• Charming

  • Pax Arcana, Book 1
  • By: Elliott James
  • Narrated by: Roger Wayne
  • Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,142 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Charming  By  cover art

Charming

By: Elliott James
Narrated by: Roger Wayne
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.62

Buy for $17.62

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

What listeners say about Charming

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    999
  • 4 Stars
    764
  • 3 Stars
    288
  • 2 Stars
    70
  • 1 Stars
    21
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,127
  • 4 Stars
    599
  • 3 Stars
    188
  • 2 Stars
    43
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    882
  • 4 Stars
    679
  • 3 Stars
    319
  • 2 Stars
    61
  • 1 Stars
    31

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Charming is Like Dresden in wolves clothing

At first I saw the title of this book and read the publishers synopsis and really wasn't too sure about it. I don't like sappy insipid romances and I really hate books that are too predictable. This one was not either. I found the entire book delightful. There were funny portions as well as heated fight scenes and of course the supernatural. Although E. James' pantheon is a little bit different than Jim Butchers - the overall construction is very similar but different enough to keep your interest without going nuts. The main character is very engaging and as a listener I felt that the narrator did a really super job at creating the character. While the name of the book is rather cheesy - it sorta fits the persona and it makes for a good story-line. This book is nothing like what you would think it is and I highly recommend it as another "Dresden" like book/series. However - only Book 1 is available on audible. Hopefully that will change and more of the series will become available.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

55 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Charming was made for audio!

I 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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

36 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A New Author/Narrator Combo!

First Impression:
YES! Just when I was drowning in romances and needed a great urban fantasy listen, CHARMING came into my life.

Characters/World:
CHARMING has a full cast of supernaturals from werewolves, vamps, Valkyrie and more.

I've not read many books told from a male protagonist POV's and I must say I'm really enjoying them. They are great for when I'm burn out on romances. I love the fact that CHARMING is written in first person so when Roger Wayne narrates John Charming's story it's like he is talking to me when I'm listening.

I told someone that I thought John Charming is like a cooler Atticus from Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. I'd love to see these two guys hang out sometime.

Narration:
Roger Wayne can out of no where for me. I was hooked on his narration of CHARMING within 20 minutes of listening. He has made it to my list of favorite narrators and I don't have many male narrators on that list. He did an outstanding job with everything.

Lasting Impression:
I was about 40% into CHARMING when I purchased book 2, DARING on audio. Bring on more Elliott James and Roger Wayne!

Recommendations:
If you're a fan of author Kevin Hearne you'll enjoy Elliott James as well.

Fan of Luke Daniels' narration you also enjoy Roger Wayne.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

And OK read but nothing special

As urban fantasies go this one was nothing special. I listened to the audiobook version of this and the narrator, Roger Wayne, did an excellent job with the voices. It was easy to picture them in my head and forget that it was being read to me by someone. As for the story itself it was kind of predictable, the lead characters we're likable consisting of John charming and Sigg who becomes a romantic interest for him. John is a monster hunter who is a werewolf himself however he doesn't really turn into a wolf throughout most of the book. He does have extraordinary strength and a great sense of smell along with some other powers. He goes after some vampires in this one. My problem with the book was that there were a lot of slow spots where nothing was happening very much other than planning. Sigg is a Valkyrie possessing great strength and psychic abilities. The sparring between John and Sigg is funny at times although I found her character to be a little dry. If you like heroes like Dresden you will find this lacking in the "magic" area. The end of the book was really good and at times I thought I might want to get the next one in the series but overall I think I'll try something else. If you're into vampire hunters you'll probably like this book but don't expect anything outstanding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A great read all around.

Any additional comments?

Performance is fantastic, characters are interesting and flawed, and the story is great. I see some people have problems with it that I would like to shed light on to those who may misunderstand.
"When you get down to the bear bones not a whole lot happens in the story." This is sort of true if you are looking in the short term. This is going to be a series of novels, I hope, and we may build up to that world ending cataclysm that our hero is perfectly suited to prevent. In other words if you are looking for an Epic Fantasy (a subgenre that would include Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, and Sandman Slim) then this would seem trivial. I find it to be refreshing.
"The love triangle" Yes there is one but there is more going on than that. This statement almost scared me off from the book. I was thinking that the love triangle would be like House of Night Twilight dribble but it isn't. Trust me when I say it is way more interesting than that.
I will say that I am very excited about continuing the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellence, just the right mix and tone.

Light hearted, funny at times, but serious at times. Urban fantasy, this guy and Dresden would be buds, but it is not a cheap imitation to hold you over. The narrator hit it spot on, very entertaining. There is excellent world building and character development. I wish I had found this author sooner, will definitly be looking for more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Elliot James must keep writing!!!

Would you recommend Charming to your friends? Why or why not?

I would definitely recommend this audiobook. The author has a wonderful sarcastic wit that is sustained throughout the entire book. There is a lot of description and explanation as the protagonist, John Charming, informs the reader about the world he lives in, but it never feels dull or drags because of the ease and sense of humor of the narrative. The world John Charming lives in, by the way, is our modern world, but with the punch line that everything supernatural, mythical, or fantastical that you've ever heard of is real. Fans of the TV show Supernatural will recognize a kindred spirit in author Elliot James' world building. Though he ads an element of explanation as to why the public at large don't realize or believe that they are surrounded by magic, and that is the Pax Arcana, a spell cast hundreds of years ago that hides the supernatural from human notice.

The story is in first person narrative from John's point of view, and therefore has a very male tone to it. But with the sense of humor and the wonderful flow of the writing it never put me off or made me feel disconnected as a female listener. John is great fun as the protagonist, and the female lead Sig (like the side arm :-)) has a great balance of feminist power and feminine grace. I enjoyed her character a lot. Likewise for the rest of the Scooby gang that get in on the action (a Thelma style priest named Molly who loves Christmas and puppies, a mouthy detective, and an ornery exterminator, to name a few). I hope to spend more time with these characters in the future!

Which character – as performed by Roger Wayne – was your favorite?

I thought Wayne had the perfect sense of the character John Charming, and really brought out the sense of humor and comic timing perfectly. The rest of the voices don't really stand out, but it didn't really bother me. They were different enough from the character of John that I could tell who was talking even if they author didn't tell me, so I appreciate that.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book, and like I said I loved the writing style. My only complaint really is that the plot is pretty limited. When you get down to the bones of the story, not that much actually happens, and it takes place over only a few days time. I would have liked to see a more in-depth plot that carried through a longer stretch of time. Especially with the potential for so many adventures with all the different mythological creatures and supernatural aspects of the world James has built. All in all I loved the book, but I hope that this is just the beginning, and that there will be many more to come, with many more adventures!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun read

What did you love best about Charming?

Charming was a witty character that made for a fun book. The narrator was great except for the odd way he paused when saying ",he said ." Other than that it was a novel approach to the werewolf vampire conflict

What was one of the most memorable moments of Charming?

Charming himself is actually quite charming

Which character – as performed by Roger Wayne – was your favorite?

Charming

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful