Hexed by Kevin Hearne
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles #2
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.
With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.
I had some of the same problems that I had with how women were treated in the first book, Hounded, here. But not nearly as much. Women continue to be much more sexually described than anyone else in the world, and Atticus’ thoughts stray to sex at the slightest provocation. Though, if I’m being fair, he doesn’t act on it.
But women are shown to be eminently able and powerful. From the goddesses to witches, to a simple widow. And Atticus does respect them for who they are, not just their bodies or looks.
I enjoyed this story quite a bit more because it showed Atticus having to do more than just be better than everyone else at everything. Not everything went according to his plans, or assumptions. And, as such, he was often left on the back foot. Additionally, we got to see that he might not be the only powerful person in the world. That I appreciated more than almost everything else.
We get some more of Atticus’ history, as well as some further politics and building of the world – always a fun thing. Especially with how much everyone in all the pantheons and groups seems to hate Thor. Loving Thor, myself, I could take issue with that, but he’s portrayed as a perfect asshole in this book and I find it hilarious that he’s the butt of so many jokes.
Hexed was a fun story, with a lot going on. Even though I have some issues that linger in regards to women, I can’t say it’s any worse than some of the issues that I’ve had while reading a romance written by women. For some reason humans seem hell bent on objectifying everyone they can.
Anyway. I liked this one. And then there’s the implications of where this is going next. I, for one, cannot wait!!
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