Through the Eyes of Desperation

The Black Version

By: Daniel J Volpe

Narrated by: Sierra Kline

SKIN IN THE GAME

At Shadows Casino, this isn’t just a phrase, it’s a grim reality. Far from prying eyes is a world of decadent pleasure, and unimaginable pain, where only the desperate or the rich dare to tread.

Cee is the leader of the sinister establishment, but that hasn’t always been her story. Long before she'd ever heard of a parlay or letting it ride, Cee was just a little girl with a daddy who liked to gamble. And when her daddy brought her into Shadows, he made a bet that changed both of their lives forever.

Years later, Cee is thrust back into the murky depths of her childhood memories, thanks to the story of a new bettor: a mysterious man whose situation is eerily similar to her past.

Will the bettor’s tale of desperation crack the façade she's erected? Or will Cee have him ground to a bloody pulp?

©2023 Daniel J. Volpe (P)2024 Daniel J. Volpe

Does the house always win?

Yes it does, but don't think because you're up you're the house. Mr. Volpe proves the in his version of this "buddy book" with Mr. Beauregard. Now that I have finished both, let me tell you about Volpe's black version.

The Black version follows "the house" version taking place mostly in the casino Shadows. Beauregard follows a down and out gambler who's trying to raise enough money to save his mom who he placed in harms way by gambling away a casino/mob boss's money. To be fair he was doing it for a noble cause. In this case the house refers to the current owner of Shadows. Mr. Volpe let's us view life in the casino and the plight of the gambler from her view.

This version is a lot less in your face with the amount of gruesome depravity, but don't think you'll come out light. Volpe has taken your money and you will get what you paid for. Put on you lobster bib cause you're going to dribble.
No punches are held and there is plenty guts, gore, bodily harm, and mental shock in this book. While this version did not make me dry heave every time I had food near me, I did internalize a lot of vile. With a lot of death, this book capitalizes on things worst than it and how dark addiction can go. Both books do solid justice showing it, but Volpe's hits hard with the backstory of the casino owner. You almost root for her....until you don't.

The characters are well built. The reader gets motivations and back stories that flesh out individuals which do a great job of establishing the environment and the stakes in the story. Their points of view can make you smell the dank, thick air and feel effects of whatever ingestible the player must consume to prevent the violent consequences of denying the house its win. The pacing is excellent. Slow when necessary and fast to increase intensity of the story.

As with the Red version, there's a choice to pick your ending from two choices. What's a book about gambling if you don't get to actively play a game? My choice with this book was satisfying like in the Red version but also haunting. The other option proved the house always wins. Just know the house is never a person.

Very gag-inducing (you've been warned)

If you thought Through The Eyes of Desperation: The Red Version tested your gag reflex, just wait until you read this version. The Black Version is so much worse. Or better? Depends what you're into, I guess. Of the two, I preferred this one,although both are quite good. I think I may have preferred this one because I found the characters a bit more sympathetic.

Beautifully horrific!

If you enjoy splatter punk horror you’ll love this! 20/20 recommend! I also highly recommend having listened to the black version first!

Great companion novel!

Red this after reading The Red Version by Aron Beauregard. This book takes place at the same time from a different POV. Loved every minute!

Phenomenal!

This was a great edition to match with the first edition! The narrators voice matched perfectly with the story!

The Black Widow always wins

This was my first Daniel J. Volpe book, and I was not disappointed. I completed the Red Version first, so I had to see the other perspective of The Black Widow. The book mostly takes place during the same timeframe as the Red Version, but there is a lot of flashing back and forth. Since I listened to this on Audible, the flashbacks confused me a little until I realized they were set in a different time. Although the narrator was great, I’d recommend reading instead of listening so you can see the scene breaks and know when a flashback is happening. Many of the same characters are in both books, and some of the dialogue is familiar. For those unsure of which version to read, I recommend both versions but read the Red Version first. I will be looking for more books by Volpe in the future.

vice

every possible vice imaginable in this one story. every action has a consequence and they are harsh this book is not for those with a weak stomach but if you like graphic horror then listen to this one it will be worth your time

Basically just gore porn

This book is just no all the way around. It’s definitely more just detailed gore porn on disabled individuals and minors. The plot and character development is extremely disappointing and lacking.