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Deck Runner's Gambit
“Behind the neon glow lies a darker truth – welcome to Vegas Arcana."
"I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the world building. It kept me turning pages to see how it would end, and James left a nice cliffhanger for the next book." — R.L. King, bestselling author of the Alastair Stone Chronicles
"Gripping and refreshingly original urban fantasy. It's a spellbinding adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat." —Rachel Aukes, bestselling author of Space Junk
"James delivers a fresh, sensory-rich adventure in a world full of magic that will leave you eager for more." —Sarah Ready, bestselling author of Ghosted and Switched
In the neon buzz of Las Vegas, Malcolm Byrne discovers a secret: magic is real, and it’s everywhere. Thrust into the hidden conflict between the Deck Runners, who channel their magic through playing cards, and the Peerage, traditional magicians wary of their methods, Malcolm finds himself at the heart of a dangerous game when Cassie Draven, a member of the Peerage with her own sinister motives and ambitions, emerges as a formidable threat.
“Vegas Arcana: Deck Runner’s Gambit” races through a world of shadowy magic and shifting alliances. Engage in a riveting tale of magic, mystery, and the fight for balance in a city that never sleeps.
"I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the world building. It kept me turning pages to see how it would end, and James left a nice cliffhanger for the next book." — R.L. King, bestselling author of the Alastair Stone Chronicles
"Gripping and refreshingly original urban fantasy. It's a spellbinding adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat." —Rachel Aukes, bestselling author of Space Junk
"James delivers a fresh, sensory-rich adventure in a world full of magic that will leave you eager for more." —Sarah Ready, bestselling author of Ghosted and Switched
In the neon buzz of Las Vegas, Malcolm Byrne discovers a secret: magic is real, and it’s everywhere. Thrust into the hidden conflict between the Deck Runners, who channel their magic through playing cards, and the Peerage, traditional magicians wary of their methods, Malcolm finds himself at the heart of a dangerous game when Cassie Draven, a member of the Peerage with her own sinister motives and ambitions, emerges as a formidable threat.
“Vegas Arcana: Deck Runner’s Gambit” races through a world of shadowy magic and shifting alliances. Engage in a riveting tale of magic, mystery, and the fight for balance in a city that never sleeps.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2024
48 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
James Anderson Foster
285 books14 followersHey there! I'm James Anderson Foster, the mind behind the Arcanaverse—a sprawling Urban Fantasy saga that might just make you question reality (in the best way possible).
When I'm not cooking up magical mayhem in Las Vegas, Nevada, you can find me sipping bourbon, pondering the intricacies of Chaos magic, or trying to impress my unimpressed cat. Spoiler alert: the cat wins every time.
My Urban Fantasy novels blend the mystical with the mundane, often inspired by late-night "what if" sessions and way too much caffeine. Think ancient Egyptian spellcraft meets modern AI, with a dash of Norse runes for good measure.
By day, I'm a family man, cherishing moments with my wife and kids. By night, I'm weaving tales of arcane adventures that have somehow earned me a few awards (don't ask me how, I'm as surprised as you are).
Want to dive into the Arcanaverse? Swing by jamesandersonfoster(dot)net for a free book and more!
Fair warning: side effects may include an increased belief in magic, a sudden interest in tarot cards, and the irresistible urge to check your closet for hidden portals.
When I'm not cooking up magical mayhem in Las Vegas, Nevada, you can find me sipping bourbon, pondering the intricacies of Chaos magic, or trying to impress my unimpressed cat. Spoiler alert: the cat wins every time.
My Urban Fantasy novels blend the mystical with the mundane, often inspired by late-night "what if" sessions and way too much caffeine. Think ancient Egyptian spellcraft meets modern AI, with a dash of Norse runes for good measure.
By day, I'm a family man, cherishing moments with my wife and kids. By night, I'm weaving tales of arcane adventures that have somehow earned me a few awards (don't ask me how, I'm as surprised as you are).
Want to dive into the Arcanaverse? Swing by jamesandersonfoster(dot)net for a free book and more!
Fair warning: side effects may include an increased belief in magic, a sudden interest in tarot cards, and the irresistible urge to check your closet for hidden portals.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 11, 2024
I LOVE URBAN FANTASY!
I was so excited when I heard about this new series coming out. It’s Urban Fantasy, plausible fiction in the real city of Las Vegas with a fresh new take on the hidden world of magic—but not the traditional mundane kind of performance magic with levers and pullies or sleight of hand, THIS IS REAL MAGIC!
I’ve never been to Vegas, but like some I have witnessed it through stories from friends, numerous TV shows and movies, but now I want to see behind the curtain and into this secret world of Vegas Arcana. Well done!
I was so excited when I heard about this new series coming out. It’s Urban Fantasy, plausible fiction in the real city of Las Vegas with a fresh new take on the hidden world of magic—but not the traditional mundane kind of performance magic with levers and pullies or sleight of hand, THIS IS REAL MAGIC!
I’ve never been to Vegas, but like some I have witnessed it through stories from friends, numerous TV shows and movies, but now I want to see behind the curtain and into this secret world of Vegas Arcana. Well done!
May 23, 2024
Deck Runner’s Gambit gives us a great setting and an interesting concept. However, there are some serious flaws in the execution that turn a promising book into average.
Malcolm “Mal” Byrne is lured out of his dull cubicle 9 to 5 job by a series of psychedelic threads of light and cryptic text messages from a mysterious number. During his pursuit, he is followed by some sinister magic users who attack him. He is rescued by his friend, Jake, who is gravely wounded in the process. In his grief and guilt, Mal meets Jake’s friend, Eli Hawthorne, who is part of a secret organization called the Deck Runners, magic users who use their impressive supernatural powers of energy manipulation to fight against another group called the Peerage. Eli and the other Deck Runners also sense magic inside Mal and he signs up. Good thing too, because a Peerage member, Cassie Draven, has found a way to use dark magic to destroy the modern world and build a magically run one around it.
The strongest aspects of the book are the Las Vegas setting and the initial concept of people studying and using arcane magic in the modern world. It is a great idea to use Vegas as the primary setting because it is one of the American cities which typify modern life at its worst. Everything there is now, loud, bright, fast, and transient. Everything in Las Vegas from the games, casinos, food, entertainment, is a means to get rich and achieve personal pleasure. It would be the antithesis of studying something like magic which would take deep concentration, intellectual curiosity, solitude, and a deeper understanding into the subconscious beyond a quick win and a night of pleasure.
This strange dichotomy between the setting and the character’s pursuits is first explored in the opening chapter. Among the neon signs, the blaring games of chance, the excited screams and disappointed cries of gamblers, Mal sees the threads of magical energy leading him to the Deck Runners. Once he is attuned to the idea of magic, he sees it all around him. It becomes more real than the artifice that he usually experiences. This acceptance of the metaphysical world gives Mal purpose that a drab office life in such a glitzy city would bring. He is excited and enraptured by this adventure while it’s scary and ultimately filled with consequences . Mal sees that it is preferable to the previous life of quiet desperation he lived where he was surrounded by noise and longing to be heard. Magic gives him a voice and a drive that he would otherwise not have had.
Deck Runner’s Gambit is a book that is not without its flaws and oddly enough they become noticeable once Mal joins the Deck Runners and begins practicing magic. The powers are pretty interesting and some are even unique. For example, the Runners draw specific cards and bring forward whatever magic they need from them such as light, or fire, water, whatever is necessary. It requires thought, concentration, and some improv especially when the Peerage also has access to such powers. The concept of two competing teams of magic users is pretty interesting and raises the question whether which side is truly right or wrong, or if they are simply separate schools of magic with different philosophies but similar practices. But this world comes at the expense of the characterization within it.
Once Mal is introduced to the idea of magic however, his transformation from student to master is a little too rushed. This is a man who spent his whole life not believing, a skeptic, someone who probably never questioned or explored the unexamined life. He was just content to work, flirt, eat, go home, get money, hang out with friends, and sleep. It’s great that he is open to this new world and admirable that he wants to be a part of it. But it would also make sense for there to be more reluctance and timidity about his pursuits, a hesitancy to fully embrace or believe in what is in front of him. After all, living in Las Vegas, he would have seen plenty of illusionist acts and one would imagine that he would be on the lookout for a nonexistent curtain, expecting a lovely assistant to pop up, or wondering about the tricks to it.
It could also work the other way as well. Mal could be so open to the pursuit that he acts recklessly. He could lose his temper or consider using his magic for selfish means before he wises up. But he adjusts and adapts to quickly to be believable. There should be more development in his steps between Magician Padawan and Magician Jedi Knight.
There is some cringy dialogue that borders on cliche. (“Welcome to the final act,” Cassie taunts. “..:Looks like your runner has run out of deck.”) It’s to the point where if you have read these types of books before, you can predict exactly what the characters are going to say before they say it. (“This isn’t over, Cassie!”) Some of it’s fun in a cheesy action fantasy sort of way but after a while it gets repetitive and makes one wonder if the book was written while watching too many movies or TV episodes. That may also account for some of the plot points that are meant to be twists that are all too easy to guess.
Vegas Arcana Deck Runner’s Gambit is aces when it comes to setting and concept but it needs work to really come up a winner.
Malcolm “Mal” Byrne is lured out of his dull cubicle 9 to 5 job by a series of psychedelic threads of light and cryptic text messages from a mysterious number. During his pursuit, he is followed by some sinister magic users who attack him. He is rescued by his friend, Jake, who is gravely wounded in the process. In his grief and guilt, Mal meets Jake’s friend, Eli Hawthorne, who is part of a secret organization called the Deck Runners, magic users who use their impressive supernatural powers of energy manipulation to fight against another group called the Peerage. Eli and the other Deck Runners also sense magic inside Mal and he signs up. Good thing too, because a Peerage member, Cassie Draven, has found a way to use dark magic to destroy the modern world and build a magically run one around it.
The strongest aspects of the book are the Las Vegas setting and the initial concept of people studying and using arcane magic in the modern world. It is a great idea to use Vegas as the primary setting because it is one of the American cities which typify modern life at its worst. Everything there is now, loud, bright, fast, and transient. Everything in Las Vegas from the games, casinos, food, entertainment, is a means to get rich and achieve personal pleasure. It would be the antithesis of studying something like magic which would take deep concentration, intellectual curiosity, solitude, and a deeper understanding into the subconscious beyond a quick win and a night of pleasure.
This strange dichotomy between the setting and the character’s pursuits is first explored in the opening chapter. Among the neon signs, the blaring games of chance, the excited screams and disappointed cries of gamblers, Mal sees the threads of magical energy leading him to the Deck Runners. Once he is attuned to the idea of magic, he sees it all around him. It becomes more real than the artifice that he usually experiences. This acceptance of the metaphysical world gives Mal purpose that a drab office life in such a glitzy city would bring. He is excited and enraptured by this adventure while it’s scary and ultimately filled with consequences . Mal sees that it is preferable to the previous life of quiet desperation he lived where he was surrounded by noise and longing to be heard. Magic gives him a voice and a drive that he would otherwise not have had.
Deck Runner’s Gambit is a book that is not without its flaws and oddly enough they become noticeable once Mal joins the Deck Runners and begins practicing magic. The powers are pretty interesting and some are even unique. For example, the Runners draw specific cards and bring forward whatever magic they need from them such as light, or fire, water, whatever is necessary. It requires thought, concentration, and some improv especially when the Peerage also has access to such powers. The concept of two competing teams of magic users is pretty interesting and raises the question whether which side is truly right or wrong, or if they are simply separate schools of magic with different philosophies but similar practices. But this world comes at the expense of the characterization within it.
Once Mal is introduced to the idea of magic however, his transformation from student to master is a little too rushed. This is a man who spent his whole life not believing, a skeptic, someone who probably never questioned or explored the unexamined life. He was just content to work, flirt, eat, go home, get money, hang out with friends, and sleep. It’s great that he is open to this new world and admirable that he wants to be a part of it. But it would also make sense for there to be more reluctance and timidity about his pursuits, a hesitancy to fully embrace or believe in what is in front of him. After all, living in Las Vegas, he would have seen plenty of illusionist acts and one would imagine that he would be on the lookout for a nonexistent curtain, expecting a lovely assistant to pop up, or wondering about the tricks to it.
It could also work the other way as well. Mal could be so open to the pursuit that he acts recklessly. He could lose his temper or consider using his magic for selfish means before he wises up. But he adjusts and adapts to quickly to be believable. There should be more development in his steps between Magician Padawan and Magician Jedi Knight.
There is some cringy dialogue that borders on cliche. (“Welcome to the final act,” Cassie taunts. “..:Looks like your runner has run out of deck.”) It’s to the point where if you have read these types of books before, you can predict exactly what the characters are going to say before they say it. (“This isn’t over, Cassie!”) Some of it’s fun in a cheesy action fantasy sort of way but after a while it gets repetitive and makes one wonder if the book was written while watching too many movies or TV episodes. That may also account for some of the plot points that are meant to be twists that are all too easy to guess.
Vegas Arcana Deck Runner’s Gambit is aces when it comes to setting and concept but it needs work to really come up a winner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
Wow, this was an extremely great book. I totally loved the premise and the story itself kept me completely intrigued. This is a new author for me and I can say without a doubt that this is one extremely talented writer. If I had more of your work, I would sit down right now and read more of it. Just utterly fantastic. This was one amazing book and I will be impatiently and excitedly waiting for your next one.
October 6, 2024
Not to my taste
The editing, as far as words and punctuation were concerned, was good. There are some clever plays on words!
The wording is pretentious, as if every word was carved out of stone. The hero new William Morris and he should have after only a few days House of card runner.
The editing, as far as words and punctuation were concerned, was good. There are some clever plays on words!
The wording is pretentious, as if every word was carved out of stone. The hero new William Morris and he should have after only a few days House of card runner.
April 21, 2024
Pretty good
August 11, 2024
Good story, bad flow
I enjoyed this story, the way the magic worked, and the characters. . The problem was the gaps. Each break in the story was too much. They left out too much. It really disrupted the flow and made the story harder to follow. Still a good story.
I enjoyed this story, the way the magic worked, and the characters. . The problem was the gaps. Each break in the story was too much. They left out too much. It really disrupted the flow and made the story harder to follow. Still a good story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews