Kevin Hearne

Kevin Hearne is an American-Canadian fantasy novelist best known for creating The Iron Druid Chronicles series. He has authored twenty novels published by Del Rey, including multiple New York Times bestselling works and a Star Wars novel. Born in Arizona in 1970, Hearne worked as a high school English teacher before transitioning to full-time writing. His career as a published author began in 2011 with the release of Hounded, the first book in The Iron Druid Chronicles. A notable expansion of his work came with Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi in 2015, an official canonical novel in the Star Wars universe. His other major works include the Seven Kennings trilogy, the Ink & Sigil series, and the Tales of Pell, which he co-authored with Delilah S. Dawson. Originally from the United States, Hearne relocated to Ontario, Canada in 2017 and became a Canadian citizen in 2022. He continues to write in multiple fantasy subgenres, contributing to both urban fantasy and traditional epic fantasy categories.

Readers connect with Hearne's humor and mythological research in The Iron Druid Chronicles, with particular praise for the dog character Oberon's wit. Many note his ability to blend multiple pantheons and mythologies while maintaining narrative clarity. Likes: - Fast-paced action scenes - Integration of historical mythology - Character banter and dialogue - Clear, accessible writing style - Consistent release schedule Dislikes: - Some character development issues in later books - Romance subplots feel forced to some readers - Later series entries lose focus according to long-time fans - Some readers find the humor too casual for serious moments Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: Iron Druid series averages 4.2/5 stars (200,000+ ratings) Amazon: Most books maintain 4.5/5 stars Seven Kennings series rates slightly lower at 4.0/5 One reader summarized: "Hearne writes like Jim Butcher with more mythology and less noir." Another noted: "The books are fun but don't expect deep philosophical meaning."

The Iron Druid Chronicles Series: Hounded - A 2,100-year-old Druid living in Arizona must defend himself against Celtic gods while running an occult bookshop.

Hexed - Druid Atticus O'Sullivan battles witches and demons in modern-day Arizona while maintaining uneasy alliances with local supernatural entities.

Hammered - Atticus O'Sullivan ventures to Asgard on a dangerous mission targeting Thor, risking war with the Norse pantheon.

Tricked - The Druid faces consequences from his actions against the Norse gods while dealing with Navajo trickster gods.

Trapped - After twelve years of training his apprentice, Atticus must navigate vampire politics and angry gods.

Hunted - Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon flee across Europe from Artemis and Diana while dealing with Olympian threats.

Shattered - Multiple plotlines converge as Atticus faces an ancient vampire, Indian gods, and his former archdruid mentor.

Staked - The final battle against the vampires unfolds as Atticus works to prevent global supernatural warfare.

The Seven Kennings Series: A Plague of Giants - Multiple narrators recount a war involving giants and magical abilities known as kennings.

A Blight of Blackwings - The saga continues as kingdoms struggle with the aftermath of the giant invasion and new magical threats.

A Curse of Krakens - The trilogy concludes with revelations about the nature of kennings and a final confrontation with ancient forces.

Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi - Luke Skywalker undertakes a mission for the Rebel Alliance while learning to understand the Force.

Ink & Sigil Series: Ink & Sigil - A Scottish sigil agent investigates supernatural cases in modern Glasgow using magical inks and curses.

Paper & Blood - Al MacBharrais continues his magical investigations while dealing with dangerous Fae and ancient Celtic threats.

Jim Butcher writes urban fantasy featuring a wizard in modern Chicago through The Dresden Files series. His work combines supernatural elements with detective noir storytelling in a way that mirrors Hearne's blend of mythology and contemporary settings.

Patricia Briggs created the Mercy Thompson series about a shape-shifting mechanic who deals with various supernatural entities. Her stories feature similar elements of Celtic mythology and Native American folklore integrated into a modern setting.

Benedict Jacka writes the Alex Verus series about a divination mage in London navigating magical politics. His protagonist shares similar traits with Hearne's Atticus O'Sullivan in terms of being an outsider dealing with powerful magical forces.

Charles de Lint pioneered urban fantasy with his Newford series, mixing Celtic mythology with contemporary settings. His work connects to Hearne's through its use of folkloric elements and supernatural beings existing in the modern world.

Faith Hunter authors the Jane Yellowrock series about a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts vampires. Her writing combines mythology, modern settings, and complex supernatural politics in ways that parallel Hearne's narrative style.