Hounded

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Christopher Ragland

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

This is book one of the Iron Druid Chronicles series. If you would like to hear more, you will find the first chapter of book two – Hexed – at the end of this recording.

©2011 Kevin Hearne (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Gods Bellow

one of my favorite book serie's and the reson I joined Adible, so that I could listen to the full serie's.

This was confusing

I think I liked this?

I'm in a rare position because it's not often that the narrator lets a book down, but unfortunately I think Regland did.

The way he makes every woman sound like a crone, or his protagonist super annoying aside, maybe get an Irish person for the Irish protag?

Maybe he's supposed to sound American? I wasn't sure on that and there's a scene where he 'puts an Irish accent on.'

Either way, I'm unsure if I found Atticus annoying because of the accent or the substance. His 'pranks' are needlessly juvenile at some points (and on a paramedic? really?), so maybe it is the substance of the material.

Either way, it's left me curious, but not gagging to see the next book. I'll get to it eventually.

Start of a fantastic journey

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

There is not enough praise to give for this series. Beginning with this book you are inserted into Atticus life beeing turned upside down. from the first page you get sucked in and you wont regret it. In addition to the great stories in this book and the rest of the series you chuckle and laugh of Atticus and his dog Oberan wich he have learned to mindspeech with him. Oberan is a king of fun and mischeif his terories and thought about life and whats important just makes my day any day. Let there be sausage! You will soon know the understanding of the expression. And with doing so you will never regret it.

What other book might you compare Hounded to and why?

Comparing the books in this series is not nessisary. They all are linked into a huge story, a fun and thrilling exating rollercoaster you never want to get of.

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

Christopher Ragland is the best narrator of this series. Luke daniels do a good job later on but still it all comes down to the voice of Oberon. He just rocks it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Cant sleep dont have time to eat. etc. yep!

Any additional comments?

What to say here. It is fun exiting,sometimes a bit sad, enjoyable, easy to listen to and in all Kevin Hearne's story you get fed by some amazing talent of decribing things, his knowlegde. man that man must use isane amount of research time to collect all the information you get in these books. Book 1 as this is is a start on a epic journey in vbery many ways. Fantastic!

Awesome

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

Haven't read the printed version but audio book is awesome

What other book might you compare Hounded to and why?

Eragon, they both have story lines that are similar and they are both fantastic

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

Read the book? after hearing the audio book i won't read i would listen to it. :)

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

the whole book, it was just action and suspense from the beginning.

feels very generic.

Dresden fans immediately will pick up on many similarities.

the book doesn't have anything that makes it stand out. it feels like something a horny young adult would write, wanting to bang gods and such and such. The story is incredibly straight forward, lacking a more than the basic narrative layer plus another.

Brilliant, absolutely worth the credits :)

Would you listen to Hounded again? Why?

I would and I do, think Im on my 4th or 5th listen thru the serie now and its still funny :)

What other book might you compare Hounded to and why?

The rest of the Irondruid serie obviously.. Its quite its own style imo.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, hard to pause it.

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend the whole Iron Druid Chronicles if you like this first book, they are great allthough I wasnt so pleased with part 3 "Hammered" - being Scandinavian and quite fond of Thor ;-)

Best new urban fantasy I’ve read for a while.

As I said in the title, I’ve been a fan of urban fantasy since my teens, but somehow Atticus escaped my notice. Now I’ve discovered him, I see that he’s a fantastic character, deserving to sit alongside Harry Dresden on my shelves.

like it

good story with excellent pacing the dogs voice over got on my nervous at first but you get use to it after time it's the only negative that stands out to me

Epic

What made the experience of listening to Hounded the most enjoyable?

This is a brilliant book especially as there is no monotheism, Oberon is the deepest and funniest character I have read in a long time.

Loved the dog, liked the druid, enjoyed the read

Christopher Ragland's reading of this book struck just the right balance between laid back, cool without trying, humorous druid and truly scary, I'll hack you to death with my bare hands and spit on your grave, this is why I've lives so long, druid.

He also does a great voice for Oberon, the Irish Wolfhound that he wisely chose not to give an Irish accent.

If you're looking for a light, humorous read, with enough plot to keep you turning the metaphorical pages, enough violence to keep you awake and enough new ideas to keep everything fresh, this is the book for you.

We have one Druid, a coven of witches, a pack of werewolves, a vampire lawyer (not sure which of those two words is scarier), a possessed barmaid, a "merry on whiskey" Irish widow several Fae, three Goddesses and one horseman of the apocolypse and this is just book one of the series.

Most importantly of all, we have a dog with a big heart and a dry sense of humor.

Give this book a try. You won't regret it.