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Pax Arcana #0.08
Low Elf Esteem
John Charming. Ex knight. Current monster hunter.
A descendant from a long line of monster hunters, John Charming isn't really in the business of saving monsters from humans, but Samuel Blanco is a monster who isn't so...monstrous. Unfortunately, the road to a safe haven for Samuel is a treacherous path through ancient Chinese immortals, a commune where the supernatural do what comes supernaturally, a custody battle over a very special child, and a cult of half elves who are badly overcompensating for only being half elf. Forget happily ever after; it's going to take all of John Charming's brains, skill, and luck just to make it through this Midsummer nightmare.
A descendant from a long line of monster hunters, John Charming isn't really in the business of saving monsters from humans, but Samuel Blanco is a monster who isn't so...monstrous. Unfortunately, the road to a safe haven for Samuel is a treacherous path through ancient Chinese immortals, a commune where the supernatural do what comes supernaturally, a custody battle over a very special child, and a cult of half elves who are badly overcompensating for only being half elf. Forget happily ever after; it's going to take all of John Charming's brains, skill, and luck just to make it through this Midsummer nightmare.
ebook
Published May 16, 2017
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139 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 31, 2017
A quick novella that packs a lot of punch. This is the last of the novellas and it leads to the start of the first full length book in the series. While it wasn't my favorite, I have a better insight into John Charming's character because of it. This one was also more serious in tone but still excellent and well recommended.
June 8, 2017
Good short. Full story but I wouldn't read it as a place to start the series.
October 9, 2017
I cannot believe I missed that this short story was released. I cannot say enough times that I love John Charming. I just reread the first four books so all the events that happen just after this short story are fresh in my mind, and I can see the changes in John's life and his personality. And he get the very best lines. And unlike so many urban fantasy protagonists, sometimes John keeps his snark in his head, but he lets us know what he really wanted to say. We are also blessed with little asides, like "Damn you, situational irony." There is small amount of situation irony in John's life.
Keep the stories coming, Elliott James. I love love love John Charming.
Keep the stories coming, Elliott James. I love love love John Charming.
January 1, 2024
I love everything he has published so far and want more.
December 13, 2021
This novella didn't go like I had expected it too, but in a good way. I love that it sets things up to go right into how the first full novel in this series. It's so nice and smooth of a set up too. It makes me very happy.
I discovered that there were these shorter stories in the Pax Arcana universe after I had already gone through the first two or three books in the series. So, I was very excited to discover these and I am a bit sad that there aren't any more maybe fitting into later in the series or going over events earlier in John Charming's life. If Mr. Elliott James ever comes out with any more of these novellas in this series, I definitely plan on reading them. If all these little novellas were put together into one volume and made into an audiobook, that'd be awesome! I would buy it despite having all of them on ebook now.
This is a book sereies that I have read in ebook format and also listened to in audobook format, and I enjoy both. I don't know which is the better version.
I also love that we finish up the story arc that we had going on with John's elemental werebull companion. This last novella just does so many good things. It's feel like it is a very good conclusion to these series of prequel novellas. It ties up all the loose ends that are left that the novella's brought up and again it sets things up so well, I think, to go right into that first novel. It answers a bunch of questions that I had about John Charming and how that first book starts that aren't answered anywhere else, like why the heck did he choose Clayburg to stay for a bit. I had been trying to figure out what drew him to that place over others and if it had some kind of strategic value or something. Now I know, and it is such a better reason than anything I had come up with.
I kind of want to go back though the whole series now that I have finished all the novellas. I had already finished all the novels in the series that are published so far in the series. I did that first in part because I discovered the novellas after the books. It has been really nice to ready the novellas in-between the novels. It gives the novellas almost like an on going flashback quality that I keep returning too, and now I am at the perfect spot to just start all the novels over again. I don't normally reread or re-listen to books, but I have really enjoyed this series.
I discovered that there were these shorter stories in the Pax Arcana universe after I had already gone through the first two or three books in the series. So, I was very excited to discover these and I am a bit sad that there aren't any more maybe fitting into later in the series or going over events earlier in John Charming's life. If Mr. Elliott James ever comes out with any more of these novellas in this series, I definitely plan on reading them. If all these little novellas were put together into one volume and made into an audiobook, that'd be awesome! I would buy it despite having all of them on ebook now.
This is a book sereies that I have read in ebook format and also listened to in audobook format, and I enjoy both. I don't know which is the better version.
I also love that we finish up the story arc that we had going on with John's elemental werebull companion. This last novella just does so many good things. It's feel like it is a very good conclusion to these series of prequel novellas. It ties up all the loose ends that are left that the novella's brought up and again it sets things up so well, I think, to go right into that first novel. It answers a bunch of questions that I had about John Charming and how that first book starts that aren't answered anywhere else, like why the heck did he choose Clayburg to stay for a bit. I had been trying to figure out what drew him to that place over others and if it had some kind of strategic value or something. Now I know, and it is such a better reason than anything I had come up with.
I kind of want to go back though the whole series now that I have finished all the novellas. I had already finished all the novels in the series that are published so far in the series. I did that first in part because I discovered the novellas after the books. It has been really nice to ready the novellas in-between the novels. It gives the novellas almost like an on going flashback quality that I keep returning too, and now I am at the perfect spot to just start all the novels over again. I don't normally reread or re-listen to books, but I have really enjoyed this series.
October 3, 2019
Low Elf Esteem (Pax Arcana #0.08)
by Elliott James
This was recommended to me by a Facebook friend who has similar taste in book genres. I enjoyed it. To be frank I enjoyed it much more before reading the last page. Okay, here we go.
What I liked: interesting writing style, excellent, relatable characterizations, very good proofing and editing (I did find one really obvious proofing error, but only one), a very intriguing storyline, plenty of action, enough backstory to allow me to understand what the relationships between many of the paranormal beings that populate the book were and why they were.
What kinda bothered me: there was really too much backstory to put in the book. I was left wondering about that first meeting, about the main character's "knighthood," and what that even meant or what organization it was, what was the event that left the former "knight" a werebeast, and why did that necessitate the end of his knighthood (yes, yes, I know -- monster hunters and all that) -- and so so many other backstories that were partially explained, but not fully. I felt if all that had been in the book it probably would have been too much backstory, yet it still felt like not enough. I was just left with a very unsettled feeling about the background that led up to the actual story.
What I absolutely didn't like: the ending, which wasn't really an ending, but another book where the author just stops writing. Yes, the basic issue in the book is resolved, I guess, but the denouncement wasn't really a wrap up of the story, but a definite dropping of the initial reason the characters were together in the first place. Perhaps this was done in order to entice readers to read the next book to find out why that final puzzle wasn't better settled. I tend to be very hard on cliffhanger endings as it signals two things to me: 1) an author who is very insecure and who has no faith in his own talents, and 2) an author who has so little respect for his readers that he is happy to leave them in the lurch. I'm sure there are readers who prefer that type of ending. I'm not one of them. So, unless one of the books in the series shows up on a free or low cost list, I doubt I'll read more of them.
by Elliott James
This was recommended to me by a Facebook friend who has similar taste in book genres. I enjoyed it. To be frank I enjoyed it much more before reading the last page. Okay, here we go.
What I liked: interesting writing style, excellent, relatable characterizations, very good proofing and editing (I did find one really obvious proofing error, but only one), a very intriguing storyline, plenty of action, enough backstory to allow me to understand what the relationships between many of the paranormal beings that populate the book were and why they were.
What kinda bothered me: there was really too much backstory to put in the book. I was left wondering about that first meeting, about the main character's "knighthood," and what that even meant or what organization it was, what was the event that left the former "knight" a werebeast, and why did that necessitate the end of his knighthood (yes, yes, I know -- monster hunters and all that) -- and so so many other backstories that were partially explained, but not fully. I felt if all that had been in the book it probably would have been too much backstory, yet it still felt like not enough. I was just left with a very unsettled feeling about the background that led up to the actual story.
What I absolutely didn't like: the ending, which wasn't really an ending, but another book where the author just stops writing. Yes, the basic issue in the book is resolved, I guess, but the denouncement wasn't really a wrap up of the story, but a definite dropping of the initial reason the characters were together in the first place. Perhaps this was done in order to entice readers to read the next book to find out why that final puzzle wasn't better settled. I tend to be very hard on cliffhanger endings as it signals two things to me: 1) an author who is very insecure and who has no faith in his own talents, and 2) an author who has so little respect for his readers that he is happy to leave them in the lurch. I'm sure there are readers who prefer that type of ending. I'm not one of them. So, unless one of the books in the series shows up on a free or low cost list, I doubt I'll read more of them.
September 1, 2018
The last one in a collection of short stories by my favorite UF author. Love it . Wanted to share all those cunningly wrought phrases. But who out there appreciates Elliott’s writing the way I do? I feel rather alone with my love affair with the Pax Arcana series. John is one of my all time favorite literary characters, and I just cannot get enough of him. This story takes place just before the first book and sets the scene very nicely.
October 15, 2017
I really like these stories/books and i REALLY wish we had them at the library so i could shout their praise from the rooftops (or you know quietly push them from the fantasy area!) great tone great mythologies great character. These books are great for fans of butcher, hearne, vaughn, briggs, andrews, aaronovitch... I could go on but you should just try them for yourself!
July 9, 2017
I love these books
I guess this is the last one, since it's come full circle. I really like these short books and could read many more like this. I hope the rest of the series is just as entertaining.
I guess this is the last one, since it's come full circle. I really like these short books and could read many more like this. I hope the rest of the series is just as entertaining.
August 1, 2018
I was very pleased with this short story and thought it capped off the Samuel plot nicely. James's writing is exciting for me because it blows past the oddity of magical creatures which so many authors seem dazzled by and focuses on the inner humanity of the characters. I love that.
February 19, 2021
Solid entry into this series, stand alone novella no need to read the rest. Timeline is pre main series. I like this urban fantasy setting that Mr. James has developed, and his characters are well also developed.
May 17, 2017
Another fun short in the Pax Arcana series.
May 20, 2017
Love this series.
September 25, 2018
I liked Lan for a lot of reasons and the settling of Samuel felt like a good resolution.
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.
December 9, 2018
Great as always!
Wish I knew it he was going to publish more. EVERYTHING he writes is a delightful adventure. John Charming is my hero.
Wish I knew it he was going to publish more. EVERYTHING he writes is a delightful adventure. John Charming is my hero.
August 21, 2017
Elliott James is plain old great.
August 21, 2018
I love Charming! James's Pax Arcana series is full of great characters and I love the variety of mythological creatures John encounters.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews