I really did intend to write reviews on the previous installments of the Iron Druid Chronicles. I just wasn’t doing quite as well at keeping up with reviewing the books when I read/listened to the previous ones.
I was introduced to the Iron Druid chronicles last year when I got the initial books in audiobook form. I have since gone through all of the installments in audio form. I think it is because of the wonderful voices Luke Daniels does for the books. In truth, I have become very much addicted to this series.
Shattered continues the series by introducing us to the newest character, Owen Kennedy, who is Atticus’ Arch Druid. Owen is rapidly fallen into a second place of favorite characters, next to Oberon, Atticus’ charminng wolfhound. Atticus has plucked Owen from an island where he has been in a kind of frozen state of time where he has been for the past 2000 years. He was placed there by Morrigan to deliver a message when he was retrieved.
Owen is brash, rough and totally out of place in this new time he is in. And Atticus is very much enjoying the role reversal of him now being the mentor/guardian of what was his dreaded teacher and only father figure he could remember. The interplay between them is charming and hilarious, including the unnecessary saving of Owen from the street fight with the werewolf he left him with to get identity papers from, where Atticus had to apologize for all for his unwelcome interference in just plain fun.
The plot is continued in this installment with the mingling of all the gods of the Greeks and Celts, and a whole host of corresponding pantheons. Throw the werewolves, which are his legal service, vampires that used to be part of the same till their falling out and are now on the official hit list and the witches, some of which are grudgingly tolerated.
Its just a plain rollicking good time in the pages of a book. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a finely told yarn as it has all the required elements, drama, humor, history lessons, a charming love story with an unconventional female heroin who is nicknamed “fierce druid” by the elementals and “clever girl” by Oberon. On and has the requisite fight scenes complete with death Goddesses to claim the souls of the dead at the end. How much more can you ask from entertainment.
I will, as I have felt belonged to every one of his previous books give Kevin 5 stars on Shattered. My only grievance with him is that he has left a wide open portal for the next installment and then sent out a blog post saying that he is working on an “epic” that will come before he intends to begin on the 8th installment of the chronicles. So, it looks like we will be waiting quite some time to see what will become of these characters that have become so endeared to many of us.
SephiPiderWitch
07/20/14
She has done it again! Chills up my spine and flesh crawling amazing! This woman is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors!
And here we have one of those lovely guardian trees showing its appreciation for an offering it received by doing the solar dance of freedom. The supplicants are hiding in the little shack, as it has been rumored that these dances can bring about the dropping and flinging of branches and pine cones of most unusual size. Injuries and death have been known to result to unprotected supplicants and it has been proposed that there might be an intentional component in this as it would provide additional sacrifices to these ravenous creatures.
And as I drive onto the island, I take a turn on one of the side streets that I have been eyeballing for quite some time. It was a beautiful long stretch of road that ended at the coastline on the other side. I’ll save that area for another day. But, I had to stop for the clouds. And this one just looked like a storm God baring in for an assault on the ground below!!
Or maybe its a momma cloud Goddess chasing after its runaway offspring. Poor little thing! Oh Wait! No! Its dancing and chanting, “naner, naner, naner! Can’t catch me!” Ah, but we all know that mom will win this battle. And that light misty rain that followed? The little one with the paddled bottom!
Ah yes, and we step again into that wayback machine to a simpler time, a time of Laura Ingalls and John Wayne and no electricity and not internet . . . . Yeah, maybe not.
Looks like they have more than plenty of room for guest here. And don’t have to worry about them being underfoot! And its nice there are windows so they can look out, or be watched!
And this was the last picture I got before my beloved camera got sick. Its now at the camera hospital and though I do have the point and shoot to keep me somewhat occupied, life will not be the same till my baby comes home.
Pretty much the same here. The branches were clear out across the steps. Oh, ad the small brown building there behind the bushes? That’s the pain cave. Or, at least the part that involves the larger pieces of electronic equipment. But, there are also speakers in there so I can be a nuisance to the hag. I am willing to bet that she doesn’t have a taste for Nightwish, Garbage and probably not Pink either. Gonna try a few more out before I am done. 🙂
And here is the front view of it. Nice and pretty, isn’t it?
love this tree! I know, I know! But the blossoms are such a soft shade of pink. But they’re flowers and pink is okay on flowers. I didn’t do any work on the tree today. I just saw it when I was heading to the garage for something and thought it needed having a picture taken of it. I am certain I saw one of the branches wave at me to get my attention. And no, it wasn’t the wind. That was blowing in the OTHER direction!
Okay, two pictures! And she smiled after!
Pretty little purple flower star!!!
Okay, so here’s one of the herb gardens. I have no idea what that broad leaf plant is in there with the red stalks, but its pretty, so I will leave it for now. Many standard kitchen herbs like dill and fennel and sage and cress and parsley. Couple of healing ones like astragalus, and motherwort. Will be adding more to other areas later. And I also have some inside boxes with some of the same for easy access while cooking and climate control come next winter.
Hello there again! It’s Cassie, in case you forgot. Don’t listen to any of the humans who try and tell you that I am Missy Floof. I will put up with the little princess as I am sure that will result in the generous offerings of tasty treats. They’re in the drawer in the end table, by the way. Feel free to fish some out and make an offering.Okay, it seems mom has been working a bit in the garden and there are pictures and stories to tell you about it. And no pictures of me at the moment. We don’t need to give mom more evidence to support her theory that I drool on myself. Its really just an odd play of the light. Trust me. Here, let me show you. *lick lick* See? All gone. Uhm, never there! Well, carry on!
I don’t think I will ever get tired of looking at these lovely flowers. The stark contrasts in the colors with their white petals vivid yellow stamens. I am a bit proud of this shot as it got a lot of likes on my Google + feed.
As she looks out upon the garden about her and contemplates the world as she knows it.
The sun in me recognizes and honors the sun that is in you!
Oh! Hi there! hehehehehe, didn’t see you come in. No! I am sure mom meant for me to play with these. Why else would she have left them laying on the bed where I could find them? You’re not going to tell her are you? She might not give me extra treats if you do.
Okay, so here’s the mission for the morning. To turn the dirt in as many of these compartments as my energy will allow for. I will obviously not need to engage in any additional modes of exercise this day.
Sometimes I just utterly amaze myself!!! I would have been happy to have completed a couple of those squares. But, I actually managed to get ALL of them done. And I found many large stones in the process. I forgot to take a picture of the fire area, but I made a circle about halfway around it. I figure if I dig up enough stones, maybe I can accumulate enough to make a real fire pit. On the downside, I didn’t find any bones. Ah well! Can’t win them all.
And I have beans sprouting up!!! Though it seems something ate three of the bean types. Those critters need to be bones fertilizing my garden!!!
Ah, you are done? I have spent a pleasant time watching one of my new big screen kitty TVs that came with mom’s new house. Hope you had a fun time. Oh, and before you leave, can you toss me another treat? This sunbathing is hard work and I have worked up quite an appetite. Actually, if you could make that two, that would be great!
