The Celtic goddess of war, fate, and death. She has a dark, volatile, and highly sexual relationship with Atticus. She acts as both a terrifying threat and a strange, unpredictable ally.
: Atticus must survive attacks from faeries, giants, and witches while navigating a complex web of alliances with various deities, including The Morrigan (goddess of death) and Brighid (first among the Fae). Major Characters
Kevin Hearne's writing style in "Hounded" is witty, engaging, and entertaining. The novel has a great balance of humor, action, and mythology, making it a compelling read. Atticus O'Sullivan is a fantastic protagonist - a wisecracking, hard-drinking, and fiercely independent druid who often finds himself in absurd situations.
is set in a secret history where magic, vampires, werewolves, gods, and other supernatural elements exist, albeit in hiding. A core element of the novel is its extensive use of global mythology. Hearne weaves together various pantheons—not just Celtic, but also Norse, Greek, and others—into a coherent and often humorous modern framework. The Celtic goddess of war, fate, and death
The story follows Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,100-year-old Druid who is living incognito in modern-day Tempe, Arizona. He runs a bookshop, sells obscure teas, and tries to keep his head down. Being the last of his kind isn't easy, especially when you possess a magical sword that a Celtic god of love and death, Aenghus Óg, desperately wants back. When the god finally tracks him down, Atticus has to rely on his wits, his lawyers, his vampire and werewolf lawyers, and his Irish Wolfhound to survive.
Kevin Hearne’s – the first volume in the New York Times bestselling Iron Druid Chronicles – is an urban fantasy novel that has delighted readers with its unique blend of ancient mythology, snappy humor, and breakneck action. This article provides a detailed guide to the book itself and the various legitimate ways you can access it as an eBook (PDF) or other digital format, as well as an introduction to the story and series.
Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles books in order - Fantastic Fiction : Atticus must survive attacks from faeries, giants,
Living in Tempe, Arizona, under the pseudonym Siodhachan Ó Suileabháin, Atticus runs a local occult bookstore, "Third Eye Books and Herbs." He has managed to live a peaceful, albeit solitary life, accompanied only by his loyal Irish Wolfhound, Oberon, who can communicate with him telepathically, and his neighbor, Mrs. MacDonagh.
While many urban fantasy novels restrict themselves to a single mythology (like vampires or angels), Hearne blows the doors wide open. In the universe of The Iron Druid Chronicles , . If humans believe in a deity or a creature, it exists. In Hounded alone, Hearne masterfully weaves together:
On Goodreads, Hounded holds a 4.13/5 rating with over 200,000 reviews. Fans frequently compare it to Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files , but with more mythology and a more confident, ancient protagonist. Atticus O'Sullivan is a fantastic protagonist - a
Atticus’s peaceful life in Arizona is completely upended when his past finally catches up to him. Centuries ago, he stole Fragarach, the Answerer—a legendary, magical sword capable of cutting through any armor and forcing anyone at its point to tell the absolute truth. The sword belongs to Aenghus Óg, the Celtic god of love, who has spent hundreds of years hunting Atticus down to reclaim his weapon. When Aenghus tracks Atticus to Tempe, the last Druid must stop running, make a stand, and use every ounce of his wit, magical prowess, and modern legal protection to survive. Key Plot Dynamics and Themes A Mythology Melting Pot
…then you need to read Hounded . It’s the start of a 9-book series (plus novellas and short stories), and if you enjoy this one, you’re in for a fantastic ride.
Hooked on Urban Fantasy: A Deep Dive into Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book One) by Kevin Hearne