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yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
(Audio) A Druid, a dog and several twisted gods, who could ask for more ? I loved this story, the characters and the world created. I found it to have a perfect mix of humor, adventure, magic and danger. If you love the Harry Dresden novels you will love this series.
crowsandprose's review against another edition
2.0
If you're hoping for something in the vein of Harry Dresden, this book seems to have all the right pieces; quippy magic user in modern times, supernatural threats. But this is no Harry Dresden. The stories are wildly different and the quality, too, doesn't quite match even the debut efforts of Jim Butcher.
This tale lagged at the start but zipped to the end. I have some quibbled with characterization (why does a 2,100 year old druid have the sense of a turnip, for one thing?) and especially with the treatment of women and sex (dude taps two Goddesses, smooches a third, and they're all "Victoria Secret Sexy", despite one is the God of a hunt and the other is the God of Death and War (Brighid at least gets to be a god of crafts, beauty and creation-- oh, and fire, so you can justify that she's conventionally attractive to the extreme).
Honestly, it was just sort of juvenile. Definitely for the 20-30 heterosexual male set, needing some power fantasy. While we have the next four books at home I doubt I'll bother with any of them at this point. I keep being told the next one is better, but the bar's set pretty low for that.
I know this is supposed to be a rollicking, almost bardic tale, but in the end I got basically Gary Stu fantasy with some occasionally clever bits. The writing is decent in some places, but pacing suffers, characterization makes little sense, and while the mythology is well represented it simply wasn't enough to carry the story of Angry God Wants Shiny MacGuffin.
This tale lagged at the start but zipped to the end. I have some quibbled with characterization (why does a 2,100 year old druid have the sense of a turnip, for one thing?) and especially with the treatment of women and sex (dude taps two Goddesses, smooches a third, and they're all "Victoria Secret Sexy", despite one is the God of a hunt and the other is the God of Death and War (Brighid at least gets to be a god of crafts, beauty and creation-- oh, and fire, so you can justify that she's conventionally attractive to the extreme).
Honestly, it was just sort of juvenile. Definitely for the 20-30 heterosexual male set, needing some power fantasy. While we have the next four books at home I doubt I'll bother with any of them at this point. I keep being told the next one is better, but the bar's set pretty low for that.
I know this is supposed to be a rollicking, almost bardic tale, but in the end I got basically Gary Stu fantasy with some occasionally clever bits. The writing is decent in some places, but pacing suffers, characterization makes little sense, and while the mythology is well represented it simply wasn't enough to carry the story of Angry God Wants Shiny MacGuffin.
milsy81's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
ebhandlemann's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ddjohns83's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.25
edgescout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
lapietradm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sabrielsbell's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This felt like it was written by a frat boy in the worst kind of way.
kcrouth's review against another edition
3.0
If you have ever wondered what it would be like for a two thousand year old druid to be living in a present day Arizona college town, this is the book for you. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, the author incorporates all manner of beings from folk tales, legends and religions into this modern context to achieve an exciting and fun tale as Atticus O’Sullivan and his Irish wolfhound Oberon fight to preserve the druid way of life, fight against evil, and to restore the earth to health and wholeness. Being ignorant of myth and legend, i'm enjoying the ins and outs of these characters from history and legend. This tale is not as serious as Gaiman's tales, but quite fun to read, and it is the kick-off for a series known as The Iron Druid Chronicles.