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Luck's Voice #4
Dangerous Gamble
Life had gotten both better and more chaotic for Doc— he’d already been happy with Fiala and Sonya as his wives, but then Ayla and Lia joined his family. To top it off, he collared the willing dryad, Rosa. With five wives at his side, Doc had a full house of love.
He was still in the town of Deep Gulch, needing to achieve the mission Luck had given him. When Sheriff Grange killed Mayor Goodman, it removed the least of Doc’s troubles while showing that Grange was clearly a problem. Even with the Mayor out of the way, there was still plenty to take care of.
The first annual poker tournament at the Lily was coming up. The cardsharp, Mr. Suez, was one of Doc’s biggest roadblocks to freeing the town. He had a plan for him, but it would be a gamble... luckily, his patron goddess was Lady Luck.
Even if he dealt with Suez, Doc would have to handle Grange as well. The sheriff wanted him gone so he could move on Lia. On top of that, the Church of Apoc was still a threat. In Deep Gulch, that meant Adam McIan, Preacher of Apoc, would have to be removed. Doc had managed to lie to and placate the preacher, but he knew it would come to a head soon.
With all the troubles building, a dangerous gamble would have to be made. Doc knew he had allies of his own— some of the townsfolk; the Oresmelter clan in town; and of course, his lovely and talented wives. Trusting in his goddess, Doc embarked on his plan to rid Deep Gulch of the Darkness.
He was still in the town of Deep Gulch, needing to achieve the mission Luck had given him. When Sheriff Grange killed Mayor Goodman, it removed the least of Doc’s troubles while showing that Grange was clearly a problem. Even with the Mayor out of the way, there was still plenty to take care of.
The first annual poker tournament at the Lily was coming up. The cardsharp, Mr. Suez, was one of Doc’s biggest roadblocks to freeing the town. He had a plan for him, but it would be a gamble... luckily, his patron goddess was Lady Luck.
Even if he dealt with Suez, Doc would have to handle Grange as well. The sheriff wanted him gone so he could move on Lia. On top of that, the Church of Apoc was still a threat. In Deep Gulch, that meant Adam McIan, Preacher of Apoc, would have to be removed. Doc had managed to lie to and placate the preacher, but he knew it would come to a head soon.
With all the troubles building, a dangerous gamble would have to be made. Doc knew he had allies of his own— some of the townsfolk; the Oresmelter clan in town; and of course, his lovely and talented wives. Trusting in his goddess, Doc embarked on his plan to rid Deep Gulch of the Darkness.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2022
343 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Schinhofen
69 books1,304 followersDaniel James Schinhofen is a self-published author in the burgeoning genre of LitRPG/Gamelit. He published his first book, Last Horizon: Beta, in October of 2016, and has recently published his fifteenth book. A best-selling author on Amazon multiple times, his four series have achieved name recognition in the genre. When not slavishly typing away at the next book, Daniel tries to unwind with video games, playing with his dog Sugar, or going for walks around his neighborhood. His books can be found easily via his website http://schinhofenbooks.com/. Daniel can be found via Twitter using the handle @DJSchinhofen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 6, 2022
Rating 4.0 stars
This feels like a conclusion in a lot of ways. Things in this town come to a head and everything gets taken care of. The group is planning to move to another town and keep bringing the word of the goddess luck to the world. Overall a good conclusion to this part of the overall story and I am interested to see where it goes from here.
This feels like a conclusion in a lot of ways. Things in this town come to a head and everything gets taken care of. The group is planning to move to another town and keep bringing the word of the goddess luck to the world. Overall a good conclusion to this part of the overall story and I am interested to see where it goes from here.
February 3, 2022
I'm not sure of the author's plans for this series, as this could either be the close of a story arc or the final book. Either way, solid writing but only gets a 4 from me for overall experience; usual slice-of-life caveat applied. Otherwise I think it could have been a bit shorter, but no fatal flaws.
August 27, 2025
Introduction
Luck’s Voice #4: Dangerous Gamble by Daniel Schinhofen (first published January 25, 2022, independently published) drops us right back into the saloon-smoked, dust-caked chaos of Deep Gulch. Genre-wise, it’s a hybrid beast: Fantasy Western, Harem Romance, Slice-of-Life Gamelit, with a lit sprinkle of LitRPG flavoring to remind you where the dice rolled in from. This volume marks the point where Doc’s slow-burn frontier empire starts colliding head-on with entrenched corruption, spiritual enemies, and the inevitable complications of juggling both politics and polyamory. The hook? One wrong move at the poker table—or in town politics—and the whole house of cards comes down.
Plot Summary
The plot continues the long grind of reshaping Deep Gulch. Doc, with five wives (Fiala, Sonya, Ayla, Lia, and the collared dryad Rosa), faces a trifecta of antagonistic forces: Sheriff Grange with his lust and brutality, Mr. Suez with his stranglehold on gambling and control, and the looming Church of Apoc embodied in Preacher McIan. At the same time, the first annual poker tournament adds a public stage for risk and reward. The story remains firmly planted in the dusty streets of Deep Gulch—no sprawling journeys yet—but that’s the point: this arc is about cleaning house before moving on. It’s less “wandering gunslinger” and more “settling scores in a frontier town.”
The Author
Daniel Schinhofen is a recognizable name in LitRPG/Gamelit, having built multiple successful indie series—Binding Words, Apocalypse Gates, Aether’s Revival—all of which share DNA with Luck’s Voice. His reputation rests on rapid publishing cadence, consistent chart performance, and a blend of harem/polyamory dynamics with progression fantasy. While not showered in awards, he is undeniably a heavyweight in Kindle Unlimited sales. Dangerous Gamble fits neatly into his larger body of work: slice-of-life heavy, relationship-driven, with bursts of conflict to keep the wolves sniffing at the trail.
Characters
Doc Holyday: He’s still the axis of the tale—good-natured, competent, dripping with white-knight syndrome, yet held together by Lady Luck’s quirky divine deal. His arc leans more toward consolidation than growth.
The Wives (Fiala, Sonya, Ayla, Lia, Rosa): A “full house” of personalities, but functionally too often orbiting Doc rather than fully driving subplots. The family dynamic is warm, but sometimes repetitive.
Sheriff Grange: Archetypal corrupt lawman, more brute force than nuanced villain.
Mr. Suez: The classic cardsharp antagonist—clever, manipulative, but somewhat undercooked as a real long-term foil.
Preacher McIan: The most intriguing antagonist, tied to the Church of Apoc, hinting at deeper godly politics beyond Deep Gulch.
Supporting cast: Dwarves, townsfolk, and allied clans give the town texture, though they mostly play backup roles to the primary confrontations.
Structure
The narrative structure is steady: slice-of-life domestic scenes, political maneuvering, followed by bursts of conflict (showdowns with Grange, Suez, and McIan). It resolves most of the arc’s major plotlines by the end, acting as a “season finale” for Deep Gulch. The pacing, however, can feel uneven—long stretches of dialogue and family interactions punctuated by action sequences that wrap up too quickly. The audiobook experience amplifies this, as character switching and perspective hopping sometimes blur together, leaving me more confused than immersed.
Themes & Analysis
Key themes include community building through luck and grit, polyamory as both strength and complication, and justice versus corruption in a lawless frontier. Underneath, there’s a running question of what divine patronage (Lady Luck) really costs: is Doc making his own choices, or is he just her pawn? The book also toys with power redistribution—taking Deep Gulch away from corrupt elites and redistributing it to marginalized groups like dwarves and non-humans. But the tension between “epic quest to save the world” and “domestic western slice-of-life” remains unresolved—this still feels like a long prelude to the larger promised conflict.
Scenes
Sexual content is still present, though toned down compared to earlier installments. Flirtation, romance, and harem dynamics dominate much of the interpersonal space, but the explicit “spice” is dialed back in favor of political closure and family unity. What’s left is innuendo, soft intimacy, and relationship validation. Depending on your appetite, that shift is either a relief or a letdown.
World-Building
The western-fantasy mashup remains one of the series’ most unique strengths. Deep Gulch is alive with saloons, poker halls, corrupt lawmen, and hidden divine politics. The dwarves add an economic dimension, while the Church of Apoc broadens the scope beyond town borders. Yet the world still feels oddly small—confined to Deep Gulch’s borders for four full books. While immersive, it risks claustrophobia, with the reader eager to see beyond the town limits.
Praise & Critique
Strengths:
- Satisfying wrap-up of Deep Gulch arc.
- Strong integration of poker/gambling motif into narrative tension.
- Compelling interplay between Doc’s divine patronage and mortal choices.
- Warm family dynamic that appeals to fans of slice-of-life harem fiction.
Weaknesses:
- Antagonists too quickly dispatched; lack of long-term villain depth.
- Slice-of-life dialogue slows pacing and reduces tension.
- World remains too localized; broader stakes teased but not yet delivered.
- Audiobook can feel disorienting with perspective hops and missing connective tissue.
Comparison
Compared to earlier books, Dangerous Gamble is more conclusive—where Cashing In dragged, this one resolves arcs. Versus Binding Words, this is lighter, more domestic, with less overt progression mechanics. Against Apocalypse Gates, it’s a cozier, friendlier ride, lacking the brutal darkness but offering warmth and slow-burn character payoffs. Among Schinhofen’s catalog, it’s mid-tier: polished, comforting, but not genre-defining.
Personal Evaluation
As an alpha wolf, I respect closure. This book finally puts some enemies in the ground and clears the board for new hunts. But the battles felt rushed, the villains undercooked, and the padding between conflicts sometimes tested my patience. As an audiobook, the constant character hopping left me dazed, like chasing too many scents at once. Still, the western-fantasy blend has claws, and the family bonds hit an emotional note that’s rare in this genre. I just wish the fire burned hotter, with more bite.
Conclusion
Dangerous Gamble is the end of the Deep Gulch arc—a satisfying, if uneven, finale that clears the stage for Doc’s larger journey. It’s warm, indulgent, and charming in its harem-slice-of-life way, but at times padded and undercut by rushed confrontations. For fans of Schinhofen, it’s comfort food. For newcomers, it’s a book best approached after the earlier entries, as it leans heavily on established characters and ongoing arcs.
Rating: 7.5/10 — A royal flush in terms of closure, but missing some high cards in tension and execution.
April 6, 2023
Great book, great site
A great book and a part of a great series from an amazing author. Great developments and a great wrap up to the first arc. Can't wait for more.
A great book and a part of a great series from an amazing author. Great developments and a great wrap up to the first arc. Can't wait for more.
March 14, 2022
Book four finds Doc and all his wives preparing for the final showdown, which I thought would be the big action piece to end the first arc of the series.
I was wrong. Yes, I still enjoy this series and all the other books, but it just goes so slow that my mind wanders sometimes. The action in the last half (Grange, Suez, and McIan) seem to end too quickly. McIan was the most interesting to me because he represents another god, but the rest left me wanting more.
Having said that, I'm still looking forward to Binding Words book 8, and I'll read Aether's Guard when it comes out too. The lovey dovey stuff is fine, but by book four I was kind of ready for that to change.
Maybe it will in book 5.
4/5* I still enjoyed it, but I came close to fast forwarding through the book to get to better sections a few times.
I was wrong. Yes, I still enjoy this series and all the other books, but it just goes so slow that my mind wanders sometimes. The action in the last half (Grange, Suez, and McIan) seem to end too quickly. McIan was the most interesting to me because he represents another god, but the rest left me wanting more.
Having said that, I'm still looking forward to Binding Words book 8, and I'll read Aether's Guard when it comes out too. The lovey dovey stuff is fine, but by book four I was kind of ready for that to change.
Maybe it will in book 5.
4/5* I still enjoyed it, but I came close to fast forwarding through the book to get to better sections a few times.
January 31, 2022
Another great book in this series
Really enjoyed reading this book, Daniel really has a way with words that allows him to put emotions into the characters actions and relay that through to the reader. Very few authors can do that to this extent. Once again though I did find myself struggling to remember which character was which after not reading a Lucks Voice book for so many months (and many books in between). A full character bio for the girls to refresh my memory would have been handy (even if it was just something I could look up at the back of the book). Hopefully Amazon wouldn’t consider that as padding. Thanks for another good book Daniel.
Really enjoyed reading this book, Daniel really has a way with words that allows him to put emotions into the characters actions and relay that through to the reader. Very few authors can do that to this extent. Once again though I did find myself struggling to remember which character was which after not reading a Lucks Voice book for so many months (and many books in between). A full character bio for the girls to refresh my memory would have been handy (even if it was just something I could look up at the back of the book). Hopefully Amazon wouldn’t consider that as padding. Thanks for another good book Daniel.
January 27, 2022
This is a very nice close out to a story arc.
The last review wasn't that great. It is because being a nice guy does not mean you have to wait for the bad guy to kill someone before you act. You see this heavily in Binding Words. This had shown similar tendencies, but it took the edge off them in this book. I hope it continues to find a happy medium between that and gun happy lunatic,(looking at you Apocalypse Gates). All in all, a very fine transition piece.
The last review wasn't that great. It is because being a nice guy does not mean you have to wait for the bad guy to kill someone before you act. You see this heavily in Binding Words. This had shown similar tendencies, but it took the edge off them in this book. I hope it continues to find a happy medium between that and gun happy lunatic,(looking at you Apocalypse Gates). All in all, a very fine transition piece.
January 28, 2022
Excellent storytelling!!!
Character growth and a positive outlook are my two favorites about this book. Mind you, I could have named 10 easily, but those were to me the most prominent. His writing keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat.
I only put it down when I absolutely had to. Great story, characters who engaged my emotions and intellect.
Thanks for another outstanding book!!!
Character growth and a positive outlook are my two favorites about this book. Mind you, I could have named 10 easily, but those were to me the most prominent. His writing keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat.
I only put it down when I absolutely had to. Great story, characters who engaged my emotions and intellect.
Thanks for another outstanding book!!!
February 1, 2022
Another great read!
I read every day, sometimes multiple books per day. I consistently search Amazon/Kindle for new Daniel Schinhofen books, as well as return to previously read books and series. The stories are well written. I don't find myself picking out inconsistencies of one kind of another. The MC is usually overpowered but relatable. The main and supporting characters grow and evolve as does the story. Can't wait for the next one!
I read every day, sometimes multiple books per day. I consistently search Amazon/Kindle for new Daniel Schinhofen books, as well as return to previously read books and series. The stories are well written. I don't find myself picking out inconsistencies of one kind of another. The MC is usually overpowered but relatable. The main and supporting characters grow and evolve as does the story. Can't wait for the next one!
February 2, 2022
Wonderful book, satisfying ending to this chapter
Everything gets wrapped up in Deep Gulch by the end of the book. I enjoyed the whole book, and especially the end. He really took his time after the action was over to get everything straight, and I am looking forward to their next adventure in a new town.
If you haven’t read any books in this series, pick them up! If you read the others, you will enjoy this one just as much.
Everything gets wrapped up in Deep Gulch by the end of the book. I enjoyed the whole book, and especially the end. He really took his time after the action was over to get everything straight, and I am looking forward to their next adventure in a new town.
If you haven’t read any books in this series, pick them up! If you read the others, you will enjoy this one just as much.
Read
April 23, 2022 Lost interest around 28%
Lost interest weeks ago and now I'm not reading something else out of the hope that I will reacquire some passion for this book by force.
Time to admit the spark is gone and let myself read something that I do care about.
This is kinda heart breaking because I usually love Schinhofen, but his last few books have fallen flat for me. Except for dungeon Walkers, I'm still digging that one.
Lost interest weeks ago and now I'm not reading something else out of the hope that I will reacquire some passion for this book by force.
Time to admit the spark is gone and let myself read something that I do care about.
This is kinda heart breaking because I usually love Schinhofen, but his last few books have fallen flat for me. Except for dungeon Walkers, I'm still digging that one.
May 1, 2025
The build-up finally comes to a head and Doc faces the Darkness. This is a tumultuous story with nasty bad guys and lots of Luck to save the day. Most of the open plotlines are resolved with some really clever choices.
As before, the spice level is reduced, partly due to the size of the harem and the enforced single perspective. But there's lots of flirting and innuendo to keep me amused.
On to the next.
As before, the spice level is reduced, partly due to the size of the harem and the enforced single perspective. But there's lots of flirting and innuendo to keep me amused.
On to the next.
January 28, 2022
Another Great book!
Great book looking forward to the next book in this series! I have enjoyed every book that you have written! And many by the authors that you have listed at the end of your works! On a side note I have noticed that Amazon seldom notifies me when your works come out this happens with most of the writers i follow hope they fix that!
Great book looking forward to the next book in this series! I have enjoyed every book that you have written! And many by the authors that you have listed at the end of your works! On a side note I have noticed that Amazon seldom notifies me when your works come out this happens with most of the writers i follow hope they fix that!
February 4, 2022
Yet another excellent series!!
A deeply emotional story this time!!! Lovely characters as always and truly enjoyable interactions!!! I for one am glad to see some of the more despicable characters finally get what they've always deserved!!! Thank you for a wonderful world you are building!!!
A deeply emotional story this time!!! Lovely characters as always and truly enjoyable interactions!!! I for one am glad to see some of the more despicable characters finally get what they've always deserved!!! Thank you for a wonderful world you are building!!!
February 6, 2022
Another solid book
Really love this series and this furthers the story of Doc. It should be noted that the sex scenes are all but absent in this iteration so if that was an issue for you, don't worry. Can't wait to read more now that the adventure continues outside of Deep Gulch!
Really love this series and this furthers the story of Doc. It should be noted that the sex scenes are all but absent in this iteration so if that was an issue for you, don't worry. Can't wait to read more now that the adventure continues outside of Deep Gulch!
February 14, 2022
Fantastic read
Another outstanding book from this author in this western book with magic. The MC is a genuinely good person and exemplifies what we should all try to. Kind and compassionate and judge people in their actions not on their race, color or beliefs. Overall excellent read and look forward to more in this series.
Another outstanding book from this author in this western book with magic. The MC is a genuinely good person and exemplifies what we should all try to. Kind and compassionate and judge people in their actions not on their race, color or beliefs. Overall excellent read and look forward to more in this series.
March 1, 2022
Super Series
This is an excellent series, with good writing, character development that makes you want them to succeed, and cheer when they do. The series has everything you could want, action, adventure and spice to keep your interest. If you haven't started it do yourself a favor and do so! You're going to enjoy it!
This is an excellent series, with good writing, character development that makes you want them to succeed, and cheer when they do. The series has everything you could want, action, adventure and spice to keep your interest. If you haven't started it do yourself a favor and do so! You're going to enjoy it!
March 24, 2022
loved it!!
After having some personal things going on that made reading hard I finally got back to reading just so I could read this book and boy was it worth it! So glad to been able to read it and it kept me hooked to the point I let falling asleep trying to read it because I was reading it when I should have been sleeping!
After having some personal things going on that made reading hard I finally got back to reading just so I could read this book and boy was it worth it! So glad to been able to read it and it kept me hooked to the point I let falling asleep trying to read it because I was reading it when I should have been sleeping!
Read
October 21, 2022gambling for the town
Another good installment as Doc continues to try and do his best using lady luck's gifts, his wives' skills and his otherworldly knowledge to save this will West town of humans and other races. More poker, more conflicts and of course, more adult content. Overall, a fitting conclusion to Doc's new home town.
Another good installment as Doc continues to try and do his best using lady luck's gifts, his wives' skills and his otherworldly knowledge to save this will West town of humans and other races. More poker, more conflicts and of course, more adult content. Overall, a fitting conclusion to Doc's new home town.
June 29, 2025
Fight for the town
Alternate universe, LitRPG light, fantasy western, save the world, harem adult situations
The fight for Deep Gulch begins. Doc, his women, and his allies take on the last hateful elements dividing the town -- Grange, Suez, and the preacher, McIan. Exact editing. Enjoyed. Five more books in the series. Next!
Alternate universe, LitRPG light, fantasy western, save the world, harem adult situations
The fight for Deep Gulch begins. Doc, his women, and his allies take on the last hateful elements dividing the town -- Grange, Suez, and the preacher, McIan. Exact editing. Enjoyed. Five more books in the series. Next!
January 27, 2022
Great series
This series is pretty different from from a lot of the authors other work. It's slower and focuses a lot more on the slice of life elements. And I love it. The MC is easily my favourite of his and I love the way this series is going.
This series is pretty different from from a lot of the authors other work. It's slower and focuses a lot more on the slice of life elements. And I love it. The MC is easily my favourite of his and I love the way this series is going.
January 27, 2022
Amazing
The book is amazing, the story extremely enjoyable and the characters all to easy to fall in love with. The overall quality of Schinhofen's work continues to qmaze me with every new book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
The book is amazing, the story extremely enjoyable and the characters all to easy to fall in love with. The overall quality of Schinhofen's work continues to qmaze me with every new book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
January 29, 2022
Outstanding book, and series
The author continues to impress me with his work in its craftsmanship, imagination and storytelling. If you are interested in the genre and types of stories he has to tell, check them out, and enjoy.
The author continues to impress me with his work in its craftsmanship, imagination and storytelling. If you are interested in the genre and types of stories he has to tell, check them out, and enjoy.
January 31, 2022
Great series
I enjoy Daniel’s world building and writing. While not a fan of harem and heavy sexual content, the explicit content was in batches that were easily skipped without breaking my enjoyment of the story.
I look forward to a new location in the next instalment.
I enjoy Daniel’s world building and writing. While not a fan of harem and heavy sexual content, the explicit content was in batches that were easily skipped without breaking my enjoyment of the story.
I look forward to a new location in the next instalment.
February 3, 2022
Great story
The book and the story move a nice brisk pace. No to fast not to slow. Our hero finishes up things in town nicely and gets ready to move to new town and the west, with just a few clues of what is to come
The book and the story move a nice brisk pace. No to fast not to slow. Our hero finishes up things in town nicely and gets ready to move to new town and the west, with just a few clues of what is to come
February 4, 2022
Super fun
This history is as interesting as binding words. I just feel that this author don't want to do sex scenes anymore, that was a plus on this history bit he just didn't want to put a good one, he went short and without much detail. The plot Is Great though.
This history is as interesting as binding words. I just feel that this author don't want to do sex scenes anymore, that was a plus on this history bit he just didn't want to put a good one, he went short and without much detail. The plot Is Great though.
February 5, 2022
Well done
Though the ending is as bit bittersweet, the book was great, great resolution to plot they'd been running since the beginning of the series, and onto fresh new pastures with the next book whenever it comes out.
Though the ending is as bit bittersweet, the book was great, great resolution to plot they'd been running since the beginning of the series, and onto fresh new pastures with the next book whenever it comes out.
February 6, 2022
Fun
Hope you find the inspiration to continue the tale. Hope Doc reunites after a few years with the characters he has had to leave behind and meets his legacy and discovers their gifts.
Hope you find the inspiration to continue the tale. Hope Doc reunites after a few years with the characters he has had to leave behind and meets his legacy and discovers their gifts.
February 9, 2022
to slow, to much harem
The series started off decent enough but it’s lost its oomph. Rather than pickup speed it’s actually slowed down. There’s WAY to much dialog around the relationships. Maybe fewer wives would mean less kitchen table dialog & more western stuff.
The series started off decent enough but it’s lost its oomph. Rather than pickup speed it’s actually slowed down. There’s WAY to much dialog around the relationships. Maybe fewer wives would mean less kitchen table dialog & more western stuff.
February 10, 2022
solid story
One of the few books of the litrpg scene that dabble in a few things just enough to keep things interesting without becoming tedious. A little violence, a little romance, a bit of drama, and even some city building
One of the few books of the litrpg scene that dabble in a few things just enough to keep things interesting without becoming tedious. A little violence, a little romance, a bit of drama, and even some city building
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews