Where to Start with Elliott James
For readers diving into the Pax Arcana universe, the absolute best starting point is the first full-length novel, Charming (2013). While Elliott James wrote several short stories that take place chronologically before this book, starting here is essential. Charming establishes the rules of the supernatural world, explains the magical glamour known as the Pax Arcana, and introduces the central conflicts and allies that define John Charming's journey. Beginning with the prequels might spoil some of the mystery surrounding John's heritage and the reasons he is running from his former employers.
Pax Arcana Reading Order Options
Depending on how you prefer to digest urban fantasy series, there are two primary ways to read through the Pax Arcana catalog: by publication order (which is how the stories were originally released to build anticipation) or chronologically (to watch John's history unfold step-by-step).
Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)
Reading in publication order allows you to experience the world just as the author built it. The short stories were released digitally to supplement the novels, providing fun side-adventures and backstory between major book releases. Following this path keeps the narrative pacing fresh and ensures you read the side stories with the proper context of the main books:
- Charmed I'm Sure (2013) – Short Story
- Charming (2013) – Novel #1
- Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls (2013) – Short Story
- Pushing Luck (2013) – Short Story
- Surreal Estate (2013) – Short Story
- Daring (2014) – Novel #2
- Dog-Gone (2014) – Short Story
- Bulls Rush In (2015) – Short Story
- Talking Dirty (2015) – Short Story
- Fearless (2015) – Novel #3
- In Shining Armor (2016) – Novel #4
- Legend Has It (2017) – Novel #5
- Low Elf Esteem (2018) – Novella
Option 2: Chronological Reading Order
If you want to follow John Charming's life strictly in the order the events occurred, the early short stories serve as prequels that show John's life on the run before the major status-quo shifts of the first novel. The chronological sequence is as follows:
- Charmed I'm Sure (Prequel #0.01) – John encounters a memory-wiped man on a highway, forcing him to risk exposing his hidden life.
- Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls (Prequel #0.02) – John assists the "Cunning Folk" with a dangerous water spirit (a Fossegrim).
- Pushing Luck (Prequel #0.03) – John investigates a high-stakes, supernatural poker tournament.
- Surreal Estate (Prequel #0.04) – A tense tale where John is trapped in a shifting, haunted nightmare house.
- Dog-Gone (Prequel #0.05) – John heads to Alaska to protect the heir of an old friend from terrifying nightmare hounds.
- Charming (Novel #1) – The main story begins as John, working under a fake name as a bartender, is tracked down and forced to face his past.
- Daring (Novel #2) – John deals with werewolf pack politics, Valkyries, and ancient conspiracies.
- Bulls Rush In (Side Story #0.06) – John encounters a small town with a dark, hidden supernatural secret.
- Talking Dirty (Side Story #0.07) – An investigation that leads John into deep-seated family secrets and betrayal.
- Fearless (Novel #3) – The war between supernatural factions heats up, and John must prevent a devastating conspiracy.
- In Shining Armor (Novel #4) – John is drawn into conflicts involving the Fae and ancient magical royalty.
- Legend Has It (Novel #5) – John faces international supernatural threats and ancient deities in a major climax.
- Low Elf Esteem (Novella #5.5) – John tries to protect a monster named Samuel Blanco from a half-elf cult and ancient immortals.
What to Know Before You Start
The Pax Arcana series is set in a world where the "Pax Arcana"—a massive, global magical glamour—prevents ordinary humans from perceiving magic and supernatural entities. The world is policed by the Knights Templar, a modern, highly trained organization that hunts monsters using a mix of traditional magic, Kevlar, and shotguns.
John Charming is the protagonist and narrator. He is a descendant of the legendary line of "Prince Charmings"—families of dragon-slayers, witch-finders, and monster-hunters. However, John manifested werewolf abilities, turning him into the very thing he was trained to kill. This forced him to flee the Templars and live off the grid as a rogue hunter.
Readers who enjoy the snarky, first-person narration and rich mythological tapestries of Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files or Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles will find themselves right at home with Elliott James's writing. The tone balances grit, action, humor, and a deep appreciation for global mythologies.
Current Status of the Series
The main narrative arc of the Pax Arcana series concludes with the fifth novel, Legend Has It, which was published in 2017, followed by the novella Low Elf Esteem in 2018. Since then, Elliott James has been inactive on social media, and no further books have been announced or published. While the fifth book wraps up the primary storyline, some secondary threads remain open, but it serves as a satisfying conclusion to John Charming's initial arc.