A Shot of Gin

by Phoebe Wagner

Overview

"...a must-read for fans of urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic fiction, and anyone who craves a thrilling, thought-provoking adventure. A Shot of Gin is a shot of literary adrenaline that lingers long after the final page is turned." --Verified Reviewer

Juniper "Gin" Cain is pretty sure she's mostly human.

Working security for the vampire-owned All Saints Casino, Gin's got an edge on the other employees: vampires can't drink her blood, making her perfect for the job. But when a radiated zombie staggers into the casino's club, she's forced to expose the inhuman traits she's kept hidden.

Now, the powerful Vegas vampires want a piece of her. Her fanged boss Colton-a cowboy turned during the Nevada silver rush-helps her escape into the high desert, but the Vegas vampires and radiated zombies pursue relentlessly, eventually closing in.

Cornered and at risk of kidnapping, she accidentally triggers a nuclear explosion in a frantic bid for survival. Reckoning with the fallout, Gin realizes that if she wants to save the casino and the people she calls family, she must give up the idea of being human and uncover the origins of her mysterious blood traits-all while trying to keep her home at the Saints Casino, and the rest of Reno, from getting nuked.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781956136647
Publisher:	Parliament House Press, LLC
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.68(d)

Editorial Reviews

08/28/2023

Wagner’s debut novel (after the novella When We Hold Each Other Up) takes readers along on a meandering paranormal journey of self-discovery. Juniper “Gin” Cain is the ward of vampire casino owner Colton, who found her at the lowest point in her life and offered her options. Conveniently, Gin’s blood is mysteriously undesirable to vampires, which makes living and working at a vampire casino totally safe. Then irradiated zombies invade the casino—and Gin discovers that her blood is also fatal to them. Now every supernatural entity in Vegas wants to use her for their own protection, forcing Gin to reckon with what exactly her special blood entails and face her own inhuman side. While fleeing town, Gin accidentally causes a nuclear explosion, meets her biological father, and adds him to her list of beings to avoid, all while trying to control her newfound powers. Despite being set up as a high-stakes chase, Wagner’s freewheeling plot mirrors the main character’s sometimes aimless feeling as she wanders through the Nevada desert, with abrupt shifts in thought and action creating a jarring reading experience. Still, the worldbuilding, complete with gods and monsters, shows promise and the ending leaves room for a sequel. Readers will hope for tighter plotting next time out. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly