Solid. That’s the only word I wrote on my Goodreads book review. WTF. I don’t know why I left it at that. Well, it’s true. It’s a solid book. Sidenote: If you look at the model of the cover, he looks great. Close up, not so much. What’s with the chin pubes?
Hounded by Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid Chronicles #1)
I borrowed the audiobook version of Hounded by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #1) from the library and listened to it on my commutes. It was fantastic! It took a little while to get all the names but I’m so glad I started with the audiobook and a narrator who pronounced all the names. (The names sound so different when you read book #2.)
Atticus O’Sullivan is the last living druid.. living in Arizona with his giant Irish wolfhound Oberon. [What's a druid?] Atticus owns a bookstore, not unlike The Magic Box a la Buffy. He’s in Arizona to stay away/hide from Aenghus Og (see? how would you pronounce that? listen to the audiobook!) who is trailing him, claiming Atticus stole his sword called Fragarach.
There’s a lot of set-up and action in this first book of the series. [It was not like a Book 1 of some of the books I've read recently. You know, when the author is forced to write a lot of set-up and filler so they can sell Book 2.] Atticus is a great character – smart ass, sarcastic, fun, Buffy-like. I want to be his friend! Most of all, I want a dog like Oberon. Cracks me up. Oberon is right up there with GiGi (from Green-Eyed Demon) as best sidekick ever. The supporting characters are all useful and not there for dressing. Each has a role in Atticus’ life, whether he likes them or not.
The books are told in the first person. I didn’t expect to like the book so much, but I did. I didn’t expect to like or even relate to Atticus, but I did! There are very few YA books that I’ve read that have male protagonists as likeable as Atticus. At this point, he’s one of my favorite main characters in books. (You know how hard that is for me to admit… a DUDE on my favorites list.) The story is detailed and well captured in Hearne’s writing. I can imagine how long it takes for Atticus to bike over to his Irish neighbor’s home to mow the lawn. I can imagine what the layout of the bookstore looks like. I can imagine what his minor characters look like.
I liked the book so much, I bought the other books on my Kindle. Yep. That’s how you do a series, writers! Kill it with an awesome audiobook.
Grade: A
Buy or Borrow: Buy! I think this isn’t just for YA readers.
