Kevin Hearne – Hunted

The sixth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles series, published June 25, 2013.
Genre: fantasy / urban fantasy
Cover: strong



For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O'Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he's being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt - Artemis and Diana - for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.
Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok - AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living - and still have a world to live in.


I really need to stop reading reviews for books I want to read myself. I know my opinion often is different from those of other reviewers, and I should have trusted that. I have read some less enthusiastic reviews, and this made me hesitate a bit with starting to read Hunted. But I am glad I enjoyed it just as much as the other books in this series, and am already looking forward to the next one.

Book six takes up where book 5 left us, with Atticus, Oberon and Granuaile on the run from the Olympian goddesses of the hunt, Artemis and Diana. Apparently the Greek and Roman pantheon are working together on this. They are still angry at Atticus for making Bacchus disappear, and incarcerating his nymphs for a while.

Following the advice of the Morrigan, Atticus, Oberon and Granuaile literally have to run across Europe and try to reach England, especially Windsor Forest, where Herne the Hunter will aid them. But not only the Olympian gods are after them, there is still the insane Loki and his daughter Hell, the Dark Elves and the vampires after them. It takes a lot of cunning to fight and avoid them all, but they are making progress. The earth’s elementals all help them, and of course it is convenient that now Granuaile is a full fledged Druid herself, they can take on animal shapes that can run way faster and surer than their human bodies. Still, it is awkward running with weapons in your mouth, and even Oberon has to help with that, holding Granuaile’s throwing knifes.

They defeat the goddesses a few times, but they are truly immortal, and after some superfast healing, they are back on the hunt. Atticus gets some unsuspected help from Odin, who is watching it all from his realm. With Hunin and Munin as his emissaries, he tells Atticus what is happening, and how the other gods have kept the other Olympians from interfering too much. Odin needs Atticus alive to fight in Ragnarok after all. O, and they are betting on the outcome …


I really don’t want to spoil any surprises in this book if you still want to read it, so I’ll have to stop with this part of my review.


As I live in Europe, I think I do appreciate the descriptions of all the countries they have to cross a bit more than American readers, especially the bit about The Netherlands. The book is almost filled cover to cover with action, until they do reach Herne the Hunter. I was surprised and happy to read about him, ever since the tv series Robin the Hooded Man I was intrigued by him. Of course, Kevin Hearne made him into something completely different from the tales I already knew.

Granuaile is now a full Druid, and being hunted sure makes her look differently at killing people. She is growing harder, and Atticus had hoped she would have more time just enjoying her new life and her new powers. But she sure is kick ass, and does not take a step back for anyone, and I admire her greatly. She fights and she survives and she still sees the beauty in the world.

I have to admit, I did expect some more romance between Atticus and Granuaile in this book, now they have finally become lovers, but there just was no time for that. Oberon was his usual great self, he sure is one smart hound, and I loved the ending of the book, a lot. Even though this really is not a cliff hanger ending, I want to read the next book asap.

I never expected what happened in the first part of the book though, with the Morrigan. I never could have guessed and am really surprised. I wonder what will happen next.

Kevin Hearne has again blended a lot of different mythologies and sagas together in one action and humor filled novel. I do like the world he has created, both good and evil, and look forward to many more books in this series.

In the back of the book, is the important short story/novella Two Ravens and a Crow as an added bonus. If you don’t buy paperbacks anymore, do get the ebook.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian