fantasy and science fiction book reviewsThe Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin HearneThe Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin Hearne

I don’t think it’s possible to get too much Atticus and Oberon.

That’s why I love these little novellas that Kevin Hearne has been putting out while we wait for his next IRON DRUID novel.

For those of you who don’t know, Atticus is an ancient druid who runs a bookstore in modern-day Arizona. His dog Oberon, a large Irish Wolfhound, is his humorous sidekick. In each novel, Atticus and Oberon have to deal with some sort of supernatural threat involving gods from various pantheons.

In The Grimoire of the Lamb, an Egyptian wizard steals an ancient text from Atticus, so Atticus and Oberon transport themselves to Alexandria where they plan to steal it back. Not only must they deal with the evil wizard and his underground lair, but they are also now in the territory of the goddess Bast who has all the cats of the city under her command. When the kitties bristle at the presence of a druid and his dog, Bast must be appeased.

The Iron Druid Chronicles (9 Book Series) by Kevin HearneThe Grimoire of the Lamb is a short adventure — just over two hours long in the audio version I listened to — which was wonderfully narrated, as usual, by the superb Luke Daniels. (This audio version also contains a one-hour excerpt from the novel Hunted.)

Granuaile is absent in this novella, which is kind of a shame, but everything else we expect from Kevin Hearne is here. Oberon is as entertaining and loveable as ever and Hearne’s humor is delightful. The plot is simple and straightforward, so not as exciting as the plots of the novels, but The Grimoire of the Lamb will serve to satisfy your Atticus & Oberon itch, temporarily at least.

 

Publication Date: May 7, 2013 From the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes a rollicking, all-new urban-fantasy adventure featuring Atticus O’Sullivan. Atticus has a history of messing with the gods, and in this eBook original novella, he’ll have to outfox a deity at her own deadly cat-and-mouse game. When he’s not vanquishing villainous gods or dodging demons, two-thousand-year-old Druid Atticus O’Sullivan can be found behind the counter of Third Eye Books and Herbs in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, literally minding his own business. But when an evil sorcerer—and amateur shoplifter — snatches an ancient Egyptian tome of black magic, The Grimoire of the Lamb, Atticus is not sheepish about pursuing him to the ends of the earth… or at least to the Land of the Pharaohs. Unfortunatel,y Atticus already has enemies in Egypt — including cat goddess Bast, who wants her own book of mischief back from the Druid. In the streets of Cairo, she sends a feline phalanx after Atticus and his Irish wolfhound, Oberon. With fur still flying, Atticus must locate the sorcerer’s secret lair—where he will face killer crocodiles, spooky sarcophagi, and an ancient evil Egyptian who’s determined to order the sacrificial lamb special tonight. Includes a preview of Kevin Hearne’s new novel in The Iron Druid Chronicles, Hunted!

Author

  • Kat Hooper

    KAT HOOPER, who started this site in June 2007, earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology at Indiana University (Bloomington) and now teaches and conducts brain research at the University of North Florida. When she reads fiction, she wants to encounter new ideas and lots of imagination. She wants to view the world in a different way. She wants to have her mind blown. She loves beautiful language and has no patience for dull prose, vapid romance, or cheesy dialogue. She prefers complex characterization, intriguing plots, and plenty of action. Favorite authors are Jack Vance, Robin Hobb, Kage Baker, William Gibson, Gene Wolfe, Richard Matheson, and C.S. Lewis.