Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Charming

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...

Book source ~ Purchased audiobook
Elliot James ~ Author
Roger Wayne ~ Narrator
23 April 2014
Fantasy | UF
10 hrs 34 mins

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble


John 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.




No comments:

Post a Comment