Last Call At The Nightshade Lounge is this month’s choice for the Dragon’s and Tea bookclub on Goodreads. This debut novel by Paul Krueger is all about magic, mixology, post-college life – Harry Potter meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

About The Book

My Review

Bailey Chen, Ivy League grad, has just returned to Chicago to move in with her parents. She’s Chinese-American with no post-grad job, so decides to accept a position working as a bar-back with her childhood friend, Zane (who she had a drunken high school hook-up with). While working at the bar, she notices bartenders taking a smoke break yet not smelling like cigarettes when they return. One night Zane mysteriously runs off leaving Bailey to close up. While cleaning she comes across a cupboard that’s usually locked and finds some fancy alcohol bottles. She decides to mix herself a screwdriver before walking home. On the way, she’s attacked by a horrid-looking monster. A new-found power pulses through her veins and she’s able to kill it. The next day Zane shows up to her house and explains all about the secret society of bartenders who consume special alcoholic drinks that give superhuman powers which help them kill monsters called tremens (skinless monsters who want to drink the spark from humans). Bailey’s other friend from high school, Jess, helps Bailey land a job offer at her cool workplace called Divinyl. This puts Bailey into a situation where she must choose between the exciting bartending/monster killing job and the cool job with lots of perks at Divinyl.

Zane’s girlfriend, Mona, is a badass, strong woman who says what she means and means what she says. In my opinion, Zane isn’t good enough for her. She reminds me of Michonne from The Walking Dead. Zane’s friend, Bucket, is a transgender Canadian who stole the show! He’s definitely my favorite character!

I love the excerpts from “The Devil’s Water Dictionary” found throughout the novel. It kinda gave this a historical fiction feel. This “bartender’s bible” serves two purposes:
1. arm humanity against the forces of darkness
2. provide recipes for tasty drinks

Zane’s Uncle Garrett is the leader of the secret bartender society and heads up the Cupbearers Court. A cupbearer is an actual term that’s been used in court and means “one who has the duty of filling and handing around the cups in which wine is served”. I thought that was a creative name for their council, and I also like their motto – Bibo ergo sum – meaning “I drink therefore I am”.

♥♥♥ I LOVE the diversity in this novel. ♥♥♥

Dislikes
– Cool premise, but not executed very well.
– Jokes weren’t funny
– Felt Immature for a New Adult novel
– Predictable plot
– Bailey kissed Zane knowing he has a girlfriend.
– unlikable characters
– Where are the tremens coming from?
– Ending anti-climatic

Although I had a few dislikes, I do think there is an audience for this very unique book. Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge is a fun, silly, quick page-turner that I recommend to reluctant readers 14 years old+.

I AM interested in checking out Krueger’s next book, Steel Crow Saga, a YA Fantasy set to be published October 2019.

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About The Author

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