Tricked
Kevin Hearne
Del Rey, Apr 24 2012, $7.99
ISBN: 9780345533623

The last breathing druid, Atticus O’Sullivan has lived for two millennia mostly by avoiding the Norse Gods whom he has tricked many times over the centuries. He currently hangs out in Tuba City, Arizona while pondering what type of soul dies in a place like this.

His foes find him, but the Native American god Coyote saves his life when the deity turns himself into Atticus, enabling the Norse gods to hack him into small pieces out on the Arizona desert; Coyote regenerates his body. In return for saving his life Coyote asks Atticus reciprocate. However, Atticus realizes why Coyote is known as the trickster as he wants the druid to fight evil skinwalkers while a betrayal leaves him in an even more precarious situation.

The latest Iron Druid Chronicles (see Hammered) is a great satirical urban (desert is more accurate) fantasy as the hero is stalked by the Norse gods, duped by the Trickster, betrayed by a friend, and almost skinned by the skinwalkers. On the other hand he has his loyal apprentice Oberon having his back. Action-packed, this witty thriller is a fun tale as readers learn why the state’s politicans insist they have a horrid illegal alien problem.

Harriet Klausner