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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Another fun installment. I think it's great that the series POV is expanding beyond Atticus and Oberon - even though their partnership is still one of my favorite things about the series. Granuaile's interactions on her own with various fae and witches and gods is interesting and Owen provides some of the comic commentary we used to get from Atticus and Oberon.
My only two gripes about this book were
On one hand, I'm very glad Kevin Hearne didn't give Granuaile some past child abuse/molestation backstory, because that would've felt contrived. On the other hand, her anger at her step-dad seems over-the-top. He was an asshole.... so?
I'm not sure why everyone blames Atticus for everything that happens - particularly the pack and especially Greta blaming him for Hal's death (or Gunner's death for that matter). Irrational and annoying.
This novel ended on such a good note - if I didn't know there was a planned book 9, I'd consider it a satisfying ending to a very entertaining series.
My only two gripes about this book were
Spoiler
Granuaile's overdramatic sense of injustice about her step-dad and the Tempe and Flagstaff pack's reaction to being attacked at Owen's grove.On one hand, I'm very glad Kevin Hearne didn't give Granuaile some past child abuse/molestation backstory, because that would've felt contrived. On the other hand, her anger at her step-dad seems over-the-top. He was an asshole.... so?
I'm not sure why everyone blames Atticus for everything that happens - particularly the pack and especially Greta blaming him for Hal's death (or Gunner's death for that matter). Irrational and annoying.
This novel ended on such a good note - if I didn't know there was a planned book 9, I'd consider it a satisfying ending to a very entertaining series.
adventurous
fast-paced
3 1/2 stars
Went up because it was slightly better for me than Hammered.
Thinking about it a week later and decide to take it back down.
This is mainly about the vampire issue coming to a head. Although it has the humor, it didn't seem to have quite as much as some others. The part with Granuaile, although more interesting here than other books, still were a bit flat and not as fun. She is trying to get rid of Loki's mark and then hide herself from divination, while Atticus is off fighting and funding the vampire war, with what little money he has left.
So the vampire war was started 2000 years ago by the vampire who is pressing it now. He killed off all the druids in genocide pretty much and now, he wants to kill the remaining ones, again. There is an internal vampire war going on at the same time and this would secure his place. So people fight and get killed as always and the blame game is played.
The blame game was my biggest issue in this book. It made me pretty damn mad Granuaile is the only one that points out that that wasn't Atticus' fault but the vampire war. Greta wants her cake and to eat it too. So this brought it down from being a really good addition to Iron Druid series to being not one of my favorites but still good in the other parts. Kind of like Hammered was except that I didn't get angered in Hammered, just bored in parts that weren't the fun or exciting times. Sometimes things just have to get explained.
Went up because it was slightly better for me than Hammered.
Thinking about it a week later and decide to take it back down.
This is mainly about the vampire issue coming to a head. Although it has the humor, it didn't seem to have quite as much as some others. The part with Granuaile, although more interesting here than other books, still were a bit flat and not as fun. She is trying to get rid of Loki's mark and then hide herself from divination, while Atticus is off fighting and funding the vampire war, with what little money he has left.
So the vampire war was started 2000 years ago by the vampire who is pressing it now. He killed off all the druids in genocide pretty much and now, he wants to kill the remaining ones, again. There is an internal vampire war going on at the same time and this would secure his place. So people fight and get killed as always and the blame game is played.
The blame game was my biggest issue in this book. It made me pretty damn mad
Spoiler
and I pretty much hate Greta. And I dislike that Owen actually agrees with her. Sorry Gunnerson followed Atticus to fight Thor because he had a beef with Thor, not because Atticus forced him too, yet hey, it is his fault for fighting with him in the first place? OK and now Hal. You bitch, you take up with Atticus's old mentor who is a druid, and you don't expect to get caught up in the war. You are the one that should be blamed because if you weren't there, if you didn't talk the parents into teaching the kids, you wouldn't have been targeted. How about putting the blame on yourself for this one. The vampires are trying to kill ALL druids, not just the one currently fighting back because druids are dangerous to vampires, you cow. Can you tell I hate her. I hated her from Hammered and she is worse here for me. For Owen to coddle her? Being led by the little head I guess.Spoiler
She wants to raise the little ones of werewolves to be druids and get trained by Owen, a druid. Yet, she doesn't want to be involved in the vampire druid issue, hmm... Owen should be blaming himself for putting them in danger, not Atticus for "cocking it up".
I know there's another book in the series, but if it ended here I wouldn't be upset at all. One of the best books I think I've ever read.
For some reason when using my audio file combiner, this book kept breaking it. So I was loading each chapter individually but Overcast only allows 3 uploads at a time. I only ran out once and it was three short chapters in a row while I was doing where I was unable to keep the uploads cycling. Oh well. 15 minutes of read time lost isn't the end of the world.
Speaking of the end of the world, this book's stakes were lower than the others, but I didn't feel like it suffered for it.
Speaking of the end of the world, this book's stakes were lower than the others, but I didn't feel like it suffered for it.
I just...
I feel bad even writing this. I have been just shy of a superfan of this series since I found it a few years ago. I have waited, with fangirl squeeing, for this book's release. Having recently moved, I about fell over when I found out the author was going to be a couple towns over for a signing. I hate crowds, but I went and paid my $27(!!) for the hardback, even though I already had the Audible version, because I wanted to support one of my favorite authors and have something for him to sign.
It all started out well enough. Atticus, Oberon, Owen...
...and then Granuaile and Orla. I should dig Granuaile. I really should. She is a super strong female character. I should be thrilled Hearne gives her so much time, but she reads terribly, even when she's an integral character in the storyline. In Staked, she's really not all that important. She has two separate side stories and, while I expect/hope/pray at least one of them of is integral for the next and last book of the series, all she manages to do in Staked is slow everything down and add filler to what still feels like a terribly short book.
I would say that Hearne is distracted by his other projects at the moment, but the Atticus, Oberon and Owen stuff still read really, really well. They all remind me of why I fell in love with this series in the first place - I hate to say it, but I hope in the end, Atticus will ditch the chick. She's a drag, man.
I feel bad even writing this. I have been just shy of a superfan of this series since I found it a few years ago. I have waited, with fangirl squeeing, for this book's release. Having recently moved, I about fell over when I found out the author was going to be a couple towns over for a signing. I hate crowds, but I went and paid my $27(!!) for the hardback, even though I already had the Audible version, because I wanted to support one of my favorite authors and have something for him to sign.
It all started out well enough. Atticus, Oberon, Owen...
...and then Granuaile and Orla. I should dig Granuaile. I really should. She is a super strong female character. I should be thrilled Hearne gives her so much time, but she reads terribly, even when she's an integral character in the storyline. In Staked, she's really not all that important. She has two separate side stories and, while I expect/hope/pray at least one of them of is integral for the next and last book of the series, all she manages to do in Staked is slow everything down and add filler to what still feels like a terribly short book.
I would say that Hearne is distracted by his other projects at the moment, but the Atticus, Oberon and Owen stuff still read really, really well. They all remind me of why I fell in love with this series in the first place - I hate to say it, but I hope in the end, Atticus will ditch the chick. She's a drag, man.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
True to its title
There is a lot going on in this book. I hesitated to give out five stars because of the folks that are lost and the changes that the characters have to deal with. But the story wraps up here, there is happiness to be found, and the same humor mixed with thoughtful asides amid a few quotes from the Bard that you've come to expect from an Iron Druid novel are all here. I wish the Three Slices anthology was available through my local libraries because I'd sure like to get some of the backstory for this story; read it first if you can find it.
There is a lot going on in this book. I hesitated to give out five stars because of the folks that are lost and the changes that the characters have to deal with. But the story wraps up here, there is happiness to be found, and the same humor mixed with thoughtful asides amid a few quotes from the Bard that you've come to expect from an Iron Druid novel are all here. I wish the Three Slices anthology was available through my local libraries because I'd sure like to get some of the backstory for this story; read it first if you can find it.
I keep trying to enjoy this series, but granuiale is starting to get really annoying. She's either a whining child or a bitchy zealot.