Elliott James

Only a few pages in, but my initial impression has been steadily strenthening: Jim Butcher copycat. A lot of telling instead of showing, but I’m willing to stay a little longer and see where it goes.

For the narrator: Sig Sauer is pronounced “sour” not “sawyer;” and pen-TAG-onal, not pen-ta-GON-al.

Finished: Definite overtones of The Dresden Files, even down to the series arc of “something bigger” going on in the wild world of the supernatural. It’s okay, as far as the story. It has a handful of scenes that were manhandled rather than finessed.

I will give the second book a try.… (mere)

4.5

Book source ~ Purchased

John Charming is an unassuming bartender in Virginia trying to lead a quiet life and stay under the supernatural radar. Because he’s something special in their world, but liked by none. Hunted by the Knights Templar (or current version thereof) and disliked by the typical supes (maybe because he kills them - who knows?), he’s just trying to live his life. But then a super hot blonde (Sig) walks into his bar with a vampire soon following. John figures it’s time to move on. Again. Except this time, he’s pulled into Sig’s world and has to decide - stay or go?

The fast pace, mystery to solve, danger, sarcastic humor, and supernatural all put me in mind of Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher). If you like your stories to have those ingredients then dig in. It’s a tasty treat. It’s different enough to be fresh, too. The world building is great, the characters are terrific, the mystery satisfying, and the villain makes me want to chop a body into a million tiny pieces. Probably with a wood chipper. There’s plenty of plot here and no boredom in sight.

I finally had a chance to listen to this on my drive home to North Carolina from my mom’s farm in Ohio. Listening at 1.5x was just about perfect. I finished right before I pulled into my driveway. I’m looking forward to picking up book 2 because it was so easy to fall into this world and let the hours fly by.… (mere)