Shadow Card Guardian

A Deck-building LitRPG (The Nyx Cards, Book 1)

By: Kacey Ezell

Narrated by: Anna Delphine

Dania Ellis has faced warzones and Emergency Room chaos—but nothing prepared her for Drop Night.

Once every ten years, the gods give a deck of cards to a chosen few. These new “deckbearers” are capable of great magical feats, and are the top of every food chain, both metaphorically and literally.

As a combat veteran and ER nurse, Dania knows what it takes to fight for a better life. She’s worked tirelessly to build a future for herself and her orphaned nephew, Jake. But everything changes on Jake’s fourteenth birthday when he receives a Drop Night deck—straight from Nyx, the goddess of night.

The deck grants Jake power, but it also paints a target on his back. Suddenly, he’s a deckbearer hunted by forces that would do anything to possess his special deck of cards. But those hunting him and others like him failed to consider one important thing: Jake may be orphaned, but he’s not alone…

Because Dania will do anything to protect her kid. Survival isn’t just an option—it’s a promise.

Fast-paced, gripping, and full of heart, this story is in the same universe as Demon Card Enforcer, and perfect for fans of All the Skills and Goblin Summoner.

©2025 Kacey Ezell (P)2025 Kacey Ezell

Wow! Very interesting story.

While I read a lot of LitRPG, this is the first deck building story that I have ever read (I never played any of the card games either, but one day I'll break down and try Munchkin) so a lot of this was new to me. However, Kacey's style is as good as it ever was and I enjoyed the journey completely. if you read this story and enjoy it, you should check out the anthology she edited, titled "Or All Will Burn". Same vibe from the Momma Bear protagonist.
in any case, The Bubba Likes it! Do Recommend!

Author changed a good story to become great

This book could easily have been something very different. On his 14th birthday, Jake Ellis is chosen by the goddess of the night to be her champion against the adult champions of the other gods and given cards which give him cool powers. All the ingredients of a YA book are there: parents dead, cool aunt who teaches him combat basics but doesn’t know the cards nearly as well as Jake, creepy new best friend / bodyguard who can come back to life after being killed, possible mentor hero who can no longer fight, and his cute and popular 16-year-old granddaughter…

What we got instead was a story with all those ingredients told from the viewpoint of the aunt, Dania Ellis, who is trying her best to be a good mom for Jake, and despite doing a great job in difficult circumstances still worries (like most parents). What could have been offhand tropes are instead treated in an adult way and with realism. For example, Dania still has PTSD-related nightmares, but it is obvious she has received therapy, they don’t ruin her life, and she can speak with authority with Jake about dealing with everything happening to him in a mature and healthy-as-possible way.

This is an uncomplicated action story in an urban fantasy world with realistic stakes, plenty of danger, plenty of thrills, and a group of people doing their realistic best in difficult circumstances.

My personal favorite was the monster Hush, who didn’t stop being a monster just because he liked Dania. I was reminded of the t-shirt some of my old military friends wore (paraphrased): in the valley of death I will fear no evil because I am the scariest thing in here.

The narrator does a great job, but struggles a bit with male voices.