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Book Review: Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger


Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger

Quirk Books, 2016

ISBN: 9781594747595

Available: Paperback, audiobook, Kindle edition

 

Bailey Chen is struggling with life after college.  She is living with her parents, and working as a barback, with no prospects on the horizon. She’s also trying to salvage her relationship with Zane, a high school friend who now manages the Nightshade Lounge, where she is employed. After a particularly difficult evening at the Nightshade Lounge, a flighty bartender leaves a secret door open, and Bailey mixes the perfect screwdriver. As she heads toward home, she starts seeing… things. Supernatural creatures are hunting in Chicago.

Zane then reveals that he belongs to a secret society of bartenders that has kept evil at by for centuries, using specially mixed cocktails, to combat evil forces that plague the city. Each one lends different supernatural powers to the imbiber: vodka carries super-strength, dry vermouth has fortifying qualities, and whiskey grants the power of telekinesis. Zane introduces her to a smaller coterie within the organization, the Alechemists. She learns that their ancient tome and spell book, The Devil’s Water Dictionary, is not the original, which was destroyed; the secret society has tried to piece things back together through experimentation and sharing discoveries to create the current document, but it hasn’t been entirely successful. The recipe for the legendary Long Island Iced Tea, their philosopher’s stone, is missing. It could grant any number of powers to the imbiber, but its effects are largely unknown. There are a few people in the organization experimenting to find the right formula. However, the process is drawing some unwanted attention. and as they get closer to the proper formula, supernatural forces are aligning.

This book reads like a Mage game. It’s a fast-paced adventure, and I found myself liking all of the characters, even the baddies. The characters in the Alechemists were relatable, and strangely realistic. Adding to the realism, there are cocktail recipes sprinkled throughout the book. The concept of using alcoholic drinks to fuel the magic was unique, and mixing the drinks was treated nearly like a science; if the potions weren’t mixed properly, the formula wouldn’t work.  I really couldn’t find anything not to like about Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge.
I only have one question for the author: will there be a sequel?
Highly recommended.

Reader’s advisory note: This might also appeal to readers of the Esther Diamond series by Laura Resnick or the InCryptid series(especially the first two books) by Seanan McGuire

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker


Posted on July 26, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: Borderlands 6 edited by Thomas and Olivia Monteleone

Borderlands 6: The Anthology of Imaginative Fiction, edited by Thomas and Olivia Monteleone

Samhain Press, 2016

ISBN-13: 978-1619234987

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

In 1989, Thomas Monteleone, already a stellar author in several genres, decided to publish an anthology series that bucked the trends. He compiled a collection of unique stories that stretched the parameters of horror and weird fiction. There are no tired tropes or recycled plots here. Monteleone was interested in publishing great stories, not just big names, and many of the best tales came from the minds of previously unknown writers, many of whom became rising stars. After a 12 year hiatus, Borderlands 6 follows suit, and succeeds just as well as the previous five volumes. Some stories will leave readers with a sense of wonder, and others with the best sort of unsettling feeling.

There are some big names: Jack Ketchum, David Morrell, Steve Rasnic Tem, Gary Braunbeck, and new sensation Paul Tremblay all make an appearance, as does John McIlveen, whose novel Hannawhere was a Stoker nominee this year. Braunbeck’s satiric take on “mart-type-box stores” is chilling in its pure weirdness. However, the success of the Borderlands anthologies comes from sharing hidden gems, and this volume is no different. Many of the best stories are by relative newcomers. “Cocoa”, by Bob Pastorella, is the oddest tale here, and lingers in the memory; “The Dress”, by Peter Salomon, is similar in its strangeness, and has a twist that is both organic and perfect; “The Palace Garbage Man”, by Bradley Mitchell Zerbe, feels both medieval and modern in its unique take on evil; and “In God’s Image”, by Sean B. Davis, a story that feels like a warped episode of The Twilight Zone hung around in this reviewer’s darkened imagination for days.

Olivia and Tom have done a fine job here in continuing the Borderlands legacy. Highly recommended for all fans of short fiction looking for something new and different.

Reader’s advisory note: This anthology may be a good way to introduce new authors to horror readers looking for a change.

Reviewed by David Simms


Posted on July 22, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

 The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

ISBN: 9781501125041

Available: Kindle ebook, print

Release date: July 2016

 

Spiders. Man-eating spiders. Highly cooperative man-eating spiders. I’m relatively certain that I twitched my way through this book.

The Hatching begins in the jungles of Peru, with a guide leading  Minnesota businessman Henderson and three women on a path, when their seemingly quiet walk through the jungle is disturbed by a man screaming and making his way toward them. Their way is further blocked by what appears to be black liquid. The black substance washes over the poor man, sending the group running through the jungle.

The story then focuses on FBI Agent Rich in Minneapolis, who is investigating a fatal plane crash. He makes a gruesome discovery after a large spider crawls out of the face of one of the unfortunate passengers, who turns out to be Henderson. We learn that other countries are facing a similar problem, but no one is communicating, and things continue to unravel around the world.

In Washington, D.C., Professor Melanie Guyer receives a mysterious package from a dig site in Nazca, Peru. Inside is an ancient egg sac that contains a never-before-discovered spider that breeds at an alarming rate and has a taste for flesh.  The rest is the stuff of nightmares.

What unfolds are stories of different people all over the world trying to make sense of everything. The lives of the characters touch each other briefly or are more intimately entwined. The chapters jump from one location to another, but the way the story is told, it makes sense for them to do so. It actually adds to the confusion the characters feel, and also provides the reader at times with what is going on in multiple regions.

There are a few characters I really enjoyed. United States President Stephanie Pilgrim is a no-nonsense, strong, female character. She’s able to make quick decisions, but knows when she need to consult outside resources before making decisions like grounding worldwide travel. The survivalists of Desperation, California, including husband and wife Gordo and Amy and their friends, Shotgun and Fred (the town’s only gay survivalist couple), are an enjoyable crew.  Their characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed the dynamics and friendship between them.

I found the pacing to be a bit slow going at the beginning , but once the story picks up, it keeps a fast pace. It is also a frightening book. The way Boone describes the movement of the groups of spiders and how they act in a confined space within Dr. Guyer’s laboratory is disturbing. I read it in a relatively short time. I can’t tell if that was pure enjoyment or if I just wanted to see what happened with the spiders…ugh. This is a very good read. Fair warning, though: if you don’t like spiders, it would probably be best for you to stay away from this one. Recommended.

Note: The Hatching ends on a cliffhanger. Based on the author’s Goodreads page, he’s working on the next one, Skitter. Recommended.

Contains: a lot of spiders, some gore

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker


Posted on July 20, 2016 by , Reply
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