You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Three druids. Three adventures. Three magical fae stakes. But all roads lead to Rome.
The Iron Druid Chronicles series plot is drawing in tighter and more intense as Atticus and his allies are aligning against Loki and those who have sided him when, in the near future, the crazy god unleashes Ragnarok on earth and the other plans. First there are a few loose ends that face the druids and a great price is extracted before all is said and done.
Staked is the eighth of the Iron Druid Chronicle novels in an urban fantasy series that must be taken in order for the storylines to make sense.
After the Hunted and the short story, A Prelude to War, we see Granuaile face off with Loki and determine that she must remove his mark at all cost and we see Atticus take the advice of a seer that the escalating vampire trouble with Theophilus and Werner must be addressed before he readies for the final battle.
So, Staked opens with Atticus headed to Toronto to do what he must to bring a confrontation with Theophilus and his vampires to a head, Granuaile consulting with the Norse gods and a Polish witch coven about dealing with Loki’s mark and finding a way to hide from godseer sight, and Owen is preparing to start a new school for druidry near the Flagstaff Pack.
Staked is told in three alternating points of view- Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen. They have separate adventures through much of the book until the intense and action-packed grand finale when it’s all hands on deck.
Through much of the series, I’ve liked Atticus, but still found him annoying, too. But, since the intro to Owen, his archdruid into the mix, I’ve found unadulterated pleasure in all three characters. In fact, this book had me feeling deep sympathy for Atticus at one moment and resentful of those who pushed all guilt and blame on him and he took all that on himself. Atticus was following the advice of the Morrigan and a powerful seer when he did what he did and he carefully alerted others to potential danger, too. He’s made mistakes, but others are out to destroy the world or out for their own gain and he’s trying to stop all that and has over and over been in danger for it. I can’t feel he is at fault when an evil person chose a bloody, deadly action. I’ll leave that be now after having my say since this is spoiler territory.
There was an obvious tone of preparation for the end of the series even as there are current struggles all three druids are handling separately. Owen knows the big battle must be fought, but he’s putting his energy into his new apprentices and into a relationship with Greta and letting Atticus do all the running around for now. Granuaile has a big adventure first dealing with her mark and then completing a tough magical task for the Polish witches to get their help. A surprise is discovered in the fae situation that has big repercussions for Owen and draws him back into the central conflict. On a side track, Granuaile has had her step-dad’s treatment of her and his environmental indifference stuck in her craw since she was introduced and it was interesting to see that come to a head. Was revenge sweet or not all it is cracked up to be? Meanwhile, Atticus is facing off with the vampires and wondering about Leif’s friendship still and he’s working with his other allies to bring the dark fae to their side though he’s pretty sure they’d just rather end him.
I found the conversation Granuaile has with Atticus about what they will do after the war insightful and, here, for the first time, I really felt his age. Even Owen feels younger because of all that time he missed while frozen in time. Granuaile and Owen want Atticus to take on environmental superhero roles with them on behalf of the earth and his tired response irks them. He’s been at it a long time and seen so much that he just wants to be left alone and at peace. He’s been where they are and eventually had to come to terms with certain matters because he’s just been trying to survive. Of course, their point that he can go beyond just surviving is hopeful, too.
Altogether, Stake was another wonderful blend of action and twists, fun times with the hounds, and time well spent with the druids and their adventures. Looking forward to what Besieged has to offer after getting a taste of that story collection with one story added to the back of Staked as a bonus. Those who enjoy exciting urban fantasy don’t want to miss this series.
I always love Atticus O'Sullivan and his friends, although this wasn't my favorite book in the series. It focused on the war with the vampires and for much of the book the main characters were separated and working on their own.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
The natural growth and evolution of the characters is what is in full display here. They aren't perfect, they make mistakes, they learn from them and not always easily. Yet through each difficulty there's a growing appreciation for the connection to be acknowledged and shared with nature and everyone within it. The sheer weight of one's choices comes bearing down in this one, with consequences both horrible and inevitable, yet there's some resolution of a sort, though not one that makes everyone happy.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this series. Oberon is by far my favorite character. I would have given this one five stars, but two things held me back. First, the death of a loved character in a terrible way. Second, I wasn't crazy about switching between Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen...one narrator would have been better. Just my humble opinion. Still a marvelous series!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series to date. I may write more later. I just finished Staked and realized I have to wait until next year for the next book so I have much thinking to do.
