Hammered (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #3)

Jul 20, 2011 Rane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, keeper

First off a big thank-you to Kevin Hearne and my great GR friends whom made this book extra kick-ass and brought me back into the UF genre I walked away from years ago a genre I’ve missed reading and would have kept missing without taking a chance and picking up this series!

Unlike Hounded and Hexed- Hammered gives the readers a more deeper and darker theme the books before it. Through-out your given glimpses into the long lived Atticus, this time around your given a even more better insight int...more First off a big thank-you to Kevin Hearne and my great GR friends whom made this book extra kick-ass and brought me back into the UF genre I walked away from years ago a genre I’ve missed reading and would have kept missing without taking a chance and picking up this series!

Unlike Hounded and Hexed- Hammered gives the readers a more deeper and darker theme the books before it. Through-out your given glimpses into the long lived Atticus, this time around your given a even more better insight into his past and those he’s loved and lost before. It tears at your heart, but makes you all that more connected to Atticus. Atticus for me is the perfect balance in a character. He’s a guy’s guy, he doesn’t have all the answers and he makes some small and big mistakes along the way. He’s may have lived a long time, but in the end he’s very human in everything he feels and does, and I love him for it (AND OBERON!! I love that crazy dog!). In a world where people lie and break promises all the time, Atticus is a man of his word, and if I wanted anyone at my back and taking care of me, it be him.

There’s a lot of great scenes in this book and stand out for me, and some humor that has become the trademark of the IDC still leaves it’s mark with having the reader laughing until their sides hurt! Never going to think of the song “It’s a small world” the same again!

With Atticus promise to Leif and others to finally kill the douchebag Thor, Atticus is warned by none other the Jesus (over beer, fish & chips) to be sure of his actions as their very far-reaching and will be very painful to those he’s come to care for. After getting his affairs in orders in Tempe, Atticus and co. set off to destroy the thunder god. We’re given a glimpse into the lives of those whose that Thor has hurt, making you not only step back and view the actions and very some huge surprises but truly feel the pain he’s caused.

Hearne I felt did an great job playing with the whole god theme, with the balance issue of hanging on to our humanity or playing as spoiled little children with god powers. Questions of what makes us truly human, to the choices we tend to make shape our lives and the effects. But what would we do, if we’re given gifts and long life and losing ourselves our lack of empathy tor not caring and doing damage on a whim. These are not only asked but shown, through Thor, Atticus and Lief. Many questions and What would you have done different stay with the readers long after.

There is a slight cliffhanger after all is said and done leading to the next book (;_; gotta wait till ‘12 though!) and a great little bonus story which focus on Granuaile whose really coming into her own. This is an excellent addition (new addiction) to this amazing series

..Marry me Atticus! *holds out a big diamond ring....and sword on bended knee*

“..Vampires inspire screams, not squees. Involuntary urination is common, I grant, but it properly flows from a sense of terror, not an ecstatic sense of hero worship.”
“It properly flows? Are we having a pee pun party?”
“If I do not aim carefully at my targets, I might cause a big splash at the stadium.”
“Oh, very punny. You will show them what yellow cowards they are” I said
“Right after I flush them out of the crowd”
“You will rain down upon their porcelain skin a deluge of justice.”
“Ugh! And I will have to wash my hands afterward.”

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Jun 25, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author

reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...

HAMMERED felt a lot different then the first two Iron Druid Chronicles books. Everyone and everything was way more serious and intense. I had a bit of a hard time getting into it at first but after the first couple chapters I was able to connect more with the story and get back into my Atticus reading groove. Atticus is determined to accompany and help Leif and a handful of others to Asgard to kill Thor no matter how many people tell him its a...more

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May 30, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

If you'd like to read a real review which actually contains my feelings about this series, how about you Check out my review for book 1 by clicking this link.

I finished book 3 and am at a bit of a loss about what to say at this point. Kevin Hearne books are fun and full of action. Each book has its own story, so it probably shouldn't be too hard to come up with a new review for each installment, but I find myself wanting to gush about all of the things which are consistently the same with each b...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

(4.5 stars) First things first: This one’s more serious.

Oh, there’s still humor here — and to butcher the nursery rhyme, when Kevin Hearne is funny, he’s very, very funny. I cackled madly as Atticus geeked out over his favorite author and demonstrated his knowledge of Internet memes. On the whole, though, Hammered is a much more serious story than either Hounded or Hexed. While giving us two books’ worth of side-splitting entertainment, Hearne has been sneakily laying the groundwork for Hammered...more (4.5 stars) First things first: This one’s more serious.

Oh, there’s still humor here — and to butcher the nursery rhyme, when Kevin Hearne is funny, he’s very, very funny. I cackled madly as Atticus geeked out over his favorite author and demonstrated his knowledge of Internet memes. On the whole, though, Hammered is a much more serious story than either Hounded or Hexed. While giving us two books’ worth of side-splitting entertainment, Hearne has been sneakily laying the groundwork for Hammered, building up characters and friendships and subplots so that we care deeply about what happens here.

We begin in medias res. Atticus is climbing the World Tree to Asgard so that he can keep his promise to the witch Laksha by bringing her back one of Idunn’s apples. The trip becomes messier than expected, which leads Atticus to decide that he’s been in Tempe too long. He’s too visible, and it’s too easy for one of his ever-growing list of enemies to use his friends as leverage. Atticus does his best to put affairs in Tempe in order before going back to Asgard to keep a second promise, knowing he might never return. One conversation stands out as particularly beautiful; it’s the kind of conversation we all wish we’d had with a loved one before it was too late, but so often don’t get around to having.

That second promise is to help kill Thor, and he teams up with a group of allies who passionately hate the thunder god. Hearne surprised me by breaking with the usual structure of the Iron Druid books for a little while, employing a “Canterbury Tales”-type section that I loved. It fleshes out these allies, and in telling us why each of them wants Thor dead, it tells us a lot about Thor as well. When we follow Atticus & Co. back to Asgard, we’re good and mad at Thor, too.

The central theme here is the question of how to hold on to one’s humanity when one has great power and can live for hundreds or thousands of years. How do you keep from getting arrogant and seeing ordinary mortals as insects? How do you hold on to what makes you you — and conversely, is it possible to hold on too much, becoming consumed by a grudge that might not be worth all that you sacrifice to it? It’s clear that Atticus is better than most at this balancing act, and it’s equally clear that it’s often his humanity that puts him in so much danger.

Hammered is not the end of this series, but it effectively closes a big story arc. It makes a good temporary stopping point as we await Tricked, due out in 2012. Kevin Hearne is evil, though, and packs in one more spooky plot hook at the end. It’s not a cliffhanger for the plot of this book, but it’s sure going to cause some trouble in the next one!

All that said, I think it’s a little skeevy when Atticus (view spoiler)(less)

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Apr 24, 2012 D.G. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, urban-fantasy, reviewed, great-narrator

**3.5 stars**

I’ve enjoyed this series a lot: the mix of humor, action and mythology are lots of fun plus I also prefer men as main characters, especially if those books are told in the 1st person and I have to live in their heads. But something was missing in this book. I think we have reached a point where we need to know more about Atticus and I don’t see that coming. I’m not sure if this is intentional or if the author just hasn’t developed Atticus' past properly. This is a man who has lived...more **3.5 stars**

I’ve enjoyed this series a lot: the mix of humor, action and mythology are lots of fun plus I also prefer men as main characters, especially if those books are told in the 1st person and I have to live in their heads. But something was missing in this book. I think we have reached a point where we need to know more about Atticus and I don’t see that coming. I’m not sure if this is intentional or if the author just hasn’t developed Atticus' past properly. This is a man who has lived for 2,000 years so after 3 books, I expect to know a lot more about his past than I do now.

At first I applauded Mr. Hearne’s decision to make Atticus a long-lived easy going guy because it’s clearly out of the norm. In fiction, most characters that have lived hundreds of years are broody, bored and melancholy because they have witnessed the deaths of loved ones. I was glad that Atticus was different but to believe it, I need to how he reached the conclusion that living in the moment was the best way to go on. There must be an explanation because most people would be out of their mind after so much loss but so far, Atticus doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. Worst, in this book he made the breezy assertion that he’s had at least (view spoiler) If we are to believe and care about Atticus, we must have an explanation as to how he’s learn to cope with all that.

It also seemed to me that this book was an attempt to reach a bigger male audience. There was bathroom humor which I don’t remember from previous books and the male bonding situations continued. I don’t necessarily mind this but you can definitely feel the shift.

Luke Daniels was marvelous as usual. The editing/digital remastering was inconsistent though (some parts of the audio sounded different. his voice was deeper in some sections.)

I’m continuing with the series (I bought Tricked the day it came out) but I hope the author has us learn more about Atticus’ past. If it continues as it goes, I think I’ll treat this series as a funny diversion and stop expecting more.(less)

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Oct 24, 2011 Kat Hooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

After all the help he got dealing with the bad guys in Hounded and Hexed, Atticus owes favors, so he sets out to get those paid off in Hammered. The theme is Norse mythology — first Atticus has to steal one of Iðunn’s golden apples from Asgard, then he must help Leif, his vampire lawyer, kill Thor. Leif must have been planning for this for a long time because he’s bringing along a bunch of other guys who want Thor dead, too.

Hammered feels much different fr...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Ami rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars_rating, urban-fantasy-with-male-protagonist

Wow, just when I think it can't get any better, the 3rd book of the Iron Druid Chronicles raises the bar for the whole series and addresses some issues (minor complaint on my side) that I have for the previous two books. As other reviewers said, this one has a more tone, with grave consequences in which a couple of characters meet their demise.

The big plot here will be Atticus fulfilling his oath to his vampire friend, Leif, to help him kill Thor. Leif brings Gunnar (the pack Alpha) and three ot...more Wow, just when I think it can't get any better, the 3rd book of the Iron Druid Chronicles raises the bar for the whole series and addresses some issues (minor complaint on my side) that I have for the previous two books. As other reviewers said, this one has a more tone, with grave consequences in which a couple of characters meet their demise.

The big plot here will be Atticus fulfilling his oath to his vampire friend, Leif, to help him kill Thor. Leif brings Gunnar (the pack Alpha) and three other parties who share the same hatred towards the Norse Thunder god: Perun, a Slavic thunder god; Väinämöinen, a shamanic culture hero of the ancient Finns; and Zhang Guo Lao, one of China’s Eight Immortals.

This journey ends with some losses and Atticus dealing in a more dangerous position than ever before in two millennia (not even when the Romans kill all Druids). Prophecy of his death are told by the Morrigan and Jesus (yes, THE Jesus), both warning Atticus that he will disrupt a lot of power change if he continues his mission. But promises are made and Atticus cannot back down.

For two books, my complain was how everything seems to end a little neat. Not this one, though. I cannot imagine the repercussion that Atticus must experience in the future. He has a lot of angry gods (or beings) chasing him. Plus the epilogue brings a big question about what else is going on.

The structure of this book is another one that gains a PLUS for me. Throughout the two books, the stories are all told from Atticus's side. This time, we get a "break" in the middle, where in the form of male-bonding, each party share their tales on why they are determined to get their revenge over Thor. This point-of-view switch is both powerful and a bit nostalgic. Especially now I know why Leif hates Thor so much.

There are still some funny quips and humor (like Atticus telling his squee over Neil Fucking Gaiman :p), though Oberon is not as present as in the previous two (and he is the funniest character here, I think). My most favorite probably when Jesus meets Atticus and share drinks. Who knows Jesus can be so funny *lol*

I’m grateful to you. I tell you truly, nobody ever wants to just hang out with me. If they’re not asking for explanations or intercession, then they’re sharing too much information. ‘Why, Jesus? Help me, Jesus! Oh, Jesus, that feels good, don’t stop!’

Overall, this book is a perfect set-up for the next trilogy coming in 2012.
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Apr 14, 2012 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know that not everyone enjoyed this tale from the Iron Druid series as much as the first two books. Granted, there are some departures from the formula. It is darker, we lose some beloved characters, others are absent for most of the book. But I still believe it's a worthwhile story. The scene around the campfire was beautifully rendered. And I think that the series will be richer in the future, now that these events have occurred. Atticus must move forward, and I'm curious to see how he react...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hammered is the third book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, Following Hounded and Hexed.

It is hard to not compare this book to the previous ones, so I'm just going to do it.

I absolutely loved Hammered, and it is definitely more darker than the previous two, with Atticus having to make some pretty tough decisions. And one of these decisions could very well change the settings and people of the books to come. and it is rather hard to read what is he planning to do, and knowing that he might not be st...more Hammered is the third book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, Following Hounded and Hexed.

It is hard to not compare this book to the previous ones, so I'm just going to do it.

I absolutely loved Hammered, and it is definitely more darker than the previous two, with Atticus having to make some pretty tough decisions. And one of these decisions could very well change the settings and people of the books to come. and it is rather hard to read what is he planning to do, and knowing that he might not be staying where he is. It also makes it hard to get straight into the story, unlike the first two. But you just have to push past the first few chapters (which are important to the story, even if it's a bit slow) and it really pays off!

And man, the humour is still there, I laughed so hard at one point I nearly choked on my drink! And there are some absolutely clever internet and modern day references, and the explanation about geeking out over his favourite author at Comic Con? Totally get it! (But I would replace 'Neil fucking Gaiman' with 'Patrick fucking Rothfuss'!)

The darker theme of this book in no way detracts from the overall story, and I think that it was necessary to go there. But it was a shame that most of the Tempe characters were absent, and it is them who make the books truly awesome, especially Granuaile, Hal and Oberon. Being either in Asgard, or on the way there for the majority of the books means that they are away from home and the ones that they care for. This was one of the main differences between the three books, and while it adds a fair bit to the story, it also leaves a lot behind.

Plot wise, this story really paid off from the first two books. It is very slow at the beginning but picks up pace and them some. And epic journeys are always awesome. Many new faces are introduced, and all are well deserving of the readers attention. Especially the group that Leif assembles, and they help to flesh out some of the reasons as to why everyone thinks Thor is a giant douche. And he totally is a fucking douche.

One of the other central themes is how Atticus is trying to stay grounded and not become like Thor or any of the other long-lived folk. This, in part, plays a role in him insisting that he keeps promises, even if it leads to his demise. This is the clever part of this entire series, the dude is over 2000 years old, yet he has kept his humanity (for now, as he tells a certain group who agrees to help him that they can take a Goddess as spoils!).

Hammered is not the final book in the series, YAY! But there are a lot of lose ends tied up. This book is a match to the previous ones, but I hope that the next three books don't lose touch with (or leave behind) the characters we love. But i do know they will be awesome and funny as hell.

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Jul 19, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, favorites

Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?.... The quotes are quite giggle worthy. You can find them at the end of my review on my blog.

Hammered is the third book in Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles series. Since book one, we have read about Thor the mean god. Actually, there are more colorful words used to describe how horrible of a person he is, but I’ll just leave it at mean. And after reading why people dislike Thor so much, there really is only one thing to say: Man that Thor is re...more Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?.... The quotes are quite giggle worthy. You can find them at the end of my review on my blog.

Hammered is the third book in Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles series. Since book one, we have read about Thor the mean god. Actually, there are more colorful words used to describe how horrible of a person he is, but I’ll just leave it at mean. And after reading why people dislike Thor so much, there really is only one thing to say: Man that Thor is really Really…mean.

The book opens with this:

"According to popular imagination, squirrels are supposed to be adorable. As they scurry about on this tree branch or that trunk, people point at them and say, “Awww, how cuuuuute!” with their voices turning sugary and spiraling up into falsetto ecstasy. But I’m here to tell you that they’re cute only so long as they’re small enough to step on. Once you’re facing a giant bloody squirrel the size of cement truck, they lose the majority of their charm."

How can you not get excited when a book opens with a paragraph like that?! Hammered centers around Atticus’ two trips to the Norse plane. Once to fulfill his bargain with the witch from the second book and once to give his friend Leif access to Thor so that he and others can kill him. The whole time that I was reading, I couldn’t help but question Atticus’ thinking. I mean really…can anything good come out of what he is doing? He doesn’t think it’s a good idea necessarily to do what he is doing, but his word is gold to him so he must fulfill his promises…even though they weren’t made with the best of thought. I wish Atticus heard me when I shouted “Bad idea! Bad bad idea, Atticus!”

Even though Atticus ignored my advice, I still love him. I love his loyalty and his wit. I love his dialogue a lot too – internal as well as with his friends. I find that there are many little philosophical moments in this series – especially in this book. Some of the things that are thought in this story make you think. Some of the words make you say “he is SO right about that.” I do enjoy that part of this series very much.

I will say that one of the best scenes that I have read in the entire series was in this book. I love the idea that some of the deities come to Earth as an image that someone has created in their minds. Jesus comes to visit in Hammered and how he looks is only the beginning of the greatness of this scene. I loved every moment that Atticus spent with Jesus and laughed so much. Kevin wrote a really clever spin to the Man we know from stories and I found it to, not only be truly entertaining, but a breath of fresh air for an otherwise tired and slightly stuffy persona.

There are many new characters introduced in this book. There are, after all, a LOT of people who would love to see Thor lose his entrails and munch on them for snacktime. But I must admit that I missed the interaction between Atticus and the ‘usual’ crew of characters. We don’t see much of the widow (but her scene actually brought tears to my eyes). There is hardly any time with Oberon or Granuaile either. But it was nice to finally get the story behind Leif and Gunnar’s hatred for Thor – and let me tell you, it is well placed.

Now, there is a good thing and a bad thing about an author releasing three books in a new series three months in a row. Good thing: You don’t have to wait long to continue reading awesome characters and awesome story lines. Bad thing: After the three books are out, you now have to wait a long freakin’ time before getting the chance to read awesome characters and awesome story lines. I am really curious to see where Kevin will take Atticus next since there are many possibilities. I’m really keeping my fingers crossed that the witty banter between Atticus and the characters I have grown to love returns since it really is one of my most favorite things about this series. There was a strong underlying sorrow for this entire book, and although there are many wonderful scenes in Hammered, I prefer the feel of the first two. But I will definitely be sending Jason to the book store on release day of April 2012 when Tricked hits shelves.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, vamps-lycans-and-preternaturals

Hammered is better than book two, Hexed, but still not as good as the first novel, Hounded. Hearne does bring back some originality in this third installment with several explorations of the Viking gods' home world, Asgard, but there isn't much development of the world or descriptions of the place or its characters to help the reader appreciate the settings and encounters. Why not take the time to get into the development of Asgard and the Viking gods? Hearne has been referring to it over the co...more Hammered is better than book two, Hexed, but still not as good as the first novel, Hounded. Hearne does bring back some originality in this third installment with several explorations of the Viking gods' home world, Asgard, but there isn't much development of the world or descriptions of the place or its characters to help the reader appreciate the settings and encounters. Why not take the time to get into the development of Asgard and the Viking gods? Hearne has been referring to it over the course of three books!

Thankfully Hearne wraps up a lot of the outstanding plots left undone in the previous two books, but he opens up a few new plots to be picked up in the next volume.

Thankfully Hearne drops a lot of the sexism, although even here he attains a new low and crosses into a misogynistic description. Atticus interrupts a battle sequence to rank a Viking goddess on his "sexy-enough-to-do" list. Even worse, Hearne sets up the scene previously when Atticus wants to attain the assistance of Frost Giants and offers said goddess as the spoils-of-war... and then refers to her being enslaved for gang rape... it's just very tasteless to disturbing to think that Hearne thinks it's a good idea for the hero to be a part of such schema.

Of course Hearne takes his prejudices of Christianity and Catholicism to an all new low, and the whole encounter is just silly to stupid. Other than the juvenile glee Hearne must have manifested while thinking up ways to be disrespectful to Christians, it continues to be pointless, pathetic, and moronic to take up so much time to offend the LARGEST segment of potential readers. He can't possibly be thinking that there is a massive following that will be disappointed if he doesn't swipe Christianity, so all of the insults are his own personal adolescent and egotistical attempts at self-aggrandizing.

Okay, back to the book... I did appreciate that Hearne allowed Atticus to experience some deep failure and loss, and the darker storyline is actually enjoyable after the first two and a half books' worth were soaked in witty sarcasm -not that I didn't enjoy the wit in the first book, but the formula got old quickly and Hearne needed to bring something new to his skill set. I will still get the next issue in the series and hope that Hearne continues to grow and improve.

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Mar 28, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, urban-fantasy, arcs-read, adult, mythology-norse-vikings

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Storyline
Poor Atticus just can’t catch a break can he?
Hammered picks up right where Hexed left off and Atticus is fulfilling the promise he made to Laksha: steal the golden apples of Idunn in Asgard. After that near impossible task he also needs to fulfill the promise he made to vampire Leif Helgarson: take him to Thor’s realm in order to battle him.

Thoughts
Okay, enough about the storyline. Here’s what you really need to know: this story/series is...more

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Jan 19, 2012 J.M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This isn't really a review as much as a comment, but once again, Kevin Hearne does not fail to entertain the heck outta me. This third installment in the "Iron Druid Chronicles" has a more serious tone than the previous two, as Atticus is between the proverbial rock and hard place. He ends up paying a weighty price for his decisions with the impact resounding into the next book I'm sure. I can't wait until the fourth book hits shelves.

Muchly recommended! A solid four-star read and a worthy addit...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I mentioned a little while ago, I am a big fan of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. I'm pleased to report that Hammered is another fun installment in Atticus' adventures.

Hammered is all about Atticus paying his debts. He made two promises in Hexed: that he'd steal a golden apple from a Norse goddess, Idunn, and that he'd help his vampire friend Leif kill Thor, conveniently another god from the Norse pantheon. Killing Thor is a big, big deal and isn't actually something Atticus wants to do...more As I mentioned a little while ago, I am a big fan of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. I'm pleased to report that Hammered is another fun installment in Atticus' adventures.

Hammered is all about Atticus paying his debts. He made two promises in Hexed: that he'd steal a golden apple from a Norse goddess, Idunn, and that he'd help his vampire friend Leif kill Thor, conveniently another god from the Norse pantheon. Killing Thor is a big, big deal and isn't actually something Atticus wants to do, but he's made the deal and he's a man of his word. Thankfully, at least from his perspective, Leif isn't the only one with the big hate for Thor, who is almost universally disliked. He gets called some truly awesome names, which I hesitate to repeat here since a few of them are quite off colour. Suffice to say, everyone thinks he's a jerk and a lot of folks want to kill him.

Atticus, of course, realizes that killing a major god is going to bring him a lot of unwanted attention and it's not hard as it used to be to find the last living Druid, so a significant part of the novel involves him making plans for a move, assuming that he and his merry bunch are successful on their mission. I liked this for a couple reasons. First, it means we get to spend time with all of the secondary characters. Second, it seems like the sensible thing to do and you'd assume that someone who's been alive for over 2,000 years knows a little something about getting ready to go to ground. Third, and perhaps most important to me, it shows you that Kevin Hearne isn't afraid of big moves, which is one of my favourite qualities in an author. I admire and adore authors who make Big Changes throughout their stories and who are willing to mess with the status quo in the hopes of creating a more thrilling story. The events set in motion from the start of the novel let you know that you're going to get something pretty exciting in future novels.

One of my other favourite things about Kevin Hearne is his prose. He gives the reader fantastic quips and chapters that start out with fantastic hooks. The first paragraph of Hammered is particularly awesome, so awesome that I'm going to link to it here. (The link is actually to a bunch of sample chapters from the book, if you want to get a feel for it.) I also really liked the introduction of Norse mythology to the series. Most of my knowledge on the topic comes from high school and the movieThor, which is admittedly not the best frame of reference, so it was a lot of fun to delve into this world. Kevin Hearne does a great job of immersing you in the myths and ideas without overwhelming you, and without making you feel like you're reading a textbook. All of the information gets fed to readers in an organic manner and it's a real treat. It's also fun to see the gods and goddesses personified in such a playful way.

I can't say too much about Atticus' adventures or battles without giving away some big hints about the plot so all I'll say is that there are again great action sequences and interesting new characters, and an ending that makes me desperate to know what happens next. This is particularly painful since the first three books have come out about a month apart, and now we have to wait until April 2012 for the fourth book in the series, Tricked. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait, though, if the first three books in the Iron Druid Chronicles are anything to go by.

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May 14, 2013 Kokoira rated it 2 of 5 stars

The first novel in this series was wonderful. An academic who could write! And the rarely used Celtic tradition to boot. The main character was different from most in the genre, Hearne was great in dropping in pop culture references, and if the Iron Druid borrowed a but too much from Harry Dresdon, well so what? Hounded was a 5 star book.

Hexed was also wonderful, but showed some signs of what was to come. The pop culture references were getting too heavy, the in-jokes too cloying, and the weirdn...more The first novel in this series was wonderful. An academic who could write! And the rarely used Celtic tradition to boot. The main character was different from most in the genre, Hearne was great in dropping in pop culture references, and if the Iron Druid borrowed a but too much from Harry Dresdon, well so what? Hounded was a 5 star book.

Hexed was also wonderful, but showed some signs of what was to come. The pop culture references were getting too heavy, the in-jokes too cloying, and the weirdness started showing up. What's up with the Thor vendetta? I should have known this was a bad sign of things to come.

Still, I quickly bought Hammered, book 3, and this time I couldn't finish the book. First, Hearne desperately needs an editor who will reign him on the weird tangents. Some pop culture jokes are a great plus in a book. Every other page is getting ridiculous. The vendetta against poor old Thor--a deity who protected the Vaneir and wandered the earth feeding and warding the poor--was mystifying. His lawyer wanted him to off Thor? A lawyer? C'mon. Of course, that the lawyer in question was a vampire was type casting, but still... C'mon. Then our hero kills the spider who served as the messenger to the gods and, inexcusably, kills the Norns or Fates. The Iron Druid as a psychokiller blissfully destroying eons old pantheons? What an idiot! But ok, I know the author can write, so I read on hoping something would make sense out of all this.

But the disrespect to the Norse gods became too smugly cloying and then we are introduced to Jesus, who hangs out at the bar with this moron and amuses the Iron Druid by doing some cheap magic tricks which parody the biblical loaves and fishes by making of them a whimpy burger (for the young, this was an ancient cartoon character whose handle was "I will gladly pay you on Tuesday for a hamburger today"). That was enough.

As the author is an academic, I would tell him directly the problem in academicese so he might understand it. It's great to have a pagan (or Heathen to be PC in the Asatru world) novel which does not privilege Christianity. And portraying the Norse pantheon as less than the Celtic is fine too. But to disrespect the Norse pantheon by murdering major archetypes is not acceptable. More, treating Christianity with such disrespect is no better, and no worse, than the treatment of the Norse.Neither is necessary, neither is funny, and neither is acceptable.
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I really think the author's motivation for portraying Thor in such a light and feeling justification for the whole 'lets kill the Norse gods is a reference to contemporary Odinism that presents the Norse tradition in a racist way. However, Asatru, that worships the same pantheon of Norse gods, is NOT racist and the Asatruers outnumber the Odinists (whose numbers are growing primarily in the prisons and among 1 percenter biker gangs). I suspect Hearne does not know this otherwise the idiotic vendetta against Thor could have been avoided and the whole battle against the Vaineer motif could have been abandoned in favor of a more sensible plot.
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That is the last book in this series, and by this author, that I plan to read. He really needs an editor that will go the the faculty club and tell him that the bar is closed, go home and write something sensible or it won't be published. There is a reason that Neil Gaiman had the wisdom to pull the Christianity chapter out of American Gods. With maturity, Hearne might figure out the blessings of self control also. Without this, the Iron Druid is heading for John Norman status. He can write (unlike Norman), but he has one book's worth of things to say and an endless number of sequels to keep saying it.(less)

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Apr 29, 2013 Big Books Tiny Voices rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-kathryn

Some people are just gifted at telling stories.
I mean how deep, twisted and thorough can one story get within the boundaries of 300 pages?
Hats off to the author who completely caught me off guard.

Even from the title, it's pretty obvious what this third book was going to be about.
Killing of Thor.
I like how Thor was portrayed in this book, merciless, wicked and a complete asshole.
It is true that Thor is too much commercialized these days and I for one, would now want to investigate the true...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Byron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hammered is the third book in the Iron Druid Chronicles. Atticus O' Sullivan, last surviving druid, joins a team that aims to kill the Norse god Thor. Unlike author, Kevin Hearne's last book in the series, Hammered is about the characters. While there is action, almost the entire first half of the book focused on how Atticus prepared for what he believed to be a suicide mission. The reader gets to see how Atticus values the relationships he has established with the other characters in the series...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hearne is definitely setting up the next book with this one. He's left a storyline thread hanging for 2 books now, as well as setting up some huge potential changes & battles...some major fallout from what happened in this one.

If you've read any of the other books, you'll be able to guess that the title of this book means a throw-down with Thor is in the cards. Both Morrigan (Irish goddess of battle) and Jesus (yes, THAT Jesus) try to warn Atticus about helping his friends try to kill Thor...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Amber Ditullio rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-from-library, ebooks, fantasy

I found Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series thanks to Charles de Lint's review in Fantasy and Science Fiction a few months ago. He compared it, in tone, to Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber and, being a lover of that series, I knew I had to give it a try. I sped through the first two books, Hounded and Hexed. I loved the world, I loved the characters... it was just a wonderful series that I couldn't wait to read more of.

And then I hit Hammered.

I'm not sure what it was about it but I had a hard ti...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Tom rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

The first two books of this series were interesting, but didn't make me enthusiastic to read more. I waited over six months before picking up this one while searching for something to read. Hearne just doesn't make Atticus feel like a well-developed character, and for someone who's supposed to be old and wise he acts and talks like someone with little experience. When he shows flashes of competence and power, they are jarring and out of place. That's why I didn't care so much for the first two b...more The first two books of this series were interesting, but didn't make me enthusiastic to read more. I waited over six months before picking up this one while searching for something to read. Hearne just doesn't make Atticus feel like a well-developed character, and for someone who's supposed to be old and wise he acts and talks like someone with little experience. When he shows flashes of competence and power, they are jarring and out of place. That's why I didn't care so much for the first two books, and that trend continues with the third.

That's not why I rated it at one star, though. Hearne has characterized Atticus (as much as he has characterized him at all), as someone earnest and peaceful except in self-defense. That characterization is totally destroyed by this book.

(view spoiler)

There's also the issue of building up a certain narrative momentum toward the big showdown, and then stopping for chapter after chapter of backstory on characters just to show why they're there. The pacing was wrecked by this.

So, the story was told badly and any empathy I had for Atticus is gone. I may read the next book, but it will be in hopes of seeing justice for what was done in this book.(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Kyle Shields rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hammered is the 3rd book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and a sort of end to an arch of the story. This is the book that finally brings Atticus into conflict with the Norse Pantheon, as has been foreshadowed since the first book of the series. I will skip some of the things I have covered in my previous reviews: Oberon is still funny, Atticus is charming, and the pacing of the book is break-neck. So I will try and focus on the things that I enjoyed.

I really enjoyed finding out why Thor is consid...more Hammered is the 3rd book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and a sort of end to an arch of the story. This is the book that finally brings Atticus into conflict with the Norse Pantheon, as has been foreshadowed since the first book of the series. I will skip some of the things I have covered in my previous reviews: Oberon is still funny, Atticus is charming, and the pacing of the book is break-neck. So I will try and focus on the things that I enjoyed.

I really enjoyed finding out why Thor is considered to be such an asshole. It has been said by multiple characters in this series, but nobody has every said why. This really happens as several characters, with Atticus, are sitting around a camp-fire telling "war stories" on the eve of their attack on Asgard. This introduces us to several interesting characters, but more importantly it gives us insight into Leif and Gunnar, two characters who have been in every book so far. It is nice to see that these characters have personal and legitimate reasons for hating Thor and wanting him dead. Their stories are quite good, but I wont spoil them here.

This book is also a bit darker than the others in the series. The danger is very real, and there are some deaths that are quite shocking. It is by no means a Joe Abercrombie level of darkness, but comparing it to the previous two books there is a definite upping of the ante.

It is nice to see the continuity of the series, Atticus has made promises to several acquaintances and friends in the previous two books that have resulted in him taking not one, but two, trips to Asgard in this book. It was not a subtle way for the author to set this conflict up (it wasn't supposed to be), but it was damn effective and fun to read about.

The only thing that I didn't enjoy as much about this book is that there are a few unnecessary cameos by other deities in this book. Jesus makes an appearance, which is interesting, but not really needed. His message and actions could have been handled by others. Bacchus also makes an appearance, which is again part of the continuity of the series, but his appearance is so fleeting as to make it nothing more than "eye-candy".

Once again, Luke Daniels does a pheonominal job of narrating this on audiobook, and I could not help but keep listening to it. Overall I think this book is a highly entertaining one, and it has even more firmly cemented Kevin Hearne as an author on my "to watch" list. (less)

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Dec 30, 2012 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Basic synopsis:

Atticus follows through on his agreement to steal a golden apple of Idunn, and the resulting chaos in the Norse pantheon eventually draws him in to a plot for revenge upon Thor for various wrongs to a number of supernatural individuals.

Things I liked about this book:

- Good quoteable lines. Atticus narrates entertainingly, and his bit about the potential religion of Star Trek is particularly memorable.

Things I did not like about this book:

- Internal inconsistency. In all honesty, I...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone looking to get into the urban fantasy genre

Recommended to Eric by: Nicole Evans

Shelves: urban-fantasy, norse

I have a minor gripe with this book, but I'll get to that in a bit. First, I have to say that I enjoyed this book a great deal. I like how instead of continuing with an easy rote formula, Kevin Hearne mixes things up with the series of short stories told around a campfire -- which was ballsy considering two of the four storytellers the reader had just met -- and then how he mixes even more things up with the book's aftermath, which I won't spoil here.

Back to my gripe. Here is a quote from the fi...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Shelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

In Hammered, we're once again faced with Atticus being a badass. We also get to see another side of him. A more serious side which shows how (along with his deal with a certain goddess) that he's lived this long.

This book takes a turn for the dark and serious. Sure there are moments of hysterical laughter (pee puns, Shakespeare quote contests, or talking in lolcat) but it also shows how deep and far this series is going to go.

Warned not to engage the god of thunder, Atticus instead goes to Asg...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Tal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dont-own, sf-fantasy

Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully — he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he's asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. Plus things are heating up in his home base of Tempe,...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Dangerous Romance Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book Blurb: Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare. One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. Plus things are heating up in his home base...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*3.5 stars*

There is never a dull moment in an Iron Druid Chronicles novel. They are packed with action, adventure and tons of mythology.

Atticus is back and this time it's his mission to kill Thor. I'm not quite sure why Atticus promised Leif he would do this. It's a dangerous mission and while Thor is a complete number one jerk, Atticus has no personal issues with him. As we got to know each of Atticus's companions and their reasons for wanting to kill Thor, I was right along with them. It wasn'...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book has a non-stop pace, for reasons that will be obvious to the reader but cannot be explained to others without spoilers. I'll just say "clear your calendar" because you'll not find ANY good stopping places.

One of the things that truly impresses me is that Kevin Hearne doesn't just show his characters doing amazing things, but shows them experiencing the consequences of their actions -- some expected, some totally unexpected. I truly enjoy his views of archetypes and myth, especiall...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Siew Ee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Keeping the trademark wit and humour of the first two books, “Hammered” expands on the plot and introduces more deities and gods from different folklores in Atticus’ undertaking to help Leif kill Thor. And as a woman reader, I also appreciated the hint of a romance between Atticus and Granuaile in an otherwise testosterone-filled storyline.

As far as pacing is concerned, it is slower than that in the first two books, and therefore not as compulsively readable. I felt a little bored during the bon...more

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Jun 26, 2012 julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

This time Atticus has made a deal with the devil. Or at least a vampire. We get to hear from several people why the Norse god Thor has to be destroyed, but for some reason Atticus doesn't listen to two other gods--The Morrigan, his Irish goddess that looks out for him, and believe it or not, Jesus (as this is a work of fiction I'm not going to be offended by this interpretation)--who both tell him its a bad idea. But no, Atticus has made a promise (to a vampire) and is going to keep it. Sigh. Th...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Killing gods	12	98	May 09, 2013 06:21am
Druids for real?	8	95	Nov 26, 2012 02:16pm

title link	preview: Hammered
avg rating	preview: Hammered Goodreads rating: 4.19 (10394 ratings)
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Hammered (The Iron Druid Chronicles #3)

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