A day late on this one (had some dental work yesterday and wasn't up to much of anything), but I did finally finish Scourged, the final book in Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.
Again, we're following three major characters, Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen as Ragnarok begins. Well, actually, before Hel and Loki emerge, we first have to clean up a few dangling plot threads, like Granuaile finishing taking out the vampires of Poland before being shipped off to Taiwan to fight the Yama Kings along side Sun Wukong, and Owen putting out fires (literally) as different events as the elementals call to him.
Atticus himself first takes care of the World Serpent off Ireland's coast, the heads to Sweden where Loki and Hel are supposed to emerge. And they do. And we get a fairly decent fight between all the Western pantheons vs the armies of Niflheim.
I'll say again, while he captures the spirit of most of the Norse pantheon, his big bad, Loki falls flat. Also, by spending most of Ragnarok focused on plots to take out Hel, one gets the impression that we're missing something bigger and grander in scale.
On the other hand, it didn't end as I thought it would, which was a nice surprise.
Showing posts with label kevin hearne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kevin hearne. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Big problems
A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne is a real departure from his soon to finish Iron Druid series. Among other things, at over 600 pages, it's his longest published work. It's also high fantasy, coming closer to George R. R. Martin world building than say, Mercedes Lackey.
The known world here has six countries, of which five have kennings from their patron deity at the outset. Five are at peace, with one, Hathrir mostly at detente with the other five. (The Hathrir have the kenning of fire, and are generally larger than the other peoples in the world. Thus one part of the title plague.)
Since it's part of the series title, a word on the Kennings. Kennings are magics granted by the gods based on a particular element. The elements in question differ a bit from both Western and Eastern elements, as we have Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Plants, and about midway through, Animals. Rumors abound about a Seventh Kenning, but it as of yet remains undefined. Kennings are granted in a fashion where you either get blessed or join the gods. The first we witness, in Forn, involves tree roots sucking seekers into the ground, where they either become blessed or become fertilizer. The others aren't particularly easier sounding, as Air involves throwing one's self off a cliff and Water involves drowning in a tidal pool. Blessings occur in different degrees (as discussed in the book, it seems like most of them have 3 levels), and overusing the power causes the body to age. (This is all more than what the reader is given at the outset, since we more or less jump right in to the book without explanation . We meet our narrator in Brynlon, and he starts relating tales told on Survivor's Field by the bard from Rael.)
See, in Platonic fashion, what we're reading in the journal of Dervan, a recently unemployed historian at the university in Pelemyn. He's good friends with the Pelenaut (leader of the country), who gets him to follow around Fintan and record his stories as well as occasional spycraft.
Finatn's tales give us a view of one of the Hathrir clans sending an invading force into Ghurana Nent to establish a new settlement after a volcano erupts on the old one. This upsets both the Nentians and the Fornians to their south. (Forn is home of the Kenning of Plants. Therefore, the Hathrir burning trees is abominable to them.) In the meantime, what come to be known as Bone Giants start showing up in the East. a single giant winds up in Kauria, where a linguistics expert is brought in to communicate with him.
North of Kauria, invading hordes of Bone Giants arrive on the shores of Brynlon and Rael. The problem being that no one knows really where the giants came from, since the seas are filled with krakens that eat boats since something called The Rift.
And on the Plains of Nent, a young boy discovers the sixth Kenning after being mauled by giants cats.
Fintan tells these stories using his Kenning, which includes a special stone that allows him to take on the appearance of each individual narrating character. And there are a lot of them. Which is good, since it gives us just about everybody's perspective on the simultaneous invasion.
As an added note, two of the narrators are gay men, which was not something I expected in this volume.
It's a good start to however long this series is supposed to go. I'll be interested to see how this progresses, particularly since most of the map remains unexplored.
The known world here has six countries, of which five have kennings from their patron deity at the outset. Five are at peace, with one, Hathrir mostly at detente with the other five. (The Hathrir have the kenning of fire, and are generally larger than the other peoples in the world. Thus one part of the title plague.)
Since it's part of the series title, a word on the Kennings. Kennings are magics granted by the gods based on a particular element. The elements in question differ a bit from both Western and Eastern elements, as we have Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Plants, and about midway through, Animals. Rumors abound about a Seventh Kenning, but it as of yet remains undefined. Kennings are granted in a fashion where you either get blessed or join the gods. The first we witness, in Forn, involves tree roots sucking seekers into the ground, where they either become blessed or become fertilizer. The others aren't particularly easier sounding, as Air involves throwing one's self off a cliff and Water involves drowning in a tidal pool. Blessings occur in different degrees (as discussed in the book, it seems like most of them have 3 levels), and overusing the power causes the body to age. (This is all more than what the reader is given at the outset, since we more or less jump right in to the book without explanation . We meet our narrator in Brynlon, and he starts relating tales told on Survivor's Field by the bard from Rael.)
See, in Platonic fashion, what we're reading in the journal of Dervan, a recently unemployed historian at the university in Pelemyn. He's good friends with the Pelenaut (leader of the country), who gets him to follow around Fintan and record his stories as well as occasional spycraft.
Finatn's tales give us a view of one of the Hathrir clans sending an invading force into Ghurana Nent to establish a new settlement after a volcano erupts on the old one. This upsets both the Nentians and the Fornians to their south. (Forn is home of the Kenning of Plants. Therefore, the Hathrir burning trees is abominable to them.) In the meantime, what come to be known as Bone Giants start showing up in the East. a single giant winds up in Kauria, where a linguistics expert is brought in to communicate with him.
North of Kauria, invading hordes of Bone Giants arrive on the shores of Brynlon and Rael. The problem being that no one knows really where the giants came from, since the seas are filled with krakens that eat boats since something called The Rift.
And on the Plains of Nent, a young boy discovers the sixth Kenning after being mauled by giants cats.
Fintan tells these stories using his Kenning, which includes a special stone that allows him to take on the appearance of each individual narrating character. And there are a lot of them. Which is good, since it gives us just about everybody's perspective on the simultaneous invasion.
As an added note, two of the narrators are gay men, which was not something I expected in this volume.
It's a good start to however long this series is supposed to go. I'll be interested to see how this progresses, particularly since most of the map remains unexplored.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The End is the Beginning is the End
So, I picked up Kevin Hearne's Besieged, with the understanding it was a collection of short stories, but I was hoping it was some of the previously published stories that seem to only be available in digital format, particularly since those seem to hold a few crucial plot points that get glossed over in the actual main series.
Sadly, they aren't in here. Instead, we get 9 stories, roughly 4 of which take place after book 4 and 5 that take place after book 8, with one of the missing stories being used as reference around when they're set.
Which is fine, since the last story in the book sets up the events we're supposedly getting in the series finale in April, but...
Anyway, the early stories mostly fill in stories from Atticus's past, including questing to the Library of Alexandra to find some scrolls sacred to Seshat. After a bit of a scuffle with Horus, he finds out Bast cursed hers with the noise of mating cats should one who is not her priest try to read them.
We get stories of a few demon hunts, one of which happens in 1850 San Francisco, another in Kansas.
All of which are presented as campfire tales.
In the present, We get Owen's tale of how he met Atticus, Granuail's talkes of trying to id Poland of vampire after the pact takes effect, Perun and Flidais in a "cuddle dungeon", and trying to rid the Tasmanian Devils of some sort of facial cancer.
The last story, the set up for supposedly the last book, centers mainly on Atticus having to leave Oberon in Oregon having been informed by the Morrigan that Loki has visited Lucifer and is now ready to begin Ragnarok.
While all the stories are good and readable, and a strong reminder of why I enjoy the series so much, I still feel like this book is mostly filler, a morsel thrown to keep the wolves at bay who anxiously await the next installment. That it also doesn't include some of the other stories is almost criminal, since not everyone is thrilled with e-publishing.
I just can't help wishing for more.
Sadly, they aren't in here. Instead, we get 9 stories, roughly 4 of which take place after book 4 and 5 that take place after book 8, with one of the missing stories being used as reference around when they're set.
Which is fine, since the last story in the book sets up the events we're supposedly getting in the series finale in April, but...
Anyway, the early stories mostly fill in stories from Atticus's past, including questing to the Library of Alexandra to find some scrolls sacred to Seshat. After a bit of a scuffle with Horus, he finds out Bast cursed hers with the noise of mating cats should one who is not her priest try to read them.
We get stories of a few demon hunts, one of which happens in 1850 San Francisco, another in Kansas.
All of which are presented as campfire tales.
In the present, We get Owen's tale of how he met Atticus, Granuail's talkes of trying to id Poland of vampire after the pact takes effect, Perun and Flidais in a "cuddle dungeon", and trying to rid the Tasmanian Devils of some sort of facial cancer.
The last story, the set up for supposedly the last book, centers mainly on Atticus having to leave Oberon in Oregon having been informed by the Morrigan that Loki has visited Lucifer and is now ready to begin Ragnarok.
While all the stories are good and readable, and a strong reminder of why I enjoy the series so much, I still feel like this book is mostly filler, a morsel thrown to keep the wolves at bay who anxiously await the next installment. That it also doesn't include some of the other stories is almost criminal, since not everyone is thrilled with e-publishing.
I just can't help wishing for more.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Next on Iron Druid, STEAK!
So, after quite a bit of a wait while he pursued other projects, Kevin Hearne finally released book 8 of the Iron Druid Chronicles. (well, book 8, if you don't include 2 novellas that take place between books. And to be fair, he's still writing faster than George R.R. Martin.)
Staked improves on a few problems that happened in the last volume, namely, by the climax of the book, all three druids are in the same place and working together. While this takes a while, it's well worth the wait.
We'll start with Atticus, who's busy trying to fulfill his job of ridding Poland of vampires for the Zorya coven while also trying to get rid of the oldest vampire, who was one of the progenitors of the Druidic purge by the Romans. Atticus's travels take him to Toronto for another fight with the arcane life leech, Svartleheim (accompanied by Bhrigid) to deal with the Aesir's war with the Dark Elves, and finally Rome for the climax. Along the way, Oberon gets introduced to poutine.
Granuaile starts off in Asgard, removing Loki's brand, moves to Poland to get a cloak to prevent her from being scryed upon, grabs Perun to find a Slavic horse that can predict the outcomes of battle, starts a private war with her stepfather, then winds up in Rome for the climax.
Owen...Gah. Owen gets asked by the Werewolves of Arizona to turn their non-lycanthropic children into druids. He also is the one to find out Fand has escaped from her imprisonment with help from Mannan Mac Lir. He too winds up in Rome for the climax.
And in Rome, we get a rather fun climax, involving Jewish Kabbalists verses Hermetic Kabbalists (wherein animated beards take on animated tonsures), pretty much most of the elder vampire population on Earth, and more than a little heresy against several ancient mythologies.
Mr. Hearne has stated there's one more book in the series, which will hopefully wrap up the prophecy of the sirens and Ragnarok. And not require tracking down another novella to fill in gaps between books.
As I've stated before, I rather enjoy this series. Yes, it gets a little silly, as the battle of the follicles suggests, but much like Simon R. Green, I'm having so much fun reading it that I don't notice the issues.
Staked improves on a few problems that happened in the last volume, namely, by the climax of the book, all three druids are in the same place and working together. While this takes a while, it's well worth the wait.
We'll start with Atticus, who's busy trying to fulfill his job of ridding Poland of vampires for the Zorya coven while also trying to get rid of the oldest vampire, who was one of the progenitors of the Druidic purge by the Romans. Atticus's travels take him to Toronto for another fight with the arcane life leech, Svartleheim (accompanied by Bhrigid) to deal with the Aesir's war with the Dark Elves, and finally Rome for the climax. Along the way, Oberon gets introduced to poutine.
Granuaile starts off in Asgard, removing Loki's brand, moves to Poland to get a cloak to prevent her from being scryed upon, grabs Perun to find a Slavic horse that can predict the outcomes of battle, starts a private war with her stepfather, then winds up in Rome for the climax.
Owen...Gah. Owen gets asked by the Werewolves of Arizona to turn their non-lycanthropic children into druids. He also is the one to find out Fand has escaped from her imprisonment with help from Mannan Mac Lir. He too winds up in Rome for the climax.
And in Rome, we get a rather fun climax, involving Jewish Kabbalists verses Hermetic Kabbalists (wherein animated beards take on animated tonsures), pretty much most of the elder vampire population on Earth, and more than a little heresy against several ancient mythologies.
Mr. Hearne has stated there's one more book in the series, which will hopefully wrap up the prophecy of the sirens and Ragnarok. And not require tracking down another novella to fill in gaps between books.
As I've stated before, I rather enjoy this series. Yes, it gets a little silly, as the battle of the follicles suggests, but much like Simon R. Green, I'm having so much fun reading it that I don't notice the issues.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Just what we need, a Druish Princess.
When last we saw Atticus O'Sullivan, he was getting an old friend off an island in Tir Na Nog where time runs slower than it does for the rest of the world. Thus why Owen Kennedy, who should have died a few millennia ago, is still alive and berating Atticus. (Owen, who's real name involves symbols I can't find on my character map, is Atticus's Archdruid from back when Atticus became a druid.)
Owen has much catching up to do, particularly since he doesn't speak English or any modern language. which leads to much fish out of water comedy in the first part of then book. This improves after Owen hooks up with a werewolf and goes to Tir NaNog to present himself to Brighid, where he also delivers a message for Brighid that came from the Morrigan as he was put onto his time island.
Granuaile, in the meantime, is dealing with the witch who had possessed her earlier in the series. Laksha calls Granuaile with news of Gran's father. Seems Daddy has been taken over by a raksoyuj, and said possessor is summoning as many rakshasas as he can, creating a very strange plague in the area of India that Gran's father had been digging in. (i.e. people getting possessed by rakshasas and appearing to be very sick.) This plot line eventually leads Gran to the Himalayas to get a weapon of water magic, from one of the other supernatural races making minor appearances in this book.
Atticus's plot takes him through both Gran and Owen's plot, but detours into Japan for a meeting with Inara and her kitsune helpers. It's here that Atticus finds out about the 9 gods who are intervening with him to stop Ragnarok.
By the end of the book, not only have we met Durga on the Indian subcontinent, Hearne has redeemed his portrayal of Loki (in previous books, the freaking trickster archetype has been going full steam ahead with direct confrontation and blowing stuff up like a Die Hard movie. Which was annoying, particularly after his fabulous portrayals of Coyote earlier on in the series. In this book, we get some exposition that redeems to portrayal.), and we have a much better idea of what set the current story arc in motion and why. We also learn that have Bane sidhe written into a battle tends to create spoilers, since they wail out the doom of the fallen.
Something I'm noticing here that's becoming the formula for series urban fantasy is that it's like reading a long running D&D campaign after a while. We start with small confrontations that lead to boss fights. Then, as things progress and the characters become more knowledgeable, we begin to see a larger plot spread across the campaign, and may journeys to reach a finishing point. Perhaps this is a modern take on Campbell and his Hero of 1,000 Faces. But once you see the monomyth appearing, it becomes a case of how entertaining the telling of tail is. In this case, Hearne is telling his version of the myth in a compelling and fun way. I look forward to seeing what the next volume brings.
Owen has much catching up to do, particularly since he doesn't speak English or any modern language. which leads to much fish out of water comedy in the first part of then book. This improves after Owen hooks up with a werewolf and goes to Tir NaNog to present himself to Brighid, where he also delivers a message for Brighid that came from the Morrigan as he was put onto his time island.
Granuaile, in the meantime, is dealing with the witch who had possessed her earlier in the series. Laksha calls Granuaile with news of Gran's father. Seems Daddy has been taken over by a raksoyuj, and said possessor is summoning as many rakshasas as he can, creating a very strange plague in the area of India that Gran's father had been digging in. (i.e. people getting possessed by rakshasas and appearing to be very sick.) This plot line eventually leads Gran to the Himalayas to get a weapon of water magic, from one of the other supernatural races making minor appearances in this book.
Atticus's plot takes him through both Gran and Owen's plot, but detours into Japan for a meeting with Inara and her kitsune helpers. It's here that Atticus finds out about the 9 gods who are intervening with him to stop Ragnarok.
By the end of the book, not only have we met Durga on the Indian subcontinent, Hearne has redeemed his portrayal of Loki (in previous books, the freaking trickster archetype has been going full steam ahead with direct confrontation and blowing stuff up like a Die Hard movie. Which was annoying, particularly after his fabulous portrayals of Coyote earlier on in the series. In this book, we get some exposition that redeems to portrayal.), and we have a much better idea of what set the current story arc in motion and why. We also learn that have Bane sidhe written into a battle tends to create spoilers, since they wail out the doom of the fallen.
Something I'm noticing here that's becoming the formula for series urban fantasy is that it's like reading a long running D&D campaign after a while. We start with small confrontations that lead to boss fights. Then, as things progress and the characters become more knowledgeable, we begin to see a larger plot spread across the campaign, and may journeys to reach a finishing point. Perhaps this is a modern take on Campbell and his Hero of 1,000 Faces. But once you see the monomyth appearing, it becomes a case of how entertaining the telling of tail is. In this case, Hearne is telling his version of the myth in a compelling and fun way. I look forward to seeing what the next volume brings.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
It's like a Benji movie....
When last we left Atticus, Oberon, and Granuaile, two certain huntresses from the Greco-Roman pantheon were going to chase them to Briton. Which is pretty much where Hunted by Kevin Hearne starts.
And let me tell you, given that the run starts in Romania, it's a long trip by ground to Windsor Castle. Much of which is punctuated with occasional run ins with Diana and Artemis, the coven of witches from 4 books back, Loki, Hel.... It's almost old home week in this one.
We also get a few cameos of new antagonists, like the Life Leech who is more or less a psychic vampire; the Manticore out of Sumerian systems; and what's looking to be a conspiracy to bring about Ragnarok by interests with ties to Tir na nog. Oh yes. Mr. Hearne is settling in for the long run with this one, since the sirens of ancient Greece long ago prophesied the end of the world within a few months of the end of this book. Which gives him plenty of wiggle room to squeeze a few books out concerning the conspiracy, figuring out where and what Theosphlis the vampire is doing, what's going to happen with Ragnarok now that Thor's dead...
But, back in the current book, The Morrigan fights Artemis and Diana early on to give our trio room to start running. (I'm sure a few Celtic fans will be annoyed with the character. However, one of her big plot arcs concerns trying to break out of patterns and personalities instilled by years of belief.) So, they run, including occasional narration from Granuaile, particularly after a run in with a vampire in the Black Forest. By the time they reach Windsor Castle and hook up with Herne the Hunter, the books 3/4 done, leaving us a bit of time for a resolution of the hunt and, later, a confrontation with the Manticore.
Really, this entire book, even during the chase, seems to be more of a transition into a larger metaplot that will extend beyond the trilogy system Hearne had been writing in. Which generally would suggest he just got a longer contract. (The first 3 got released every six months, then a year wait, then another 6 months between releases. I'm guessing this pattern will either continue, or we'll get a book a year, probably hardcover, if it follows the patterns of Jim Butcher and Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison.)
Any rate, the series is quite good, even if his portraal of Loki doesn't seem to fit the mythos. (Even is Loki was released from having snake venom in his eyes, and has been hiding and healing, he's still a god of chaos and trickery. That he seems to only show up and destroy godhomes with fire or throw a fireball at druids really doesn't do the Eddas justice. On the other hand, Hearne's portrayal of Thor probably annoyed his fan club, although Thor's mythos in no way really reflects Marvel's portrayal.)
As and added bonus, there's a novella concerning some of the 22 missing years between Tricked and Trapped. It's pretty good.
And let me tell you, given that the run starts in Romania, it's a long trip by ground to Windsor Castle. Much of which is punctuated with occasional run ins with Diana and Artemis, the coven of witches from 4 books back, Loki, Hel.... It's almost old home week in this one.
We also get a few cameos of new antagonists, like the Life Leech who is more or less a psychic vampire; the Manticore out of Sumerian systems; and what's looking to be a conspiracy to bring about Ragnarok by interests with ties to Tir na nog. Oh yes. Mr. Hearne is settling in for the long run with this one, since the sirens of ancient Greece long ago prophesied the end of the world within a few months of the end of this book. Which gives him plenty of wiggle room to squeeze a few books out concerning the conspiracy, figuring out where and what Theosphlis the vampire is doing, what's going to happen with Ragnarok now that Thor's dead...
But, back in the current book, The Morrigan fights Artemis and Diana early on to give our trio room to start running. (I'm sure a few Celtic fans will be annoyed with the character. However, one of her big plot arcs concerns trying to break out of patterns and personalities instilled by years of belief.) So, they run, including occasional narration from Granuaile, particularly after a run in with a vampire in the Black Forest. By the time they reach Windsor Castle and hook up with Herne the Hunter, the books 3/4 done, leaving us a bit of time for a resolution of the hunt and, later, a confrontation with the Manticore.
Really, this entire book, even during the chase, seems to be more of a transition into a larger metaplot that will extend beyond the trilogy system Hearne had been writing in. Which generally would suggest he just got a longer contract. (The first 3 got released every six months, then a year wait, then another 6 months between releases. I'm guessing this pattern will either continue, or we'll get a book a year, probably hardcover, if it follows the patterns of Jim Butcher and Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison.)
Any rate, the series is quite good, even if his portraal of Loki doesn't seem to fit the mythos. (Even is Loki was released from having snake venom in his eyes, and has been hiding and healing, he's still a god of chaos and trickery. That he seems to only show up and destroy godhomes with fire or throw a fireball at druids really doesn't do the Eddas justice. On the other hand, Hearne's portrayal of Thor probably annoyed his fan club, although Thor's mythos in no way really reflects Marvel's portrayal.)
As and added bonus, there's a novella concerning some of the 22 missing years between Tricked and Trapped. It's pretty good.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
From Fairies to Tier Na Nog
When I set out to start this blog, I originally mentioned how many of the books I was reading dwell in similar trope.
So, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised when I switch from one book that dealt heavily with fairie courts to one dealing with Celtic mythology, even if the characters are also wrapped up in Norse and Roman mythology as well.
Yep, most of the way through Trapped, book 5 in Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.
A quick recap for those who haven't had the pleasure as of yet. Atticus is a Druid from pre-Roman invasion Britain. (Technically Irish, but he's been everywhere, since this is the modern age.) Over the past 4 books, he's fought the Celtic pantheon (he stole a sword from Aenghus Og, slept with the Morrighan, and annoyed Brighid), fought a coven of witches, had a knock down drag out fight in Asgard, fought Hel alongside Coyote.... Yeah, there isn't much of a lack of action and mythological cross fandom shipping.
Book 5 picks up about 12 years after the end of the last one, with the training of his apprentice nearing completion. All that's left to do is bind her to the earth with tattoos applied with thorns. Which gets complicated first by the appearance of Loki, then a trip to Tir Na Nog, which leads to another fight with Brighid, and some fun trying to bind Granuaile at the foot of Olympus, where one very annoyed Bacchus is trying to get to him.
In the meantime, it seems the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim are also hunting Atticus, for reasons that have not as of yet been revealed.
In may ways, this series occasionally feels bogged down in comparative religion (Hell, Jesus of Nazareth showed up in one of the first two books), but...really, the writing is good, the pace is great, and you never know exactly where things are going to end up by the last page. I mean, you can surmise Atticus will live (particularly since Book 6 comes out this summer), but there are so many machinations to get through before you get there.
I highly recommend this series, even if I don't always agree with some of his portrayals of the Gods. Although I will admit I cheered every time some snide remark was directed at Thor, since I honestly don't like Thor. Unless Thor is Christ Hemsworth, at which point I'll just turn the sound off and enjoy the show.
So, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised when I switch from one book that dealt heavily with fairie courts to one dealing with Celtic mythology, even if the characters are also wrapped up in Norse and Roman mythology as well.
Yep, most of the way through Trapped, book 5 in Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.
A quick recap for those who haven't had the pleasure as of yet. Atticus is a Druid from pre-Roman invasion Britain. (Technically Irish, but he's been everywhere, since this is the modern age.) Over the past 4 books, he's fought the Celtic pantheon (he stole a sword from Aenghus Og, slept with the Morrighan, and annoyed Brighid), fought a coven of witches, had a knock down drag out fight in Asgard, fought Hel alongside Coyote.... Yeah, there isn't much of a lack of action and mythological cross fandom shipping.
Book 5 picks up about 12 years after the end of the last one, with the training of his apprentice nearing completion. All that's left to do is bind her to the earth with tattoos applied with thorns. Which gets complicated first by the appearance of Loki, then a trip to Tir Na Nog, which leads to another fight with Brighid, and some fun trying to bind Granuaile at the foot of Olympus, where one very annoyed Bacchus is trying to get to him.
In the meantime, it seems the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim are also hunting Atticus, for reasons that have not as of yet been revealed.
In may ways, this series occasionally feels bogged down in comparative religion (Hell, Jesus of Nazareth showed up in one of the first two books), but...really, the writing is good, the pace is great, and you never know exactly where things are going to end up by the last page. I mean, you can surmise Atticus will live (particularly since Book 6 comes out this summer), but there are so many machinations to get through before you get there.
I highly recommend this series, even if I don't always agree with some of his portrayals of the Gods. Although I will admit I cheered every time some snide remark was directed at Thor, since I honestly don't like Thor. Unless Thor is Christ Hemsworth, at which point I'll just turn the sound off and enjoy the show.
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