Kevin Hearne – Hexed

The second book in the Iron Druid Chronicles series, published June 2011.



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 neighbour’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.


Life is certainly not boring for this old Druid: his apprentice has returned, and is still determined to become a Druid, he is signing a peace treaty with the local witches coven, and he has to heal about fifty square miles of death land, caused by the demons in the previous book.
Ever since slaying Angus Or, Atticus has been visited by all kinds of other deities to congratulate him, warn him to stay away from themselves, and ask him to kill Thor. Now the Morrigan is back, asking for his help in making her own amulet, just like her own, and Brigid is furious that Atticus is helping the Morrigan, so she may get an advantage of her. At least the Morrigan heals his ear and is not trying to kill him.
After having disposed of a giant bug like demon, Coyote appears and wants him to kill another demon who is eating schoolkids. Atticus needs some really divine help with that chore, so he asks his friend the widow to pray really hard to the Virgin Mary, so she may appear to bless his weapons. And when that job is finally done, there are some evil witches trying to kill him and his friends.


A really action packed book. I loved every page of it. There are so many great secondary characters, but I especially like Oberon, Atticus’ dog. I love their conversations. That sure is one very smart hound. Granueile, his new apprentice, doesn’t have a big role in this book, but I am sure if she learns more and more, that will change. His lawyers have a part, both the vampire and the werewolf, and he needs the ghouls for cleaning up the bodies too. Both the Morrigan and Brigid will be back for a piece of Atticus. And of course there are the witches. I really do not think they will leave him completely alone. And last, but certainly not least, there is the whiskey drinking widow.
There is a lot magic in those books, a lot of mythology and gods and goddesses, and it is all told by Atticus in a very humorous manner.
The secrets of his pesky neighbour are reveiled, so I do wonder what will happen next.

So far, I know there will be one more book, which will be published next month. I will be sure to read that as soon as it lands on my doormat, but I so hope there will be many more books.

I think those are original, fast paced, but because of the humor also very much fun to read, with lots of excitement and great characters. Atticus likes to explain things, but overall they are easy to read, and often especially Oberon has a great remark about something.

9 stars.