SciFi and Fantasy eBook Club discussion

I just finished this, and found it to be quite enjoyable, though lacking in depth -- to the point where it sort of feels like a "guilty pleasure". I thought the writing was quite good and efficiently crafted, making it an easy read; but I never felt I was getting anything meaningful out of it: just an engaging story. But in a year when I've read (or tried reading) quite a few books that did not engage me at all, I'll take this somewhat fluffy entry for its entertainment value, and maybe check out the next book before long to see if it gets a bit more character development and some more interesting thematic material.

I just finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded me strongly of The Dresden Files. But while Atticus O'Sullivan is not nearly as complex as Harry Dresden, he is also not as angst-ridden. I actually rather liked that. I thought the book was just fun.

I agree with you Charles that it's not a deep read but I'm not even feeling guilty about enjoying it, I just went with it.

One thing that bothered me was that Atticus's apparent age is 21. I just don't think that's a believable age for someone who owns their own business and clearly acts like a grown man. It seems like it would be hard to live for long in an area when you look 21 year after year. Much easier to pull off if you look to be in your 30's.

I am totally hooked on this series now and am looking forward to the next one. I listened to this as an audiobook. I loved the narrator's take on Oberon's voice--it had just the right touch of Scooby Doo in it and Oberon's lines made me laugh out loud more than once.

That is a good point about the age, Donna.

I enjoyed the book - as you all said, it wasn't deep, but it definitely was funny. And I LOVE Oberon.

I'm so glad that this book is being read. I read through the sample on my kindle and was immediately pulled in. Del Ray asked me to provide a "quote" for another author and as a way of saying thanks all 4 books of the Iron Druid books showed up yesterday - I'm excited to get into them.

Yes, I've read the first three of the series - I bet you will enjoy them!

I finished it last night. At first I thought it was just too lighthearted and wasn't sure if I'd really like it. But then it grew on me and I think I want to read the next one at some point....

.... I do think, Donna, I agree about him being 21 and too young. If he needed 12 years just as an apprentice and then became a full fledged Druid, he would have had to find his immortali tea immediately to still be that young. I think even going 27 I'd buy but I think maybe the author was going for a much younger demographic than me or thee...

Geoffrey wrote: "...but I think maybe the author was going for a much younger demographic than me or thee... "

What?? ((looks over shoulder)) Are you talking to me? I'll have you know sir, my big 5-0 isn't for another couple of weeks. (yikes!)

I had the same initial first reaction as Jeffrey; the first bit of the book is childish and egocentric, and then I almost shut the book down when the guy started having conversations with his dog. The last seemed too much like having a precocious child in the mix, and I just hate it when they show up in fiction. The dog grew as the book progressed, and Oberon turned out to be an amusing character

The pop culture references were annoying to me -- I have hit the big 5-O, and I don't consider it creditable for grown people to be all that hip and superficial. Perhaps, though, if I had all the time in the world, I would find the time to be up on what occupies the minds of children.

On the other hand, I did enjoy the occasional entirely apt turn of Renaissance phrasing. It did make me wonder where all the Latin and Gaelic thinking was -- I don't know that it is possible to adapt so well to a time that is so different from your foundational years that your earliest training vanishes entirely from your mind. But that is me overthinking a book that isn't really intended to provoke thought. It's a fun and silly read that is so well written that grownups can enjoy it too.

I agree with all the comments so far. I started reading this and it reminded me of Harry Dresden, but a lighter fluffier one and I nearly put it to one side. But I carried on and I did enjoy it as a light read. I already have the second book and I will get around to reading it one day.

Donna, I saw that you read the next book. How does the series hold up?

I enjoyed the second one, Hexed, as much as the first. We get to meet Coyote, which I appreciated, as it brought in a god from the area he's living in. The age thing is still jarring; he acts the dumb stoner with the cops and it just feels very unbelievable. But I've forgiven worse in a series I enjoy so much. Oberon still cracks me up, although he and Granuaile were a little more in the background in this one. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who liked the first one. Also, it's a very fun series to listen to.

I'm about half-way through Hexed now, and at least he (Atticus) does make a point of comparing himself to his vampire lawyer on how much harder Atticus works at blending in by learning the current vernacular and such -- not that I totally buy his facility at it, but it does provide a bit of a rationale, anyway.

The third book, Hammeredis a bit more serious in tone than the first two, although it is still funny. Several of the gods have a much bigger role, and there is a lot of norse mythology.

I liked it though I feel that Atticus should have been able to "fit" into the 21yo culture better because he had so many years to study it - com'on man! I also liked the realistic attitude towards fighting and self preservation even-though Atticus blames it on paranoia - no, it's 21 centuries of experience period - I wouldn't expect anything less. The book is funny - Oberon made this story entertaining and the goddesses were awesome little beasts. His lawyers and neighbors... crazy funny material if the author develop them in future books. I thought the whole new age shop was a good job fit for Atticus because it is a perfect front for someone with magic and knowledge of herbs and all things mystic - who would judge a creepy customer in that store? There was no complicated plots here to figure out - it was just a good fun read.

I finished the sequel, Hexed, and it was similar in tone and style. I'll likely not read more of the series unless I feel a strong need for brainless fun (which means it's possible). For now, though, I've had enough of immortals and nearly immortals who seem to have nothing better to do than put their immortality at risk for the sake of revenge, status, or other petty reasons. Somehow I think that if I were in any of their situations, I'd be much more careful about the how I risked my life for seemingly marginal gains; or maybe it's just my naivety that leads me to think beings with lifespans of hundreds or thousands of years would act more maturely than generally depicted in these books?

I'm curious (since I started reading book 2 and it's on my mind). Do you try to pronouncing things correctly in your head as you read or do you do pronounce things as you see fit?

I keep pronouncing the sword, Fragarach, as if I took the 'L' out of Fraggle Rock. Even though there is a pronunciation guide, I pronounce as I see fit ....

Since I am listening to them as audiobooks, I have the opposite problem, I have been wondering how in the world Fragarach was spelled! In the pronunciation, I don't really hear a "K" on the end, it's more like fra-ga-rah. Tuatha De Danann and the name Granuaile were others I wondered about and luckily saw on Goodreads.

When I read, I certainly do what you do, Geoffrey; I'll see a name and decide how I'm going to pronounce it and just go with it.


Charles, I think your criticism is certainly fair. I think if you were alive for 2000 years, you would not act so immaturely. Atticus does have that deal going with the Morrigan that colors his perception of death a bit. At the end of the day though, it comes down to making a story interesting. A 2000 year old druid would probably be sitting in a secluded spot somewhere away from the world, thinking deep thoughts, but that's just not interesting. The Dresden Files takes a similar idea but but deals with it in a much more complex way. I love the Dresden Files but I am really enjoying these as fun, light reads.