Fantasy 
For all things related to the genre.
Circus of Blood
“If my heart wasn’t armor-plated with scar tissue, it would have broken for the girl who was hooked up to IVs and fighting for her life.” What an opening. We learn that someone tried to beat this girl to death, but then… “If she hadn’t been a Were-bat, then this would’ve been an autopsy.” The scene… Read More ›
Spider’s Lullaby
The first clue was the door… open ever so slightly. “The second clue was the bittersweet scent of Were-spider blood drifting from inside the house.” Yikes! Spider’s Lullaby begins with Deacon Chalk, Occult Bounty Hunter—”have silver bullets, will travel”—and his lady friends, Charlotte and Tiff, returning to Charlotte’s place after a night of binge drinking…. Read More ›
Starship Traveller
Have you ever dreamed about exploring the furthest reaches of space? Fantasized about what it would be like to travel on a space ship like the one in Star Trek or to pilot one like those in Star Wars? What about being the captain of your very own ship? In this choose-your-own-adventure, a 344-page game… Read More ›
Top 10 Fantasy Novels of 2015?
After looking at last year’s top mysteries, it’s time to check out which fantasy novels were the most popular in 2015. The following list includes a mix of high fantasy and urban/paranormal fantasy titles, all of which are shelved in the Fantasy section at the library where I work. Based on circulation figures, these were the… Read More ›
Live Read: That Thing at the Zoo
Today, The Poisoned Martini is reading James R. Tuck’s novella, That Thing at the Zoo. Monster slayer Deacon Chalk faces an unknown assailant or “whatever is leaving the Atlanta Zoo’s most dangerous predators bloodless, skinned, and hanging high in treetops.” Now with the zoo in lockdown, Deacon and a handful of zoo staffers must survive… Read More ›
Top 10 Fantasy Novels in 2014?
Reflecting on last year’s top mysteries made me curious to take a look at the fantasy novels of 2014. What were the most popular? Perhaps you may be surprised to learn that #1 was published over a decade ago! Now, this top 10 list includes a mix of high fantasy and urban/paranormal fantasy titles, all… Read More ›
Frozen
“In winter all this pleasure came to an end, for the windows were sometimes quite frozen over. But then they would warm copper pennies on the stove and hold the warm pennies against the frozen pane. Soon a little round peephole would appear, and through these holes beamed the soft bright eyes of a little… Read More ›
5 Thrillers for Halloween
Recently I put together a short list of recommended books for a “book beat” article I contribute to a local newspaper, The Eagle Bulletin. Appearing in the October 22, 2014 issue, the selected books appeared under the banner of “Some New and Well-Respected Horror Reads for Halloween.” Though not the title I’d originally chosen for… Read More ›
Discord’s Apple
Evie Walker’s father has long held a secret that she is aware of, but doesn’t understand. In the storeroom beneath her family home in a small Colorado town, a myriad of objects lay waiting to be claimed or kept from falling into the wrong hands. Glass slippers, a golden fleece, Excalibur… Now Evie’s father is… Read More ›
18 Reads for Halloween
Recommended Reads: 18 Reads for Halloween Discover new authors (or revisit old favorites) with The Poisoned Martini ‘s Recommended Reads. Perhaps these suggested titles will expand your reading list. *** With Halloween approaching, now is the perfect time to settle in with a gothic or terror-inducing read. These chilling stories may make you think twice about… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 