivan will at last bind a new Druid to protect the earth—but first he must go toe-to-toe with the Roman god Bacchus, the Norse pantheon, and an ancient vampire, all hell-bent on ensuring his demise.

“[Kevin] Hearne is a terrific storyteller with a great snarky wit. . . . Neil Gaiman’s American Gods meets Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden.”—SFFWorld

The downside to faking your own death is that people tend to get upset when they find out they’ve been had. In Atticus O’Sullivan’s case, they’re upset enough to come after him to make sure he dies for real this time. Yet he can’t remain in hiding anymore: He has to bind his apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth so that she can become the first new Druid in centuries.

But the Roman god Bacchus wants mortal revenge for a slight against him, and he proceeds to act on the principle that Atticus should hate his life until it can be ended. Members of the Norse pantheon aren’t particularly pleased with Atticus either—especially one who had languished in darkness, slowly going mad, and is now free to work his mischief again.

On top of that, an ancient vampire, who’d like to remove Atticus and Granuaile as threats to his kind, is working on his own plan for their destruction.

Forced to work at the base of Mount Olympus, Atticus and Granuaile must survive the three-month process of her binding and escape the many traps set for them. It’s fortunate that they have Oberon the Irish Wolfhound on their side—but is one good dog going to be enough to see them through it?

Don’t miss any of The Iron Druid Chronicles:
HOUNDED | HEXED | HAMMERED | TRICKED | TRAPPED | HUNTED | SHATTERED | STAKED | SCOURGED | BESIEGED

©2012 Random House Audio (P)2012 Kevin Hearne

Critic reviews

"It may be possible that Hearne and Atticus are the logical heir to Butcher and Dresden." (SFFWorld)

“Celtic mythology and an ancient Druid with modern attitude mix it up in the Arizona desert in this witty new fantasy series.” (Kelly Meding, author of Chimera)

“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)

Hang on tight!

I thoroughly enjoy Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. I've read them all in print and listened to them (repeatedly) as audio books. They are fun, fast, and full of interesting twists and turns. It has a bit of everything that makes a book good. Trapped carries on the story after a 12 year (6 year if you count the novella Two Crows and One Raven) break for the characters, moving everyone into the future and to the beginning of new obstacles and the re-emergence of old problems.

The only thing I've not enjoyed so much is the change in reading style from the Brilliance Audio productions (Hounded, Hexed, Hammered) and these. It started in Tricked, continued in Two Ravens and One Crow, and here it is set -- Luke Daniels is still a great reader, but I suspect he's been directed to read differently.

Atticus's voice is deeper (possibly done through digital means) and the reading is more pointed and snarky, underlining the emotional and humorous parts of the text just in case the reader can't figure it out. The voicing puts me in mind of many a cynical private eye story, a sort of vocal stereotype, which gets annoying in these stories. The original voicing of Atticus-- lighter, friendlier, more even, less exaggerated, and certainly less cynical -- seemed more appropriate to the tone of the writing. By the time we get to this novel, Atticus has his snark on, Oberon has become a Scooby Do caricature, Leif has abandoned his cool, calm control for out-and-out drawling douche, all werewolves gargle gravel, and the Morrigan has a permanent sore throat. Even Granuaile loses some of her lightness.

Daniels didn't start out like this and was pretty consistent through the first three books, so I'm putting the blame on the producer/director. The change hasn't stopped me from listening to the series, but it does draw my attention away from the story and toward the voicing, whereas the original reading style felt proper and natural and didn't get in the way.

Another good episode

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

Ranks in the top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Trapped?

when she finishes her apprenticeship

Which scene was your favorite?

all

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Always makes me laugh, and keeps me interested

Any additional comments?

no

I love the whole Story.

What did you love best about Trapped?

I would recommend listening to all the books in the series they're really good.

What did you like best about this story?

I would recommend listening to all the books in the series they're really good.

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I would recommend listening to all the books in the series they're really good.

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

I would recommend listening to all the books in the series they're really good.

Yum! Wait..... what?

Would you listen to Trapped again? Why?

I'll have to listen to Trapped again because I feel like I didn't follow everything terribly well. Hearne delves into so many different myths and religions that I had a hard time keeping it all straight. Perhaps if I had read the book instead of listening, the names wouldn't have gotten so confused for me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Trapped?

The sexual tensions between Atticus and his apprentice has been building so delightfully throughout the IDC books and Hearne (and subsequently Oberon and Daniels) couldn't have handled it better.

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

If Luke Daniels read a book on how to watch paint dry, I'm pretty sure I'd still want to listen over and over again.

Great story

Wonderful writing and the narrator does great voices. My husband doesn't like to read but these books he loves to listen to.

Awesomely entertaining!

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

I can't get enough of these books. I love them. :)

Iron Druid Rocks!!

Love this series. Definitely one of my all time favorites! The narrator does a great job & is perfect for this collection.

It continues…

More of the same, in a good way. If you liked the others, you’ll like this one too. It seems calmer than the others—more drama, subterfuge, and plotting and less action.
I didn’t find Oberon as funny this time, not sure why—almost like someone told the author that was the best part so he tried too hard.
Atticus still has the tendency to nonsequiters and diversions- like in the middle of a tense situation/battle he starts talking about snow cones.

New kick-ass thrills for geeks!

For those of you have have read the previous IDC-books, this is more of the same. And by that I mean, more of the same awesomeness. Oberon is very present in this book and that adds to the story in a very sausage and beef way.

For those who haven't read the previous IDC-books, aww... I wish I had five unread IDC books, I would feel like the richest man on earth. Buy and listen to:
Hounded, Hexed, Hammered and Tricked first and enjoy!

Another Hit for Hearne and Daniels; Little Druids?

"Trapped" is another action-packed chapter in the Iron Druid Chronicles filled with angry gods, drunken gods, evil clowns and crazy elves who want Atticus destroyed at any cost. Never make deals with dark elves (or even think about them too much) and, above all, do NOT molest the forest dryads! Don't ask for recipes just after enraging your host and don't eat the beautiful too-good-to-be-true steak that just fell from heaven...don't even look at it too long.

This is another home-run hit (baseball analogy pun intended because Atticus thinks of baseball whenever...well, followers of the series will "get" this). The action moves from hilarious to deadly serious and back again pulling me right along behind it, a willing servant to the plot.

Granuaile's training is complete which removes student/teacher ethical reservations harbored by Atticus. This allows the story to move forward on an emotional level as well as a practical one. Now Granuaile can be bound to the earth, but the undertaking becomes quite problematic for all concerned and more of an ordeal than Atticus ever thought possible.

Atticus and Granuaile have finally admitted their affection for each other and taken steps toward a relationship, despite Oberon's vehement objections. Oberon thinks humans have ridiculous mating rituals (a wise dog is Oberon). The story has not turned into some sort of a sappy sloppy romance, just naturally followed the storyline as it has been developing lately. It is good to see Atticus feeling less alone now. While Oberon is no doubt a wonderful companion sometimes humans need other humans..or is that "Druids need other Druids"?

(Maybe we'll be introduced to some "little Druids" in the future??? It is nice to speculate, but there is still plenty of serious business to be addressed fairly soon, so little Druids are just my own little fantasy.)

This is an excellent addition to the Iron Druid Chronicles. Hearne masterfully avoids the feared storyline degradation as the series progresses; he keeps it fresh and moving right along. The story remains strong and dynamic. I enjoyed this installment as much as the first book in the series. That is a rare and wonderful thing and much appreciated by this reader.

Luke Daniels is as amazing as ever. I can almost see Oberon begging for sausage.....or bacon....and thanks to Daniels, I can certainly "hear" him!

Kudos to both author and narrator. Whatever lucky quirk of fate brought the two of you together created a perfect match...or maybe it really was magic?