Double or Nothing

Daniel Faust #7

by Craig Schaefer, Adam Verner (Narrator)

Daniel Faust – sorcerer, thief, and newly-minted Las Vegas crime boss – has debts to pay. One of those debts has just come due, an IOU to be paid in the form of a high-risk heist, and it’s a job he can’t refuse. The mark? Daniel’s arch-nemesis, a man with a Cheshire smile and the powers of a living god. The score? A sacrificial dagger buried under layers of electronic, occult, and human security, snug on the far side of a custom-built deathtrap.

Normally, a heist like that would be the end of Daniel’s problems. This time, it’s only the beginning.

Caitlin, Daniel’s lover and the right hand of a demon prince, faces her own threat. She’s adept at navigating the politics of Hell, keeping the peace with diplomatic grace and a whip, but a plan years in the making has left a ticking time bomb under her feet. When it explodes, it will send shockwaves through the infernal courts – and expose one of Caitlin’s darkest secrets. A hidden enemy has targeted Caitlin and Daniel for destruction, and aims to lure them into an impossible snare. For one of them to escape, the other must die.

The only way out is through a maze of demonic bounty hunters, psychic assassins, unlikely enemies and even more unlikely allies. Daniel Faust has spent his life as a trickster, defeating his enemies with the art of the con. He may have finally met his match. Las Vegas is the ultimate chessboard, and his opponent is already two moves ahead.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Fiction, Demons, Supernatural

Audible Audio

First published June 27, 2017

About the author

Craig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).

Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🃏 Get Those Magic Decks Of Cards Out of Storage We're Doing the Danny-Boy-IS-MINE⁠ Thingie Again Buddy Reread (GTMDoCOoSWDtDBIMTABR™) with the MacHalos and Stuff 🃏

➽ And the moral of this rereread is : switchblade-wielding bird gangs + emotional disturbed, fickle as fish wands + the fashion sense of naked mole rats + grenade launcher-induced chicken casualties + adoptive knives who behave like kitties =



You could say that, yes.



[June 2018]

☢ Daniel Faust and Cait are Mine Mine Mine Buddy Reread with my MacHalo Wives and Daughters and Stuff (DFaCaMMMBRwmMWaSaS™) ☢

Previous rating: 12 stars.
New rating: 14 stars. What else?

➽ And the moral of this reread is : the world would be a much better place to live in if all knives had a thing for ancient Greek fashion. And ponies. Yes, ponies. You know, the revoltingly disgusting, singing type of pony that usually awakens the homicidal maniac in me and stuff? What's their technical denomination again? Can't remember now.



Oh yes, edible ponies! That's what they're called! Thanks for cluing me in, Ridiculous Man in Silly Costume! You're a complete wimp compared to my boyfriend Daniel Faust, but you have your uses. Sometimes.



[Original review]

Actual rating: 12 stars DUH .

Why anyone who isn't reading this series should be savagely kicked out of Goodreads, and have the murderous crustaceans slightly unleashed upon him/her/it/they/whatever:

① This is UF for grown-ups. Decaf stuff, Mary Snowflakes, Special Sues and PNR-like crap begone! We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!

② MY boyfriend Daniel Faust and his girlfriend Caitlin of the Deliciously Serrated Teeth (who, incidentally, is also MY girlfriend take that you of little faith who think I am unable of sharing my sex slaves sweethearts! By the way, no need to worry, my Little Barnacles, for I have not completely lost my little mind just yet. My loaning Daniel to Caitlin is temporary, and will only last while I am otherwise engaged with a certain Butcher of Merida. ) are the Mostest Awesomest Shady Power Couple Ever (MASPCE™). And that, my Little Barnacles is a scientifically proven fact.

③ It's daaarrrrrrrrk. It's yummmmyyyyyyyyyy.

④ It's daaarrrrrrrrk. It's funnyyyyyyyyyy.

⑤ It's daaarrrrrrrrk. It's goryyyyyyyyyy.



⑥ UF meets the underworld. Mobsters and demons and magician hats and drug wars and hippo men and murder by time travel and playing cards and knife-wielding rats and magic wands and heists and amoral everyone and everything, oh my! If I didn't know any better I'd say this world was pure creative genius and stuff.

⑦ The slightly scrumpalicious female characters in this series make Wonder Woman look like a total wimp. Ruthless Kiss Ass Chicks Power (RKACP™) + feminism is not dead + one day girls will save rule the world and stuff = Craig Schaefer for president.

⑧ All Hail the Wondrous Twists and Revelations and Arrrrgggh I Want More Ending! Gasping non-stop I am! MY Daniel Faust is now a spoiler spoiler spoiler!! Bloody shrimping hell! ← Clueless Barnacles who haven't yet read this book and thus deserve to die might not realize it, but there is actually a delightfully clever spoilerish pun in this bloody shrimping hell. You are quite welcome.



⑨ I am kidnapping adopting every single crooked member of MY Daniel Faust's somewhat disreputable, slightly nefarious family. Because I'm greedy maternal like that.

⑩ No pathetic, manufactured relationship drama BS! Woot woot woot, yay yay yay, hip hop hip hurray and stuff! This is the seventh instalment in this series. MY Daniel and MY Caitlin have been together for, you know, some time and stuff. Any other author would have jumped with glee at the opportunity to make me want to eyeroll myself to death spice things up by embellishing their story with Magnificently Stupid Fabricated Dramatics (MSFD™). But any other author Craig Schaefer is not. Ergo, into this most pathetic trap fall he did not. And brilliantly develop MY Daniel and MY Caitlin's Beautifully Bloody Lurve Connection (BBLC™) he did. Ha.



⑪ Ancient Greeks + singing ponies = Craig Schaefer, I love thee.

⑫ You thought Swiss knives were cool? Wait till you read this book. There are much, much, much, MUCH more versatile, deadlier niftier knives out there.

⑬ The icing on this Most Delightfully Exquisite Dark Yet Humorous UF Cake of Awesomeness (MDEDYHUFCoA™)? Haven't read Harmony Black? The utter fabulousness of what follows shall therefore be totally lost on you. That's so sad. Fontaine and Rachel. Rachel and Fontaine. Squeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahaha. Squeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahaha. Let's dance.



This is my beloved, abominably vicious cat Medea. She always goes in full Smooth Moves Mode (SMM™) when Fontaine is around. Ah, young love.

➽ And the moral of this My Two Grey Cells are on Strike Plus There are not 256 Hours in a Day Equals I'll just Make a List and Stuff Crappy Non Review (MTGCaoSPTan256HiaDEIjMaLaSCNR™) is: if there was a Nobel Prize for somewhat stupendous UF, it would be awarded to Craig Schaefer. And if it wasn't, a certain someone would quite probably unleash her somewhat deadly, blood-thirsty shrimps on the Nobel Committee. Because some things are just not done and stuff.

P.S. Doves = bastards. Just so you know. You're welcome.
P.P.S. Stun guns are underrated. Just ask Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name).

· Book 1: The Long Way Down ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: The White Gold Score ★★★★★
· Book 2: Redemption Song ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Living End ★★★★★
· Book 4: A Plain-Dealing Villain ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Killing Floor Blues ★★★★★
· Book 6: The Castle Doctrine ★★★★★
· Book 6.1: Sweet, Blissful Certainty ★★★
· Book 7.1: A Drive in the Country ★★★★
· Book 7.2: Sixty Six Seconds ★★★★
· Book 8: The Neon Boneyard ★★★★★
· Book 9: The Locust Job ★★★★★
· Book 10: Down Among the Dead Men ★★★★★
· Book 11: Dig Two Graves ★★★★★





[Pre-review nonsense]

There are power couples, then there are MY boyfriend Daniel Faust and MY his girlfriend Caitlin of the Beautifully Serrated Teeth. They are slightly awesome in their Somewhat Criminal, Cunning, Merciless, Gruesome Ways (SCCMGW™). Which makes me want to dance. Obviously.



➽ Semi-full Anyone Who Isn't Reading this Series Shall Suffer a Slow, Agonizing, Horrific Death Post Haste Crappy Non Review (AWIRtSSSaSAHDPHCNR™) to come. Soonish. Hopefully before the next Glorious Instalment in this Most Scrumptious Series (GIitMSS™) is published. Then again maybe not.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is easily the best UF series I've read. There is no other UF series that even comes close to matching this for me! It has a bit of everything in the form of action, mystery, humor, and even a touch of romance. Not that the inclusion of humor should lead you to believe this is a light read. This series can be pretty dark at times and the occasional bursts of humor stop it from becoming to grim.

This 7th instalment of the series was fantastic. It might even be one of the best books in the whole series. The plot was a whole lot of fun. As always Faust had a lot to deal with. As well as continuing the fight against The Enemy, and his plans to destroy the world, Faust also has to investigate a dangerous new drug that has links to the occult that is flooding the streets of Vegas. As if all that was not enough he still has Nadine whispering poison in his ear about Caitlain and an old debt to repay to Navarasi.

Faust had to be at his brilliant best to stay alive in this one and as always he was backed by his likeable, if morally questionable, friends and family!

The villains played a starring role in Double or Nothing. A whole bunch of them got in on the action including The Enemy, Nadine, Navarasi, Prince Sitri and even a bunch of familiar faces from the Harmony books like The Network, Nyxx, and Fontaine!

I love the mix of humor and dark drama in this series and Faust is a super likeable lead character despite the fact that he is skirting the line between being an anti-hero and a villain!

Rating: 5 stars.

Audio Note: Adam Verner was fantastic as always. He is the perfect voice for Faust and definitely gets the tone of the story. The only tiny flaw was the fact that I like Christina Traister take on Nyxx better!

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.65 ***

"..."I heard they tried to make chicken soup once." Caitlin's nose wrinkled. "Twenty chickens died and a small farm was wiped from the map. I'm told a grenade launcher was involved." . . .”

I love Faust! He has become part of my imaginary/book family and at this point even I wouldn't trust my own ratings - just reading a book about this magician and the Courts of Hell in the USA, makes me all tingly allover. His bad-ass girlfriend and the even more bad-ass enemies make for a very entertaining and somewhat dark Urban Fantasy Las Vegas. And he is developing a bit of a self-esteem, which is about time, because he finally decided he is going to do something with his life and not just go with the flow on the bottom of the river... "...Believe it or not, there are some people and places I won’t rob. Orphanages. Public schools. Nuns. Well, most nuns.” . . .” Him and Cait are going to be the new power couple of Nevada and his new endeavors are going to finally cement his place in society. If only he didn't owe a favor to this crazy Rakshasa... And she is calling her debt now.

"...“Torture is like a good bottle of wine,” she said. “It’s never necessary, but it’s a fine way to liven up a party and is best savored in the company of friends.” . . .”

And not only do his various antagonists deal torture and threaten his eternal soul, he has a new magician mad at him and he is employing new nefarious weapons :

"...“He threw doves at me.” I shook my head, still processing it. “He threw doves. Who does that?”
[...]
“I thought doves were supposed to be nice birds.” “They are, normally,” I said. “I think he recruits his from bird reform school. No. Gangs. Bird gangs. One had a switchblade.” . . .”

Yep, this is our Faust, in all of his glory and I am riding with him all the way! Good old pulp fiction is not dead yet!

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schaefer does the unthinkable in urban fantasy: he stays true to the beginning of his series while consistently writing satisfying stories that include new material and character growth. This series is one of only three I follow--and purchase--although it is a distant third to my deep affection for Peter Grant and Kate Daniels.

“I’m not…asking you to…do anything,” Seabrook said, choosing each word as if picturing herself repeating them in court.“

Double or Nothing is the seventh novel in the Daniel Faust series, and if you haven't started yet, don't start here. While the most basic plot stands alone, it is contextualized by politics in the demon realm, local Vegas politics and the larger unknown Enemy working to kill Faust. There's a new, nefarious drug in town, and as a condition for a streamlined liquor permit for Daniel's new lounge, he's tasked with figuring out who is trying to import a new drug into Vegas. At the same time, the minor deity/shapeshifter Naavarasi is calling in a debt, making a formal request that he retrieve an all-too-familiar knife.

And now we have to visit Naavarasi,” I said. “She eats people. So that’ll be fun.”

Action is fast paced, both literally and figuratively, as Daniel ends up going to Colorado, New Mexico and Illinois to pull pieces together. A lot of minor characters, both friends and adversaries are involved with minimal explanation--not a bad thing--but it again emphasizes the challenge of picking up the story here. There's a veneer of humor, both situational, such as a mention of Harmony Black, and in commentary. More than other books, this one is also about Daniel and Caitlin's relationship. As a reader, I enjoyed seeing the two work together professionally as well as personally, and it was a relief to resolve the mysterious hints Nadine had been dropping about Caitlin's past relationships.

“Sorry, sugar, you’re on the payroll now. Some days you get the cash and the cars and the good champagne…and some days you gotta go to Albuquerque.”

If I had any complaint about the book, it's that Daniel's research is task-focused, not background focused. He admits he knows Navaarasi is working an angle, but he doesn't take the time to figure it out until he's backed into a corner. I don't know, rather than Daniel being clueless, it could be a perspective issue, a particularly Vegas mentality Schaefer is trying to capture, that of the 'wheel-and-deal' where everyone is presumed to be working an angle. In some ways, that's the most frustrating aspect of the Faust character for me, that he usually ends up reacting instead of being the strategist using the big picture. This happens again when he fails to access/account for the 'resources' of the knife.

Still, those are minor quibbles in what was a solid, non-stop installment. Also worth noting that the writing and characterization hits absolutely none of my -ist triggers. Still such a sad rarity. I hope Schaefer doesn't move Faust too far from his humble upbringing, because those heist plots are part of what makes this series enjoyable.

[Milda Page Runner · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You…” (...) “You ruined it. You ruined everything.”
“I’m Daniel Faust.” I shrugged. “It’s kind of what I do. Somebody probably should have warned you.”
======

“Speaking to me of laws? You are a thief and a murderer.”
“True. And a decent card player, a fair hand as a cocktail mixologist, and—I like to believe—a considerate lover, but nobody ever brings those things up when they’re trying to push me into doing something shitty.
======

I didn’t care about much of anything beyond the bitter taste in my throat, and how badly I needed a drink to wash it away. I headed for the heart of the Strip. I needed neon and crowds and glitter. I’d overdosed on the truth, and the lying facades and false promises of Las Vegas felt like the only antidote.
======

[Lo9man88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was OK nothing great, not as exciting as the other books , the confrontation with the enemy was cool i guess , at least we know now when the wand's supposed to work : Faust's reaction upon discovering that was hilarious ... There has been always a long shadow hovering around Cait and Daniel's relationship : is she controlling him through her demonic powers? does he really love her ? or is it only the craving of an addict ? In this book we find out for sure, their faith in each other is tested in an extreme way ... I'm glad the air's cleared ...

[Mihir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating = 4.5 stars

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Double Or Nothing is the seventh book of the Daniel Faust series and the potentially the first book of the third arc of the series. It's also the first book that has so many nods and set-up for future books that at this point it would be highly unadvisable to jump into this series with this volume. What I mean to say is that if you really should start from the beginning/book 1 of The Daniel Faust series (The Long Way Down) or even The White Gold Score book 1.5 of the Daniel Faust series (which is a novella and also acts as a good starting point for the series).

Double Or Nothing basically opens up after the events of The Castle Doctrine and we find Faust now in control of his life for the first time after the events showcased in the past six books. He however has been called up on the first of the two favors he owes to a certain baron from the Court of Night Blooming Flowers. The first task being re-acquiring the knife that Faust stole in the events showcased within A Plain-Dealing Villain which lead to the start of all his troubles with Damien Ecko. Things are never simple as the knife is now with a person who's under the control of Ms. Fleiss & by extension the Cheshire Smile. Knowing what a dangerous mission this can be, Faust has to enlist his gang but also has to plan accordingly as they are dealing with the Cheshire Smile after all. This is the main thread that kicks off the story, another dangling thread which has been present from the past couple of books has been the whole situation with Caitlin's past lovers. This book brings the plot thread to a solid conclusion. Whether the readers will feel the same remains to seem, as for me I feel that there might be more to this angle, even after this conclusion.

This book also focuses the Cheshire Smile but not in the way you would expect. There's a smart nod to Glass Predator (the scene where Daniel finds out what happened to his Hemi' Cuda is quite funny) as well as some nods to the happenings in the Harmony Black series. There's also some intriguing plot happenings for the future trilogy that the author is planning and while this book isn't the first to lay out these tracts (There's a partial but clear nod in The Castle Doctrine and Glass Predator even introduces a character who most likely will be a POV protagonist for that trilogy). Lastly what this book does gloriously is give us the first physical appearance of not one but two princes of hell. The characters also make some trips to Albuquerque, Denver, Chicago and a place that hasn't been featured so far in the series at all.

This book has all the trappings of its wonderful predecessors, it’s action-packed, has a lot of plot twists, revelations and the climax is definitely out of this world (quite literally). Primarily this series has always been about characters and this book continues to highlight them. While we only get Faust’s POV, the secondary character cast is so well-developed that while many fav-favorite characters don’t get that much screen time, newer ones that do more than make up for it. A well-liked secondary character from the Harmony Black books graces Daniel Faust’s world however the way he makes an appearance, Faust is none too happy about it. The best part for me was that this book focused on one of my favorite grey side characters, one who is possibly craftier than Faust and kudos to the author as the book’s epilogue will leave most readers astounded. Lastly I would like to highlight Corman & Bentley's (Faust's foster parents and mentors) exploits which are often mentioned in several books. This one however mentions a very exciting chapter in their past and I hope the author can explore their past in novellas or short stories or even novels.

Talking about the action, as always with the Faust volumes, action is more so on a personal level rather than big action scenes. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun to read. The pace of the book is such that along with our protagonist, we are constantly shepherded along by the author. It’s fun to try to anticipate the twists and try to predict where the story is going. The book does manage to keep readers on tenterhooks with all the plot twists and manages to put Faust through another wringer but this time Caitlin also has to face the music.

With this book though while I had an idea where the story might end up, the climax and all the plot twists were a nice surprise. There's some terrific cameo appearances of new characters who I believe will have significant roles to play in the future books. This series has also never shied away from the horror genre aspects and this book takes things a few notches further. What I’m referring to has to deal with the lower levels of winter and pathway connecting it to Prince Sitri’s realm. The author has a gruesome imagination and kudos for coming up with that particular sequence (combining claustrophobia & revulsion).

The author also spoke to us in this interview about the various intricacies involved in the book and hints about the various things (read Qs. 3, 4, & 5) that can be expected. He also mentions the brilliant cover design and what it points towards. This book has a particular connection to the events of A Plain-Dealing Villain and while it’s not necessary to re-read that book before this one, it can be helpful to at least know a strong summary of it. Lastly this book is also the start of the proper binding of the two series (Daniel Faust & Harmony Black), we get so many nods and hints about the world and the happenings that I can't wait to read Cold Spectrum (Harmony Black# 4) when it releases on Halloween later this year. For those readers who haven’t read the Harmony Black series yet, I would implore you to do so as then only can you get a hint of the sinister plan that Craig Schaefer seems to be hatching across these different series.

CONCLUSION: Double Or Nothing is exactly what the author promised it would be, a crackerjack bomb of a story that once lit up, burns rapidly towards its mind-shattering climax. This book just makes this series that much more stronger and is a rapid indicator of how soon the Daniel Faust series will be challenging the Harry Dresden files for being the best thing that urban fantasy has to offer us readers.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double or nothing, indeed. I truly enjoyed this part of Daniel’s tale even if the protagonist’s continuous epiphanies were a bit of a stretch. The plot is twisty and interesting, more mysterious characters join the fun and the ending resolved nicely, leaving -of course- the scene wide open for more. My main regret is that book #8 is the last published book of the series and whether it is the final one or not (not!), well, that is a moot point, because I love. This. World.

“You’re trapped. Just like all the other characters. Doomed to dance the same dance, make the same mistakes, over and over again. For eternity.”

Now we have the Enemy trying to break free for good, the Network spreading occult-laced drugs like a virulent curse, a powerful shapeshifter playing the long game, a forgotten goddess searching for her daughters, the patient King of Worms and more than your share of fractious Hell courtiers all turning their heads toward Las Vegas and his newly fledged Commission (and I wouldn’t discount Harmony Black getting back into the fray, at least I hope so. Fortunately she has her own novels and I hope crossing paths again with Daniel is in the cards for her).

“But you can’t win.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I told her. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for. And the more you want it, the more you have to fight. That’s what makes us human.”

Daniel has finally set himself upon a definite path and he’s running the razor edge between being a (ambiguous) villain and a (tarnished) hero. I particularly liked following his inner thoughts and choices, along with the great cast of characters revolving in his orbit.

Book #8? Now, please.


I’m nobody to claim the moral high ground—I’ll make money selling anything that falls off the back of a truck—but I’ve got to draw a line somewhere.


“Well, lately, one by one, I’ve gotten shoved right across every one of those invisible lines. Or maybe I jumped across and told myself I was pushed. Either way, I don’t have much of a code left. And I am clinging—I am clinging tooth and fucking nail—to whatever moral stand I can still make.”

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What I've learnt so far:

-Daniel Faust really isn't a very good person. Seriously. We're all so used to UF leads being somewhat morally complex but when it comes down to it, they're all about saving the innocent and the world and all that jazz. Faust has had all these moral lines he absolutely, definitely won't cross and then, you know, he does. Dresden fought the darker nature of the Winter Mantle from the second he was forced in to it, Faust would simply say: cool, I live in Vegas, I could do with a bit more cold. So in this book he might have found the FINAL, DEFINITE line, but don't worry, it ends up with him holding a position of even greater immorality than crime boss/thief/sorcerer.

which leads me to...

-He's rubbish at saving people. If you're not one of his very close associates and he turns up at your place with that whole come-with-me-if-you-want-to-live schtick, slam that door in his face and take your damn chances. You might be a professor merrily getting on with your day when Faust turns up to ask the you provenance of a knife, say, and then drags you into his mucked up life and suddenly you're snipered in the face. At which point, nobody gives a damn, they simply shrug their shoulders with a 'couldn't be helped' attitude and then never think of you again for a single second. I would say this is a spoiler except if you've read the other 6 books, you should know by now that Faust is a death magnet.

-He's also a rubbish thief. Except he's supposed to me a master thief. What-ever. He can't steal ANYTHING without it going tits up. Don't hire him. Don't be in his crew. DEATH MAGNET.

-Faust and Caitlin's instalove might actually be real love. Just because my cold, dead heart can't do it, doesn't mean others don't. And though I was initially annoyed by it, is it really any worse than that will-they-or-won't-they crap (of course they will).

-The villains are awesome and not just because everyone is a villain. Well, maybe a little. Every single person has got some kind of con going, there are favours owed, and obligations to fulfil. It's a unpretty tangle of what-the-hell-is-going-to-go-wrong-next. It's delicious.

-This series is FUNNY. And it has loads of pop references. Anybody who can get Aliens quotes into conversation in a natural way has my vote.

One more book to go and then I have to wait like all the rest of the suckers. Damn it was a good catch up ride.

[Pippa DaCosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our favorite magician and crime-boss is back, but this time there's more magic, more plot twists, and more sass. Finally, we air some of Cait's murky motives (I've been dying to see more of her) and Daniel gets yet another promotion (or demotion, depending on how you look at it). Great fun. Now, where's the next one?

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

One of the better books in the series, I think this one is in the running for my favorite yet.

Daniel has finally accepted some responsibility and has a purpose in his life beyond fixing the most recent disaster. One of the leading figures in the New Commission criminal organization, he is no longer a lone hustler but a powerful player. Someone from his past comes calling, demanding payment of a debt. Fulfilling that debt will bring him up against the Enemy, the shadowy figure determined to destroy the world.

Double or Nothing has all the hallmarks of the Daniel Faust series. There are interesting characters, fast paced action, and unique magic. Two things set this entry in the series apart in my opinion. Humor and secondary character involvement.

There’s been humor in all of the books in the series, but it feels like it got turned up significantly without being forced. There were several times I was smiling along as I was reading. Despite the chaos and danger, Daniel maintains his sense of humor, something that I don’t feel was the case in the past. The humor really helped make this an enjoyable read.

There was also much greater involvement from the supporting cast. The author has put together an interesting group of characters, but in previous books it felt like sometimes we barely got to see them as Daniel tried to fix things on his own, always worried about keeping his friends out of harms way. This time his friends were there for much of the book, and their interaction helped provide many of the opportunities for humor I enjoyed.

7 books in, I can say confidently that this is one of the better urban fantasy series out there. Interesting world building, fast paced plot development, fun action, and a main character more like a knight in tarnished armor than a knight in shining armor, as one of the characters sometimes refers to Daniel. If you like UF, this series is worth checking out.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Daniel Faust found himself in a tricky situation with no apparent way out. I love him because he comes up with some unexpected way to get out of what seems to be an impossible situation. This time his problems would have been easily solved if he didn't have morals. The thing that makes him appealing is his morals. Otherwise he'd just be a scumbag.

The biggest issue which has been hinted at for a while is whether or not Caitlin is trustworthy. The things discovered about her leave me more confused than ever. I want to believe her, but her behavior in the past speaks louder than her words. So many people are trying to manipulate Daniel. It's hard to believe she's not one of them since manipulation and seduction is what she excels at. I don't know what to think. Something tells me she has a plan for him. I can't wait for the next one!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great series!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double or Nothing by Craig Schaefer and narrated by Adam Verner is book seven and the best so far! Now Daniel has a real wand he can use besides his magic cards. If course he is in trouble again...everyone wants him dead, even hell! Love the plot and interactions between the characters!
Great narration makes these stories POP!

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double or Nothing is the seventh book in Craig Shaefer’s Daniel Faust series. If you read it, I assume you have at least some prior knowledge of the series. Some mild spoilers may appear.

Daniel and Cait are a power couple now. A lot is happening in both crime/occult Las Vegas underground and in the Hell courts. Old friends (if you can call Navaarasi a friend) want old debts payed, cosmic threat becomes more real than ever and our couple has to sort some issues. And save the world along the way. Easy peasy.

As usual, Schaefer proves he’s skilled with wrapping –up plotlines. He doesn’t leave holes and in the same time, with each book, builds a bigger meta thread that connects all of his books. The story os well-balanced and the pacing is adrenaline-fuelled. A lot of favourite characters from previous books are involved in this one, and we Get full immersion In the world.

The plot is resolved organically, staying true to characters’ natures and Daniel Faust’s journey becomes even more interesting.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Double or Nothing is the 7th book in the Daniel Faust series and I only wish that there were 77 more to go. I love Faust and the writing of Craig Schaefer. Urban Fantasy like this is my cup of tea.

Let's just say that this book is the dirtiest and darkest in the series and we get answers to many series long questions. I love where the story is headed. My only criticism is that I feel that there should be more...many more.

One of my favorite characters and series. A must read for UF junkies.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can definitely feel things ramping up for that upcoming Crossover Event trilogy :D The humor remains perfectly placed.

[Efka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, whaddya know. I liked this book too. Very unexpected, especially since I liked the previous six ones too, right?

[Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

♠ Vicious Danny boy is vicious! BR with the MacHalos ♠

[Steffan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.33/5 stars

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I was still rummaging around in Faust's liquor cabinet. Little did I know.

Good prose, good characterization, good world building, good story and a theme! Yeah, 5 bottles of your best!

The theme? If it's worth having, it's worth fighting for. It occurs three times in three different situations. So, yeah, Schaefer has outdone himself.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was another good one in the series and a lot of different things happened. First of all, we get to see the type of person that Daniel is. Yes, he is a thief, trickster, and crime boss, but he has a good heart. He could have given her up, but instead he's hiding her and letting her watch my little pony in his house. Second, I was heartbroken to find out that Caitlin had used her powers on Daniel when they first met and got together. I am so happy that they worked it out and the feelings that they have for each other are real. Not only that, they worked together to kick that tiger's butt. However, I don't think it's going to be that easy to get her off their case. I wonder about what she will do next.

[Kateblue · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is finally hitting his stride. Really liking all the characters and the intertwined story.

[THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best entry in the series so far, as everything about the overarching plot gets a wide angle here. The gritty feel of a crime caper is still there, but Schaefer shows some of his cards regarding the narrative he's trying to build.

I loved the way the relationship between Caitlin and Daniel was handled here. It's good to see some conflict among them, and the shady hints of Nadine are revealed regarding Cait. Also, we get to see a face to face confrontation with the Enemy for the first time. That scene with the transmutative magical knives was awesome.

Navarassi is one manipulative character who is going to stir big trouble for Daniel and his crew. She's playing a long game, and her motives are still vague. She already messes with Daniel and Cait in this book, and her fight with Cait in perdition was pretty impressive. I however still have some niggles regarding Daniel. He has changed and tries to take responsibility for his actions, but, is still unable to strategic decisions unless backed into a corner. I hope that changes for the better.

This was a thrilling ride from start to the end. I loved the cameo appearance of a certain character in a bar interacting with Daniel, who've been mentioned passingly in the other books. I guess he is *******, and hope that Schaefer brings him to interact with others in the later novels. I can't wait enough for the series to be completed. Bring it on Craig Schaefer.

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Actual rating: 4,50***

[Oleksandr Zholud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh volume of the Daniel Faust series. Since the last installment, The Castle Doctrine, where he fought the Chicago Outfit that wanted to get control over Faust’s home city, Las Vegas and won, he is a part of the ‘government of underground’. Therefore, when a new danger to the city looms large, he is called.

There is a new synthetic drug ‘ink’ all the craze across the USA. Its source isn’t known, but its effects can be life-threatening and possibly linked to occult. The power supposedly behind it is the Network, the organization so secret that it maybe doesn’t even exist:
“The Network.”
…
“It’s an urban legend,” I said. “Criminal underworld spook stories, a cartel so secretive that nobody even knows their real name, or if they have a real name. They’re just ‘the Network.’ See, it used to be a popular scam back east. Guys would claim to be working for the Network and recruit local talent who thought they were being scouted for the big leagues. It basically boiled down to ‘rob this place while I supervise—in other words, do nothing—and give me most of the take.’ Then the recruiter would skip town and leave the locals holding the bag.”
“Used to be a popular scam,” Nedry said. “Know why it stopped?”
“Because everyone figured out the Network isn’t real, and the last few guys who tried it got their skulls split.”
“It stopped because the Network doesn’t like having its name taken in vain.”

Real or not, its certainly uses magic, namely curses preventing their dealers from spilling their secrets, up to the point that the questioned person commits suicide but doesn’t talk. Faust deals with the issue, meeting old enemies, but the drug is only part of the story.

The other important part is that the Enemy (the man with the Cheshire smile, a creature of unknown origins, who can re-write the reality as a story, changing even the past) is still interested in what Faust does, and Naavarasi, the last of the rakshasa, the shapeshifter extraordinary, is working for him, or at least with him – this infodumped to readers in the prologue, but becomes the main story a bit later: the rakshasa calls the debt Faust incurred when she saved him. Now he has to steal an obsidian knife from a strange multimillionaire Cameron Drake. A few books ago, Faust already stole that blade (from necromancer Damien Ecko from Chicago) for Drake, but it was evident that the man was Ms Fleiss’s (known powerful minion of the Enemy) puppet. So, stealing it again can be extremely dangerous.

Another solid volume and in the Afterword readers are given glimpses of what to expect in the next book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is always still a release day purchase for me.

We're seven books in, and Schaefer is just getting better- the plots have gotten tighter, the characters are showing a level of growth I don't necessarily expect from urban fantasy, and the interconnected world between Faust/Harmony Black/Revanche continues to develop in fascinating ways. Add in some exciting meta-story stuff- meeting a certain unnamed major character in a bar, perhaps- and this was my favorite entry in the series to date.

Schaefer always shines by writing a protagonist who is, in a sea of carbon copy "good guys", actually somewhat morally complex- and nowhere is that more true than in Double or Nothing. Daniel Faust is not a good guy that occasionally does some morally questionable things, but inevitably still tries to be a hero. Instead, he's a con artist, a mob guy, and a demon's consort that might want to do the right thing but is willing to do every wrong thing to get there, if need be. It's a breath of fresh air in the genre, and something I don't think the series gets enough credit for.

Honestly, this book just felt right. I'll keep being a broken record and say that if you are looking for a fun new series to try, you can't go wrong giving Schaefer a try.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-g1

He held out his hand. “Give it to me,” he hissed as his fingernails lengthened into claws. “If you insist,” I said. Then I shot him in the face.

The "Daniel Faust” series, written by Craig Schaefer, is an urban fantasy starring an anti-hero. The series consists of 7 books and a novella so far. Unlike other urban fantasy series like The Dresden Files, this series is far more violent, gritty and is noir in its approach to this setting. The protagonist, the eponymous Daniel Faust, is a violent con-man and sorcerer who has few moral qualms remaining but guards those jealously. In one way, you could of this of as The Saint moved to modern times, with a lot of occult and magic thrown in. This series is also a backbone for the universe, Craig Schaefer is building, with multiple references to the 'Revanche Cycle' and 'Harmony Black' characters and series.

But enough about the setting and comparisons, what is this series really like?

I had a blast reading the series. It was unique, funny, violent and profane. It has all the elements that I now expect from the author. The pacing is brilliant and the characters are well fleshed out. You end up caring about all the main characters and even the ones on the sidelines.

Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-g1

[Donraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the series that builds on what came before, delivers resolution to long-running plot threads, weaves new ones in an interesting way and just in general gave me everything that I want from a Daniel Faust novel.

Also it references Chuck Norris and My Little Pony.

Looking forward to finding out what happens next in the exciting life of The Guy.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking Responsibility

•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!!!•••


These serieses must be read in order. They twist around each other and the best reading order I can surmise will follow. (DF) = Daniel Faust Series (HB) = Harmony Black Series (WG) = The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy The first book is The Long Way Down (DF). The second book is The White Gold Score (DF). The third book is Redemption Song (enter Harmony Black) (DF). The fourth book is The Living End (DF). A Plain - Dealing Villain (DF). The fifth book is The Killing Floor Blues (DF). The sixth book is Harmony Black (HB). The seventh book is Red Knight Falling (HB). The eighth book is The Castle Doctrine (DF). The ninth book is Glass Predator (HB). This is the tenth book. I can't wait to read Cold Spectrum (HB) AND then Sworn To The Night (WG)!!!


Now that The Outfit has been sent back home to Chicago and The New Commission is in full effect, things are a bit hectic for Daniel and Caitlin. Nadine is STILL trying to drive a wedge between them... Of course. Trying to keep the peace in Vegas is kinda a full time job and that was BEFORE a mysterious and deadly dangerous new drug called *Ink* showed up on the scene! Finally taking some responsibility is running Daniel ragged. Add a devious Baron of Hell from another Lord's Court calling in her chits and life is about to get way too interesting! Why does EVERYONE want that obsidian Aztec knife he stole from Echo? Who is The Enemy? And why is Ms Fleiss so devoted to him? Who was the original Thief? And can his part be transferred back to him? Or is Daniel truly destined to die in his place? Will be be able to thwart the Enemy? NO one ever has before.. Could he be the first?