Scourged (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #9) in Audiobook Junkies

Apr 04, 2018 ☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The audio opens with a recap of the series delivered by Oberon and gads Luke Daniels is such a gifted narrator. The story picks up right after events in Besieged and is broken up into three narratives as Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen each face battles during Ragnarok. A prophesied apocalypse in which the Earth burns. The chapters are short and fast-paced as we spend time with each.

Granuaile is sent to Taiwan to fight against the Yama Kings alongside immortals Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen. Befor The audio opens with a recap of the series delivered by Oberon and gads Luke Daniels is such a gifted narrator. The story picks up right after events in Besieged and is broken up into three narratives as Atticus, Granuaile, and Owen each face battles during Ragnarok. A prophesied apocalypse in which the Earth burns. The chapters are short and fast-paced as we spend time with each.

Granuaile is sent to Taiwan to fight against the Yama Kings alongside immortals Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen. Before the battle, she gets some training, advice, and tea. I enjoyed the time spent with the immortals but things happen that will alter Granuaile's course. While I haven't always been warm and fuzzy towards Granuaile, I understood her motives.
Owen...OMG, the man is a such a hoot. While Owen certainly faces danger, time spent with him had me laughing aloud. There will be fires, humor and a sloth. The conversation about Jack Shite was brilliant. I want a spin-off series with Owen and I want it now!
Atticus's thread is the darkest as he and those who aid him face the Norse gods Loki and Hel, at the heart of Ragnarok. The Gods, the Fae and more gather for the great battle. The battle was intense and we suffer loses. As the series has eluded to it is also time for Atticus to face his reckoning. I held my breath, I shed a tear and hung my head.

Hearne provided us with cameo appearances from characters throughout the series, like Jesus, Coyote, the Morrigan, and the Monkey King. Loose ends like favors owed and more are answered.

Oberon does make an appearance here or there along with Orlaith and Starbuck but none of the Druids took them into battle. However, I loved the little updates about them, the pups and gravy talk. The story comes with three epilogues. Hearne gave us some closure while still leaving the door open to revisit any one of these characters. A brilliant and fitting end to this beloved series.

Update: Re-listened for the readalong. Gads, I loved listening to these again and this was an emotional one as Atticus faces his darkest hour. I think I'd give this a five now.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer ...more

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Dec 06, 2018 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, i-own, audiobooks, paranormal, fantasy, urban-fantasy, vampires, shapeshifters, action, male-pov

The narration is at least 10 stars, but I have to say I’m a little disappointed in the series ending here. It feels like there is still a lot to be told.
The Ragnarok battle was well done, and I loved how Atticus fought, even when he thought he might not survive. I did not enjoy what came to him after that. At all.

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Apr 09, 2018 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, 2018-audiobook-challenge, iron-druid-chronicles, 2023-audiobook-challenge, 2023-read-along, urban-fantasy

I have so many feelings. I’s overwhelming. Saying goodbye to a favorite series is like saying goodbye to a beloved friend when they move across the globe; you hope you’ll see them again, but you are pretty certain you won’t - and if you do, it won’t be the same. Yes, Hearne is writing more Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries (THANK GOD!!), but those are standalone, amazingly entertaining stories, and not the Iron Druid Chronicles.

Scourged is the story it needed to be, and it was everything a series-ending I have so many feelings. I’s overwhelming. Saying goodbye to a favorite series is like saying goodbye to a beloved friend when they move across the globe; you hope you’ll see them again, but you are pretty certain you won’t - and if you do, it won’t be the same. Yes, Hearne is writing more Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries (THANK GOD!!), but those are standalone, amazingly entertaining stories, and not the Iron Druid Chronicles.

Scourged is the story it needed to be, and it was everything a series-ending book should be… we visit all of the characters, both big and small, and readers are subtly brought up to speed on where everyone is and what they are doing. Storylines from as early as the first book are mentioned, and readers are left knowing the end results. The story has such a sense of full circle and closure throughout the entire book.

However, that doesn’t mean I loved everything about Scourged. It’s the tale that had to be told, and the one I didn’t necessarily want to hear. Ragnarök has arrived early all because of the decisions made and actions taken by Atticus, starting way back at the beginning of the series. Luckily, he now has two other Druids (his apprentice/lover Granuaile, and his arc-Druid/teacher Owen) to help defend the earth. And yes, there are entire pantheons of gods and goddess along with a slew of other supernatural beings who are also fighting Loki and Hel. But in the end, it’s all on Atticus to stop Loki and save Gaya.

Along the way to the final battle, the book follows all three Druids as each embarks on separate journeys. Owen is tasked to save Gaya where she needs the most help - where other creatures are taking advantage of the choas of Ragnarök. He is reawakened to the beauty of Gaya, and his mission to raise a grove of new Druids is reaffirmed. He befriends a sloth in the Amazon and takes her for adventures. I loved watching Owen reconnect to the Earth in ways he hasn’t in centuries. I also adored Slo-mo the sloth, although I was a bit bothered by how easily he could communicate with her, especially after learning from Atticus how difficult it is to bind and communicate in that level of detail with animals.

Granuaile is sent to Taiwan on her own quest. She is young, but wise and learns much from the great Monkey King. We’ve been watching Granuaile develop her own path for a few books now, and she has an epiphany or two during Scourged that sets in motion changes for her. I’ve enjoyed Granuaile’s character since the beginning, loved seeing her youthful joy of becoming a Druid, fretted that her emotions would turn her to the dark side, and her adventures in Scourged are an amalgamation of all she’s been though since she first took the leap of faith to become a Druid.

Finally, we have series main character, Atticus. We’ve watched him make decision after decision that leads directly to the events in Scourged. The author used characters to warn Atticus, and the reader, several times throughout the series that the end would be difficult and painful. And it is. I won’t get into details or give spoilers, but Hearne stays true to his world and writes the story he needed to write. Even though it is sombre, we still are treated to Atticus and Oberon’s off-the-wall humor and joyful friendship.

The Iron Druid Chronicles wouldn’t be what it is without the amazing narration by Luke Daniels. A cast of dozens couldn’t do better. Mr. Daniels has honed and refined his voices over the course of the series, and I am still amazed at how many he has. From big to small, from old to young, from human to god, from sloth to dog… he captures the essence of Mr. Hearne’s characters and brings them to life. He fills each with emotion, therefore making the events that much more memorable and real.

In the end, Scourged is engrossing and engaging. I don’t feel like anything was shoved in just to have it make an appearance. The story flowed well. And the humor. Always present. So sharp. The only real disappointment I had with the book is that there isn’t any time with the three Druids working together. I missed that, a lot. They were developed as a set in my mind, and to see them face battles separately was a bit of a let down.

Did I love everything that happened in Scourged? No. But it was a fitting end for an amazing series. One that I will mourn the loss of for quite some time.

My Rating: B+
Narration: A+

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House Audio ...more

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May 04, 2018 Melanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-narration, urban-fantasy, 4-5-stars, z-2018, z-2018-audiobooks

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

4.5 stars

Where to begin with this review? I was late to the Iron Druid party. I just picked up Hounded back 2016, but I flew through the books until I got caught up. Now, I’m at the last book in the series. I started this book with lots of anticipation and dread. Anticipation because I love Atticus, Oberon, Granuaile and Owen. Dread because I don’t want the story to end, but alas, all good things must come to an end.

T ...more

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Nov 12, 2023 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, a-audible, audio-own, own-read, 2023

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

I am so thrilled to finally have had a chance to read the Iron Druid Chronicles . Thank you so much to Kevin Hearne for his participation in the Read-along and all my friends and reviewers. No doubt since Scourged is the final book there will be some spoilers.

Urban fantasy is a favorite. Usually, we see a main character build friends and allies and skills until the final battle. This felt that way. Atticus had his hounds, t ...more

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