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Charming
400 pages
A snarky, action-packed dive into a hidden magical underworld where the monsters are real and the hero is reluctantly one of them.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like slipping on a well-worn leather jacket and stepping into the neon-lit, rain-slicked streets of a hidden magical underworld. It is a brisk, punchy urban fantasy that balances gritty monster-hunting action with a heavy dose of wry, self-deprecating humor. The narrative voice is conversational and sharp, pulling you into the mind of a reluctant hero who is equal parts cynical exile and fiercely protective knight. There is a lingering shadow of grief and isolation, but the mood is ultimately buoyed by the thrilling momentum of the plot and the slow, satisfying warmth of a found family coming together. It is perfect for readers who devour fast-paced supernatural thrillers where the line between monster and savior is delightfully blurred.
- Mood
- gritty
- nocturnal
- pulpy
- adventurous
- Tone
- wry
- self-deprecating
- cynical
- action-oriented
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- found family · hidden worlds · duty versus nature · running from the past · embracing monstrosity
- The writing
- Punchy and conversational, laced with dry humor, sharp action beats, and clever mythological nods.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from isolated, self-loathing exile to the reluctant acceptance of a new, unconventional found family.
- Who it's for
- Fans of classic, snarky urban fantasy who love a reluctant, monster-hunting hero with a heavy burden and a heart of gold.
Content notes
- violence
- grief
- death of a spouse
- gore
About the book
The first novel in the Pax Arcana series, Charming features John Charming a monster hunter who doesn't quite fit into any world. Born and trained as a Knight, he is compelled by the Knights' geas to protect the Pax Arcana, a spell put into place by the Fae when they left our world to protect humanity from the magic world and the magic world from humanity. But he is also a werewolf and because of this he's an abomination and the monster-hunting Knights want him dead. Still hurting from the death of his wife who was killed in a trap the Knights set for him he believes he needs to keep himself to himself to protect others. Of course, fate has other plans and in this novel he meets the Valkyrie, Sig, along with others who will form his posse over the series.
A good solid urban fantasy.
Description from Open Library.
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