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)

The best Iron Druid yet.

I loved this episode. Adding a new druid is excellent for the storyline. The Irish wolfhound is hilarious. Love them all.

Always entertaining

These books are like a summer action movie. Nothing deep, but plenty of good fun. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Modern Day Fantasy

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

Great job by Luke Daniels narrating this story. I listen to these books in my car most of the time and actually hearing a different person (or hound, for that matter) speak makes this very lively and easy to listen to. I think these books may actually be more fun to listen to than to read.

What other book might you compare Trapped to and why?

"Trapped", like its predecessors, places a 2,000 year old druid into the present, and into the body of a 22 year old. The book draws not only from "Dungeons and Dragons" type fantasy stories but also from Mythology from all over the world. Plus, there is a dose of modern day video gaming when Atticus activates his necklace charms. So the books are pretty unique and hard to compare to other stories.

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

Luke Daniels turns the book into a play, which is a completely different experience from reading the book. I am always torn between having room for my imagination to paint the images a book creates and being introduced to characters in a "pre-set" way. But if the "pre-set way" is as much fun as in this narration I don't have a problem with it.

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

The Iron Druid

Any additional comments?

Book 4 was a bit "flat" in terms of storyline. I am happy Kevin Hearne found back to a rich and exciting story in book 5 and look forward to the next one.

great book but formatting errors

great book however on audibles end the book was not formatted correctly. it didnt have chapters or even a total time on the book. please review.

So when does the TV show come out?

The stakes get higher as our tree hugging, ass kicking duo tie up loose ends. The "bill due" final notices come out and the only thing that can cure the anxiety is Oberon😃

good story

Well done. Well narrated.  will be looking forward to the next from this author. You should buy this book.

Still a good series

For being the 5th book in the series, it's still a good series. This book made me laugh so many times! And Luke Daniels is still giving a great performance!

Too bad I cannot download my preorder on iphone

Any additional comments?

Fix pre order dowloads. I preordered so I could read it ad soon as it came out but nw everyone can download exept me. This sucks guys !!!!!!

Another great Iron Druid book.

What did you love best about Trapped?

It was faced paced, funny and keeps you wanting the next installment.

What other book might you compare Trapped to and why?

Closest would be the Dresden Files crossed with Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

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

Oberon.. of course. He is the anchor for the series.

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

It would be a spoiler but if you've read the series you will see it coming a mile away.

Any additional comments?

great book, wonderful series, Oberon rules!

Hey, You know what's funny?... CLOWNS!

I love Kevin Hearne's writing, and Luke Daniels delivery. The voice of Atticus sounds a little different, but Daniels' delivery is spot on, his pacing is good, and this is his best rendition of Oberon to date. A lot of people compare Atticus O'Sullivan with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden, but Atticus EARNS his ire, pulling grandiose pranks, deceptions, and misdirections, with no consideration for long term consequences besides, "probably want to avoid that area for a while." Or "That's probably bad."

Dresden also doesn't have Atticus's survival instincts in a crush. Atticus shows easy deference to the religious pantheons when necessary, despite his ego. I'd see Dresden throwing his beliefs in the deities faces, automatically challenging their superiority, enemy and ally alike, and earning his running man status in that way, when they choked on the disrespect. Dresden isn't, in a direct fashion, one for authority, where Atticus is a champ at sort of creatively sliding around it.

The story initially leads us through the druids' confrontation with all the mythological revenge closing in on Atticus, not least of all, Loki. It sounds SO promisingly exciting, and it's written SO well, and fun. And it veers off, to cover the story arc about Granuaile's progression into her druid training. Still fun, and worth the wait. Then it curves sharply back, and kind of drops us there.

The whole story ends on a cliffhanger. An extremely fun to read, fast-paced, chaotic, cliffhanger. I was so frustrated when I realized I was listening to the Audible end message. Book 6 can't come out fast enough.