Release Day Review: Hexed

Kevin Hearne
294 pages
Urban Fantasy
Iron Druid Chronicles #2
Del Rey/Spectra


Synopsis:
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

Review:
After being so swept away by the story-line, the characters, and the gut-busting one liners in Hounded, the Iron Druid Chronicles series opener, I was honestly nervous that the bar was set too high. I was worried that Hexed might not hold up to the pressure. Well, if you're feeling anything like me, you can let out that breath you've been holding the last month, because Hexed was just as charming, Atticus is just as big of a stud, and the plot is just as well-played.  


There is a lot happening to Atticus this time, but the plot never feels weighed down. At all. I'm sure it has much to do with the constant humor Mr. Hearne weaves throughout the book. For example, Oberon, Atticus' Irish wolfhound, continues to enchant me. Yes, a fictional dog has enchanted me. He provides a subtle comedic relief during the most dire of circumstances and I heart him.  He's traded his obsession with Genghis Khan for a new outlandish character, and I giggled each time Oberon would personify his new infatuation.  The general feel of the book is jovial. Even smack dab in the middle of a fight scenes, the tone remains this side of entertaining as hell. 
"It's fuckin' A, not H, but yeah, Leif, go ahead, let's throw down."
Leif paused and frowned. "Do you not mean we should throw up?"
"No. See, when you throw up you're vomiting, but when you throw down you're starting a fight, as in throwing down the gauntlet."
"Ohhhh," he said. "I thought you were speaking literally."
"I do beg your pardon. Let's literally throw up, but let's figuratively throw down."


The only complaint, if it even is one, is that I wish Hearne could have expanded the story slightly.  There's so much happening, in the way of multiple offshoots of the plot, that some of the allure of Atticus' kooky everyday life, was lost. The fractures in the plot keep the action and adventure ramped up, and set a perfect pace, but my chick side would have liked to see a bit of down-time with Granualie, as she learns the Druid ropes, or maybe a funny incident or two at the book shop. 


Do not fear though Atticus is still a total stud. {I know I keep using this word for him over and over, but that's all I can think of when I think of him.} He handles everything that's thrown at him with ease, making the reader follow along and interact easily.  When I mentioned this to my friend Marc recently, he reminded me that half of Atticus' appeal lies in the positive nature of his character. And it's so true. He's got his chi lined up straight. He's never down on his many struggles or gets put off by the MANY challenges that are laid before him....  'cause he's got tons by the end of this book.  Rather, he comes off almost jolly at his place in the scheme of things.  Even with an angry goddess attempting to scorch his kitchen and his hide, he keeps his mood light.
Brighid's eyes flashed with a blue flame, and I wondered is she had learned to do that just so she could compete with the Morrigan's red flashes.  Maybe I should try to figure out how to make my eyes flash green so I could freak out the baristas at Starbucks. "No, you foolish mortal," I'd say as my eyes glowed, "I ordered a nonfat latte."

Bottom Line: Mr Hearne's series continues to delight with fresh developments to the story arc, hilarious conversations with its Irish wolfhound, and full-blown fight scenes.


4 stars