Book Review: Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Author: Kevin Hearne

Title: Hexed

Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles #2

Genre: UF, Paranormal

Format: Ebook

Pages: 346

Published: June 7, 2011

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Atticus O’Sullivan has had cause to mistrust witches in his storied past, but he’s willing to live and let live with the Sisters of the Three Auroras, a legendary local coven, even going so far as to sign a non-aggression treaty with them. But that treaty is tested immediately when a deadly new coven sweeps into town seeking to take over, along with some Bacchants from Las Vegas and a fallen angel who’s decided to snack on high school students like they were trail mix.

It’s more than Atticus can handle alone and he must enlist the trickster Coyote, the headhopping abilities of the witch Laksha Kulesekaran, and his neighbor’s illegal arsenal if he wants to keep the city safe from diabolical takeover. He must also exchange favors with his vampire attorney, Leif Helgarson, in a deal that might prove to be the worst of his long life—for Leif doesn’t want to be paid by the hour.

To defeat the mortal hexes of this new coven and keep his apprentice—and his city—safe, Atticus must think fast, make promises, keep his sword handy, and hope he’ll survive to fight another day.

Review:

Been meaning to get back to this series. Book 1 was fun, and my friend loves this series.

We are back at it with Atticus. He has reason to mistrust witches, but he's willing to sign a treaty with the local coven. However, a new coven, along with some Bacchants and a fallen angel, has arrived and wants to take over. It's more than Atticus can handle alone, so he will enlist Coyote, his neighbor with an illegal arsenal, and his vampire lawyer, Leif. Oh, don't forget his best friend, Oberon the dog. 

The author didn't waste any time. We pretty much just jumped right in! It was nice seeing Atticus and Oberon again, and I would've liked some one-on-one time with them for a minute. Poor Atticus has everyone pounding on his door, demanding that he work for them. Stressful indeed! 

There is a LOT going on in this one. Lots of characters and species. I do feel that the author did a good job keeping track of everything and making sure the reader doesn't get overwhelmed.

Lots of magic. Lots of fighting. This was intense and kept me wanting to read more. 

I'll give this 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #22

Audiobook Review: Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Author: Nalini Singh

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Title: Shards of Hope

Series: Psy-Changeling #14

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, UF, SciFi

Format: Audiobook 

Published: June 2, 2015

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken . . . like Zaira.

Review:

Still slowly making my way through this series. I really should pick up the pace and read more, but I like going slow with these. 

Here we follow Aden and Zaira. They wake up battered and bruised...and their psychic abilities are blocked. They have to escape at any cost. Zaira, being as lethal as they come, and Aiden, being as smart and tough as a leader should be, manage to break free. Their only hope for survival will be in the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that isn't welcoming to strangers and outsiders. The two may finally find the freedom to be together, but Zaira has a lot of demons that Silence had kept at bay...but with the fall of Silence...who knows. 

I'm not crazy about two Psys falling in love. There is just so much coldness there. Aiden, luckily, has adapted well to not being in Silence, but Zaira has a LOT of walls. So many that it just seemed so impossible. Thank goodness for the Changlings. I think their spending time with a warm pack helped thaw her out a bit. 

I didn't really feel the love between the two, but I still enjoyed the journey. A lot happened in this book. Lots of events were set off after the baddies made a terrible mistake of kidnapping these two. What WERE they thinking? Idiot baddies. 

It was nice diving back into the audio version. I've done a few ebooks, but I loved coming back to the audio version. It was like coming back home! The narrator is just so good. She does a great job changing her voices and doing accents. Love her. 

All-in-all, I enjoyed this. I didn't fully buy the romance until near the end, but I enjoyed the story a lot. Lots of stuff is happening, and the world is still shifting. There was one scene with an old character that made me tear up. AWWWWW. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #36

- Library Love #21

Blodeuedd's Monday: John of John by Douglas Stuart

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover

Published: May 5, 2026 by Grove Press

Fiction/library

This one was, honestly I do not know, it was well written, very very slow, and I did want to know what would happen. But omg there was no closure! I wanted closure, I need closure. So yeah I got nothing at the end.

I did not know that the islands up north are very religious. The right kind of course too. God forbid. Also everyone is very sexually oppressed.

Cal is finished with uni, he has no job, no place to live so he comes back cos his grandmother is sick. He is also gay, and no he could not tell anyone. He also had a strange relationship with his former bestie. Do not know what to say there.

Oh and his dad is also gay, but would never tell anyone.

And everyone gossips about everyone.

But I wanted closure! Now, like what the f happens?

Out of money and with little to show for his art school education, John-Calum Macleod takes the ferry home to the Island of Harris to find that not much has changed except for him.

In the windswept croft where he grew up, Cal resumes his old life, caught between the two poles of his childhood: his father John, a sheep farmer, weaver, and pillar of their local Presbyterian church, and his Glaswegian grandmother Ella, who has kept a faltering peace with her son-in-law for decades.

While Cal wonders if any lonely men might be found on the barren hillsides of home, John is dismayed by his son’s long hair and how he seems unwilling to be Saved. As the seasons pass, everything is poised to change as the threads holding together the fragile community become increasingly entangled.

Best of August

Byyyyeeeee August! Hello 'Ber months!

Here are our faves for last month.

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - A Trade of Blood by

"Best book goes to Trade of Blood!!"

Carole -  The Score by Elle Kennedy

"A couple goodies, but this was the best."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  Pressure (2026)

"Surprisingly really, really good."

Blodeuedd - Nadda this month

"I remember no movies..."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - The Marlow Murder Club (S1 -2) & Patience (S1-2)

"Nothing like British murders in summer. I also watched The Boroughs :)" 

Carole - A.P. Bio (S1-4)

"Pleasantly surprised I liked this so much! It was fun."

Best Cover of the Month:

Blodeuedd's pick

Carole's pick