Blackjack

by Veronica Schanoes

A woman visiting Las Vegas for a fun weekend encounters her ne’er-do-well ex-husband, who begs her for a favor that gambles with life and death…At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Novella

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2024

Reviews

[Anna Avian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father abandons his family, devastating his daughter's life, only to find himself awaiting her in the afterlife, bound by his actions. An impactful short story with a just conclusion.

[Beth N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica Schanoes clearly believes there is a shortage of Jewishness in modern speculative fiction and the more I read of her writing, the more I am inclined to agree.

The tight focus on Jewish communities, rituals and old-world magic gives this short story a solid grounding and a sense of age and depth that is so often lacking in short fiction. Schanoes has created an intensely likeable protagonist, mature and world-wise. The informality of the narrator voice makes the reader feel instantly connected and gives the story an addictive readability. Vitally, Schanoes has mastered the art of fitting just the right amount of story into her short fiction, striking the perfect balance between action and brevity and leaving us with a feeling of satisfaction at the ending.

This is the second of Schanoes' short stories I have read. I will be looking out eagerly for more.

[Chuck Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun ghost/revenge story! I loved the plot of this short story as well as the characters present, and the ending: chef’s kiss. A very well-done story!

[Nadine in California · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Jewish element in Schanoes speculative short stories - whether the setting is fable-like or 'real', she captures the essence of the kind of Jewishness I grew up with. I can so easily picture the women in this story playing canasta with my aunt and her friends. Her writing is so effortless, it amazes me.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story of a woman who has raised her daughter and grandchildren, despite her first husband running away and the death of her daughter. Going on a holiday to Las Vegas, she encounters her ex-husband, who asks her for help. She reluctantly does so, only to be saddled with him again. The solution to the problem of getting rid of him again would involve a visit to a witch and a lesson for the ex-husband on being there when his daughter needed him.

[MollyK · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was beautiful.

[Rose Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A savage-sweet story of a family split apart after parental abandonment. Schanoes is excellent at sketching detailed and engaging characters with few words, this stories sassy narrator is a gem.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A nice little twist on the "devil goes down to Georgia" type story, with a few twists here and there. I think it didn't fully work for me though, it felt a little bit empty, ultimately.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

More magical realism than fantasy. I appreciated the Jewish culture in it, and the end felt just right.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to re-read this story, I thought about it so much after reading the first time. Really really enjoyed.