Charming

Pax Arcana, Book 1

By: Elliott James

Narrated by: Roger Wayne

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

John Charming isn't your average prince...

He comes from a line of Charmings - an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chain mail and crossbows to Kevlar and shotguns, John Charming was one of the best-until a curse made him one of the abominations the Knights were sworn to hunt.

That was a lifetime ago. Now John tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. That is, until a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar...

©2013 Elliott James LLC (P)2014 Tantor

Who ordered the Funny?

Would you listen to Charming again? Why?

Too funny and entertaining to not listen to again. I've got my boyfriend reading this to me before bed. The story is decent, but the narrator sells it, he has a voice for everyone!

What did you like best about this story?

I don't normally do first person books, but between the witty dialog and the way Roger Wayne delivers it, its hard not to get sucked in from the first chapter. So for the first time (ever) I will say that I loved that it was done in first person, through John's ever watchful eyes.

Which scene was your favorite?

Its not so much as a scene that stood out for me, as it is a funny bit. John and Sig sit alone in a diner when an irate waitress comments on the amount of food they can eat and still look so good. Sig tells her she plans to throw it all up later in the bathroom, and John exclaims that he has a tapeworm.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed. Hard. And Frequently. I'm not sure if this series will ever make me cry, but the comedy is gold, which I find is rare in most sci-fi/fantasy novels.

Any additional comments?

If the the audio sample wasn't enough to convince you, then maybe I can shove you over the edge. This book is a new age outlook on old fables and the monsters within. Fantasy trying to pass in a modern world. You will like John, he's a smart ass. You'll enjoy the rest of the crew as they act like anyone you'd meet on the street with sharp wit. You won't get overly annoyed with the 'romance' because there is no love at first sight b.s. or some triangle that ends tragically after all the fans have divided into two teams, cheering the men on. And you will be impressed by how many different voices one reader can do, truly distinguishing between every personality the story has to offer.

Urban fantasy both familiar and new - spectacular!

“Rationality is king and your Emporer isn’t wearing any clothes”
I love it when you pick up a book on sale and it knocks your socks off. This has all the things I like about UF series, without many of the things that drive me nuts. John Charming is old, powerful, and mouthy… but these things aren’t over done; he’s not 1,000 years old (Iron Druid), not the most powerful guy in the room (Dresden), and his snark doesn’t push him into anti-hero territory (Laytham Ballard, Quincy Harker). His age, power and humor balance perfectly to make him feel “charming” (I say as I lift pinky to mouth and raise eyebrow).

“I’m an alcoholic and violence is my wine”
I like how the author built a magical world using familiar things like vampires, werewolves, and crusaders, but put them together in fresh ways, melding real history with magic, and delivering a solid magical mystery procedural. I like that this book surrounds Charming with a diverse cast and, I love that Charming ends up with a fantastic team of engaging, equally strong characters (I’m so tired of the UF series built around the single white guy).

“Female isn’t my native language and I probably lost something in translation”
This is the first book I’ve listened to in a long time with a love triangle side-plot that didn’t suck. This was yet another area where the author’s clever writing took a familiar trope and changed it into something fresh. Not to worry, though, this is NOT a romance book. It is, however, a book with a surprising amount of heart.

Add in the phenomenal narration and this was smart, fun, and action packed. Honestly, I can’t think of anything bad to say.

Great for a 10 hour listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, it is a mix of Correia and Butcher with a pretty good narrator. I just wish it was longer.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Charming, seems like he will develop nicely.

Which scene was your favorite?

Naga fight.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't have that kind of time.

Any additional comments?

Great book, just wish it was 20+ hours.

Not So Charming

I should start this review by saying that I purchased this novel because it was the selection of a monthly meeting at a local library book club. It turns out I didn't attend that meeting and put off reading this book. I was getting low on items in my audio library so decided to finally read this one.

It was ok but not really my taste. The humor lines are predictable but I actually smiled at those because I could see them coming. Also, the romance between Charming and Sig is pretty standard but does have its emotionally touching moments. However, the gruesome way in which a number of the characters are tortured or die is disturbing and, for me, took away overall enjoyment of the book.

The book is voiced through it's main character, John Charming. As you find out at the end, John's purpose in "writing" this story is to educate we mere mortals about the Pax Arcana. This is a system instituted by some ancient god race to keep mortals from seeing that our world is over-run with various paranormal creatures such as vampires and werewolves. This "tutorial" represents the most interesting part, where John does side notes on "fun facts" such as why salt is helpful in repelling some creatures. The Pax Arcana is breaking down and more humans are becoming "creature aware" which I presume is the plot of the next book. Unless it goes on a daily deal, I don't think I will be continuing with this series.

Fantastic First Book

What did you like best about this story?

The author created an amazing cast with depth and believability. The story was developed and had some very good twist and turns.

What does Roger Wayne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't think any author can be perfect on every character, but RW is perfect for the lead character,

Any additional comments?

This is a fantastic first book to a series. Great characters with good backdrops mixed with humor and a good amount of action. The story took some nice twist and turns, with characters being developed all through the book. The mythos is just sketchy enough to allow for good stories to come.

Solid Urban Fantasy. Must read if enjoy the genre.

Would you listen to Charming again? Why?

Yes. The narrator was excellent. He fit the character almost like a glove.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Charming, obviously. The rest of the cast can be a little flat but charming comes off the page well.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hm, hard to pick. Maybe the shortest chapter in the novel.

Worth getting the audiobook

The book would be entertaining on its own--not innovative or ground-breaking, but a well-crafted, fresh take on familiar types and themes. The author seems to have a reasonable understanding of folklore and mythology, and a disdain for clueless would-be fantasy writers who know less about the roots of the genre than the average D&D player. This might be a blatant attempt to ingratiate himself with fussier fantasy readers, but it works for me.

The story is enhanced by the narrator, who captures the narrator's snarky attitude, and appealing blend of macho bravado and (mostly) hidden vulnerability. The narrator creates distinct voices for the characters while not going too overboard on the accents--he brings the story to life rather than overwhelming it.

This audiobook is almost good enough to get me to resubscribe to Audible.

Yes

Genre: paranormal/urban fantasy, romance
This book was my intro to John Charming, though there are at least 2 novellas that precede this story. I just got all the novellas available for my Kindle, and they are there, waiting for me. I have this book in both electronic and audio formats, but mostly, except for some character clarifications, I stuck with the audio. The narration by Roger Wayne is good, and Tantor provided it's typically excellent production. Anyway...
A Valkyrie and a vampire walk into a bar (oops, I mean pub)... So, this guy is working at a pub (decorated in authentic hey y'all SW Virginia style) in a small university town. He's living under an assumed name and a curse. His name is John Charming, former member of the monster hunter Knights Templar who happens to be a monster himself. Anyway, he ends up teamed with the Valkyrie and a motley band of folks who aim to kill some vampires. What follows is humor, action, and a touch of romance. And it is so well-written that it's easy to get involved in the characters and plot.
The story is told in first person, as though John is talking to his audience, though that aspect isn't really in your face. You know what he looks like (black hair, blue eyes, 175 pounds and 6" tall) because he tells you through comparing his actual looks to the license of the dead guy whose identity he has assumed. His personality is revealed through actions and how others interact with him. The author does not wander into the POV of other characters, and they are revealed as John sees them, colored by his impressions and preconceptions. I admire (practically worship, actually) any author who can tell a story without jumping into a bunch of character's heads in order to make things easy. James has a wonderful vocabulary, and knows how to use it to get the best emotional reaction.
Not having read other installments of John's story, I still get the impression of a supernatural Jack Reacher, Lee Child's suspense thriller hero. Just from what he reveals through the narrative, I think he must go place to place to stay ahead of the monster hunters after him while he deals with the monsters he comes across. I guess I'll learn more about the character as I read, and I'll see if James can keep Charming fresher than Child has done with Reacher.

You had me at "the prologue"

The way the author integrated myth and the present was amazing. The author did a very good job in portraying John, the main character, as a normal person with normal insecurities but had supernatural powers. John's personal thoughts made the story believable. Definitely going to buy the next book.

Entertaining!

This story was on the better end of urban fantasy, though it's not the best I've listened too (Dresden remains throned in that regard for me). if the rest are of this caliber though, it will definitely be up there.

Anyway, story aside, the narrator was pretty brilliant; the narration added to the story - taken together they're certainly worth the listen.