Most of the Urban Fantasy books that I’ve read have been mysteries. The people involved are supernatural investigators of one sort or another trying to solve some sort of crime. Which is what they’re supposed to do if they’re an investigator. In many ways the urban fantasy that I’ve read always reminded me of Raymond Chandler and the other noir authors. Admittedly there are acceptations to this rule. Mercedes Lackey and her Bedlam Bard series and Elemental Masters series are not exactly full of investigative protagonists with a tendency to wear long coats. But in many cases the stories are about larger than they are things. They’re not dealing with individuals that are going right for them most of the time. As a reminder, this may not be true for all Urban Fantasy but the ones that I’ve read. The hero is brought into the story as opposed to the story being brought to the hero. Kevin Hearne’s book Hounded is not quite like that.

The book stars Atticus O’Sullivan, the last Druid, who is about two thousand years old. He’s from Ireland before there was an Ireland and he has one of the Tuatha De Danann after him. Why? Because he stole Fragarach, the sword that belonged to Aenghus Og several thousand years ago. He’s managed to stay hidden in Arizona because it’s hard for one of the fey to access because of lack of believers and gods from Ireland. Unfortunately for Atticus, there is the internet. And because of the internet, Aenghus Og is able to find him.

What follows is Atticus trying to juggle at least four Celtic gods who want all sorts of different things from him, be it to kill him or try to convert him to their side and stay alive while Aenghus Og tries to kill him. What doesn’t help matters is a coven of witches that may or may not be trying to help or kill him, depending on which witch you ask. Throw in some werewolves plus Atticus’ lawyers (a vampire and a werewolf) and you’ve got a fine kettle of fish.

The world of the Druid Chronicles reminds me of a cross between American Gods and The Dresden Files. It’s an all out fantasy kitchen sink when it comes to the various mythologies; there are different variations of each sort of god, depending on the culture that believes in it. For example each of the various Native American tribes has their own version the Coyote trickster. As for people believing in magic, they generally don’t and have their weirdness blinders on so they don’t see it. The magic users themselves tend to live openly in that they mingle with every day people as opposed to hiding away from them. They’re able to use technology with no problems and do.

This is one of the things that I really like about the book. Atticus, despite being over two thousand years old, is capable of using cell phones and the internet. Magic doesn’t affect the technology and make it go boom. Nor does his age make it difficult for him to get a handle on all these new fangled devices that kids nowadays are playing with. This is something that I haven’t seen often in the urban fantasy I’ve read. Magical individuals that have been around for centuries have trouble adapting to the new technology and generally don’t like it. Atticus uses it without a second thought. He has a cell phone and an internet business. He does regret that the internet may have made him a bit lazy once he discovers that’s how he’s found, but he still uses it. Another thing that I like about Atticus is that he doesn’t have many problems with killing people – let me explain why. Atticus is from, as he likes to say, the Iron Age. People then have different morals and since that’s when he was formed and grew up, he has different ways of seeing things.

The prose itself is smooth and easy to read. The plot moves at a brisk pace as things just tumble upon Atticus one after the other and the language helps this along not bogging it down. A few times it feels like Atticus is being a bit of an idiot in some of his decisions and what he says. He gives away information to some people when he’s been careful enough not to do it over his 2100 years of existence, but generally he’s very smart. Pop references are dropped in a bit too much, it’s as if he’s trying to hard to be quirky and relatable. They’re in just enough to be noticeable and un-smooth. His dog also is a bit on the twee cute side.

However, in the long run Kevin Hurne’s book a fun story with an interesting character and a world that has a lot of familiar aspects but at the same time makes it self different from other urban fantasy worlds out there.

   -- Gabrielle Lissauer