Elliott James
Elliott James has published 13 books. The recommended reading order starts with Charmed I'm Sure (2013).
Elliott James writes urban fantasy novels and short stories, drawing on a wide range of interests including mythology, martial arts, live music, hiking, and used bookstores. He sometimes tells fibs, and he chose writing as a profession because he wanted to earn money doing it.
His debut novel, Charming, was published in 2013. He is also known for writing the Pax Arcana series. His family claims he began reading at age three. James owns a cell phone, though he believes aliens inserted them into our culture to track us like beasts in a herd.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Pax Arcana Books
- TagsfantasyDescriptionThe interstate highway at night is no place for a man to wake up naked and with no memory. But for Tom Morris, driving away isn't an option. He carries secrets of his own, including a lineage steeped in hunting monsters, breaking enchantments, and finding witches. His true name, he discovers, is John Charming. Once a knight, John Charming now walks the shadowed path as a monster hunter. His encounter with the disoriented man on the highway, however, pulls him into a world where the smart move is to keep driving, but a deeper obligation compels him to stay. It seems even those with secrets must sometimes confront the unknown. This short story from Elliott James invites you into the contemporary fantasy world of the Pax Arcana, where the line between hunter and hunted blurs under the moonlit sky.Publication dateAugust 15, 2013Amazon rating4/5Print length45LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsurban-fantasyfantasyhorrorDescriptionJohn Charming isn't your average Prince. He comes from a long line of monster hunters, trained by a modern-day version of the Knights Templar. He was one of the best—until a curse made him an abomination. Now, the Knights he once served want him dead. He lives a quiet life, tending bar under an assumed name, trying to protect others from the danger he represents. But his peace shatters when a vampire and a blonde walk into his bar. He is compelled to protect the Pax Arcana, a spell meant to keep humanity safe from the magic world. Yet, he is a werewolf, an abomination the Knights hunt. Still hurting from the death of his wife in a trap meant for him, he wants to keep to himself. Fate, however, has other plans.Publication dateSeptember 24, 2013Amazon rating4.2/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- TagsfantasyDescriptionA teacup poodle, covered in blood, is the sole survivor in a locked house full of ripped-apart bodies. Somewhere in Alaska, a dead woman's voice speaks through a car radio, and nightmare hounds pursue the last descendant of John Charming's friend. As a monster hunter, John Charming is no stranger to the darkness, but even he may not be prepared for the horrors that have begun to surface. The dog days have truly begun.Publication dateOctober 28, 2013Amazon rating4.2/5Print length50LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- TagsfantasyhorrorDescriptionJohn Charming, ex-knight and current monster hunter, seeks help from Sarah White for a ghost problem. He soon finds himself facing a restless spirit on a different scale. Hunting a water spirit when out of your depth is a dangerous proposition. This short story is part of Elliott James's Pax Arcana world.Publication dateSeptember 17, 2013Amazon rating4.2/5Print length41LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- TagsfantasyDescriptionEx knight and current monster hunter John Charming is trying to make money off the grid when he discovers an underground poker tournament. The hors d'oeuvres are made of human flesh, and the players are gambling with much more than their money. All bets are off.Publication dateOctober 15, 2013Amazon rating4.2/5Print length53LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsfantasyhorrorparanormal-romanceDescriptionIn Wisconsin, something is rotten. Werewolf packs are being united, absorbed into an army of super soldiers by a mysterious figure who speaks like an angel and fights like a demon. The Knight Templar, keepers of the magical peace between mankind and magickind, are falling. Every Templar who tries to get close to this big bad wolf winds up dead, unable to infiltrate a group whose members can smell a human from a mile away. But there is one exception: John Charming. An ex-knight, now a werewolf, he is hunted by the very men who trained him. Yet, he might be their only salvation. Animal instincts are rising to claim John more powerfully than ever before, forcing him to decide if this new leader of wolves is a madman. . . or a messiah. Sharp, sarcastic, and efficiently lethal, John Charming is a character who would feel right at home sharing a drink with Dean Winchester and Harry Dresden, and this second book in the Pax Arcana series is just as addicting as the first.Publication dateSeptember 23, 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length401LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsurban-fantasyfantasyDescriptionJohn Charming, an ex-knight and current monster hunter, finds himself trapped in a house that exists only in dreams. The line between reality and nightmare blurs as he is hunted through a labyrinth of his own subconscious. What begins as a simple hunt quickly escalates into a desperate fight for survival against the very fabric of his mind. With the boundaries of sanity dissolving around him, John must confront the horrors lurking within the surreal architecture of this dreamscape. Can he escape the nightmare house before it consumes him entirely, or will he become just another lost soul within its ever-shifting walls?Publication dateJanuary 14, 2014Amazon rating3.9/5Print length32LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsshort-storiesurban-fantasyfantasyDescriptionJohn Charming is an ex-knight, now a monster hunter. His life used to be simple: find monster, kill monster. But he stumbles into Vista Verde. The town holds a big secret. The simple answer is a load of bull. Elliott James presents a story within his Pax Arcana world.Publication dateAugust 11, 2015Amazon rating4.2/5Print length47LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsurban-fantasyfantasyDescriptionIn a small college town, the peace is shattered when someone declares war on Kevin Kichida, enlisting a roster of magical predators. The good news for Kichida is that Ted Cahill, an old ally of John Charming, now serves as the town's sheriff. Yet, as John and his team investigate the pattern of attacks, they are drawn into a labyrinth of supernatural threats, hidden family secrets, and betrayals that have festered for ages. The deeper they dig, the more John suspects Kichida is not merely a target, but a sacrifice poised to happen. The thread John is following feels less like a clue and more like a fuse, burning toward an inevitable explosion. This urban fantasy offers a fresh take on the Prince Charming narrative, weaving a fast-paced tale with rich world-building and a strong female lead as the danger escalates.Publication dateAugust 11, 2015Amazon rating4.4/5Print length448LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- TagsfantasyDescriptionJohn Charming, ex-knight and current monster hunter, faces a creature he can't bring himself to kill. But that's not his only problem. Magic and technology don't mix, yet a phone sex operation is enchanting men through their cell phones. How is this possible? Elliott James plunges readers back into his Pax Arcana world for a short story that questions the boundaries of the supernatural.Publication dateApril 28, 2015Amazon rating4.3/5Print length57LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsurban-fantasyfantasyhorrorDescriptionThis fairy godmother's got claws. When someone kidnaps the last surviving descendant of the Grandmaster of the Knights Templar, it's bad news. When the baby is the key to the tenuous alliance between a large werewolf pack and the knights, it's even worse news. They're at each other's throats before they've even begun to look for baby Constance. But whoever kidnapped Constance didn't count on one thing: she's also the goddaughter of John Charming. Modern-day descendant of a long line of famous dragon slayers, witch finders, and wrong righters. John may not have any experience being a parent, but someone is about to find out that he can be one mean mother. In Shining Armor gives a new twist to the Prince Charming tale.Publication dateApril 26, 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length464LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tagsurban-fantasyfantasyhorrorparanormal-romanceDescriptionHigh school students are turning into zombies. Subway workers are becoming dwarves. Drug addicts are transforming into vampires. A magic book is reading its readers, and the chaos is spreading across New York City. For John Charming, a werewolf anathema to his knightly upbringing, living the dream has become a nightmare. He and his motley band of monster hunters are racing through a twisted wonderland to find the villainous Reader X. If they can't stop Reader X before the book is closed, there won't be a happily ever after again.Publication dateApril 18, 2017Amazon rating4.5/5Print length448LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
- Tags---DescriptionJohn Charming is an ex-knight and current monster hunter, a descendant from a long line of such. He doesn't usually save monsters from humans, but Samuel Blanco is a monster who isn't so monstrous. The path to a safe haven for Samuel is treacherous, leading through ancient Chinese immortals, a commune for the supernatural, a custody battle over a special child, and a cult of half-elves overcompensating for their heritage. Forget happily ever after; it will take all of John Charming's brains, skill, and luck just to survive this Midsummer nightmare.Publication dateJuly 24, 2018Amazon rating4.3/5Print length88LanguageEnglishPublisherOrbit
Frequently Asked Questions about Elliott James
Elliott James writes urban fantasy novels and short stories. He draws inspiration from a variety of subjects, including mythology, martial arts, live music, hiking, and used bookstores. His debut novel, Charming, was published in 2013. He is also known for the Pax Arcana series. His family suggests he started reading at a very young age.
The Pax Arcana series is a good place to start with Elliott James's work. The first book in this series is Charmed I'm Sure, published in 2013. Following the books in order within the series is recommended to best follow the narrative and character development.
While some individual stories might offer a glimpse into his world, reading the Pax Arcana series in publication order is the most effective way to experience the overarching story and character arcs Elliott James has developed. Starting with the first book, Charmed I'm Sure, allows readers to follow the progression of the narrative as intended.
Elliott James primarily writes series, with the Pax Arcana series being his most notable work. While his debut novel Charming was published in the same year as the first Pax Arcana books, his focus has been on developing longer, interconnected narratives within his urban fantasy settings. This approach allows for deeper exploration of characters and their ongoing adventures.
Elliott James has written more than 10 books in the Pax Arcana series alone. Details on the exact total number of standalone novels or other series are not readily available, but his published work includes numerous titles within the Pax Arcana universe, indicating a significant contribution to the urban fantasy genre.
The first book Elliott James wrote was Charming, published in 2013. This novel marked his debut in the literary world. In the same year, he also began the Pax Arcana series with the release of Charmed I'm Sure, also in 2013. These early works established his presence in the urban fantasy genre.
The most recent book by Elliott James is not specified in the provided information. His known works include the Pax Arcana series, which has seen multiple entries since its inception in 2013. Readers interested in his latest output should check for new releases or announcements regarding any ongoing or new projects.
Elliott James writes urban fantasy novels and short stories. His work often incorporates elements from mythology, martial arts, live music, hiking, and a fondness for used bookstores. This blend of influences contributes to the unique atmosphere and narrative style found within his books, particularly in the Pax Arcana series.
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A.R. Kahler
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We verified the reading order for Elliott James's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Elliott James Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/elliott-james