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Pax Arcana #3
Fearless
When your last name is Charming, rescuing virgins comes with the territory -- even when the virgin in question is a nineteen-year-old college boy.
Someone, somewhere, has declared war on Kevin Kichida, and that someone has a long list of magical predators on their rolodex. The good news is that Kevin lives in a town where Ted Cahill is the new sheriff and old ally of John Charming.
The attacks on Kevin seem to be a pattern, and the more John and his new team follow that thread, the deeper they find themselves in a maze of supernatural threats, family secrets, and age-old betrayals. The more John learns, the more convinced he becomes that Kevin Kichida isn't just a victim, he's a sacrifice waiting to happen. And that thread John's following? It's really a fuse...
FEARLESS is the third novel in an urban fantasy series which gives a new twist to the Prince Charming tale. The first two novels are Charming & Daring.
Short Fiction in the Pax Arcana world:
Charmed I'm Sure
Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
Pushing Luck
Surreal Estate
Dog-Gone
Bulls Rush In
Talking Dirty
Someone, somewhere, has declared war on Kevin Kichida, and that someone has a long list of magical predators on their rolodex. The good news is that Kevin lives in a town where Ted Cahill is the new sheriff and old ally of John Charming.
The attacks on Kevin seem to be a pattern, and the more John and his new team follow that thread, the deeper they find themselves in a maze of supernatural threats, family secrets, and age-old betrayals. The more John learns, the more convinced he becomes that Kevin Kichida isn't just a victim, he's a sacrifice waiting to happen. And that thread John's following? It's really a fuse...
FEARLESS is the third novel in an urban fantasy series which gives a new twist to the Prince Charming tale. The first two novels are Charming & Daring.
Short Fiction in the Pax Arcana world:
Charmed I'm Sure
Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
Pushing Luck
Surreal Estate
Dog-Gone
Bulls Rush In
Talking Dirty
438 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2015
167 people are currently reading
989 people want to read
About the author
Elliott James
20 books729 followersAn army brat and gypsy scholar, ELLIOTT JAMES is currently living in the blueridge mountains of southwest Virginia. An avid reader since the age of three (or that's what his family swears anyhow), he has an abiding interest in mythology, martial arts, live music, hiking, and used bookstores.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 14, 2016
It was really funny and I liked it and all but...
Yes, I wanted food from this book! More than that, I wanted a feast! What I got was a bag of chips and some cheap beer. Don't get me wrong, I love chips and beer, I just wanted a bit more.
I expected this book to continue the previous one but it was more of a filler. Don't get me wrong, a damn good filler, but where's the rest! I wanna see what happened to the pack and the knights and the training and the Order and everything! All I got were some few pages at the end when I was able to answer some questions and tie some knots.
I'm just venting a bit, sorry. I was just so damn curious after book number 2!
All in all, it was a great book. Funny and lovely and still the characters that I began to adore (except Sig, but well, Molly and Choo, even the new characters Sarah and the Kevin kid, are enough to cover the gap created by her). Plus, we get some really nice mythology here, loved the Japanese lore this book involved. And the plot was fun, I am again surprised at my lack of boredom throughout this series.
So yes, even though I wanted to see how book no 2 continued, I absolutely loved this one too. Hope the next ones are just as good, it's a damn fun series! I just love all the sarcasm and intelligence and gore and blood! Ok, I shouldn't have said that last part but ah well...
Yes, I wanted food from this book! More than that, I wanted a feast! What I got was a bag of chips and some cheap beer. Don't get me wrong, I love chips and beer, I just wanted a bit more.
I expected this book to continue the previous one but it was more of a filler. Don't get me wrong, a damn good filler, but where's the rest! I wanna see what happened to the pack and the knights and the training and the Order and everything! All I got were some few pages at the end when I was able to answer some questions and tie some knots.
I'm just venting a bit, sorry. I was just so damn curious after book number 2!
All in all, it was a great book. Funny and lovely and still the characters that I began to adore (except Sig, but well, Molly and Choo, even the new characters Sarah and the Kevin kid, are enough to cover the gap created by her). Plus, we get some really nice mythology here, loved the Japanese lore this book involved. And the plot was fun, I am again surprised at my lack of boredom throughout this series.
So yes, even though I wanted to see how book no 2 continued, I absolutely loved this one too. Hope the next ones are just as good, it's a damn fun series! I just love all the sarcasm and intelligence and gore and blood! Ok, I shouldn't have said that last part but ah well...
August 14, 2015
John you are still charming get it cuz his last name is Charming and I like you better than Harry Dresdan or Atticus O’Sullivan your main UF male competition.
Best Parts of this book:
- Gadiator Magical Creature Style
- Valkyrie Girlfriend...even if you are courting and taking it ridiculously slow. I guess that is what happens when you were born in 1937.
- All the Japanese magical creature lore. I am really unfamiliar with that area of lore so it was new and captivating.
- Super sidekick squad. Seriously I love the randomness of them.
Biggest Problem With the Book:
- So many magical creatures. Man there was a hodgepodge and sometimes stuff just was thrown in and didn't seem congruent to the story. I have this same problem with The Iron Druid and Harry Dresdan, seems like a male protagonist issue with me.
Overall:
So far this series has been a lot of fun and I like John Charmming's snarky sarcastic humor. These really make me laugh. Daring suffered a little bit of 2nd book syndrome but it seems we are back on track now.
Fuller review to come post vacation.
Best Parts of this book:
- Gadiator Magical Creature Style
- Valkyrie Girlfriend...even if you are courting and taking it ridiculously slow. I guess that is what happens when you were born in 1937.
- All the Japanese magical creature lore. I am really unfamiliar with that area of lore so it was new and captivating.
- Super sidekick squad. Seriously I love the randomness of them.
Biggest Problem With the Book:
- So many magical creatures. Man there was a hodgepodge and sometimes stuff just was thrown in and didn't seem congruent to the story. I have this same problem with The Iron Druid and Harry Dresdan, seems like a male protagonist issue with me.
Overall:
So far this series has been a lot of fun and I like John Charmming's snarky sarcastic humor. These really make me laugh. Daring suffered a little bit of 2nd book syndrome but it seems we are back on track now.
Fuller review to come post vacation.
August 10, 2015
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
This is the third four star review that I am writing for this series, so Elliott James is definitely consistent, but there comes a point when an extra boost is needed to renew fans’ interest in seeing the protagonist’s story through until the end, and PAX ARCANA has just about reached that fork in the road. I adore John Charming as a character, and the author has my number as far as humour goes; however the plot lines remain somewhat chaotic with secondaries coming and going as they please.
The blurb mentions “a long list of magical predators” and that adjective is an apt description because the hero is up against some pretty crazy supes, and the line-up is around the block. I’m talking maeres, chiang-shih… Ok, that’s all gobbledygook unless you’ve experienced FEARLESS for yourself, but needless to say, the Big Bads aren’t your everyday vampires, although there is one of those too. The world-building also extends beyond the supporting cast with a few eventful trips to Dreamtime.
John and Sig’s relationship is finally in a decent spot after opening with obsessive, progressing to non-existent, and now they are somewhere in the middle. I thought that James made great strides towards making their connection a complimentary part of the story as opposed to it overshadowing all of the other elements that go into these novels. The closing scene left me feeling a bit cheated in the romance department which in my opinion is preferable to the alternative, especially in Urban Fantasy.
I found that this installment was once again slightly less funny than CHARMING; this is the first time that I’ve gone with the eBook over the audio, so although I can’t say for sure without giving FEARLESS a listen, I strongly suspect that Roger Wayne’s narration does make a considerable difference. Nevertheless, the geeky references and jokes continue to entertain, and I really enjoyed the chat logs from the Swords and Wands video game meet-ups.
The PAX ARCANA series is holding steady, but sooner or later Elliott James is going to need to pick-up the pace.
This is the third four star review that I am writing for this series, so Elliott James is definitely consistent, but there comes a point when an extra boost is needed to renew fans’ interest in seeing the protagonist’s story through until the end, and PAX ARCANA has just about reached that fork in the road. I adore John Charming as a character, and the author has my number as far as humour goes; however the plot lines remain somewhat chaotic with secondaries coming and going as they please.
The blurb mentions “a long list of magical predators” and that adjective is an apt description because the hero is up against some pretty crazy supes, and the line-up is around the block. I’m talking maeres, chiang-shih… Ok, that’s all gobbledygook unless you’ve experienced FEARLESS for yourself, but needless to say, the Big Bads aren’t your everyday vampires, although there is one of those too. The world-building also extends beyond the supporting cast with a few eventful trips to Dreamtime.
John and Sig’s relationship is finally in a decent spot after opening with obsessive, progressing to non-existent, and now they are somewhere in the middle. I thought that James made great strides towards making their connection a complimentary part of the story as opposed to it overshadowing all of the other elements that go into these novels. The closing scene left me feeling a bit cheated in the romance department which in my opinion is preferable to the alternative, especially in Urban Fantasy.
I found that this installment was once again slightly less funny than CHARMING; this is the first time that I’ve gone with the eBook over the audio, so although I can’t say for sure without giving FEARLESS a listen, I strongly suspect that Roger Wayne’s narration does make a considerable difference. Nevertheless, the geeky references and jokes continue to entertain, and I really enjoyed the chat logs from the Swords and Wands video game meet-ups.
The PAX ARCANA series is holding steady, but sooner or later Elliott James is going to need to pick-up the pace.
July 5, 2018
3.75 stars. MacHalo BR read with Maraya and Margot!
I enjoyed this installment of the Pax Arcana - John was on a roll with his jokes and kicking some major monster butt. Unfortunately:
The supernaturals in this story were fascinating. I think we saw or heard about creatures from every mythos, personally I found the crone Maere creature to be one of the creepiest. As usual the story is full of action and intense action scenes. Definitely a fun read!
I enjoyed this installment of the Pax Arcana - John was on a roll with his jokes and kicking some major monster butt. Unfortunately:
The supernaturals in this story were fascinating. I think we saw or heard about creatures from every mythos, personally I found the crone Maere creature to be one of the creepiest. As usual the story is full of action and intense action scenes. Definitely a fun read!
August 18, 2015
Hooray!! There's a title, a cover, and a blurb!! More John Charming, please!!
James's books are not a happy romp through a field of daisies full of unnaturally friendly woodland creatures. People get hurt, and people die; sometimes, these things happen because John Charming was not a team player in the past, and he is struggling to be a team player now. The snark continues to be strong in John, but the snark is an obvious coping mechanism. In Fearless, we are introduced to a large number of new supernatural creatures, and several team members step up in a truly unexpected fashion. John continues courting Sig while Sig discovers that slow may not be the best strategy. The world building hits a new high in Fearless with the introduction of a large number of fascinating new creatures and a truly nasty bad guy. John continues to deny he has abilities that do not fit into his view of "me knight, you other." The book includes a sneak peak into book #4.
James's books are not a happy romp through a field of daisies full of unnaturally friendly woodland creatures. People get hurt, and people die; sometimes, these things happen because John Charming was not a team player in the past, and he is struggling to be a team player now. The snark continues to be strong in John, but the snark is an obvious coping mechanism. In Fearless, we are introduced to a large number of new supernatural creatures, and several team members step up in a truly unexpected fashion. John continues courting Sig while Sig discovers that slow may not be the best strategy. The world building hits a new high in Fearless with the introduction of a large number of fascinating new creatures and a truly nasty bad guy. John continues to deny he has abilities that do not fit into his view of "me knight, you other." The book includes a sneak peak into book #4.
July 2, 2018
👑 BR with my Waifu & Speedy Marg at the MacHalo mansions 👑
This was better than the first two books. Like leaps and bounds (hehe) better!
It was wittier, funnier, John was more relaxed and himself, action was super action-y, plot was good, we got Japanese lore and lots & lots of monsters - among other things! Maybe a little too much on the monsters front though.
Either way super enjoyable, flying by like water over smooth stone. I really hope this keeps up and gets improving!
P.S.: John was even more awesome ♥
"When did this show become amazing?!?"
~ Me, while & after finishing reading this
This was better than the first two books. Like leaps and bounds (hehe) better!
It was wittier, funnier, John was more relaxed and himself, action was super action-y, plot was good, we got Japanese lore and lots & lots of monsters - among other things! Maybe a little too much on the monsters front though.
Either way super enjoyable, flying by like water over smooth stone. I really hope this keeps up and gets improving!
P.S.: John was even more awesome ♥
May 24, 2021
Bare bones: John, Sig and Molly and Choo are in Tatum, NY, answering the call from Tedd Cahill to investigate/handle suspicious death caused by supernatural creature. It turns out, it's only first of several attacks since various dangerous sups are targeting one guy and they seemed to be summoned by powerful sorcerer.
Some of the best series in genre started with hero(ine) who is a loner, but quickly grew into ensemble of characters readers care about just as much as titular characters. Dresden or Kate Daniels are good examples.
One of the things I really missed in book #2 is the fact we don't see Sig and the gang. We didn't even get to know them that well, before John went to play new age zen werewolf in the woods. I totally get why James went in that direction: John couldn't settle either as part of team or in relationship with Sig while having unresolved situation with knights and being constantly on the run. He also really needed to wrap his head around whole werewolf thing and accept that part of his heritage as well.
Being part of the team and learning to rely on others is a undergoing theme of the book. The fact is, it really doesn't come naturally to John and author made a point to show it.
"I eat meat.
I kill people.
I’m sort of a knight.
I have all sorts of inappropriate or outmoded assumptions or attitudes from the 1930s buried under my surface like landmines that blow up unexpectedly at odd times, though I try to recognize them and deal with them honestly when they do."
And it's not an easy adjustment the other way around. James wrote some really interesting dynamics in a group and I am curios how will this play out in future novels (yes, I want more than one book to follow).
I was blown away by variety of supernatural creatures and mythology references James used. He was always bringing something new in that aspect into novels (I still remember Vietnamese pipe system from first book), but here it was on whole another level since John ended up fighting all kinds of things in supernatural version of tournament, which is apparently normal occurrence where predator species can vent and release their suppressed aggression in one-on-one battles.
Of course, if those battles looked like this:
Vampires vs. Werewolves
....John would win everything easily because he is one the snarkiest and biggest smart-ass/ shit-stirrer characters I've ever read. :)
John's voice continues to be the best thing about this series. (shout out to Roger Wayne for excellent narration in audio version!)
But, battles are physical and John got to kick some serious ass...and this is kind of tied to why I chucked a star off. I have this problem since the start about world building:
Knights are conditioned to protect secret of Pax Arcana and act as sort of police for sups who break the rules. We are told they are highly trained humans, resistant to mental influence because of geas, but it doesn't change the fact they are only humans. Accent is put on geas and after reading about what John had to deal with, I don't find that to be as deciding quality as I am constantly assured it is.
We see John fighting (and winning) these creatures not just because he is trained or resistant to influence, but mostly because he is more than human. He is faster and stronger and have amazing reflexes (which is due to him being a werewolf as well) and most of the time it's that advantage that makes him win. His physical prowess and strength were really shown as his biggest assets in this book.
Hence, I am still not buying Knights as this group set to protect Pax Arcana against supernatural beings who broke the rules. Not to mention they are also a very disorganized group with various factions and disagreements within. I saw some progress regarding this with japanese branch , but I need this to be explored more.
All in all, another good installment and if you still didn't jump on Charming train, you are missing out.
October 5, 2015
John Charming may no longer be a knight but he never fails to come riding in on his “white horse” to save the day.
I’m a big fan of the team of Elliot James and Roger Wayne (narrator)!
Roger Wayne IS John Charming. Pax Arcana is another audio only series for me. I believe that if I was to read one of the novels it would be a 3 or 3.5 star book for me. Not a bad thing but Roger’s performance brings the story up a notch for me. His pacing is perfect. His inflection for the characters and delivery for the snarky dialogue makes some of the dense mythology fun to listen to where I might get bogged down by it if I was reading. Roger continues to bring an outstanding performance with Fearless.
I stated in my review for the first book, Charming that John is a cooler Atticus from Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles and that still stands. In fact the vibe between the two series are similar but I find that Elliott James’ writing is a little lighter on the mythology letting John be more fun sometimes.
This time around John and his merry band of men (and women) are protecting a young man, Kevin Kichida from his crazy grandfather that is a very power supernatural being. There’s supe fight clubs, magic, werewolves, vampires and other being like Kitsune (nine tailed fox from Japanese mythology).
I enjoyed Fearless by Elliott James and can’t want to get me ears on the audio for the next installment. Until it’s available I’ll keep myself busy with similar heroes like Atticus from Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and Fort from M.L. Brennan’s Generation V series.
I’m a big fan of the team of Elliot James and Roger Wayne (narrator)!
Roger Wayne IS John Charming. Pax Arcana is another audio only series for me. I believe that if I was to read one of the novels it would be a 3 or 3.5 star book for me. Not a bad thing but Roger’s performance brings the story up a notch for me. His pacing is perfect. His inflection for the characters and delivery for the snarky dialogue makes some of the dense mythology fun to listen to where I might get bogged down by it if I was reading. Roger continues to bring an outstanding performance with Fearless.
I stated in my review for the first book, Charming that John is a cooler Atticus from Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles and that still stands. In fact the vibe between the two series are similar but I find that Elliott James’ writing is a little lighter on the mythology letting John be more fun sometimes.
This time around John and his merry band of men (and women) are protecting a young man, Kevin Kichida from his crazy grandfather that is a very power supernatural being. There’s supe fight clubs, magic, werewolves, vampires and other being like Kitsune (nine tailed fox from Japanese mythology).
I enjoyed Fearless by Elliott James and can’t want to get me ears on the audio for the next installment. Until it’s available I’ll keep myself busy with similar heroes like Atticus from Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and Fort from M.L. Brennan’s Generation V series.
February 26, 2016
Rating 3.5
I did not like this book as much as the second one. The second one dealt with his Wolf heritage and the Knights. This one did not have much about either groups. This one dealt with the group from the first book. I could see the way the story developed in the first book and how the group came together. I really could not understand why the group came back together for this story. It was not really explained why they were hunting monsters in this book in the first place. In the first book there was a good explanation. The characters aren't very well developed, there are more characters in this story but this is not very many interactions with John Charming. I don't know why Choo is still with the team, Molly is more of a non essential supporting character and even though Sig is the love interest - her and Charming are hardly around each other. I like the Charming character, I think he is similar to Atticus from the Iron Druid Series which I love except for one main difference. Atticus seems to love like and even though he might be lonely there are great interactions with his dog. John seems to kind of hate his life, he does not know what to do around other people, or how to be in a group and he complains about that fact throughout the entire book.
I did not like this book as much as the second one. The second one dealt with his Wolf heritage and the Knights. This one did not have much about either groups. This one dealt with the group from the first book. I could see the way the story developed in the first book and how the group came together. I really could not understand why the group came back together for this story. It was not really explained why they were hunting monsters in this book in the first place. In the first book there was a good explanation. The characters aren't very well developed, there are more characters in this story but this is not very many interactions with John Charming. I don't know why Choo is still with the team, Molly is more of a non essential supporting character and even though Sig is the love interest - her and Charming are hardly around each other. I like the Charming character, I think he is similar to Atticus from the Iron Druid Series which I love except for one main difference. Atticus seems to love like and even though he might be lonely there are great interactions with his dog. John seems to kind of hate his life, he does not know what to do around other people, or how to be in a group and he complains about that fact throughout the entire book.
September 1, 2016
DNF @55%
I tried, but it took me all month just to get this far. I wanted to give this book a chance since John Charming was back with the people from the first book. I love the characters in this series, but they're not enough to make me want to keep reading. In the first book, I liked it when John was a one kind creature at odds with others, but that's all changed now. He made peace with a lot of things, and it's boring. John and the crew from book 1 were trying to solve a murder mystery. I didn't not care at all. It wasn't the normal type of supernatural creatures involved, but it wasn't interesting. The book isn't bad. It's definitely a case of it's me, not you.
I tried, but it took me all month just to get this far. I wanted to give this book a chance since John Charming was back with the people from the first book. I love the characters in this series, but they're not enough to make me want to keep reading. In the first book, I liked it when John was a one kind creature at odds with others, but that's all changed now. He made peace with a lot of things, and it's boring. John and the crew from book 1 were trying to solve a murder mystery. I didn't not care at all. It wasn't the normal type of supernatural creatures involved, but it wasn't interesting. The book isn't bad. It's definitely a case of it's me, not you.
June 10, 2021
An action-packed cocktail of a book which I enjoyed immensely. It is like the movie Undisputed, but with supernatural shenanigans thrown amok. I enjoyed the Japanese lore weaved into the plot, which was refreshing.
I enjoyed the tension packed ambience of the story, and Charming's unlikely friends. The antagonist was an asshole. Also, there's lots of magical beings and monsters depicted here, although briefly, mostly in the fight scenes. I cheered for the slow burn relationship developing between John and Sig. They make for such a hot couple.
The last few pages were explosive. The part with the demijinn was freaking terrific, and it's sad that one of the characters dies. I was hoping to see more of him after his transformation in the first book. Nonetheless, there are two more books to go, and I plan to finish reading them soon.
I enjoyed the tension packed ambience of the story, and Charming's unlikely friends. The antagonist was an asshole. Also, there's lots of magical beings and monsters depicted here, although briefly, mostly in the fight scenes. I cheered for the slow burn relationship developing between John and Sig. They make for such a hot couple.
The last few pages were explosive. The part with the demijinn was freaking terrific, and it's sad that one of the characters dies. I was hoping to see more of him after his transformation in the first book. Nonetheless, there are two more books to go, and I plan to finish reading them soon.
September 25, 2017
4 1/2 and I don't know which way to bump. So far all the Charming book have been on the edge of great with a little some thing missing but yet so compelling. This was the same. There is some humor but I wouldn't classify this as humorous. I've seen that on some reviews, I don't get it. So fun yes, humorous no.
So all the characters are back working together but only a few are really present the whole time. Sig is there the whole time and they are taking their budding relationship slowly. We get a lot of the cop turned Dampyr. He tries a little to get in the way of John and Sig. I like how John just takes it matter of factly. The Dampyr, I think his name is Ben, is struggling to know who he is so that kind of took me by surprise and also killed a little of the enjoyment. Might be why I'm going to bump down this time. I might want to give it a 5 but that last minute twist just made me a little mad. I really liked the characters even the new boy and father that they are trying to protect and other new players.
The ending was all that in that it was a bad plan waiting to fail on some level yet the bad guy had a bad plan too. I loved how John always has the plans, yet they never seem to work like he thinks they are going to.
This series definitely is in my top 25 UF series and I recommend it to UF fans, especially if you want a male POV.
So all the characters are back working together but only a few are really present the whole time. Sig is there the whole time and they are taking their budding relationship slowly. We get a lot of the cop turned Dampyr. He tries a little to get in the way of John and Sig. I like how John just takes it matter of factly. The Dampyr, I think his name is Ben, is struggling to know who he is so that kind of took me by surprise and also killed a little of the enjoyment. Might be why I'm going to bump down this time. I might want to give it a 5 but that last minute twist just made me a little mad. I really liked the characters even the new boy and father that they are trying to protect and other new players.
The ending was all that in that it was a bad plan waiting to fail on some level yet the bad guy had a bad plan too. I loved how John always has the plans, yet they never seem to work like he thinks they are going to.
This series definitely is in my top 25 UF series and I recommend it to UF fans, especially if you want a male POV.
December 30, 2017
I'm not sure why I put off reading this book. I really enjoy this series. It has a great plot and story line. The characters are the best. Even though the story is narrated by the main character, John Charming, (and sometimes third person narration by the author) the side characters are so entertaining and cover the flaws of our hero. Since John is used to working alone, we learn about and understand the other characters as he does. It makes them all so endearing. The best part of this book and the series is John Charming's sarcasm and wit. They are comedic gems generously sprinkled throughout the book. Finding them and getting the joke is like finding the prize in the cereal box. This book falls in an adventure comedy genre if there is such a thing. I love it and highly recommend it.
March 17, 2016
The Pax Arcana series by Elliott James is one my favorite recent additions to the urban fantasy scene. Fearless, is the third novel in the series and continues the series excellence. One of the things that I find interesting about this series over some other urban fantasies is that its setting is particularly unmoored. John Charming’s past, particularly his having been on the run for so long, means that sense of place that for me is a strong part of the urban fantasy genre is instead refocused onto John himself and the home creates (or is trying to create) with the people he surrounds himself with. While Fearless and the Pax Arcana series buys into many of the familiar tropes of its subgenre the laser-like focus on John himself, and his peculiar brand of self-awareness, lend the series a surprisingly different feel. The uniqueness of the series is further enhanced by the menagerie of supernatural creatures that James includes throughout the series. Fearless, in particular introduces a whole new cast of creatures both terrifying and surprisingly normal from a variety of cultural backgrounds with a strong focus in Japanese mythology.
The main focus of Fearless is on John, Sig, Molly and Choo are tipped off by the estranged Tedd Cahill (now a sheriff in New York) to investigate a mysterious death. Over the course of the investigation the crew discover that someone or something is looking to take out a young man named Kevin Kichida. As the team follows the trail through Kevin Kichida’s life they uncover secrets about the young man’s past, and the nature of his adversary, that find them in an underground monster fight club in New York. The mystery of Kichida’s pursuer doesn’t last too long and the team’s plan to stop him is what takes up the bulk of the novel. Fearless represents the first time that John is really working with other people and the strain of having to work as a group is noticeable throughout the novel. John’s relationship with Sig also plays an important role throughout the novel. While it never takes center stage it is constantly in the background and actually provides a wonderfully stable base from which to explore the personalities of both John and Sig. In fact Elliott manages to depict the struggles of each of the novel’s core characters rather poignantly. Choo struggles with operating in the magical world while desperately trying to claw a space out for some sort of normal life with his estranged wife. Cahill embraces his new nature while trying to rebuild the trust destroyed by that same nature; facts further compounded by the antagonistic relationship between him and John. Molly has her own struggles with her own faith and particularly with some of the methods employed throughout their quest to uncover the nature of Kevin Kichida’s enemy. Molly is by far my favorite character in the series so I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more time spent with her here however her small character arc in Fearless was still surprisingly satisfying.
As in the past novel there are hints of a grander problem brewing in the background but there are still scant details and is not the primary focus of Fearless. The audiobook version of Fearless is once again narrated by Roger Wayne. Wayne’s pitch perfect delivery is at its best when it comes to John’s trademark wit but doesn’t falter even during the novel’s more serious moments. I haven’t read any of the Pax Arcana novels, only listened, and I can’t even imagining switching now. My sincere hope is that the folks at Tantor keep Roger Wayne at the helm of this series.
Fearless continues the trend in an already excellent series. Elliott is working hard at writing characters that grow and change over time in believable ways. While I could wish for more world-building, particularly in terms of the hints at a larger trouble yet to be fully revealed, the catch-all supernatural world of the Pax Arcana series continues to remain both engaging and entertaining. Elliott definitely dropped some interesting seeds about the history of the Charming name that I hope to see bear fruit at a later date. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy in the vein of Kevin Hearne or Jim Butcher than I highly recommend you give Elliott James Pax Arcana series a try. I look forward to the next novel, In Shining Armor, due out in April.
The main focus of Fearless is on John, Sig, Molly and Choo are tipped off by the estranged Tedd Cahill (now a sheriff in New York) to investigate a mysterious death. Over the course of the investigation the crew discover that someone or something is looking to take out a young man named Kevin Kichida. As the team follows the trail through Kevin Kichida’s life they uncover secrets about the young man’s past, and the nature of his adversary, that find them in an underground monster fight club in New York. The mystery of Kichida’s pursuer doesn’t last too long and the team’s plan to stop him is what takes up the bulk of the novel. Fearless represents the first time that John is really working with other people and the strain of having to work as a group is noticeable throughout the novel. John’s relationship with Sig also plays an important role throughout the novel. While it never takes center stage it is constantly in the background and actually provides a wonderfully stable base from which to explore the personalities of both John and Sig. In fact Elliott manages to depict the struggles of each of the novel’s core characters rather poignantly. Choo struggles with operating in the magical world while desperately trying to claw a space out for some sort of normal life with his estranged wife. Cahill embraces his new nature while trying to rebuild the trust destroyed by that same nature; facts further compounded by the antagonistic relationship between him and John. Molly has her own struggles with her own faith and particularly with some of the methods employed throughout their quest to uncover the nature of Kevin Kichida’s enemy. Molly is by far my favorite character in the series so I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more time spent with her here however her small character arc in Fearless was still surprisingly satisfying.
As in the past novel there are hints of a grander problem brewing in the background but there are still scant details and is not the primary focus of Fearless. The audiobook version of Fearless is once again narrated by Roger Wayne. Wayne’s pitch perfect delivery is at its best when it comes to John’s trademark wit but doesn’t falter even during the novel’s more serious moments. I haven’t read any of the Pax Arcana novels, only listened, and I can’t even imagining switching now. My sincere hope is that the folks at Tantor keep Roger Wayne at the helm of this series.
Fearless continues the trend in an already excellent series. Elliott is working hard at writing characters that grow and change over time in believable ways. While I could wish for more world-building, particularly in terms of the hints at a larger trouble yet to be fully revealed, the catch-all supernatural world of the Pax Arcana series continues to remain both engaging and entertaining. Elliott definitely dropped some interesting seeds about the history of the Charming name that I hope to see bear fruit at a later date. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy in the vein of Kevin Hearne or Jim Butcher than I highly recommend you give Elliott James Pax Arcana series a try. I look forward to the next novel, In Shining Armor, due out in April.
November 28, 2015
Pax Arcana: 3
This book also starts off with a nice recap. The core group of characters from the first book are all back together again. The author also manages to weave in elements from his short stories. Sarah White, who appeared in the short story, Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls, plays a major part. I found that I didn't have a lot of emotional investment in this book - the boy the characters are focused on saving is pretty much a blank slate, neither particularly likable nor unlikable, and I didn't really care what happened to him. Unlike the previous books, this one doesn't revolve around John as tightly and splits the storyline to other characters, even though John continues to narrate. Also, the author continues to push the relationship between John and Sig, and like a few other reviewers, I just can't get behind it. The two of them spend way too much time arguing - are they really supposed to be in love? The author has an astounding breadth of knowledge of all kinds of mythological creatures - he comes up with new and interesting nasties for every story, and this one is very well populated. Still love the humor. Good solid read, but not as engrossing as the previous one.
This book also starts off with a nice recap. The core group of characters from the first book are all back together again. The author also manages to weave in elements from his short stories. Sarah White, who appeared in the short story, Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls, plays a major part. I found that I didn't have a lot of emotional investment in this book - the boy the characters are focused on saving is pretty much a blank slate, neither particularly likable nor unlikable, and I didn't really care what happened to him. Unlike the previous books, this one doesn't revolve around John as tightly and splits the storyline to other characters, even though John continues to narrate. Also, the author continues to push the relationship between John and Sig, and like a few other reviewers, I just can't get behind it. The two of them spend way too much time arguing - are they really supposed to be in love? The author has an astounding breadth of knowledge of all kinds of mythological creatures - he comes up with new and interesting nasties for every story, and this one is very well populated. Still love the humor. Good solid read, but not as engrossing as the previous one.
April 20, 2016
The basic plot line of these books is starting to get a little stale here in the third offering of the series, and that isn't helped by the fact that the bigger-picture story of the main characters doesn't really seem to be going anywhere meaningful. With no Supreme Villain type appearing in each book and waiting to be defeated, the only ongoing theme seems to be Charming's relationship to Sig, which really isn't all that interesting. Aside from that, the plots are singular and encapsulated into each individual book. That doesn't mean they aren't entertaining to read, but without a continued theme that means something to the reader, the concept is becoming a tad repetitive and derivative of its own original story.
August 13, 2015
It was great.
Getting better and better with each novel.
Story was interesting and I honestly have to say Cahill's death surprised me, although he was an ass like always.
I'd be sad if Choo doesn't appear in further novels. Also the way he treated John when he was shot in the head was shitty. Hope he gets over his issues because I like him as part of the team. I like Molly a lot too and especially the ending when she teased John for caring about her.
I hope we see more of Kevin and Sarah in future novels and I love the fact John and Sig finally got together for real.
Anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
Getting better and better with each novel.
Story was interesting and I honestly have to say Cahill's death surprised me, although he was an ass like always.
I'd be sad if Choo doesn't appear in further novels. Also the way he treated John when he was shot in the head was shitty. Hope he gets over his issues because I like him as part of the team. I like Molly a lot too and especially the ending when she teased John for caring about her.
I hope we see more of Kevin and Sarah in future novels and I love the fact John and Sig finally got together for real.
Anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
October 20, 2015
I liked this ok, but not as much as either of the first two in this series.
I also found it very very easy to put this one down, up until the last part (about 25%), so for most of it I was reading no more than a short chapter or two (and often less) and it couldn't build up much momentum that way.
I also found it very very easy to put this one down, up until the last part (about 25%), so for most of it I was reading no more than a short chapter or two (and often less) and it couldn't build up much momentum that way.
July 13, 2016
This series really improves in book 3 and 4. Great worldbuilding. The level of detail and imagination reminds me of Ilona Andrews. Gruesome and credible paranormal creatures based on real mythology. And John's relationship with Sig settles into a more trusting and balanced bond. I don't feel anymore that Sig is competing with John for the reader's attention.
May 16, 2018
Will review soon at www.fantasyliterature.com
August 14, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
I rushed into Fearless immediately after finishing Daring and I absolutely couldn’t stop reading it all day. Read at breakfast, read at lunch, read on the stationary bike, read during game saves and cut scenes. Just read.
The Pax Arcana series is gripping and gritty urban fantasy of the “hero is a snarkmaster” school of thought. Start with Charming. John Charming isn’t charming, but he has a cynical way of explaining what’s going on that will keep you turning pages long after you should get some sleep.
So far, at least, John Charming isn’t really very charming, and although he can be daring, at least in the “fools rush in” sense, he isn’t fearless either. It’s just that most of John’s fears are for the people around him and not for himself. He’s having a hard time admitting that he deserves a chance at happiness, or peace of mind, or even a decent night’s sleep.
In Fearless, we have the first story where John rushes in to save someone who is not a member of his merry band of tricksters, and a story where John himself does not start out as the primary bait or target.
Sheriff Ted Cahill, former Clayburg police detective (in Charming) and current Tatum County Sheriff and recently made dhampir, has invited John and his friends to help him with a missing persons cases that smells supernaturally fishy.
So John begins this story as a not-so-innocent bystander, sitting in a diner with his almost-girlfriend Sig and watching as seemingly every creepy and/or inanimate being or thing in Tatum starts zeroing in on college-student Kevin Kichida, who feels (or smells) just a little bit supernatural himself.
The trail leads John and Company to a powerful witch baking bread near Tatum, and a supernaturals-only underground fight-club in New York City. As John and Sig navigate the crowded supernatural community of New York, they try to draw just the right amount of attention from the man who runs the fight club – an old man who has spent centuries using his own descendants in an attempt to make himself a god.
Poor Kevin is his grandson, and he’s scheduled to be granddad’s next human sacrifice – unless John and Sig and their friends can get to granddad first. And end him.
Escape Rating A-: Rules are made to be broken. Or in the case of the Pax Arcana, seriously, seriously bent. One of the continuing threads in this series is the way that the bad guys, or the deluded guys, will use the letter of the Pax to get around the spirit of it.
While I’m specifically thinking of the way that the Knights have indoctrinated all of their generations to believe that werewolves and other supes are a threat to the Pax just be their existence (they actually aren’t), the whole thing gets stretched to its limits by the evil dude in Fearless.
He is always very, very careful to hide what he is doing from the normals, even as he pulls shit that makes everyone want to hurl. He never exposes the supernatural community to outsiders. He just wrecks completely magical murderous crap within it.
Breeding descendants solely for the purpose of taking over their bodies and extending your life is so disgusting that even his own ancestors have rejected him.
charming by elliott jamesThe Knights, and other so-called defenders of the Pax are often evil bystanders, and by that I mean in the sense of “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” With a lot of truly evil creatures, the Knights and their associated brethren do a whole lot of nothing, while pursuing too many people who are willing to live and let live, but stretch the Knights’ definition of people.
Like John Charming and his friends. They take on Kevin’s grandfather not because no one else can, but because no one else will.
The way that the final pieces of the plot/counterplot come together at the end is awesome, and also awesomely convoluted. One of the conventions of this series, at least so far, is that we don’t see all of the pieces until after the dust has barely settled, and John finally explains what he and his cohorts did. It lets the reader get caught up in the danger zone, without knowing how it will all turn out. I like it.
I also like John Charming and his rather motley group of friends. John is definitely out of the snarky anti-hero as hero school of urban fantasy. His self-talk and overall narrative tone have the kind of gritty cynicism that reminds me of Harry Dresden in the later Dresden Files, or or John Taylor in Simon R. Green’s Nightside. John Charming is never quite sure whether he’s mostly a good guy because he wants to be, or because he’s compelled to be, or because staying with Sig and their friends is way better for his humanity than going back to being a lone wolf.
Fearless also has the feel of a big caper story. There are a lot of moving parts, some of which are moving in realms and phases that we can’t see. In the end, those parts all come together in an explosive climax that will make you groan, and then, finally and in relief, cheer.
After the end of Fearless, the eARC included a sneak preview of the untitled fourth book in this terrific series. While I’m ecstatic to know that there IS a next book, I’m afraid to read the preview. I know it will be just too much of a tease because I already want it NOW!
I rushed into Fearless immediately after finishing Daring and I absolutely couldn’t stop reading it all day. Read at breakfast, read at lunch, read on the stationary bike, read during game saves and cut scenes. Just read.
The Pax Arcana series is gripping and gritty urban fantasy of the “hero is a snarkmaster” school of thought. Start with Charming. John Charming isn’t charming, but he has a cynical way of explaining what’s going on that will keep you turning pages long after you should get some sleep.
So far, at least, John Charming isn’t really very charming, and although he can be daring, at least in the “fools rush in” sense, he isn’t fearless either. It’s just that most of John’s fears are for the people around him and not for himself. He’s having a hard time admitting that he deserves a chance at happiness, or peace of mind, or even a decent night’s sleep.
In Fearless, we have the first story where John rushes in to save someone who is not a member of his merry band of tricksters, and a story where John himself does not start out as the primary bait or target.
Sheriff Ted Cahill, former Clayburg police detective (in Charming) and current Tatum County Sheriff and recently made dhampir, has invited John and his friends to help him with a missing persons cases that smells supernaturally fishy.
So John begins this story as a not-so-innocent bystander, sitting in a diner with his almost-girlfriend Sig and watching as seemingly every creepy and/or inanimate being or thing in Tatum starts zeroing in on college-student Kevin Kichida, who feels (or smells) just a little bit supernatural himself.
The trail leads John and Company to a powerful witch baking bread near Tatum, and a supernaturals-only underground fight-club in New York City. As John and Sig navigate the crowded supernatural community of New York, they try to draw just the right amount of attention from the man who runs the fight club – an old man who has spent centuries using his own descendants in an attempt to make himself a god.
Poor Kevin is his grandson, and he’s scheduled to be granddad’s next human sacrifice – unless John and Sig and their friends can get to granddad first. And end him.
Escape Rating A-: Rules are made to be broken. Or in the case of the Pax Arcana, seriously, seriously bent. One of the continuing threads in this series is the way that the bad guys, or the deluded guys, will use the letter of the Pax to get around the spirit of it.
While I’m specifically thinking of the way that the Knights have indoctrinated all of their generations to believe that werewolves and other supes are a threat to the Pax just be their existence (they actually aren’t), the whole thing gets stretched to its limits by the evil dude in Fearless.
He is always very, very careful to hide what he is doing from the normals, even as he pulls shit that makes everyone want to hurl. He never exposes the supernatural community to outsiders. He just wrecks completely magical murderous crap within it.
Breeding descendants solely for the purpose of taking over their bodies and extending your life is so disgusting that even his own ancestors have rejected him.
charming by elliott jamesThe Knights, and other so-called defenders of the Pax are often evil bystanders, and by that I mean in the sense of “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” With a lot of truly evil creatures, the Knights and their associated brethren do a whole lot of nothing, while pursuing too many people who are willing to live and let live, but stretch the Knights’ definition of people.
Like John Charming and his friends. They take on Kevin’s grandfather not because no one else can, but because no one else will.
The way that the final pieces of the plot/counterplot come together at the end is awesome, and also awesomely convoluted. One of the conventions of this series, at least so far, is that we don’t see all of the pieces until after the dust has barely settled, and John finally explains what he and his cohorts did. It lets the reader get caught up in the danger zone, without knowing how it will all turn out. I like it.
I also like John Charming and his rather motley group of friends. John is definitely out of the snarky anti-hero as hero school of urban fantasy. His self-talk and overall narrative tone have the kind of gritty cynicism that reminds me of Harry Dresden in the later Dresden Files, or or John Taylor in Simon R. Green’s Nightside. John Charming is never quite sure whether he’s mostly a good guy because he wants to be, or because he’s compelled to be, or because staying with Sig and their friends is way better for his humanity than going back to being a lone wolf.
Fearless also has the feel of a big caper story. There are a lot of moving parts, some of which are moving in realms and phases that we can’t see. In the end, those parts all come together in an explosive climax that will make you groan, and then, finally and in relief, cheer.
After the end of Fearless, the eARC included a sneak preview of the untitled fourth book in this terrific series. While I’m ecstatic to know that there IS a next book, I’m afraid to read the preview. I know it will be just too much of a tease because I already want it NOW!
October 11, 2017
Mini-Review:
Totally satisfied. Roger Wayne did a great job narrating the story. I've been reading and listening to the story from book one. I love it when I can enjoy a story both in audio and print. =)
This is one of the few series where I don't mind the author dropping dollops of info into the plot or go in & out of internal monologue about personal knowledge or thoughts. Usually, that format of writing gets old after a while but I find myself still engaged by James and the cast of Pax Arcana.
Totally satisfied. Roger Wayne did a great job narrating the story. I've been reading and listening to the story from book one. I love it when I can enjoy a story both in audio and print. =)
This is one of the few series where I don't mind the author dropping dollops of info into the plot or go in & out of internal monologue about personal knowledge or thoughts. Usually, that format of writing gets old after a while but I find myself still engaged by James and the cast of Pax Arcana.
March 21, 2017
After being bitten by a vampire, Ted Cahill moved to a quiet college town to become the sheriff there. Shortly after the move, a couple of college kids go missing. Suspecting supernatural foul play, Ted calls John, Sig, and the rest of the gang for help. I LOVE this series!! Great story line, great characters, and lots of humor.
May 19, 2018
Frankly, this doesn't quite deserve three stars, I'd actually rate it more a 2,5 tending towards the two. But as I rate only really bad books a two, and unforgiveable books a one (like, seriously wrong, offensive/hostile messages and/or really badly written to top it off), it didn't feel right to add this book to that pile of shame. So three stars.
This book isn't that bad. It's just, all the good stuff that I so loved about the first book, the refreshing parts, the sassy parts, the interactions with each other - all that has become less and less over the series, and now, in book 3 it's not enough. There's nothing unexpected anymore. We know how it ends, what will happen on the big scale, and the details in the plan we couldn't possibly predict? It'll be as clever as usual, but I don't really care about that anymore. Everything that made the books interesting, special and refreshing is sort of dead now.
I didn't care about the purpose of the book. Kevin, that virgin to be saved, was absolutely uninteresting and his surviving being sort of the point of the book - that didn't work for me, sadly to say. Every character I adored in this series becomes more and more unlike-able. The teamwork was not existant, it was every character for itself at one point. And sadly, the way the POVs were handled was ... gruesome, for me at least. To paraphrase: The MAIN CHARACTER says "I think Sig did that". And then switches it half-way to her, inserting comments from MC John occasionally. It didn't feel or read clever. It felt intrusive, and confusing as well because on one hand, it's the POV of that other character, Sig. But on the other hand, it's told from the main character. Not to be mean, but THAT could have been handled better.
I'm not sure whether I'll pick up the next book. It does have a bit of a better rating, and the summary does have my interest, but if it's anything like this book, I'll probably have to DNF it. We'll see.
This book isn't that bad. It's just, all the good stuff that I so loved about the first book, the refreshing parts, the sassy parts, the interactions with each other - all that has become less and less over the series, and now, in book 3 it's not enough. There's nothing unexpected anymore. We know how it ends, what will happen on the big scale, and the details in the plan we couldn't possibly predict? It'll be as clever as usual, but I don't really care about that anymore. Everything that made the books interesting, special and refreshing is sort of dead now.
I didn't care about the purpose of the book. Kevin, that virgin to be saved, was absolutely uninteresting and his surviving being sort of the point of the book - that didn't work for me, sadly to say. Every character I adored in this series becomes more and more unlike-able. The teamwork was not existant, it was every character for itself at one point. And sadly, the way the POVs were handled was ... gruesome, for me at least. To paraphrase: The MAIN CHARACTER says "I think Sig did that". And then switches it half-way to her, inserting comments from MC John occasionally. It didn't feel or read clever. It felt intrusive, and confusing as well because on one hand, it's the POV of that other character, Sig. But on the other hand, it's told from the main character. Not to be mean, but THAT could have been handled better.
I'm not sure whether I'll pick up the next book. It does have a bit of a better rating, and the summary does have my interest, but if it's anything like this book, I'll probably have to DNF it. We'll see.
August 13, 2015
Seems I've been missing out on a fun urban fantasy series! Fearless is the first book in this series I've read and yes, it works well as a stand alone. But I will be grabbing the other books because I love this not so charming character! I don't like to compare books and characters to others, but the best way to describe John Charming is to mash Kate Daniels and Curran into one male character. He has the same sense of humor has Kate/Curran and dealing with some of the same issues of trying to play nice with others and beat back that alpha instinct. Other than the character quirks the two series are not alike. But if you are a fan of Daniels you'll probably love this one too.
Male and female authors write urban fantasy different. I like both but female authors tend to focus more on the feelings and male authors focus on step by step analysis and story telling. Elliott James has tapped into both sides of his muse. The story is told from a male POV (John Charming) written by a male author...but has enough emotional inner dialogue to make him more real. If that makes sense. Love him! John that is, but Elliott is a great guy too I met him at Coastal Magic 2015.
Anyway, the story moves at a fast pace most of the time. There is a lot of step by step explanation going on (I see this in lots of male written uf) sometimes I wanted to skim to get to the parts where John was interacting directly with people and we are hearing his inner thoughts cause that is where this character shines. The plot is awesome though. So many different monsters from legends with unique spins on them. The author has done his homework. The female lead is strong and I loved watching them try to navigate their minefield of a relationship.
Definitely check out this series.
4.25 "not so charming" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2015/08/bo...
Male and female authors write urban fantasy different. I like both but female authors tend to focus more on the feelings and male authors focus on step by step analysis and story telling. Elliott James has tapped into both sides of his muse. The story is told from a male POV (John Charming) written by a male author...but has enough emotional inner dialogue to make him more real. If that makes sense. Love him! John that is, but Elliott is a great guy too I met him at Coastal Magic 2015.
Anyway, the story moves at a fast pace most of the time. There is a lot of step by step explanation going on (I see this in lots of male written uf) sometimes I wanted to skim to get to the parts where John was interacting directly with people and we are hearing his inner thoughts cause that is where this character shines. The plot is awesome though. So many different monsters from legends with unique spins on them. The author has done his homework. The female lead is strong and I loved watching them try to navigate their minefield of a relationship.
Definitely check out this series.
4.25 "not so charming" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2015/08/bo...
September 1, 2015
Well this was excellent. I thought this was the best book in the series, and highly enjoyable. John's inner voice remains sarcastic and witty without verging into obnoxious or annoying, which many first person male UF POVs tend to do (looking at you, Harry Dresden).
Pros:
- John and Sig's relationship. They have great chemistry and complement each other very well. Points also granted for Sig being able to do things that matter throughout the book, which makes her an independent actor with agency instead of just the hero's blonde buxom lovetoy.
- The introduction of elements of Japanese mythology and characters was nicely done.
- John is no Big Dicked He Man Who Must Protect Mate! Well, not any more at least. It's refreshing to see him able to keep those instincts in check.
- Supporting characters remain excellent, from Ted and Molly to newcomers like Sarah and the Kitsune whose name I could not remember with a gun to my head.
- The first rule of Fight Club is...
- John's family is known for rescuing virgins.
- Jim Butcher, this is how you pull off a heist plot, not whatever nonsense was in Skin Game. It's multiple concurrent moving parts that come together to form a beautiful whole, not "Obstacle-Obstacle-Obstacle-Boss Fight!".
Cons:
- Well, I read the blurb for book 4. So first off is the wait for the next book, whenever it will be. The second con is, if you , then I'm taking all of this back, Mr. James.
Pros:
- John and Sig's relationship. They have great chemistry and complement each other very well. Points also granted for Sig being able to do things that matter throughout the book, which makes her an independent actor with agency instead of just the hero's blonde buxom lovetoy.
- The introduction of elements of Japanese mythology and characters was nicely done.
- John is no Big Dicked He Man Who Must Protect Mate! Well, not any more at least. It's refreshing to see him able to keep those instincts in check.
- Supporting characters remain excellent, from Ted and Molly to newcomers like Sarah and the Kitsune whose name I could not remember with a gun to my head.
- The first rule of Fight Club is...
- John's family is known for rescuing virgins.
- Jim Butcher, this is how you pull off a heist plot, not whatever nonsense was in Skin Game. It's multiple concurrent moving parts that come together to form a beautiful whole, not "Obstacle-Obstacle-Obstacle-Boss Fight!".
Cons:
- Well, I read the blurb for book 4. So first off is the wait for the next book, whenever it will be. The second con is, if you , then I'm taking all of this back, Mr. James.
April 2, 2023
Yep, still wonderful. I love watching John finding his way into working with other people, and courting Sig. As always they do not spend that much time together. Which makes those moments even better.
I was a bit thrown by the use of the word gypsy somewhere in the book. Was this a conscious choice because John is from another time?
I did a thing whenever they were chatting inside the online game: I used the whispersync function and read the chats in ebook format, because they really are even funnier that way. Each character has a unique way of typing and spelling.
Review from August 2015
Just finished Fearless on Audible. Ah... I don't know what I love most about those books. John Charming? The voice of the actor who reads the books? The story? The writing?
The author surprised me again with this third book. At first I wondered if I liked it as well as the first two. And then I did: because John deserves to change from a torn up and hunted lonly wolf into someone with hope, some friends and even some social skills. He still kicks ass. And some of the lines and ideas in this book just cracked me up. I'll have to buy the paperbacks now, so I can go and re-read some of the dialogue.
I was a bit thrown by the use of the word gypsy somewhere in the book. Was this a conscious choice because John is from another time?
I did a thing whenever they were chatting inside the online game: I used the whispersync function and read the chats in ebook format, because they really are even funnier that way. Each character has a unique way of typing and spelling.
Review from August 2015
Just finished Fearless on Audible. Ah... I don't know what I love most about those books. John Charming? The voice of the actor who reads the books? The story? The writing?
The author surprised me again with this third book. At first I wondered if I liked it as well as the first two. And then I did: because John deserves to change from a torn up and hunted lonly wolf into someone with hope, some friends and even some social skills. He still kicks ass. And some of the lines and ideas in this book just cracked me up. I'll have to buy the paperbacks now, so I can go and re-read some of the dialogue.
August 11, 2015
FEARLESS opens with a Hollywood-esque catch-you-up screenplay of snippet scenes from the Pax Arcana series. HUGELY helpful if FEARLESS is the first John Charming book you’re reading, and just plain fun to read if it’s not. Huge adventure with a lovable, wise-cracking hero follows.
What I loved: Sig. Talk about your strong female sidekick–she’s like a hard-core, foul-mouthed, non-human Buffy. Also, EJ’s slightly deadpan humor reminds me of Douglas Adams. Another thing–and this is weird for me–the tense shifts. I can’t figure out why, but when John Charming talks to the reader, it works for me.
What I didn’t love: Hard to come up with something… Honestly, there were so many quotes from this book I wanted to scribble onto sticky notes and paste to my wall, it was a little annoying. That’s all I got.
Skim factor: Zilch. I wanted to speed through this, but some books demand you savor every word. This was one of them.
5 STARS
What I loved: Sig. Talk about your strong female sidekick–she’s like a hard-core, foul-mouthed, non-human Buffy. Also, EJ’s slightly deadpan humor reminds me of Douglas Adams. Another thing–and this is weird for me–the tense shifts. I can’t figure out why, but when John Charming talks to the reader, it works for me.
What I didn’t love: Hard to come up with something… Honestly, there were so many quotes from this book I wanted to scribble onto sticky notes and paste to my wall, it was a little annoying. That’s all I got.
Skim factor: Zilch. I wanted to speed through this, but some books demand you savor every word. This was one of them.
5 STARS
August 10, 2015
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novel.
Fearless, part three in the Pax Arcana series, is a super fun and fast paced book. I love the world created by Elliott James. It is believable and filled with terrifying creatures and the fantastic characters who hunt them. I was hooked from the very first sentence! The main character, John Charming is a slightly tarnished, very sarcastic and totally kick-ass character. If you have been following the series you'll get to catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones (if you haven't go grab them now!). Combining action, mythology and humor to create a thrill ride you won't want to put down. I can't wait for the next book! Urban fantasy and horror lovers are in for a treat with this 4.5 star read.
Fearless, part three in the Pax Arcana series, is a super fun and fast paced book. I love the world created by Elliott James. It is believable and filled with terrifying creatures and the fantastic characters who hunt them. I was hooked from the very first sentence! The main character, John Charming is a slightly tarnished, very sarcastic and totally kick-ass character. If you have been following the series you'll get to catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones (if you haven't go grab them now!). Combining action, mythology and humor to create a thrill ride you won't want to put down. I can't wait for the next book! Urban fantasy and horror lovers are in for a treat with this 4.5 star read.
July 30, 2022
Book 3 of a solid Urban Fantasy story with a fun and unique take on 'the veil' separating the mundane world from the supernatural one.
Like the rest of the series its the equivalent of a high energy action movie of urban fantasy, and even if I didnt find it to be as strong of an entry as part 2 it still does a lot of world building and its a great palate cleanser.
Bonus points for the combat pragmatism of the main characters, who are both badasses in a straight up fight and neither one of which wants anything remotely resembling one.
Like the rest of the series its the equivalent of a high energy action movie of urban fantasy, and even if I didnt find it to be as strong of an entry as part 2 it still does a lot of world building and its a great palate cleanser.
Bonus points for the combat pragmatism of the main characters, who are both badasses in a straight up fight and neither one of which wants anything remotely resembling one.
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