Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Second in the Atticus O'Sullivan series, and I think I have pretty much the same perspective on this book as I did on the first. It's thoroughly fun. Not deep, but with a nice sense of humour and snark wrapped up in an entertaining urban fantasy. But not the urban metropoli we're used to - these are set in Arizona. Also, there's an entertaining dog character, and while I'm not a dog person in real life, good dog characters almost always win my heart.

Atticus has survived the attack of Aengus, Celtic god, and killed him in the process, collecting yet another mythic sword in the process. Sure, he's missing an ear, but that's nothing that a little vigorous sex won't cure. However, now that's he's killed a god, other god-killers are trying to get him on side. To be precise, everyone's out for Thor. Atticus has no particular bone to pick with Thor, and this particular book sets that up. I presume the next will play it out.

He's also in the middle of negotiating a peace treaty with witches, which is definitely outside of his comfort area. Witches can control you with any piece of yourself, and Atticus has had some bad run-ins before. And then the actual witch coven he had the bad run-in with turns up, and while the local witches might not be entirely trustworthy, at least they're not actually trying to kill him.

Oh, and also, there is a maenad attack. It sort of feels like maybe too many attacks, although it does effectively give the sense of Atticus being under siege. He's forced to call on another powerful witch for help, and in return makes a promise that looks like it's going to play into the Thor plotline.

And there are further Tuatha de Danaan politics going on. Mostly over which of the goddesses will sleep with Atticus, and thereby, they think, gain power over him. (And learn how he makes his protective amulets.) Morrigan gets there first, but Brigid has her own appeals. This could speak a little too heavily of everyone wanting to sleep with the hero, but it's pretty apparent that those who want to sleep with him are attracted to him only incidentally, if at all. They're just trying to bind him. And Atticus seems to get that even though he's attracted to someone, that doesn't make it a good idea, nor does it obligate them to reciprocate. I guess those couple thousand years of life are worth something!

There isn't much of great depth in here, but these are very satisfying books. I've heard quibbles that Atticus talks too much like someone from the late 20th century, but this book makes the point that he consciously tries to learn language as it evolves, to stay hidden. It isn't like he's been transplanted from two thousand years earlier. He's lived through each of those years. And so it doesn't bother me.

I'd like to see more done with Granuaile, Atticus' new apprentice druid. She has had much so far, but she's an interesting character. And, of course, there's Oberon, the irish wolfhound, who in this book has gotten over his obsession with Mongols and now identifies with 1960s Merry Trickster culture. Oberon is always fun.

If you're looking for modern fantasy with tons of mythological references, a snarky lead character, a dog, and lots of action, this would probably be for you. I certainly enjoyed it for exactly what it was.