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In The Cards
A King's Ransom: An In The Cards Story
Welcome to In The Cards, a twenty-two-author collection of standalone thriller and horror short stories. In this series, you’ll find stories inspired by the meaning of a specific Tarot Card, thoughtfully written with that thread woven through. Whether you’re a Tarot Card lover or not, you’ll find thrillers and horrors that will creep under your skin and into your thoughts. *Knowledge of Tarot Cards is not necessary to read or enjoy these stories.*
When Westley is visited by an ancient medieval wraith who has come to collect a hefty ransom, he is faced with an impossible forfeit his life, or find a replacement. Will he be willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy the debt owed?
Make sure you come back and check out the other 21 stories, because you never know what’s In The Cards.
When Westley is visited by an ancient medieval wraith who has come to collect a hefty ransom, he is faced with an impossible forfeit his life, or find a replacement. Will he be willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy the debt owed?
Make sure you come back and check out the other 21 stories, because you never know what’s In The Cards.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2026
The premise for A King's Ransom hooked me right away, setting up what should have been a tense, atmospheric experience. With short chapters and a quick pace, this 60-page book has all the makings of a great bite-sized read. Unfortunately, a fantastic concept gets buried under some baffling narrative choices.
The story aims for an eerie, unsettling vibe, but the main antagonist ruins any built-up tension. Instead of a foreboding creature of certain doom, the wraith comes off as unintentionally funny, acting more like an impatient child throwing a tantrum. To make matters worse, the author actually name-drops himself in the text, a cringe-inducing move that pulled me right out of the story. You can sometimes forgive missteps in a fast-paced read if the ending delivers, but the big twist felt just as silly as the monster.
Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/a-...
The story aims for an eerie, unsettling vibe, but the main antagonist ruins any built-up tension. Instead of a foreboding creature of certain doom, the wraith comes off as unintentionally funny, acting more like an impatient child throwing a tantrum. To make matters worse, the author actually name-drops himself in the text, a cringe-inducing move that pulled me right out of the story. You can sometimes forgive missteps in a fast-paced read if the ending delivers, but the big twist felt just as silly as the monster.
Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/a-...
July 6, 2026
My first of An IN THE CARDS Story collection of short stories. I chose this one because I love Jeff’s books. I also just recently started reading short stories and realized I really like them. Once again Jeff doesn’t disappoint with his books.
June 1, 2026
“A King’s Ransom” by Jeff VanOudenhove is a thought-provoking addition to the In The Cards series. Despite its short length, the story packs a punch and raises some uncomfortable questions about survival, sacrifice, and human nature. It’s a great quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
June 10, 2026
A King's Ransom is a great addition to An In The Cards Story collection as it is fast paced, short but very thought provoking on survival, human nature, and emotions. You do not want to miss this great story!
July 11, 2026
This was a fun, quick read for me. I found some parts creepy and some parts almost funny. It was different from what I expected but I enjoyed it.
June 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A book in a series of 22 with several different authors…This is a fast-paced, short-story with a twist that you won’t see coming.
A book in a series of 22 with several different authors…This is a fast-paced, short-story with a twist that you won’t see coming.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews