Legend Has It: Pax Arcana Series, Book 5

Ive binged all five of the books now and I don’t regret it at all. The witty humor, unexpected twists, and a character that isn’t ping ponging between incompetence and genius is refreshing. The other characters can be endearing, distinct, and irritating, just like how good writing is supposed to be. Highly recommend these books to anyone into fantasy and modern day crossovers or things tangentially related.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who has been reading the series. But then why are you looking at reviews for book 5 if you haven't read books 1-4? Those who have be assured this one is as good as the previous books. For those who haven't go and read book one. If you like you'll like this when you get to it. Also read the novellas. Very entertaining

It was excellent from start to finish but I particularly enjoyed the interludes from the non-main characters. Just two or three pages that gave us a little vignette into different monster attacks, but each was narrated with such a strong voice that I felt like I wanted to read short stories about each of these people. Charming is very fun as always. His quips remain extremely lively and funny. His relationship with Sig has really deepened to the point that you actually feel like they're a real couple, happy to be together and happy to figure things out when they don't always agree. Many of the characters from previous books are here as well with interesting supportive rolls and their own smart-aleck remarks. Really a great book.

I love this series. Interesting world building and the characters have depth. It's very hard to write with humor and Elliott James does a great job of it.

Legend is a touch more serious, I think, than the prior books. Maybe it is a simple case that the author is comfortable with the way he has presented his world and the background on our hero, John Charming, and his merry band of companions. He can focus more intently on the plot, etc. There is a surprise ending, but not a cliffhanger. I am not going to give it away. Read the damn book if you want to know what that is. *wicked cackle*

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Pax Arcana novels of which this is the fifth. I also enjoyed this one which leaves the series at a tidy stopping point. While it can continue, it feels like it has reached a good stopping point. The whole gang is back and absolutely needed as they race to stop the end of the world as we know it. Magic is manifesting in new and unpleasant ways, uniting the Round Table of werewolves with the Knights Templar in order to keep the magic from spreading. Naturally John Charming is in the thick of things. But just who is the bad guy responsible for all the nastiness? You must have read earlier books in the series to enjoy this one. That said, if you have read them and liked them, I think you'll like this one, too.

This series has always been uneven. The third and first were the best with the rest including this one not nearly as good. I expect more from a $10 book. It should be more like $6. The story goes sideways and is just more of the same. Nothing really clever or new. I did finish it though, but would not call it enjoyable all that much.Unlikely I will spend another $10 on this series. Too bad really.

After learning in the last Pax Arcana outing that the Templars have been infiltrated, in this book ex-Templar & current werewolf John Charming and his team have to deal with the infiltrating group whose enmity towards the Templars turns out to date back to Elizabethan England. Unfortunately they have stolen a cursed book of magic which seduces its readers and unleashes magical monsters on the environs. Even more unfortunately, the Templars will nuke New York City if that's what it takes to keep Pax Arcana from being broken. So, no pressure.. Another solid book here. Charming may finally be making some progress turning the fragile Templar/were alliance into something real. The women in Charming's life, Sig (his SO) & Molly (his cleric) remain great characters, and Charming's interior digressions on what he *really* wants to say are entertaining.

Charaktere eines Fantasy-Games materialisieren in New York und verursachen Chaos. Die Templer brauchen John Charming und seine Truppe, um das Ganze in den Griff zu kriegen. Dass das nicht reibungslos funktioniert liegt an vielen Personen (und Dingen) Ein Faktor ist der dhampir Kasia, die ehemalige Geliebte von Sigs früherem Mentor und Liebhaber Stanislaw. Simons Charakter ist ein anderer Stolperstein. Die Art und Weise, wie die Templer den Pax Arcana verteidigen und wie weit sie dabei bereit sind zu gehen noch einer. Und so weiter und so fort. Wie bei allen vorherigen Pax-Arcana-Bücher unheimlich viel wirklich guter Wortwitz und hintergründiger Humor. Ich mag John Charming bei jedem Buch mehr und gebe eine unbedingte Leseempfehlung! Aber natürlich muss man die anderen Bände in der Reihe vorher kennen und am besten auch zumindest einige der Kurzgeschichten (relevant als Vorgeschichte ist hier vor allem "Don't go Chasing Waterfalls", wo Sarah White vorkommt).

the only problem with pax books is i read them in a couple of days then have to wait for the next one...fantastic books i recomend to any fantasy reader

Der Inhalt bei "Legend has it" ist sehr zerstreut. Carming und Co. werden von Ben und indirekt auch von Simon gebeten die Knights bei einer Aufgabe zu unterstützen. Sie sollen herausfinden, wer oder was Fabelwesen entstehen lässt, die es zu vor nicht gab. Der Plot an sich ist nicht absolut neu. Aber es ist auch kein typischer Who-Done-It bei dem Verdächtige befragt werden. Stattdessen wird durch logischen Denken und Ausübung von Druck auf die Knights klar, wer der Schuldige ist. Aber der Schreibstil hat mir bei "Legend has it" nicht gefallen. Statt Smart-Ass Kommentare hält Chaing seitenweise innere Monologe als hätte er die Weisheit gefressen. Der Author definiert die Regeln der Welt, den Sinn des Lebens und die Motivation aller Figuren, für sich und alle Leser, wie jeder Betrunkene es mindestens einmal im Leben getan hat. Eliott unterschätzt den Leser darin, dass er sich selbst ein Fazit oder mehrere ziehen kann. Der Autor dreht sich bei seinen ganzen sozial-gesellschaftlichen Feststellungen ein wenig im Kreis und scheint zu vergessen, dass er einen Urban Fantasy Roman schreibt. Es ist teilweise sehr interessant aber hauptsächlich wird zu langweilig, regelrecht lächerlich. Von den schweren inneren Monologen abgesehen wird nach jedem Charming-Kapitel ein Kapitel aus der Sicht einer Random-Figur erzählt. Diese Figuren kennt Charming nicht. Die Figuren treten zu 90% nicht erneut auf. Diese einzelenen Kapitel sind teilweise sehr gut geschrieben, aber sie konzentrieren sich zu sehr darauf den Charakter der Figur darzustellen anstatt die 5-Minuten Handlung. "Legend has it" zu lesen war sehr mühsam. Vielleicht bin ich auch nicht alt genug oder männlich genug um diese Erzählform wertzuschätzen.

What a welcome return, my word I've missed this guy :) The writing is mint, with a turn of phrase that has me frequently snorting with laughter. Heartily recommend.

The Pax Arcana series is a great read for all who enjoyed the Iron Druid stories and like urban fantasy that does not take itself too seriously. The overall concept is well thought out and the author skillfully plays with the situations - sometimes the absurd humor manages to be reminiscient of Terry Pratchett, and that is the biggest compliment anybody could get.