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Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles
Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles
Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles
Audiobook9 hours

Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles

Written by Kevin Hearne

Narrated by Luke Daniels

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

BOOK 3 IN THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES

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.

Don’t miss any of Kevin Hearne’s phenomenal Iron Druid Chronicles novels:
HOUNDED | HEXED | HAMMERED | TRICKED | TRAPPED | HUNTED | SHATTERED | STAKED

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 5, 2011
ISBN9781441870148
Hammered: The Iron Druid Chronicles
Author

Kevin Hearne

Kevin Hearne hugs trees, pets doggies, and rocks out to heavy metal. He also thinks tacos are a pretty nifty idea. He is the author of A Plague of Giants and the New York Times bestselling series The Iron Druid Chronicles.

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Reviews for Hammered

Rating: 4.06188598005894 out of 5 stars
4/5

1,018 ratings61 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoy these stories particularly the hound part. Great story. Modern action with a fantasy bend. Humor. It has it all.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A good addition to a great series. The voice of the narrator is wonderful -both in the written and performed audio words. Looking forward to the next title in this enjoyable series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    the only thing I don't like about this series it that I have to wait for the next to come out in audio...hurry audible! great narration
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    First listen of the audiobook, second "read" of the book.

    My husband and I are listening to this series together and I enjoyed hearing this one on audio for the first time. The narration was fantastic and Luke Daniels executes a wide range of character voices with fluid ease. The plot slows quite a bit in the middle, but once the action picks back up, it held my attention well. The battle scenes with Thor were exceptionally well done and kept us up late listening to the outcome. Nicely done!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I am so glad to have discovered Hearne. Definitely worth the listen!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Long story short: in Hammered gibt es nicht viel zu Lachen. Das ist nicht nur Oberons Abwesenheit, sondern auch einigen ernsten und tragischen Entwicklungen zu verdanken. Die Handlung lastet schwerer auf den Protagonisten als bisher, vor allem auf Atticus, der sich in einer schwierigen Situation ohne echten Ausweg befindet.Das Buch kommt dabei allerdings auch langsamer in die Gänge. Atticus ist zunächst ohne Begleitung unterwegs, und seine Monologe sind nur halb so unterhaltsam wie seine Dialoge mit anderen. Außerdem hat er sich diesmal wohl ein Beispiel an Kollege Harry Dresden genommen, dessen zweite Natur es zu sein scheint, permanent mehr tot als lebendig zu sein. Hat man sich aber erst einmal eingewöhnt, entdeckt man in Hammered andere Qualitäten, die vor allem den Figuren zugute kommen. Neben der Einführung neuer Charaktere erfahren wir endlich, weshalb Vampir Leif Helgarson einen solchen Groll gegen Thor hegt, wie Werwolf Gunnar da rein passt und im Zuge der Männerfreundschaft gibt es auch noch ein paar unterhaltsame Geschichten anderer Thor-Geschädigter.Der nordische Donnergott, der derzeit als sympathischer Held und Beschützer der Menschen durch die Kinos zieht, zeigt sich in Hammered dabei von einer ganz anderen Seite. Als wahres Ar… äh … als verantwortungsloser und grausamer Gott, dem seine Macht zu Kopf gestiegen ist, hat er sich einiges zuschulden kommen lassen und den Rachewunsch wirklich alter Individuen auf sich gelenkt – vom chinesischen Zauberer bis zum russischen Donnergott (der wohl versucht, sein Gewicht in Vodka zu vertilgen), marschieren die Geplagten mit Atticus’ Hilfe in Asgard ein und stellen Ragnarok in den Schatten.Nicht verwunderlich, dass es in Hammered daher vor allem blutig und schonungslos wird. Gerade erst hat man den ein oder anderen Charakter näher kennengelernt, vielleicht sogar ins Herz geschlossen, da muss man sich auch schon von ihm verabschieden.Gänzlich auf Humor verzichten muss man dabei zum Glück nicht, doch geeignete Momente für Lacher und nerdige Sprüche sind limitiert. Hammered ist daher insgesamt etwas schwächer, was den Unterhaltungswert angeht, baut dafür aber stärker an Handlung auf und endet nun, im Gegensatz zu den beiden Vorgängern, auch mit offenen Fragen. Nach den Ereignissen dieses Romans dürften da im Nachfolger Tricked einige Veränderungen auf Druide und Leser zukommen.Auch wenn Hammered nicht so humorvoll ist wie Hounded und Hexed, lohnt es sich doch am Ball zu bleiben.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I gave up 85% of the way through because I was so utterly fed up. The logical heir to Butcher and Dresden, my butt. Only if it had been butchered. I'd have to be completely hammered to finish this. I'm not even sure if by alcohol or by the actual weapon, either.

    I... I don't understand how this book can be so utterly, unapologetically awful. I mean, Atticus is the epitome of a Gary Stu, but the pacing and plotting of this book was just.. just.. I'm speechless at the awfulness of this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ein bisschen offenes Ende. Schade, ich hatte mir mehr versprochen nach den ersten 2 B?nden.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Enamored!
    Second time around: This is a very different Thor than the 21st-century Marvel sanitization in movies.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I probably would have given this book a 5, but it wasn't quite as amusing as the first two, mostly because Oberon, the Irish Wolfhound, is with the widow throughout most of the book and in my opinion, we didn't actually need a full chapter on each of the Thor hunting party members. That being said, I'm a big fan of these books. As a matter of fact, I can't think of many current fantasy book series that I've enjoyed more. By the way, if you get a chance to listen to the audio book rather than reading it.. do it. It's hilarious.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I accidentally read this before the second one in the series, didn't really hurt the experience, could easily keep up. The book did feel like it had some filler, backstories for characters that while interesting, did little to advance the story. The ultimate battle was a little to short given its import, but overall another fun read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a fast action filled book. There was some back story as well. It ended on a cliff hanger so we'll see what happens next.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It really should be no surprise that I had a good time with this book. After reading and enjoying the first two books in this series, I was really excited to dive into this third installment. Just in case you are wondering, this is a series that should be read in order. The book started out with a lot of action and really kept the pace up until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed going on this adventure with Atticus.Atticus has a few debts to pay in this book. The first order of business is retrieving a golden apple for a local witch. Even though this sounds like a rather simple act, it proves to be anything but. He then is tasked with leading a group to kill Thor. I wondered why this group would be so determined to end the life of Thor but as each member shared their history with the god it became quite evident.This was an action-packed tale that kept Atticus on the move for the bulk of the book. There was a whole lot of action worked into the story and I felt like Atticus was in a whole lot of danger during several scenes. My biggest complaint with this book was that I really would have liked to see more of Oberon but that is just because he is my favorite character in the series. I love the fact that there is a lot of humor worked into the story to balance everything out. Luke Daniels does an amazing job with this book. I think that he really does take this story to the next level and I couldn't imagine experiencing this series in any other way. He is able to handle a very large cast of characters with ease and uses distinctive voices for all of the key players. He even narrates the voice of Oberon, a dog, convincingly. I think that he was able to add a lot of excitement to the story through his reading and I found myself wanting to listen to this book for hours at a time.I would highly recommend this series to others. I think that this book is able to combine great characters, a lot of excitement, a few laughs, and some tension very well. I can't wait to continue reading this wonderful series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love this series. My favorite part of this was the individual tales of the companions who travelled with Atticus on the journey to Asgard. Quite a different Thor than the one in Marvel!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Summary: Thor, Norse god of Thunder, has created many enemies over time – and more than one of them is friends with Atticus O’Sullivan, the last remaining Druid on Earth – and someone who has a proven ability to kill gods. Against his better judgement, Atticus is drawn into an assassination attempt on Thor.My Thoughts: This is the third book of the Iron Druid Chronicles, and although it’s not as fantastic as the first, it is hilarious and kept my husband and myself happily occupied for our long drive to our honeymoon. This series is highly recommended to people who like urban fantasy – but I’d suggest starting with the first.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This takes place outside of Arizona with lots of fun new characters but oh the ending....make sure you have the next book to pick up right away.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Hammered by Kevin Hearne is the third in the Iron Druid Chronicles. The story takes a darker turn this time around. Several months have passed and it's time for Atticus to make good on the promises he made to help Leif take out the hammer wielding Norse bully, Thor. As if that isn't enough of a challenge, things are starting to heat up in Tempe. There's a vampire turf war in the making and a group of Russian demon hunters called the Hammers of God are stirring up trouble. It's might be time to get the heck out of dodge for a while.Many of the things I enjoyed in the first two novels continue in this book. Oberon and Atticus's conversations are still hands down my favorite parts of the series. Oberon's whole theory on bacon lattes is pure genius. Starbucks should seriously consider spending some r&d money on the idea as I'm sure they would sell like crazy! I continue to enjoy Hearne's spin on all the various pantheons and mixing it up with the various deities. The action scenes continue to be fast paced and well written. Getting some background on why Thor is such a bastard and how he's ruined so many lives added a nice detail and helped with the more serious feel of the story.Unfortunately, this story also feels less consistent over all. Hearne continued to try and interject Atticus's sarcastic humor into the serious side of the story and it felt very forced. Jokes that may have been funny elsewhere ended up falling flat. I also am starting to wish he'd focus his stories better. Either the events in Tempe or the mission to Asgard would have made a great book on its own while the combination made things feel a bit rushed. This is also the first installment that feels like it's more part of a series. Where the first two novels worked well as stand alones, this one's ending has several loose ends that still need to be addressed. I listened to the audio book narrated by Luke Daniels. Daniels's performance continues to be top notch. I found myself forgetting there was only one narrator at times.Still, it's an enjoyable and entertaining story. I'm sure I'll continue on to book four at some point.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    These are great in audio as well...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is another fantastic addition to the series, but... Cliffhanger warning!!!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    so far I think this is the weakest of the Books, it was still an enjoyable read, but drug a little bit towards the middle. It really deserved a 3.5, not a 3, but oh well. I will say that after the absolute cliffhanger at the end I will be going directly on to the next one in the series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Talk about your conflicted feelings. For those that have read the Iron Druid chronicles, you know how great the writing is and how good the stories are. If you haven't read them and you like urban fantasy with humour and a good, researched dose of the varying world mythologies, you can't go wrong trying out this series. (I particularly loved Jesus in this one!) But Thor... *sniffle* let's just say I prefer Marvel's version, even if it's not historically accurate. I listened to this one and while the story gets 4 stars, the narration is a solid three. Christopher Ragland does a very credible job with Atticus, but he blows it with Oberon, making him sound like an inane, slobbering canine version of Pee Wee Herman and his idea of Leif's voice is a bad Clint Eastwood impersonation that was painful to listen to. Additionally, I count many Scandinavians as close friends and none of them have that exaggerated muppet-Swedish-chef accent. I'm not even going to get started on the female characters; I'm just grateful Granuaile didn't play a bigger part. I'd definitely listen to another of these, they're very engaging, but looking at the author's website he lists audio using a different narrator, and I think I'll try out a sample to see if he does a better job. Since this book was listened in its entirety while I was in my car, and Moonlight Reader clarified the "Read in a boat, tent or cabin" square of the Summer Book Bingo as anywhere that wasn't your house AND I've already complete a bingo, so this is just for fun, I'm using Hammered for this square. Also, run-on sentence, sorry.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Once again, I really enjoyed this 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. 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."

    I like these books because they are fast paced, easy to read, and have many likeable characters. I like that we got to meet a bunch of new gods in this book, and I liked them all. I really like that Kevin Hearne made Thor into an asshole. It was hilarious and great to see people trying to give him his much needed comeuppance.

    Another thing I liked was the added depth that we got to the vampire Leif. It was good to find out that he had other layers to him other than evil vampire. His story was really quite tragic and I felt for him.

    I missed the interactions with Oberon, and I feel the tension mounting up for the next book(s).

    I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who would like something new to read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This series improves with every installment. A lot of the previous book was a set-up for this one, the confrontation with Thor. Since the Norns are no more, their prophesies about Ragnarok will not necessarily unfold as they envisioned. And, Atticus’ action in Asgard will have profound effects on the world – or so he is told by two different gods who come to warn him before his journey. But Atticus has given his word and he comes from an Age where that is everything to a person.Atticus pledged to Leif that he would take him to Asgard to get revenge on the God of Thunder. What surprised me here is that readers actually get to find out why. Leif plans to bring four others with him on this vengeance quest, all of them with a grudge against Thor. In order to travel between planes with Atticus, the group must form a bond of brotherhood. And so each in turn tells his tale. This story time took up a lot material, but was well worth it as it expanded on the world-building. Readers get a glimpse of the world through the eyes of someone other than Atticus.Though they are completely different mediums, there is one similarity between novels and films that I encounter frequently – the three act story. The author sets the stage of the plot, the characters plan their actions, and the big battle happens at the end. That is exactly what happens here with the majority of the action taking place in the last few chapters. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, but it’s predictable and here leaves the villain completely one dimensional. Readers never get a sense of Thor beyond him being an a@@hole, which is a shame since so many other gods are complex characters. Still, Hearne plays a long game and there is a lot here that is setting up for what is to come. Surely, if Thor gets his comeuppance, then Loki cannot be far behind?Overall, this series keeps getting better and better and I look forward to more. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I picked up this book because I liked the concept and I’m a big fan of Norse mythology. What I immediately enjoyed was the narrative voice employed in the story. I think it worked well with the character of Atticus O’Sullivan. However, my enjoyment of this novel did not last very long. This novel was flawed in many ways, and in the end I was barely able to get through this book.For one thing, I thought there were too many characters and subplots. This novel could have used some trimming. The novel practically grinds to a halt when each of the characters that are going up against Thor have to give a narrative of why he dissed them. This was backstory overkill in a big way. The character of Atticus O’Sullivan was far too powerful for my liking. He kills the Norns and Sleipner, ancient characters thousands of years old with ease. It shouldn’t come that easily. My biggest complaint about the novel is Hearne’s interpretation of Thor. Thor has consistently been depicted as a noble character and great warrior, but according to Hearne he is a coward and basically an evil bastard. I have read much about Thor, so why should Hearne’s depiction override everything I already know? It doesn’t, and the story doesn’t work. In the end, I was rooting for Thor even though I knew he would lose. Ultimately, this novel didn’t work for me and I would advise skipping it.Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Thor, the god of thunder, is a bully. The real Thor is not the pretty boy we se from the movies. Somebody has to do something, he has ruined countless lives. AH, but the cost might be too high. Lives will be lost, the future will change, Gods will be angered.
    The mission to end Thor is all about vengeance.Viking vampire Leif Helgarson, is one of the men that want him dead no matter the cost. Gunnar the Werewolf Alpha is another along with some very colorful 'others'. This strange group bonds with stories and plan their winning fight in Asgard. But, as with many big plans things go wrong, plans change. The ending ? Well it does not really end.
    I was laughing out loud in one chapter grabbing the tissues in another and twisting in my seat through most of it. Funny- Star Trek jokes, drinking beer with Jesus.... Sad- death, and pain. A mood roller-coaster ride. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another good book in this series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Good, but not as good as the first two. I suspect this series will continue, and I'll read the next one for sure to see if it recovers a bit.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I really didn't like this one that much. It had very little Oberon. Some people die toward the end. It left you hanging a little bit. At this point, I'm not impressed with the series. A lot of things I liked about the series changed with this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is not my favorite of this series which is probably because we don't get to see as much of Oberon the Irish wolfhound and his delightful insights into the canine condition. Who else would think that Starbucks serves bacon lattes (It's on the secret menu.) and that they have a secret R & D facility on the outskirts of Seattle where “Out of the steam and the foam and the froth, a man in white with poor eyesight will craft a liquid paradox, and it shall be called the Triple Nonfat Double Bacon Five-Cheese Mocha!”?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm afraid I'm starting to get worn out on this series already. I just wasn't interested in the plot of this one, ie Go Kill Thor! Without my favorite secondary characters or a mystery, I just had no real reason to keep listening other than wanting to finish. I was planning on breaking up with this series after this one, but that epilogue has dragged me back in! I must know what is going on! And I'm hopeful that the next book will feature more Oberon >.>. The narration is still excellent and makes the book a lot of fun.