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Poison Sleep (Marla Mason #2)

by T.A. Pratt, Tim Pratt

3.77 · rating details · 447 ratings · 48 reviews

The bad girl of the magical underworld is back and badder than ever

Someone wants Marla Mason dead. Usually that’s not news. As chief sorcerer of Felport, someone always wants her dead. But this time she’s the target of a renegade assassin who specializes in killing his victims over days, months, or even years. Not to mention a mysterious knife-wielding killer in black who ...more

Mass Market Paperback, 321 pages

Published March 25th 2008 by Spectra

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Feb 22, 2009

Felicia rated it

Shelves: urban-paranormal

Ok, so THIS is why it's good to give series that don't TOTALLY hook you a second shot. I really really really loved this second book in the series. The characters were more developed and the whole book felt more coherent and well put together on EVERY level. I really enjoyed the world immensely, and the characters were so interesting. I enjoy a female character who can function properly and doesn't have to have abandonment issues or past abuse she's whining about (which a lot of vaginal-urba...more

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Dec 27, 2008

Steff rated it

You May Not Be Able to Rest Until this Book is Finished

Marla Mason is the leader among equals of the sorcerers in the city of Felport. It’s her job to protect the city and keep the other sorcerers in line - something that is not so easy to do when one of the sorcerers has hired an assassin to kill her and another has escaped from a mental institution and is wreaking havoc across the city. Then, to top it all off, Marla has found love, which means all her attentions may not be where...more

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Jul 09, 2011

Moss rated it

Tim Pratt has to be one of the most convincing writers in the urban fantasy field at the moment. His writing is just fantastic - lean, sinewy and unapologetically intelligent, and he balances his freakishly good world-building with equally freakishly good characterisations - all with succinct and snappy ease. I'm never lost or alienated in his stories, never adrift in a sea of impressions or descriptions; I'm always right there, anchored in his world, living the story alongside his characters. ...more

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Dec 11, 2009

Hcatlin rated it

I would never have bought this series if it had been purchased in real life. The covers are ridiculously bad. I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but the cover makes it look like a book for someone with a lot of *cats* and many lonely evenings to fill.

However, it came up on my kindle and both the first book and this one had pretty good reviews. So, I gave it a go! And, I have to say, that this second book in the series got me *hooked*. A vivid, unique universe. The no-nonsense aesthet...more

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Aug 22, 2009

Liz Abinante rated it

Shelves: fantasty-urban, xyz-2009, kindle

MUCH better than the preview book. Although, Marla is still an unsympathetic character. We have very little background on her. Why is she such a hard ass? You can only use the excuse of "sorcerers kill or be killed" for so long before I get bored.

Watching Marla's character interact with Joshua was fun. I loved her ability to retain her personality, even though he was supposed to be smoothing her feathers. As a character, I had Joshus pegged from the beginning.

A ...more

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May 07, 2009

Brooke rated it

Poison Sleep is a fantastic second book in a series. I really enjoyed Blood Engines (Book 1), but Poison Sleep takes the cake! Fantastic story, amazing plot, the characters are likeable and interesting. The dream reweaver was a new paranormal power (for me), and Pratt pulled it off quite nicely by mixing up the dream world and the nightmare world. As always Rondeau, Marla's partner, is hilarious and adds a touch of lightheartedness to any situation, well, when he's not freaking out.

The...more

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Oct 09, 2011

Melisande rated it

· review of another edition

Je tiens tout d'abord à remercier les éditions Eclipse pour m'avoir permis de lire ce livre. J’avais bien apprécié l'univers créé par T.A. Pratt, alors j'étais contente de pouvoir m’y replonger. Et franchement, je n'ai pas du tout été déçue de ce 2e tome qui est bien meilleur que le 1er.

L’histoire commence sur Marla, qui a été appelée d’urgence car une patiente de l'Institut psychiatrique Blackwing a tenté de s’échapper, une dangereuse criminelle. Sauf qu’elle a pu être maîtrisé et Mar...moreJe tiens tout d'abord à remercier les éditions Eclipse pour m'avoir permis de lire ce livre. J’avais bien apprécié l'univers créé par T.A. Pratt, alors j'étais contente de pouvoir m’y replonger. Et franchement, je n'ai pas du tout été déçue de ce 2e tome qui est bien meilleur que le 1er.

L’histoire commence sur Marla, qui a été appelée d’urgence car une patiente de l'Institut psychiatrique Blackwing a tenté de s’échapper, une dangereuse criminelle. Sauf qu’elle a pu être maîtrisé et Marla ne comprend pas pourquoi on l’a appelé en urgence si Jarrow est toujours là. Mais rapidement, elle apprend qu’il s’agit d’une autre femme qui a disparu : une mentaliste, qui était catatonique depuis plusieurs années mais qui s’est réveillé soudainement. Marla doit donc tenter de la retrouver avant qu’il n’arrive de choses fâcheuses, sauf qu’assez rapidement, elle va constater que des choses étranges se passent dans sa ville, tout en y étant témoin elle-même. En parallèle, un assassin a disparu et la guilde des assassins dormants est à sa recherche et demande l’aide de Marla pour lui mettre la main dessus, et qui pourrait bien en avoir après sa vie…

Ce 2e tome de Marla Mason est tout simplement génial, je suis définitivement fan de cette série. J’ai bien hâte de lire la suite, qui promet énormément. Le monde de la sorcellerie est vraiment ce que je préfère dans les univers fantastiques. La magie n’a pas de vraies limites et on peut toujours aller plus loin et faire des choses extraordinaires et lancer des intrigues complexes. Je ne regrette absolument pas d’avoir commencé cette série. Le tome 1 m’avait beaucoup plu mais certaines choses m’avaient dérangée, comme le fait que tout se résolve trop rapidement sur la fin, mais là, ça n’est pas du tout le cas. Jusqu’au dernier moment on doute, on se demande si elle va s’en sortir indemne. Donc c’est déjà un bon point pour l’auteur puisqu’ici on y croit davantage et on est dans une attente perpétuelle.

L’intrigue était très intéressante et bien menée. Mais il est assez difficile d’en parler sans trop spoiler, mais dans cette histoire, Marla va devoir prendre des décisions difficiles, d’être confrontée à un univers qu’elle ne maîtrise pas, le monde des rêves s’ouvre à elle. A chaque moment, on se demande comment Marla va faire pour retrouver Geneviève, qui sème le désordre dans sa vie, et cela à cause de ce qu’on lui a fait dans le passé. Elle est mentaliste, mais plus encore puisqu’elle peut mêler rêve et réalité, ce qui s’avère être extrêmement dangereux, surtout quand la population ignore l’existence des sorciers… Il va donc falloir à Marla de faire profil bas et de régler cette affaire d’une manière u d’une autre pour protéger sa ville et pour ça, elle est prête à tout. Après tout, n’est-elle pas la sorcière la plus puissante et le chef de la ville de Felport ? J’ai préféré ce tome là au précédent où l’intrigue est plus complexe et recherchée. Toute cette histoire autour des rêves, de la réalité altérrées et de la ville « en danger ». c’était vraiment excellent et l’auteur a su relancer l’intrigue, en mêlant divers problèmes en même temps, si bien que l’on ne s’ennuie pas un seul instant (en même temps, avec le simple personnage de Marla, difficile de s’ennuyer, comme elle le dit elle-même).

L’écriture de l’auteur est fluide, agréable à lire. Et même si c’est écrit à la 3e personne, et que Marla est le personnage principal, on n’est pas uniquement centré sur elle. On a également deux autres groupes qui nous permettent d’avoir une vision d’ensemble beaucoup plus larges et de voir ce que les « méchants » préparent et pourquoi ils le font. Et c’est l’avantage d’un texte avec ce type de narration là, car nous, lecteur savons des choses, enfin… c’est ce que l’auteur veut nous faire penser. Evidemment, il sait nous mener en bateau et nous cacher des informations jusqu’à ce qu’on arrive vers la fin et que là, la vérité éclate, nous surprenant encore et toujours.

Je dois dire que Marla m’avait manqué, ainsi que ses sarcasmes et sa manière d’être. J’aime énormément ce personnage, on ne s’ennuie pas un seul instant avec elle. Dans ce tome, on découvre un autre aspect de sa personnalité, et cela avec le charmenteur avec qui elle va devoir collaborer pour faire régner l’ordre dans sa ville, mais aussi lors de négociation avec les autres sorciers. La vie privée de Marla est ainsi évoquée, nous montrant qu’elle n’est pas seulement une sorcière puissante, mais également une femme qui peut avoir des sentiments. Mais cet aspect là, ne prend pas toute la place dans l’intrigue, ça ne l’écrase pas, donc c’est d’autant plus agréable parce que ça ne devient pas niais ou autre. A la limite, on est content pour elle, qu’elle puisse enfin avoir une vie et quelqu’un à ses côtés.

Rondeau, que j’avais beaucoup apprécié dans le premier tome, est un peu plus effacé dans ce tome-là, ce que je trouve dommage, néanmoins il est quelque peu remplacé par de nouveau personnage, comme Joshua, le fameux charmenteur qui pourrait bien changer la vie de Marla et par bien des façons. On découvre aussi davantage les autres sorciers qui sont sous la « direction » de Marla, ils sont tous mobilisés puisque la ville est en danger et qu’il faut trouver une solution pour mettre la main sur Geneviève et cela rapidement. Je m’attendais à retrouver certains personnages dans ce tome, étant donné la fin du précédent, mais ça n’a pas été le cas… je suis certaine qu’on les retrouvera dans le prochain, créant ainsi de gros problèmes.

En bref, ce 2e tome est vraiment excellent, avec une intrigue qui tient bien la route, des personnages toujours aussi attachants et intéressants. L’univers de T.A. Pratt est riche et intéressant. On y voit de plus en plus la « politique des sorciers », les complots qui peuvent exister et les desseins de chaque personnage. On voit que Marla a encore du boulot devant elle et que pour garder sa place en tant que chef de la ville de Felport, il va falloir s’armer sérieusement et qu’il ne faut pas baisser sa garde, car les ennemis ne sont jamais très loin.
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Aug 17, 2009

Michael rated it

Shelves: 2000s, fantasy

The second book in the Marla Mason series does exactly what a sequel should do: it builds upon the world, raises the stakes slightly, and maintains all of the elements the first volume had going for it.

In this volume, Marla Mason, chief sorcerer of Felport, is dealing with several simultaneous threats, all of which are developed into an interesting aspect of the story. She's being hunted by a slow assassin, trained to kill his targets slowly and horribly over a long period of time...more

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Dec 02, 2008

Stephanie rated it

POISON SLEEP is the second book in the Marla Mason urban fantasy series, and it’s almost as good as the first. I would give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
The imaginative world that Marla lives in just gets more interesting with the addition of a dreamworld that people are falling in and out of. This dreamworld belongs to one woman, Genevieve, who is an escaped patient from the Blackwing Institute for criminally insane sorcerers. Marla must stop Genevieve before her dreamworld touches too many peop...more

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Jan 11, 2011

Ithlilian rated it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Marla is a wonderful multidimensional character that I can't wait to find out more about. At first glance she is cold hearted and will kill anything that threatens her city. As we learn more about her, we find that that is not entirely the case. This novel scared me at first, we were introduced to all of the characters and it seemed like the mystery was figured out. We knew who hurt Genevieve and we knew who was trying to kill Marla and who hired him. Fortunately, there is much more to the novel...more

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Oct 17, 2011

Nicole Bunge rated it

Recommends it for: ppl who like Michelle Sagara or Kelley Armstrong

Shelves: speculative-fiction, paranormal-romance

I liked it. The protagonist is sarcastic, competent and... real. She's 'no-nonsense,' and it gets her in trouble because she sucks at negotiating and politics (which... when you're the head sorcerer in a city of bickering, backstabbing, selfish sorcerers... isn't great.) Marla has... flexible morals (I mean, she IS technically a benevolent dictator who runs a lot of the city's underworld) but she is moral- kinda... chaotic neutral, if you will.
My point though, is that she's human, not a su...more

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Jan 24, 2012

Jay Daze rated it

Shelves: fantasy, in-the-bath

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Prepare yourselves, I will be complaining about the end of the book, that is why I've checked the spoiler box.

I felt pretty conflicted about Marla Mason as a main character all the way through Poison Sleep. It is not that I have to like her. There are times that I admired her cool ruthless manner. Here was a female character that didn't bend or compromise for the reader. Marla isn't gonna beg for you to like her. Yet at the same time I found it difficult to care about any of th...morePrepare yourselves, I will be complaining about the end of the book, that is why I've checked the spoiler box.

I felt pretty conflicted about Marla Mason as a main character all the way through Poison Sleep. It is not that I have to like her. There are times that I admired her cool ruthless manner. Here was a female character that didn't bend or compromise for the reader. Marla isn't gonna beg for you to like her. Yet at the same time I found it difficult to care about any of the characters, to take an interest in what happened to any of them - except maybe disgraced teacher, now personal assistant Ted. As the action picked up this sort of fell away and I got over my diffidence. Stuff was happening and it was pretty interesting: there is a god-like woman who can literally bend the shape of reality - who is crazy and is manifesting her nightmares on the streets of Felport.

But then I got to the end. I'd been having trouble with the lovetalker thing. Joshua is a fellow who makes everyone fall in love with him. Marla - smart Marla - knows this and knows if she fucks him she is completely under his spell. So what does she do? She hires him, spends lots of time with him and fucks him. Did I mention that Marla is supposed to be intelligent and someone who likes to be in control and not mind fucked by a pretty boy? (Yes, I guess this could be her character flaw. She was with a succubus last, but all through the novel I was just thinking of how much an idiot she was, one with no self-awareness. Yes, I guess this could be Mr. Pratt being all smart and deep, but this was were I could just not relate or sympathize with Marla.) I guess this is a switched gender femme fatale thing but it comes off as a creepy willing surrender. It bothered throughout the book but comes to a head at the end.

It seemed pretty obvious to me when the possibility of a spy in Marla's camp came up that *spoiler* Joshua was going to be the spy. And he was. So for the coda after the big baddie is defeated, Marla still loves Joshua like crazy, watches him stab poor plain helpful Ted to death and then snaps his neck *after* the stabbing cause lovetalker-boy threatened her beloved city. A resolution that is waaaaay too much like getting between Jim Kirk and his beloved Enterprise - it was dumb on the original Star Trek, is is dumb and lame in this book.

Up until this really disappointing ending I would have said the book was alright, but being able to resist Joshua's magic love powers because she loved her city even more knocked my respect for the book down many many many levels. I hated the lovetalker and hated Marla's bogus ability to resist the magic seduction even more. I sentence Tim to a thousand reruns of Kirk and his love affair with his Enterprise.

(That said I've loved a lot of his short stories and might even try further books in this series - since I did buy all of them together - second hand.)
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Jan 10, 2009

Heather Watkins rated it

After hearing of a patient escaping from a hospital, the sorceress Marla Mason must find this intense sorceress before more people of her city become victimized by the patients rewieving dreams. Marla herself is having a difficult time as she has become involved with a lovetalker she simply cannot resist. He eventually does help Marla with this patient as well as other adventures that comes her way. In this book Marla finds a new assistant, SEX, fighting, trying to keep all of her people sane, g...more

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Mar 24, 2009

Krissie rated it

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi

Man, if I known this was a "Book 2"... Anyway, I thought this was a rather good book, though maybe not something I'd immediately think of to recommend to a friend. I am intrigued enough to think about reading the rest of the series, but I probably won't reread said series over and over again, like I do with some of the ones I really like. I feel like the language in some places is kind of abrupt, so that it doesn't feel like it flows quite right, but that isn't necessarily a require...more

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Jun 25, 2011

Lightreads rated it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, urban-fantasy

Urban fantasy with endlessly creative magic and a badass heroine who is not fetishized or slut-shamed for her bisexuality or her kinkiness, and an overarching plot about rape recovery that is only a little bit hamfisted.

Yeah, don’t get excited. Because it was also so boring. So boring. So boring I was kind of rooting for the emo assassin to finish off the protagonist at the halfway point, because then it would be over. So boring I don’t even care enough to figure out why.

...more

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Jun 16, 2008

Lori Whitwam rated it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

The second "Marla Mason" urban fantasy. Marla is the chief sorcerer and protector of the city of Felport. Let's see, an insane sorceress tries to escape from an institution, and while she doesn't succeed (despite having help), she accidentally wakes another sorceress who had been in a catatonic state for 15 years. This catatonic sorceress is a "reweaver," meaning she can reshape reality and pull others into her dreams, and sometimes her dreams can intrude on our reality. S...more

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Jun 19, 2008

Matt rated it

Recommended to Matt by: Fans of fantasy in a modern setting

Shelves: fantasy

'Poison Sleep' was a fun adventure story with simple ambitions that it largely met. It's told in the mystery novel style, but there isn't alot of detective work involved and the twists probably won't come as any surprise. The story suffers somewhat from an unnecessary hipness, but the middle portion of the story where the author focuses on the faerie tale aspects of his narrative are quite good. Most of the characters are shallow, but are generally likable and filled with suitable promise of ...more

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Apr 27, 2008

Reed rated it

Not sure why I enjoy Pratt's new series so much, but it seems to have hit the "sweet spot" for me right now. Pratt has the goods--his writing is crisp, fast, and fun . . . to me he feels like the lovechild of Jim Butcher and Tim Powers. Definitely a good thing.

I realized Pratt's first novel had struck a chord a chord with me, when I found his latest book "Poison Sleep". Without even realizing what I had done, I promptly put down the book I was reading (can't even...more

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Feb 12, 2011

February Four rated it

I honestly believe T.A. Pratt is as readable as Jim Butcher, if not more so. Marla Mason is an outstanding character, but so is everyone else. I unfortunately spoiled myself for the book by reading it out of order (I read Dead Reign, book #3, before this), but even with the spoilers there was enough uncertainty to find it compelling and amazing. T.A. Pratt has a new fan who will read everything he writes.

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Nov 18, 2010

Jeremy Preacher rated it

Shelves: witches-vampires-and-werewolves

I'm fond of this series. In some ways it's pretty stock urban fantasy, but it's got all the good parts - kickass female lead, lots of ambiguous sexuality, sideways take on social issues, etc. I would like to get more than an offhand nod to the main character's bisexuality, but I'm willing to wait another book for it. Good clean fun.

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Oct 14, 2011

Membrillu rated it

M'ha agradat una mica menys que el primer, però en conjunt és mereix les 4 estrelles. Hi ha alguna trama que queda una mica penjada pel meu gust (la dels Slow Assassins, concretament) però en general està molt bé. M'agrada la Marla en el seu paper de defensora de Felport.

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Jun 13, 2009

Writtenwyrdd rated it

Shelves: female-protagonist, wiccan-pagan-witch, urban-fantasy

I liked this okay, but it wasn't as gripping as the first novel in the series, Blood Engines. I had a hard time getting into this one. It picked up in the middle and held my interest at that point, though.

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Nov 06, 2010

ninefly rated it

Shelves: urbanfantasy-paranormal, mystery-thriller, mentalillness-power, altdimension-timetravel, supernaturalcreatures, series-marlamason, teamwork-rivalry, hero-nonhuman-alien, hero-sorcerer-warrior, _owned-paperback

excerpt from detailed review here: http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/2010/11/r...

Marla is just as snipey and down-to-business as the first book, but we see a slightly less-prickly side of her as she gets hilariously smitten over love-talker Joshua, and employs a dying man off the street. The themes dealt with in this book are radically different from the myths and prophecies in the first, focusing instead around the various deviations of sexual attraction and power (though I wouldn't call...more

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Jun 23, 2010

Jack rated it

Shelves: fantasy

The second Marla Mason book. I barely likes the first one, and picked this up because of John Gillette's fierce burning love of the series. And yeah, this one was better.

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Mar 18, 2009

Wealhtheow marked it as to-read

Recommended to Wealhtheow by: Felicia

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy

The sequel to Blood Engines.

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Jun 21, 2009

Krista rated it

This book read a lot easier than the last book. It still added to the backstory of the main character and moved the overall story forward.
A nice read

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Sep 04, 2008

Theresa rated it

Recommends it for: people who like strong heroines and dark urban fantasy.

Shelves: fantasy, 2008-reads

When I read the first book in the series, Blood Engines, I was kind of "eh" about it. I gave it three stars because it was different and somewhat enjoyable, but I wasn't sure if I'd pick up the second book.

In the end, I did and boy, I am glad that I did. The second book was much better than the first one and if the author keeps this improvement up, I can't wait to read the third, fourth, etc.

The main character, Marla, is a badass. She comes across more human - h...more

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Jul 18, 2010

Xenophon Hendrix rated it

Marla Mason is less psychopathic in this second volume of the series. She still isn't easy to like.

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Jul 23, 2009

Lindsay rated it

funny, silly, not as good as Christopher Moore or Carl Hiaassen, but same type. very fast read

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May 21, 2009

Jess rated it

Shelves: fantasy

Marla defends her city against a woman locked in a nightmare who can dream anything into existence.

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Poison Sleep (Marla Mason #2)

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