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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Eighth in The Iron Druid Chronicles urban fantasy series and revolving around Atticus O’Sullivan and Oberon and Granuaile and Orlaith, as they globetrot the world. Owen and Greta want to stay put.
My Take
Hearne uses third person multiple point-of-view as he rotates among Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen, and yes, he makes the majority of the changing perspectives quite obvious.
I love that Rabbi Bialik has "repented" and come to his senses! Who knew a religious man could realize "that people must walk their own road to salvation and not necessarily follow me on mine. I had taken my faith too far." Oh, yeah, baby… I do like that comment Atticus makes about Gaia not requiring worship.
I’m not too sure how faithful Granuaile is being to Druid principles with the designs she has on her stepfather. I do agree that he deserves it (and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in Scourged.
Owen is a bit of a crack-up as he reluctantly attempts to assimilate into modern society.
All three protagonists have their particular missions, which find them, at the end, in the same place for a final throwdown. No, the series isn’t ending, just this particular goal. One of Atticus’ tasks turns out to be a nasty bit of gameplaying.
I don’t know if it was me or if Staked got juvenile about halfway in. It didn’t help that Granuaile’s interactions with Orlaith became so annoying nor that Granuaile spent so much time justifying her upcoming actions against her stepfather. Why she ever thought she could influence him, I’ll never know. Just lame. Fortunately Atticus and Oberon continue their jocular — more intelligent — interactions.
It's a matter of pride and responsibility with a strong sense of good versus evil in varying degrees.
The Story
With two more druids as backup, Atticus is determined to gain revenge for the massacre two thousand years ago. Only Owen and Granuaile have their own problems. It turns out that trolls have a long memory for those who stiff them, and Granuaile is desperate to remove Loki's mark that can track her anywhere.
Unfortunately, those vampires have no intention of going peaceably, and there'll be more than one showdown, until Atticus gets to Rome, the origin of that thousands-of-years-ago massacre.
The Characters
Atticus O’Sullivan, a.k.a., Siodhachan Ó Suileabhán, Sean Flanagan, and then Connor Molloy, was born in 83 BCE. After he became a Druid, he was on the run evading murderous vampires as well as Aenghus Óg. Oberon Snackworthy is his Irish wolfhound with whom Atticus can communicate telepathically. And they are a crack-up! Fragarach is his magic sword. Nigel Hargrave was Atticus’ identity back in 1953 in Toronto when he enrolled as a pre-med student. There was also a Nigel in the late nineteenth century in seminary school. He was betrothed to Gwendolyn, a.k.a., the Lady in Red.
Granuaile MacTiernan, a.k.a., Clever Girl, recently became a Druid and is accompanied by her Irish wolfhound, Orlaith. Scáthmhaide is her staff. Beau Thatcher is Granuaile's stepfather and a wealthy oil baron. He's also a MAJOR jerk.
Laksha Kulasekaran is the spirit of an Indian witch who now possesses Mhathini Palanichamy (Shattered, 7); we first met Laksha in Hexed, 2. She lives with Mhathini’s family in India. Her mother works in the silk industry; her autocratic, controlling father is an IT consultant. Durga is a devi, a goddess who protects humanity and restores balance.
Archdruid Owen Kennedy, Atticus' teacher, aka, Eoghan Ó Cinnéide, had been stranded on a time island in Tir na nÓg. His shapes include walrus, bear, and kite. He and Greta, a werewolf Enforcer for the Tempe Pack who transfers into the Flagstaff Pack, are together. His apprentices include a Mongolian family: Nergüi , a new pack member in Flagstaff whose wife, Oyuunchimeg "Meg" is straight human. Their seven-year-old daughter Enkhtuya "Tuya". Diego and Rafaela are from Peru and new pack members concerned about protecting their son, Ozcar. Mohammed and his son, Mehdi, are from Morocco. Sajit is a Hindu from Nepal. His daughter is Amita. Natália and her six-year-old Luiz are from Brazil. Sonkwe and his daughter, Thandi, are from Zambia.
The werewolves
Hal Hauk is Atticus' attorney and a werewolf who is the alpha of the Tempe Pack. Sam Obrist is the Swiss alpha of the Flagstaff pack; Ty Pollard is his second and husband. Kodiak Black, a.k.a., Craig, a bear shifter, was murdered in Shattered, 7.
Poland is…
…where the Sisters of the Three Auroras coven, worshippers of Zoryas, protective goddesses, and led by Malina Sokolowska — is based these days (Hounded, 1). Other (remaining) members of the coven include Berta, Kazimiera, Klaudia, and Roksana. The new ones include Martyna, Ewelina, Agnieszka, Dominika, Magdalena, Zofia, Patrycja, and Anna.
Rabbi Yosef Bialik, once part of the Hammers of God, appears to have changed his tune. Although he still has his Cthulhu beard tentacles.
Tír na nÓg is…
…where the Fae live. Brighid is their leader. Creidhne and Luchta are her still-living sons; Goibhniu is not. Aenghus Óg is Brighid’s brother and the Celtic god of love. Flidais is Perun’s lover, an Irish goddess of the hunt. Fand is one of Flidais' daughters currently in prison for her actions. Manannan Mac Lir, a sea god, is Fand’s husband. The Morrigan is the crow goddess.
The Glass Knights wear blue glass armor; the Black Axes are an elite dwarf infantry unit. Yewmen are mercenaries who have been working for Atticus.
Swartálfs are…
…dark elves who live in Swartálfheim and are led by Turid Einarsdottir. Krókr Hrafsnon is the head of the assassins.
Gods
Asgard is where the Æsir gods are based. Odin is their leader while Frigg is Odin’s wife. Hugin and Munin are Odin’s ravens, Thought and Memory. Fjalar is a dwarf Runeskald with two missions. Loki is a trickster god who put a mark on Granuaile.
Perun is a Slavic thunder god. Świȩtowit is a Slavic god of war and divination; his horse, Miłosz, is missing. Weles is another Slavic god, a sneaky one allied with Loki. Shango is an Orisha, a god of thunder.
Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, has been imprisoned in pieces (Hunted, 6). Jupiter leads the Roman pantheon.
Elementals are…
…beings in the earth. Ferris is helping Atticus at the start. Colorado is the elemental in the Flagstaff area. The Mecklenburg elemental is based in Germany. The elementals call Atticus "Druid" and Granuaile "Fierce Druid". A Druid’s first function is to protect the earth.
The vampires
Atticus discovers that letting Werner Drasche, an arcane lifeleech, live in Hunted was a mistake. Theophilus fancies himself the leader of the world’s vampires and intends to take Atticus down. Part of Theophilus’ nest includes Karl, Hans, and Marko is a sniper. Leif Helgarson had been Atticus' vampire lawyer in Tempe until he betrayed him.
Toronto
Gary and Chuy are bank guards. Ed is a customer at a café.
Rosicrucians are…
…not the friendly society they portray. Bram Stoker, William Butler Yeats, and Aleister Crowley were part of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and into Hermetic Qabalah.
Julie d’Aubigny, a.k.a., Mademoiselle Maupin, was a famous opera singer, a lover who did not care about gender roles, and a duelist. Earth is Midgard. Dr. Sudarga who treats Owen. Nocnice are nightmares, damned souls who choke people when they are asleep. Mekera is a tyromancer helping Atticus.
The Cover and Title
The cover is icy in its blues and a collage of the cities they travel to and through. The young-looking Atticus with his short curly red hair appears to be wearing a blue plaid shirt, and he holds a bloody stake in his hand. There’s an info blurb at the top in white, and the author’s name is white in a distressed font in the bottom third of the cover while the title is equally distressed but in red at the very bottom. There is a badge near Atticus’ right shoulder announcing the series information.
The title is a special tool and action that wipes up trouble: Staked.
My Take
Hearne uses third person multiple point-of-view as he rotates among Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen, and yes, he makes the majority of the changing perspectives quite obvious.
I love that Rabbi Bialik has "repented" and come to his senses! Who knew a religious man could realize "that people must walk their own road to salvation and not necessarily follow me on mine. I had taken my faith too far." Oh, yeah, baby… I do like that comment Atticus makes about Gaia not requiring worship.
I’m not too sure how faithful Granuaile is being to Druid principles with the designs she has on her stepfather. I do agree that he deserves it (and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in Scourged.
Owen is a bit of a crack-up as he reluctantly attempts to assimilate into modern society.
All three protagonists have their particular missions, which find them, at the end, in the same place for a final throwdown. No, the series isn’t ending, just this particular goal. One of Atticus’ tasks turns out to be a nasty bit of gameplaying.
I don’t know if it was me or if Staked got juvenile about halfway in. It didn’t help that Granuaile’s interactions with Orlaith became so annoying nor that Granuaile spent so much time justifying her upcoming actions against her stepfather. Why she ever thought she could influence him, I’ll never know. Just lame. Fortunately Atticus and Oberon continue their jocular — more intelligent — interactions.
It's a matter of pride and responsibility with a strong sense of good versus evil in varying degrees.
The Story
With two more druids as backup, Atticus is determined to gain revenge for the massacre two thousand years ago. Only Owen and Granuaile have their own problems. It turns out that trolls have a long memory for those who stiff them, and Granuaile is desperate to remove Loki's mark that can track her anywhere.
Unfortunately, those vampires have no intention of going peaceably, and there'll be more than one showdown, until Atticus gets to Rome, the origin of that thousands-of-years-ago massacre.
The Characters
Atticus O’Sullivan, a.k.a., Siodhachan Ó Suileabhán, Sean Flanagan, and then Connor Molloy, was born in 83 BCE. After he became a Druid, he was on the run evading murderous vampires as well as Aenghus Óg. Oberon Snackworthy is his Irish wolfhound with whom Atticus can communicate telepathically. And they are a crack-up! Fragarach is his magic sword. Nigel Hargrave was Atticus’ identity back in 1953 in Toronto when he enrolled as a pre-med student. There was also a Nigel in the late nineteenth century in seminary school. He was betrothed to Gwendolyn, a.k.a., the Lady in Red.
Granuaile MacTiernan, a.k.a., Clever Girl, recently became a Druid and is accompanied by her Irish wolfhound, Orlaith. Scáthmhaide is her staff. Beau Thatcher is Granuaile's stepfather and a wealthy oil baron. He's also a MAJOR jerk.
Laksha Kulasekaran is the spirit of an Indian witch who now possesses Mhathini Palanichamy (Shattered, 7); we first met Laksha in Hexed, 2. She lives with Mhathini’s family in India. Her mother works in the silk industry; her autocratic, controlling father is an IT consultant. Durga is a devi, a goddess who protects humanity and restores balance.
Archdruid Owen Kennedy, Atticus' teacher, aka, Eoghan Ó Cinnéide, had been stranded on a time island in Tir na nÓg. His shapes include walrus, bear, and kite. He and Greta, a werewolf Enforcer for the Tempe Pack who transfers into the Flagstaff Pack, are together. His apprentices include a Mongolian family: Nergüi , a new pack member in Flagstaff whose wife, Oyuunchimeg "Meg" is straight human. Their seven-year-old daughter Enkhtuya "Tuya". Diego and Rafaela are from Peru and new pack members concerned about protecting their son, Ozcar. Mohammed and his son, Mehdi, are from Morocco. Sajit is a Hindu from Nepal. His daughter is Amita. Natália and her six-year-old Luiz are from Brazil. Sonkwe and his daughter, Thandi, are from Zambia.
The werewolves
Hal Hauk is Atticus' attorney and a werewolf who is the alpha of the Tempe Pack. Sam Obrist is the Swiss alpha of the Flagstaff pack; Ty Pollard is his second and husband. Kodiak Black, a.k.a., Craig, a bear shifter, was murdered in Shattered, 7.
Poland is…
…where the Sisters of the Three Auroras coven, worshippers of Zoryas, protective goddesses, and led by Malina Sokolowska — is based these days (Hounded, 1). Other (remaining) members of the coven include Berta, Kazimiera, Klaudia, and Roksana. The new ones include Martyna, Ewelina, Agnieszka, Dominika, Magdalena, Zofia, Patrycja, and Anna.
Rabbi Yosef Bialik, once part of the Hammers of God, appears to have changed his tune. Although he still has his Cthulhu beard tentacles.
Tír na nÓg is…
…where the Fae live. Brighid is their leader. Creidhne and Luchta are her still-living sons; Goibhniu is not. Aenghus Óg is Brighid’s brother and the Celtic god of love. Flidais is Perun’s lover, an Irish goddess of the hunt. Fand is one of Flidais' daughters currently in prison for her actions. Manannan Mac Lir, a sea god, is Fand’s husband. The Morrigan is the crow goddess.
The Glass Knights wear blue glass armor; the Black Axes are an elite dwarf infantry unit. Yewmen are mercenaries who have been working for Atticus.
Swartálfs are…
…dark elves who live in Swartálfheim and are led by Turid Einarsdottir. Krókr Hrafsnon is the head of the assassins.
Gods
Asgard is where the Æsir gods are based. Odin is their leader while Frigg is Odin’s wife. Hugin and Munin are Odin’s ravens, Thought and Memory. Fjalar is a dwarf Runeskald with two missions. Loki is a trickster god who put a mark on Granuaile.
Perun is a Slavic thunder god. Świȩtowit is a Slavic god of war and divination; his horse, Miłosz, is missing. Weles is another Slavic god, a sneaky one allied with Loki. Shango is an Orisha, a god of thunder.
Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, has been imprisoned in pieces (Hunted, 6). Jupiter leads the Roman pantheon.
Elementals are…
…beings in the earth. Ferris is helping Atticus at the start. Colorado is the elemental in the Flagstaff area. The Mecklenburg elemental is based in Germany. The elementals call Atticus "Druid" and Granuaile "Fierce Druid". A Druid’s first function is to protect the earth.
The vampires
Atticus discovers that letting Werner Drasche, an arcane lifeleech, live in Hunted was a mistake. Theophilus fancies himself the leader of the world’s vampires and intends to take Atticus down. Part of Theophilus’ nest includes Karl, Hans, and Marko is a sniper. Leif Helgarson had been Atticus' vampire lawyer in Tempe until he betrayed him.
Toronto
Gary and Chuy are bank guards. Ed is a customer at a café.
Rosicrucians are…
…not the friendly society they portray. Bram Stoker, William Butler Yeats, and Aleister Crowley were part of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and into Hermetic Qabalah.
Julie d’Aubigny, a.k.a., Mademoiselle Maupin, was a famous opera singer, a lover who did not care about gender roles, and a duelist. Earth is Midgard. Dr. Sudarga who treats Owen. Nocnice are nightmares, damned souls who choke people when they are asleep. Mekera is a tyromancer helping Atticus.
The Cover and Title
The cover is icy in its blues and a collage of the cities they travel to and through. The young-looking Atticus with his short curly red hair appears to be wearing a blue plaid shirt, and he holds a bloody stake in his hand. There’s an info blurb at the top in white, and the author’s name is white in a distressed font in the bottom third of the cover while the title is equally distressed but in red at the very bottom. There is a badge near Atticus’ right shoulder announcing the series information.
The title is a special tool and action that wipes up trouble: Staked.
atsumeri's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tessla's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sophia_konrad's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ajustice14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
nadine_booklover's review
4.0
Solid, entertaining read. Like expected.
Although I was kind of irritated by the three different storylines and the character hopping with each chapter.
Although I was kind of irritated by the three different storylines and the character hopping with each chapter.
bambithebarbarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
4.0
itsfreelancer's review against another edition
4.0
First things first. It's good to be back. Both to reading and Goodreads.
Now for the review. Staked is book 8 of the Iron Druid Chronicles. If I had to classify it into a genre, it would probably be mythical/irish/nordic/urban fantasy. And still it wouldn't do complete justice. This guy is nuts. The story is nuts and yet you cannot just leave it unread. To give you an example, the druid in question is thousands if years old yet in his thirties (forties?) is waging a war with the vampires are in good terms with the werewolves, friends with the faes, cordial with the witches, hunted by the Olympians while trying to prevent Loki from starting Ragnarok and destroying Asgard. There's also the Roman Gods, the Russian gods, a particular Indian god who hates his guts and the dark elves of one of the nine realms of Asgard.
There's also a dog who is fond of bacon and has a funny sense of humour.
Coming to the book, I expected Staked to raise the stakes and it did. It also shoved stakes up a few vampire asses. (you see what I did?)
The writing is faced paced without dropping a notch and the comic timing is impeccable as ever. Not to mention that since the last book or two we have been getting 3 POVs which makes for some wonderful reading specially when you want to know in detail what the other characters are doing. Oberon (the dog) is the most appealing character as usual. He even has decided to have a surname. Oberon Snackworthy. Also, he has an actual twitter account which I actually checked out in between reading and sent him a tweet promising to feed him beef gravy if he ever visited India. The hound digs gravy.
There's also sadness in the book and times when I shed a few tears (which I didn't expect as this book is more funny than tragic. It's the sudden finality that caught me unawares or the mini dust storm in my room)
I really, really want you to read this series. The plot is completely ridiculous at times. One moment our druid fighting Zeus, the other moment he's in passionate throes with the Irish goddess of war while our Indian gods Indra and Ganesha spy on him from the skies and plot with Odin and Thor to bring him down. Not to mention his lawyers are werewolves and recent acquaintances with Kabbalish cults whos beards are sentient. Yes, you heard it. Sentient beards. Beards that can choke you if they feel like.
It's nuts. You'll love it.
Now for the review. Staked is book 8 of the Iron Druid Chronicles. If I had to classify it into a genre, it would probably be mythical/irish/nordic/urban fantasy. And still it wouldn't do complete justice. This guy is nuts. The story is nuts and yet you cannot just leave it unread. To give you an example, the druid in question is thousands if years old yet in his thirties (forties?) is waging a war with the vampires are in good terms with the werewolves, friends with the faes, cordial with the witches, hunted by the Olympians while trying to prevent Loki from starting Ragnarok and destroying Asgard. There's also the Roman Gods, the Russian gods, a particular Indian god who hates his guts and the dark elves of one of the nine realms of Asgard.
There's also a dog who is fond of bacon and has a funny sense of humour.
Coming to the book, I expected Staked to raise the stakes and it did. It also shoved stakes up a few vampire asses. (you see what I did?)
The writing is faced paced without dropping a notch and the comic timing is impeccable as ever. Not to mention that since the last book or two we have been getting 3 POVs which makes for some wonderful reading specially when you want to know in detail what the other characters are doing. Oberon (the dog) is the most appealing character as usual. He even has decided to have a surname. Oberon Snackworthy. Also, he has an actual twitter account which I actually checked out in between reading and sent him a tweet promising to feed him beef gravy if he ever visited India. The hound digs gravy.
There's also sadness in the book and times when I shed a few tears (which I didn't expect as this book is more funny than tragic. It's the sudden finality that caught me unawares or the mini dust storm in my room)
I really, really want you to read this series. The plot is completely ridiculous at times. One moment our druid fighting Zeus, the other moment he's in passionate throes with the Irish goddess of war while our Indian gods Indra and Ganesha spy on him from the skies and plot with Odin and Thor to bring him down. Not to mention his lawyers are werewolves and recent acquaintances with Kabbalish cults whos beards are sentient. Yes, you heard it. Sentient beards. Beards that can choke you if they feel like.
It's nuts. You'll love it.
katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
I love Atticus. I love Oberon. I love most of the secondary characters.
But for the last couple books, I've had a major problem: I don't like Granuaile. I liked her until we started getting chapters from her POV. But her self-righteous, condescending inner monologue killed her for me. Silly Atticus, constantly getting into his petty fights... says the girl obsessed with payback against the stepfather who just didn't love her. *sigh*
I'm not saying her stepfather is a good guy - he's a Grade A douche - but the fact that she's virtually rolling her eyes at Atticus for wanting to kill the dude who attempted genocide on the Druids while she engages in her petty revenge fantasies against her stepfather made me hope she got killed. I can't take much more of her, and it would be a shame if she killed this series for me. The constant with Granuaile is: she's off doing stuff she wants to do for herself, while Atticus is off preventing war with the dark elves or preventing the vampires from wiping out the last Druids. But Granuaile, with her annoying inner prattle, talks about Atticus as if he is some big child who can't help himself, and has to keep running off to find trouble. No Granuaile. Despite your attempt to treat other, experienced Druids as if they have no idea what they should be doing with their power, Atticus and Owen are actually doing things that are larger than themselves and their own petty gratification.
I also don't get Atticus is taken for granted, by everyone around him, and I'm tired of it. We're 8 books in now, and it has become beyond tiresome.
Everything but Granuaile: 5 stars
Granuaile: -5 stars
But for the last couple books, I've had a major problem: I don't like Granuaile. I liked her until we started getting chapters from her POV. But her self-righteous, condescending inner monologue killed her for me. Silly Atticus, constantly getting into his petty fights... says the girl obsessed with payback against the stepfather who just didn't love her. *sigh*
I'm not saying her stepfather is a good guy - he's a Grade A douche - but the fact that she's virtually rolling her eyes at Atticus for wanting to kill the dude who attempted genocide on the Druids while she engages in her petty revenge fantasies against her stepfather made me hope she got killed. I can't take much more of her, and it would be a shame if she killed this series for me. The constant with Granuaile is: she's off doing stuff she wants to do for herself, while Atticus is off preventing war with the dark elves or preventing the vampires from wiping out the last Druids. But Granuaile, with her annoying inner prattle, talks about Atticus as if he is some big child who can't help himself, and has to keep running off to find trouble. No Granuaile. Despite your attempt to treat other, experienced Druids as if they have no idea what they should be doing with their power, Atticus and Owen are actually doing things that are larger than themselves and their own petty gratification.
I also don't get
Spoiler
Greta and Owen not realizing that Atticus or no Atticus, the vamps were coming for them. I mean, again, the vamp leader gave the order to WIPE OUT the Druids. And here they were starting a Druid school. You think you are only having a problem with that guy because of Atticus? No. Atticus might have sped things up a little, but either way, you were going to have vampires trying to take out your kiddies. So Greta, as well, can fuck off. This whole Druid school was her idea. I hope - I honestly hope - that some other shitty supernatural comes to rain on their parade in the next book, and Greta is forced to ask Atticus to help.Everything but Granuaile: 5 stars
Granuaile: -5 stars