Urban Fantasy discussion

What do you think?

The synopsis is great. I'll look into reading this. (I didn't know this was the BOTM.)

I love this book and the whole series (so far) but I never have anyone to gush about it with.

One of my favorites series! Great characters and the best wolfhound around! :)

Oberon makes me appreciate my dog's (though he's not a wolfhound) awesomeness even more.

SO many things I love about this series - the mythology, the humor, Oberon.

Gotta say, I am the only person on the planet who couldn't get into this book. I read the first 6 chapter and was left with the distinct impression that the main was selfish, unlikable and arrogant...lost interest because of it. The writing was top notch in that I was fascinated by what might happen next. Ultimately I'm very character driven though and I just didn't like the guy so didn't want to keep reading about him!

Don't worry. You're not the only person who didn't like the series because they just couldn't get into Atticus. I rec'd it to a friend and he couldn't jump on board either.

I know how that goes. I can't get into the protagonist from the Kingkiller Chronicles, Kote.

love this series

Maria wrote: "Gotta say, I am the only person on the planet who couldn't get into this book. I read the first 6 chapter and was left with the distinct impression that the main was selfish, unlikable and arrogant..."

You're not the only one. I read the book a couple of years ago and didn't care enough to read more in the series. I hate it when, in UF, someone who is supposed to be centuries old acts like an immature frat boy, and that's more or less how Atticus came across to me. I still recall the scene where he gave a wedgie to an EMT, for basically just doing his job.

Veronica wrote: "Maria wrote: "Gotta say, I am the only person on the planet who couldn't get into this book. I read the first 6 chapter and was left with the distinct impression that the main was selfish, unlikabl..."

I didn't make it that far. I don't mind *some* juvenile jokes/behavior, but Atticus failed to have any likeable qualities in the parts I read (through about chapter 6 or so). He was so self-centered. The writing was solid--the plot had me interested, but I just can't read an entire book about a guy I don't like!!!

Maria wrote: "I didn't make it that far. I don't mind *some* juvenile jokes/behavior, but Atticus failed to have any likeable qualities in the parts I read (through about chapter 6 or so). He was so self-centered. The writing was solid--the plot had me interested, but I just can't read an entire book about a guy I don't like!!! "

I don't mind the odd sense of humor either but in this case humor wasn't the goal. If memory serves, Atticus gave the EMT a wedgie because he was ticked off at him about something. I just remember it being such an immature act for someone that old. That's something my ten year old son would do.

Veronica wrote: "Maria wrote: "I didn't make it that far. I don't mind *some* juvenile jokes/behavior, but Atticus failed to have any likeable qualities in the parts I read (through about chapter 6 or so). He was s..."

And your 10-year-old will get in trouble and also grow out of it. But for an adult and one that has supposedly been around a while, he managed to be awfully annoying in a few chapters!

Maria wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Maria wrote: "I didn't make it that far. I don't mind *some* juvenile jokes/behavior, but Atticus failed to have any likeable qualities in the parts I read (through about chapter ..."

At least you had the sense to stop reading. I made myself endure the whole thing. lol

Veronica wrote: "Maria wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Maria wrote: "I didn't make it that far. I don't mind *some* juvenile jokes/behavior, but Atticus failed to have any likeable qualities in the parts I read (through ..."

Well, in fairness, I hadn't bought the book. The 6 chapters were free on the author's website. I had planned to sample on my kindle (I do most of the time these days) and there he was with an even longer sample. The first six weren't terrible, but I do remember being on the fence and not too thrilled so I read some of the reviews and that decided me.

I'm too old and curmudgeonly to read a book I'm not enjoying. I only have so much time and I'm not going to waste it plowing through a book I don't like!!!

One of the things I like about this series is that Atticus is a pre-Roman Celt, and acts like it. He has no problem with running away, he can't help but gloat, and his hubris gets him into trouble constantly. He reminds me of Cuchulain if he had lived into the modern day.

Daran wrote: "One of the things I like about this series is that Atticus is a pre-Roman Celt, and acts like it. He has no problem with running away, he can't help but gloat, and his hubris gets him into trouble..."

Exactly! His behaviour is an off-shoot of the time of his origin and his ability to adapt in the modern world. I think because he looks physically like a frat boy he behaves like one. If he behaved more like the wise old man is age should indicate, while looking 21, he would stand out more, which is what he's trying to avoid.

Nicqui wrote: "Daran wrote: "One of the things I like about this series is that Atticus is a pre-Roman Celt, and acts like it. He has no problem with running away, he can't help but gloat, and his hubris gets hi..."

Or he just likes being a jerk? Hopefully there were the occasional pre-Roman Celts that were nice guys. Even frats have a few nice guys...right???

I don't think Atticus is a jerk at all. I can't recall him doing anything particularly terrible. I mean, sure, he's not sweet and fluffy, but I don't think he was a jerk either.

Nicqui wrote: "I don't think Atticus is a jerk at all. I can't recall him doing anything particularly terrible. I mean, sure, he's not sweet and fluffy, but I don't think he was a jerk either."

Just my impression and I only read 6 chapters!

I understand. There's more depth to him as a character. One friend (who didn't like the books) said he came across as too perfect and a bit arrogant.

My impression of Atticus was that he survived for so long by knowing when to run, when to lay low and chill out. When he got too involved with people, things tended to go badly. He is easygoing and still has a sense of humor after 2K years. That's an achievement!

I tend to have a snarky sense of humor, and if I did have the power to make things happen to people who annoy me, I'm not sure that I would always be able to hold it back. (I'm thinking right now of all of the people who speed past my kids school in the morning).

I guess Atticus felt a little more realistic to me in that way.

Me too, Kathy. I found Atticus to be easy to relate to and true to life. I suppose part of the sense of humour is that, besides life and death situations, he doesn't take life too seriously because he has seen so much of it, and he knows how fleeting it can be.

Nealy finished hounded and have enjoyed every minuite,its took a while to read as i,m gardening and having a fae tattoo. I have just finished reading the dresden files and wanted to read something with a pagan theme,this fits the bill.
Love the God's refferences and the herbal references pity that he didn,t go more into depth with them.
I have got the next book in the series and am looking forward to reading it

It's interesting, I read the Druid books on a recommendation from a friend and wanted to read more books like it and other people said Dresden, so I'm reading the first one now. How do you think they compare?

Nicqui wrote: "It's interesting, I read the Druid books on a recommendation from a friend and wanted to read more books like it and other people said Dresden, so I'm reading the first one now. How do you think th..."
Hi the dresden files are a easier read, the first few books have more magic in them. They have fae, wearewolves etc,.
Its a very down to earth read, if describing it to friends i would say its like harry potter but a grown up version. But there is no sex,but that do,s not deflect from the story at all.
One of the best series i have read.

One of the very early scenes is nothing but a sex scene--that other goddess shows up and OF COURSE she is there for sex just to pass the time (that was the way I read his attitude and it appeared that attitude led to nothing but trouble). The casual way he talked about fathering children was pretty irritating too. Sort of like, "Well, I stopped at Chuy's on the way home and had dinner."

Not that the sex scene was awful or gratuitous, but there was one in first six chapters.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

This scene to which you refer is in hounded, when i said there was little sex scenes i was refering to the dresden files. It will be nice to see how the two compare.

I can sort of see where Maria is coming from, in the early part of the first book I thought Atticus came across as a bit of a male Marie Sue (sex with a hot goddess, destroying fairy assassins without even trying, etc,) but the writing style was engaging and that part went away as the book progressed.
I actually quite like him now, and his actions certainly have and are having consequences as we go through the series. Still loved the book by the end and I've found the whole series to be excellent ever since.

Not every book works for everyone. I know Maria, she would not waste precious time on a book she didn't enjoy, nor should she. I don't. :D

The writing style is one of the main selling points of the book for me. It's well-paced, the prose is enjoyable, and there's a lot of pop culture references, which are very humorous when looked at from a Before Common Era point of view. I also like the Shakespeare quotes.

Daran wrote: "The writing style is one of the main selling points of the book for me. It's well-paced, the prose is enjoyable, and there's a lot of pop culture references, which are very humorous when looked at..."

This for me too. I really like seeing Atticus explain human-isms to Oberon and having his dog-brain br confused. It really makes you wonder why we have the habits we do.

I would also point out that Atticus is not the main character, Oberon is. I know this because it's the main character that gets the Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/IrishOberon

Apparently two of the next three short stories set in the Iron Druid world are going to be from Oberon's point of view.

Whoohoo!!! That's going to be beyond awesome!!! I find the short stories so entertaining.

Oberon is far and away my favourite character in this series. Sure, his vocabulary is a little more sophisticated than I imagine a real talking dog would be capable of, but he's so much fun I don't care.

the voice actor in the audiobooks for Iron Druid does a great job characterising Oberon and the rest of the supporting cast :)

Marina wrote: "Oberon is far and away my favourite character in this series. Sure, his vocabulary is a little more sophisticated than I imagine a real talking dog would be capable of, but he's so much fun I don't..."

I wish this comment had a 'like' button. This is how I feel too. I barely noticed how advanced it was. Then again, Hearne frequently mentions that what we hear Oberon say isn't really how it sounds to Atticus. That it's more like a series of pictures and feelings. I guess we are reading the 'translation' as Atticus understands it to mean.