Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger

288 Pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: June 7, 2016

Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Magic, Metaphysical, Alcohol, Cocktails

Bailey Chen is an Asian American fresh out of college with a business degree. Uncertain what she wants to do or where, she goes to work as a bar back with her childhood friend Zane. She makes the perfect screwdriver but doesn’t realize it has given her otherworldly powers. She bends the lounge key in the door with her strength and then comes across a demon in the street. This begins her life at the Nightshade.

The story is fast paced, the characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. I enjoyed reading this book with recipes for classic cocktails included. The book seems to be left open for a sequel and I really hope there is. If you like sci fi books with demons and alcohol, you will enjoy reading this book.

A fun read and a different slant on the magical fantasy genre. I enjoyed it immensely and if you can suspend your disbelief about the total impossibility of some of the plot you will enjoy it too.

“The knowledge contained herein has two applications. The first is to arm humanity against the forces of darkness, which manifest in the shadows and conspire to undo all that we have built and cherish. If the few brave souls who learn the mixological arts stand like a wall between the happy whole of humanity and its complete ruination, the wisdom of these pages is the mortar that holds its bricks together.
The second application is to provide humanity with some rather tasty inebriates to make the whole thing more enjoyable.” (From the Devils Water Dictionary}”

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge is a fun urban fantasy novel, with a unique take on the more traditional magic system.

Having finished her Ivy League education and returned to her home town, Bailey Chen is is ready to launch into, what she is certain will be, a successful future. But while she is waiting for her real life to start, she needs a job, any job, and Zane, her high school friend, is willing to give her a chance as a barback at the Nightshade Lounge. It’s not exactly challenging work, that is, until she learns the bartenders secrets.

In Krueger’s Chicago, monsters, called Tremens, lurk in the shadows waiting to prey on drunken souls. It is the task of the Bartenders of Chicago to protect their patrons from a grisly death, and they do so with magic. Mixing, and imbibing, the perfect cocktail, gives the bartenders supernatural powers, such as super strength, telekinesis or the ability to manipulate fire, for as long as the alcohol lasts in their system, that they can use to kill the Tremens.

The plot has its flaws but, fast paced, with plenty of action, Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge offers some exciting battles between the Bartenders and Tremens, and builds to an explosive climax as Bailey uncovers a nefarious plan by one Bartender to concoct the mythical Long Island Ice Tea, said to bestow immortality. There is also wit and humour, and touch of slightly awkward romance to be found in the story.

Perhaps somewhat cynically, Kruger’s characters cover the spectrum of political correctness. Bailey is Chinese American, Vincent is blind and in a gay relationship, Bucket is transsexual, and Mona is is a black woman. As the main character, Bailey is likeable but portrayed inconsistently, which was occasionally frustrating.

As a final touch, chapters are Interspersed with the ‘magical’ cocktail history of, and recipes for fourteen ‘magical’ cocktails, such as Screwdriver’s (super strength), Martini’s (invisibility) and the Gold Rush (telepathy).

I enjoyed Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge, it was a quick and entertaining read, with an creative premise, though possibly it would have been more impressive if I had a cocktail in hand.

“Booze is universal, it brings people together, and a lot of times it results in the creation of more people. What could be more magical than something that does all that?”

I think this book has a good idea that wasn't able to turn into a great idea. It can't decide if it wants to be YA or Adult and maybe I'm just too old to really appreciate it.

Magical drinks mixed by bartenders is a fun different take on monster-hunting ideas. And I laughed at a "To Do" list which is much like mine -- "(1) Do everything. (2) Right Now. (3) Or else." A very fun read, and I hope it becomes a series.

It was just okay... the character felt juvenile and for a book that was considered to be New Adult, I expected a little bit more. It was unique and a bit fun, though!

I thought this would make a good October read but it was too ridiculous to be borne.

This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

Un thème super intéressant et super original sur des barman qui combattent des démons avec en perso principal une jeune femme d'origine asiatique !

L'univers de ce bouquin est super bien expliqué et j'ai juste tout aimé dedans, surtout la bonne grosse bataille à la fin. C'est la première fois que je lis un livre de cet auteur, mais je pense me laisser retenter !

En conclusion, un univers très original et une écriture fluide et intéressante.

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge was one of the most unique story ideas that I had come across in a long time. Alcohol fuelled magic? Yep, never heard that one before. I was seriously intrigued by it. Unfortunately however, my expectations were not met.
I actually struggled with this book. I stopped and started it several times and had to push through to get it finished. The storyline and idea of this world that Krueger has created is awesome. Seriously cool. The characters however . . . I wasn't fond of them however. I feel like the author was trying to make each character so different and unique and make them each stand out that it seemed a bit silly after a little while. They were like caricatures of real people.
And as much as I loved the world, I felt like there wasn't enough back story or history to explain how this magic came about and how they learned about it. All over I just felt like in some places there was too much going on and in others, not enough.
I really wanted to like this book and I'm sad that I didn't.

A fun story with lots of action. Bailey, our heroine, does a great job navigating the real world and it's disappointments of college graduation with no real job and living with her parents. And throw in supernatural fighting on the streets on Chicago, I'm hoping there will be another book soon.

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge was just an ok read for me. It had a great premise but it just didn't seem to carry over to the actual story. Baliey Chen bothered me- she just seemed whiney & unable to move forward in her "chosen" field. Maybe I just am too old (43) to enjoy the inner struggles of a fresh out of college person.

I did enjoy the cocktail recipes!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

A funny and fresh urban fantasy. I've followed Paul on twitter for a long time and really enjoyed seeing his mind at work on the page.