Staked

I loved this series from the beginning. Atticus has a voice that carries, and it’s this voice that has smoothed over thin plots and sometimes-thinner (and less-than connected) reasons for mayhem. But that rich and wonderful voice has been diluted. Eclipsed by a stronger, even better voice…that, I might accept. But diluted? No. Hearn is smothering his most engaging character while making room for narratives of far less value or resonance. Until the last quarter of the book, Atticus goes so far as to descend into the territory of “cute”–and that’s always dangerous; rarely is it an acceptable substitute for the real thing. And that’s the problem. I expected the real thing and got cute instead. It’s like turning Luke Skywalker into jovial and slightly smarter Jar Jar Binks–unexpected, crazy unnecessary and immensely disappointing.

The last fifty pages are the only ones worth reading, the only thing with anything at “stake.” It’s the only time anything of any real value actually happens in the book, and it’s sad that the plot has to turn so suddenly and so sadly for the book to have any depth at all. Before those pages came along, though, I was seriously entertaining the idea of closing the book and not bothering to read any further–a heresy, I would have thought, prior to reading this volume in the series. But it had just gotten so BORING and so almighty shallow!!! Even a death that saddened me no end was better than continuing on the pablum road,so that should tell you just how bad it was to that point.

Please please please, Mr. Hearn: cut the revolving-door dialogue and completely separate story lines. There’s just not enough room in any one book to gloss over so much so quickly. Pick one person’s story and TELL it with the depth and development it deserves. Instead of one book with three separate narratives, give us three books with a single character’s in-depth development in each. For the depth this series needs to be exploring at this point in its mythology, the scatter-shot approach is just too unfocused and diffuse to end well.

So far I have really enjoyed all of the Iron Druid series until this one. It was a lot of pages of nothing just to wrap up the meat the story in the last 20 pages. “Staked” is the wrong title for this book. It should have been called “Miscellaneous”.

To much back and forth between the main characters narratives to be anything substantial. Hearne needs to go back and read the first books in the series and recapture what he did right in those. Either that, or change it to the “Iron Druid and those 2 other guys Chonicles”.

Really enjoyed the whole series, and this one was … not bad, exactly, but felt a little tired. Is it maybe time for Mr. Hearse to write something new?

It’s interesting to read the reviews highlighting the anti-fossil fuel chapter of the book (I’ll try to avoid spoilers by being a bit opaque — but if you’ve read the book, you know what I’m talking about). Um… Hello…?

Is it really surprising that earth-worshiping Druids are (a) concerned about climate change and (b) might be in a position to do something about it? Frankly, it reads more false to me that Atticus is not willing to take more direct action. However, those commenters were right to flag that sub-plot as weak — and frankly, a jarring addition to the book with little or no emotional payout. It’s not weak because it addresses concerns over global warming, it’s weak because it was poorly written. “Fierce Druid” or not, I find it completely implausible that Granuaile would risk her life (and the life of her hound!) on a morally dubious bit of gloating. (And yes, that’s all it was — the ecologically benefial events had already taken place). I expected her to regret the immorality of her actions as soon as she left, but no — instead she just blithely moves on. As everyone knows (even those of us with happy parental relations), disputes with our parents are not put so easily aside.

Appreciated the ending, and enjoyed Owen’s POV chapters. As a rule though I like multiple first POVs. Especially loved Owen’s struggles as he adapted to modern life, and finds his place in the world.

Granuaile’s chapters drove me nuts for two reasons: environmental preaching, and use of present tense first, when all other chapters are in past tense first. The tense change is jarring. And while I don’t have a problem with Gran going after her stepdad, I do object to her premise that all coal/oil mining is bad. Yes, green energy is good, but it also can be detrimental to wildlife, etc. Anyway, this book I skimmed Gran’s chapters, and enjoyed Owen and Atticus, and the puppies, of course. :o)

Based on reviews of book 9, and the fact this book ended tightly, I have no intention on reading further in this series. I got a nice tidy ending stopping here without the disappointment of book 9. Sounds like Hearne should have ended the series here.

Much as I love this series overall, Im taking off a star because Hearne just hasnt managed to create a believable female character. Maybe Greta comes closest; her dislike of Atticus is a bit unreasoning and self-perpetuating, but thats realistic. Granuaile just feels somehow empty to me; her values are clear but where are the consequences of her actions? Wheres a sense of humor, where are her quirks, what has shaped her before she came to Atticus other than hatred of her stepfather? Why does she have no friends to notice when she goes missing to become Atticuss apprentice? The Morrigan is a little better, but Id still expect someone thousands of years old to have more dimensions.In contrast, Owen comes in late in the series but there seems to be a lot more to him. Still, four stars because I love Atticus and Obern is just wonderful, and I really like the way Hearne combines so many pantheons while giving each its own flavor.

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