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The Iron Druid Chronicles #4
Tricked
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Paranormal Fantasy (2012)Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.
But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.
But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 24, 2012
About the author
Kevin Hearne
72 books12.6k followersKevin is the NYT bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles, as well as The Seven Kennings, an epic fantasy trilogy, and the Tales of Pell, a humorous fantasy series co-authored with Delilah S. Dawson. INK & SIGIL, a new urban fantasy series set in the Iron Druid universe, will be out in 2020.
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December 4, 2013Dear Kevin Hearne,
Please stop writing fun books like this so quickly. It makes me look like a chump for writing so slowly.
Sincerely,
pat
P.S. Thanks for writing fun books like this so quickly. I like reading them.
August 11, 2017
All the stars for Oberon 💕
January 7, 2013
Tricked. Well, I wasn't really. Atticus was, though, by friends, foes and everyone in between. I was Entertained, but while it was certainly an improvement on its predecessor, Hammered, character underpinnings and over-referential, jokey dialogue continue to limit greatness.
I've come to realize my most significant problem with the 'Iron Druid' series is Atticus' overwhelmingly young behavior and voice, firmly rooted in current American culture. By 'firmly,' I mean that he makes references to microwaving Peeps, TARDIS, Elmo and the Sturgis biker rally, the Pacific Coast Highway and Lou Ferrigno. Atticus couldn't get any more current than if he was a forty-some-year-old white American male who grew up geek. The incongruity inhibits my enjoyment of the series, especially when Hearne keeps drawing my attention to it--interactions with Oberon and his own internal dialogue make it unavoidable.
Throughout the book, there is ever-ending repartee between Oberon and Atticus. It is humorous, but it is overplayed and doesn't quite fit. The joking also overly roots the story in modern culture--for instance, Atticus explains the Schwartzenegger Pun Reduction Treaty rule to Oberon.
Add the modern underpinnings to a relatively infirm sense of responsibility for an earth-connected druid and it equals a severe cognitive dissonance headache. If I completely ignore the fact that Atticus is supposed to be a 2000 year old druid responsible for the health of the earth, we get along fine. Unfortunately, the first offending sentences show up on page 3, so it's not like I had a choice of forgetting it: "the world desperately needs more Druids. So my choices were to stay on earth and die or leave earth and let the world slowly die of neglect--which wouldn't truly help, since all planes connected to earth would die at the same time." Riiight. So he's essential to the earth's health, which is why he's only recently taken an apprentice, why we've only seen him working to rebuild a forest once and why he spends all his time helping 'friends' and not the earth.
Once I took some Advil for the dissonance-headache, I found it to be a relatively enjoyable book. It was a 'hero's task' story, with the task chosen by Coyote in return for helping fake Atticus' death. To no one's surprise when dealing with a Trickster, completion did require a number of side journeys and unexpected obstacles. Several conflict points from previous storylines were also continued, interrupting the task, including the Morrigan, various Norse gods, and Leif the vampire.
Positive notes include the background on the Dine culture to be well-researched and respectful, a pleasure when there is often cultural misappropriation of Native culture, ignorantly applied. Each section of story was well written, inciting my interest, even if I didn't understand the logic . The opposition was formidable, and Hearne cleverly hamstring's Atticus' power in a number of ways including opposition by a different spiritual background, constraining his earth magic.
At the end of the day, I'd rate Tricked above the average April Fool's Day joke, and somewhat below Houdini. I enjoyed it, as long as I turned off the character-logic section of my brain. So, three and a half stars, rounding up for being respectful to Dine culture and for enticing a re-read despite not believing the central character.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
I've come to realize my most significant problem with the 'Iron Druid' series is Atticus' overwhelmingly young behavior and voice, firmly rooted in current American culture. By 'firmly,' I mean that he makes references to microwaving Peeps, TARDIS, Elmo and the Sturgis biker rally, the Pacific Coast Highway and Lou Ferrigno. Atticus couldn't get any more current than if he was a forty-some-year-old white American male who grew up geek. The incongruity inhibits my enjoyment of the series, especially when Hearne keeps drawing my attention to it--interactions with Oberon and his own internal dialogue make it unavoidable.
Throughout the book, there is ever-ending repartee between Oberon and Atticus. It is humorous, but it is overplayed and doesn't quite fit. The joking also overly roots the story in modern culture--for instance, Atticus explains the Schwartzenegger Pun Reduction Treaty rule to Oberon.
Add the modern underpinnings to a relatively infirm sense of responsibility for an earth-connected druid and it equals a severe cognitive dissonance headache. If I completely ignore the fact that Atticus is supposed to be a 2000 year old druid responsible for the health of the earth, we get along fine. Unfortunately, the first offending sentences show up on page 3, so it's not like I had a choice of forgetting it: "the world desperately needs more Druids. So my choices were to stay on earth and die or leave earth and let the world slowly die of neglect--which wouldn't truly help, since all planes connected to earth would die at the same time." Riiight. So he's essential to the earth's health, which is why he's only recently taken an apprentice, why we've only seen him working to rebuild a forest once and why he spends all his time helping 'friends' and not the earth.
Once I took some Advil for the dissonance-headache, I found it to be a relatively enjoyable book. It was a 'hero's task' story, with the task chosen by Coyote in return for helping fake Atticus' death. To no one's surprise when dealing with a Trickster, completion did require a number of side journeys and unexpected obstacles. Several conflict points from previous storylines were also continued, interrupting the task, including the Morrigan, various Norse gods, and Leif the vampire.
Positive notes include the background on the Dine culture to be well-researched and respectful, a pleasure when there is often cultural misappropriation of Native culture, ignorantly applied. Each section of story was well written, inciting my interest, even if I didn't understand the logic . The opposition was formidable, and Hearne cleverly hamstring's Atticus' power in a number of ways including opposition by a different spiritual background, constraining his earth magic.
At the end of the day, I'd rate Tricked above the average April Fool's Day joke, and somewhat below Houdini. I enjoyed it, as long as I turned off the character-logic section of my brain. So, three and a half stars, rounding up for being respectful to Dine culture and for enticing a re-read despite not believing the central character.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
April 29, 2012
Hm. This wasn’t what I expected at all. I was tempted to give Tricked only three stars, but then I decided against it because Hearne’s writing and research deserve some reward after all. That said, me counting pages to the end is never a good sign, and I caught myself doing it more than once.
I didn’t mind the extensive worldbuilding and the occasional mythology lessons in the first two books, quite the contrary. I got a little tired of it in book three, but I was tempted to skip entire passages in book four. And yet I didn’t because I was determined to carefully read every single word so that I can be sure the problem is him, not my lack of attention. And guess what? It’s him. There was simply not enough to connect the huge infodumps in this book, especially in the first part. While I’m always up for a challenge and I’m more likely to enjoy a book that actually teaches me something new, it still bothers me when parts of it read more like a textbook than like an actual novel.
With a group of Norse gods hot on his heels, everyone’s favorite Druid Atticus Sullivan must come up with a solution that will keep him, his hound Oberon and his apprentice Granuaile safe. Fortunately for them all, he’s made some friends along the way too. With a little help from the Morrigan and Coyote, he succeeds in throwing them off his trail by faking his own death. But making a deal with a trickster god, however benign it may seem, is never a good idea! Pretty soon, Atticus has to face an even worse enemy – one he’s learned very little about in his two thousand years of existence.
Coyote is a common enough character in urban fantasy. I liked him in Patricia Briggs’ River Marked, really loved him in Allyson James’ Stormwalker series, but I think Hearne came closest to what I imagine a trickster god would be like. Both Briggs and James portrayed him as mischievous, but ultimately benevolent; however, Hearne clouded his intentions a little bit, made him even more unpredictable, and quite a bit dangerous.
This is the first time that I really felt the tiredness and the emotional depth I would expect from someone with two thousand years of experience. Atticus has millennia of losses on his shoulders and I loved that Hearne explored that part of him a little bit. I understand why he can’t dwell on his emotions too often, I do, but it’s unavoidable sometimes even for him. It was a nice change.
Usually I try to suppress any emotions that savor of regret, because they are invariably aperitifs to a main course of depression, and for the long-lived, that’s a recipe for suicide. But that doesn’t mean they can’t sneak up on me sometimes.
And, like, gang-tackle me.
As for the romance, in the interview he gave the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader, Hearne promised us a love interest for Atticus in Tricked, and he certainly didn’t lie. But if you’re expecting some big romance, you might end up disappointed. There are just subtle hints of one, more reluctant attraction than anything else, and it doesn’t affect the plot in any way. I, for one, appreciate this about the series. If I want romance, I read PNR. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t be happy if Atticus and the person he’s interested in get their HEA, I would. I just don’t think it needs to be a priority for Hearne.
I had pre-ordered this book about three months before the release date, just to be on the safe side (my paranoia knows no limits – what if ALL the copies were sold before I managed to get one?), and I will pre-order the next one. Hearne can easily be forgiven for this weak link in the series, he has more than earned it with the first three books.
Also posted at The Nocturnal Library
I didn’t mind the extensive worldbuilding and the occasional mythology lessons in the first two books, quite the contrary. I got a little tired of it in book three, but I was tempted to skip entire passages in book four. And yet I didn’t because I was determined to carefully read every single word so that I can be sure the problem is him, not my lack of attention. And guess what? It’s him. There was simply not enough to connect the huge infodumps in this book, especially in the first part. While I’m always up for a challenge and I’m more likely to enjoy a book that actually teaches me something new, it still bothers me when parts of it read more like a textbook than like an actual novel.
With a group of Norse gods hot on his heels, everyone’s favorite Druid Atticus Sullivan must come up with a solution that will keep him, his hound Oberon and his apprentice Granuaile safe. Fortunately for them all, he’s made some friends along the way too. With a little help from the Morrigan and Coyote, he succeeds in throwing them off his trail by faking his own death. But making a deal with a trickster god, however benign it may seem, is never a good idea! Pretty soon, Atticus has to face an even worse enemy – one he’s learned very little about in his two thousand years of existence.
Coyote is a common enough character in urban fantasy. I liked him in Patricia Briggs’ River Marked, really loved him in Allyson James’ Stormwalker series, but I think Hearne came closest to what I imagine a trickster god would be like. Both Briggs and James portrayed him as mischievous, but ultimately benevolent; however, Hearne clouded his intentions a little bit, made him even more unpredictable, and quite a bit dangerous.
This is the first time that I really felt the tiredness and the emotional depth I would expect from someone with two thousand years of experience. Atticus has millennia of losses on his shoulders and I loved that Hearne explored that part of him a little bit. I understand why he can’t dwell on his emotions too often, I do, but it’s unavoidable sometimes even for him. It was a nice change.
Usually I try to suppress any emotions that savor of regret, because they are invariably aperitifs to a main course of depression, and for the long-lived, that’s a recipe for suicide. But that doesn’t mean they can’t sneak up on me sometimes.
And, like, gang-tackle me.
As for the romance, in the interview he gave the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader, Hearne promised us a love interest for Atticus in Tricked, and he certainly didn’t lie. But if you’re expecting some big romance, you might end up disappointed. There are just subtle hints of one, more reluctant attraction than anything else, and it doesn’t affect the plot in any way. I, for one, appreciate this about the series. If I want romance, I read PNR. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t be happy if Atticus and the person he’s interested in get their HEA, I would. I just don’t think it needs to be a priority for Hearne.
I had pre-ordered this book about three months before the release date, just to be on the safe side (my paranoia knows no limits – what if ALL the copies were sold before I managed to get one?), and I will pre-order the next one. Hearne can easily be forgiven for this weak link in the series, he has more than earned it with the first three books.
Also posted at The Nocturnal Library
February 2, 2018
Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.
I just have to say, I love it when a series gets better and better with each new installment. And so far, that has been the case (at least in my opinion) with The Iron Druid Chronicles.
Atticus O’Sullivan is on the lam with his Druidic apprentice and his faithful hound. The only way to stay safe is to convince the gods of all the pantheons that he’s dead. Really, really dead. To accomplish this without actually dying, he gains the aid of Coyote, the Native American trickster god, and stages a battle royale against thunder gods from multiple pantheons. After basically hacking him to pieces, the whole world is convinced that the last Druid is no more. There’s a downside, through. Now, Atticus owes Coyote a favor. A big one. Unfortunately, nothing is ever straightforward with a trickster god.
There’s so much to enjoy in this book. Character development, setting, mythos, lore, and magic all make for an incredibly compelling story. But as with all of the books in this series thus far, what makes it for me is the humor. Man, these books are funny. Atticus himself is always sassy, which makes him my favorite leading man in any urban fantasy series I’ve found. His apprentice is plenty sassy in her own right, and I love watching her cope with all the crazy stuff she learns through life experiences at the side of the last druid. Hearne has a gift for creating really fun secondary characters, as well.
But my absolute, hands down, very favorite character in the entire series is Oberon, Atticus’s faithful Irish wolfhound. Through their mental link, Oberon is able to express himself and offer his own commentary on current events. Said commentary is what keeps me glued to these books, because it is legitimately laugh out loud funny. I love when an author is able to make an animal a fairly central character in a book, and this is just about the best I’ve seen that characterization handled. Is it cheating to include Oberon with the host of literary animals who are unable to voice their thoughts? Undoubtedly. Do I care? NOPE. Oberon is sarcastic, irreverent, and intelligent. His cultural references (from all that tv he watches while Atticus is at work) are spot on. His love of all things meat and his vendetta against cats and squirrels are just enough to remind readers that he is, in fact, canine. I don’t know how to properly express my love for this fictional hound, but suffice it to say that he’s my favorite aspect of a series I’m loving more and more with each installment.
Something I can’t stress strongly enough: if you aren’t opposed to audiobooks, this series really shines in its audio form. I’ve always preferred the written word to audiobooks, and I always will, but this series is simply a pleasure to listen to. While the books are still great when read in physical form (I read some just to make sure), this is one of the few series I’ve come across that I truly believe is far better in audio form. Luke Daniels does a fantastic job narrating this series, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of my listening experience. I’ve already started the next book!
Original review can be found at Booknest.
I just have to say, I love it when a series gets better and better with each new installment. And so far, that has been the case (at least in my opinion) with The Iron Druid Chronicles.
Atticus O’Sullivan is on the lam with his Druidic apprentice and his faithful hound. The only way to stay safe is to convince the gods of all the pantheons that he’s dead. Really, really dead. To accomplish this without actually dying, he gains the aid of Coyote, the Native American trickster god, and stages a battle royale against thunder gods from multiple pantheons. After basically hacking him to pieces, the whole world is convinced that the last Druid is no more. There’s a downside, through. Now, Atticus owes Coyote a favor. A big one. Unfortunately, nothing is ever straightforward with a trickster god.
There’s so much to enjoy in this book. Character development, setting, mythos, lore, and magic all make for an incredibly compelling story. But as with all of the books in this series thus far, what makes it for me is the humor. Man, these books are funny. Atticus himself is always sassy, which makes him my favorite leading man in any urban fantasy series I’ve found. His apprentice is plenty sassy in her own right, and I love watching her cope with all the crazy stuff she learns through life experiences at the side of the last druid. Hearne has a gift for creating really fun secondary characters, as well.
But my absolute, hands down, very favorite character in the entire series is Oberon, Atticus’s faithful Irish wolfhound. Through their mental link, Oberon is able to express himself and offer his own commentary on current events. Said commentary is what keeps me glued to these books, because it is legitimately laugh out loud funny. I love when an author is able to make an animal a fairly central character in a book, and this is just about the best I’ve seen that characterization handled. Is it cheating to include Oberon with the host of literary animals who are unable to voice their thoughts? Undoubtedly. Do I care? NOPE. Oberon is sarcastic, irreverent, and intelligent. His cultural references (from all that tv he watches while Atticus is at work) are spot on. His love of all things meat and his vendetta against cats and squirrels are just enough to remind readers that he is, in fact, canine. I don’t know how to properly express my love for this fictional hound, but suffice it to say that he’s my favorite aspect of a series I’m loving more and more with each installment.
Something I can’t stress strongly enough: if you aren’t opposed to audiobooks, this series really shines in its audio form. I’ve always preferred the written word to audiobooks, and I always will, but this series is simply a pleasure to listen to. While the books are still great when read in physical form (I read some just to make sure), this is one of the few series I’ve come across that I truly believe is far better in audio form. Luke Daniels does a fantastic job narrating this series, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of my listening experience. I’ve already started the next book!
December 23, 2016
A trickster god has fun with Atticus and Granuaile!
Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid chronicles continues with Tricked, the fourth novel in the series (there are also several short stories and novellas). Though the series, as such, has devolved into a serial re-hashing of the original cool idea of a two thousand year old last druid, his sexy ginger apprentice and his wise cracking sidekick Irish wolfhound – Hearne has a winning formula. Essentially mixing in the comparative theological funkiness of Gaiman’s American Gods with a hip urban fantasy salute to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files; Hearne has a virtually limitless literary tree from which to pick.
Tricked sees our three protagonists on the lamb in Arizona and swapping tricks with the Native American trickster god Coyote. Also making appearances are litigious werewolves, a PTSD vampire, a putrescent Norse god, and a couple of super fast Navajo skinwalkers.
Hearne also introduces a Kwai Chang Caine type flashback to his arch druid master in ancient Ireland. One of these sequences produces the novel’s best term of endearment. “poxy shit weasel”.
Sláinte mhaith!
Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid chronicles continues with Tricked, the fourth novel in the series (there are also several short stories and novellas). Though the series, as such, has devolved into a serial re-hashing of the original cool idea of a two thousand year old last druid, his sexy ginger apprentice and his wise cracking sidekick Irish wolfhound – Hearne has a winning formula. Essentially mixing in the comparative theological funkiness of Gaiman’s American Gods with a hip urban fantasy salute to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files; Hearne has a virtually limitless literary tree from which to pick.
Tricked sees our three protagonists on the lamb in Arizona and swapping tricks with the Native American trickster god Coyote. Also making appearances are litigious werewolves, a PTSD vampire, a putrescent Norse god, and a couple of super fast Navajo skinwalkers.
Hearne also introduces a Kwai Chang Caine type flashback to his arch druid master in ancient Ireland. One of these sequences produces the novel’s best term of endearment. “poxy shit weasel”.
Sláinte mhaith!
February 29, 2016
Fourth in the series and still going really well! Bonus in this one was lots of dialogue between Atticus and his canine companion. I love the humour. Occasionally I felt there was a bit too much explaining going on - I realise Atticus is teaching his student but I don't want to be taught as well! Nevertheless it is a very readable story with plenty of action and fun. On to the next one a.s.a.p.
June 4, 2023
Hammered was brutal and Tricked has our favorite druid cutting ties to his previous home and name thanks to a slew of ancient gods wanting him dead. After Coyote helps him, he is indebted to him and finds himself on an Arizona reservation with Oberon and his apprentice Granuaile.
Coyote is an interesting character and one I have encountered in other novels. He is immortal, and a known trickster. Hearne kept me guessing about his true intentions. This kept me on edge and I wavered back and forth in worrying about Atticus. Thanks to a warning from the Morrigan, Atticus keeps a close eye on Coyote too but even he is unsure.
What I loved most about Tricked was the depth the author brought to Atticus. Despite his intelligence, kickassery, and magical knowledge we really catch a glimpse of what it truly means to be over two thousand years old. I felt Atticus's weariness at starting over and felt some sarcastic undertones particularly with some associates/friends. His love for Oberon and life, earth and those close to him, not to mention the weight of responsibility he feels all endeared me to him further.
Despite some protests, the relationship between Atticus and Granuaile intrigues me. We do see some attraction and the foundation for a possible romance, but as I have said before, it isn't a necessary component in urban fantasy for me.
Skinwalkers, Hell, and vampires provided the action scenes and storyline in Tricked. Hearne is a masterful storyteller and I loved the details and worldbuilding he brought to the story. I held my breath each time we faced a battle and one, in particular, left me quite upset. The final encounter with the skinwalkers offered squeamish moments, quick thinking and hilarious moments even as I thanked the Nore Gods I wasn't Atticus. Eep!
Luke Daniels continues to narrate and is such a joy to listen to. He is fast becoming one of my favorites! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Update: Re-listen for the readathon. Skinwalkers...eep. I enjoyed listening and seeing things from a different perspective as someone who has finished the series.
Coyote is an interesting character and one I have encountered in other novels. He is immortal, and a known trickster. Hearne kept me guessing about his true intentions. This kept me on edge and I wavered back and forth in worrying about Atticus. Thanks to a warning from the Morrigan, Atticus keeps a close eye on Coyote too but even he is unsure.
What I loved most about Tricked was the depth the author brought to Atticus. Despite his intelligence, kickassery, and magical knowledge we really catch a glimpse of what it truly means to be over two thousand years old. I felt Atticus's weariness at starting over and felt some sarcastic undertones particularly with some associates/friends. His love for Oberon and life, earth and those close to him, not to mention the weight of responsibility he feels all endeared me to him further.
Despite some protests, the relationship between Atticus and Granuaile intrigues me. We do see some attraction and the foundation for a possible romance, but as I have said before, it isn't a necessary component in urban fantasy for me.
Skinwalkers, Hell, and vampires provided the action scenes and storyline in Tricked. Hearne is a masterful storyteller and I loved the details and worldbuilding he brought to the story. I held my breath each time we faced a battle and one, in particular, left me quite upset. The final encounter with the skinwalkers offered squeamish moments, quick thinking and hilarious moments even as I thanked the Nore Gods I wasn't Atticus. Eep!
Luke Daniels continues to narrate and is such a joy to listen to. He is fast becoming one of my favorites! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Update: Re-listen for the readathon. Skinwalkers...eep. I enjoyed listening and seeing things from a different perspective as someone who has finished the series.
August 22, 2014
Hel-la fun (see what I did there?)
February 14, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this book. I do have to admit that it was not my favorite book in the series so far but it was still good. This is the fourth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles which is a series that really has to be read in order. I have found the entire series to be rather entertaining and this book was no exception.
The book started out really strong. Atticus needs to disappear so a plan is developed to make sure that everyone thinks he is gone for good. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that dealt with Atticus and Granuaile leaving their old life behind. Atticus finds himself owing Coyote a favor which Coyote cashes in quite wisely. Coyote is such a sneaky character which I find a lot of fun.
I will say that this book felt a bit uneven to me. There were parts of the book where I was hanging on to every word because I was totally into the story. There were other sections that I wanted to drift off so I had to focus so that I didn't miss something important to the story. This was never a book that I didn't like but I did find a few sections to be a little slow.
Luke Daniels continues to do a fabulous job with this series. I really could not imagine experiencing this series in any other way. He is the voice of Atticus but he also is able to encompass all of the other characters. I think that my favorite voice is probably the one he uses for Oberon. It is really quite brilliant. Luke Daniels has quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite narrators and I can't wait to listen to him bring the rest of the series to life.
I would definitely recommend this series to others. I think that it is a really well-done series filled with great characters and exciting situations. My rating of this book is really closer to 3.5 stars and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
Initial Thoughts
I am not sure maybe 3.5 stars? I am going to have to think about whether to round up or down a bit. I liked this one but I liked parts of it more than others. I felt like I was a little more prone to my mind wandering while I listened to this one than the previous books in the series. There were some things that happen in this one that I feel will have a significance in later books. The narration was fabulous as expected. I look forward to reading more from the series soon.
Book Source: eStories Purchase
I liked this book. I do have to admit that it was not my favorite book in the series so far but it was still good. This is the fourth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles which is a series that really has to be read in order. I have found the entire series to be rather entertaining and this book was no exception.
The book started out really strong. Atticus needs to disappear so a plan is developed to make sure that everyone thinks he is gone for good. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that dealt with Atticus and Granuaile leaving their old life behind. Atticus finds himself owing Coyote a favor which Coyote cashes in quite wisely. Coyote is such a sneaky character which I find a lot of fun.
I will say that this book felt a bit uneven to me. There were parts of the book where I was hanging on to every word because I was totally into the story. There were other sections that I wanted to drift off so I had to focus so that I didn't miss something important to the story. This was never a book that I didn't like but I did find a few sections to be a little slow.
Luke Daniels continues to do a fabulous job with this series. I really could not imagine experiencing this series in any other way. He is the voice of Atticus but he also is able to encompass all of the other characters. I think that my favorite voice is probably the one he uses for Oberon. It is really quite brilliant. Luke Daniels has quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite narrators and I can't wait to listen to him bring the rest of the series to life.
I would definitely recommend this series to others. I think that it is a really well-done series filled with great characters and exciting situations. My rating of this book is really closer to 3.5 stars and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
Initial Thoughts
I am not sure maybe 3.5 stars? I am going to have to think about whether to round up or down a bit. I liked this one but I liked parts of it more than others. I felt like I was a little more prone to my mind wandering while I listened to this one than the previous books in the series. There were some things that happen in this one that I feel will have a significance in later books. The narration was fabulous as expected. I look forward to reading more from the series soon.
Book Source: eStories Purchase
July 31, 2021
Entertaining and fun, with superb narration once again.
July 13, 2018
Another excellent story from an excellent author and fantastic narrator. 8 of 10 stars
May 11, 2016
Navajo trickster god, Coyote, gives Atticus a hand when some bloodthirsty thunder gods come looking for vengeance after Thor's death. And, by gives him a hand, he becomes Atticus's body double and lets the assorted thunder gods think they've chopped Atticus into itty-bitty pieces. Soon enough the real Atticus finds himself wrangled by Coyote into fighting brutal skinwalkers. Just as Atticus thinks he's starting to get a handle on things again, betrayal comes from an unexpected direction. Atticus won't be fooled again, if he survives this time that is.
I'm so excited to be back to the awesome The Iron Druid Chronicles! I have so much love for this series. This time around the experience was a bit different, but still just as great. This time I read the paperback copy rather than listen to the excellent audiobook narration provided by Luke Daniels. Honestly, while reading I had his voice in the back of my mind the entire time, and just how he sounded in general in mind. Some of my pronunciation of the Irish (and Navajo) words were probably quite off, because I either couldn't remember how it sounded or because it was one I had never heard said aloud before. Regardless, I had a great time getting to know some of my favorite characters again. On that note, as much as I like Atticus, Granuaile (I love her relationship with her sensei), and Oberon (a close second favorite, here), I think Coyote easily manages to steal all of his scenes. He really manages to shake things up, and it was good to see Atticus face something he's not all that familiar with from the start.
Overall, The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne just keeps getting better and better! I could go on and on about this book, but I'll just save time and tell you to pick up this book (or start this series from the beginning), especially if you're a fan of urban fantasy in the vein of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher or the television series Supernatural. I can't wait to dig into book five, Trapped!
I'm so excited to be back to the awesome The Iron Druid Chronicles! I have so much love for this series. This time around the experience was a bit different, but still just as great. This time I read the paperback copy rather than listen to the excellent audiobook narration provided by Luke Daniels. Honestly, while reading I had his voice in the back of my mind the entire time, and just how he sounded in general in mind. Some of my pronunciation of the Irish (and Navajo) words were probably quite off, because I either couldn't remember how it sounded or because it was one I had never heard said aloud before. Regardless, I had a great time getting to know some of my favorite characters again. On that note, as much as I like Atticus, Granuaile (I love her relationship with her sensei), and Oberon (a close second favorite, here), I think Coyote easily manages to steal all of his scenes. He really manages to shake things up, and it was good to see Atticus face something he's not all that familiar with from the start.
Overall, The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne just keeps getting better and better! I could go on and on about this book, but I'll just save time and tell you to pick up this book (or start this series from the beginning), especially if you're a fan of urban fantasy in the vein of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher or the television series Supernatural. I can't wait to dig into book five, Trapped!
September 2, 2016
This book is an improvement over the third one in my opinion, but not as good as the first two books in the series. I was glad to have Oberon the wolfhound back, being his usual goofy self. I was also glad to know a bit more about apprentice Granuaile and to get some background info on Atticus.
I was sorry that Atticus and Leif ended up at odds with one another—I will miss their Shakespeare quote battles and Atticus instructing the unwilling vampire on how to appear more modern, something which Atticus excels at.
For someone who is supposed to be preserving the earth, Atticus spends an awful lot of time haring off on missions determined by others. Some of this was pay back, of course, paying back Coyote for services rendered and dealing with blow-back from the book 3 mission under taken to humour Leif. One would think that a Druid as aged as Atticus would be less focused on honour and more focused on the big picture—keeping the earth healthy and building the relationships that will help him through the next 1000 years.
I still feel that Granuaile is being under-utilized—hopefully this will be rectified in upcoming books. My hope is also that Atticus can settle down again and develop another circle of interesting friends (similar to the first two books). Having an awesome main character is great, but good supporting characters can kick things up a notch, in my opinion.
Still, some good ideas and I will definitely continue on to the next installment.
I was sorry that Atticus and Leif ended up at odds with one another—I will miss their Shakespeare quote battles and Atticus instructing the unwilling vampire on how to appear more modern, something which Atticus excels at.
For someone who is supposed to be preserving the earth, Atticus spends an awful lot of time haring off on missions determined by others. Some of this was pay back, of course, paying back Coyote for services rendered and dealing with blow-back from the book 3 mission under taken to humour Leif. One would think that a Druid as aged as Atticus would be less focused on honour and more focused on the big picture—keeping the earth healthy and building the relationships that will help him through the next 1000 years.
I still feel that Granuaile is being under-utilized—hopefully this will be rectified in upcoming books. My hope is also that Atticus can settle down again and develop another circle of interesting friends (similar to the first two books). Having an awesome main character is great, but good supporting characters can kick things up a notch, in my opinion.
Still, some good ideas and I will definitely continue on to the next installment.
August 12, 2012
This has to be my favourite book of the series so far and it's the first one I've wanted to give all five stars to.
You see, I've loved everything about the series prior to this book apart from one teeny tiny thing, which was that I didn't feel the main character, Atticus, had enough inter-character relationships. At least, nothing stronger than an acquaintance or a business relationship. And I felt that, had that been there, it would have given me something to connect with and follow as an ongoing development in amongst all the other general badassery that the books are jam-packed with. The only person Atticus really gave two hoots about up until now, as far as I could tell, was his hound Oberon. But in this instalment we have a developing friendship, a teacher-student relationship, a cute bit of flirting and also a betrayal that really added that bit of personal drama I'd been looking for previously.
Now onto the rest of the badassery I mentioned. This time, the mythology was mostly Native American in origin. Atticus has called in Coyote to help him stage his own death so that he might be able to stay in one place long enough to train Granuaille in her Druidry in relative peace. It's always easier to concentrate on a chemistry lesson when you don't have someone trying to take your head off, after all. Of course, Coyote, being the little trickster deity that he is, wanted something in return. That's how these things generally work. And so begins the part where it all goes to hell in a handbasket.
I really loved the plot for TRICKED. I thought it had excellent pacing, the mythology was interesting, the action scenes were exciting and, of course, there were some hilarious dialogue passages thrown in there for good measure.
And this time, not only were Atticus and Oberon hilarious together, but Granuaille can hold her own in the conversations too! She had a couple of great lines. There was an ongoing point-scoring game that carried on throughout most of the book which provided many laugh-out-loud moments. A favourite quote from that game between Atticus and Oberon was:
"Heh. I think you made your point, Atticus."
"Gods Below, Oberon, that was horrendous! You just violated the Schwarzenegger Pun Reduction Treaty of 2010."
"What? No, that didn't qualify!"
"Yes, it did. Any pun related to a weapon's destructive capabilities or final disposition of a victim's body is a Schwarzenegger pun, by definition. That's negative twenty sausages according to the sanctions outlined in Section Four, Paragraph Two."
My hound whined. "No! Not twenty sausages! Twenty succulent sausages I'll never snarf? You can't do that - it's cruelty to animals!"
"You can't argue with this. Your pawprint is on the treaty, and you agreed that Schwarzenegger puns are heinous abominations of language that deserve food-related punishments for purposes of correction and deterrence."
"Auggh! I still say it's your fault for renting Commando in the first place! You started it!"
As with the rest of the series, I listened to it in audiobook format. There aren't many series that I would honestly rather listen to than read, but this is definitely one of them. Luke Daniels is a narrating genius, and he really upped my enjoyment level. I don't know, if I'd have read them myself, that Oberon would have been quite as funny to me as he is, but the voice Daniels uses for him is so incredibly perfect and hound-like and just adorably enthusiastic- exactly as you'd expect a mind-speaking dog to be- that it just makes it a delightfully enjoyable and entertaining experience.
There was an excerpt at the end from the next book, Trapped, which I am now VERY excited to read to see how my new favourite UF trio are faring.
Well done Mr. Hearne. Another excellent instalment. Go and have a nice cup of tea, you deserve it.
5 Stars! ★★★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
You see, I've loved everything about the series prior to this book apart from one teeny tiny thing, which was that I didn't feel the main character, Atticus, had enough inter-character relationships. At least, nothing stronger than an acquaintance or a business relationship. And I felt that, had that been there, it would have given me something to connect with and follow as an ongoing development in amongst all the other general badassery that the books are jam-packed with. The only person Atticus really gave two hoots about up until now, as far as I could tell, was his hound Oberon. But in this instalment we have a developing friendship, a teacher-student relationship, a cute bit of flirting and also a betrayal that really added that bit of personal drama I'd been looking for previously.
Now onto the rest of the badassery I mentioned. This time, the mythology was mostly Native American in origin. Atticus has called in Coyote to help him stage his own death so that he might be able to stay in one place long enough to train Granuaille in her Druidry in relative peace. It's always easier to concentrate on a chemistry lesson when you don't have someone trying to take your head off, after all. Of course, Coyote, being the little trickster deity that he is, wanted something in return. That's how these things generally work. And so begins the part where it all goes to hell in a handbasket.
I really loved the plot for TRICKED. I thought it had excellent pacing, the mythology was interesting, the action scenes were exciting and, of course, there were some hilarious dialogue passages thrown in there for good measure.
And this time, not only were Atticus and Oberon hilarious together, but Granuaille can hold her own in the conversations too! She had a couple of great lines. There was an ongoing point-scoring game that carried on throughout most of the book which provided many laugh-out-loud moments. A favourite quote from that game between Atticus and Oberon was:
"Heh. I think you made your point, Atticus."
"Gods Below, Oberon, that was horrendous! You just violated the Schwarzenegger Pun Reduction Treaty of 2010."
"What? No, that didn't qualify!"
"Yes, it did. Any pun related to a weapon's destructive capabilities or final disposition of a victim's body is a Schwarzenegger pun, by definition. That's negative twenty sausages according to the sanctions outlined in Section Four, Paragraph Two."
My hound whined. "No! Not twenty sausages! Twenty succulent sausages I'll never snarf? You can't do that - it's cruelty to animals!"
"You can't argue with this. Your pawprint is on the treaty, and you agreed that Schwarzenegger puns are heinous abominations of language that deserve food-related punishments for purposes of correction and deterrence."
"Auggh! I still say it's your fault for renting Commando in the first place! You started it!"
As with the rest of the series, I listened to it in audiobook format. There aren't many series that I would honestly rather listen to than read, but this is definitely one of them. Luke Daniels is a narrating genius, and he really upped my enjoyment level. I don't know, if I'd have read them myself, that Oberon would have been quite as funny to me as he is, but the voice Daniels uses for him is so incredibly perfect and hound-like and just adorably enthusiastic- exactly as you'd expect a mind-speaking dog to be- that it just makes it a delightfully enjoyable and entertaining experience.
There was an excerpt at the end from the next book, Trapped, which I am now VERY excited to read to see how my new favourite UF trio are faring.
Well done Mr. Hearne. Another excellent instalment. Go and have a nice cup of tea, you deserve it.
5 Stars! ★★★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
December 21, 2011
I'm lucky enough to be one of Kevin's alpha readers. That's bound to make my reviews biased. I will concede that point. However, I am also a huge fan of the series, the characters, and the world Hearne has created. It's from this second position that I'm writing my review.
Let's face it - if you're considering buying Tricked, you've already read the first three books and enjoyed them. That being the case, you will love this book as much as the rest of the series, and maybe even more. Let's run down the list...
1) Kick ass fights and danger? Check - Atticus has fought gods, demons, and all other manner of nastiness in between. But the main enemies in this book are more than a match for Atticus - he has his work cut out for him. And he takes his lumps along the way, believe me.
2) Humor and wit? Check - Hearne's sense of humor and snark are as present as ever. And for those of you who missed Oberon in Hammered, never fear! Atticus's best friend is a nearly constant companion in this book as he was in Hounded.
3) All of the supporting characters we know and love? Check - we get to find out what happened to the Widow (and it's not what you're thinking!! ;-) ), Granuaile continues to develop her skills, confidence, and role in the series, and there is a MAJOR development with another secondary character that made jump out of my chair! (I won't spoil anything here - you'll just have to wait.) And maybe best of all, the book features a LOT of Coyote. He cracks me up, and I love having such an important and likable character that nevertheless can't be trusted by Atticus.
4) A fully realized world with interesting cultures and world views? Check - Atticus leaves the big city and spends time with the Navajo, and we get a glimpse of their culture and beliefs. Hearne does a great job of respecting their culture and weaving it into the world he's already established with the series.
You won't have to wait long to get in to this book. The opening chapter is the best opening chapter of any in the series, and Atticus's monologue on the first page is hands-down my favorite page of the entire series. :-)
Let's face it - if you're considering buying Tricked, you've already read the first three books and enjoyed them. That being the case, you will love this book as much as the rest of the series, and maybe even more. Let's run down the list...
1) Kick ass fights and danger? Check - Atticus has fought gods, demons, and all other manner of nastiness in between. But the main enemies in this book are more than a match for Atticus - he has his work cut out for him. And he takes his lumps along the way, believe me.
2) Humor and wit? Check - Hearne's sense of humor and snark are as present as ever. And for those of you who missed Oberon in Hammered, never fear! Atticus's best friend is a nearly constant companion in this book as he was in Hounded.
3) All of the supporting characters we know and love? Check - we get to find out what happened to the Widow (and it's not what you're thinking!! ;-) ), Granuaile continues to develop her skills, confidence, and role in the series, and there is a MAJOR development with another secondary character that made jump out of my chair! (I won't spoil anything here - you'll just have to wait.) And maybe best of all, the book features a LOT of Coyote. He cracks me up, and I love having such an important and likable character that nevertheless can't be trusted by Atticus.
4) A fully realized world with interesting cultures and world views? Check - Atticus leaves the big city and spends time with the Navajo, and we get a glimpse of their culture and beliefs. Hearne does a great job of respecting their culture and weaving it into the world he's already established with the series.
You won't have to wait long to get in to this book. The opening chapter is the best opening chapter of any in the series, and Atticus's monologue on the first page is hands-down my favorite page of the entire series. :-)
October 2, 2023
Najlepsza część jak do tej pory. Ja to jestem prosta dziewczyna, wychowana na Zmierzchu, lubię jak są wampiry.
September 16, 2020
En esta cuarta parte de la historia de Atticus la cosa va de mitología navaja, con su toque de nórdica y celta, y por supuesto su dosis de criaturas varias.
En la misma línea de los anteriores, si te ha gustado la historia hasta ahora, continúa en la misma línea. Como oí hace poco referirse a una segunda parte "lo mismo pero diferente".
Aunque tiene giros que te dejan un poco torcido (en el buen sentido, claro) me ha parecido el más flojo de los que llevo. La historia avanza poco, pasan muchas cosas pero avanza poco.
Ah, y Granuaile es la caña, me encanta el personaje!
Me voy a tomar un descanso de esta saga antes de continuar, que éste me ha costado más de lo que debería, y es porque llevo muchas páginas seguidas de druida para arriba y druida para abajo, pero en cuanto me despeje con alguna otra historia de alguna otra temática continuaré para bingo con Atticus y compañía, que la saga me está pareciendo una maravilla del entretenimiento.
En la misma línea de los anteriores, si te ha gustado la historia hasta ahora, continúa en la misma línea. Como oí hace poco referirse a una segunda parte "lo mismo pero diferente".
Aunque tiene giros que te dejan un poco torcido (en el buen sentido, claro) me ha parecido el más flojo de los que llevo. La historia avanza poco, pasan muchas cosas pero avanza poco.
Ah, y Granuaile es la caña, me encanta el personaje!
Me voy a tomar un descanso de esta saga antes de continuar, que éste me ha costado más de lo que debería, y es porque llevo muchas páginas seguidas de druida para arriba y druida para abajo, pero en cuanto me despeje con alguna otra historia de alguna otra temática continuaré para bingo con Atticus y compañía, que la saga me está pareciendo una maravilla del entretenimiento.
February 17, 2021
Behind the excitement and nearly nonstop action of this fourth outing with Atticus O'Sullivan, the world's last living Druid, I sense a major shift in his motivation and--could it be?--a deepening of his character as he learns wisdom through regret, because not only he but others he cares about are suffering the consequences of his questionable choices in the previous adventure, Hammered.
Now the Norse gods are after him and only his death will satisfy them. Tyr and Vidar round up thunder gods from pantheons around the world to seek him out in Arizona, where he makes another deal with Coyote, the trickster god of the Dine (Navajo) people who's reborn whenever he's killed. Coyote pretends to be Atticus and lets the vengeful gods chop him up in the desert; in return, Atticus will assume a false identity and get the elemental spirit of the Colorado plateau to help the Dine by putting a gold deposit under their reservation.
Atticus's elaborate plan has to fool gods and humans alike into believing that he's dead, and he's responsible for training his apprentice Granuaile for the next twelve years until she qualifies to be a Druid. So Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon the telepathic wolfhound must all disappear, and that means a very difficult scene for me to read when they fake Granuaile's death--couldn't she just have vanished instead?
Anyhow, they turn up on the reservation near Kayenta as Reilly and Caitlin Collins, brother and sister, and team up with Coyote posing as Mr. Benally to construct the road and buildings for the gold mine. The work crew includes Frank Chischilly, who leads the four-day Blessing Way ceremony to protect a hogan they're building, but they come under attack from two vengeful skinwalkers, whose magic comes from the First World of Dine lore and is completely immune to the Old World magic that Druids can wield. It turns out that Coyote the trickster chose this spot so that Atticus would have to fight the skinwalkers for him as well as produce the gold deposit.
I've reached the limit of the information in the publisher's blurb, which only hints at a "betrayal from an unlikely source" and says "if Atticus survives this time..." There are quite a few bloody scenes, as you probably expected if you've read the first three books in this series, and once again sympathetic characters will be killed. As for that betrayal, . Tough reading, but there's a lot of telepathic dialogue between Atticus and Oberon to provide comic relief, and Granuaile is a bright light throughout; it's great to watch her develop.
I felt the author's treatment of the Dine people and their culture, religion, and language was respectful; I don't know enough to critique its accuracy, but it seemed well researched. Atticus's dialogues with the Colorado desert spirit were impressive beyond their special punctuation, and the whole magical side of Atticus's actions struck me as coherent & consistent with the legendary Druidic connection to the earth. The ending lays a promising foundation for the future of the series.
Strongly recommended.
Now the Norse gods are after him and only his death will satisfy them. Tyr and Vidar round up thunder gods from pantheons around the world to seek him out in Arizona, where he makes another deal with Coyote, the trickster god of the Dine (Navajo) people who's reborn whenever he's killed. Coyote pretends to be Atticus and lets the vengeful gods chop him up in the desert; in return, Atticus will assume a false identity and get the elemental spirit of the Colorado plateau to help the Dine by putting a gold deposit under their reservation.
Atticus's elaborate plan has to fool gods and humans alike into believing that he's dead, and he's responsible for training his apprentice Granuaile for the next twelve years until she qualifies to be a Druid. So Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon the telepathic wolfhound must all disappear, and that means a very difficult scene for me to read when they fake Granuaile's death--couldn't she just have vanished instead?
Anyhow, they turn up on the reservation near Kayenta as Reilly and Caitlin Collins, brother and sister, and team up with Coyote posing as Mr. Benally to construct the road and buildings for the gold mine. The work crew includes Frank Chischilly, who leads the four-day Blessing Way ceremony to protect a hogan they're building, but they come under attack from two vengeful skinwalkers, whose magic comes from the First World of Dine lore and is completely immune to the Old World magic that Druids can wield. It turns out that Coyote the trickster chose this spot so that Atticus would have to fight the skinwalkers for him as well as produce the gold deposit.
I've reached the limit of the information in the publisher's blurb, which only hints at a "betrayal from an unlikely source" and says "if Atticus survives this time..." There are quite a few bloody scenes, as you probably expected if you've read the first three books in this series, and once again sympathetic characters will be killed. As for that betrayal, . Tough reading, but there's a lot of telepathic dialogue between Atticus and Oberon to provide comic relief, and Granuaile is a bright light throughout; it's great to watch her develop.
I felt the author's treatment of the Dine people and their culture, religion, and language was respectful; I don't know enough to critique its accuracy, but it seemed well researched. Atticus's dialogues with the Colorado desert spirit were impressive beyond their special punctuation, and the whole magical side of Atticus's actions struck me as coherent & consistent with the legendary Druidic connection to the earth. The ending lays a promising foundation for the future of the series.
Strongly recommended.
May 28, 2023
Tricked opens with Atticus’s spectacular death as foreseen by the Morrigan. Her prophesy was actually a deal that Atticus brokered with Coyote in the previous book, something readers/listeners were not privy to at that time. Coyote shifted to look like Atticus and then let the remaining, avenging Norse pantheon kill him, with the help of a few thunder gods. Now Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon must move on, but first Atticus must fulfill his promise to help Coyote move some earth. Well, knowing that Coyote is a trickster god means nothing is as it would appear.
After the self-serving adventures into Asgard that dominated the previous title, I was thankful to see that there were indeed consequences to Atticus’s actions. Hel has been unleashed on Earth, and she looks to start Ragnarök for her father, Loki. While this wasn’t the primary plot of the book, I was glad Atticus now realizes the mistakes he made when he indulged Leif’s vengeance. And speaking of Leif… he is back, and he has changed. Or maybe he hasn’t changed, but now that he’s used Atticus for the purpose he intended, we are privy to his true vampiric nature.
I enjoyed Tricked for its Native American-based mythology. While I have no clue how much of it is based in actual beliefs, I found the story engrossing and the mythology interesting. My favorite character was the Navajo spiritual leader who brought a new level of spiritual magic to Atticus, and conversely, he learned much about the earth’s magic from Atticus. Their temporary bond was genuine and fruitful.
It looks to me like the series is heading for change, with the farewells in the previous book, Hammered, and the start of new identities in Tricked. Atticus wants to focus on training apprentice Granuaile, who he is also completely taken with. I love his awkwardness around her. I also enjoyed how he opened up about his own long life to her. Granuaile, in turn, shares some secrets with Atticus that she had been internalizing. Their bond is growing stronger. I also really like the development of Oberon’s character. He’s becoming an intelligent, humorous sidekick. His nature has matured and grown into more than “man’s best friend.”
Luke Daniels remains a strong narrator, once again adding a number of different voices and accents to his already huge repertoire. His voice for Oberon has matured, while still remaining dog-like, which suits the character well. I was also glad that the Navajo voices were nothing like Coyote, who did have a big roll in this book. Although Coyote’s voice still grated on me, it wasn’t as bad this time because Atticus no longer imitated Coyote’s inflections; keeping his true voice was a hundred times more enjoyable.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to Tricked. I liked seeing Atticus deal with the outcomes of his actions from the previous book. It’s refreshing that the 2,000 year old Druid is humble enough to still learn new things, yet remains arrogant enough to survive. I have to imagine after living that long, you can get set in your ways and let grudges grow, but he is good at letting go. I like the deepening relationship with Granuaile, and Oberon was plain excellent.
Book: B+
Narration: A-
After the self-serving adventures into Asgard that dominated the previous title, I was thankful to see that there were indeed consequences to Atticus’s actions. Hel has been unleashed on Earth, and she looks to start Ragnarök for her father, Loki. While this wasn’t the primary plot of the book, I was glad Atticus now realizes the mistakes he made when he indulged Leif’s vengeance. And speaking of Leif… he is back, and he has changed. Or maybe he hasn’t changed, but now that he’s used Atticus for the purpose he intended, we are privy to his true vampiric nature.
I enjoyed Tricked for its Native American-based mythology. While I have no clue how much of it is based in actual beliefs, I found the story engrossing and the mythology interesting. My favorite character was the Navajo spiritual leader who brought a new level of spiritual magic to Atticus, and conversely, he learned much about the earth’s magic from Atticus. Their temporary bond was genuine and fruitful.
It looks to me like the series is heading for change, with the farewells in the previous book, Hammered, and the start of new identities in Tricked. Atticus wants to focus on training apprentice Granuaile, who he is also completely taken with. I love his awkwardness around her. I also enjoyed how he opened up about his own long life to her. Granuaile, in turn, shares some secrets with Atticus that she had been internalizing. Their bond is growing stronger. I also really like the development of Oberon’s character. He’s becoming an intelligent, humorous sidekick. His nature has matured and grown into more than “man’s best friend.”
Luke Daniels remains a strong narrator, once again adding a number of different voices and accents to his already huge repertoire. His voice for Oberon has matured, while still remaining dog-like, which suits the character well. I was also glad that the Navajo voices were nothing like Coyote, who did have a big roll in this book. Although Coyote’s voice still grated on me, it wasn’t as bad this time because Atticus no longer imitated Coyote’s inflections; keeping his true voice was a hundred times more enjoyable.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to Tricked. I liked seeing Atticus deal with the outcomes of his actions from the previous book. It’s refreshing that the 2,000 year old Druid is humble enough to still learn new things, yet remains arrogant enough to survive. I have to imagine after living that long, you can get set in your ways and let grudges grow, but he is good at letting go. I like the deepening relationship with Granuaile, and Oberon was plain excellent.
Book: B+
Narration: A-
October 23, 2014
Again, a fun romp with the druid & seeing how even his best laid plans can go awry, especially when a trickster is involved. I didn't enjoy this quite as much, but it was still pretty good. I've read 4 in a row, which is a very good run for me in one series. Oberon is as good as ever, possibly better. The love interest is getting old, though. I felt that way in the last book & was heartily sick of it by the end of this one. In all fairness, there wasn't a lot of free time to resolve it, though.
My biggest complaint was the Druid was a bit too human & stupid a couple of times, especially with
My biggest complaint was the Druid was a bit too human & stupid a couple of times, especially with
June 19, 2014
I love this series, each book is better than the last.
I mean what is not to love these books have sarcasm in plenty, food, drink, and lots of action.
I am not even going to get started on the pop culture references.
So here I am reading this book and finding out that there are going to be skin walkers in it I was all.
I couldn't wait to see Herne's take on the myth, and I wasn't disappointed.
I was also glad to see Coyote back, I find him extremely exciting. Its fun to be on the edge of you seat reading waiting to see Atticus get once again pwned by Coyote.
Candy from a baby.
I mean what is not to love these books have sarcasm in plenty, food, drink, and lots of action.
I am not even going to get started on the pop culture references.
So here I am reading this book and finding out that there are going to be skin walkers in it I was all.
I couldn't wait to see Herne's take on the myth, and I wasn't disappointed.
I was also glad to see Coyote back, I find him extremely exciting. Its fun to be on the edge of you seat reading waiting to see Atticus get once again pwned by Coyote.
Candy from a baby.
October 7, 2015
This review was originally posted at The Book Nympho
READ IT, TRACK IT IS A WAY FOR ME TO TRACK BOOKS FOR MY READING GOALS AND THEY WILL BE SUPER SHORT REVIEWS.
Tricked had a lot of face time with two of my favorite characters in Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles, Coyote and Oberon. Both characters bring much-needed comic relief and Luke Daniels voices them so well.
Atticus is dealing with a few things leftover from earlier books and manages to add more trouble on to his plate. With the help of Oberon and his apprentice Granuaile he lives to see another day. And the next installment, Trapped shall be interesting. But before I start it I'm going to check out a few of the short stories.
Side note - Atticus is REALLY old and watching him blush and fumble around Granuaile is just endearing.
Fun Quote:
“First we need to get a butt load of nails.”
“A butt load? How much is that?”
“Ahh…” Granuaile rescued me her superior knowledge of units of measure.
“I believe that is slightly more than a shit load but much less than a fuck ton.”
READ IT, TRACK IT IS A WAY FOR ME TO TRACK BOOKS FOR MY READING GOALS AND THEY WILL BE SUPER SHORT REVIEWS.
Tricked had a lot of face time with two of my favorite characters in Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles, Coyote and Oberon. Both characters bring much-needed comic relief and Luke Daniels voices them so well.
Atticus is dealing with a few things leftover from earlier books and manages to add more trouble on to his plate. With the help of Oberon and his apprentice Granuaile he lives to see another day. And the next installment, Trapped shall be interesting. But before I start it I'm going to check out a few of the short stories.
Side note - Atticus is REALLY old and watching him blush and fumble around Granuaile is just endearing.
Fun Quote:
“First we need to get a butt load of nails.”
“A butt load? How much is that?”
“Ahh…” Granuaile rescued me her superior knowledge of units of measure.
“I believe that is slightly more than a shit load but much less than a fuck ton.”
December 1, 2012
Super-quick recap for my first review in about a week. I'll be back to normal reviewing sometime in the next day or two. Real life smacked me down the past few days!
What can I say other than I have a serious thing for Kevin Hearne. This man writes books which make me happy. End of story. Onward to book 5!
With no time to review for this book tonight, here's my thoughts on book 1, where I first fell in love with the series :
Book 1 - Hounded
Highlights from Tricked :
"I just shook hands with a naked goddess. What was that she called you? She-ya-han? Does that mean dumbass in Old Irish or something?"
"No, that's my real name. Maybe it does mean dumbass, though. Keep calling me Atticus."
Atticus : Where am I going to find half a yak?
Oberon : Duh. Attached to the other half. Hound 1, Druid, 0.
Atticus : Saint Lassie smiles upon me!
What can I say other than I have a serious thing for Kevin Hearne. This man writes books which make me happy. End of story. Onward to book 5!
With no time to review for this book tonight, here's my thoughts on book 1, where I first fell in love with the series :
Book 1 - Hounded
Highlights from Tricked :
"I just shook hands with a naked goddess. What was that she called you? She-ya-han? Does that mean dumbass in Old Irish or something?"
"No, that's my real name. Maybe it does mean dumbass, though. Keep calling me Atticus."
Atticus : Where am I going to find half a yak?
Oberon : Duh. Attached to the other half. Hound 1, Druid, 0.
Atticus : Saint Lassie smiles upon me!
May 7, 2018
Tricked 4⭐️
Oberon (the dog, i listen to the books so i dont know how to spell his name) is wonderful and makes the trials and adventure lighter and brings the book back to reality. Even though he is a talking dog, but yeah reality.
Again Atticus is on a mission in a new state and has a new mission to basically save the world.
The Morgan is a sluty, devious, cold killer and Hearne does an amazing job at making the reader like and hate her all at once.
Oberon (the dog, i listen to the books so i dont know how to spell his name) is wonderful and makes the trials and adventure lighter and brings the book back to reality. Even though he is a talking dog, but yeah reality.
Again Atticus is on a mission in a new state and has a new mission to basically save the world.
The Morgan is a sluty, devious, cold killer and Hearne does an amazing job at making the reader like and hate her all at once.
October 21, 2018
he is a trouble magnet
September 28, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: This amazing series continues with another dark and humorous filled tale with the Druid Atticus, his dog Oberon and Granuaile. I highly recommend this series.
Opening Sentence: The best trick I ever pulled off was watching myself die.
The Review:
The Iron Druid Chronicles is an amazing series and continues its greatness with Tricked. If you have a love for any kind of mythology, you have to give this series a try. The attention to detail about the many gods from different pantheons and other supernatural creatures make this a dark, but fun series.
Tricked is the fourth novel in the Iron Druid series. It picks up not too long after Atticus has come back from Asgard where he and a misfit group took out Thor. Knowing that a bunch of gods are after his two thousand year old arse, Atticus plans his death. Using the god Coyote in his place, Atticus appears to be killed with several gods looking on. But it is all good for Coyote, he revives after each of his deaths plus he needs Atticus’s help in order to gain wealth for his people.
Atticus is led to believe that Coyote just wants land to be reshaped for a wind farm plus a gold mine to help with money issues. Unwittingly, Atticus has been lead into a war with two powerful skinwalkers fighting over that same land. Atticus works with a hataalii (not exactly a medicine man but that is the best way to describe him) in order to use the magic of the First World (the belief system of the native people on the land) to help in defeating the skinwalkers.
For a dead man, Atticus has to fight several wars on different fronts, one with the skinwalkers, one with a former vampire friend, plus, a new war has begun with Hel as she unleashes a powerful weapon that has the scent of Atticus’s blood. She will unleash Ragnarok and she will do it with or without Atticus’s help. He must do all this while training his one and only Druid initiate Granuaile.
Tricked is an action packed nonstop rollercoaster that is all over the place. Each story and fight intertwines with the other. The story is told strictly through Atticus’s first person point of view. Atticus is such a humorous, sarcastic and refreshing personality. His interactions with his dog Oberon really bring comic relief to the overall dark storyline. The atmosphere of this story has everything I enjoy from humor to drama to horror.
The attention to detail on the mythology may bog down the story a wee bit for people who don’t like that but I enjoy it because I love to learn about different myths from all over the world. The action scenes are very meticulous and it is easy to follow along with the fights.
Overall, Tricked is a dark and humorous story filled with many mythological gods and creatures. Some you may have heard of and others you may not have. I really enjoy these books for the mythological basis they have and the fact that I feel like I am learning about some gods I don’t really know about but would love to learn more. I highly recommend this series for fans of mythology and will continue to keep this series near the top of my “to read list”.
Notable Scene:
A snarl and an abrupt pressure announced the arrival of Oberon: He jumped on top of the vampire’s back, and thus on top of me, and did his best to bite through the vampire’s skull. It successfully distracted the vampire, because he tore loose from my neck, hissing, and coldly threw Oberon—all hundred and fifty pounds of him—straight through the open door to slam forcefully against the wall in the papered hallway. I heard his bones break and a pained yelp, closely followed by a startled scream from Granuaile, who was out there, and then the sound of my friend crumpling to the floor.
He had saved my life, because that gave me enough time to finish my unbinding and turn the vampire into a gory accident. He squelched and folded inside his suit until he was naught but a legendary dry-cleaning bill in the middle of the room. I tried to get out of the bed to help Oberon and instead tumbled into the carnage on the floor, too weak to keep my feet. I was still bleeding from the neck, and I had no magic left to heal myself.
“Call a vet!” I managed weakly. They were better last words, I supposed, than many others. I could see Granuaile kneeling next to Oberon, and he wasn’t moving. I couldn’t hear him in my mind either. Granuaile looked up from Oberon’s still form at someone’s approach in the hall. Her mouth dropped open.
Leif Helgarson strolled casually into the room, hands in pockets, a smirk on his misshapen face. It widened into a broad smile when he saw the remains in which I wallowed.
“Congratulations, Atticus,” he said. “You have just killed a vampire nearly as old as yourself. That was Zdenik, erstwhile lord of Prague and, briefly, the state of Arizona.”
No wonder he’d been so strong. “You . . . sent him here?” I said.
Leif removed his hands from his pockets and held them up helplessly. “Were you not the one who told me to orchestrate the deaths of my rivals? I have merely done as you suggested. Thank you for playing your part.”
The oxygen leeched out of the room at his words, and all I could breathe in was horror. What he’d done to Oberon and me—and possibly Granuaile—was all for his worthless territory games? The edges of my vision were going black; my blood was still leaking out of my neck, and I could not think of anything to say that would adequately convey the depth of my revulsion and loathing for him now. If I had the strength left, I would have unbound him on the spot; having no recourse, I fell back on Shakespeare. Leif would recognize it and understand the context properly. With my remaining few seconds of consciousness, I quoted Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, who spoke these words to his former friend: “You are a villain: I jest not.” And then I collapsed into a pool of my own blood.
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Tricked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This amazing series continues with another dark and humorous filled tale with the Druid Atticus, his dog Oberon and Granuaile. I highly recommend this series.
Opening Sentence: The best trick I ever pulled off was watching myself die.
The Review:
The Iron Druid Chronicles is an amazing series and continues its greatness with Tricked. If you have a love for any kind of mythology, you have to give this series a try. The attention to detail about the many gods from different pantheons and other supernatural creatures make this a dark, but fun series.
Tricked is the fourth novel in the Iron Druid series. It picks up not too long after Atticus has come back from Asgard where he and a misfit group took out Thor. Knowing that a bunch of gods are after his two thousand year old arse, Atticus plans his death. Using the god Coyote in his place, Atticus appears to be killed with several gods looking on. But it is all good for Coyote, he revives after each of his deaths plus he needs Atticus’s help in order to gain wealth for his people.
Atticus is led to believe that Coyote just wants land to be reshaped for a wind farm plus a gold mine to help with money issues. Unwittingly, Atticus has been lead into a war with two powerful skinwalkers fighting over that same land. Atticus works with a hataalii (not exactly a medicine man but that is the best way to describe him) in order to use the magic of the First World (the belief system of the native people on the land) to help in defeating the skinwalkers.
For a dead man, Atticus has to fight several wars on different fronts, one with the skinwalkers, one with a former vampire friend, plus, a new war has begun with Hel as she unleashes a powerful weapon that has the scent of Atticus’s blood. She will unleash Ragnarok and she will do it with or without Atticus’s help. He must do all this while training his one and only Druid initiate Granuaile.
Tricked is an action packed nonstop rollercoaster that is all over the place. Each story and fight intertwines with the other. The story is told strictly through Atticus’s first person point of view. Atticus is such a humorous, sarcastic and refreshing personality. His interactions with his dog Oberon really bring comic relief to the overall dark storyline. The atmosphere of this story has everything I enjoy from humor to drama to horror.
The attention to detail on the mythology may bog down the story a wee bit for people who don’t like that but I enjoy it because I love to learn about different myths from all over the world. The action scenes are very meticulous and it is easy to follow along with the fights.
Overall, Tricked is a dark and humorous story filled with many mythological gods and creatures. Some you may have heard of and others you may not have. I really enjoy these books for the mythological basis they have and the fact that I feel like I am learning about some gods I don’t really know about but would love to learn more. I highly recommend this series for fans of mythology and will continue to keep this series near the top of my “to read list”.
Notable Scene:
A snarl and an abrupt pressure announced the arrival of Oberon: He jumped on top of the vampire’s back, and thus on top of me, and did his best to bite through the vampire’s skull. It successfully distracted the vampire, because he tore loose from my neck, hissing, and coldly threw Oberon—all hundred and fifty pounds of him—straight through the open door to slam forcefully against the wall in the papered hallway. I heard his bones break and a pained yelp, closely followed by a startled scream from Granuaile, who was out there, and then the sound of my friend crumpling to the floor.
He had saved my life, because that gave me enough time to finish my unbinding and turn the vampire into a gory accident. He squelched and folded inside his suit until he was naught but a legendary dry-cleaning bill in the middle of the room. I tried to get out of the bed to help Oberon and instead tumbled into the carnage on the floor, too weak to keep my feet. I was still bleeding from the neck, and I had no magic left to heal myself.
“Call a vet!” I managed weakly. They were better last words, I supposed, than many others. I could see Granuaile kneeling next to Oberon, and he wasn’t moving. I couldn’t hear him in my mind either. Granuaile looked up from Oberon’s still form at someone’s approach in the hall. Her mouth dropped open.
Leif Helgarson strolled casually into the room, hands in pockets, a smirk on his misshapen face. It widened into a broad smile when he saw the remains in which I wallowed.
“Congratulations, Atticus,” he said. “You have just killed a vampire nearly as old as yourself. That was Zdenik, erstwhile lord of Prague and, briefly, the state of Arizona.”
No wonder he’d been so strong. “You . . . sent him here?” I said.
Leif removed his hands from his pockets and held them up helplessly. “Were you not the one who told me to orchestrate the deaths of my rivals? I have merely done as you suggested. Thank you for playing your part.”
The oxygen leeched out of the room at his words, and all I could breathe in was horror. What he’d done to Oberon and me—and possibly Granuaile—was all for his worthless territory games? The edges of my vision were going black; my blood was still leaking out of my neck, and I could not think of anything to say that would adequately convey the depth of my revulsion and loathing for him now. If I had the strength left, I would have unbound him on the spot; having no recourse, I fell back on Shakespeare. Leif would recognize it and understand the context properly. With my remaining few seconds of consciousness, I quoted Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, who spoke these words to his former friend: “You are a villain: I jest not.” And then I collapsed into a pool of my own blood.
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Tricked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
December 24, 2020
Atticus and friends are back in a brand new adventure. When Atticus fakes his own death and goes with friends to help his friend Coyote protect his family from the Skinwalkers, they end up in danger. Will they survive this new predicament or has it all been a trick and trap from the start? Read on and find out for yourself.
This is still a pretty good fantasy series. I look forward to continuing the series in the future. If you love fantasy novels and the supernatural, be sure to check this series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This is still a pretty good fantasy series. I look forward to continuing the series in the future. If you love fantasy novels and the supernatural, be sure to check this series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
August 20, 2016
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
This installment is a prime example of Murphy’s Law: “If anything can go wrong, it will.” As soon as Atticus’ deal with the trickster god Coyote was revealed I knew that I was in for a wild ride, especially seeing how both Jesus and The Morigan had forewarned the druid about staying on his current path in HAMMERED. I’m not sure if he believes in karma but this is the novel where O’Sullivan’s luck runs out and comes back to bite him in the butt, rather spectacularly I might add, which is not so good for him but excellent news for us readers.
Kevin Hearne more than makes up for the lack of Oberon moments in the previous book by ensuring that my favourite Irish Wolfhound is font-and-center in this installment. I positively adore the humor that Atticus’ furry companion brings to this series; from his musical interludes (the sausage song cracked me up) to his bath time story adventures. O’Sullivan and Oberon keep a running tally of who’s outwitting who in this novel and, surprisingly enough, the dog actually manages to keep a decent lead for most of the book. The sausage point system definitely went a long way into keeping the hound motivated! Atticus and Granuaile have assumed new identities, so Oberon insists that he needs one too. And, of course, he comes up with the most ridiculous name ever for a 150lbs dog: Snugglepumpkin!
Every installment in this series revolves around a different mythology and in this case it’s Navajo. I enjoyed learning more about the trickster god, even though this wasn’t the first time that we’ve encountered Coyote in this series. He has regenerative abilities so I’ll let you put two-and-two together and figure out what lengths he had to go to in order to secure Atticus’ help. But, Coyote being the conniving deceiver that he is makes sure that he comes out ahead in their bargain. As a result, O’Sullivan is forced to go toe-to-toe with one of the nastiest creatures in Navajo lore: skinwalkers. I was equally as fascinated as I was repulsed by these first world spirits.
We learn even more about Atticus and his long lost love in this book as well as some of the identities that he’s previously assumed; apparently the 3 months he spent as “Nigel in Toronto” were the worst. I’m also beginning to wonder why O’Sullivan hates witches so much when vampires are clearly far more awful. I was shocked by Leif Helgarson’s actions in this novel. I thought he was going to be a regular secondary character in this series but now… not so much. I’ve been speculating when/if this was going to happen but, sparks finally do begin to fly between Atticus and his apprentice Granuaile. Nothing of any real significance occurs but the romance wheel has now been set in motion and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become more than just teacher/student in the near future.
Luke Daniels continues to excel as this series’ narrator; not only is he skilled at accents, and at portraying unconventional characters but he also adds singing to his diverse repertoire in this novel. TRICKED contains equal parts action and humour which makes it my second favourite installment in THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES, after HOUNDED. I can’t recommend these audiobooks enough; they are seriously made of awesome!
This installment is a prime example of Murphy’s Law: “If anything can go wrong, it will.” As soon as Atticus’ deal with the trickster god Coyote was revealed I knew that I was in for a wild ride, especially seeing how both Jesus and The Morigan had forewarned the druid about staying on his current path in HAMMERED. I’m not sure if he believes in karma but this is the novel where O’Sullivan’s luck runs out and comes back to bite him in the butt, rather spectacularly I might add, which is not so good for him but excellent news for us readers.
Kevin Hearne more than makes up for the lack of Oberon moments in the previous book by ensuring that my favourite Irish Wolfhound is font-and-center in this installment. I positively adore the humor that Atticus’ furry companion brings to this series; from his musical interludes (the sausage song cracked me up) to his bath time story adventures. O’Sullivan and Oberon keep a running tally of who’s outwitting who in this novel and, surprisingly enough, the dog actually manages to keep a decent lead for most of the book. The sausage point system definitely went a long way into keeping the hound motivated! Atticus and Granuaile have assumed new identities, so Oberon insists that he needs one too. And, of course, he comes up with the most ridiculous name ever for a 150lbs dog: Snugglepumpkin!
Every installment in this series revolves around a different mythology and in this case it’s Navajo. I enjoyed learning more about the trickster god, even though this wasn’t the first time that we’ve encountered Coyote in this series. He has regenerative abilities so I’ll let you put two-and-two together and figure out what lengths he had to go to in order to secure Atticus’ help. But, Coyote being the conniving deceiver that he is makes sure that he comes out ahead in their bargain. As a result, O’Sullivan is forced to go toe-to-toe with one of the nastiest creatures in Navajo lore: skinwalkers. I was equally as fascinated as I was repulsed by these first world spirits.
We learn even more about Atticus and his long lost love in this book as well as some of the identities that he’s previously assumed; apparently the 3 months he spent as “Nigel in Toronto” were the worst. I’m also beginning to wonder why O’Sullivan hates witches so much when vampires are clearly far more awful. I was shocked by Leif Helgarson’s actions in this novel. I thought he was going to be a regular secondary character in this series but now… not so much. I’ve been speculating when/if this was going to happen but, sparks finally do begin to fly between Atticus and his apprentice Granuaile. Nothing of any real significance occurs but the romance wheel has now been set in motion and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become more than just teacher/student in the near future.
Luke Daniels continues to excel as this series’ narrator; not only is he skilled at accents, and at portraying unconventional characters but he also adds singing to his diverse repertoire in this novel. TRICKED contains equal parts action and humour which makes it my second favourite installment in THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES, after HOUNDED. I can’t recommend these audiobooks enough; they are seriously made of awesome!
May 6, 2012
I have to admit that I didn’t finish “Hammered”, the previous book in this series, because it veered off into Canterbury Tales land and I lost interest. This book was a return to the first two books, where the focus of the story is on Atticus and his challenges and commitments.
As this book opens, Coyote helps Atticus fake his own death (because of events in the previous book) in return for a favor. That favor turns out to be two-fold: one thing upfront and one thing that Atticus is tricked into doing. Hence the title. Coyote claims he wants to do something meaningful for his people. He has decided that building renewable energy components and starting up a renewable energy power plant are the way to go. But the tribe needs money to do this, and his solution is that they will first open a gold mine, mine it out, and use the profits to start the renewable energy program. If you are scratching your head here, you’re with me--let’s rip up the environment before doing something meant to preserve it?
Coyote wants Atticus to talk to the Colorado elemental and have it move a large quantity of gold to a specific location that Coyote has already chosen. Oh, and he also wants Atticus to kill two shape-shifters that have been plaguing the area where Coyote intends to start up his mining-renewable energy project. The shape-shifters turn out to be the main problem that Atticus has to solve in this book.
I did like that this book focused more on Atticus and Granueil, his Druid apprentice who is forced to fake her own death as well. Granueil is my favorite character other than Atticus and I hope we get to see more of her in future books. Oberon is still too-smart for a dog, but he’s good comic relief, and he proves his bravery when Atticus’s vampire acquaintance Hal manipulates Atticus into solving a problem with a rival vampire. We also get to hear a bit more about how and when Atticus came to North America. All good stuff.
However, I found the eco-terrorism aspect of this story rather glib and hypocritical. As part of his efforts to persuade the Colorado elemental to move gold to where Coyote wants is, Atticus sabotages the local coal mine. Several times. He rationalizes this by thinking that the corporation has lots of money and it will be just fine for it to lose its operation. Little thought is given to all the middle-class workers that will be out of work; there is a throw-away line about how they can work at the new gold mine that the tribe will be starting, disregarding that it takes months to get a mine up and going. It’s also implied from the storyline that the tribe mining gold was OK economically and environmentally, but coal mining by others was not. My Kindle has lots of “WTF???” whenever this occurs.
Overall, 3 stars. It would easily have been a high four star if the environmental issues had been dealt with in a more thoughtful and intelligent manner.
As this book opens, Coyote helps Atticus fake his own death (because of events in the previous book) in return for a favor. That favor turns out to be two-fold: one thing upfront and one thing that Atticus is tricked into doing. Hence the title. Coyote claims he wants to do something meaningful for his people. He has decided that building renewable energy components and starting up a renewable energy power plant are the way to go. But the tribe needs money to do this, and his solution is that they will first open a gold mine, mine it out, and use the profits to start the renewable energy program. If you are scratching your head here, you’re with me--let’s rip up the environment before doing something meant to preserve it?
Coyote wants Atticus to talk to the Colorado elemental and have it move a large quantity of gold to a specific location that Coyote has already chosen. Oh, and he also wants Atticus to kill two shape-shifters that have been plaguing the area where Coyote intends to start up his mining-renewable energy project. The shape-shifters turn out to be the main problem that Atticus has to solve in this book.
I did like that this book focused more on Atticus and Granueil, his Druid apprentice who is forced to fake her own death as well. Granueil is my favorite character other than Atticus and I hope we get to see more of her in future books. Oberon is still too-smart for a dog, but he’s good comic relief, and he proves his bravery when Atticus’s vampire acquaintance Hal manipulates Atticus into solving a problem with a rival vampire. We also get to hear a bit more about how and when Atticus came to North America. All good stuff.
However, I found the eco-terrorism aspect of this story rather glib and hypocritical. As part of his efforts to persuade the Colorado elemental to move gold to where Coyote wants is, Atticus sabotages the local coal mine. Several times. He rationalizes this by thinking that the corporation has lots of money and it will be just fine for it to lose its operation. Little thought is given to all the middle-class workers that will be out of work; there is a throw-away line about how they can work at the new gold mine that the tribe will be starting, disregarding that it takes months to get a mine up and going. It’s also implied from the storyline that the tribe mining gold was OK economically and environmentally, but coal mining by others was not. My Kindle has lots of “WTF???” whenever this occurs.
Overall, 3 stars. It would easily have been a high four star if the environmental issues had been dealt with in a more thoughtful and intelligent manner.
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