Two Ravens and One Crow

An Iron Druid Chronicles Novella

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Atticus O’Sullivan is back in an all-new, action-packed, laugh-out-loud novella from the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles.

Two-thousand-year-old Atticus may have outwitted and outfought everyone from Odin to Bacchus, but in this eBook original, he’s about to discover what comes around when you go around messing with gods.

Six years into the training of his beautiful apprentice, Granuaile, a large crow swoops down and transforms into none other than the Morrigan, a goddess who insists that Atticus come with her at once. He must leave his apprentice behind, along with his Irish wolfhound, Oberon - and he must also leave his sword. The Morrigan has always taken extreme pleasure in pronouncing the Druid’s mortal danger and imminent doom, so the fact that she won’t reveal the purpose of their journey makes him very nervous. Of course, any time the Celtic Chooser of the Slain drops in unannounced, it’s never good. When she does let slip that she’ll be saving his life in the near future, Atticus is left to wonder...will he soon be giving his legions of enemies something to crow about?

Includes a preview of Kevin Hearne’s highly anticipated new novel in The Iron Druid Chronicles, Trapped!

©2012 Kevin Hearne (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"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 Three Days to Dead)

"[Atticus is] a strong modern hero with a long history and the wit to survive in the twenty-first century.... A snappy narrative voice...a savvy urban fantasy adventure." ( Library Journal)

worth the price? Maybe not on audible..

We get a little follow up from what happens in book three. However, 16 minutes of this is yet another preview of chapter 1 for book 5. Maybe if you are a true Kevin Hearne fan like I am this is worth the 10 dollars. There may be some crucial information in this book to future story lines if Hearne decides not to recap. So, if you decide not to check this one out I will include below what basically happens.

(SPOILER) Atticus accompanied by the Morrigan have dinner with Odin and Atticus makes a pact to serve in place of the Norse he killed for Ragnarok as well as recruit others for this war against Hell. During the meal Atticus reveals a tale about how be found the recipe for immortality. An assassination attempt on Atticus's life interrupts the meal and after a following pursuit Freyja is found to be responsible for trying to kill Atticus.

Can't wait for November!

With the exception of 2 other authors, I stay away from short stories written in between full length novels. They're never very good and I almost always walk away feeling hosed. They gloss over plot points and just aren't enough to satisfy. Thankfully this one was different. This was pretty good. It gives an explanation as to what happened to Odin after the last book. I was surprised that they recorded an audiobook over what was a 60-ish page short story. Surprised but not disappointed as I am going through Atticus withdrawal. They added the preview of the next book with this as well, I'd heard it before but listening to it again makes November seem like its so far away. Luke Daniels did a nice job. The first few minutes were weird because he was a little too dramatic, but it got better.

A Little Interim Fun

There are only two things I would do to make this novella better: make it longer and put in more more more of Oberon ;)
Kevin Hearne gives us lots of humor, interesting backstory , and lots of action. Luke Daniels gives us the wonderful voices we fell instantly in love with from the first time we read "Hounded".

Whether this novella is intended as just a filler story, or it merely didn't fit into the next novel, "Trapped", it still provides the kind of fun and inexplicable god behavior Atticus has been dealing with for 2100 years. It has plenty of the Morigan--don't ask her for any favors, trust me--a very Celtic style tale regarding the origins of Eterna-Tea, and a meeting with powerful enemies that probably sets up Atticus' role in the future.

There is too little Oberon--Note to Kevin Hearne: Next time, give us a novella of all Oberon, all of the time, with a few French poodles along the way ;P--but what we did get was classic Atticus/Oberon interaction.

Whether as mere filler or as a bridging short story to explain background information for the next book, Kevin Hearne and Luke Daniels have paired again to give us a fun and fulfilling experience.

It was worth the price !!!!!

Short story set between book 4 and 5.
In truth I Liked it 25% more than book 4.
Let's hope book 5 will be the same quality.

Good but too expensive for a novella

As 12 years pass between the events in Tricked (Bk 4) and Trapped (Bk 5), this novella is set right in the middle timewise and sets the stage for Ragnarök (the showdown between the Norse gods and some really bad people) and some very interesting alliances between Atticus and some gods. We also learn how Atticus and Granuaile are dealing with their 'working' relationship and some very revealing tidbits about Atticus' past.

I wouldn't say the book was boring but it didn't have excitement of previous books, specially because most of the action occurred during a formal dinner - and we hear descriptions of every course.

Luke Daniels did a bang up job with the narration as usual but I don't know that I'd recommend anybody to pay the current price of this audiobook (which is $9.80 for Audible members.) I think it's a definite must read but I think the ebook will suffice.

But of course, I'm a big fan of this series and I'm sooo looking forward to Trapped. Like the last few books in the series, I'll probably buy the audio the day it comes out

Fairly lame Novella of the Iron Druid series

I wasn't impressed with this just over 2 hour short story. For one thing, Luke Daniels voicing of the Druid wasn't of the same intonation as in the first 4 books and Oberon the dog was morphing into an intelligent sentient being instead of a dog...the dog has been given more and more voice as the books progress and, frankly, it's getting a bit thick. No longer cute and funny, Oberon has become slightly annoying.

The plot was simple and slightly out of purpose.

I bought this because I'm a fan of the first 4 books but after listening to the preview of the new actual book coming out in November I sort of doubt that I'll bother to buy it.

As I suspected when first listening to this series,which in fact started out very funny and light in key, that it might not have the legs to go on for too long.

Too long might have come IMO. It's gotten old and Oberon has become the fall guy too many times, he's the Jerry Lewis to the 'Druids' Dean Martin. Slobbery dog can go away now-thank you.

The novela wasn't worth the credit I spent.

I don't normally buy short stories but....

What made the experience of listening to Two Ravens and One Crow the most enjoyable?

The storytelling and narraration are excellent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Two Ravens and One Crow?

Having dinner with Odin.

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

he does an excellent job throughout this series. I have heard him in other books and he always delivers a great performance.

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

It wasn't really long enough for that.

Any additional comments?

To paraphrase the Dos Equis Man.. I don't normally buy short stories, but when I do I prefer Kevin Hearne.

Just a Taste Before the Next BIG Release.

For those of us that have been craving more of Atticus and Oberon. I would have loved to seen more of Oberon but we don't have to wait too long for the next installment in the Iron Druid Chronicles. This takes place 6 years into the future from the last book and is a good set up for the next book.

Treat yourself with this small taste of whats to come.

Good but not my favorite

What did you like best about this story?

The byplay between Oberon and Atticus is always hilarious, and this novella is no exception, but most of the book is about Atticus and the Moragan.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first one.

Any additional comments?

This fills in some backstory, but is very minimal and certainly not necessary for continuity for the series.

Wait for the next book

Any additional comments?

Atticus and the crew are back in this short novella. Not a lot happens in this installment, and I don't really recommend listening to it. I do not think skipping it will detract from the next book in the series. As always, Luke Daniels is great.