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    Charming
    Charming
    Charming
    Audiobook6 hours

    Charming

    Written by Dannika Dark

    Narrated by Nicole Poole

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    After seven hundred years, Prince has acquired everything a Packmaster could desire. But when he meets the enchanting Nadia Kozlov, he realizes that there's one thing he doesn't have: answers. Prince owes his life to a man he hasn't seen in centuries, and Nadia holds the key to his whereabouts, because that man is her father.

    Destinies collide when Nadia's sister shows up unexpectedly. Katarina is a skilled bounty hunter, hot on the trail of a nefarious outlaw who turns out to be Prince's old nemesis. Prince teams up with Nadia's sister to track down the Mage, but the real game of cat and mouse is already underway as sparks fly between Prince and the cunning bounty hunter. The only trouble is, Nadia wants him too.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateDec 8, 2015
    ISBN9781494585938
    Charming

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    Reviews for Charming

    4.5/5

    90 ratings35 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A shorter but Decent addition to the series. Great Narration
    • 5/5
      Love the writing style of this author : twist ,turns, romance,sex ,laughter,family Love and i may have missed , emotions . the characters and storyline had me hooked line and sinker ...the writing and incredible telling of this story 5 stars...only complaint was the audio at times sound as if mic was lower and tunnel sound but hey in way made me listen harder just small irritation 5 stars still and kiddos to the voice actor great technics each character she gave a fitting voice too bravo and entertainment to words ...looking forward to more great reads
    • 3/5
      Charming is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy novel, set in a world where the supernatural exists but is hidden to the average person by ancient magic. John Charming was once a Knight sworn to protect humans from supernatural beasties, but now he's on the run, because he's got a bit of supernatural beastie in him that the Knights don't like. Living under an assumed name with a bit of a tragic past, John is trying to lie low and just be normal, but trouble finds him.

      John's voice as narrator is witty, self-deprecating, sassy, and full of backstory trivia. The backstory that he explains to the reader in his narration comes in handy for more fully understanding the world that the book takes place in. It can sometimes feel a bit info-dump-ish, but John's voice is such a treat to read sometimes that it wasn't bothersome. (Besides, there's a hook at the end of the book that makes the narrative choice of talking directly at the reader make much more sense.) I liked the fact that, despite being a leading man in an urban fantasy novel, John is a complex character and not just your typical alpha male. He's a total badass when it comes to fighting, and is super snarky, but he's also got a very strong sense of chivalry, and he also can occasionally talk about feelings. It would have been easy to make him into just a stone-cold killing machine of a dude, but he's more multi-dimensional than that, which was cool.

      The supporting cast are all interesting, albeit with a hint of genre stereotype thrown in. There are the grumpy Eastern Europeans, the pot-smoking strong-but-mostly-silent African American, the slightly spacy woman, the bitter boyfriend, and Sig, the hardened warrior at the heart of the book's love triangle. Despite being familiar tropes, they were all characters I wanted to get to know more about, especially Molly (spacy) and Choo (strong-but-mostly-silent). We get to know enough of the broad strokes of their backgrounds that you care about what happens to them, and I hope to see more of them in the future.

      The romance between John and Sig is slow burning, and while there's definitely an initial attraction between them, there are tons of reasons why they don't immediately act on it. The sorting out of one of those complications created one of the most moving, emotional scenes I've read in an urban fantasy novel in a long time -- it's a genre I associate more with action and sass rather than giving me feels.

      There's a ton of violence, especially in the vampire slaying department, and it's sometimes gorily described, so this book may not be for the faint of heart. The author writes really excellent fight sequences. I always felt like it was very easy to keep track of the action, and you could tell a lot of thought had been put into these scenes so that they were realistic (as realistic as fighting supernatural beings can get) and made sense from a physical standpoint.

      Overall, Charming was a great start to what will hopefully be an ongoing series. The book wraps up well enough that it could stand on its own, but there are enough plot threads weaved in to be able to sustain several more books. There are several short stories currently available as prequels, which I hope to check out, and I will definitely be on the lookout for a sequel someday!
    • 5/5
      4.5Book source ~ PurchasedJohn Charming is an unassuming bartender in Virginia trying to lead a quiet life and stay under the supernatural radar. Because he’s something special in their world, but liked by none. Hunted by the Knights Templar (or current version thereof) and disliked by the typical supes (maybe because he kills them - who knows?), he’s just trying to live his life. But then a super hot blonde (Sig) walks into his bar with a vampire soon following. John figures it’s time to move on. Again. Except this time, he’s pulled into Sig’s world and has to decide - stay or go?The fast pace, mystery to solve, danger, sarcastic humor, and supernatural all put me in mind of Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher). If you like your stories to have those ingredients then dig in. It’s a tasty treat. It’s different enough to be fresh, too. The world building is great, the characters are terrific, the mystery satisfying, and the villain makes me want to chop a body into a million tiny pieces. Probably with a wood chipper. There’s plenty of plot here and no boredom in sight. I finally had a chance to listen to this on my drive home to North Carolina from my mom’s farm in Ohio. Listening at 1.5x was just about perfect. I finished right before I pulled into my driveway. I’m looking forward to picking up book 2 because it was so easy to fall into this world and let the hours fly by.
    • 4/5
      One of the better urban fantasies I have read. Better than Dresden, somewhere near Kate Daniels.

      I would like to congratulate the author on the character of Sig, one of the better female characters I have read in urban fantasy.

      The worldbuilding is interesting, the writing and the wry humour excellent, the action scenes are gripping. Character development for the protagonist is something that is done slowly but surely.

    • 4/5
      Ah, Charming. You know, I was looking for something fun and light when I picked this up. Color me surprised at how much magical lore, relationships, and actual emotions are packed into this book. It's still a seriously fun read. Is it perfect? No. However I can say that the entire time I was listening to this on audio, there was something that kept me going. Either some snarky banter, an interesting female lead, or John Charming without his shirt... erm... I mean emotional depth. Yup. Emotional depth.

      I think Urban Fantasy is my new go-to for books that are easy to get lost in. While there's definitely a fair bit of explanation into certain mythical creatures, their habits, and their communities, it doesn't feel heavy handed here in Charming. It blends in nicely with everything else going on. Actually, it kind of balances out the action scenes. Add in a bit of awkward but adorable relationship building between John and our female lead, and you have a book that held my attention.
    • 4/5
      At first, I wasn't sure if I would like this but I did by the end of the book. In a lot of ways, it feels like a prologue to me. You barely get to meet some of the most interesting characters and you end up thinking there are more exciting adventures to come. But if there are more books in the series, I will check them out.
    • 4/5
      When I got this book I thought it would be Paranormal Romance. I mean, look at the title. Charming? Don't let that fool you. This is Urban Fantasy of the more serious kind.

      John Charming--and yes, that is his name, he's descended from a long line of Charmings--used to be a monster hunting knight. Then he became a monster and now the knights hunt him. John isn't sure if he's a monster or not, but he is sure he doesn't want to be killed, so he's on the run. One night while tending bar he encounters a creepy vampire and a mysterious blonde woman. The vampire ends up dead and the woman saves his life. Her name is Sig ("like the gun") and she--along with her band of wizards, human monster hunters, priests, cops, and other monsters--hunts monsters, too. He can join them if he wants, and for now he does.

      Yeah, there's some romance in this book. But it's complicated and human and doesn't ever take precedence over the monster hunting and fighting. It also isn't easy, and sometimes adults have to make hard decisions about their lives and loves.

      The main plot is about a very dangerous vampire who, according to a psychic vision, will become someone known through history for her evil. The subplot is ... well, spoilers tell no tales. During the book John easily drops in important information about this well thought out world, and in the final chapter you find out why.

      Best of all, the book has a fantastic ending line. I finished the book and sat there grinning.

      (ARC provided by publisher)
    • 4/5
      Brings to mind Jim C Hines' Libriomancer or Kevin Herne's Iron Druid series.... Jim Butcher too. Less jocular though.
      Enjoyable - I'll read more.
    • 3/5
      Not sure how this ended up on my Kindle app but I gave it a try when I was stuck somewhere with nothing to entertain me.On the good side: it's fast-paced and occasionally funny. The premise of the world-as-we-don't-know-it is interesting. In fact, I thought it was really interesting.On the not-so-good side: waaayy too many "As You Know, Bob" moments. The author clearly never heard the admonishment, "Show, don't tell." The result is a set of characters that, while superficially likeable, are just that...superficial and one-dimensional.As for the constant comparisons to Harry Dresden: I'm sorry, but no. Yes, we have a wise-cracking, cynical lead. However, in contrast to Harry, John is an idiot saved only by the fact that he's powerful enough to be Teflon. The entire book seems to be him acting like a bad boy/prima donna and surviving because he heals like a son of a bitch. Pun intended.
    • 5/5
      Wow! This is not my childhood's Prince Charming, but then I'm not a child anymore, either. We quickly find out that "The truth is that the world is under a spell called the Pax Arcana, a compulsion that makes people unable to see, believe, or even seriously consider any evidence of the supernatural that is not an immediate threat to their survival."Our Prince John Charming's mother was bitten by a werewolf while she was pregnant with him. He is/was also a member of the Knights Templar who are supposed to hunt down the supernatural beings who threaten the Pax Arcana, mostly be being too obvious in their slaughter of humans. The one thing he isn't is a prince. Add in a Valkyrie named Sig who is quite capable in battle. This makes for a great story. John is telling the story, so he includes lots of tips for us normal people to use against some of the big baddie types encountered here.I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I think my favorite line out of the books was "Popular young adult novels notwithstanding, vampires only sparkle when they burn." I read it pretty quickly and wanted the next book immediately. (You are warned this is a four-book, soon to be five-book series as of the writing of this review.)Who will like it? Fans of Harry Dresden, almost certainly. If you like urban fantasy, you'll probably enjoy this.
    • 4/5
      Fun urban fantasy, reasonable well executed, but nothing particularly special. The setting is a normal world, with the addition of a Pax Arcana spell, created by the Fae in the middle ages. It prevents 'normal' humans from noticing supernatural goings on, provided they aren't too explicit. At the same time they established groups of Knights to enforce the 'explicit' rule among the supernbatural community - vampires werewolves ghosts and the rest - by a geas and whatever force is necessary. John Charming is an ex-Knight, and half werewolf, and hence somewhat mentally unhappy. The Knights didn't take well to his werewolf side (quite fast and strong and regenerates, but he doesn't get furry), and so he fled. Currently he's working in a bar, and used to seeing the odd supernatural creature, providing they behave themselves. But he's never seen anything like the tall blond Valkyrie before, however he's seen plenty of vampires that she's apparently here to meet. Sig the Valkerie apparently has a motley crew of humans who've managed to breach the Pax, and become aware of supernaturals, and so they go around investigating and dealing with those they come across. Some remain as allies, and some are dealt with. Vampires seem to exclusively fall in the latter category, which is never explained. There's also quite a lot of mixing of mythos, under the assumption that if it's true somewhere else it' s also true in the US, whilst simultaneously neglecting to worry about how such beings might cope with airports etc. Fairly fast paced with some detailed action sequences, that work quite well - I'm not sure about all of the author's physics of bodies and momentum but it seemed allright. There is also quite a bit of soul searching as Sig and John come to terms with their respective pasts, and how perhaps they don't quite have everything under control that they thought they did. I'm less convinced by the throwing themselves at each other though.Fun, worthy contribution to the genre, and I'll probably chance the sequels to see if any kind of coherent backstory can be established, or more likely and disappointingly whether it remains John in different locations facing ever bigger baddies but still getting away to fight another day.
    • 4/5
      Good character, plot, & storyline development. Kat & Prince find each other during a devastating event. The reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because I felt like the story abruptly ended. One additional chapter with Kat's decision would have clenched it.
    • 4/5
      After reading some not very favorable reviews I was thinking I was not going to like this book, but actually it was a very nice surprise. I really liked it.

      Review to come.
    • 4/5
      John Charming comes from a long line of Knights, an order dedicated to fighting supernatural monsters if and only if they threaten the Pax Arcana, the force that keeps ordinary humans from noticing the magic world around them. But Charming was kicked out of the order and hunted by them when they discovered that he is a sort of half-werewolf as a result of his mother having been bitten while she was pregnant. (He has some werewolf traits but does not transform.) Now he's hiding out in Virginia working in a bar, when one evening a Valkyrie named Sig comes in, hunting a vampire who killed several young women in town. But the vampire Sig was following turns out to be the least dangerous of them, Charming joins Sig's eclectic band of hunters (including among others her aging psychic lover, a cop, and an ex priest) in tracking down the rest of the hive.Elliott James's Pax Aracana world is steeped in folklore, grounding it in the details and giving it the sort of substance that's all the more necessary when you're dealing with fantasy. Charming and Sig are both strong, complicated leads. Sig's determination that she has to break things off with Stanislav before becoming involved with Charming- or even if she doesn't become involved with Charming- is a welcome change from the too often seen trope that it's ok for one of the leads to cheat on the lover they started with when they meet the other lead. That Sig and Stanislav's relationship is treated as a real thing with a history that grew and is now dying on its own rather than just an impediment for Charming also goes towards making her a sympathetic person in her own right rather than just Charming's prize.I am eager to read more in this series.
    • 5/5
      I really, really enjoyed this book.
      The writing was hilarious, the voice was spot on. Loved the character of Charming. In fact, loved ALL the characters, even the baddies. James really gets character writing. Charmin's internal dialog was hilarious.

      Good action, good relationship development, interesting plot, cool baddies.

      All in all, I am waiting for the sequel with bated breath.

      Also, the author's bio and picture were rather amazing.
    • 4/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsI loved Elliott James’ PAX ARCANA universe, his first person POV writing style, and John, the male protagonist, but I had some major issues with the love triangle, info dumps, and the fact that the female lead was a Valkyrie. However, the former appears to have been resolved, and even though I have reached my limit on books that feature this type of lore, the Norse mythology was light enough to be tolerable. And, because of this, I will not hesitate to one-click DARING in September. CHARMING was made for audio, as soon as I heard Roger Wayne’s voice I knew that this series was meant for my ears and not my eyes.A number of reviewers mentioned that having the narrator speak directly to the reader was a little weird; I on the other hand did not have this problem thanks to the audiobook. From the prelude onward I felt like I was part of the story, and I really enjoyed that aspect of James’ style. The world-building was rich albeit a little too much at times, and I especially liked the idea behind the PAX ARCANA. Many authors struggle with whether supes are ‘out’ or not, so I loved the idea behind a world-wide spell. The Knights Templar oath also added an interesting twist on what John can and cannot do, plus he’s learned how to brew the perfect cup of coffee—a man after my own heart!I’m not sure why the love triangle surprised me, but I honestly just didn’t expect one from a male Urban Fantasy author which is probably why it annoyed me way more than it should have. Dvornik and Charming are two bad ass characters, so the fact that they are fighting over Sig like a couple of school boys struck me as ridiculous. And, at times I found that the vampire hunt became secondary to the romantic drama which caused me to lose interest in the story. But, the wonderful secondary characters helped to reel me back in, and John’s wit & snark reminded me of Atticus O’Sullivan (Kevin Hearne), another protagonist whom I adore.Roger Wayne was an instant hit with this listener; I loved everything about his delivery and tone, and how I felt like he was talking to ME because of the first person POV. His narration flowed well, and I liked all of his character voices. I sometimes had difficulty telling when an explanation wasn’t part of John’s storytelling, but otherwise this audiobook was a near perfect listen. I finally have another male narrator to add to my favourites list—I’m now at two in case you’re wondering.CHARMING brought a lot to the table with great writing, lovable characters, and the geeky humour that I love. It wasn’t perfect, but Elliott James hasn’t really even gotten to the best part yet… the werewolves!
    • 5/5
      I picked this book up because the tag line on the cover hooked me -- Not All Princes are Charming. I read the book because one of my favorite authors, Seanan McGuire, was quoted on the back cover as liking it. Now, I know authors who are friends probably do that for each other, and maybe if they are from the same publisher there is some pressure to give a positive statement, but let me keep my fantasy that they really mean what they say! In end it's a good thing I was a believer because I really loved this book.John Charming comes from a long line of knights who hunt a variety of magical beings who threaten the Pax Arcana, a veil of sorts that keeps the normal world from learning about the magical. Unfortunately John is part werewolf, and as soon as those tendencies start to show he becomes hunted himself. He tries to keep under the knights' radar, but just can't help himself when a vampire shows up and is killing people near where John has been hiding out. An interesting cast of characters, a lot of action, a little romance, and you've got the makings of a great story.I really enjoyed reading a book told entirely from the male's point of view. It reminds me of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (of which I am a huge fan) so I'm very excited about this new series. There is good bit of humor interspersed within the action, making it that much more enjoyable. I'm very much looking forward t the next installment, Daring, coming September 2014.
    • 3/5
      So the first book in a new series and our hero is on the run from a group that raised him but made him an outcast once his unasked for werewolf tenancies started developing. Since he was born to be a knight that protects humans from knowing about magical and magical creatures thanks to a spell by the Fey as they left the human world, John Charming has been lying low under an alias pouring beer for a living and planning for the next time he has to leave town. All of this goes out the window thanks to a Valkyrie trying to kill a vampire serial killer. John works well with most of her group with the exception of her boyfriend, a member of different order of humans that also fight the magic. Good world building and it didn't really have too many infodumps. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book in the series.


      Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
    • 3/5
      I genuinely did like the idea of a family line of supernatural hunters called The Charmings and the story of one John Charming who was an ex-knight of a secret hunter society and was living in secrecy until a Valkyrie found out the truth about him and bribe for his help to hunt a vampire nest. But the story was lesser about Charming but more about trying to kill a future threat in future in a form of a teenage vampiress. But I also read enough Norse legend that I anticipate a romance the moment I read the name "Sieg" and Valkyrie together.
      Despite the similarities between Harry Dresden series, I do like John Charming better than Harry Dresden. The writing is fast paced, some was witty while others was repetitive even with info-dumps. However, I didn't feel that the book work for me. Its too much like Harry Dresden entering Buffy's Scooby Gang. I guess, because some of the things didn't work right like the sudden romance angle, triangle love, John being an anti-hero of some sort and there's some angst throughout the storytelling that made it somewhat a predictable story. I wished I would love Sieg but she's too much a faux action girl character to me. I am still undecided if I'd pick up the next book but its definitely better than Jim Butcher.
      The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      The premise and worldbuilding sound pretty run-of-the-mill, but the fun and witty writing makes this book stand out from the glut of urban fantasy.
    • 4/5
      Fun science fiction/fantasy adventure, with plenty of snark. Adored this and would read several more just like it.
    • 5/5
      Seven-hundred-year-old Packmaster, Prince, finally meets a woman he desires as a potential mate, Katarina Kozlov. She also happens to be the daughter of a man whom he owes his life, a man who has gone missing.Dannika Dark does a considerable job with her character development. I think it is admirable that Katarina is a bounty hunter. She is tough and wants to something meaningful with her life. I love how loyal she is. She is the total opposite of her twin sister, Nadia, who is very refined (more like Prince). Prince has witnessed a lot throughout the centuries. He dresses well and is sophisticated. He exudes Alpha. I think it is great that he appreciates Kat and is not a snob. Their conversations are entertaining. I love that she brings him up to speed on modern lingo.Vladimir Romanov is an interesting advisory. He is cruel and cunning. The characters have a fascinating history that attention grabbing.I appreciated Dannika Dark’s environments and descriptions. I especially appreciated the atmosphere Prince created at the basement level of his home. I enjoyed the plot. It was creative how the characters’ lives intertwined. The story is fast-paced and exciting. There are numerous mysterious twists. I love that members of the Weston Pack make appearances in the story. Charming is a great compliment to the Seven Series. It is a wonderful read for lovers of paranormal romance.Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      Never had that moment where I was craving more, interesting enough to finish and look out for book 2.
    • 2/5
      Stopped reading a few percentage points in. The verbose voice of the narrator grated on me, and, in the vein of some less polished urban fantasy, there is a lot of rambling on about unimportant thought processes: will ten pages on how the MC argues with himself over whether or not he should talk to the hot blonde at the bar who gives off a strange vibe really contribute to characterization? I leave it for the intended audience of this novel to read.
    • 5/5
      John Charming was trained to be a Knight who hunts all sorts of supernatural creatures. He is also part werewolf. When the knights found out about his furry side, they started hunting him, because, you know, evil werewolf genes. So he is in hiding but still will fight the occasional evil monster. When a strikingly beautiful womanish thing comes into the bar where he works it raises his attention. When a vampire appears shortly after, John goes into full slayer mode. Anyway, this is just the tip of the bloody iceberg that has come to his town. He will join forces with the lovey whatever she is, to bring the evil down.This book is a hoot. Think Stephanie Plum, vampire hunter. Or maybe Stephen Plum since he is a guy. Anyway, the snark is flying along with the knives, swords, machetes, well you get this picture. The world that is created is pretty interesting and the concept of the Pax Arcana is great. There are some crazy monsters in the book, some good, some bad, some knda good. Anyway, if you like your urban fantasy on the lighter side, but still full of action, try Charming.
    • 4/5
      Charming captured my attention with its idea of John Charming being of a line of Charmings who are members of the Knights that slay supernatural beings. James does a great job at taking this new look at Charming and building his own supernatural world that is governed by the Pax Arcana. James has an easy to read writing style that puts the reader directly in the action with its first person narrative. I really enjoyed James' combination of humor, action, mystery, and a hint of romance, and I think his use of first person really added to the story. As a reader, I really enjoyed getting inside's John's head, and his use of humor to try and deal with things made more of an impact. It kind of reminded me of Kevin Hearne's The Iron Druid Chronicles which I have also enjoyed. John is well developed as a character, and as the book progresses he is challenged not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. The reader still doesn't know all about his past, but the book does get the reader's attention so that they would want to follow John on his next adventure. I also really enjoyed the book's secondary characters especially Sig and Molly and felt these characters really added to the story. Overall this book proved to be an exciting read that I would most definitely recommend if you love action, adventure, and humor with your paranormal. I am really looking forward to seeing where James takes us next with this series.Received a copy of Charming through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      When I hear the name Charming I always think about the prince in Disney version of Snow White or recently a character from tv show Once Upon a Time. But Elliott James pleasantly surprised me with his interpretation of the name and family legacy. And John, although not a prince, charmed his way into my heart as soon as he said:"Popular young adult novels notwithstanding, vampires only sparkle when they burn."Do not expect this novel to be overwhelmed with puns (after all there is only one Charley Davidson) but with his dry wit and sarcastic comments John Charming makes an excellent narrator. He does not make excuses or make you feel sorry for him. In a straightforward way John talks about his past and his current hunt for vampires. John's story may start with 'Once upon a time', but there is nothing fairy-tale-ish about it.Although Charming is book with a male narrator and targeted for male urban fantasy fans, that does not mean that female readers will not enjoy it. There's even love story in the background if you can't live without a little bit of romance in your books.As for me, for some unknown reason Charming didn't manage to pull me in. I enjoyed reading - it it was fun, sometimes intense and always interesting, but that connection that you make with your all-time-favorite reads didn't happen. Still, I am looking forward to the sequel and I hope Elliott James won't make us wait too long...IN THE END...If you are fan of urban fantasy and bored waiting for next The Dresden Files book, check out Charming by Elliott James. It has the same type of humor, a lot of action and paranormal creatures.Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Vampires are making their presence known in a rural town but don’t expect to run into a Charming/Werewolf and a Valkyrie but this leads to more questions than answers for them both.Opening Sentence: There is a reason that we refer to being in love as being enchanted.The Review:This story relies heavily on mythology, fairy tales and medieval tales of wonder and I adore them all. There is just something about a tale of a knight and his struggle that reminds me of childhood and stories that were read to me as I was drifting off to sleep, or when I had snared a flashlight and was sneaking in one more chapter when I had been sent to bed an hour ago. This story brought that to the table and I wasn’t prepared for it.Another unique part of this story is it is told entirely in John Charming’s point of view. I can’t remember the last time I read a romance where the entire story was male and I found this a breath of fresh air. Often times we will get a male point of view put there are portions where we either see the female lead’s point of view or we get a narrator. Not this story, no way. The entire story and narration is from John and I’m thankful of this because I really got to understand his motivations because he told me about them and there is something poignant about getting into the male psyche that continues to baffle and bewilder me and I’m sure some of you readers as well.John Charming is part of an ancient order of knights that were given the role protecting humanity and the Pax Arcana, which is the layer that protects humans from seeing monsters such as vampires, werewolves and all sort of other magical beings that are really living in the world. However, John has become one of the hunted by the knights because he is part werewolf, and therefore, seen as an abomination of the knighthood code.Thankfully for us John has thwarted the knights that have sought to kill him to tell his story, which is the book Charming. John’s voice is strong and I really enjoyed where he explained history and scenarios but never in a condescending way, but because he was seeking to record the story for posterity and we are the lucky recipients of this record keeping.All good fairy tale stories with a prince require a princess and John sure does get one in Sig like the side arm. I adore the fact that she is such a strong woman and more often than not is pictured in such a strong way but there is a definitive feminine side to her that makes my heart glad. She isn’t one to take a back seat but isn’t afraid to look to others for moral support and help. She is a well rounded female and I approve of her.The story has many plot twists and a red herring or two but is well crafted, and I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for other books by Elliott James. Hopefully, we get more of John and Sig’s story in a second book of this series.So my final thoughts are this, if you are interested in a good story, twist on a fairy tale or want to read a book from a male point of view then pick up this book and read as soon as you can. If you are looking for action and a little romance then this book also fits that bill. Lastly, if you are looking for a world that is familiar and lets you fall gracefully into it then this book is also for you. Read this book!On a side note, this book is perfect for a guy to read and I think that they would enjoy it not just for the story but for the amazing swords that John uses through out the book.Notable Scene:“You. Vampire Hunter Barbie. Hold it.” I pitched my voice so that she could hear me even with normal human hearing but nobody else could.Sig adjusted her path and stalked towards the bar, moving at an angle that put me between her and the direction the vampire was moving in. When she spoke, her voice was low and strained. “You still have a chance to avoid getting tangled up in this. I suggest you take it.”“I don’t care what you do,” I assured her. “Just do it away from my bar.”Sig gave me her full attention. I didn’t know it then but she always became calmest at the prospect of imminent violence, a kind of awful and solemn calm that didn’t fool anyone. Her eyes became large and serious, her voice soft. “And how are you going to stop me?”“You just have normal human hearing, don’t you?” I asked.“Why?” she asked suspiciously.“Because,” I said, “I’ve already stopped you.”The bathrooms had windows facing out on a side alley, and vampires move fast.With a curse, the blonde rushed toward the restrooms, shooting me a look that left blister marks. I raised my hand and sarcastically waggled my fingers at her. Goodbye, whatever you are. Forget to write. Nice ass.FTC Advisory: Orbit provided me with a copy of Charming. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 3/5
      So once again I choose a book based on the cover alone. Then had to suffer my way through a book I was not enjoying. With a title of "Charming," and a good looking guy with a sword on the cover I assumed it was a fairy tale twist story. Which, yes in a sense it was because the main character was a Charming, John Charming. He was no Cinderella prince in shinning armor thought. I also don't remember their being vampire colonies in the classics.A "Charming" in this story is a member of an old templar/group who under the Pax Arcana guard the human race against the supernatural world. The Pax Arcana is the veil of magic in the world that doesn't allow humans to see supernatural activity going on around them.I also felt there were to many different elements blended together. So you have John, who is a Charming and part werewolf. Sig who is a Valkyrie vampire hunter. Vampires. A power crazy physic, his two crazy nephews, a police detective, a bug exterminator, and a few more odd characters.There's a crazy love triangle that goes on, and a massive vampire hunt that is the main focus of the book. But I wish the story had moved quicker and didn't have so many little side bits, and elements.Plus it had vampires, and I am not a huge fan of vampire stories. I myself was not a fan of Elliot James story "Charming", but I can see fans of this genre enjoying the story.