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Staked (Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 8)
Staked - Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 8
Author: Kevin Hearne
Iron Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, hero of Kevin Hearne’s epic urban fantasy series, has a point to make -- and then drive into a vampire’s heart.  — When a Druid has lived for two thousand years like Atticus, he’s bound to run afoul of a few vampires. Make that legions of them. Even his former f...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780345548511
ISBN-10: 0345548515
Publication Date: 1/26/2016
Pages: 336
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 18

3.4 stars, based on 18 ratings
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 2
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
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reviewed Staked (Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 8) on + 112 more book reviews
Things are coming to a head for the Druids as vampires, end-of-the-world prophecies, conspiracy of 13 deities, rebellions, betrayals, and various quests fill the pages of this installment. Past deeds and debts are coming due, but Atticus O'Sullivan is not always the person paying the bill. So one major story arc wraps up (maybe), but the stage has changed, and the biggest arc is to come. I can hardly wait for the concluding book of the Iron Druid Chronicles.

This is definitely NOT the first book to read if you have not read the previous ones. The two page "The Story so Far" introduction gives you a quick summary of the previous books. But you'd be missing out on the humor, pathos, sagas, stories, cross-n-double cross, and general mayhem that hooked so many fans seven volumes ago.

In some ways, the last two books reminds me of the last three books of the Harry Potter saga. More things are at stake. The tone and events are considerably darker than the first books. In fact, that introductory chapter maps out this progression succinctly. So yes, I kinda miss the humor and lightheartedness of the first two books. But I think the evolution of the Iron Druid Chronicles works. I know the series will end at Hearne's choosing. It won't linger on with lame, life support plots like some other series authors have done with their franchise.

--
Kuzu
ophelia99 avatar reviewed Staked (Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 8) on + 2527 more book reviews
I got this book through the Amazon Vine program to review. This is the eighth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles. The ninth book is as yet untitled and is supposed to be the final book in this series. This was a decent continuation of this series; although I haven't enjoyed the last couple books in this series as much as earlier ones.

Hearne starts out this book with a preface telling you that you need to go pick up the anthology Three Slices and read his Iron Druid novella (A Prelude to War) in there. I did that (with a bit of grumbling). However, after reading Staked I don't think you have to go and read A Prelude to War in Three Slices. Hearne recaps the events in A Prelude to War just fine within this book. I would only go and pick up Three Slices if you are also a Delilah Dawson and Chuck Wendig fan.

In this book Granuaile and Atticus spend most of their time apart. The story is actually told from three points of view that of Granuaile, Atticus, and Owen. Granuaile is busy trying to figure out how to get Loki's mark removed and also trying to get a cloak put over her so that no one can divine where she is. As a result of that she ends up going to the witches and doing a quest for them in exchange for the cloaking magic.

Atticus is trying to find the oldest vampire Theopolis and take him out in an effort to stop the war between druids and vampires once and for all. Meanwhile Owen had decided to start a new druidic grove and work on teaching a new generation of druids.

This book was decent and there are a lot of good action scenes as well as some humor (although not nearly as much humor as previous books). The story feels a bit more fractured than earlier books in this series. It's kind of like three books mashed together; although the characters do come together at the end.

This book wasn't as entertaining as previous books but read more like it was just a playing out of events that had to happen to tie up some storylines. I just couldn't engage with the story and really get into it like I have for earlier books in the series.

Probably my favorite part was when the Hammers of God and their tentacular beards get involved in the story; this was pretty awesome. The other characters didn't show much growth or change. Atticus is still blundering around causing issues. Granualie has definitely come into her own and is making good decisions and planning for the future.

Overall this was a decent addition to this series but not as entertaining as previous books. The story just feels too fractured and wasn't as much fun to read. I am happy the ninth book is the final book in this series. This series started out absolutely spectacular and the last few books have gotten less and less entertaining. I would still recommend this series to urban fantasy fans out there. It's a good one and fun to read.


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