Audiobook Review
By: Kevin Hearne
Narrated by: Luke Daniels
Published by: Brilliance Audio 04/2011
Warm (Adult content)
8 hrs and 11 mins
Sample
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 sexy 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.
Reviewed by Lisa Kay
I’ve never read anything by Kevin Hearne before, and I’ve never listened to Luke Daniels narrate, either. But I definitely will again! So glad I chose to listen to this one, as the pronunciation of Druid and other ancient dialects would have totally tongue-tied my mind. Even with the nicely provided “Irish Pronunciation Guide” in the front to the eBook. I couldn’t begin to attempt saying Aenghus Óg or Tuatha Dé Danann in my head, let alone out loud.
Mr. Daniels does an excellent job of them all, as well as differentiating the characters; subsequently, I was completely drawn into Mr. Hearne’s world, where I think I would have been distracted with the correct pronunciation, otherwise. He even does a good job on the female voices; no small feat for a male reader. This one is in first person POV and Mr. Daniels coveys the cleverness, wit, cynicism, charm, and just plan sassiness of Atticus O’Sullivan, the tattooed proprietor of an occult bookshop – and part-time apothecary – in Tempe, Arizona. And his voice for Oberon is a hoot! He sounds like the lovable doofus he is; which is fine, since he is an Irish Wolfhound. (A dog obsessed with French Poodles and Italian Sausage)
There are tons of supernatural beings (Fae, witches, lupines, gods, goddesses, vampires, demons, angels, ghouls, etc.) in the first installment of The Iron Druid Chronicles, and almost all of them want Atticus’ magic sword “Fragarach, the Answerer.” The most significant of these is one pissed-off dark god named Aenghus Óg. Atticus, himself, is a shape-shifter and gets his power from the earth. I loved the description of how his energy travels though his tattoos.
Hounded is rich in details without being weighed down by too much world building, like so many first in series novels. Just the right amount of time spent on Celtic mythology – and other pantheons – mixed with mystery, action-adventure, and character-interactions to keep it wondrously interesting. It is a little more violent that I like my books, but I knew that going in. This is a fast-paced read with a witty narrative that I had to re-wind to catch some things, saying to myself, “Did he say what I think he did?” However, most of all it is fun! I’ll certainly have to read the prequel short-stories (free on the author’s website) and track down the novella.
· rating details · 8,792 ratings · 1,554 review on Goodreads
Check Bob Riess's review:
The Guilded Earlobe
Mr. Daniels does an excellent job of them all, as well as differentiating the characters; subsequently, I was completely drawn into Mr. Hearne’s world, where I think I would have been distracted with the correct pronunciation, otherwise. He even does a good job on the female voices; no small feat for a male reader. This one is in first person POV and Mr. Daniels coveys the cleverness, wit, cynicism, charm, and just plan sassiness of Atticus O’Sullivan, the tattooed proprietor of an occult bookshop – and part-time apothecary – in Tempe, Arizona. And his voice for Oberon is a hoot! He sounds like the lovable doofus he is; which is fine, since he is an Irish Wolfhound. (A dog obsessed with French Poodles and Italian Sausage)
There are tons of supernatural beings (Fae, witches, lupines, gods, goddesses, vampires, demons, angels, ghouls, etc.) in the first installment of The Iron Druid Chronicles, and almost all of them want Atticus’ magic sword “Fragarach, the Answerer.” The most significant of these is one pissed-off dark god named Aenghus Óg. Atticus, himself, is a shape-shifter and gets his power from the earth. I loved the description of how his energy travels though his tattoos.
Hounded is rich in details without being weighed down by too much world building, like so many first in series novels. Just the right amount of time spent on Celtic mythology – and other pantheons – mixed with mystery, action-adventure, and character-interactions to keep it wondrously interesting. It is a little more violent that I like my books, but I knew that going in. This is a fast-paced read with a witty narrative that I had to re-wind to catch some things, saying to myself, “Did he say what I think he did?” However, most of all it is fun! I’ll certainly have to read the prequel short-stories (free on the author’s website) and track down the novella.
· rating details · 8,792 ratings · 1,554 review on Goodreads Check Bob Riess's review:
The Guilded Earlobe
The Author
Kevin Hearne
Voices behind the books
Luke Daniels
I'm adding this to my future listens, sounds excellent.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know how to rate the sensuality, I got your point that there is a lot sex, but I imagine not in the same way we get in romance book.
Maybe I should change the rating to adult content, what do you think?
I've had this book on my iPhone for like. Ever. Not but seriously, I guess that this means I should get to it soon! Great review. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Loupe, not the same, but still adult. Of course, I'm an old "fuddy duddy" when it comes to rating. Not that I don't read the hot stuff, I just think young people should wait to read it. One is young for so short an amount of time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carmel! I hope you enjoy it! Very well narrated. And an exciting story.
ReplyDelete