Charming (Pax Arcana)
Although John Charming looks human, he is part werewolf and genetically compelled to help keep the Pax Arcana, the shroud of secrecy that keeps most humans unaware of the supernaturals around us. Working as a bartender, he is fascinated by Sig, a six-foot-tall blond with something of the supernatural about her. It turns out she is a Valkyrie on the hunt for vampires responsible for the disappearance of several young women. John ends up teaming up with Sig and her cohorts: a psychic who looks like an old guy on steroids; his two Eastern European nephews; a cop, Choo, who is a professional exterminator; and Molly, a former Episcopal priest. In a saturated literary realm, James’ tale stands out for the gritty, believable world he builds, and provides a reason for the genre’s renewed strength. This is masculine urban fantasy in the vein of Jim Butcher and Mark del Franco. --Diana Tixier Herald