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Pax Arcana #0.07
Talking Dirty
John Charming. Ex knight. Current monster hunter.While trying to deal with a monster he can't bring himself to kill, John Charming soon runs into another Magic and technology don't mix. . .so how is a phone sex operation enchanting men through their cell phones?This is a short story from contemporary fantasy author, Elliott James, within his Pax Arcana world. The first of his novels, Charming and Daring, are available now.
57 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
34 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Elliott James
22 books731 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 27, 2017
A semi-continuation to the short story, Bulls Rush In. Our hero now has a sidekick and together they solve a mystery. Lots of funny lines and the writing is spot on. Simple and quick but not as entertaining as the last two. Still well recommended if you read the series.
December 1, 2016
Argh! These last two prequels are a study in frustration for me!
I started this book and was immediately relieved that we picked up where the last short-story, Bulls Rush In, left off. And the need to resolve what happened there (which I can't talk about for spoilers) is a big part of the plot here, though it also kind of goes into a whole other direction as well.
So I'm reading along, enjoying the story and the mythology and the little extra that we continuously learn about John Charming, ex-knight and current werewolf, and I'm sitting here thinking that I'm going to get some resolution...
...And then it ends. AGAIN. With nothing being really resolved. So, at this point I have to assume that this is still an issue in the first book? I haven't read the blurb in a long time so I can't even know if it is or might be, but I'm frustrated at this point. I really hope I get some sort of resolution, though at this point I'm not sure it's going to be one I'll enjoy.
Overall Prequels Thoughts (0.1-0.7)
While most of these stories stand alone well, I would recommend reading the 1st and 2nd together, and the 6th and 7th together as well (and don't expect everything, or even the main thing, to be tied up and resolved in these last couple). They're snapshots in John Charming's life, and a moment in time while he deals with a new monster. I'm intrigued and pulled in, while still being somewhat frustrated, and am looking forward to reading the first full-length novel, Charming.
I'm really excited to learning more about the world, the knights, John, and what the hell is going on with the open-ended stuff left hanging from these last two short stories!
I started this book and was immediately relieved that we picked up where the last short-story, Bulls Rush In, left off. And the need to resolve what happened there (which I can't talk about for spoilers) is a big part of the plot here, though it also kind of goes into a whole other direction as well.
So I'm reading along, enjoying the story and the mythology and the little extra that we continuously learn about John Charming, ex-knight and current werewolf, and I'm sitting here thinking that I'm going to get some resolution...
...And then it ends. AGAIN. With nothing being really resolved. So, at this point I have to assume that this is still an issue in the first book? I haven't read the blurb in a long time so I can't even know if it is or might be, but I'm frustrated at this point. I really hope I get some sort of resolution, though at this point I'm not sure it's going to be one I'll enjoy.
Overall Prequels Thoughts (0.1-0.7)
While most of these stories stand alone well, I would recommend reading the 1st and 2nd together, and the 6th and 7th together as well (and don't expect everything, or even the main thing, to be tied up and resolved in these last couple). They're snapshots in John Charming's life, and a moment in time while he deals with a new monster. I'm intrigued and pulled in, while still being somewhat frustrated, and am looking forward to reading the first full-length novel, Charming.
I'm really excited to learning more about the world, the knights, John, and what the hell is going on with the open-ended stuff left hanging from these last two short stories!
November 19, 2021
I started reading this last night because I couldn't sleep. Bad migraine. That's a whole other story. I am trying to be patient while waiting for the next Pax Arcana and Dresden Files novels. So, I have been reading these short stories in the Pax Arcana series. I may end up rereading them. Not just because I am still waiting for those two before mentioned novels to one day get finished and released by their respective authors. I really enjoy these little short stories of John Charming. I honestly wish that there were more of these too.
Heck, I'd be happy if Mr. James came out with another one of these before his next novel. Or two or three. I just want more of John Charming in my life, even if it means rereading, which is fine. I don't usually reread many books or short stories. There is just so many stories out there that I would like to read before I die. So, the stories I choose to reread are a select group. This story easily makes the cut.
Did I mention I really love the Pax Arcana series and I miss John Charming? Because I totally do. I love that these little shorts. They give us some more insight into what life for John Charming was like before he met Sig, which is apart of his life that I am very interested in.
I also really enjoy that we have some recurring characters in these later short stories, like this one. John is still trying to figure out just what to do with his new buddy, the half fire elemental and sometimes fire bull. This is like the second or third story I believe our friend Samuel Blanco appears in. He has a kind of gentle giant thing going on until you set off his volatile temper. There is something very loveable to Samuel. He is defiantly dangerous, but I wouldn't call him a monster. He isn't out to hurt people because he enjoys it. He is just very powerful and has a short temper. I think we can all relate to having lost our tempers over one thing or another like getting cut off in traffic. Road rage is a very real thing and people who experience that aren't all monsters. I think this short fuse helps humanizes Samuel and shows some of the shades of gray of John Charming's world.
If Samuel was just a monster killing people for the fun of it, than things would be a lot simpler for John Charming. He has been trained his whole childhood in how to deal with monsters. He has plenty of training and experience in that area. It is because that Samuel isn't really a bad guy just got some anger issues and not terribly bright that things get complicated for our werewolf knight. It's why he is taking anyone along with him when he is hunting something that he suspects is killing people, despite his preference for hunting alone. John knows all too well what it is like to be hunted and perceived to be a monster when you're not. He doesn't want to have to kill Samuel unless he has too. He absolutely will if it becomes necessary, but that isn't a scenario that he wants.
It says a lot about John Charming's character the lengths he is going to in order to not have to kill Samuel, to let Samuel have some kind of life where he doesn't have to feel what it is like to be hunted like John has been, like John has done.
More than that, I like the slow friendship these two characters seem to be gaining. It is good that Johm Charming wasn't always alone before he met Sig and after the death of his last love. I think this relationship, however unbidden, is a good for both John and Samuel. I think that they need each other in this time more than either knows. Also, I like seeing John Charming hunting supernatural murderers with someone other than Sig and the team we normally John with in the novels.
John doesn't just babysit Samuel. He includes him to some existent in what he is doing. This shows how adaptable John is and that John isn't heartless or thoughtless. It takes what others might have seen as a draw back or a complication and finds a way to make it work in his favor. He could have treated Samuel like a hindrance, like something that made his life and his job fighting monsters more difficult. He doesn't do this.
Sure some of the time he is just trying to keep Samuel entertained or occupied, like you would a child. Sure he defiantly complicates things for our ex-Templar, but he doesn't dwell on it. He makes use of him instead, like having Samuel guard their tent and vehicle while John goes investigating. This is a simple task that does need doing and it has the benefit of not just keeping Samuel occupied but includes him too. Later John takes him along as backup when he is spoiler, goes after the sirens in their nest. This elevates Samuel from someone that needs babysat because he could become a potential problem into a hunting partner, a teammate.
I really like this for a number of reasons. One of them being I think this helps prepare John for the events of the first novel of this series. This whole situation with Samuel shows that John can still work as a member of a team even though he has spent a long time as a lone wolf. A thing he will need to do a lot of later in the novels. He is also kind of forced to get some much needed human contact that he wasn't rally getting before because he wouldn't really let himself get attached to anyone since the murder of his girlfriend. Not in a physical or romantic way, but in an emotional way that in this part of his life he badly needs. Also, having to focus on caring and looking after someone else prevents John from dwelling on his own baggage as much. I think this helps John get enough out of his own way that when Sig walks into his life later that he is in a much more receptive place for what she has in store for him.
I think all this time with Samuel is very important to John Charming's journey and I am glad that we, the readers, get to see more of it in this short story.
Heck, I'd be happy if Mr. James came out with another one of these before his next novel. Or two or three. I just want more of John Charming in my life, even if it means rereading, which is fine. I don't usually reread many books or short stories. There is just so many stories out there that I would like to read before I die. So, the stories I choose to reread are a select group. This story easily makes the cut.
Did I mention I really love the Pax Arcana series and I miss John Charming? Because I totally do. I love that these little shorts. They give us some more insight into what life for John Charming was like before he met Sig, which is apart of his life that I am very interested in.
I also really enjoy that we have some recurring characters in these later short stories, like this one. John is still trying to figure out just what to do with his new buddy, the half fire elemental and sometimes fire bull. This is like the second or third story I believe our friend Samuel Blanco appears in. He has a kind of gentle giant thing going on until you set off his volatile temper. There is something very loveable to Samuel. He is defiantly dangerous, but I wouldn't call him a monster. He isn't out to hurt people because he enjoys it. He is just very powerful and has a short temper. I think we can all relate to having lost our tempers over one thing or another like getting cut off in traffic. Road rage is a very real thing and people who experience that aren't all monsters. I think this short fuse helps humanizes Samuel and shows some of the shades of gray of John Charming's world.
If Samuel was just a monster killing people for the fun of it, than things would be a lot simpler for John Charming. He has been trained his whole childhood in how to deal with monsters. He has plenty of training and experience in that area. It is because that Samuel isn't really a bad guy just got some anger issues and not terribly bright that things get complicated for our werewolf knight. It's why he is taking anyone along with him when he is hunting something that he suspects is killing people, despite his preference for hunting alone. John knows all too well what it is like to be hunted and perceived to be a monster when you're not. He doesn't want to have to kill Samuel unless he has too. He absolutely will if it becomes necessary, but that isn't a scenario that he wants.
It says a lot about John Charming's character the lengths he is going to in order to not have to kill Samuel, to let Samuel have some kind of life where he doesn't have to feel what it is like to be hunted like John has been, like John has done.
More than that, I like the slow friendship these two characters seem to be gaining. It is good that Johm Charming wasn't always alone before he met Sig and after the death of his last love. I think this relationship, however unbidden, is a good for both John and Samuel. I think that they need each other in this time more than either knows. Also, I like seeing John Charming hunting supernatural murderers with someone other than Sig and the team we normally John with in the novels.
John doesn't just babysit Samuel. He includes him to some existent in what he is doing. This shows how adaptable John is and that John isn't heartless or thoughtless. It takes what others might have seen as a draw back or a complication and finds a way to make it work in his favor. He could have treated Samuel like a hindrance, like something that made his life and his job fighting monsters more difficult. He doesn't do this.
Sure some of the time he is just trying to keep Samuel entertained or occupied, like you would a child. Sure he defiantly complicates things for our ex-Templar, but he doesn't dwell on it. He makes use of him instead, like having Samuel guard their tent and vehicle while John goes investigating. This is a simple task that does need doing and it has the benefit of not just keeping Samuel occupied but includes him too. Later John takes him along as backup when he is spoiler, goes after the sirens in their nest. This elevates Samuel from someone that needs babysat because he could become a potential problem into a hunting partner, a teammate.
I really like this for a number of reasons. One of them being I think this helps prepare John for the events of the first novel of this series. This whole situation with Samuel shows that John can still work as a member of a team even though he has spent a long time as a lone wolf. A thing he will need to do a lot of later in the novels. He is also kind of forced to get some much needed human contact that he wasn't rally getting before because he wouldn't really let himself get attached to anyone since the murder of his girlfriend. Not in a physical or romantic way, but in an emotional way that in this part of his life he badly needs. Also, having to focus on caring and looking after someone else prevents John from dwelling on his own baggage as much. I think this helps John get enough out of his own way that when Sig walks into his life later that he is in a much more receptive place for what she has in store for him.
I think all this time with Samuel is very important to John Charming's journey and I am glad that we, the readers, get to see more of it in this short story.
August 25, 2015
John Charming goes to a meetings for victims of abuse, for himself or otherwise we don't know for sure. A woman speaks of her husband who spent thousands of dollars on a phone sex line, racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, beat her to within an inch of her life and then disappeared. When the wife calls the sex line she says the woman had a sing-song voice.
John suspects that something supernatural might be entrancing humans through the phone lines - although the mechanics of it seem highly improbable. But because he's John Charming, yes one of those Charmings from the fairytales, he investigates.
I read this totally out of order so I have spoilered my next TBR Elliott James!
John suspects that something supernatural might be entrancing humans through the phone lines - although the mechanics of it seem highly improbable. But because he's John Charming, yes one of those Charmings from the fairytales, he investigates.
I read this totally out of order so I have spoilered my next TBR Elliott James!
September 29, 2015
A direct progression from the last short, this one is more cut and dry on the kill the bad guys. However, it does bring up the question of why and where you can draw the line for justification. It feels very close to when the stories really start at the main series. Curious how it will work itself out.
September 9, 2015
I wish this and "Bulls Rush In" had been released as one story instead of two. This one didn't feel quite as complete as some of the other stories, and I think it would have benefited from the combination. Still a fun story, just short.
September 18, 2017
I really loved the opening of this. There were some great punch lines. It's Elliott James style humor. But I thought they were especially good here. The villains, how they were dealt with... and the failure to resolve a problem weren't hugely impressive. But as a tiny little short story, it was fun. Again... I'd prefer these to be free deleted scenes to purchases. Or maybe if they were all sold together as one book? But quite cute enough.
February 23, 2018
Interesting villains and an even more interesting continuation of the issues from 'Bulls Rush In.' Once again, given the short length of these stories I wish they were made available in a omnibus or something.
February 7, 2018
Meh
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others in the series. That doesn't mean it's bad, just not my cup of tea. Still plan to read the other novels.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others in the series. That doesn't mean it's bad, just not my cup of tea. Still plan to read the other novels.
September 25, 2018
Sirens are the best! Samuel is better-rounded here and feel more like a fully fleshed character.
February 14, 2019
These eight short stories are set before the five main Pax Arcana novels and tell the tale of how one John Charming ended up in bartending in Clayburg.
September 12, 2024
Novelette, with continuing characters.
August 12, 2015
Another pretty good story. Makes me wonder what's going to happen in the next novel. Oh wait! I already have it! Now to go revise the TBR order... again.
December 14, 2015
I love John Charming! But each of these seven short stories of 25-48 pages costs $1.99. $14 is a little steep for what amounts to less than 300 pages of material.
February 29, 2016
This was short but it was interesting and well put together. I liked that John is still stuck with Samuel and trying to figure out what to do about him.
November 22, 2016
Less of a cliff-hanger ending, so that's good. Noticed that for all his training, Charming always seems to be wrong-footed in much of the fights. Or at least he starts off that way. Slightly tedious.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews