tblyler's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sophiarose1816's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I do adore when author's put together collections of their shorter pieces associated with a series so I need not go hunting them all down. Not, that Besieged holds all the shortstory and novellas of the Iron Druid Chronicles, but there are nine of them. I've read a couple already as extras at the end of the novels, but most are new to me. I'll take them each in turn.
The Eye of Horus
#4.1
Taking place after Tricked, but early in Granuaile's training period. Atticus reminisces with a campfire story for Oberon and Granuaile about being sent by Ogma to the ancient library of Alexandria before it was burned to remove some mysterious scrolls. And, the Egyptian gods object causing the wily druid to get past their traps, curses, and more to stay alive with his artifact theft intact.
Goddess at the Crossroads
#4.2
After Tricked, but before Two Crows and a Raven
Another campfire story from Atticus for Granuaile and Oberon. Atticus meets Shakespeare and has a nocturnal adventure with the Bard on the fen which influenced the witches' scene of Hamlet.
The Demon Barker of Wheat Street
#4.6
Six years after Tricked and just after Two Ravens and a Crow during Granuaelle's druid training years when Atticus, Granuaelle, and Oberon visit a carnival in Kansas and find some dark mischief afoot.
Gold Dust Druid
#4.7
Atticus shares another tale with Granuaile and Oberon about how the elemental called him to deal with a demon rampaging the Gold Rush era San Francisco. Fun Iron Druid Western!
The Bogeyman of Boora Bog
#8.1
How did Atticus come to be Owen's apprentice? Decades before the Common Era, Owen is sent to deal with an expanding bog situation and encounters a disturbing series of disappearances from local village. In the end, his actions bring him to Atticus.
Cuddle Dungeon
#8.2
Falling at the end of Staked, Cuddle Dungeon features the thunder god Perun and fae Flidais when they venture into a BDSM dungeon in Scotland. Perun discovers the truth about the outting and it changes his relationship with Flidais.
Blood Pudding
#8.6
Granuaile is studying with the Polish coven and working at a local pub to earn a livelihood when a mysterious man comes into the bar. She has to show herself as Fierce Druid once again.
Haunted Devils
#8.7
Owen is requested by Gaia to go to Tasmania to help cure the Tasmanian Devils from a disease that is bringing them to extinction. He takes along his apprentices and some of the pack to help and encounters a mystery behind the circumstances.
The End of Idylls
#8.8
The final moments of peace for Atticus before the Morrigan warns him that Loki is on the move. Onward to the final book, Scourged.
I appreciate the stories that filled in parts of Atticus and Owen's past. While not as intense as the longer book story arcs, this was still an engaging collection to read.
The Eye of Horus
#4.1
Taking place after Tricked, but early in Granuaile's training period. Atticus reminisces with a campfire story for Oberon and Granuaile about being sent by Ogma to the ancient library of Alexandria before it was burned to remove some mysterious scrolls. And, the Egyptian gods object causing the wily druid to get past their traps, curses, and more to stay alive with his artifact theft intact.
Goddess at the Crossroads
#4.2
After Tricked, but before Two Crows and a Raven
Another campfire story from Atticus for Granuaile and Oberon. Atticus meets Shakespeare and has a nocturnal adventure with the Bard on the fen which influenced the witches' scene of Hamlet.
The Demon Barker of Wheat Street
#4.6
Six years after Tricked and just after Two Ravens and a Crow during Granuaelle's druid training years when Atticus, Granuaelle, and Oberon visit a carnival in Kansas and find some dark mischief afoot.
Gold Dust Druid
#4.7
Atticus shares another tale with Granuaile and Oberon about how the elemental called him to deal with a demon rampaging the Gold Rush era San Francisco. Fun Iron Druid Western!
The Bogeyman of Boora Bog
#8.1
How did Atticus come to be Owen's apprentice? Decades before the Common Era, Owen is sent to deal with an expanding bog situation and encounters a disturbing series of disappearances from local village. In the end, his actions bring him to Atticus.
Cuddle Dungeon
#8.2
Falling at the end of Staked, Cuddle Dungeon features the thunder god Perun and fae Flidais when they venture into a BDSM dungeon in Scotland. Perun discovers the truth about the outting and it changes his relationship with Flidais.
Blood Pudding
#8.6
Granuaile is studying with the Polish coven and working at a local pub to earn a livelihood when a mysterious man comes into the bar. She has to show herself as Fierce Druid once again.
Haunted Devils
#8.7
Owen is requested by Gaia to go to Tasmania to help cure the Tasmanian Devils from a disease that is bringing them to extinction. He takes along his apprentices and some of the pack to help and encounters a mystery behind the circumstances.
The End of Idylls
#8.8
The final moments of peace for Atticus before the Morrigan warns him that Loki is on the move. Onward to the final book, Scourged.
I appreciate the stories that filled in parts of Atticus and Owen's past. While not as intense as the longer book story arcs, this was still an engaging collection to read.
tjandrey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
brandonc31's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
shaekin's review against another edition
5.0
The dogs are the best parts of these books, but the rest of it is good too. These short stories are all fun, but I was particularly interested in the short stories that come right before book 9, as they are referenced in the initial synopsis. While you could read book 9 without knowing this, as the synopsis will catch you up, it's useful information and will make you feel a little less lost.
librovert's review against another edition
4.0
Besieged is a collection of novellas in The Iron Druid Chronicles, allowing us to see some formative snippets of Atticus' long life. One thing that strikes me about this collection is that much of it is "more of the same." I don't mean that in a strictly negative light - as I do love everything that is Atticus and The IDC - but it's didn't give us a lot of overwhelmingly amazing new content.
The first four stories in this book are tales that take place or are being recounted in the 12 year interim between Tricked and Trapped.
The next two stories were some of my favorites. These are tales recounted or occurring after Staked. The Bogeyman of Boora Bog is a story told by Archdruid Owen Kennedy, this is the story of how he first meets Atticus. Cuddle Dungeon (which is one of my favorites) is told by Perun and involves him, Flidais and a BDSM dungeon.
The last three stories are told by our three main characters and seem to be set-up for what's to come in the next book:
Blood Pudding is told by Granuaile and takes place in Poland. She spends time with the Sisters of the Three Auroras (the Polish Witch Coven) and Leif Helgarson, and also deals with some of the fallout of the events of Staked.
Haunted Devils is again told by Owen and involves him taking his druid grove to Tasmania to heal the wildlife. Owen and Atticus reach a new found respect for each other in this story.
The last story is The End of Idylls and it is a tear jerker. Atticus recounts the story of Faolan, the last long-term animal companion he had before Oberon. The whole reason Atticus finally relays this story is to explain to Oberon why he must leave him behind in the final battle to come. Seriously, the feels were real.
The first four stories in this book are tales that take place or are being recounted in the 12 year interim between Tricked and Trapped.
The next two stories were some of my favorites. These are tales recounted or occurring after Staked. The Bogeyman of Boora Bog is a story told by Archdruid Owen Kennedy, this is the story of how he first meets Atticus. Cuddle Dungeon (which is one of my favorites) is told by Perun and involves him, Flidais and a BDSM dungeon.
The last three stories are told by our three main characters and seem to be set-up for what's to come in the next book:
Blood Pudding is told by Granuaile and takes place in Poland. She spends time with the Sisters of the Three Auroras (the Polish Witch Coven) and Leif Helgarson, and also deals with some of the fallout of the events of Staked.
Haunted Devils is again told by Owen and involves him taking his druid grove to Tasmania to heal the wildlife. Owen and Atticus reach a new found respect for each other in this story.
The last story is The End of Idylls and it is a tear jerker. Atticus recounts the story of Faolan, the last long-term animal companion he had before Oberon. The whole reason Atticus finally relays this story is to explain to Oberon why he must leave him behind in the final battle to come. Seriously, the feels were real.
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mixed bag for me...
Done stories I loved, others didn't do it for me.
I'm not a big fan of Granuille, so that story wasn't my favorite, though at least she gets to do some ass kicking, which made it one of her better arcs. Why she thought the mercenary was so HOT and if she should have a bit of fun with him I don't know. Not because she's not allowed that, bit because A) I just don't care and B) it came all of sudden and just felt off.
I didn't need Perun and his spouse in the "cuddle dungeon" and I also didn't need the werewolf/bear druid sex talk. I didn't mind it, but it simply bored me, as I've no interest in reading sex or romance scenes.
Owen is fun, but I like him way more as a side character than as the POV. He just gets a bit too much over time. I really liked to know more about his back story though!
I enjoyed the Atticus stories and some other too. So some have fallen completely flat for me, others worked perfectly, and I'll go with a 3*.
Done stories I loved, others didn't do it for me.
I'm not a big fan of Granuille, so that story wasn't my favorite, though at least she gets to do some ass kicking, which made it one of her better arcs. Why she thought the mercenary was so HOT and if she should have a bit of fun with him I don't know. Not because she's not allowed that, bit because A) I just don't care and B) it came all of sudden and just felt off.
I didn't need Perun and his spouse in the "cuddle dungeon" and I also didn't need the werewolf/bear druid sex talk. I didn't mind it, but it simply bored me, as I've no interest in reading sex or romance scenes.
Owen is fun, but I like him way more as a side character than as the POV. He just gets a bit too much over time. I really liked to know more about his back story though!
I enjoyed the Atticus stories and some other too. So some have fallen completely flat for me, others worked perfectly, and I'll go with a 3*.
danilanglie's review against another edition
3.0
As you might expect, I liked some of these stories more than others! My favorite was easily Blood Pudding because Leif is always going to be my favorite character. I thought we might not see any more of him after the last book, so I was pleased to find out that he and Granuaile form an alliance in Poland. Granuaile has gotten much better as a character in the later books.
I like the way this series treats the romance between Granuaile and Atticus too - they both live their own lives and are out and about doing their own things. They take the long view on life and love, and they care about each other but they aren't monogamous and they aren't constantly checking in with each other. That's kind of refreshing.
I also really enjoyed The Bogeyman of Boora Bog. Owen isn't my favorite character, but this was a good classic Druid story that helped to dive in to Owen's philosophy, as well as what he passed down to Siodhachan (Atticus).
I was less interested in the stories that were just Atticus sharing a tale with Granuaile and Oberon around the fire... his experience in the Wild West or at the Library of Alexandria were perfectly fine I guess, but they didn't add anything to my understanding of the larger story or the characters as I understand them.
The final book of the series is up next! It'll be weird to say goodbye to Atticus and crew, but I think I'm ready to move on to something else.
I like the way this series treats the romance between Granuaile and Atticus too - they both live their own lives and are out and about doing their own things. They take the long view on life and love, and they care about each other but they aren't monogamous and they aren't constantly checking in with each other. That's kind of refreshing.
I also really enjoyed The Bogeyman of Boora Bog. Owen isn't my favorite character, but this was a good classic Druid story that helped to dive in to Owen's philosophy, as well as what he passed down to Siodhachan (Atticus).
I was less interested in the stories that were just Atticus sharing a tale with Granuaile and Oberon around the fire... his experience in the Wild West or at the Library of Alexandria were perfectly fine I guess, but they didn't add anything to my understanding of the larger story or the characters as I understand them.
The final book of the series is up next! It'll be weird to say goodbye to Atticus and crew, but I think I'm ready to move on to something else.
mayastone's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0