The action takes place in Felport, which has an interesting multi-layered feel to it, and a slightly Alice in Wonderland dream world, which Genevieve has created in her own pocket reality. The problem, it seems, is that Genevieve has become the victim of an avatar, within her own mind, based on the identity of her rapist. This self-styled King of Nightmares, is able to leech her powers, and is invading the real world. Matters aren't helped by the fact that the King of Nightmares is allied with one of Marla's rivals, who has also employed the talents of Zealand, a rogue slow-assassin, to kill her. Slow-assassins are so named, not because they're dimwits, but because they can track victims for long periods, letting them know that certain death is coming, but not when or how. Assisting Marla are her regular sidekick, Rondeau, and two newcomers, Ted, a homeless, former maths teacher, hired at random to act as her PA, and Joshua, a Lovetalker, whose innate magical ability means people want to like him, and easily fall under his influence. Including, for a time, Marla herself. There's a good dollop of character development in Poison Sleep, and a much deeper exposé of Felport, including the way that its almost feudal magical community functions. The way that Marla reacts to Joshua, and how other sorcerers deal with her, creates interesting tensions. Central to all is the problem of Genevieve and her daily battles -- at first within her own world, then in the city of Felport -- with the King of Nightmares.

I enjoyed the way that Marla's usual, unsubtle approach, to dealing with problems is shown to be lacking, forcing her to find other solutions. There are a few negatives. Rondeau, mostly hangs around like a refugee from Miami Vice, doing nothing in particular, and Joshua's role was a bit too obvious for me. Although I liked the way his quite subtle abilities were explained and handled. The occasionally juvenile crudity in Marla's speech, and actions, grated a little. I couldn't help but think that someone smart enough to know all that magic would, at least, have a better vocabulary, and a better understanding of when violence is not the answer. The worst problem for me, without giving too much away, was the switching of one perfectly good character from his original role, into something like an herbivorous version of Venom. As the story develops, so do the characters, and that bodes well for the future. Excepting those characters, of whom I'd like to have seen more, who develop all the way to being dead. However, with a mind as fertile as T.A. Pratt's, I have faith that the next batch will be just as interesting.

In conclusion, Poison Sleep is a worthy successor to Blood Engines, chock full of entertainment, and pregnant with the promise of what is to come in Dead Reign and Spell Games, the novels currently in production. I look forward to the further adventures of Marla Mason, who shows every sign of edging ahead of her competitors, both in the fictional world, and in the world of publishing.