Hammered (The Iron Druid Chronicles #3) by Kevin Hearne | Book Review

Hammered (The Iron Druid Chronicles ) by Kevin Hearne published 5 July 2011

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. Plus things are heating up in his 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 plane 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 Norse gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

How was it?

Adding to the fun character interactions and entertaining action scenes. The pop culture references mixed with mythology are another one of the charming things about the Iron Druid Chronicles. The references seem to shine a little more in Hammered, but with that, a few other things started to get more noticeable in the series.

Until now, there weren’t many details about how some things work in that world. It’s amazing that I didn’t give much thought to these things because before this book I couldn’t have answered some simple questions, for example, how his teas work. I had an idea – which was close enough and it is mentioned in Kaibab Unbound – but I did not have the right answer.

The same could be said about Atticus’ background. I’ve been wondering if, in his two millennia, he’s ever had long-term relationships and/or children. He’s human after all, he could get hurt or die – though that seems unlikely 😒 – but it was interesting information to have and I hope something will come of it later.

Although he has some limitations, and quite a few tricks up his sleeve – Druid Magic to heal his wounds, among other things, and his tea to keep himself young and spry – Atticus is a bit of a Gary Sue. Yes, he’s 2100 years old and has had extensive training and experience. But the stupid things he pulls at times make him look like a powerful apprentice, who after a training montage, just became a full-on Druid. He loses the glimpses of wisdom we’ve seen from him by being utterly irresponsible and foolish. At times he seems stuck in his 10th-century ways – or that’s Hearne’s excuse to explain some of Atticus’ questionable behavior. He’s a bit confusing.

Turns out the sequel to Hexed is a tough one, it has great and questionable moments; but it’s also fast-paced, action-packed, with likable characters.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

You can check out or get the book here: US | EU

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