Pushing Luck

Pax Arcana #0.03

by Elliott James

This is the third in a series of short stories by debut author Elliott James. The first of his novels, Charming , is available now.
Trying to make money off the grid, John Charming discovers an underground poker tournament where the hors d'oeuvres are made of human flesh and the players are gambling with much more than their money. All bets are off.
Word ~12,300
Other Short Fiction by Elliott Charmed I'm Sure Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
Pushing Luck
Surreal Estate Dog-Gone

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Short Stories, Paranormal, Supernatural, Novella, Werewolves

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

An army brat and gypsy scholar, ELLIOTT JAMES is currently living in the blueridge mountains of southwest Virginia. An avid reader since the age of three (or that's what his family swears anyhow), he has an abiding interest in mythology, martial arts, live music, hiking, and used bookstores.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how we're delving more and more into the world and getting more details about John along the way in each of these stories.

The mythology of the rakshasha is fascinated and detailed. I also, especially, liked how John is mistaken for a loup-garou and the further world we get shown because of that.

I liked how poker was incorporated into the story, it wasn't just a backdrop for the plot to take place against. It was an intricate part of the plot.

I'm beginning to get really excited for this series.

Overall Prequels Thoughts (0.1-0.7)
While most of these stories stand alone well, I would recommend reading the 1st and 2nd together, and the 6th and 7th together as well (and don't expect everything, or even the main thing, to be tied up and resolved in these last couple). They're snapshots in John Charming's life, and a moment in time while he deals with a new monster. I'm intrigued and pulled in, while still being somewhat frustrated, and am looking forward to reading the first full-length novel, Charming.

I'm really excited to learning more about the world, the knights, John, and what the hell is going on with the open-ended stuff left hanging from these last two short stories!

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Elliott James writing in this series. I like the way the character talks to the reader during the book. It draws me into the story. Again this is a very short story and will only take about 40 min to read but I liked this one the most out of all the novella's so far.

Charming has entered into a high stakes poker game that seems to be run by Rakshasas and the horderves leave a lot to be desired. I loved the delve into yet another new lore as we explore the Rakshasa's briefly. There isn't a lot of time to jump into the history but it made for an interesting read and I do love a good poker game.

Again not sure it is worth $1.99 and I'm also not sure why all 5 novellas weren't put into a book but if it goes on sale or you like me are just waiting for the next book to come out give it a go. (Maybe they will go on sale with the release of the new book next month)

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still hiding from The Knights, John has to earn some money. He decides to enter a high stakes poker game. Things have changed since he was at one of these tournaments. The guy putting on the tourney is now under the control and influence of a Rakshasa. I love these shorts, always a new monster to learn about.

[Aya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pax Arcana: 0.7
Another short story, independent of the previous works. This one has a whiff of plot, but like the others, is pretty much all action. It also ends abruptly … does the story continue in the next short?

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has a good twist, fills in a very relevant detail about John's life, and has lots of nicely detailed action; but the ending felt a bit abrupt.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story that helps to bring you into the world of John Charming as he navigates his new reality and we wait for his major adventures to happen. The character is definitely a nice guy who has been given a life that he would not have chosen for himself. Having read the first full novel in the series I decided that I liked it and the characters enough to go back and get some background on them where I can.

John gets involved in a high-stakes poker match, one of the many ways that he makes his money during this time, and finds himself in a bad position. It just so happens that one of the players happens to like the taste of flesh and he may be on the menu.

This pulled me in quickly and had me laughing while at the same time being worried about what could happen next. Very nicely done.

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella felt more complete than the previous two, closer to a short story than one long extended scene. The author continues to impress me with his obscure mythology, and clever problem resolution. The Rakshasa was by far the creepiest supe we've encountered to date, well aside from the Bakaak that pops up in DARING. I enjoyed discovering that this series is extra wolf-y when John gets mistaken for a loup-garou, and the additional lore that ensued as a result. The conclusion was a tad too open-ended for my tastes, but for all I know it gets resolved in SURREAL ESTATE, time will tell on that one I guess. Again, not worth the $1.99 price tag.

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun short story addition to the Pax Arcana series, though I do wish that there was just a bit more at the end to completely tie up the loose ends. Saying what would be a spoiler, but there was one question left unanswered (probably on purpose) that I would have preferred to have answered.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't mind the woman in this story. And the villain was interesting. The poker playing. Perhaps not believable. But... whatever. A kinda desperate situation for our hero Charming and perhaps well-handled? Although part of his plan seemed like a desperate, impossible gambit.

[Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. I have to say, I like the non-romance stories in the Pax Arcana way more than the romance based ones.

2. Also, the Rakshasa is an excellent villain. Creepy, and fascinating.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of questions

Several questions are left unanswered at the end of this story. I like John, though, so it's all good. Keep reading.

[Bisquit · Rating 3 out of 5]

We learn more about demon-like monsters and old friends :) I'm curious whether we'll meet Jamie again later on in the main stories!

[Tonya Nardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bringing in legends from India is a nice change and getting more of John’s back story in this is fun.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

These eight short stories are set before the five main Pax Arcana novels and tell the tale of how one John Charming ended up in bartending in Clayburg.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss this series. The stories are great, but I want more books!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Pushing Luck" John infiltrates a high end and highly exclusive poker game with an eye to bringing in a bit of income. Turns out this game has higher stakes than just cash when John realizes a Rakshasa is running the whole thing.

The mythology used in this series is super cool! I mean you've got fairy rings in the first story, a Norwegian water spirit (a fossegrim) in the second, and a being from Hindu/Buddhist lore in the third. I haven't even touched on John's story at all either, which you get in more detail in the actual book Charming, but he's a former member of the Knights Templar and a werewolf, and a descendant of the legendary Charming family.

In these shorts he travels around a bit Jack Reacher like, using his skills and strengths to bring down supernatural baddies. In Charming he's tapped to help bring down a vampire ring or risk his anonymity. These three stories each serve as great extras if you've already read Charming or as cheap intros to the series if you haven't. They all come with a teaser chapter from the book as well.

[Kristen B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is vignette #3 in the prequels to Charming. It centers around another monster - called Rakshasa - that is Indian in origin and feasts on human flesh. Yummy. John stumbles across it while trying to build up his $$ stash in a poker tournament.

You can probably read this in 30-45 minutes. It does not give you any new insight into John Charming, so it is not necessary to read this in order to enjoy the first book. But it further builds the monster world around him, and honestly, is simply a time-filler for you while you wait for book #2 to be released.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short story which pre-dates Charming.

John is invited to a private (illegal) poker game but the host and the canapes aren't all they seem!

I love the way that Elliott James weaves unusual monsters into his stories, I really like something other than the same-old, same-old vampires and weres.

Also John has some cracking one-liners.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I liked it. This third prequel short was my favorite so far. The mythologically based villain what suitably creepy evil and John's plan to save the day was clever. This was the best developed of the shorts so far, but I still think these work best for those who've at least read the first full book,Charming.

[Dr susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pushing Luck disturbed me, and I may not read it again. I know monsters may be monstrous, people can be monstrous, and life is not fair, especially for John Charming, but Pushing Luck had little humor and no winners. Please do not misunderstand me; the story is good, just very grim.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

All John wanted was to make some quick cash at an illegal high stakes poker tournament - that is, before he happened to notice that the hors d'oeuvres served contain human flesh and the entire event is run by a Rakshasa. Another enjoyable read!

[Kim Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story in the Pax Arcana Series and not a standalone book. Lots of action but due to the length of the story the details are left to your imagination. It was still a good read and well recommended if you're into this series.

[Courtney Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite line in a story this week: "He looked like a survivor of a Bukowski poem."

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, almost exactly the right length, except that the ending was too abrupt.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really good. I like the way he builds the weird evil characters in his stories. They aren't redeemable. This one was particularly nasty.

[D.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The villain in this story was WAY scarier than the one in Charming.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all of these Pax Arcana shorts last night and they were all pretty good. I do love the humor.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again short and sweet but this one with those wonderful quips and that fantastic sarcastic tone that keeps me coming back for more!

[Ken]

I really enjoy Elliott James' books. The short stories wet your appetite.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found the ending a little abrupt, but overall quite enjoyable.