Besieged: Stories from The Iron Druid Chronicles

Filing in the gaps with short stories, between the series' books! Stories full of awesomeness! All leading up towards the inevitable ending, of Ragnarok! Great short stories to wet your appetite and tease your mind, and hold you over till the last book of the great Iron Druid novel is released... Can't wait! Can't wait!! Can't wait!!!!

I am somewhat ambivalent about this book. I liked the stories, and the tales around the campfire format of several was enjoyable, I come back to the fact that the eight advertised stories are only actually seven new ones (one is a rerun of a previously published work). And one star subtracted for price - I'm sorry Kevin, this just isn't a book worth $14.

I liked the short stories, but in my opinion this book cost way too much for the content. I really love the series and I think Mr. Hearne is a great writer, but I get the feeling he is cashing in on his past work. I was mad when I got to the end. This is it?!?

Solid short stories in the Iron Druid universe, but we shouldn't have to pay full price for this material. Also, I really didn't like the Granuaile story. It's looking to me like he is devaluing the connection she has with Attticus and I'm pretty sure that the Author is going to kill him off in the next book now.

I have read and loved all of the Iron Druid stories (including all the novellas/short stories) and this is the weakest. The first two stories here feel like outtakes that fell onto the cutting room floor because they were unnecessary action scenes that go nowhere. Readers who enjoy Hearne's dialog writing will find them lacking. The third is a gentle reworking of the previously published The Demon Barker of Wheat Street. It breaths life into the book and the rest of the stories are more vibrant, with enjoyable dialog and action. While not the best this is a decent stopgap for fans waiting for the next Iron Druid novel.

I have read and loved all of the Iron Druid stories (including all the novellas/short stories) and this is the weakest. The first two stories here feel like outtakes that fell onto the cutting room floor because they were unnecessary action scenes that go nowhere. Readers who enjoy Hearne's dialog writing will find them lacking. The third is a gentle reworking of the previously published The Demon Barker of Wheat Street. It breaths life into the book and the rest of the stories are more vibrant, with enjoyable dialog and action. While not the best this is a decent stopgap for fans waiting for the next Iron Druid novel.

I loved all the stories, but what I really appreciated was that they were almost all new. I get so tired of recycled material being sold as new, so this was fantastic. I also like it that the book didn't finish with a teaser chapter. So that's a win-win-win for me!!

Keeping this pretty simple, I liked all of this book. Usually I'm less intrigued when seeing the book in a character's prospective other that atticus or Owen most of the time but I enjoyed the whole book.

Ok. But. Really want another good story. Money grab? Which I don't mind in this case. The series has proved itself. Just left wanting more. At least it's not a GOT. Come on Kevin. Lock yourself in a cave and entertain us like you can. Fine. 4

A surprisingly mediocre and overpriced addition to the Iron Druid Chronicles As in Staked Hearne takes every chance to be preachy in a high handed fashion about the environment. In this book he adds more high handed commentary on other topics as well. The BDSM story about Perun was offputing, excessively graphic, and out-of-place for the series. The most offensive part of the whole book is the price. This is a slim volume, no more than half the length of a regular novel and maybe a third of one of the longer Iron Druid novels. It should have been priced appropriately and not at the same price as a full length novel. Two of the stories have been printed before. I am now not looking so forward to the next Iron Druid novel, if it is going to politically heavy handed and full of weird scenes like this book.

“Besieged” is Hearne’s latest entry in his “Iron Druid Chronicles” as a collection of nine short stories. For fans of Hearne’s IDC, it fills a much-needed void. It has been over a year since his last novel in the series was released, and fans are eagerly waiting on the final novel of the series.

While most of the stories feature the series protagonist, Atticus, other characters share the spotlight. The collection features stories about Granuaile, Owen, and Perun. Hearne provides a brief intro to each story advising who the story is about and where it falls in the IDC timeline. These short stories help readers better understand the characters, a great exercise in character development.

As a devoted reader of Hearne’s IDC, I have appreciated the author’s masterful use of snark, adventure and mythology. He has created one of the best worlds in urban fantasy genre I have yet to read. Besieged includes:

“The Eye of Horus“ - Atticus accepts a mission during the time of ancient Egypt and encounters members of the Egyptian pantheon for the first time.

“Goddess at the Crossroads“ - Atticus shares an adventure he shared with William Shakespeare.

“The Demon Barker of Wheat Street“ - While having never read the original story, this one is an updated version of a previously released story. Atticus and Granuaile return to Granuaile's home town and uncover a carnival of demons.

“Gold Dust Druid“ - Atticus stalks a greedy demon during the San Francisco gold rush era.

“The Bogeyman of Boora Bog“ - Owen undertakes a pre-Druid purge mission encountering another druid, while meeting a future apprentice.

“Cuddle Dungeon“ - Features Perun in a very adult oriented short story.

“Blood Pudding“ - Granuaile takes on vampires in Poland unwilling to honor the newly negotiated Accords.

“Hunted to Devils“ - Owen and his apprentices join forces with Atticus in Tasmania to heal Tasmanian Devils.

“The End of Idylls“ - The Morrigan visits Atticus to warn Ragnarok is near. It is time for Atticus to have a heart-to-heart with Oberon.

This is a must read for fans of Hearne's IDC; however, I do not recommend it for a starting point to new readers. Stories reference events in previous IDC novels.

“Note: An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.“

These nine stories have assorted characters narrating. I liked the Atticus and Oberon (his Irish wolfhound) stories the most. And one character's story contains adult content. (Cuddle Dungeon) The stories vary in location and time periods, with a variety of supernatural beings, including werewolves and other shape changers, vampires, ghouls, demons, witches, gods and more with lots of magic, adventure, danger, and mayhem (blood and guts, etc.).

Atticus O'Sullivan is a Druid from Ireland; he's been around for 2,000 years so he's had time to visit other places and times; there are apprentice Druids also, and their training is interesting, especially when they learn to communicate with animals. Atticus tells some of the stories from his past to his apprentice, Granuaile. I liked their relationship and repartee. Oberon's point of view is fun, but only Atticus can hear his remarks. There is interesting background info too. As I said, I liked the Atticus stories the best; there are references to him in other stories. So there's lots of choices, and I think the reader will enjoy most of them. I haven't read any of the novels, but I see the series is coming to an end with Scourged (2018).

This book is a ton of fun. I have been an Iron Druid fan since the first book, and Kevin Hearne has impressed me even more with his ability to write fun, engaging short stories that fit well with the books but can be enjoyed stand-alone. My favorite characters are all represented- Atticus, Owen, Granuaile, and Perun, as well as some great mythological and literary characters that are familiar and fun.

This really reminded me a bit of Dr. Who in a way. Each story was full of action, fun and funny, and a bit quirky. They don't happen in any one time period- Atticus is 2,000 years old, and the stories are at different points, so there is a time travel feeling aspect to them as they might jump from Ancient Egypt to Renaissance England.

I read one here, one there. If I had a book full of 1,000 of these stories, I'd spend 1000 Iron Druid nights reading them. I hope that Kevin Hearne will write more short stories. These are short enough to read when I have time to read. Most took me less than an hour.

I think all Kevin Hearne fans would like these, Dr. Who fans, and anyone that has a good sense of humor and loves action and myth.

Story collections are usually like baseball games. Sometimes they hit it out of the park and other times they don’t even make it to first base. Some are the result of really good ideas that provide enough material for a great story but not enough for a book. Others are used to fill in minor holes in a book series. Others are nothing more than the literary equivalent of doodling. The nine stories that make up Besieged take place at different times throughout the Iron Druid series and readers who haven’t finished the entire series may encounter characters that they are not familiar with. My advice is to relax and roll with it, It will still be entertaining.

My favorites in this collection are The Goddess at the Crossroads (I’m a sucker for Shakespeare) and Gold Dust Druid. I loved the idea of your typical western sheriff having to come to terms with the existence of demons. I also have to give a nod to The Demon Barker of Wheat Street, as it is by far the scariest material that Kevin Hearne has ever written.

1. The Eye of Horus - A god sends Atticus on a quest to the Great Library of Alexandria. It’s a rowdy tale with a dungeons and dragons air to it.
2. Goddess at the Crossroads - Atticus relates how he helped William Shakespeare add a supernatural element to <i>the Scottish play</i>.
3. The Demon Barker of Wheat Street -Atticus and Granuaile pay a visit to the freak show from Hell, literally.
4. Gold Dust Druid - Atticus chase the demon of greed through the streets of San Francisco during the gold rush.
5. The Bogeyman of Boora Bog – Archdruid Owen describes the events leading up to his first meeting Atticus, with his future apprentice.
6. Cuddle Dungeon - Perun tells of an adventure that takes place in an establishment that has lots of leather.
7. Blood Puddings: Granuaile, hiding out and working as a waitress in Portland after the events in Staked, has a messy encounter with a vampire leading to a trip to Poland.
8. Haunted Devils - Archdruid Owen travels to Tasmania to investigate an apparent cancer epidemic among Tasmanian devils.
9. The End of Idylls – Atticus tells Oberon about his previous companion, Faolan, a wolverine.

* The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.

FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.

This relatively slim volume features nine never-before-published short stories[*] set in Kevin Hearne's "Iron Druid" universe. The next "Iron Druid" novel will be the last, if Hearne keeps his word, so this collection represents a sort of prelude to "goodbye."

Five of the stories tales told by 2100-year-old druid Atticus O'Sullivan to his young apprentice and lover Granuaile and/or to his loquacious Irish wolfhound Oberon. (The other storytellers are Granuaile, Atticus's former mentor Owen, and the thunder god Perun.) All embody to varying degrees Hearne's whimsy, his spiritual, environmental, and moral concerns, and his love of storytelling. All add something to the Iron Druid universe, but none are essential reading.

The first entry, “The Eye of Horus,” is typical for the collection. As Atticus and company enjoy a campfire in the wilds of Navajo Country after a hard day of druid instruction, Granuaile asks “Tell me about the old days, Atticus.” In response, Atticus relates his attempt to obtain sacred scrolls concealed in the Great Library of Alexandria during the final days of the Roman Empire. While Atticus has been known to steal things for his own reasons, this quest came at the request of the Irish goddess the Morrigan and her compatriot Ogma. Demonstrating both his cleverness and foolishness, Atticus locates the scrolls, but manages to activate a magical ward that brings him face to face with an angry Egyptian goddess. It’s no surprise that he escapes, but not unscathed.

One of the more memorable stories is “Goddess at the Crossroads,” in which Atticus reluctantly agrees to take young Will Shakespeare witch-hunting in the English countryside. They find much more than Atticus bargained for, involving not only witches but also a bloodthirsty goddess who is not terribly fond of men. In Atticus’ telling, the witches’ chant “Fire burn and cauldron bubble” from MacBeth is not as less original than many scholars believe.

From the title, “The Demon Barker of Wheat Street” sounds like it would be a Sherlock Holmes parody as told by Oberon. It’s not. Instead, it is the story of a demon incursion at the Kansas Wheat Festival (a real thing – the festival, not the demon incursion) that Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon must thwart in order to save lives. [*] Originally written for the Carniepunk anthology, and expanded for this collection.

In “Gold Dust Druid,” Atticus pursues a demon who inspires greed, anger, and violence in the Old West. It is a typical Iron Druid romp through history, featuring not only historical figures and places but also thinly veiled allegory.

“The Bogeyman of Boora Bog” is told by Archdruid Owen Kennedy to his werewolf lover Greta about an incident that occurred just before he met young Atticus and took him on as an apprentice. Owen’s investigation of the disappearances of Irish villagers turns into a thorny question: “What do you do when the person doing evil is ‘one of us’?”

“Cuddle Dungeon” is narrated by Perun -- a loyal but none-too-bright thunder god who has been one of Atticus’ allies for a long while. When Irish goddess Flidais, his lover, invites Perun to the private club called “Cuddle Dungeon,” they encounter more than just whips and leather. The moral question at hand: the nature of consent.

The title of “Blood Pudding” refers to a dish ordered by a vampire in the Polish bar where Granuaile – the narrator of this piece – happens to be working when a ban on vampires in Poland goes into effect. It also refers to what Granuaile does to the vampire when he gets a bit too threatening. This one is a tense but inconclusive adventure involving Granuaile, her Irish wolfhoud Orlaith, a coven of Polish witches, and the vampire Leif, a longtime but unreliable ally of Atticus’.

In the Iron Druid universe, the earth and major geological features are inhabited by spirits called elementals. In the story “Haunted Devils” Owen Kennedy observes that in his time, the human population was small and not yet ready to mount an industrial-scale assault on the planet, so elementals didn't really need help. But now Owen has been asked by the elemental Tasmania to help save her devils. The devils need more than healing, however, as their disease isn't wholly natural in origin.

Finally -- and it is final for more than one reason -- “The End of Idylls” begins with the Morrigan -- the Celtic goddess of death -- telling Atticus that all things must end. In response to the Morrigan’s visit, Atticus tells Oberon about the fate of Faolan, the wolverine who was Atticus’ animal companion in the New World prior to its colonization by Europeans. During a trip with Faolan to the Yucatan peninsula in what is now Mexico, Atticus requests the local elemental to allow him to travel to the Mayan land of the dead. Unsurprisingly, this does not go well.

Bottom line: Most "Iron Druid" fans should find this to be an entertaining collection that fills in some blanks in the shared history of Atticus, Owen, Granuaile, and the supernatural life of their universe. "Fills in some blanks" is a fitting phrase in that there is nothing here that contradicts what we already know or adds a major new dimension to the Iron Druid world. The stories variously show the humor, drama, romance (lite), action, environmental consciousness, and moral questions that have contributed to the success of the series. It's not a must-read for fans, but it is recommended.

An anthology of nine short stories with eight of them new in The Iron Druid Chronicles urban fantasy series and revolving around a 2,000-year-old Druid and his (mis)adventures. (Hearne considers this anthology to fall in at 8.5 in the series, publication-wise, after The Purloined Poodle , which is actually 8.5.)

The Series
"The Eye of Horus", 4.1
"Goddess at the Crossroads", 4.2
"The Demon Barker of Wheat Street", 4.6
"Gold Dust Druid", 4.7
"The Bogeyman of Boora Bog", 8.1
"Cuddle Dungeon", 8.2
"Blood Pudding", 8.6
"Haunted Devils", 8.7
"The End of Idylls", 8.9

My Take
Okay, it’s weird to hear Atticus talk in modern day language when he’s relating stories that take place centuries before this day when he, Oberon, and Granuaile are sitting around a campfire in Arizona. And it is fun to hear those stories in his voice. Several of the stories are told by the archdruid and another by Perun.

Most of the stories are simply outtakes of Atticus' life through the centuries, and some do provide background into where/how/why Atticus learned more about his powers and how his views were shaped.

Core Characters
Atticus O'Sullivan/Siodhachan Ó Suileabháin is an ancient Druid who takes his responsibility for earth seriously. Fragarach is the sword he stole from Conn. Oberon is an Irish wolfhound with a great "doggy" sense of humor who can thought-speak with Atticus and Guanaile MacTiernan, his apprentice. Gaia is the earth, Mother Nature, however you want to think of her. The Morrigan is the crow goddess, the Chooser of the Slain.

The Stories
"The Eye of Horus" is a tale of thievery (and protection). There’s a rumor going about amongst the gods that the Great Library of Alexandria is threatened, and there are a few things they’d like Atticus to steal for them.

There's a little foreshadowing for "The Grimoire of the Lamb", 0.4, which would make me think "The Eye of Horus" should actually be more like 0.3???

"Goddess at the Crossroads" finds Atticus saving Shakespeare’s life even as he thwarts three witches and provides some interest to Shakespeare’s King Lear.

"The Demon Barker of Wheat Street" is supposed to be a vacation for Granuaile to see how her mother is faring since Granuaile "died". Supposedly, carnivals are also supposed to be a fun part of any vacation, unless you run into one that’s the front for a demon hellmouth! It can also be found in Carniepunk .

"Gold Dust Druid" finds Atticus in San Francisco during the Gold Rush when a Qabbalist is too lazy to work and pays for it. Permanently. It certainly gave me a sense of the time period with its greed and gambling, even as San Francisco is trying to instill some law and order.

"The Bogeyman of Boora Bog" uncovers the evil lurking in the marshes of Boora Bog with Atticus’ mentor, Archdruid Owen Kennedy, and how Owen met Atticus. It also relays how Owen’s experiences change how he teaches his new apprentice.

"Cuddle Dungeon" is an exploration of different by a god and goddess, as Perun and Flidais explore BDSM. And Perun comes to appreciate that consent is all.

"Blood Pudding" is part of Granuaile’s apprenticeship with thirteen witches in Poland and a trial by fire when she must root out a belligerent vampire and his followers.

"Haunted Devils" is told by Archdruid Owen Kennedy as he, Greta, his apprentices, Atticus, and Oberon tackle the cancer-ridden Tasmanian devils who are dying Down Under. Owen has his own reflections on Greta’s anger towards Atticus and reflects on his gratitude for what Atticus has accomplished.

"The End of Idylls" is one of those sad tales…and yes, I cried. Atticus explains to Oberon how guilt has compelled him to avoid long-term animal companions…until Oberon.

The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is a smoky range of warm reddish browns, the better to highlight but not overwhelm a seemingly brown-haired Atticus in his trademark linen shirt and iron charm worn around his neck, a sword in hand. Behind him is a dark-haired and -bearded guy in a red plaid shirt open over a white tank top, an engraved gold band wrapped around the knuckles of his clenched fist. Both men are in a three-quarter profile, their heads turned to look back at what’s coming.

The title is something of a spoof, as Atticus is Besieged around the campfire for stories about his past.

Here are the reasons I tend to enjoy short story collections:

· They can introduce me to new authors;

· They often involve a fun theme, such as different takes on villains, or dragons, or roller derby, pretty much the imagination is the limit; and

· They are quick and easy to read, like a sampler of chocolates.

Unfortunately, when authors come out with short story collections of their OWN works it usually doesn’t achieve any of these goals. Reader’s are often reading the short story collection only because they already know and like the author, and in fact it usually is a terrible place to get to know the authors work if you are a new reader because they tend to jump around between books in the series, thus leaving new readers confused and jumbled. As for the theme, you could say the theme is the series itself, yet often short story collections such as this one are filled with previously published stories, so those that follow the author’s works get little to nothing new to read. On top of all of that the publishing of a short story collection of works in an author’s universe usually means the author is trying to fill time to keep fans satiated between books, which unfortunately often does not work, since it usually contains very few new stories in a series and often does not advance the plot or development of the characters the readers of the series love to read about.

So, after reading all of that should you buy Besieged?

100% yes!

Why, go through all of that negativity then if I’m just going to say to buy the book? Well, I wanted to truly outline how Besieged really is different than most I read.

First, very few of the stories published in Besieged have been published before, which gives actual material for readers to enjoy. Second, much of the new material takes place between the last book in the series, Staked, and the forthcoming book, Scourged (which also so happens to be the last book in the series!). On top of this, most of these are novellas as opposed to short stories. Why is this important? Not only do these novellas give Hearne more room to explore stories and stretch his creative legs, they also serve as a kind of bridge if you will between the books, because of the length of the novellas, readers are truly able to sink their teeth into the world of Atticus and the Druids (including Owen and Granuaile). Not only that, but readers are given a glimpse into the rationale behind Atticus’ motivations through Owen’s eyes. As for the novellas other stories, readers will be treated Granuaile going on a vampire raid, a new vampire threat who is even older than Leif!, Atticus’ previous animal partner, and my personal favorite stories of Owen and the new apprentices.

Ok so, you like the novellas, what else is good about Besieged? How about some of the other fun and exciting short stories. These include stories Atticus vs. the Egyptian gods, Atticus inspiring Hamlet, and even a story from Owen’s perspective on how he originally met and took Atticus on as an apprentice. All of these are awesome and entertaining stories that fans of the series will surely love.

All in all, think of Besieged as less as less of a short story collection and more of book 8.5 of the series. It is entertaining, full of likable characters and helps prepare readers for the events of the Scourged. Because of that alone, it’s a must buy for any fan of Kevin Hearne.

This is a collection of 9 short stories set in the Iron Druid universe. Nine short stories narrated by Atticus O'Sullivan (the main character), Owen Kennedy (Atticus's archdruid), Granuaile MacTiernan (Atticus's former apprentice), and Perun (the Slavic god of thunder). Of course, Oberon and the rest of the dogs are around some as well. One of the stories was in an earlier collection but has received some tweaking.

One of the things that i really enjoy about the Iron Druid Chronicles, is that all of the stories do not have to feature Atticus. Other characters can take the spotlight without the story feeling like a gimmick. They have their own paths to follow that don't always include Atticus.

I was enjoy these glimpses from parts of the lives of the characters that aren't necessarily about fighting to prevent the end of the world (or at least a good chunk of it). The stories from earlier in the life of Atticus are nice because it helps to give him the feel of really living all of that time instead of just listing it as part of his background.

There iss plenty of humor throughout the stories. Kevin Hearne really nails the thinking of the various dogs. They don't just sound like another human. Even better, they don't sound like those dogs from TV ads about dog food.

Overall a nice collection of stories that fill in some gaps in the lives of the characters that any fan of the series should love.

I've been a huge Iron Druid fan since I got an ARC of the first book. Since then, it has remained one of the few series that I will buy a new book right away. Besieged takes those beloved characters from the books and uses them to tell a few short stories that open new doorways into the worlds inhabited by these characters. While I'm not usually a short story fan, these felt comfortable and familiar, and any story with Oberon is guaranteed to make me smile.

I think my favorites were The Demon Barker of Wheat Street, The Bogeyman of Boora Bog, and the bittersweet The End of Idylls. But honestly, I enjoyed most of them, though I felt that Cuddle Dungeon felt a little...out of place. The characters are great, but they didn't seem to fit into this particular book, as the rest of the tales concerned the main characters. Picky, I know.

Overall, I will miss the Iron Druid series as it comes to a close, but I look forward to whatever else Kevin Hearne may have up his sleeve. Maybe some more tales such as these...

Short stories are not so much my thing - I read them occasionally, but really I like novels, as they usually have more room to breathe. However, the Iron Druid is very much my thing. I've followed the stories since I first found the series, and while I got this book as a review copy the series as a whole has gone into my list of books I buy on first release. (I once would have called that 'hardback,' but I'm mostly digital now so that's usually just a higher-priced file.)

This collection of stories is a pretty delightful treat for readers who want more background - specific details about events referenced but not explored in the novels, in-between time stories. Some of them suit my tastes more than others, but together they work to help build out the world. I believe the short stories would be enjoyable to newcomers for whom short stories ARE their thing as well as for long-time readers who just want more of this particular topic. Not an essential volume - you can enjoy the Iron Druid without it - it is, nevertheless, for THIS Hearne fan a very satisfying one.

Even those who loved all of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series are likely to be disappointed with "Besieged," a collection of stories so light it might threaten to float right out of your hands -- and at 235 pages with big type and lots of white space, it's not like there's a lot to hold it down.

Sure, the true believers will want these short stories to complete the collection, but most fans of Atticus O'Sullivan don't need to add these tossed-off efforts to the shelves. A couple, it has to be said, are up to the standards of the books ("The Bogeyman of Boora Bog," for one) but most just sort of wheeze to a finish rather than come to a satisfying conclusion.

In short, find one of those fans who has to have all the books about the 2,500-year-old Druid and his adventures with various gods and mythical beings, and borrow "Besieged," or get it out of the library for a quick read, but for me, there are a lot better ways to spend $27.

$13.99 is outrageous and few if any authors are worth this for an electronic book. And Kevin Hearne is outrageous you'd let your publisher charge and gouge ruthlessly your readers. I like Kevin Hearne's novels. But with all due respect, he isn't worth $13.99 for a kindle e-book. Further, I've read many Kevin Hearne books and while a couple might rate 7/10, most rate 5/10 or 5.5/10. At his best, he's only about 68% as good as Jim Buthcher (who is also now gouging his readers). I'd recommend any potential readers simply put in contemporary fantasy and look for many authors who are free kindle or only 3.99! Don't get gouged by an average author.

Ah, this was so good, everything I wanted from a collection of IRON DRUID short stories. It was awesome to read stories from different countries and time periods, with our beloved heroes (and hounds) kicking all kinds of ass. Every story carried the signature Kevin Hearne charm, but my favourites had to be "Goddess At The Crossroads" (laughed so hard during that one), "The Demon Barker of Wheat Street," and "The Bogeyman of Boora Bog." The stories all have different tones and themes (I did not expect Perun's story to go the way it did), but they were all fun, short adventures that make me want to re-read the entire series again. Long time fans will adore this book, but there is enough for new, curious readers to fall in love with these characters and hopefully buy the rest of the books in time to join Atticus on his final adventure next year. Highly recommended for anyone who loves urban fantasy, laughing, and the ultimate Druid-Wolfhound bromance. Loved it!

This is Atticus and company in short form. Hearne has been releasing Iron Druid shorts almost since the beginning of the series and we finally have a collection of most of them, but there are a few notable holes likely due to contract limitations.

There are stories not just from Atticus's POV so the world and perspectives get fleshed out a bit more, especially Owen. The stories take place between the novels leading right up to events that will be covered with book 9, Scourged, which may be the last Iron Druid book. As with the novels each story is fun and action filled. And a big hole is filled in between Owen and Atticus's past.

Well, this is your "fix" until the next book in Kevin Hearne's marvelous and phantasmagorical series comes out- and there's not even a title for that book announced yet.

In the words of Kevin himself:" Y’all should consider this book 8.5 and I hope you’ll trust me when I say it’s a lot of fun. It includes nine Iron Druid stories narrated by Atticus, Owen, Granuaile, and Perun. "

As with most collections of short stories you have a mixed lot- but in this case not a bad one in the lot. Personally I like that stories with Atticus and Oberon (The druid's Irish wolfhound, who has some of the best lines in the series) but the others are fun reads too.

As with the other eight books, this book contains plenty of action seasoned with sly humor and wit. Atticus O’Sullivan (The "Iron Druid, so called as he was able to bind iron and thus is mostly magic proof) can "Talk" with Oberon you see, and the Wolfhound responds just about as you would expect a hound to- with great longing for sausages and tummy rubs.

Atticus O’Sullivan aka Siodhachan O Suileabhain is now over two thousand years old, and has been on the run ever since he stole Fragarach (a magical sword) from the Tuatha Dé Danann. Now he has a druid-trainee of his own, the lovely and smart-mouthed Granuaile.

Fans of Fantasy and of this series should get this book. Although it is called "8.5" you could start here if you liked, but best is to start with Hounded.

This installment of the Iron Druid series is a "fill in." It consists of short stores that fill in the gaps between the books and explain how some of the events referred to actually occurred. For example, one story tells briefly (but satisfyingly) how Atticus became the apprentice of Owen Kennedy. Another tells the tale of when the vampires didn't want to leave Poland, and Granuaile and Leif Helgarson had to "encourage" them to leave (over a few dead bodies).

The stories are told by several people and make a satisfying book to read (while we wait for "Scourged" to appear).

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I've been with the Iron Druid series since it was first published, and it's one that I periodically do a complete re-read, because I enjoy the characters and the mythologies so much. This collection serves as a good snack between the novels, giving us both additional backstory, and also fleshing out the characters more.

This isn't the book to start the series with if you've never read it before simply because you'd miss the progression of the story arc, but it is great for diving back into Atticus' world and enjoying the ride.

Please, sir, can I have some more?

Overall, these stories are good fill-ins as we wait for "Scourged." It wasn't Kevin Hearne's best work, but still worth reading. One or two stories fell a bit flat and I didn't care for Perun's story at all. The inclusion of "Demon Barker of Wheat Street" was unnecessary as I think most Iron Druid fans have already read it. My favorite story is the last one, which sets the stage for "Scourged." The special relationship Atticus and Oberon have is really felt here as we also learn more about a previous companion Atticus had.
I am glad that I read the book and am eagerly awaiting Hearne's new series in October and the final Iron Druid next year.

When someone has lived as long as Atticus O’Sullivan, you know he must have a bottomless sack of interesting stories. In Besieged, we get to hear some of them, along with some told by other characters in Atticus's life. It's rare for me to read an anthology in which I enjoy every story, but this one doesn't have a bad story in it.

Some of the tales provided backstory, some provide buildup to forthcoming books, but all were great additions to the Iron Druid universe. Note that one story, The Demon Barker of Wheat Street, has been previously published. I had already read it, but didn't mind reading it again. If you love the Iron Druid Chronicles, then you will certainly want to read this book.

$13.99 is outrageous and few if any authors are worth this for an electronic book. And Kevin Hearne is outrageous you'd let your publisher charge and gouge ruthlessly your readers. I like Kevin Hearne's novels. But with all due respect, he isn't worth $13.99 for a kindle e-book. Further, I've read many Kevin Hearne books and while a couple might rate 7/10, most rate 5/10 or 5.5/10. At his best, he's only about 68% as good as Jim Buthcher (who is also now gouging his readers). I'd recommend any potential readers simply put in contemporary fantasy and look for many authors who are free kindle or only 3.99! Don't get gouged by an average author.

Ah, this was so good, everything I wanted from a collection of IRON DRUID short stories. It was awesome to read stories from different countries and time periods, with our beloved heroes (and hounds) kicking all kinds of ass. Every story carried the signature Kevin Hearne charm, but my favourites had to be "Goddess At The Crossroads" (laughed so hard during that one), "The Demon Barker of Wheat Street," and "The Bogeyman of Boora Bog." The stories all have different tones and themes (I did not expect Perun's story to go the way it did), but they were all fun, short adventures that make me want to re-read the entire series again. Long time fans will adore this book, but there is enough for new, curious readers to fall in love with these characters and hopefully buy the rest of the books in time to join Atticus on his final adventure next year. Highly recommended for anyone who loves urban fantasy, laughing, and the ultimate Druid-Wolfhound bromance. Loved it!

This is Atticus and company in short form. Hearne has been releasing Iron Druid shorts almost since the beginning of the series and we finally have a collection of most of them, but there are a few notable holes likely due to contract limitations.

There are stories not just from Atticus's POV so the world and perspectives get fleshed out a bit more, especially Owen. The stories take place between the novels leading right up to events that will be covered with book 9, Scourged, which may be the last Iron Druid book. As with the novels each story is fun and action filled. And a big hole is filled in between Owen and Atticus's past.

Well, this is your "fix" until the next book in Kevin Hearne's marvelous and phantasmagorical series comes out- and there's not even a title for that book announced yet.

In the words of Kevin himself:" Y’all should consider this book 8.5 and I hope you’ll trust me when I say it’s a lot of fun. It includes nine Iron Druid stories narrated by Atticus, Owen, Granuaile, and Perun. "

As with most collections of short stories you have a mixed lot- but in this case not a bad one in the lot. Personally I like that stories with Atticus and Oberon (The druid's Irish wolfhound, who has some of the best lines in the series) but the others are fun reads too.

As with the other eight books, this book contains plenty of action seasoned with sly humor and wit. Atticus O’Sullivan (The "Iron Druid, so called as he was able to bind iron and thus is mostly magic proof) can "Talk" with Oberon you see, and the Wolfhound responds just about as you would expect a hound to- with great longing for sausages and tummy rubs.

Atticus O’Sullivan aka Siodhachan O Suileabhain is now over two thousand years old, and has been on the run ever since he stole Fragarach (a magical sword) from the Tuatha Dé Danann. Now he has a druid-trainee of his own, the lovely and smart-mouthed Granuaile.

Fans of Fantasy and of this series should get this book. Although it is called "8.5" you could start here if you liked, but best is to start with Hounded.

This is the first Iron Druid short story collection. Two of the nine stories had been published previously "in another form" in short story anthologies. One of these was "slightly revised and expanded" for this new work.

Short stories are terrific because the author can explore what happened when characters were younger (before the series even begins) as well as adventures between different books. Plus different points of view can be presented. Most of these stories are narrated by Atticus and tell of his adventures. But Granuaile has one and so does Atticus' archdruid Owen.

I highly recommend this collection to fans of the Iron Druid Chronicles series and to urban fantasy readers in general who would like to give this series a tryout!

This installment of the Iron Druid series is a "fill in." It consists of short stores that fill in the gaps between the books and explain how some of the events referred to actually occurred. For example, one story tells briefly (but satisfyingly) how Atticus became the apprentice of Owen Kennedy. Another tells the tale of when the vampires didn't want to leave Poland, and Granuaile and Leif Helgarson had to "encourage" them to leave (over a few dead bodies).

The stories are told by several people and make a satisfying book to read (while we wait for "Scourged" to appear).

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I've been with the Iron Druid series since it was first published, and it's one that I periodically do a complete re-read, because I enjoy the characters and the mythologies so much. This collection serves as a good snack between the novels, giving us both additional backstory, and also fleshing out the characters more.

This isn't the book to start the series with if you've never read it before simply because you'd miss the progression of the story arc, but it is great for diving back into Atticus' world and enjoying the ride.

Please, sir, can I have some more?

Overall, these stories are good fill-ins as we wait for "Scourged." It wasn't Kevin Hearne's best work, but still worth reading. One or two stories fell a bit flat and I didn't care for Perun's story at all. The inclusion of "Demon Barker of Wheat Street" was unnecessary as I think most Iron Druid fans have already read it. My favorite story is the last one, which sets the stage for "Scourged." The special relationship Atticus and Oberon have is really felt here as we also learn more about a previous companion Atticus had.
I am glad that I read the book and am eagerly awaiting Hearne's new series in October and the final Iron Druid next year.

When someone has lived as long as Atticus O’Sullivan, you know he must have a bottomless sack of interesting stories. In Besieged, we get to hear some of them, along with some told by other characters in Atticus's life. It's rare for me to read an anthology in which I enjoy every story, but this one doesn't have a bad story in it.

Some of the tales provided backstory, some provide buildup to forthcoming books, but all were great additions to the Iron Druid universe. Note that one story, The Demon Barker of Wheat Street, has been previously published. I had already read it, but didn't mind reading it again. If you love the Iron Druid Chronicles, then you will certainly want to read this book.

Nine short stories set in the world of the Iron Druid. I highly enjoy this series (though, honestly, I wish we'd focus more on Atticus and Oberon, rather than the other two's POV. Not that they're not great characters, I just like Atticus & Oberon best). While I'm not the biggest fan of short stories or novellas, this is set in a world that I already know and like so it's fun to see our characters in different situations, ones that aren't always life-threatening or death-defying. Four stars to pretty much all of the short stories. You don't have to have read all of the books to get enjoyment out of these shorties.

This is... shocking. The price for this is astronomical in comparison to what you get.

The series has been on a soapbox for quite a while and the pre-order for the finale in the series is only 224 pages or so. Talk about mailing it in.

Loyal followers were with you back before Del Rey took over and the price trippled.

How you're going to end a series like this in 224 pages, half of which will be taken by up Granuiale, who is a cheap copy of Atticus, and a not-so-subtle advertisement for greenpeace, is beyond me. We get it, she is a druid, and one who uses her power to exact petty revenge for trivial crap from another life she no longer has. All for the bargin price of $13.99.

This is not where you should start if you would like to get involved in this series but for those of us who are already involved it is excellent. Atticus is not your normla druid, nor are any of the other characters in these books, you gotta love a guy who keeps his dog alive through mage because he can't ever think about him dying and he and Oberon communicate telepathically with each other in some delightful conversations. This collection fills in some holes in the series and should be an addition to anyone who enjoys the Iron Druid.

Fans of the Iron Druid series will appreciate this collection of nine short stories because Atticus and others fill in the blanks about some of the things which happen in the novels but might not be completely explained. Each story begins with the author, Kevin Hearne, stating who the narrator will be and exactly where that particular story falls within the series. If you have not read any of this series, some of the information given here will help you grasp what the novels are about and help you make a decision about whether or not to begin reading the first novel. These are the titles of the nine stories and a very brief synopsis of each:

The Eye of Horus - Atticus tells the story of his journey to Egypt to the Great Library of Alexandria.
Goddess at the Crossroads - Atticus and William Shakespeare meet Hecate.
The Demon Barker of Wheat Street - fair goers get to choose between heaven and hell at the Kansas Wheat Festival.
Gold Dust Druid - a demon is loose in San Francisco feeding off of greed.
The Bogeyman of Boora Bog - Owen Kennedy explains how he met Siodhacan O'Suilebhain (Atticus) and took him on as apprentice.
Cuddle Dungeon - narrated by Perun, an old Slavic thunder god. No synopsis because of spoilers.
Blood Pudding - Granuaile has finished her apprenticeship and is ridding Poland of vampires.
Hunted to Devils - curing a genetic disease in Tasmanian devils.
The End of Idylls - a vague "story" to set up the next novel.

All of the stories were good and there was only one I had read before, The Demon Barker of Wheat Street, even though I have not read the anthology Hearne says that story appears in. (This short story does appear as a short story in digital format but I can't find it on the records for my Kindle.) On page 94 there is some very funny and interesting conversation between Atticus and Oberon (an Irish wolfhound) about book reviewers. Oberon is giving Atticus very low star ratings for the story he is telling. I found that whole sequence very amusing. So, yes, I did read the book!

So read this collection to get yourself ready for the next adventure with the Iron Druid. Evidently we are going back to the land of ice and snow.

Love, love, love this series. I've been an avid IDC follower since I read the first book. The stories in this anthology are some previously released ones but many new ones too. These books are always fun to read or listen to. I've got all of them on Audible and purchased all of them at least once. Got a few twice because of signed copies. This series is definitely one anyone that enjoys the "nerd culture" should read or listen to. There are just so many modern references, puns, and silly comments by the awesomeness that is Obereon, that it just can't be contained. Just remember to have sausages ready

The Iron Druid series is one of the best modern fantasy series available by a living writer. Hearne consistently provides a vivid world of magic while keeping it firmly rooted in current times, keeping the whiplash common to fantasy books to a minimum. Even in this book which has a lot of flashbacks Hearne keeps the characters funny and familiar. While probably best for readers new to the series to start at the beginning, this book fills out a lot for past readers creating a much more complex and rich history for Atticus.

I don’t think this book of stories from the Iron Druid Chronicles is a better introduction than the first book in the series, HOUNDED, but as a fan of the series from the start, I loved these short stories in BESEIGED.

It’s evident Kevin Hearne is having a blast writing this series and, particularly, with this collection. There’s plenty of wit and action to keep you entertained

We get stories from Atticus’s point of view with him thieving in ancient Egypt, hanging out with Shakespeare in England, visiting a demon-infested carnival in modern day Kansas (the only story in this collection that was previously published in an anthology), fighting Mammon during the gold rush, and a touching story about his bond with his animal companions.

There were some other stories from different points of view: Owen, Atticus’s archdruid, tells a story about an encounter he had in a bog long ago and another about going to Tasmania to assist an elemental; Perun, the Slavic god of thunder, visits a cuddle dungeon with his girlfriend Flidais, the Irish goddess of the hunt; Granuaile (and I can’t believe I spelled that right without checking first!), Atticus’s apprentice, tells a story about vampire encounters while she is hiding out in Poland.

I was a little surprised there wasn’t a story included from Oberon’s perspective, but I can’t complain about any of these stories. I must admit, the shifting perspectives throughout the last few books in the series hasn’t been my favorite thing, so it’s nice to have complete stories from a single perspective.

You can feel Hearne using the last four stories in this collection to move some chess pieces into place in advance of the ninth and final book in the Iron Druid Chronicles. It will be bittersweet to close that final book, but it’s been wonderful to immerse myself in a series like this. And there’s nothing that says Hearne can’t continue writing Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries or other IDC short stories, or even create a spin off series…

But I digress. This collection of stories fits in perfectly with the rest of the series. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t *have* to read this book, but, why wouldn’t you? It has everything the other IDC books have, just in smaller bites. And if you’re a newcomer, there’s nothing wrong with starting here, but I feel certain you’d enjoy it more if you worked your way up to it.

I haven't written many lengthy reviews, so I will keep this one as short as possible. I am just addicted to the Iron Druid series. I could go on about characters and setting and imagination, but I will reserve my comments for what really sets these books apart and that is Oberon (and the other dogs.) Oberon's character is not only an original idea he adds so much fun and humor to these books that they are just lifted an additional level. All are fun worthwhile reads.

"Besieged" is really a can't-miss for fans of the Iron Druid series. There are a few adventures from the distant past, including how Owen met Atticus, plus some that check in with everyone before the final book comes out later this year. Whatever you like about the series, there is sure to be a story or two that hits the spot.

I'll open by stating I received this book from the store Vine in exchange for my review, no strings attached. I did this because I've read many of Mr. Hearne's Iron Druid books and wanted to see how this one was. Rather than being a complete single story Besieged is a series of short stories that are either new or previously published and modified. Because of this the writing style is a little different between stories and the tie between short stories is only Atticus, Oberon (I always shake my head that the king of the Fey from A Midsummer Nights Dream is a dog), and Granuaile. As you read the stories you realize that while a timeline is provided (at the start of each story Mr. Hearne tells us which Iron Druid book it's near) there's suffciient "wobble" in the timeline that I became distracted with trying to remember the general events from the book. Story wise I felt hit and miss with them; loved it because it reminded me of some of the earlier Iron Druid books or miss because the characters seemed very 2 dimensional and "forced" compared to other Iron Druid books. While the good stories made me want to rate this 4 stars+, the less "polished"/"forced" ones gave me a weak 2 star rating.

This book is really for fans of the Iron Druid Chronicles. It is a collection of short stories that complement the novels.
They are very well written, chronologically tagged, and quite entertaining.

If you have not read any of the Iron Druid Chronicles this would be a poor introduction, since it presupposes a fairly
good knowledge of the series.

Recommended (For fans)

This is a compilation of tales, and I enjoyed them all! We get more about Atticus's past, a few stories from Owen's perspective that give us another look at Atticus, and some boss-action from the dogs. One of the stories IS NOT kid friendly!

I have read all the Iron Druid books and mostly enjoyed them - most got 5 stars, a few rated four stars. I decided to try this book of Iron Druid short stories. I'd give it three stars, not because the stories aren't good, but because the stories are short, out-of-context, and just not as satisfying as a full-length Iron Druid novel.

The stories range from okay to good. Nothing here is equal to Chappel Perilous or The Grimoire of the Lamb. Also nothing as important plot wise as One Raven, Two Crows. Still. If you love the Iron Druid (as I do) then you'll want to read them. IMO the stories from Owens POV are he best. 3 and 3/4 't wait for book 9 in the series.

I love the IDC series and it's characters, but this collection of short stories is a big let down. The author's own political opinions keep coming through in the stories. It would be ok if it was a part of a character's personality, but it is coming through in too many of the characters which shows that the author is expressing his own beliefs and views. Kevin Hearne, you need to stop this! It is hurting your characters and the storyline! Your creative fiction is not the time and place for political statements. We get enough of that on the news!

It really pains me to do this, but I'm going to Nuke it with one star. I'm sick of what the publishing industry is doing too good authors. D
It completely punishes the early adopters. So the Publishers come across a sleeper and then say string it out as long as you can. We are owed the final book.

As long as we continue to buy this troll bait the publishing industry will continue to do it. So stop hitting buy.

Thoroughly enjoyable, well-written and well-researched books with an interesting premise. I am more than happy to give Kevin Hearne a 5 star rating in addition to purchasing everything he has published. I hope many others discover the fun adventures of The Iron Druid and a very entertaining cast of characters. However, the reader must jump through a mandatory hoop if you choose to leave a rating. Star ratings are not acceptable on their own. No, any star rating is booby-trapped with the requirement of a written review, further weighted with a minimum word count, no less! Write a review or no stars from you. This is a tad bit bit onerous for the buyer who enjoyed reading the book and respects the author enough to pause and tap some stars. The demand for a written review effectively prevented me from posting the 5 star rating that might encourage others to enjoy an excellent book. This is ultimately unfair to Mr. Hearne, undoubtedly depriving him of many well-deserved 5 star ratings. Guilt eventually caught up with me, so herein lies not only my enthusiastic support of this book, but a bonus review of a misguided policy: to the Kindle folks or whoever came up with this Either/Or toll: lighten up on the needy/greedy gate keeping, already.

Excellent story telling as always and quite a few of the questions one has while traversing the world (s) with Atticus and the rest, but never get asked as we get caught up in the main storyline, get answered! Like delicious second and third courses of a meal that was satisfyingly fulfilling in and of itself!

I have been a devoted reader of the Iron Druid series. It has the right blend of adventure, well developed characters, snarkiness, mythology, wit and drama. Besieged is a collection of short stories involving the main characters of the series. Atticus gets more pages but Granuille, Owen, Perun (god of thunder) and others get their own turns in the spotlight. The stories are spread out across approx 1,300 years of history and fill in gaps in our understanding of the main players. The latter stories are more current and set the stage for the upcoming conclusion of the series. Here's a brief synopsis of the stories:

The Eye of Horus - Atticus is visited by the Morrigan and sent on a mission that will take him to the Library of Alexandria and change the course of his life. One note for Kevin Hearne - the Morrigan is one of my favorite characters from the first few books. I wish she could have been a bit more fleshed out in this short story.

Goddess at the Crossroads - Atticus tells the story of how he met a drunken Shakespeare, saved his life and changed Western literature.

The Demon Barker of Wheat Street - This is a repeat tale. Atticus and Granuille visit her old home town and run into a host of demons who are using a carnival to feed their unholy appetites. The notes indicate that this story has been updated from the original version but, having read the previously published version a while back, I didn't notice much of a difference.

Gold Dust Druid - Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. When will people learn that summoning demons rarely goes well. Gold rush era San Francisco suffers biblical consequences.

The Bogeyman of Boora Bog - It turns out that not all druids make for good neighbors. Owen goes Dirty Harry and winds up meeting a young Atticus in old-school Ireland.

Cuddle Dungeon - Gods get their freak on. This is very much an adult short story.

Blood Pudding - Granuaile has the spotlight to herself in this story. Vampires can't be trusted and it's up to her and some thick necked mercenaries to remind some Polish vampires that they aren't at the top of the food chain.

Hunted to Devils - Own and Atticus team up with Owen's new apprentices to prevent the extinction of Tasmanian devils. Mayhem ensues.

The End of Idylls - The Morrigan pays Atticus a visit and let's him know that the end is nigh. Loki is on the move and Lucifer is his new bff. Fun time is over and he has the talk with Oberon.

I’ve been a huge fan of Mr. Hearne since the beginning and I am always glad to see a new book in this series, but I do admit I’ve never been a big fan of short stories or stories between books. However, when they are bundled together like this, I love them. And what a great bundle this is! I love going back to different points in the series and re-live some of the best times, and sometimes it’s nice to see what happens between books. And these novellas, of course, have Mr. Hearne’s great writing and great plots that we always expect from his full-length novels. The multiple POVs are nice, too, as we get to see new stories and events from a different perspective than the full-length novels. Atticus is great but it’s nice to see how everyone else feels for a change. If you are a fan of the Iron Druid Chronicles, you need to read these. If you haven’t read this series before, I’d start from the beginning in the regular books because I think you’d miss something otherwise. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the e-copy of the book which I voluntarily reviewed.

I've crushed on Atticus since the first Iron Druid novel came out. Besieged was a great reminder of why, he's witty, clever and even in story telling keeps it 'real'.
I liked the short story format, they were quick to read, (but not too short), and were kept together through a cohesive inner-'plot'. I excepted disjointed individual shorts, and was so very happy that was not the case.
Well worth picking up, whether you are a long time fan or a as a very first read into the Iron Druid series, this does not disappoint and doesn't leave you feeling lost.
Love!

This is the first Iron Druid short story collection. Two of the nine stories had been published previously "in another form" in short story anthologies. One of these was "slightly revised and expanded" for this new work.

Short stories are terrific because the author can explore what happened when characters were younger (before the series even begins) as well as adventures between different books. Plus different points of view can be presented. Most of these stories are narrated by Atticus and tell of his adventures. But Granuaile has one and so does Atticus' archdruid Owen.

I highly recommend this collection to fans of the Iron Druid Chronicles series and to urban fantasy readers in general who would like to give this series a tryout!

This book is a series of short stories, that fill you in on atticus' life and history. I really enjoy this series and the bantering, fun that this series has in it.
This series leaves you wondering about more in the characters lives and various bad guys he battles.

Although its true that some of the stories have been published in previous works, the stories are still amazing. Some of the stories hat were previously written have been out for a long time and I was happy to read them again. All the new stories we're top notch. Some of Hearne's best writing in my opinion. They really help explain some of the gaps in the series to date and definitely give you a glimpse of what's to come! Don't miss this one!!