Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Fantastic Fairytales - Charming by Elliot James


 
Published: September 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 400
Copy: from publisher
Summary: Goodreads


He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbows to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt.

That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?


Ok, so I realise that putting this one in under the Fantastic Fairytales banner is a bit of a stretch, but let's face it, where would fairy tales be without the princes Charming? 

Charming was a thoroughly enjoyable, lighthearted and funny paranormal  that explains the inclusion of all those Prince Charming's in the tales, and answers the question 'What happened to them'.  Obviously a good prince Charming never dies.

There was some great world building, with a very plausible, if somewhat unlikely reason for vampires and werewolves etc.  With a diverse cast of characters and a very believable attraction between John and Sig, I particularly loved the fact that they acknowledged their attraction but didn't act on it immediately, or completely..  Stanislavsky and his two nephews made the best bad guys and Molly was just brilliant as the spiritual member of the group.  Her extreme faith was believable, yet she never turned into a bible thumper. With lots of tongue in cheek humour,  this particular Charming has his hands full just keeping himself under the radar, and you'll laugh out loud and cheer him on through all his trials and tribulations. 

Not specifically a YA, this one is just fine for older teens.

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