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?
~~
This is one of those rare moments for me where I get to say a book is remarkably good. I like the book summary quite a bit when but I don't think I could have anticipated the depth of the lore James uses in this book or the irresistability of the characters. On the surface it's an urban fantasy much like the others: a lonely hero resisting the monster he fears he might be with his motley crew of sidekicks, each fighting their own demons, hoping to save the day. But it's also much more than that.
John is funny, sardonic, and being inside his head for this battle incredibly interesting. He's not just an almost SPOILER, he's a man with a crap ton of training in defeating monsters who has to do it now on his own terms. The men and women he fights beside are complicated imperfect characters who make choices that have a variety of consequences, few of them pleasant.
I probably haven't been this excited about a new series since Kate Daniels or the Dresden Files and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Overall Feeling - A+
Series - 1) Charming
*Title requested from NetGalley*
