Deadbeat Druid: The Adam Binder Novels, Book 3

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 664 ratings

Price: 13.62

Last update: 01-01-2025


About this item

2022 Audible’s Best in Fantasy

The living cannot be allowed to infect the dead.

Adam Binder has lost what matters most to him. Having finally learned the true identity of the warlock preying on his family, what was supposed to be a final confrontation with the fiend instead became a trap that sent Adam’s beloved Vicente into the realm of the dead, where none living are meant to be.

Bound by debt, oath, and love, Adam blazes his own trail into the underworld to get Vicente back, and to end the threat of the warlock once and for all. But the road to hell is paved with far more than good intentions. Demons are hungry, and ghosts are relentless, and what awaits Adam in the underworld is nothing he is prepared to face.

If that weren’t enough, Adam has one more thing he must do if he and Vicente are to return to the world of the living: find the lost heart of Death herself.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Russ
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing end to such a great series!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023
    Such a journey, and really a fantastic story.
    I found this book specifically to be well-paced, with absolutely outstanding world creation.
    It was so good to see so many characters we met along the way, and have to say that's one of my favorite aspects of the series. The characters were so well done, so relatable, had so much heart, and were just so solid. Also, such a variety which worked well together. I believe what made this series so great to me was it was one of those books where the author put part of themselves in there. I really love when you can feel that when reading and this book had that.
    Adam and Vic were just so good, in the previous two books but I feel this book took both of them to another level. I love how much more we got of Vic in this book, I really felt we got to know him so much more. I really enjoyed how their love for one another and their relationship grew all the way to the end.
    Also the other characters as well really grew on me, making me like them at times when I didn't want to. Bobby, Sara, Argent will always be one of my favorites, Mel, Jodi, Vran. Just the part they played in this final book was amazingly written.
    Although I'm sad it's all over, I can't wait for what comes next from David Slayton!
  • Toya (the reading chemist)
    4.0 out of 5 stars A stunning conclusion, but I want more Adam and Vic!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2022
    The conclusion to this trilogy was everything I wanted for this series. The stakes were so incredibly high for both Adam and Vic. Both of them are racing against time to save each other, and I swear my heart was palpitating in the last 20% of the book.

    So much of Deadbeat Druid deals with unpacking all of the complicated relationships and emotions that both Adam and Vic have for each other and their respective families. There was so much raw emotion. I was definitely in my feelings.

    While I’m sad to see this trilogy end, I can’t wait to see what Slayton has next for his readers!

    Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
    Customer image
    Toya (the reading chemist)
    4.0 out of 5 stars A stunning conclusion, but I want more Adam and Vic!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2022
    The conclusion to this trilogy was everything I wanted for this series. The stakes were so incredibly high for both Adam and Vic. Both of them are racing against time to save each other, and I swear my heart was palpitating in the last 20% of the book.

    So much of Deadbeat Druid deals with unpacking all of the complicated relationships and emotions that both Adam and Vic have for each other and their respective families. There was so much raw emotion. I was definitely in my feelings.

    While I’m sad to see this trilogy end, I can’t wait to see what Slayton has next for his readers!

    Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
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    Customer image
  • Brady Rae
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2022
    Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing got this eARC, these opinions are my own. I enjoyed the book very much! I’ve loved each of the Adam Binder novels and have felt they each kept getting better, and this was no different! Talk about the road trip from hell (literally)! Adam and Bobby, along with Vran go to hell to save Vic and their cousin. Death also gives them the task of saving someone else she knows, and of course they have to bring the Druid back and bring him to justice. To do this they’ll have to travel through hell! Vic is in hell with Jodi and someone they meet along the way, they will try to get back to their world, all while trying to avoid the Druid and the darker things in hell! Can they all find each other? Can the get back home? Can Adam final stop the Druid? I loved this journey for all of them, David Slayton takes the characters to dark places and there’s an added depth to all of them! I love that it shows that life, as much as we wish it weren’t, is really complicated and rarely so black and white! Along the way they meet characters that will have them facing things they wish would stay buried and I love the dynamic that creates for Adam, Bobby, and Jodi! One sad side is Argent is not in it as much but plus side is that the reader gets to know Vran a lot more and I also love him! Got to have the snarkiness to liven up the gloom! The book is absolutely worth the read! Highly recommend!
  • Eliza R., Salinas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect storyline ♥️
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2022
    This is a perfect ending to the first 3 books of what I am only hoping is an introduction to a wickedly amazing world. Characters are believable and beautifully fleshed out so it’s easy to enjoy them or dislike them. Adam Binder is an endearing character that has so many relatable emotions. Magic is so fascinating to me and when it is woven into everyday life it gives me such happiness. I’m hoping Mr. Slayton takes us on another adventure very soon.
  • KarenHe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Ending
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2024
    Rescue the Lover
    Road Trip in Hell
    Urban Fantasy
    Mystery and Suspension

    Book ★★★★☆
    Audio ★★★★★

    Well, the final installment of the series takes us on a road trip to Hell. Vic disappears with Jodi during the ultimate showdown against Adam's wicked great-grandfather. In response, Adam teams up with his brother Bobby and elf friend Vran, embarking on a journey to Hell in his Cutlass to rescue Vic. Throughout most of the book, Adam and Vic have their own separate adventures. Adam heads west, while Vic heads east, relying solely on their magical connection as a hint for their eventual reunion.

    In my opinion, the best part of the book is the vivid depiction of Hell that David R. Slayton has created. It's a world filled with distorted versions of reality, infinite time, restless spirits, and emotion-consuming demons. When emotions are completely devoured by these demons, the spirits are drawn towards the sea, a realm of true infinity. The escapades in Hell intertwine with their memories and past experiences, providing depth to both the story and the characters. I particularly appreciate Adam's statement: "Hell is personal."

    I think this is a little bit like the concept of Meng Po Soup in Chinese mythology even though it turns out that the demons are actually intrusion for the Hell. I absolutely adore these settings. Under David's pen, Hell is neither cold nor dark; instead, it brims with vitality and danger.

    There's a Death, and there's a Life. Life is much more cruel than Death. That is so true too.

    However, the only downside is that the main antagonist, Grandpa John, feels somewhat underdeveloped as a character. Even though there's a whole chapter to tell his past story, I still cannot empathize his fear of death. Despite this, the final battle is thrilling.

    Once again, the romantic aspect is not prominent, but it's undeniably sweet and heartwarming. This couple is simply adorable together.

    沒想到系列最後一本是地獄漫遊的公路小說。緊接上一集，Adam從死神那裡獲得情報，前往地獄營救與大boss對抗過程中意外失踪愛人Vic和外甥Jodi，殊不知一切都是死神精心策劃的一盤棋。

    全書最大的特色是作者精心營造的地獄世界：惡魔通過蠶食亡靈的負面情緒為生，例如恐懼，悲傷，後悔等等，失去情緒的亡靈最終會釋懷走向無盡之海。雖然最後發現其實惡魔其實是地獄的入侵者需要被驅逐，但這整個設定有點像我們從小就聽到的孟婆湯傳說，看著就特別有共鳴。作者通過Adam之口說了兩件事我很是認同：一是“地獄因人而異”，二是“造物主比死神更殘酷”。

    Adam和Vic在大部分篇幅裡都依然是分開行動，一個向東一個向西，最後中點匯合與大boss對決，對決之後兩人的位置竟然又翻轉過來，輪到Vic開啟拯救愛人的旅程。反正這倆人全程不是你救我就是我救你，不過這對小情侶互相思念的點滴還是蠻甜的。

    借助惡魔吞噬情緒的過程作者還原了人物過去的經歷，使得主角Adam和Vic的人物塑造也變得更加具體。然而，有點令人失望的人物是大boss曾祖父John，做那麼多傷天害理的事竟然就真的只是單純怕死，還以為有什麼難言之隱呢。

    不過總的來說，我還是挺喜歡這個三部曲故事的ending的，所有故事線都圓滿落幕，主要角色都找到歸宿，挺好！

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