Hexed by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Even better and more fun than the first Iron Druid book. I like how the author mixes up the action so the story isn’t just following a linear outline from one point to the next. The different episodes could almost be individual short stories, but crafting them together, despite the fantasy setting, make the way things unfold more realistic. Some scenes overlap from the first book, others clearly set things up for future stories, including the next one, obviously. Hearne’s cast of supporting characters is broad and enjoyable, from the old Irish widow to the book store employees to the witches, vampire, werewolves, and gods. I wasn’t sure at first how I felt about Hearne’s including Christian figures like The Virgin as mythical beings, but I believe the point he is making (similar to Neil Gaiman’s) is that it’s the faith of believers that create such beings, and if I as a reader have no issue with a fictional Coyote or Brighid, an educated reader like myself should also appreciate a fictional Virgin or Jesus.
Like others who are speedily discovering this series, I can barely wait to start the next book. I expect it to be fun seeing what Hearne does next with his characters.
