Hexed: The Iron Druid Chronicles

Written by Kevin Hearne

Narrated by Christopher Ragland

Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn't care much for witches. Still, he's about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty - when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they're badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor's rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little, Brown (Hachette UK) Audio
• Release date: May 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781405527927

Kevin Hearne

Kevin Hearne is the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles. He’s a middle-aged nerd who still enjoys his comic books and old-school heavy metal. Visit him online at KevinHearne.com.

Reviews for Hexed

[smbass-223073 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After reading two of these books I get the strong impression that the author has read the Dresden Files and is working through a checklist to make a series with the same elements and a similar style. It's not terrible, but after two books, I don't see much original here.

[bardbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd forgotten how much fun this series is to read.

[jerame2999 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good silly fun. I enjoy the world that the author has created and will be back to see what happens next. These books are good for what they are. They are great quick reads. A good palette cleanser after nonfiction or more involved reading.

[melrailey-412132 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

These books are such wonderful fun! They're exactly what urban fantasy should be - great story, wonderful paranormal creatures and lots of humor and sarcasm. I read the first book but listened to this second one on audiobook and Luke Daniel's narration is brilliant. I will definitely be listening to the rest of the series. And Oberon is probably my favorite dog in fiction. He might even be as cool as Scooby-Doo.

[skybalon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I accidentally read this one out of order, (read #3 before #2), and it didn't seem to make much difference although it did flesh things out more. I liked the story but it seems like in all of these books the journey is more enjoyable than the final battle. Still fun and still worth the read.

[mary_beth_robb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoying these. Next up Hammered

[malexmave · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh, procrastination. I should have been learning for my next exam all this time, but I mostly spent it reading this book and doing other things.

Well, the book isn't too bad. I found it a bit less funny than the first one, but I'll still keep reading the series. I really like the interactions between Atticus and Oberon, and his Apprentice and the visiting gods are always great fun, too.

All in all, I'm still looking forward to reading the next book, although I do not know if it would be unwise to begin on it today, since I still need to do some learning. In theory.

Procrastination. Let's begin with the next book.

[starknits_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was fast paced but fun. I really love Oberon and Atticus together.

[hopeevey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As one reviewer pointed out there does seem to be some unconscious sexism here. The female characters tend to either need Atticus's protection, or be kinda evil. Then again, while the male characters tend to be self sufficient, they're not always the most helpful folks in the universe. All that does emphasize how much Atticus is backed into a corner, which lets us see him squirm his way to his goals.

I still have quite the literary crush of the good Druid :)

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Still liking the series... onward and upward!

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one but not as much as the first book in the series. This one really falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me but I have decided to go ahead and round up. I was really excited to get back to the series after enjoying the first book in the series. This is definitely a series that needs to be read in order since this book picks up shortly after the events of the previous installment. This ended up being another enjoyable listen.One of the things that I loved the most about the first book was the characters. I was really happy to see all of the key players back for this installment in the series. There were a few new characters that were rather impressive as well. I really like Atticus. He is incredibly patient and able to determine the best course of action in most situations. I love that he has adapted to the present time better than most of the other that have lived a very long time. Oberon is such a wonderful character and anytime he was a part of a scene I usually had a big grin on my face.This book has all of the excitement that I had hoped to see. Atticus has to team with the local witch coven when bad things start happening. Atticus has several problems that he is juggling during the story and somehow he makes it all seem easy. This book balanced the action very nicely against some of the lighter moments in the book.Luke Daniels continues to do a fantastic job with the narration of this series. He does such a great job with all of the character voices and adds a lot of emotion to story. His portrayal of Oberon is simply outstanding. I couldn't imagine an intelligent Wolfhound sounding any other way. I had not problem listening to this one for hours at a time.I would recommend this series to others. It is a very unique series that contains the perfect combination of humor, action, and thought provoking mystery. I can't wait to read more of this wonderful series.

[kmajort · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Still good; I think I'll get along w/Atticus for a while.

[whybehave2002 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, how I love Kevin Hearne! His imagination is colorful and has an endless wit. And his wonderful vocabulary makes me do a happy dance! I love to read and I love to get involved with a series even more but I don't want to hang my head in embarrassment because of a tacky cover or the fact that I've chosen to read an author that has no depth and a grade school vocabulary. No problem with this series. It's a class act!

[melydia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second Iron Druid book but I read the first one so many years ago that a quick Wikipedia check was all I needed to get back on board. Atticus O'Sullivan is an ancient Druid who draws his magical powers from the earth. And some witches are trying to kill him. This is a lot of fun, sort of a lighter Dresden Files. There's a bit of wish fulfillment (good lord how many drop-dead gorgeous women are there in Arizona?) but by and large it's just a fun little magic romp. Looking forward to the next one.

[narilka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hexed by Kevin Hearne is the second in the Iron Druid Chronicles. It was another highly entertaining read. And so funny! Events pick up just days after the big show down at the end of book one. Atticus has had time to mostly heal and is now dealing with the fallout of those events. There's the matter of cleaning up the few demons that escaped and a group of Bacchants from Las Vegas has come to town to (literally) tear up the local club scene. Plus a new group of witches is in town, ones Atticus has run into before on the German side of WWII. He's decided to do something he never thought he would - sign an nonaggression treaty with the local coven of witches. Perhaps with a little help from his friends he can get it all taken care of and start healing the land.Oberon is hands down my favorite character. He gets some of the best lines. The conversations between Oberon and Atticus had me laughing out loud. The fact that he speaks telepathically making it so that almost no one else can hear which causes Atticus to attempt to keep a straight face during conversations adds to the fun. It's also neat that the author gives Oberon a "theme" for each book.Hearne is starting to branch out and mix in other mythologies. The Native American god Coyote makes an appearance and lives up to his trickster ways. Eastern European witchcraft lore is further explained. He even manages to work in the Virgin Mary and some Kabbalah. Everyone from all the pantheons hates Thor which I'm pretty sure is a set up for book 3 since it's titled Hammered. My least favorite part is when the two Celtic goddesses make their appearance. They just didn't fit very well into this book's plot for me so I'm sure that's also a set up for something in the future.Again I listened to the audio book narrated by Luke Daniels. His performance continues to be top notch. As long as they keep Daniels as the voice actor I'll be continuing this series on audio.

[irregularreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I greatly enjoyed this second go-round from Kevin Hearne. The Character of Atticus is more fleshed out, as are the friends and foes he picked up along the way in the first book. This installment also introduces crazy secret sects, demon-humping witch interlopers, and party girls from hell.

[bookjunkie777 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed listening to this second book in the Iron Druids Chronicles. Atticus O'Sullivan continues to be dragged into events despite his overwhelming desire to remain hidden. The supernatural machinations continue with Atticus trying to play catch-up. The characters and storyline are well developed. Highly recommend!

[sarah_buckley-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another outstanding entry into the Iron Druid Series by Kevin Herne. So, the cover blurb:

"Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex."

I'm really glad I picked up this series on a whim. I continue my love affair with them in the second book of the series. I just love books that have awesome dog companions, werewolf and vampire attorneys, and gods vying for a piece of the main character. Again, the action is fast paced and fun. I continue to love Oberon to an unhealthy degree! I wish I had a dog as awesome.

One thing I maybe find fault with is the assistant/student, Granuile. I don't HATE her character or anything that drastic, and I know that this is totally my particular dislike shining through, but I tend to dislike characters that are described as perfect. She is super smart, very witty, absolutely stunning, basically perfect. It's just not my cup of tea. Now, I fully admit that this is my deal, if you love her and don't see anything wrong that is absolutely cool.She just leaves me rather "meh.", no real strong feelings either way.

That said, my love of the books keeps on chugging. I thought this wsa fantastic from beginning to end, and I'm excited to start the third book!

[cjrecordvt-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I tried. I tried so hard to get into this series. I made it to the second book. But the world building is falling flat, and the protagonist.

[jmkemp-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The pace in this book is more measured than in the first instalment, but now that the author has our attention he uses it to explain and expand on the background. This change in gear makes for a more interesting story, and I guess it is the benefit of having got the first book sold. Also the lessons from the first time through probably went some way to making the next one more interesting.

[jshillingford_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought there was a lot of potential in the first book of this series, and I am happy to see it is expanded on in Hexed. Here, a coven of evil witches makes a move on Malina’s territory, which also happens to be Atticus’. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the followers of Bacchus have also dropped into town to unleash chaos via uninhibited orgies, there’s a fallen angel killing high schoolers and everyone wants Atticus to kill Thor. Just another day in the life of a druid.The first book dis appointed me because everything came to Atticus; someone would conveniently tell him what he needed to know so he never had to be proactive. Thankfully, that is not the case here. The book is very fast paced since there are so many fires for Atticus to put out. This means he has to plan, negotiate and work out how to tackle each crisis. There was a lot of planning involved, with Malina’s coven and Leif, plus the return of Laksha. There’s also a lto of humor here, specifically from Atticus’ knowledge and appreciation of pop culture. I love that he’s trying to teach Leif how not to sound like a stuffy vampire!I did have a couple of issues with the book. The Morrigan and Brighid both make appearances that go on too long and serve no purpose to the current plot. And, a noticeable amount of the book is taken up with setting up the next book, which will no doubt deal with Thor (and everyone wanting him dead). I don’t mind some build-up for the next book; but it should come near the end, and not at the expense of the story currently being told. However, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and I do look forward to the next installment.Overall, a nice improvement over the first book with some character growth and expanded cast. Recommended to fans of urban fantasy.

[tigerb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a pretty fun read. The books are a little exposition-heavy because the magic systems are rather complex, but when Atticus gets down to the magic and sword-wielding, the pages fly by. (Also when he starts some story-telling. Pass the popcorn.)

As usual Oberon the wolfhound is a stitch, but the police continue to be a worry. Atticus's flimsy alibis can't hold up forever.

[claudia.anderson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

love, love, love this series

[theyodamom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Audio-
This second book in the "Iron Druid Chronicles" series finds Atticus , the last druid, trying to make nice with the a coven of witches. He gets sidetracked by another cover this one he knows from the past, and they want death. Lets not forget he has the Bacchants and Celtic goddesses,leaving him scratched and tired. Oberon, Atticus's Irish wolfhound, steals my heart more than once. There are so many funny moments, my favorite has to do with the Widow...LOL
I am on to the next.

[bicyclewriter · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to the first on on audio, but read this - the second in the series. While I liked the narrator, I do think I enjoy reading these more than listening.

This is a fun series. I love the tiny little nuggets of subtle connection that the author leaves sprinkled throughout the book - usually references to other books. The Oberon (dog) character is really well-done.

This book falls into a category of books I'll call "fun stories". Not great literature, but just good and solid storytelling. A fun premise for a story, some solid characters, and a story well-done.

It might be written with young-adult male readers in mind, though I'm not sure I'd suggest it for under 16.

[msphotogirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book 2 did not impress me at all. There was less Oberon. Atticus is really starting to wear on me. He is very sexist. I also felt the book left loose ends. They were small. For example, did the cops ever do anything with Atticus about Perry? Yes we know how Perry died from Atticus talking to the good witches. The author made a point to bring up the detectives name several times. It was like he meant to do more with him.

[anyaejo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this on audio and continue to generally love the narration with the exception of the freaking Wisconsin woman sounding like she's right out of Fargo! The plot however wanders greatly and Hexed generally feels like a set up for the rest of the series.

[sdmouton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's hard to rate Kevin Hearne's books. They're really all in the 3.5-4 range, so I'll rate my favorites a 4. Oberon is probably my favorite character.

[auntieclio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What I find most satisfying about Kevin Hearne's work is the way he treats his women characters. They are full-blown people. Not just wimmens to be gawked at. Hearne does not flinch from giving the pretty ones awful traits, nor does he keep the not-so-pretty ones from being beautiful people. He does not deny the deep sexual attraction Atticus can have to some of them (magically induced or not) but he gives reason for Atticus to act (or not) on those impulses. There's a lot of talking about baseball when Atticus is trying to concentrate on staying focused. This is not to imply that Atticus is a horn-dog or that there's a lot of sexual tension going on. There's not, but when it moves the plot forward, Hearne is not shy about allowing his characters to feel what would be natural.

[readinggrrl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Atticus and his dog Oberan. I particularly love the dog who loves to watch movies and live in character - right now he is all about the 60-70's and "sticking it to the man". All the characters in the book are great. The whole book just waffles back and forth between serious and outright funny. Atticus may be centuries old but he has learned how to fit into modern day and tries to fly under the radar but its getting harder after killing a God. Now it seems everyone is either scared of him or trying to take him out, not to mention he seems to be caught in a fight between two Godesses both who seem to want a piece of him (literally). Since his cover of being a stupid geeky book store owner is slowly being carved away by incidents beyond his control he now finds himself being more himself, which can be dangerous. He can sometimes be found wandering the streets naked, riding around town with a sword strapped to his back and turning into different animals to help him escape different situations. So far this series hasn't disappointed and it just seems to be getting better. Can't wait to see what is in store for the druid and his friends next time.