Hearne, Kevin - Hammered- (The Iron Druid Chronicles #3) March 5th, 2014

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

What is a Buddy Read?

This is an "Informal Buddy Read"

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

Book Synopsis
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. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved.

[Nicole]

Are people actually starting this one early?

[Sonia]

No Nicole, it was for reserving the slot on the buddy read calendar.

However, since is an informal buddy read... is up to you to wait or not. My schedule is so packed right now that there is no way I can start before the date :)

[Kristie]

I just started this one yesterday. My schedule is also packed, so if I didn't start early I wouldn't have had time to get to it. :) It started out a little differently than I expected, but it's good so far. I feel like there's even more humor than usual in this one.

[Vicky]

For anyone getting these books from Audible, Hammered is included in the BOGO sale going on through tomorrow. You can get it and any other book in the sale for 1 credit.

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

Mind if I join this buddy read. I read last week and I can't wait to read

[Sonia]

Welcome Lizz! The more, the merrier!

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

:)

[Logan]

I'm going to have to start this one early too. Probably Monday.

[Esther]

I started it last night. this one may just be abput changes... We will see..


Up to chapter 5

Ratastock (view spoiler)[ was killed. Poor squirrel. That seem a bit cheap. (hide spoiler)]

The "apple" quest (view spoiler)[ was definitely not discreet. I have doubt about Atticus letting is sword there. It may not be easy to get it back, even if it is still there when he gets back (hide spoiler)]

The story so far (view spoiler)[ i guess that's it for Arizona. I am liking Granuaile more and more. And she asked a question I already had myself: "how does he know he is the last druid"? (hide spoiler)]

[Lisarenee]

@Esther
I thought the squirrel death was too. It just shows that Atticus doesn't know everything or how people will act. Could this be a cautionary tale? Will Atticus learn anything from it?

Nope, I agree the Apple quest was not discreet.

I wasn't sure about Granuaile until this book either. In Hunted we'll get to know her better and hear her point of view about some things.

[Lisarenee]

Logan wrote: "I'm going to have to start this one early too. Probably Monday."

Did you start it? Finish it? What did you think of it? I though Hearne went a little crazy with this one where the Gods are concerned.

[Kristie]

I agree about the apple quest. I felt that (view spoiler)[ he set himself up to be attacked. Why would he taunt the gods like that? (hide spoiler)]

I am also liking Granuaile. I wonder though (near the end)(view spoiler)[ when the gods warned Atticus that his actions would cause all this destruction, how will Granuaile be involved? I know that he always thinks of himself as the last druid, but she will be a druid eventually too. He could be risking her life by doing what he is doing. Actually, since he knows the gods are likely to retaliate, he is definitely putting her at risk. When he was warned that this would ultimately cause his death, I was surprised that he didn't consider her & Oberon. (hide spoiler)]

I am almost done (about 95%) and I'm hoping to finish today. I think there were many parts of this book that were very funny and I agree that Hearne went a little crazy with this one.

[Logan]

I'm about 75% done now. This is a re-read for me again - I listened on audio last year during a road trip, but I never retain audiobooks so I had forgotten a lot, like the (view spoiler)[showdown with the rabbis and Jesus (hide spoiler)].

I liked that we jumped into the action right away, but this book feels more disjointed than the others. Atticus has to quickly make all of these arrangements and then go off on this strange quest that everyone is warning him will come to no good, and so much of the book leaves out my favorite characters like the widow, Granuaile, and Oberon.

The one part of the book that I HATED on audio, but ended up appreciating more while reading, was the male bonding part. On audio it went on forever and was distracting and not fun to listen to, but while reading it felt much shorter and I liked learning more about Hal and Leif.

Mostly, this book feels like a filler to me, and that it only exists to finally get over this Thor plotline and set up the whole "world is burning" stuff. I agree with Kristie that Atticus doesn't seem to be too concerned with how his actions are going to affect the people and world around him. Maybe he thinks he will once again find a loophole?

[Esther]

I am at 52%. While I am still enjoying it, i am not having as much fun as with the 1st two.

I'll see how i feel when i am done, but so far, I may agree with Logan calling it a filler (as this series is new for me, i have no idea what comes next) I was thinking that he worked himself into a corner when he set the Thor plot in the previous book and now that he got there, he quite did not know what to do with it.

[Kristie]

I finished and (view spoiler)[ poor Widow McDonagh!!! I loved her. I hope they explain more about this in the next book. So sad. I'm also really curious to see how Leif ends up. Will he be the same as before or completely different?? Will Atticus's magic even work? (hide spoiler)] I'll definitely be continuing with the series. I have a couple things that I want to know. I find these audio books entertaining and enjoyable.

[Logan]

I think you may be right, Esther. It does feel a little like he was like, "Well I guess they fight Thor, but how do I fill a book..."

Kristie - Yes! What a cliffhanger ending. It's making it hard for me to resist picking up #4 right away.

[Kristie]

Logan wrote: "Kristie - Yes! What a cliffhanger ending. It's making it hard for me to resist picking up #4 right away. "

Me too!

[Esther]

I am done.

Kristie, I have the same questions you have. I guess we will see in the next book.

Also, did you have the Granuaile's short story in your book? I was interesting to be in her head for a bit.

[Kristie]

Esther wrote: "I am done.

Kristie, I have the same questions you have. I guess we will see in the next book.

Also, did you have the Granuaile's short story in your book? I was interesting to be in her head fo..."

No, I had the audio version. I'll have to look that up!

[Lisarenee]

Esther wrote: "I am done.

Kristie, I have the same questions you have. I guess we will see in the next book.

Also, did you have the Granuaile's short story in your book? I was interesting to be in her head fo..."

Esther, I haven't heard that one either. What was the name?

P.S. We get into her head again in .

[Kristie]

Link to Granuaile's point of view story: http://www.kevinhearne.com/wp-content...

[Lisarenee]

Oh, and you will find out more about Widow McDonagh. I was very sad to see the end of her. I wish Atticus had used his ImmortalaTEA (I've only listened to the audio so have no clue how that's spelled.) on her. I think it would have been hilarious to see her age regress. I could see her being some stunning woman and turn Atticus on his ear. Oh well, I guess he has Granuaile to do that.

You know, I didn't really like Granuaile that much until Hunted. She rocks in that one.

[Steven]

I was disappointed in this one, as I felt it wasn't as fun as the other two. But I am glad the Thor storyline is (mostly) over and hopefully we can get back to having all the characters we love involved and more fun storylines. This one felt forced and too grandiose.

[Lisarenee]

Steven wrote: "I was disappointed in this one, as I felt it wasn't as fun as the other two. But I am glad the Thor storyline is (mostly) over and hopefully we can get back to having all the characters we love in..."

This was my least favorite of the ones I've read and I felt Hearne gets back on track in Trapped. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy Hammered, but not as much as the others.

[Vicky]

I finished this a few days ago and I pretty much agree with what everyone said about it all feeling a bit forced.

I wasn't a fan of the pacing either. It started off quick-paced and action packed with the apple quest, we had a bit of Iron Druid normalcy as he took care of his business getting ready for the quest, then we had a really slow campfire tale section and then the big showdown at the end. I actually started the audio, listened through part of Gunnar's story and then put it down for a few days. This is really out of character for me and these books! I usually can't stand to put them down and when I do I can't wait to pick them up again.

There were still some parts I enjoyed. It was interesting to explore Gunnar and Leif's pasts as a window into how the supernatural as a whole fit into Hearne's world. I also appreciate the way Hearne uses the mythological pantheons in terms of how well known they are in our age. Norse and Roman/Greek Mythology is huge in our culture, but gods like Perun aren't widely known. I thought it was interesting that Perun himself mentions that he has little influence because of this.

[Steven]

I agree, Vicky. I like his use of pantheons and mythologies and how influential they are based off of knowledge and continued worship in the modern age, and I was interested in more of Gunnar and Leif's backstories (though (view spoiler)[ I am bummed they both died! unless I was in a haze while reading sick and remember that wrong? (hide spoiler)])

[Lisarenee]

Vicky said, "I also appreciate the way Hearne uses the mythological pantheons in terms of how well known they are in our age. Norse and Roman/Greek Mythology is huge in our culture, but gods like Perun aren't widely known. I thought it was interesting that Perun himself mentions that he has little influence because of this."

You know, you see this in a lot of books dealing with Gods. They tend to only be as powerful as the amount of people who worship them. I always found this an interesting concept. Does that mean the worshiping of them is what gives them their power? Without them are they truly powerless? To me it always seemed the two would not be so closely tied to one another. I'd just think their influence of others on earth would be affected.

[Vicky]

Steven wrote: "I agree, Vicky. I like his use of pantheons and mythologies and how influential they are based off of knowledge and continued worship in the modern age, and I was interested in more of Gunnar and ..."

In regards to your spoiler, one of them is in limbo. (view spoiler)[Gunnar is definitely dead, but Atticus attempts to bring Leif back to life. He reattaches all of his parts so that the "vampire immorality magic" could repair his body, but since he was only ever taught how to dismantle a vampire to keep them from healing, he has no idea whether it will work or not. (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

That's right! I totally forgot about that. Thanks, Vicky!

I shouldn't have read so much over my days of stomach bug/food poisoning. I'm struggling to remember everything I read! LOL

[Nicole]

Goodness I seem to be quite far behind. I'm only about halfway through ;)

[Sonia]

Well, I got behind because of Water Love Memory. Now that I had the time, is Mercy day. So I'm off till the task is done.


And off-topic: Nicole, I will need to talk about your read books for the team challenge, but later, after I finish Night Broken. :)

[Kristie]

Nicole wrote: "Goodness I seem to be quite far behind. I'm only about halfway through ;)"

Actually, I think you're right on and we're ahead. I'm waiting to read the next one until April, like a good doobie. :)

[Nicole]

Sure Sonia. Email me whenever you get a chance. :)

[Sonia]

:)

I will... you'll probably be sleeping by then, but we have time.

[Eni]

i just finished the book... well a couple of hours ago.. still trying to digest it. I loved the book till about 80% in.. (yeah i'm easy). I actually enjoyed the fact that after a while it gets a slower pace then usual. And of course Oberon and all the little references made my inner nerd giggle her ass off.

(view spoiler)[I LOVED the little stories! It was great that we got to see a little bit into Gunnar's and Leif's past. I was so excited. And then they die.. and i continue to read on, not fully recovered from the shock (i was really starting to like both of them) and then comes widow *cries her eyes out* (hide spoiler)]
DAM YOU HEARNE *shakes fist*
I agree with you Lisarenee, it would be very interesting to see the widow with the tea.

*sigh* just wanna punch someone right now >_<

[Nicole]

Ok I finally finished this one tonight. I've got to admit, till now, I've sorta wondered why Kevin and Neil Gaiman were said to be similar. Now I've read both Hammered and American Gods, I can finally see it.

Anyone else?

[Steven]

Eni wrote: "i just finished the book... well a couple of hours ago.. still trying to digest it. I loved the book till about 80% in.. (yeah i'm easy). I actually enjoyed the fact that after a while it gets a sl..."

This book was heartwrenching!!!

I need to read American Gods still, Nicole. I'm behind! LOL

[Kristie]

Eni wrote: "i just finished the book... well a couple of hours ago.. still trying to digest it. I loved the book till about 80% in.. (yeah i'm easy). I actually enjoyed the fact that after a while it gets a sl..."

I was so upset by (view spoiler)[the Widow McDonagh dying too! She was my favorite. And what has taken her over?! I hope they get into that in the next book. :( (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Nicole wrote: "Ok I finally finished this one tonight. I've got to admit, till now, I've sorta wondered why Kevin and Neil Gaiman were said to be similar. Now I've read both Hammered and American Gods, I can fina..."

I didn't know that they were said to be similar. I don't see it, but I haven't read American Gods. Maybe that is exactly the books they were referring to, Nicole.