The Bartender’s Ballerina

A Short Story

By: Blair M. Shadows

Narrated by: Jason Clarke

Tar City chews people up and spits them out.

Sometimes, it swallows.

But Jax?

He owns it. The bar. The streets. The magic he swore he’d never use again.

Until tonight.

Because tonight, Sisk isn’t playing fair.

She walks into his bar—later than promised—and he’s more than furious.

He’s hungry.

And when she dares him…he remembers why she’s the reason he stays.

The reason he breaks the rules.

This is a 2,700-word short story that’ll hit just right if you’re into: ROMANCE. MAGIC. BAD DECISIONS.

Listen to it closely.

And remember—Tar City doesn’t give without taking.

©2025 Blair Shadows (P)2025 Blair Shadows

Short and Spicy

This was a quick read. Small book filled with a lot of spice that definitely left me wanting more.

A sexual poetry slam

You know when the beatnik wearing all black slams down poetry under the spotlight? Yeah, it’s like that, if the poem was about a sexual tryst. The plot, backstory, and magic didn’t really signify, but I dug the mood.

Short, angsty, leaves you wanting more!

If you’re looking for a short story with a morally gray MMC and alll of the angst, do yourself a favor and read the Bartender’s Ballerina!!! 22 minutes and yet you know so much and so little about 2 characters, it leaves you wanting more!!! Also, Jason Clarke. Need I say more?

I need more

Definitely enjoy Jason Clarke as always and this was a quick listen and definitely good book ,

Intense! I need more!

This was an excellent bite into this magically filthy world. I need more of Jax and Sisk. Jason Clarke's deep scratchy voice was perfect as the gritty and jaded bartender. I would love to hear him narrate more in this world, but with a female narrator, too.