Title: The Arcane Art of Misdirection
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #4.6
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Which opened into a hallway, just like the one she’d left.

Welcome to the world of Kitty Norville. Where nothing is as it seems, including the world of casinos and gambling.

Casinos are a great location for mystery and subterfuge – they’re all about tricking the senses and convincing people to stay and act against their will. The idea of a sorcerer using this against the system to meet their own ends worked really beautifully, as did the description of such a location as a maze to trap people into spending their money. After all, they’re designed to contain everything and anything that we could want so that we don’t want to leave. Contrasting this view of those who want to win with a woman who works for the system and finds it rather tedious and boring was a great approach in this short story.

There are few people who are able to see through their preconceived conceptions to the inner truth, and it was enjoyable reading about somebody who is so inclined. Very few people would be able to see past this, and more difficult yet, accept this altered reality. There is a reason that everything is coloured by our preconceptions and this short story was a great way in which to question what happens when such preconceived ideas are altered. The conclusion of this story really highlights this complete change in Julie’s outlook on life and the potential new futures which she faces.

Image source: Succubus