Review: As near perfection as a short story can offer
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 13, 2013
It's amazing how rare it is to find a short story with a rich atmosphere, three dimensional characters, and  a proper ending.  House of Cards exceeded my expectations for what a short story should offer.  Sinjor is fleeing Paris in a stagecoach (I think that's the right name for the vehicle) but not fast enough.  He is caught in route by something and he must tread carefully to figure out how to survive this encounter.  Sinjon's indecision and often inaptitude in figuring out the quests is a refreshing take on the typical fantasy hero, who always figures out the task.  It's good to see the hero fail, although Sinjon might not have liked the consequences.  House of Cards is borderline horror.  It's dark fantasy that never quite crosses into scary, although there are several gruesome descriptions and a steady, suspenseful pace.As far as short stories goes, this one has it all.(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)