Hammered by Kevin Hearne

Title: Hammered

Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles #3

Author: Kevin Hearne 

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group 

Release Date: July 5, 2011 

Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

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After reading Hammered, I can only say that Thor is a bastard who has abused his power through multiple centuries (quite different from Chris Hemsworth's Thor). No wonder so many people want him dead. 

In Hammered we have Atticus bound by a promise to Leif ( his vampire lawyer) and later on Gunnar (the alpha werewolf) to help them in their revenge against Thor. Thor is not a wimpy god, so he knows this isn't going to be an easy quest. 

Multiple important people want Atticus to rethink his choice in helping Leif. The Morrigan and even Jesus (yes, that Jesus) both tried to dissuade him. Still, no one can say Atticus doesn't keep his promises. He knows down the line this is going to complicate his life and he prepares Granuaile for a swift exit. Atticus is ready to move away from Tempi if he survives this mission. Fortunately, Leif has friends who hate Thor as much as he does. In order for Atticus to create a bond with them, he must learn first why they hate Thor. For me, the worst story was a tie between Gunnar and Leif. 

Hammered is action-packed novel with the usual comic relief I have come to expect by Kevin Hearne. I was sad when the final battle happened and some characters were lost. I'm not sure what is going to happen next but I'm sure it's going to be good.

“Thank you, Morrigan. This is very helpful,” I said, already feeling myself warming up. “And delivered to me entirely without pain.”

The Morrigan sucker-punched me hard in the face, sending me sprawling in the snow and breaking my nose.

“You spoke too soon and with entirely too much sarcasm,” she said. “We could have parted with a kiss. Remember that....” 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs