Review: Hammered

Hammered by Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Del Rey (2011)
Format:  Mass Market Paperback | 310 pages
Genre(s): Urban Fantasy 

Description (Goodreads): "Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself."

Still not quite there. In terms of story, characters and world-building. The most interesting thing so far is Hearne's world as it deals with the different pantheons of ancient gods and goddesses. While most urban fantasy books feature supernatural creatures there are not many who focus on old religions. It's refreshing and you can tell the author has researched the subject at least a little, which is always good as it makes everything a bit more... 'realistic'.

While Hearne continues to develop his world in the third installment of "The Iron Druid Chronicles", there wasn't any real progress as far as Atticus is concerned. He is still a bit too smug (as he, himself recognizes in this book) and does not really display that much wisdom. He is far too immature and not layered enough for someone who's supposed to be more than 2000 years old. Not saying he can't act immature, but he doesn't display a different, more complex personality...ever (unless you count quoting Shakespeare). On a brighter note, I really like The Morrigan, ahah. Now she is a great character.

I still don't see the purpose of Granuaile, Atticus' apprentice. I mean, yeah she's probably there as the hot female who falls in love with the protagonist (at least it seems to be going that way) but Hearne has made a mistake with this character. She really has no distinguishable features besides the fact that she's... well, pretty. She doesn't have special powers or abilities, nor will she have them in the foreseeable future. She also doesn't have much of a personality. And... well, she doesn't really participate much in the action. She's just there.

Oberon is a cute character that provides humor but is, ultimately pretty superfluous as well.

So, character-wise, the series really needs more development. Atticus just isn't charismatic... at all.

In terms of plot, this book didn't have much of one. I mean it was a bit ridiculous, really. A bunch of guys decide to kill the Norse god Thor because he is a big, immortal bully. Some of what he did was bad (I liked the chapters where everyone shared their particular grievances with the Norse god of Thunder) but the single-mindedness of the group and Thor's completely unrepentant character made all of the action very... blah. Basically the problem was... character development.

Overall "Hammered" was better than the first but not as good as the second book. The author seems to be building his world slowly adding more information with each book. But there is still some confusion about the mythology.

The characters are the series weak point: they're too stereotyped. As for plot, this book seemed to be filler although there are a few clues that point to something more elaborate happening in future books. A nice read within the genre but still not good enough to stand out, even if male protagonists are rare.

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Review: Hounded

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Del Rey (2011)

Format:  Mass Market Paperback | 289 pages

Genre(s): Urban Fantasy

Description (Goodreads): "Tempe, Arizona is as far removed from paranormal activity as is possible. And that's where Atticus O'Sullivan, rare book salesman, herb peddler, and 2,000 year old Druid - the last of his kind - has decided to set up shop. He's been on the run, guarding a very powerful sword from a very angry ancient Celtic god for over two millennia now. But while these years have been good to him - Atticus has become more powerful than he could have possibly imagined - The Morrigan, a very old god of death, has predicted death and doom for our hero, and it's up to Atticus, with help from a pride of werewolves, and a gorgeous bartender with a secret of her own, to stay alive, hopefully for another thousand years."

WARNING: Contains some SPOILERS!

"Hounded" is the first in a new series featuring a 2.100 year-old Druid as the main character. I've seen many a video and read a few reviews raving about this series and how it was awesome so, as a lover of all things urban fantasy and wanting to read a few more books with male protagonists, I promptly bought all the books available.

And yet again my high expectations were shot down. This isn't a terrible book, no, but it's not brilliant either. Although I liked the general concept I felt the author crammed way too many myths, religions and supernatural creatures into his universe. You have werewolves, vampires, fairies and every god from every pantheon running about. It's too much and honestly it was confusing. Hearne doesn't explain much about this and there are references to several ancient deities, although only the Tuatha Dé Danann appear in this first book (since the hero is a Druid and all). Still they are depicted as "people who know a lot of magic and thus are very powerful and immortal" so the reader is left wandering if all the other pantheons are the same (which, mythologically they aren't) or if it's just the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Basically Hearne's world building needs fixing and urgent development. In this first book we are thrown into the world of Irish mythology but the author fails to clarify many of his ideas and views to the readers. And that is never good.

I also didn't care much for Atticus, the protagonist. He was too smug, too sure of himself. If he is 2000 years old I think he should be wise enough not to be too smug. I disliked him from the beginning and throughout the book the character didn't really grow in a positive way. He was just so powerful and magic and all-knowing and the action was lackluster at best because of it.

Another thing that bothered me (yes, a lot of things did in this book): Oberon, the wolfhound. I liked the fact that there was a talking dog and the discourse was hilarious some times, but I doubt a dog would speak like that even if he was taught to speak English. His thought processes were just... too human.

Even with all of these (major) flaws and the slow start (I considered stopping at first, it was boring) of the book, "Hounded" wasn't that bad. I've read worse Urban Fantasy debuts. It needed more character and world development and the plot wasn't exactly super original, but it was an interesting read (once the pace picked up, about 100 pages in) nonetheless. I've started the second book and it's much better so far, so I'd say that if Hearne can develop his world and main character properly the "Iron Druid series" does have potential.

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Cover Commentary: Pretty standard UF cover overall. But the model annoys me. I think it's the beard. I really don't like it. Plus, the guy looks about 15... not the image you want when depicting a 2100 year-old druid. Even if he's meant to be totally hip!