Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Hounded (with two bonus short stories): Book One of The Iron Druid Chronicles

Harry Dresden and Mercy Thompson had a baby ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2019

... but it died.

Our protagonist is a 2100 year old druid who wields a magic sword, sports magic tattoos, wears a magic bracelet, kills supernatural assassins with his bare hands, summons elementals, beds a goddess, makes a pact with a demon, gains immortality, communicates telepathically with his dog, transforms into a wolfhound, rides a magic sled (pulled by magic stags), spars with a viking vampire, consorts with werewolf lawyers and murders a possessed park ranger.

And then, in chapter two, things get downright silly.

The author was obviously inspired by the worlds created Jim Butcher and Patricia Briggs, too bad he wasn't inspired by their writing.

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Chris Hansen

Best Fantasy series I’ve read in years!

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018

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I read a lot. In the past, sometimes 50-75 books each year. If I don’t like a book I will stop reading it; life is to short to make yourself miserable.

The good books, the ones that years later you are still talking about them, are few and far between. “Good Omens”, “The Return of the King”, “To Green Angel Tower” and the like are all novels that I sat down to read ... and didn’t get up until I finished the book. (Tad Williams nearly killed me from lack of sleep)

“Hounded” is one of those books. It lays forth a tapestry of characters and events without reading like a history book. The characters are fully formed, even the peripheral ones, so when they show up again they feel like a friend.

The characters change. They grow. They falter. Sometimes, as in reality, they die and you mourn them, you miss them.

The only complaint I have (and it is such a petty one) is that the cover doesn’t match the character painted inside. See? I told you it was petty.

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Charra Hammett

Good story, writing is Subpar

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019

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I thought the storyline was decent and had a lot of potential but the writing showed the writer was new with the cadence of the conversations and lack of character development.

Atticus is a Druid with powers of the earth and a dog named Oberon who has lived in hiding for 2000+ years ever since he took a magical sword from a God of Love named Aenghus Óg and Aenghus Og wants it back. That’s the basic story. *SPOILER ALERT*

1. Holes in the story - Oberon kills a human Park Ranger after going on a short hunt with Atticus and a different God, Flidais, because said God bewitches him(Oberon) into killing the man for startling her, but she was supposed to be there to warn Atticus about Aenghus Og being on his way. This sets off a chain of events where the police are trying to find Oberon because somehow the police have figured out the dog DNA on the body belonged to an Irish Wolfhound even though its said/written that it’s not possible to determine dog breed by dog DNA. How would Aenghus even know about the hunt to be able to set up Atticus and Oberon when Flidais and Atticus were in bed when they discussed going on a hunt and she never left so she couldn’t have told Aenghus to set a trap. It doesn’t say the Gods can talk mind to mind. It’s just too nicely set up without explanation. And Flidais is supposed to be helping him but then she’s not but then later she is and again not and again is.

2. The switching back and forth of the loyalties of the 3 different Gods (Flidais, The Morrigan & Brighet) and then also The Witches was just confusing. Not only was there back and forth by Flidais above but also The Morrigan and The Witches and the God Brighid. It was too much confusion to make sense of. One unexpected person or group who betrays the main character would have been enough but it was like the writer tried to add too much into the story and didn’t do a good enough job explaining it or letting the main character cast doubt on them so you never felt like oh they are good guys or bad guys. One second you believed that person/group was good. The next it was like huh? And in the end it was explained offhandedly like we should have known the gods are tricky and witches can’t be trusted. But maybe one witch. And her couple of sisters. *ugh*

3. The sex - is this book supposed to have sex in it or not? Because there are little hints of it that seem like there would be some sex scenes with Atticus and then lamely left EVERYTHING to the imagination. Either do it or don’t. And what’s with Granuaile? Hot redhead that Atticus has been lusting after for an undetermined amount of time comes off as a bit of an airhead who might be smart but it never really goes anywhere or makes you feel like she may or may not be a real love interest. Instead Atticus ends up with meaningless sex and getting hit on constantly by the female Gods and you’re confused as to where this is all leading. Does he need a love interest? Prolly not but then why Granuaile?

4. Character development. None of the side characters are built enough into the story to make you want to love them and continue on. The dog is kinda funny at times but even he lacks something. The widow is pretty cool but again there just isn’t a connection there. I read so many books and when you pick up a book and just love the characters and want more by the end of the book - then you know the writer did something right. Maybe after reading a few books I might feel this way about Atticus and Oberon but I just didn’t get that feeling in this book. Good potential but not enough.

Overall it lacks the depth needed for a good novel series. Hopefully the writer gets better throughout the series. I most likely won’t read any more in this series.

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Bursar

Very enjoyable.

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2018

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I really enjoyed this book, and went on to buy the second. It was recommended to me by a follower on Twitter. There were really only two things I found less than par, and both are very subjective, so they don't affect my rating. First, I found the comedic relief between the MC and his dog to be pretty cheesy and leaned on too hard. I found the vampire funnier, and I didn't get the impression the vampire was supposed to be all that funny. I suppose the dog conversations fall pretty far into typical 'guy humor,' which isn't my taste, but obviously plenty of people love it or it wouldn't be so popular. Second nitpick, all the names and different mythological characters were really hard for me to keep track of. I will freely admit that most of my familiarity with mythology if from Greek and Roman mythology, so if you are more familiar with Irish and other mythologies, that probably won't be too big a deal for you. The main characters were well fleshed out and entertaining, the flirting and sexual tension was perfect, the plot was engaging, the world building was well developed (a MAJOR pet peeve of mine), and the writing was pretty good. Definitely recommended!

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Marty TTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

Great start to introduce a new series.

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2017

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The adventures of Atticus and his Irish Wolfhound, Oberon are entertaining and fast paced reading. This is a good start to a new series about Atticus a several thousand year old Druid, and how he stays looking like a 23 year old college student. To try to avoid some bad guy God's, Atticus lives in Arizona, but is found and used as a pawn by several gods that have him in mortal danger several times in this book to achieve their ultimate goals, not caring about the end results for Atticus. Atticus isn't thrilled to find out just about every one of his old acquaintances has used him some way or another, but he holds to his word, and we meet several characters that I hope to see in future stories, be they werewolves, vampires or old Irish widows. Enjoyable fast read, once it gets going hard to stop until the end.

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Angry Potato

Just.. Bad

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020

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Purchased on November 3, 2018
Finished on June 25, 2020
Last push to the finish this was fueled by insomnia and the extreme boredom and mixed with occasional terror that the novel corona virus brought to my life...
It is bad, everything in everyone star review I read to know I am not alone in my disappointment is fair and accurate in portraying this books flaws... Many were a better read than this book.
It might be a bit petty but I amount all of the valid complaints of mary sue protagonists, misogyny and bad writting I think one thing got left out so far.
He cannot tell the difference between a pot head or a crack head... maybe meth head.. couldn't even be bothered to sterotype them as hippies.
I don't even like potheads.. But this book hates them.

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Amy Good

Oberon is the best part about it.

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020

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Okay, so in fairness I can't give this book more than three stars, as I wasn't sure I even liked it until near the end. I didn't dis like it...I just wasn't sure what I thought entirely. I think part of it might have been that I don't read a lot of books from a male POV, for SURE not in this genre.

Hounded is a fun UF without all of the ooey gooey PNRs sometimes give you. If you want steamy sex...not so much here. But, the author did some fun stuff with history and god pantheons as well as a very funny Irish Wolf Hound named Oberon. There are some good(ish) witches, some bad witches, a vampire and a pack of wolves, but they're not really the major players here. Several gods/goddesses and a Druid, that's your main cast of characters, and the author makes it a fun ride. I very much intend to read on in the series.

Although this book, for the most part is testosterone dominated, there is a plot twist toward the end that makes me feel confident that the subsequent books are going to have a significant shot of estrogen.

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Jenna Seaver

Excellent Story and Excellent Writing!

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2020

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Loved this way more than I expected to - had never heard of the series and was delighted to find a lengthy series to continue this pleasure. In an age where $9.99 gets you garbage more often than not I was pleasantly surprised to find this long book without filler crap...language has been edited to keep really perfect blend of plot/action, character development and description.

I also LOVE the humor of Atticus and his interaction with Oberon - sometimes he gets a bit silly but Atticus usually remarks the same thing so it works. Also wonderful to discover an author who encourages imagination rather than pound you over the head with melodramatics, OR crassness and gore to deliver violent action - it is amazing how easy it is to picture just the right amount when someone's head gets lopped off.

I rarely write reviews as it would take too much time - I read a couple books per week and only finish the good ones. You will not regret buying this start to the series. I hope the others are as good!

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Æµ§œš¹

Fun read, light on tension

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2020

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Atticus O’Sullivan/Siodhachan Ó Suileabháin is a millenias-old druid in a world where all gods and myths are simultaneously true (apparently, as long as enough people believe in something, it exists). The Celtic god of love, Aenghus Óg, is after Atticus's magic sword, Fragarach. With probably too much help from various gods, werewolves, a vampire, and renegade witches,he prevents Aenghus Óg from killing himself or his dog.

The voice was the strongest element of this book. I liked Atticus and there was never much time where the story really dragged, which is nice. But it was harder to feel like something was at stake when Atticus is so overpowered. He has magical protection, can heal by just touching the ground, and on top of that, several gods side with him so that he seems nigh invulnerable.

With that said, it was a fun read and from what I hear, the books only get better (this was, after all, Hearne's first published book), so I would recommend this book for people who like urban fantasy and don't mind following a character for nine books. This also works as a standalone novel, because the main conflict does resolve itself (which is nice).

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David Menefee Jr

Great stories with a heart

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2021

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I raced through the first four of these books, enjoying every moment. I’m only taking a break so I can savor the next, and the next…

What keeps me turning the pages is not only the vivid action and likable characters, but also the evident love of the natural world that informs the actions of the main character. This love of Gaia is all too absent in a lot of modern storytelling, and I for one am glad the author (who evidently speaks his heart and mind through the stories) included it. Complaints that the stories are too “woke” seems more like overly sensitive whining to me. The “politics” that others are complaining about isn’t politics at all. It’s just good, ethical behavior and care for others, and it is an entirely consistent part of the Iron Druid’s psychological makeup.At any rate, these ingredients are applied with a very light touch, spicing but not overwhelming the story.

Summary: great stories, likable characters, inventive stories! Love ‘em!

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5 star		69%
4 star		21%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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