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Discreet Eliminators #2
The Flesh King
Tilda, Ford and Neuland hit NYC to hunt a flesh-eating monster in this bloody, macabre and witty supernatural noir packed twists, turns, betrayals and showdowns. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Khaw, Nat Cassidy and Chuck Tingle.
Ford, Neuland and Tilda return home after the events of The Pale House Devil to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Then they'll only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
Ford, Neuland and Tilda return home after the events of The Pale House Devil to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Then they'll only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
About the author
Richard Kadrey
132 books3,600 followersRichard Kadrey is a writer and freelance musician living in Pittsburgh, best known for his Sandman Slim novels. His work has been nominated for the Locus and BSFA awards. Kadrey's newest books are The Secrets of Insects, released in August 2023; The Dead Take the A Train (with Cassandra Khaw), released in September 2023; The Pale House Devil, released in September 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 10, 2025
The Flesh King
by Richard Kadrey
This continues from book #1 and the three become a team of assassins of evil. The world is full of various undead, magic, and creatures. The main characters are two undead and one living. They made a home in an abandoned missile silo. The adventures they have are exciting and thrilling. Never a dull moment! Can't wait for the next book!
by Richard Kadrey
This continues from book #1 and the three become a team of assassins of evil. The world is full of various undead, magic, and creatures. The main characters are two undead and one living. They made a home in an abandoned missile silo. The adventures they have are exciting and thrilling. Never a dull moment! Can't wait for the next book!
October 21, 2025
The Flesh King
by Richard Kadrey
The Discreet Eliminators #2
Light Horror
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 7, 2025
Titan Books
Ages: 16+
The trio from the previous book are back home in New York City, trying to find work, but their past activities still have them on the 'black list' with the other crime syndicates. But if they do a job for free, one that involves finding and killing The Flesh King, a serial killer who is leaving mutilated corpses around the city, they might be able to get some paying jobs.
I didn't realize this was the second book in the series until I started to read it, wondering why the characters were sounding familiar, and when it dawned on me, I was like Oh, cool... but that's pretty much as good as it got.
As this is part of a series, I don't want to give too much away, but I found myself bored. Short stories tend to do that to me because there's no depth to the characters, plot, or settings, but at least this 'killer' had some personality.
Overall, this just seemed cobbled together, and I'm calling it light horror because it's not horror. Sure, the killer is unique, and there is ...Spoiler... but there's nothing scary or suspenseful. One could almost call this a Cozy Horror!
The idea is great, but the execution is lacking because it's a short story. I don't know if I'll read any more of this series. Like I said, there is ...spoiler... and violence, making it suitable for readers sixteen and older.
2 Stars
by Richard Kadrey
The Discreet Eliminators #2
Light Horror
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 7, 2025
Titan Books
Ages: 16+
The trio from the previous book are back home in New York City, trying to find work, but their past activities still have them on the 'black list' with the other crime syndicates. But if they do a job for free, one that involves finding and killing The Flesh King, a serial killer who is leaving mutilated corpses around the city, they might be able to get some paying jobs.
I didn't realize this was the second book in the series until I started to read it, wondering why the characters were sounding familiar, and when it dawned on me, I was like Oh, cool... but that's pretty much as good as it got.
As this is part of a series, I don't want to give too much away, but I found myself bored. Short stories tend to do that to me because there's no depth to the characters, plot, or settings, but at least this 'killer' had some personality.
Overall, this just seemed cobbled together, and I'm calling it light horror because it's not horror. Sure, the killer is unique, and there is ...Spoiler... but there's nothing scary or suspenseful. One could almost call this a Cozy Horror!
The idea is great, but the execution is lacking because it's a short story. I don't know if I'll read any more of this series. Like I said, there is ...spoiler... and violence, making it suitable for readers sixteen and older.
2 Stars
May 2, 2026
This is another quirky, quick, cozy, humorous horror comedy-of-manners novella. In the first book, The Pale House Devil, two noirish assassins-for-hire, Ford and Neuland, one living and one dead, accepted a contract to cleanse a haunted house for an aged, irascible, and ultimately evil rich man. They were guided by his young and not terribly intelligent granddaughter, Tilda. It would be best to read that one before this, but probably not absolutely necessary. In this one, they have gone back across the country, home to New York, and Tilda with her hefty inheritance is now a full member of the team. They've been blacklisted, however, but after a few run-ins with organized crime families they finally get an assignment to take on a super-powered ancient evil entity, and they eventually get back into action. Tilda's character develops a lot, and her proving herself is the best part of the story. It was a fun single sitting read; I'll pick up the next one in the series if there is one.
August 13, 2025
Ford, Neuland and Tilda are back — and oh my god, they come in swinging.
This one is fast, bloody, and just pure chaos in the best way. I seriously love this trio. Ford and Neuland have slid into this weird but kind of adorable “dad mode” with Tilda, while still being total badasses.
The Flesh King? Absolutely revolting… and I couldn’t get enough of it. Some of the descriptions had me physically squirming but I was living for it.
After the events of The Pale House Devil, they head back to NYC to try and make peace with the crime syndicates. Of course, it’s not that easy — they have to take on a job for free: hunt down and kill The Flesh King, a gruesome killer leaving bodies everywhere. And naturally, things spiral into conspiracies, corruption, and supernatural mayhem.
It’s non-stop. No fluff, no boring bits, just full-throttle gore, banter, creepy monsters, and a touch of character growth that has me begging for book three right now.
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC — this one was such a ride.
This one is fast, bloody, and just pure chaos in the best way. I seriously love this trio. Ford and Neuland have slid into this weird but kind of adorable “dad mode” with Tilda, while still being total badasses.
The Flesh King? Absolutely revolting… and I couldn’t get enough of it. Some of the descriptions had me physically squirming but I was living for it.
After the events of The Pale House Devil, they head back to NYC to try and make peace with the crime syndicates. Of course, it’s not that easy — they have to take on a job for free: hunt down and kill The Flesh King, a gruesome killer leaving bodies everywhere. And naturally, things spiral into conspiracies, corruption, and supernatural mayhem.
It’s non-stop. No fluff, no boring bits, just full-throttle gore, banter, creepy monsters, and a touch of character growth that has me begging for book three right now.
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC — this one was such a ride.
October 17, 2025
Fake Sam and Dean are back for more corny dialogue and poorly written action sequences. Remind me not to read book 3 when it comes out.
April 4, 2026
2.5 stars
December 15, 2025
Huge thanks to Titan for the physical ARC of this one. This is book 2 in the Discreet Eliminators series, and I think that is just about the most perfect name ever.
Ford and Neuland are back and better than ever…because they’ve brought Tilda back from California with them! There’s still this kind of buddy-cop feel to the way they behave, but I enjoyed how Tilda was immediately accepted in and they because a family unit. She offers them an edge they didn’t have before, and the author did well to make her a necessity, rather than an accessory character.
Back in NYC, they’re still being ostracized for the moral decision they made in book one…apparently killing the person that hires you is bad for business. But then several of the crime bosses show up with a proposition: find and stop the flesh king and be welcomed back into the fold with open arms. A job is a job, and one that also cleaned the slate for them was a big win, but something seemed off. Still, it wasn’t exactly an offer they could refuse.
The interlude chapters that I ended up loving in book one continued here and were even better. While this is a kind of body horror-y creature feature still, the flesh king is at least humanoid. They can blend in and disappear (though they were creepy as hell). That made this feel a lot more like a detective story, which I love, although the author did great on keeping up on the otherworldly too. Readers learn even more about the undead, magic, and some of the possible creatures at large. One of my favorites being a tainted/poisoned undead person being driven to madness in a much more familiar version of a zombie.
The author really does well with his main characters here. Somehow all three mains are super nice and considerate, and yet they stand apart as their own creation still, there’s separate personalities. They continue to bump into this abrasive underground world of criminals and killing, yet they remain the same and steadfast in their, “that’s not how we do things.” There is also a continued level of humor throughout the book that allowed for it to be a tad less serious in a way that I feel is beneficial. I would read 15 more novellas written in this style to be honest.
Again though, its shortcoming is the ending. This one handled the mystery and research side better than the last one in my opinion, but the ending still felt a little short. It truncates how climactic it can feel, and also makes the big bad once again not feel all that dangerous. Not that I need any of these characters I love to die or anything, but a longer struggle would help push these just that bit further into being a full 5 star read for me.
Perfect fans for lighter horror, mystery, urban fantasy and creature features. Quick, fun, and easy to dive into.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-fl...
Ford and Neuland are back and better than ever…because they’ve brought Tilda back from California with them! There’s still this kind of buddy-cop feel to the way they behave, but I enjoyed how Tilda was immediately accepted in and they because a family unit. She offers them an edge they didn’t have before, and the author did well to make her a necessity, rather than an accessory character.
Back in NYC, they’re still being ostracized for the moral decision they made in book one…apparently killing the person that hires you is bad for business. But then several of the crime bosses show up with a proposition: find and stop the flesh king and be welcomed back into the fold with open arms. A job is a job, and one that also cleaned the slate for them was a big win, but something seemed off. Still, it wasn’t exactly an offer they could refuse.
The interlude chapters that I ended up loving in book one continued here and were even better. While this is a kind of body horror-y creature feature still, the flesh king is at least humanoid. They can blend in and disappear (though they were creepy as hell). That made this feel a lot more like a detective story, which I love, although the author did great on keeping up on the otherworldly too. Readers learn even more about the undead, magic, and some of the possible creatures at large. One of my favorites being a tainted/poisoned undead person being driven to madness in a much more familiar version of a zombie.
The author really does well with his main characters here. Somehow all three mains are super nice and considerate, and yet they stand apart as their own creation still, there’s separate personalities. They continue to bump into this abrasive underground world of criminals and killing, yet they remain the same and steadfast in their, “that’s not how we do things.” There is also a continued level of humor throughout the book that allowed for it to be a tad less serious in a way that I feel is beneficial. I would read 15 more novellas written in this style to be honest.
Again though, its shortcoming is the ending. This one handled the mystery and research side better than the last one in my opinion, but the ending still felt a little short. It truncates how climactic it can feel, and also makes the big bad once again not feel all that dangerous. Not that I need any of these characters I love to die or anything, but a longer struggle would help push these just that bit further into being a full 5 star read for me.
Perfect fans for lighter horror, mystery, urban fantasy and creature features. Quick, fun, and easy to dive into.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-fl...
November 6, 2025
What a blast! A great second book that just rolls full throttle on action and suspense.
The return of paranormal investigators, Ford & Neuland and their new apprentice, Tilda, ratchets up the excitement.
The trio’s communication, while serious in its topic, does read as somewhat light hearted and snarky-cloaked with deadpan dark humor.
The bunker, seems like an amped version of the Ghostbuster’s firehouse, but with a complete secret lab and a gun range.
The creativity in the monsters is pretty far out with full on grotesque crime scenes.
Just an absolute rock and roll, guns blazing read!!
Hope to see more of this trio!
The return of paranormal investigators, Ford & Neuland and their new apprentice, Tilda, ratchets up the excitement.
The trio’s communication, while serious in its topic, does read as somewhat light hearted and snarky-cloaked with deadpan dark humor.
The bunker, seems like an amped version of the Ghostbuster’s firehouse, but with a complete secret lab and a gun range.
The creativity in the monsters is pretty far out with full on grotesque crime scenes.
Just an absolute rock and roll, guns blazing read!!
Hope to see more of this trio!
October 9, 2025
I’m a little conflicted after finishing this. I picked it up because I read & enjoyed The Pale House Devil earlier this year, and wanted to read more about Ford/Neuland/Tilda. But it just didn’t have the same kinda vibes to me?
I think this story worked better for me than the last one. But the writing seems… simple. And Ford and Neuland seemed so much more badass in the first book. I liked that this book seemed to kinda let Tilda shine, but aside from saying ‘fuck’ a lot, I never got that badass feeling from Ford and Neuland like I wanted to feel from them again like I previously did.
Not bummed that I picked this up, but I am glad I borrowed it from the library vs purchased it because it was a quick read that I don’t think I’ll ever really think about again after today.
Oh, and I think that it’s helpful to have read The Pale House Devil before picking this up, but not totally necessary if someone didn’t want to.
I think this story worked better for me than the last one. But the writing seems… simple. And Ford and Neuland seemed so much more badass in the first book. I liked that this book seemed to kinda let Tilda shine, but aside from saying ‘fuck’ a lot, I never got that badass feeling from Ford and Neuland like I wanted to feel from them again like I previously did.
Not bummed that I picked this up, but I am glad I borrowed it from the library vs purchased it because it was a quick read that I don’t think I’ll ever really think about again after today.
Oh, and I think that it’s helpful to have read The Pale House Devil before picking this up, but not totally necessary if someone didn’t want to.
September 17, 2025
3/5 stars
When fleshless bodies start turning up in New York City, Ford, Nueland and Tilda, a pack of supernatural monster-hunters, are called in to catch the heinous killer.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book, such as the interesting supernatural take on New York City and its urban nightlife. What I didn’t realise is that this is book 2 of a series, something that wasn’t obvious to me on NetGalley :’( However, it was still enjoyable, despite not having all the background of the characters. I really liked the 3 central characters, especially Tilda.
There are some negatives: the dialogue felt incredibly stilted. I couldn’t fathom anybody talking this, to their friends or even strangers. It just didn’t work. The mystery was very simple, with minimal twists and a bland killer with seemingly no motive other than “be evil and live forever” (slay king). I would’ve liked more info or background on the Skinner and some mystery on who he is. The mystery all wrapped up too easily and quickly. This felt like a 40-minute show on tv, which isn’t a bad thing per se, but not what I expected from a novella.
Overall a pretty fun and really easy read, one you could do in one sitting since it’s a short book. The characters are cool and the world-building is interesting, but the rest of the mystery and atmosphere leaves something to be desired.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC! Releases October 7th, 2025.
When fleshless bodies start turning up in New York City, Ford, Nueland and Tilda, a pack of supernatural monster-hunters, are called in to catch the heinous killer.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book, such as the interesting supernatural take on New York City and its urban nightlife. What I didn’t realise is that this is book 2 of a series, something that wasn’t obvious to me on NetGalley :’( However, it was still enjoyable, despite not having all the background of the characters. I really liked the 3 central characters, especially Tilda.
There are some negatives: the dialogue felt incredibly stilted. I couldn’t fathom anybody talking this, to their friends or even strangers. It just didn’t work. The mystery was very simple, with minimal twists and a bland killer with seemingly no motive other than “be evil and live forever” (slay king). I would’ve liked more info or background on the Skinner and some mystery on who he is. The mystery all wrapped up too easily and quickly. This felt like a 40-minute show on tv, which isn’t a bad thing per se, but not what I expected from a novella.
Overall a pretty fun and really easy read, one you could do in one sitting since it’s a short book. The characters are cool and the world-building is interesting, but the rest of the mystery and atmosphere leaves something to be desired.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC! Releases October 7th, 2025.
January 10, 2026
i read the pale house devil last spring after a friend recommended it to me. i was so excited to hear that a second novella was coming and preordered it immediately. unfortunately, while i enjoyed the witty banter and horror elements in that book, i was a little disappointed by the flesh king for lack there of.
i loved the focus on tilda and the feeling of her being so involved with ford and neuland. the boys are very eager to teach her about weapons, alchemy, and even giving her a role when they’re out on missions. but the banter between characters and the horror elements just didn’t deliver like the first novella in the series. the ending felt incredibly rushed and i even had to reread the *big end scene* because i thought i missed it. i think the concept of the monster was genius, but i wish we got a bit more from it.
i do like richard kadrey’s writing style, and i plan to pick up other books of his in the future, but im not sure if i’ll continue this series if anymore books come out.
i loved the focus on tilda and the feeling of her being so involved with ford and neuland. the boys are very eager to teach her about weapons, alchemy, and even giving her a role when they’re out on missions. but the banter between characters and the horror elements just didn’t deliver like the first novella in the series. the ending felt incredibly rushed and i even had to reread the *big end scene* because i thought i missed it. i think the concept of the monster was genius, but i wish we got a bit more from it.
i do like richard kadrey’s writing style, and i plan to pick up other books of his in the future, but im not sure if i’ll continue this series if anymore books come out.
October 2, 2025
Ford, Neuland, and Tilda are back and make the best team! I seriously wanted a sequel after loving the Pale House Devil and this did not disappoint!
This is a quick, noir-filled horror novella filled to the brim with magic, weird baddies, and now a tough chick. I was here for it.
My only complaint for these books is that they are too short. I always am left wanting more.
Highly recommend! And I honestly think this can be read without the first - but why would you want to do that? They are both great.
Thanks so much to Titan Books for offering me an arc in exchange of a review. All opinions are my own.
This is a quick, noir-filled horror novella filled to the brim with magic, weird baddies, and now a tough chick. I was here for it.
My only complaint for these books is that they are too short. I always am left wanting more.
Highly recommend! And I honestly think this can be read without the first - but why would you want to do that? They are both great.
Thanks so much to Titan Books for offering me an arc in exchange of a review. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2025
This was entertaining and easy to read. I don't think this is bad, but it definitely could have been better. The dialog is very disjointed. and doesn't flow smoothly. It just sounded very unnatural. The characters were interesting and likable, but there was very little background given and not much character development. I thought the plot was great and kept me interested, but there was very little mystery, tension, and suspense. I definitely think it has potential, and I'm curious to see what comes next.
April 10, 2026
(4.5 Stars rounded up for audio)
This was a great little short story. The characters are carried over from the first book and this has a "TV Series" feel to it. It was enjoyable, I liked the characters, it wasn't too deep so is able to be completely self-contained, but you should start with the first book in the series.
It feels like the author was just having fun with these characters and wanted to write about it.
This was a great little short story. The characters are carried over from the first book and this has a "TV Series" feel to it. It was enjoyable, I liked the characters, it wasn't too deep so is able to be completely self-contained, but you should start with the first book in the series.
It feels like the author was just having fun with these characters and wanted to write about it.
November 11, 2025
why is everyone having a drink every 5 seconds
why is the monster such a….. loser
why are both twists in both books “it’s dead but alive”
why did this book go on forever but also only take me an hour to read
so many more questions but the only good for me was that it felt like an old scooby doo episode (derogatory)
why is the monster such a….. loser
why are both twists in both books “it’s dead but alive”
why did this book go on forever but also only take me an hour to read
so many more questions but the only good for me was that it felt like an old scooby doo episode (derogatory)
December 27, 2025
The cover tho.. 👌
August 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Richard Kadrey for the ARC opportunity.
My opinions are my own
It was a 3.5/5 (4 star round up for goodreads)
I read the Pale House Devil and absolutely loved it, then I read The Flesh King and felt it could’ve been more? The banter was there, but I wished it focused on the villain more, they also call him ‘The Skinner’ instead of the title The Flesh King
My opinions are my own
It was a 3.5/5 (4 star round up for goodreads)
I read the Pale House Devil and absolutely loved it, then I read The Flesh King and felt it could’ve been more? The banter was there, but I wished it focused on the villain more, they also call him ‘The Skinner’ instead of the title The Flesh King
March 21, 2026
give me another 13 of these things right now please
August 9, 2025
Thank you Richard Kadrey, Titan and NetGalley for this ARC!
Do you like the found family trope? Witty banter? Urban fantasy? Well the, the second instalment of the The Discreet Eliminators series IS THE NOVELLA FOR YOU!
Look, I can’t say much without spoiling the first novella, and honestly? it’s better to go in blind.
Do you like the found family trope? Witty banter? Urban fantasy? Well the, the second instalment of the The Discreet Eliminators series IS THE NOVELLA FOR YOU!
Look, I can’t say much without spoiling the first novella, and honestly? it’s better to go in blind.
August 2, 2025
Good but not as good as the Pale House Devil. Maybe a little too short.
October 17, 2025
I picked this novella up straight after enjoying the first so much. As it is the second, there’s less need for a setup and more about developing the characters.
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living (Ford), one undead (Neuland); one of them kills the undead, the other kills the living. Now with Tilda Rosenbloom, after work in California (told in the previous book, The Pale House Devil), the three are in New York City, where previously Ford and Neuland had to leave after a ‘job’ went wrong.
They are given an opportunity to redeem themselves in NYC if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Of course, there’s a time limit - the underworld powers-that-be want the problem sorted in a week before it draws attention to themselves, and of course by using Ford, Neuland and Tilda there’s no link back to them should things go wrong.
Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
As this is the second novella, there’s less need for a setup and more about developing the characters. (Having said that. I think that you can read this one without having read the first. Kadrey’s a skilful enough writer to give you enough background detail as you go along without slowing down the plot.)
In this one Tilda really comes in to her own, progressing from the rather shy young innocent of the first novella to a character who is an important part of the team. The other two are expanded upon too – here Neuland becomes more analytical and experimental, a near-version of the tropish mad scientist, working on the poisons, spells and potions that they use in their work.
As before there are some scenes from the point of view of the horror lurking in the New York streets, but this time (unlike in The Pale House Devil) I was much less sympathetic towards them. Someone that kills people by leeching their flesh from them is not a nice person to know, and Kadrey shows this effectively.
The horror element is not subtle, yet skilfully done and actually not quite as gruesome as it could have been. There’s enough ick to give you a memorable impression without extraneous detail – this is a novella so there’s no room for excess, but there’s enough creepiness to possibly make you look twice if you go outside at night…
The sign of a good novella for me is if they are memorable and don’t outstay their welcome - perhaps even making the reader want more. This was certainly the case here – the trio are a likable group who I engaged with quickly and soon wanted to do well.
All in all, this is another good read, also read in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyable. Like before with the first novella, think of it as a rather gruesome version of The X-Files, with a nicely paced plot, engaging characters, humour and icky bits.
I’d definitely read more of these – I hope there will be some more to follow.
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living (Ford), one undead (Neuland); one of them kills the undead, the other kills the living. Now with Tilda Rosenbloom, after work in California (told in the previous book, The Pale House Devil), the three are in New York City, where previously Ford and Neuland had to leave after a ‘job’ went wrong.
They are given an opportunity to redeem themselves in NYC if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Of course, there’s a time limit - the underworld powers-that-be want the problem sorted in a week before it draws attention to themselves, and of course by using Ford, Neuland and Tilda there’s no link back to them should things go wrong.
Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
As this is the second novella, there’s less need for a setup and more about developing the characters. (Having said that. I think that you can read this one without having read the first. Kadrey’s a skilful enough writer to give you enough background detail as you go along without slowing down the plot.)
In this one Tilda really comes in to her own, progressing from the rather shy young innocent of the first novella to a character who is an important part of the team. The other two are expanded upon too – here Neuland becomes more analytical and experimental, a near-version of the tropish mad scientist, working on the poisons, spells and potions that they use in their work.
As before there are some scenes from the point of view of the horror lurking in the New York streets, but this time (unlike in The Pale House Devil) I was much less sympathetic towards them. Someone that kills people by leeching their flesh from them is not a nice person to know, and Kadrey shows this effectively.
The horror element is not subtle, yet skilfully done and actually not quite as gruesome as it could have been. There’s enough ick to give you a memorable impression without extraneous detail – this is a novella so there’s no room for excess, but there’s enough creepiness to possibly make you look twice if you go outside at night…
The sign of a good novella for me is if they are memorable and don’t outstay their welcome - perhaps even making the reader want more. This was certainly the case here – the trio are a likable group who I engaged with quickly and soon wanted to do well.
All in all, this is another good read, also read in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyable. Like before with the first novella, think of it as a rather gruesome version of The X-Files, with a nicely paced plot, engaging characters, humour and icky bits.
I’d definitely read more of these – I hope there will be some more to follow.
May 13, 2026
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
tt: @theaarontodd | ig: @aarontoddreads
The Flesh King x Richard Kadrey
Series: Discreet Eliminators #2
Do I Recommend? Yes!
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5/5
🔪 AT Intensity Rating: 3/5
Format: Physical book
Pages: 139
Quick Plot Points
☑️ Supernatural noir
☑️ Monster hunters in NYC
☑️ Flesh-eating killer
☑️ Crime syndicates and chaos
☑️ Bloody, witty, fast-moving horror
One-Sentence Take
A bloody, witty, supernatural noir sequel that somehow feels both completely unhinged and completely in control.
Review
I had such a good time with this!
The Flesh King knows what it is and commits fully. It’s weird, bloody, funny, gritty, and packed with the kind of supernatural chaos that should feel ridiculous, but somehow works because the voice is so confident. It’s consistently emotionally grounded, which is so refreshing in this genre.
This sequel follows Tilda, Ford, and Neuland as they head into NYC and get tangled up with crime syndicates, conspiracies, and a flesh-eating monster leaving a brutal trail through the city. The setup is pulpy in the best way, but what made it work for me was how sharp the pacing felt. There’s very little drag here. The story moves quickly, the action hits hard, and the humor keeps the whole thing from ever feeling heavy.
I love the creature horror + grimy city-underworld feel, but with enough supernatural weirdness to keep the book feeling quirky. The monster elements are bloody and the story still has a lot of humor and personality. It’s dark without being joyless, violent without feeling empty, and funny without undercutting the stakes.
Same with The Pale House Devil, Tilda, Ford, and Neuland are a huge part of why this story works. Their dynamic gives the book so much momentum, and I loved watching them move through this world of deals, danger, monsters, and bad decisions. There’s a confidence to the storytelling that made it easy to just settle in and enjoy the ride. I could read a dozen more stories like this, if the three of them are at the center.
In terms of intensity, It’s bloody, body-horror adjacent, and has plenty of flesh-eating brutality, but it still feels more fun-macabre than grotesque. If you like supernatural horror with noir energy, monster-hunting chaos, and a sharp sense of humor, this is absolutely worth picking up.
tt: @theaarontodd | ig: @aarontoddreads
The Flesh King x Richard Kadrey
Series: Discreet Eliminators #2
Do I Recommend? Yes!
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5/5
🔪 AT Intensity Rating: 3/5
Format: Physical book
Pages: 139
Quick Plot Points
☑️ Supernatural noir
☑️ Monster hunters in NYC
☑️ Flesh-eating killer
☑️ Crime syndicates and chaos
☑️ Bloody, witty, fast-moving horror
One-Sentence Take
A bloody, witty, supernatural noir sequel that somehow feels both completely unhinged and completely in control.
Review
I had such a good time with this!
The Flesh King knows what it is and commits fully. It’s weird, bloody, funny, gritty, and packed with the kind of supernatural chaos that should feel ridiculous, but somehow works because the voice is so confident. It’s consistently emotionally grounded, which is so refreshing in this genre.
This sequel follows Tilda, Ford, and Neuland as they head into NYC and get tangled up with crime syndicates, conspiracies, and a flesh-eating monster leaving a brutal trail through the city. The setup is pulpy in the best way, but what made it work for me was how sharp the pacing felt. There’s very little drag here. The story moves quickly, the action hits hard, and the humor keeps the whole thing from ever feeling heavy.
I love the creature horror + grimy city-underworld feel, but with enough supernatural weirdness to keep the book feeling quirky. The monster elements are bloody and the story still has a lot of humor and personality. It’s dark without being joyless, violent without feeling empty, and funny without undercutting the stakes.
Same with The Pale House Devil, Tilda, Ford, and Neuland are a huge part of why this story works. Their dynamic gives the book so much momentum, and I loved watching them move through this world of deals, danger, monsters, and bad decisions. There’s a confidence to the storytelling that made it easy to just settle in and enjoy the ride. I could read a dozen more stories like this, if the three of them are at the center.
In terms of intensity, It’s bloody, body-horror adjacent, and has plenty of flesh-eating brutality, but it still feels more fun-macabre than grotesque. If you like supernatural horror with noir energy, monster-hunting chaos, and a sharp sense of humor, this is absolutely worth picking up.
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I'm quitting the sequel about halfway through because it's just bad. There are two huge problems with this book: the sheer number of fortunate coincidences, and Tilda.
Tilda is both a Mary Sue who is good at everything and also massively infantalised by every single character plus the narrative itself. Not only do the bad guys patronise her, but one of the main characters calls her a 'good girl' early in the book. She's a grown woman. I don't care if Ford and Neuland are supposed to feel fatherly towards her, that's still incredibly patronising. I also got very sick of her unending supply of useful skills, which is where the overlap with my fortunate coincidences complaint comes in.
The characters just so happen to find a book with a tonne of useful information on the monster they have to fight, but it's in French. No worries, Tilda happens to be fluent in French. Turns out they need another book, this one rare and ancient. By fortunate coincidence, a guy they've just met happens to have a copy for no real reason. But it's in Latin! No worries, Tilda is fluent in Latin too. They don't know if they can trust a guy who's trying to hire them, sure would be useful if they knew whether he was lying. By fortunate coincidence, Tilda was experimenting with a potion, which accidentally splashed her and gave her the magical ability to detect lies. How convenient!
Eventually I lost patience. There are no stakes in this book despite the monster actually being cool and creepy because the main characters just don't face any problems that Tilda can't instantly solve. There's no conflict or tension between the three main characters, who are written with the dynamic of a cosy found family, and the dialogue is pretty awful, so in the end there was nothing to keep reading for.
Tilda is both a Mary Sue who is good at everything and also massively infantalised by every single character plus the narrative itself. Not only do the bad guys patronise her, but one of the main characters calls her a 'good girl' early in the book. She's a grown woman. I don't care if Ford and Neuland are supposed to feel fatherly towards her, that's still incredibly patronising. I also got very sick of her unending supply of useful skills, which is where the overlap with my fortunate coincidences complaint comes in.
The characters just so happen to find a book with a tonne of useful information on the monster they have to fight, but it's in French. No worries, Tilda happens to be fluent in French. Turns out they need another book, this one rare and ancient. By fortunate coincidence, a guy they've just met happens to have a copy for no real reason. But it's in Latin! No worries, Tilda is fluent in Latin too. They don't know if they can trust a guy who's trying to hire them, sure would be useful if they knew whether he was lying. By fortunate coincidence, Tilda was experimenting with a potion, which accidentally splashed her and gave her the magical ability to detect lies. How convenient!
Eventually I lost patience. There are no stakes in this book despite the monster actually being cool and creepy because the main characters just don't face any problems that Tilda can't instantly solve. There's no conflict or tension between the three main characters, who are written with the dynamic of a cosy found family, and the dialogue is pretty awful, so in the end there was nothing to keep reading for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2025
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐲
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍?" 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. "𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘."
Ford, Neuland and Tilda are back! And boy oh boy are they back with a BANG! 💥
This was a fast paced gory novella with the same banter we loved from the first book and ever more gruesome.
I absolutely love this trio, seeing Ford and Neuland ease into becoming two father figures for Tilda is actually so beautifully weird. The Flesh King as our main villain is absolutely horrifying and completely revolting, I LOVED IT. The descriptions of his gruesome kills genuinely made me squirm 🤢
The trio return home after the events of The Pale House Devil to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Then they’ll only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐲
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍?" 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. "𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘."
Ford, Neuland and Tilda are back! And boy oh boy are they back with a BANG! 💥
This was a fast paced gory novella with the same banter we loved from the first book and ever more gruesome.
I absolutely love this trio, seeing Ford and Neuland ease into becoming two father figures for Tilda is actually so beautifully weird. The Flesh King as our main villain is absolutely horrifying and completely revolting, I LOVED IT. The descriptions of his gruesome kills genuinely made me squirm 🤢
The trio return home after the events of The Pale House Devil to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Then they’ll only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free – hunting down, and killing, The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step up to do what they do best once more – take down the unstoppable evil.
July 29, 2025
I loved this fast paced story of revenants, humans, immortals, and mobsters. It has all the noir-ish elements of the author's previous books and is an easy book to get into.
It's about a trio of people who are basically hitmen...guns for hire. One is a revenant, a dead man who appears as human and interacts with the world with a few differences. Tilda is a woman who's just joined the group and is learning the ropes. The third is a living man. But they only kill things who deserve it, whether that thing is human or monster.
When a group of mob heads offer them a dangerous job, things are going to get complicated. The Skinner is an immortal man who has to feed his flesh in order to keep living. The process is quite gruesome. These mobsters want him dead but a detective wants them to kill another target, a wealthy art collector. This is going to lead to danger, bloodshed, and lots of natural and supernatural action.
Being a shorter book (about 115 pages) the narrative zings along and there's never a dull moment. The writing is crisp, sharp, and to the point and you'll want to read all the way through once you start. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It's about a trio of people who are basically hitmen...guns for hire. One is a revenant, a dead man who appears as human and interacts with the world with a few differences. Tilda is a woman who's just joined the group and is learning the ropes. The third is a living man. But they only kill things who deserve it, whether that thing is human or monster.
When a group of mob heads offer them a dangerous job, things are going to get complicated. The Skinner is an immortal man who has to feed his flesh in order to keep living. The process is quite gruesome. These mobsters want him dead but a detective wants them to kill another target, a wealthy art collector. This is going to lead to danger, bloodshed, and lots of natural and supernatural action.
Being a shorter book (about 115 pages) the narrative zings along and there's never a dull moment. The writing is crisp, sharp, and to the point and you'll want to read all the way through once you start. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
October 5, 2025
"People like us don't register to people like you until the world is on fire."
Richard Kadrey's second book in this series brings together Ford, Neuland and Tilda after the events of The Pale House Devil. They return home to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Unfortunatly for them they will only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free. They are tasked to hunt down and kill The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step do what they do best, take down the unstoppable evil.
I really enjoyed The Pale House Devil, since finishing it I was looking forward to seeing where the story of Ford, Neuland and Tilda would lead.
Although they are assigned another task in the name of being accepted back home, the story does manage to look deeper in these characters and show a growing bond between them. There is much more to learn and I love that the reader is able to do that while actively trying to solve the riddle of The Flesh King.
This was a quick and exciting read and once again I'm left looking forward another story in this series.
Many thanks to @titanbooks for the copy.
Richard Kadrey's second book in this series brings together Ford, Neuland and Tilda after the events of The Pale House Devil. They return home to try and make peace with the NYC crime syndicates. Unfortunatly for them they will only be welcomed back if they take on a job for free. They are tasked to hunt down and kill The Flesh King, a gruesome killer who is stalking the city, leaving a macabre and bloody trail wherever he goes. Caught up in a twisted set of conspiracies and bloodletting, the monster hunters step do what they do best, take down the unstoppable evil.
I really enjoyed The Pale House Devil, since finishing it I was looking forward to seeing where the story of Ford, Neuland and Tilda would lead.
Although they are assigned another task in the name of being accepted back home, the story does manage to look deeper in these characters and show a growing bond between them. There is much more to learn and I love that the reader is able to do that while actively trying to solve the riddle of The Flesh King.
This was a quick and exciting read and once again I'm left looking forward another story in this series.
Many thanks to @titanbooks for the copy.
February 25, 2026
Ура, не прошло и трех лет, и экстравагантные киллеры Форд и Нуланд снова с нами! Они все такие же серьезные, обстоятельные и вежливые. У них четкое разделение обязанностей — Форд (живой человек) убивает ходячих мертвецов, а Нуланд (ходячий мертвец) убивает живых людей. Они со вкусом одеты, никогда не торопятся и всегда говорят друг другу "спасибо" и "пожалуйста", а к своей юной спутнице Тильде относятся исключительно по-джентльменски.
На этот раз события разворачиваются в Нью-Йорке. Местные криминальные авторитеты нанимают Форда и Нуланда, чтобы те выследили и убили неуловимого маньяка, который оставляет за собой даже не трупы, а аккуратно очищенные от плоти скелеты. Расследование, разумеется, тут же превращается в кровавую вакханалию посреди манхеттенских небоскребов, но Форд с Нуландом в любой переделке сохраняют хладнокровие и учтивость (за что мы их и любим).
Книжка на мой вкус вполне удалась, абсолютно на уровне первой части. Единственное, на что могу пожаловаться - Тильда волей автора превратилась в натуральную мэри-сью, которая и в темноте видит, и ауры читает, и физически чувствует любую ложь, и только что по небу не летает на манер человека-паука. Без этого повесть была бы лучше, но и так очень неплохо! Уверенные 8/10
На этот раз события разворачиваются в Нью-Йорке. Местные криминальные авторитеты нанимают Форда и Нуланда, чтобы те выследили и убили неуловимого маньяка, который оставляет за собой даже не трупы, а аккуратно очищенные от плоти скелеты. Расследование, разумеется, тут же превращается в кровавую вакханалию посреди манхеттенских небоскребов, но Форд с Нуландом в любой переделке сохраняют хладнокровие и учтивость (за что мы их и любим).
Книжка на мой вкус вполне удалась, абсолютно на уровне первой части. Единственное, на что могу пожаловаться - Тильда волей автора превратилась в натуральную мэри-сью, которая и в темноте видит, и ауры читает, и физически чувствует любую ложь, и только что по небу не летает на манер человека-паука. Без этого повесть была бы лучше, но и так очень неплохо! Уверенные 8/10
April 30, 2026
In The Flesh King, Richard Kadrey takes us back to a New York that’s gone sour and soft in all the wrong places. After the business in The Pale House Devil, I was itching to see Ford, Neuland, and Tilda again, and Kadrey delivers. Their wisecracking back-and-forth is still there, the kind of hard-bitten camaraderie you only find among folks who’ve looked into the abyss and decided to spit in its eye. It’s the unbreakable heart of a blood-slicked business.
This isn’t your grandmother’s ghost story. This is noir with the skin pulled back, raw and unwashed, trading cinematic smoke for the heavy stench of rot and gutter-grime. Kadrey writes like a man swinging a flick-knife in a dark alley—short, sharp sentences that land right in the solar plexus. He’s expanded the world here, too, digging into the secret, stinking hierarchies of the city, from the revenant bars where the dead drink away eternity to the ancient, oily cults hiding in plain sight.
The prose puts me in mind of a meaner, uglier Raymond Chandler—one who traded the high-gloss office for a blood-stained apron. Ford and Neuland remain the anchors of this dark trade, but Tilda is the one who truly catches fire here. She’s sharpened herself into a lethal instrument, proving that in a world of claws and shadows, a quick mind is just as vital as a heavy caliber. Between the gut-churning descriptions of the Skinner and the relentless, pavement-level cruelty of the city, Kadrey finds a way to stitch jagged humor into the carnage. It’s a bold, inventive nightmare that confirms Kadrey hasn’t just found where the bodies are hidden—he’s the one who put them there.
This isn’t your grandmother’s ghost story. This is noir with the skin pulled back, raw and unwashed, trading cinematic smoke for the heavy stench of rot and gutter-grime. Kadrey writes like a man swinging a flick-knife in a dark alley—short, sharp sentences that land right in the solar plexus. He’s expanded the world here, too, digging into the secret, stinking hierarchies of the city, from the revenant bars where the dead drink away eternity to the ancient, oily cults hiding in plain sight.
The prose puts me in mind of a meaner, uglier Raymond Chandler—one who traded the high-gloss office for a blood-stained apron. Ford and Neuland remain the anchors of this dark trade, but Tilda is the one who truly catches fire here. She’s sharpened herself into a lethal instrument, proving that in a world of claws and shadows, a quick mind is just as vital as a heavy caliber. Between the gut-churning descriptions of the Skinner and the relentless, pavement-level cruelty of the city, Kadrey finds a way to stitch jagged humor into the carnage. It’s a bold, inventive nightmare that confirms Kadrey hasn’t just found where the bodies are hidden—he’s the one who put them there.
March 7, 2026
Blood, Banter, and Bad Decisions: Why The Flesh King Feels Like Home
The Flesh King by Richard Kadrey Review: Blood, Banter, and Bad Decisions
Here’s the thing about monsters. They never call ahead.
You’d think after centuries of stalking humans, eviscerating tourists, and generally making a mess of things, one of them would think to text first. Give a guy a chance to hide the good silver. But no. They just show up, usually when you’re behind on rent and fresh out of favours.
That’s where we find Ford, Neuland, and Tilda at the start of The Flesh King. Back in New York. Broke. Blacklisted. And desperate enough to take a free gig from people who’d rather see them dead.
Reading Kadrey’s prose is like trying to catch rain in your mouth. You miss some, but what hits tastes clean and cold.
The man understands momentum. The Flesh King doesn’t walk anywhere. It lurches, sprints, stumbles, and occasionally stops just long enough for someone to say something that makes you laugh despite the literal pile of bones in the room.
Read the full review here
https://gnofhorror.com/the-flesh-king...
The Flesh King by Richard Kadrey Review: Blood, Banter, and Bad Decisions
Here’s the thing about monsters. They never call ahead.
You’d think after centuries of stalking humans, eviscerating tourists, and generally making a mess of things, one of them would think to text first. Give a guy a chance to hide the good silver. But no. They just show up, usually when you’re behind on rent and fresh out of favours.
That’s where we find Ford, Neuland, and Tilda at the start of The Flesh King. Back in New York. Broke. Blacklisted. And desperate enough to take a free gig from people who’d rather see them dead.
Reading Kadrey’s prose is like trying to catch rain in your mouth. You miss some, but what hits tastes clean and cold.
The man understands momentum. The Flesh King doesn’t walk anywhere. It lurches, sprints, stumbles, and occasionally stops just long enough for someone to say something that makes you laugh despite the literal pile of bones in the room.
Read the full review here
https://gnofhorror.com/the-flesh-king...
August 19, 2025
This is the sequel to The Pale House Devil which I really enjoyed and rated 4 stars. This one, I didn't like as much...
What I did like about this one was the squad that has grown from two to three. Tilda is a fun addition to the dynamic. The plot was solid and the set up for the storyline was a fun time.
But it didn't fulfil. The climatic moment was rushed, and resolved very quickly and easily. Ford became a useless character too many times. It was trying so hard to make sure Tilda was never a damsel in distress that the other two didn't really do much.
The simplistic writing worked for me in book 1 with all the characterisation and world building. This time it felt too simple and unemotional for me to invest in the story.
I still really like the idea of two assassins, one undead and one living. But as the world was already established in book 1, this didn't build on what we knew or expand things in any way. Which was a bit disappointing to me, as the concept / world was one thing I really enjoyed from the first book.
What I did like about this one was the squad that has grown from two to three. Tilda is a fun addition to the dynamic. The plot was solid and the set up for the storyline was a fun time.
But it didn't fulfil. The climatic moment was rushed, and resolved very quickly and easily. Ford became a useless character too many times. It was trying so hard to make sure Tilda was never a damsel in distress that the other two didn't really do much.
The simplistic writing worked for me in book 1 with all the characterisation and world building. This time it felt too simple and unemotional for me to invest in the story.
I still really like the idea of two assassins, one undead and one living. But as the world was already established in book 1, this didn't build on what we knew or expand things in any way. Which was a bit disappointing to me, as the concept / world was one thing I really enjoyed from the first book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews