''The Iron Druid Chronicles'' is a series of
urban fantasy
Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy which places imaginary and unreal elements in an approximation of a contemporary urban setting. The combination provides the writer with quixotic plot-drivers, unusual character traits, and a platform for c ...
novels, novellas, novelettes and short stories, written by
Kevin Hearne
Kevin Hearne is an American urban fantasy novelist born and raised in Arizona.
Hearne is the author of nine novels published by Del Rey Books, Del Rey in the fantasy book series ''The Iron Druid Chronicles'', plus the 2015 ''Star Wars'' novel ' ...
and published by
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn, by Penguin Random House. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It ...
. All the books, including short stories, have recorded as audiobooks narrated by Luke Daniels (for the US) and Christopher Ragland (for the UK market.)
Synopsis
The series is set in our world—the first two books are set in Tempe, Arizona—where supernatural creatures exist. These include witches, vampires, werewolves, demons, elementals, as well as various deities from many mythologies. The entire series is told in the
first-person point of view
Point of view or Points of View may refer to:
Concept and technique
* Point of view (philosophy), an attitude how one sees or thinks of something
* Point of view (literature) or narrative mode, the perspective of the narrative voice; the prono ...
. In the beginning, the narrative is described exclusively by ancient druid Atticus O'Sullivan (aka. Siodhachan O Suileabhain), owner of the occult bookshop ''Third Eye Books and Herbs'', as he becomes embroiled in the day-to-day struggle of gods, goddesses, and other supernatural creatures.
Granuaile and Owen Kennedy (arch druid to Atticus) narrate later chapters after they become a larger part of the story.
Novels
* 1. ''
Hounded'' (May 2011)
* 2. ''
Hexed
''Hexed'' is a 1993 American black comedy film starring Arye Gross, Claudia Christian, Adrienne Shelly, and R. Lee Ermey, and written and directed by Alan Spencer, best known as the creator of the satirical TV series ''Sledge Hammer!'' The film ...
'' (June 2011)
* 3. ''
Hammered'' (July 2011)
* 4. ''
Tricked'' (April 2012)
* 5. ''
Trapped'' (November 2012)
* 6. ''Hunted'' (June 2013)
* 7. ''Shattered'' (June 2014)
irst Hardcover Release* 8. ''Staked'' (January 26, 2016)
* 8.5 ''Besieged'' (July 11, 2017) - Nine short stories narrated by Atticus O'Sullivan (the main character), Owen Kennedy (Atticus's archdruid), Granuaile MacTiernan (Atticus's former apprentice), and Perun (the Slavic god of thunder). According to the official website, the collection is the length of a novel and should be considered 8.5 in the series.
The novel was announced on Twitter in October 2016 by Owen Kennedy, the fictional character from the Iron Druid Chronicles who is Atticus's archdruid.
* 9. ''Scourged'' (April 5, 2018) - Final novel in the Iron Druid series.
Short fiction
* "The Grimoire of the Lamb" (IDC, #0.4) (published May 2013) A novella that appears as its own ebook. A collector buys a rare tome from Atticus.
* "Clan Rathskeller" (IDC, #0.5) (2011) A bonus short story in the ''Hounded'' ebook. Some real gnomes serve as Santa's helpers at a shopping plaza.
* "Kaibab Unbound" (IDC, #0.6) (2011) A bonus short story in the ''Hounded'' ebook. This was later published in ''Two Tales of the Iron Druid Chronicles''.
* "Test of Mettle" (IDC, #3.1) (2011) Available at https://kevinhearne.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/A-Test-of-Mettle.pdf on Hearne's website, and in the ''Hammered'' ebook. Granuaile works on her own desert project. This was later published in ''Two Tales of the Iron Druid Chronicles''.
* "Eye of Horus" (IDC, #4.1), ''Besieged'' collection (2017). Atticus shares this story early on during Granuaile's training period, in between ''Tricked'' and the novella "Two Ravens and One Crow."
* "Goddess at the Crossroads" (IDC, #4.2) (2015) A novellette featured in the anthology, ''A Fantasy Medley 3''. Also included in the ''Besieged'' collection. One night's dark encounter with the cult of Hecate serves as inspiration for Shakespeare's witches in
Macbeth. Atticus shares this story during Granuaile's training period, after ''Tricked'' but before the novella "Two Ravens and One Crow."
* "Two Ravens and One Crow" (IDC, #4.5) (2012) This novella appears as its own titled ebook and in the ''Hunted'' ebook. It takes place 6 years after the events of ''Tricked'' and deals with important details between that book and ''Trapped''.
* “The Demon Barker of Wheat Street” (IDC, #4.6) A novellette taking place a couple of weeks after the events of "Two Ravens and One Crow". It was featured in the anthology, ''Carniepunk'' (released in July 2013), and a "slightly revised and expanded version" appeared in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017). Granuaile, Atticus and Oberon go to a carnival while they wait to see her mother.
* "Gold Dust Druid" (IDC, #4.7), novelette included in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017).
* "The Chapel Perilous" (IDC #4.8) (2013) A short story published in the fantasy anthology, ''
Unfettered'', and edited by
Shawn Speakman Shawn may refer to:
*Shawn (given name)
*Shawn (surname)
See also
* Sean
* Shaun Shaun is an anglicized spelling of the Irish name Seán. Alternative spellings include Shawn, Sean and Shawne.
Notable persons with the given name include:
Peop ...
. While framed as a story being told by Atticus to his apprentice 8 years after the events of ''Tricked'', it involves events that occurred in 6th century
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
. This was later released in ''First Dangle and Other Stories'' (2019).
* "A Prelude to War" (IDC #7.5) (Released May 2015) Featured in the anthology, ''Three Slices''. Also featured as an appendix in the Orbit paperback of ''Staked'' (IDC #8.) The story takes place one week after the events of ''Shattered''. Atticus seeks out a tyromancer, while Granuaile reevaluates her weapons.
* "The Bogeyman of Boora Bog" (IDC #8.1), in the ''Besieged'' collection. Narrated by Archdruid Owen Kennedy.
* "Cuddle Dungeon" (IDC #8.2), in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017). Narrated by Perun.
* "Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Purloined Poodle" (IDC #8.5) (Released September 2016) A story where Oberon solves a mystery with the help of Atticus.
* "Blood Pudding" (IDC #8.6), in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017). A Granuaile novellette.
* "Haunted Devils" (IDC #8.7), in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017). Narrated by Owen.
* "Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train" (IDC #8.8) (Released November 2017) A second story where Oberon solves a mystery with the help of Atticus.
* "The Naughtiest Cherub" (IDC #8.9), in ''First Dangle and Other Stories'' (2019).
Narrated by Loki.
* "The End of Idylls" (IDC #8.9), in the ''Besieged'' collection (2017). "The events of this story, narrated by Atticus, take place immediately before the events of ''Scourged''," (IDC #9).
* "Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Buzz Kill" (IDC #9.2) in the collection ''Death & Honey'' (2019). Oberon, Atticus, and Starbuck try to win a bet and solve a murder.
* "The Waters" (IDC #9.?), in ''First Dangle and Other Stories'' (2019).
Narrated by Granuaile.
* "First Dangle" (IDC #9.?), in ''First Dangle and Other Stories'' (2019).
An Owen and Slomo adventure.
Reception
Literary reception for the series has been mostly positive with
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
covering the first three books in the series.
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iron Druid Chronicles
Urban fantasy novels
Fantasy novel series
Del Rey books
Druidry in fiction
Book series introduced in 2011
Novels based on myths and legends