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La Guilde des Queues de chats morts
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2024)Eveen est morte. Ou plutôt morte-vivante.
Depuis qu’elle a été réanimée et qu’elle a rejoint la Guilde des Queues de chats morts, elle sert la déesse Aeril, Matrone des assassins, en tant que tueuse à gages. Assassins dont le serment le plus important exige que tout contrat accepté soit honoré, sous peine de s’attirer les foudres divines. Alors voilà Eveen bien embarrassée lorsqu’elle doit éliminer une jeune fille... qui lui ressemble trait pour trait.
« Quoi ? murmura la fille.
— Tu es moi, dit Eveen, qui peinait toujours à y croire elle-même. Par les nibards de feu d’Aeril, je serais bien en peine de l’expliquer, mais... tu es moi ! »
Depuis qu’elle a été réanimée et qu’elle a rejoint la Guilde des Queues de chats morts, elle sert la déesse Aeril, Matrone des assassins, en tant que tueuse à gages. Assassins dont le serment le plus important exige que tout contrat accepté soit honoré, sous peine de s’attirer les foudres divines. Alors voilà Eveen bien embarrassée lorsqu’elle doit éliminer une jeune fille... qui lui ressemble trait pour trait.
« Quoi ? murmura la fille.
— Tu es moi, dit Eveen, qui peinait toujours à y croire elle-même. Par les nibards de feu d’Aeril, je serais bien en peine de l’expliquer, mais... tu es moi ! »
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
349 people are currently reading
37864 people want to read
About the author
P. Djèlí Clark
60 books6,224 followersPhenderson Djèlí Clark.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,219 reviews
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May 9, 2024Clark is one of my favorite authors. I adore his ability to create a place that feels so real and grounded that you would swear it exists, craft characters that immediately capture your attention and goodwill, and spin an adventure tale that is hard to put down. So, in a word, I loved this one. Just so incredibly unique and inventive and in so few pages that I don't know how he does it. But he does do it. Consistently and with a hell of a lot of charm.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
December 7, 2023
A very weak 3-star. Unfortunately, this seems to be when I admit that P. Djèlí Clark isn't for me.
The premise of this book was enticing. An undead assassin, pulled into a bizarre assignment that evoked a memory of her past which shouldn't exist. Mysteries and unlikely paradoxes ensue, and the fast-moving plot is peppered with humorous dialogues and lots of action. It sounds exactly like the type of book that should keep a reader turning the pages, but ... how come such a theoretically perfect story turned out so boring for me that I really had to push to not dnf?
My biggest issue was the characters. I didn't care about any of them, which made the tension and suspense completely a lost cause. Every character felt like an intricately carved-out and beautifully dressed puppet that had no life of its own (which is funnily ironic, since the main character here happens to be actually undead... but I got rather the same feeling from the dead djinn universe, so alas, I'm inclined to believe that this is simply Clark's style). It is not to say that the characters are flat, however -- it's obvious how much meticulous attention was paid to every detail from physical appearance and clothing to quirks and mannerisms, no matter how minor the character -- but being detailed seems very different from being alive in this case. They felt too detached, giving us very few glimpses into what they were thinking or feeling, which made their personalities come out shallow and emotions nonexistent. As a result, I couldn't connect to any of them and genuinely didn't care if all of them died, which made the whole action-packed plot lose its charm.
The worldbuilding also bothered me a little. Which, again, is ironic, because I absolutely love expansive worldbuilding in fantasies, and Clark is good at exactly that. The city and the carnival in the background of the story were painted with striking vividity, much like the feast to the senses that they're supposed to be in the tale. But ... once again, beautiful as those descriptions were, I found it hard to feel fascinated enough to care. Unlike clockwork Cairo, this world felt too mundane. There were parades at the carnival that threw coins at spectators, much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There were gondolas ferrying tourists around in the canals, much like Venice. There were partying crowds coating everyone in colored powders, much like Holi in India. None of these felt special enough to evoke a sense of otherworldly wonder for me, and that somewhat defeated the purpose of reading fantasy.
I also found it a bit annoying to trod through every little detail of people's clothing, no matter how minor the character or how commonplace their attire. Someone tugs at their brown breeches tucked into black boots; someone brushes over their white shirt fastened by a gold belt; etc. I get it, it's textural details, but it comes off an awful lot like those chick lit books that can go on for a whole page about some cashmere sweater. On the contrary, things that could've been more interesting, such as the culture of this world and the magic, were not focused on nearly enough. I did like the ending where certain scenes involving a goddess finally satisfied the escapist in me, but for the vast majority of the book, the detailed worldbuilding was just drowning in mundane specifics, which took away the appeal of all that descriptive writing.
I will admit though that Clark's writing is highly polished and evocative in the sensory department, and I see why so many people like it. The plot was also tightly paced and well thought out, but for me, that only made the book lean more into the plot-driven popcorn read territory, while not providing the same entertainment value as an actual popcorn read. Overall this was less enjoyable than the dead djinn universe, and it might be the last book I'll pick up from the same author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book was enticing. An undead assassin, pulled into a bizarre assignment that evoked a memory of her past which shouldn't exist. Mysteries and unlikely paradoxes ensue, and the fast-moving plot is peppered with humorous dialogues and lots of action. It sounds exactly like the type of book that should keep a reader turning the pages, but ... how come such a theoretically perfect story turned out so boring for me that I really had to push to not dnf?
My biggest issue was the characters. I didn't care about any of them, which made the tension and suspense completely a lost cause. Every character felt like an intricately carved-out and beautifully dressed puppet that had no life of its own (which is funnily ironic, since the main character here happens to be actually undead... but I got rather the same feeling from the dead djinn universe, so alas, I'm inclined to believe that this is simply Clark's style). It is not to say that the characters are flat, however -- it's obvious how much meticulous attention was paid to every detail from physical appearance and clothing to quirks and mannerisms, no matter how minor the character -- but being detailed seems very different from being alive in this case. They felt too detached, giving us very few glimpses into what they were thinking or feeling, which made their personalities come out shallow and emotions nonexistent. As a result, I couldn't connect to any of them and genuinely didn't care if all of them died, which made the whole action-packed plot lose its charm.
The worldbuilding also bothered me a little. Which, again, is ironic, because I absolutely love expansive worldbuilding in fantasies, and Clark is good at exactly that. The city and the carnival in the background of the story were painted with striking vividity, much like the feast to the senses that they're supposed to be in the tale. But ... once again, beautiful as those descriptions were, I found it hard to feel fascinated enough to care. Unlike clockwork Cairo, this world felt too mundane. There were parades at the carnival that threw coins at spectators, much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There were gondolas ferrying tourists around in the canals, much like Venice. There were partying crowds coating everyone in colored powders, much like Holi in India. None of these felt special enough to evoke a sense of otherworldly wonder for me, and that somewhat defeated the purpose of reading fantasy.
I also found it a bit annoying to trod through every little detail of people's clothing, no matter how minor the character or how commonplace their attire. Someone tugs at their brown breeches tucked into black boots; someone brushes over their white shirt fastened by a gold belt; etc. I get it, it's textural details, but it comes off an awful lot like those chick lit books that can go on for a whole page about some cashmere sweater. On the contrary, things that could've been more interesting, such as the culture of this world and the magic, were not focused on nearly enough. I did like the ending where certain scenes involving a goddess finally satisfied the escapist in me, but for the vast majority of the book, the detailed worldbuilding was just drowning in mundane specifics, which took away the appeal of all that descriptive writing.
I will admit though that Clark's writing is highly polished and evocative in the sensory department, and I see why so many people like it. The plot was also tightly paced and well thought out, but for me, that only made the book lean more into the plot-driven popcorn read territory, while not providing the same entertainment value as an actual popcorn read. Overall this was less enjoyable than the dead djinn universe, and it might be the last book I'll pick up from the same author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2024
ARC provided by TOR - thank you so much !!
this story follows eveen, who is apart of a guild of hired necromancer killers called the dead cat tail assassins, but she can’t remember anything of her past while she was alive. we meet baseema, the guild boss, and we meet fennis, who handles the guild’s paperwork, and eveen is sent on a mission where the contract asked for her specifically. and set on a backdrop of a clockwork king festival, eveen goes to kill a girl who will make her have memories that she is not supposed to have.
friends, i loved this. p. djèlí clark’s writing, with characters, with atmosphere, with prose in general, is just so so so good. i loved being in a new world of theirs, and i truly hope this ends up being first in a new series. i am an easy sell for assassin guild stories, but i’ve never read one like this. i loved the magic, i loved the talk of community, i loved seeing edgelords getting taken down, and i really loved reading about a girl who loves stories being able to control her own for once. i really recommend this one and i can’t wait to see what the author does next.
trigger + content warnings: talk of death, animal death (bird), fighting, violence, kidnapping, self harm (because of an undead body), blood descriptions, gun violence, fire, explosion, mention of children murders in past
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♡ The Black God's Drums ★★★★★
this story follows eveen, who is apart of a guild of hired necromancer killers called the dead cat tail assassins, but she can’t remember anything of her past while she was alive. we meet baseema, the guild boss, and we meet fennis, who handles the guild’s paperwork, and eveen is sent on a mission where the contract asked for her specifically. and set on a backdrop of a clockwork king festival, eveen goes to kill a girl who will make her have memories that she is not supposed to have.
friends, i loved this. p. djèlí clark’s writing, with characters, with atmosphere, with prose in general, is just so so so good. i loved being in a new world of theirs, and i truly hope this ends up being first in a new series. i am an easy sell for assassin guild stories, but i’ve never read one like this. i loved the magic, i loved the talk of community, i loved seeing edgelords getting taken down, and i really loved reading about a girl who loves stories being able to control her own for once. i really recommend this one and i can’t wait to see what the author does next.
trigger + content warnings: talk of death, animal death (bird), fighting, violence, kidnapping, self harm (because of an undead body), blood descriptions, gun violence, fire, explosion, mention of children murders in past
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ The Black God's Drums ★★★★★
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August 9, 2024Highly entertaining novella set in a briskly described fantasy world. Our protagonist is a dead assassin, who it trying to save her younger self from being murdered by, uh, her. Things only get weirder from here.
It's very pacey and action packed, with extremely warped morality and lots of violence veering into the weird horror side, but also very definitely written to be entertaining--nothing lands too seriously, largely because the heroine is already dead, although the ending was a bit eyebrow-raising. It worked very nicely for me.
I did not get on with the decision to use extremely internet slang a few times (eg 'edgelords' or 'mansplain') but then, we're using English anyway and where do you draw the line at deciding what sounds 'too modern'? eg if you can't use 'edgelord' in a fantasy setting, can you use 'okay'? If you can't use 'okay' how about 'awfully'? It was all slang once. Which is to say, there is a perfectly good and rational basis for 'edgelord'. It still doesn't work for me in practice but such are the travails of being a grumpy old git.
A highly entertaining read with pace and zing, which is honestly a delightful change from the number of fantasy doorstoppers I've tripped over recently.
It's very pacey and action packed, with extremely warped morality and lots of violence veering into the weird horror side, but also very definitely written to be entertaining--nothing lands too seriously, largely because the heroine is already dead, although the ending was a bit eyebrow-raising. It worked very nicely for me.
I did not get on with the decision to use extremely internet slang a few times (eg 'edgelords' or 'mansplain') but then, we're using English anyway and where do you draw the line at deciding what sounds 'too modern'? eg if you can't use 'edgelord' in a fantasy setting, can you use 'okay'? If you can't use 'okay' how about 'awfully'? It was all slang once. Which is to say, there is a perfectly good and rational basis for 'edgelord'. It still doesn't work for me in practice but such are the travails of being a grumpy old git.
A highly entertaining read with pace and zing, which is honestly a delightful change from the number of fantasy doorstoppers I've tripped over recently.
March 20, 2025
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a novella about Eveen - an assassin who is not a cat, does not have a tail, but is most assuredly dead, as she tries to figure out who wants revenge on her, survive the repurcussions of breach of contract and find a legal loophole in a magical contract, all in one night.
The book is a quick and fun read, with an action packed story kicking off early on. The hints and twists, along with the witty characters kept me turning the pages until the end! The characters are engaging and relatable, though I wish we could find out more about Eveen - I hope this is not the last we see of her!
P. Djèlí Clark's sharp and masterfully succinct writing conveys a more complex world than the page count belies. We get the impression of layered characters and subtle politics without going into outright exposition. And I laughed out loud when I heard a mythical fearsome goddess of assassins offhandedly say mansplain.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing group and P. Djèlí Clark for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The rating is 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars as the book on the whole is a great standalone read and delivers on what is promised.
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the writing; One star for the story; Half a star for the characters; One star for the world-building - Four and a half stars in total.]
The book is a quick and fun read, with an action packed story kicking off early on. The hints and twists, along with the witty characters kept me turning the pages until the end! The characters are engaging and relatable, though I wish we could find out more about Eveen - I hope this is not the last we see of her!
P. Djèlí Clark's sharp and masterfully succinct writing conveys a more complex world than the page count belies. We get the impression of layered characters and subtle politics without going into outright exposition. And I laughed out loud when I heard a mythical fearsome goddess of assassins offhandedly say mansplain.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing group and P. Djèlí Clark for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The rating is 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars as the book on the whole is a great standalone read and delivers on what is promised.
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the writing; One star for the story; Half a star for the characters; One star for the world-building - Four and a half stars in total.]
September 3, 2024
When I heard Djèlí Clark was coming out with a new stand-alone book (novella?) I was immediately on board. Although Dead Cat Tail wasn't quite what I hoped for, it didn't disappoint, either.*
Assassins have become popular anti-heroes in modern fantasy literature, and Eveen's sect is even odder and colder than the norm--the assassins are members of the formerly alive who have been resurrected through magic and their relationship to their goddess. It is perhaps one of the most interesting use of zombies-excuse me, the undead; zombies is a pejorative--I have yet seen. As with all religions, there's all sorts of constraints around the practicing of the work, and Eveen finds herself in a conundrum when the person she is contracted to kill seems eerily familiar.
The narration is third person, primarily Eveen's perspective. Eveen herself has a decidedly modern youth feel, putting me very much in mind of Gideon the Ninth. Plotting, while slightly less bananas, does get a little dizzying by the end. I would say that Djèlí Clark does a fair job of gradually setting the reader up with the world-building and the constraints that proves so difficult to manage.
There's a lot of interesting stuff here. Interesting, if somewhat florid, world-building that is well-used in context of the story. Intriguing character arcs and characters wrestling with mission and duty. A straight-forward plot that keeps the pace moving. Solid atmosphere that lends itself to the plot. The majority of characters have shades of brown skin, and it is always nice to see representation in fantasy. On that note, I will mention that Djèlí Clark is one of the few male authors that writes women like people. It's a wonder to behold.
I found it a story that was interesting and very hard to put down. That said, three issues prevent me from an easy 5 star rating. Wording could be tightened up, and quite possibly will be by final edition. I felt like for a matter-of-fact character voice, some of the adjectives seemed excessive, and some of the phrasing needed trimming. Second, a dialect is brought into the story near the end, and ended up being jarring enough that it threw me out of the story. Looking back, I think it would be about the same if someone had reached under a bed and pulled out an AK-47. It was weirdly specific to particular culture we hadn't been exposed to when nothing else in the story was contextually appropriate. Lastly, and most significantly, is the epilogue. While the ending worked (much like Briar Rabbit, you knew some fancy trick was coming), I have ethical problems with the wrap-up. It was an unsettling and harsh end to what was essentially a fairly harmless (but high stakes) story. Summation then: while certainly better than the last book, doesn't reach my favorites.
*while there are assassins, there are no cat tails or cats, dead or otherwise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an electronic advanced reader copy. Unsurprisingly, opinions are my own.
Assassins have become popular anti-heroes in modern fantasy literature, and Eveen's sect is even odder and colder than the norm--the assassins are members of the formerly alive who have been resurrected through magic and their relationship to their goddess. It is perhaps one of the most interesting use of zombies-excuse me, the undead; zombies is a pejorative--I have yet seen. As with all religions, there's all sorts of constraints around the practicing of the work, and Eveen finds herself in a conundrum when the person she is contracted to kill seems eerily familiar.
The narration is third person, primarily Eveen's perspective. Eveen herself has a decidedly modern youth feel, putting me very much in mind of Gideon the Ninth. Plotting, while slightly less bananas, does get a little dizzying by the end. I would say that Djèlí Clark does a fair job of gradually setting the reader up with the world-building and the constraints that proves so difficult to manage.
There's a lot of interesting stuff here. Interesting, if somewhat florid, world-building that is well-used in context of the story. Intriguing character arcs and characters wrestling with mission and duty. A straight-forward plot that keeps the pace moving. Solid atmosphere that lends itself to the plot. The majority of characters have shades of brown skin, and it is always nice to see representation in fantasy. On that note, I will mention that Djèlí Clark is one of the few male authors that writes women like people. It's a wonder to behold.
I found it a story that was interesting and very hard to put down. That said, three issues prevent me from an easy 5 star rating. Wording could be tightened up, and quite possibly will be by final edition. I felt like for a matter-of-fact character voice, some of the adjectives seemed excessive, and some of the phrasing needed trimming. Second, a dialect is brought into the story near the end, and ended up being jarring enough that it threw me out of the story. Looking back, I think it would be about the same if someone had reached under a bed and pulled out an AK-47. It was weirdly specific to particular culture we hadn't been exposed to when nothing else in the story was contextually appropriate. Lastly, and most significantly, is the epilogue. While the ending worked (much like Briar Rabbit, you knew some fancy trick was coming), I have ethical problems with the wrap-up. It was an unsettling and harsh end to what was essentially a fairly harmless (but high stakes) story. Summation then: while certainly better than the last book, doesn't reach my favorites.
*while there are assassins, there are no cat tails or cats, dead or otherwise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an electronic advanced reader copy. Unsurprisingly, opinions are my own.
February 9, 2024
P. Djèlí Clark does. not. miss! Action packed and funny, this novella is a ton of fun from start to finish.
Everything I read from this man is a fantastic time. What Clark is able to accomplish in such a small page count never ceases to amaze me. He can consistently build worlds that feel rich and full, put together a stunning cast of characters, and can typically slip in commentary on class, the commodification of marginalized bodies, and women unabashedly holding their own power in less time than full length novels take to set up a story.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is out August 6, 2024 and if you like vivid fantasy worlds, undead assassins, quippy, murderous heroines, descriptions of food so good you may briefly want to eat ants (no i will not be explaining this), and women getting shit done, then you won't want to miss this one.
Everything I read from this man is a fantastic time. What Clark is able to accomplish in such a small page count never ceases to amaze me. He can consistently build worlds that feel rich and full, put together a stunning cast of characters, and can typically slip in commentary on class, the commodification of marginalized bodies, and women unabashedly holding their own power in less time than full length novels take to set up a story.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is out August 6, 2024 and if you like vivid fantasy worlds, undead assassins, quippy, murderous heroines, descriptions of food so good you may briefly want to eat ants (no i will not be explaining this), and women getting shit done, then you won't want to miss this one.
August 5, 2024
4 Stars!
What an entertaining story!!
Bridging fantasy with a touch of steampunk, this is a world where magic and sorcery are abundant, class division is sharply noted, and guilds of hired killers are a dime a dozen ready to carry out a job if the price is right.
Our heroine Eveen is one of those hired killers, having agreed to be resurrected and undead but with many side benefits. She is beholden to the goddess Aeril who demands a strict code of conduct that’s in place for civilized reasons, mainly to minimize collateral damage but always in the goddess’s favor. Aeril obviously has the power to bestow existence after death, but she can easily take one’s life force if they don’t play by her rules.
When Eveen is given what seems like a standard contract, what she uncovers about her target tilts the axis and all bets are off where unbreakable vows just might need to be broken.
To say the least, I loved how this was set in the fictional port city of Tal Abisi, evoking a Middle Eastern historic vibe with hints of New Orleans and India as well. This is a place with opulent trade filled to the brim with luxuries and exotic items but also with dangerous depravity, violence, and horror. Magic is everywhere, forbidden thaumaturgy lurks in dark corners, and the atmosphere is rich with strange occurrences and offbeat creatures.
Clark caught my attention with A Master of Djinn, and this has solidly put this author on my radar! Adventurous, filled to the brim with action, Eveen is a scrappy skilled assassin who knows her way around varied fighting techniques and weaponry, all with plenty of tricks up her sleeve and the talent to take advantage of her surroundings as her back up plans have back up plans. She must race against time to find a way out of her binding contract as well as save herself from its fatal repercussions. Will she succeed???
Overall, this was a lot of fun despite the grim tones and themes, and I can only hope Clark brings more to this fascinating world he’s created. The last sentence was perfect, making me cackle with a well placed nod to the reader!
Thank you to the author and Tordotcom via NegGalley for an ecopy in exchange for a honest review
What an entertaining story!!
Bridging fantasy with a touch of steampunk, this is a world where magic and sorcery are abundant, class division is sharply noted, and guilds of hired killers are a dime a dozen ready to carry out a job if the price is right.
Our heroine Eveen is one of those hired killers, having agreed to be resurrected and undead but with many side benefits. She is beholden to the goddess Aeril who demands a strict code of conduct that’s in place for civilized reasons, mainly to minimize collateral damage but always in the goddess’s favor. Aeril obviously has the power to bestow existence after death, but she can easily take one’s life force if they don’t play by her rules.
When Eveen is given what seems like a standard contract, what she uncovers about her target tilts the axis and all bets are off where unbreakable vows just might need to be broken.
To say the least, I loved how this was set in the fictional port city of Tal Abisi, evoking a Middle Eastern historic vibe with hints of New Orleans and India as well. This is a place with opulent trade filled to the brim with luxuries and exotic items but also with dangerous depravity, violence, and horror. Magic is everywhere, forbidden thaumaturgy lurks in dark corners, and the atmosphere is rich with strange occurrences and offbeat creatures.
Clark caught my attention with A Master of Djinn, and this has solidly put this author on my radar! Adventurous, filled to the brim with action, Eveen is a scrappy skilled assassin who knows her way around varied fighting techniques and weaponry, all with plenty of tricks up her sleeve and the talent to take advantage of her surroundings as her back up plans have back up plans. She must race against time to find a way out of her binding contract as well as save herself from its fatal repercussions. Will she succeed???
Overall, this was a lot of fun despite the grim tones and themes, and I can only hope Clark brings more to this fascinating world he’s created. The last sentence was perfect, making me cackle with a well placed nod to the reader!
Thank you to the author and Tordotcom via NegGalley for an ecopy in exchange for a honest review
September 8, 2024
Ahh I loved this! P. Djèlí Clark doesn’t miss
February 11, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This was a lot of fun! Introducing a new world that still feels reminiscent of the Dead Djinn series, we encounter a land of magic and technology with light steampunk vibes. The main character is a member of the titular Dead Cat Tail Assassins- a guild of undead assassins who work at the behest of a goddess, have no memories of their former lives, and must carry out any assassination they agree to. Eveen is a professional, but when she sees the face of her latest mark and has a sudden memory, she decides she can't kill her until she figures out what's going on....
This turns into a fun mystery/adventure filled with magic, deadly assassins, mythology, necromancers, and unexpected revelations. It's got a sort of tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that made me laugh. I really enjoyed this and hope we get more set in this world! I recieved a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
This was a lot of fun! Introducing a new world that still feels reminiscent of the Dead Djinn series, we encounter a land of magic and technology with light steampunk vibes. The main character is a member of the titular Dead Cat Tail Assassins- a guild of undead assassins who work at the behest of a goddess, have no memories of their former lives, and must carry out any assassination they agree to. Eveen is a professional, but when she sees the face of her latest mark and has a sudden memory, she decides she can't kill her until she figures out what's going on....
This turns into a fun mystery/adventure filled with magic, deadly assassins, mythology, necromancers, and unexpected revelations. It's got a sort of tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that made me laugh. I really enjoyed this and hope we get more set in this world! I recieved a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
February 10, 2025
I love Clark’s writing but I wish I had more to say about The Dead Cat Tail Assassins, which is basically where my issues begin and end with it.
An undead assassin with no memories of her previous life takes a mission where she recognizes her target. Clark has the confidence and style I wish I saw more often from other writers; his cities feel inhabited, his characters are funny and charismatic, you get the sense that you could drop the reader any other place in this world and they’d find an equally compelling story. People who think you can’t make room for the word “edgelord” in a fantasy book would learn something here.
But I wish there was a little more here - TDCTA is fairly superficial, and the adventure story it sounds like is the adventure story you get. You could probably spin this book into a commentary about Storytelling or Women or The Self but you’d be very generous to do so. I just prefer something a little chewier! Where his previous books leaned towards Pratchett, this one was more Scalzi. Rly love the audiobook though.
Please note I work for Macmillan, but opinions are my own. I am not involved in book production.
An undead assassin with no memories of her previous life takes a mission where she recognizes her target. Clark has the confidence and style I wish I saw more often from other writers; his cities feel inhabited, his characters are funny and charismatic, you get the sense that you could drop the reader any other place in this world and they’d find an equally compelling story. People who think you can’t make room for the word “edgelord” in a fantasy book would learn something here.
But I wish there was a little more here - TDCTA is fairly superficial, and the adventure story it sounds like is the adventure story you get. You could probably spin this book into a commentary about Storytelling or Women or The Self but you’d be very generous to do so. I just prefer something a little chewier! Where his previous books leaned towards Pratchett, this one was more Scalzi. Rly love the audiobook though.
Please note I work for Macmillan, but opinions are my own. I am not involved in book production.
December 7, 2024
now:
3.5/5
You know when a blurb / synopsis from a book contains a series of rules that they're all going to be broken in the course of the book! And that's my excuse for my earlier review, before reading, saying that I'll read this on the day it came out. It only took me like 5 months, but rules are made to be broken! (Hahaha, no, my life just blew up so yeah, did not get to it in time).
I still very much love P. Djèlí Clark's writing and imagination, but this one didn't feel as engaging to me as his other work that I've loved. It has an extremely fun and funny conceit (which I don't want to spoil, even if it's revealed close-ish to the beginning), but I didn't feel satisfied emotionally by the depth & specificity of the relationship between the main character and... the other main character. Plus, this has a lot of badass actiony cool scenes, but I'm not super into action scenes and I would have prefered more texture to the world and the characters in place of that. Even if the cool action scenes actually do give that texture to the world and characters.
Still, a really enjoyable, brisk audiobook experience, where I thought I'd guessed the reveal - but I hadn't, and very happy about that! I also would read more in this world for sure.
then:
P. Djèlí Clark writes something, I read. Probably on the first day it comes out. That's how it works.
3.5/5
You know when a blurb / synopsis from a book contains a series of rules that they're all going to be broken in the course of the book! And that's my excuse for my earlier review, before reading, saying that I'll read this on the day it came out. It only took me like 5 months, but rules are made to be broken! (Hahaha, no, my life just blew up so yeah, did not get to it in time).
I still very much love P. Djèlí Clark's writing and imagination, but this one didn't feel as engaging to me as his other work that I've loved. It has an extremely fun and funny conceit (which I don't want to spoil, even if it's revealed close-ish to the beginning), but I didn't feel satisfied emotionally by the depth & specificity of the relationship between the main character and... the other main character. Plus, this has a lot of badass actiony cool scenes, but I'm not super into action scenes and I would have prefered more texture to the world and the characters in place of that. Even if the cool action scenes actually do give that texture to the world and characters.
Still, a really enjoyable, brisk audiobook experience, where I thought I'd guessed the reveal - but I hadn't, and very happy about that! I also would read more in this world for sure.
then:
P. Djèlí Clark writes something, I read. Probably on the first day it comes out. That's how it works.
August 7, 2024
Happy publication day!!
P. Djèlí Clark has rapidly become an author I'm always interested in. He has a great imagination that centers black characters in fantasy, and I know he's always going to come up with some cool world building and character dynamics.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a ton of fun, and takes place in a fantasy world that is so richly described and built. We follow our main character Eveen, who is not a cat nor does she have a tail, but she is dead and she is an assassin. After a job goes wrong and she suddenly has memories of a past life she's not supposed to remember at all, the plot kicks off.
As I've already said, the world building is grand. Clark really knows how to build a world up around a character as they move through it and interact with other characters within it. He's fantastic at showing, not telling, and it's fun to find out about this world as Eveen's story unfolds.
Though the world building is strong, there are other aspects of the novel that didn't work as well for me. This feels like a madcap sort of story; it moves along at a strong pace that is steady but also feels very rushed at times. Additionally, I wasn't a huge fan of the humor or tongue-in-cheek character work. I never really felt totally connected to all the characters, which was unfortunate because the story itself was interesting as it unfolded.
This is a pretty fun novel, in the end. I would highly recommend this for readers who love plot driven stories, and who are looking for a fun new fantasy world with fun characters to read about.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing this ARC for review. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins will be released on August 6, 2024.
P. Djèlí Clark has rapidly become an author I'm always interested in. He has a great imagination that centers black characters in fantasy, and I know he's always going to come up with some cool world building and character dynamics.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a ton of fun, and takes place in a fantasy world that is so richly described and built. We follow our main character Eveen, who is not a cat nor does she have a tail, but she is dead and she is an assassin. After a job goes wrong and she suddenly has memories of a past life she's not supposed to remember at all, the plot kicks off.
As I've already said, the world building is grand. Clark really knows how to build a world up around a character as they move through it and interact with other characters within it. He's fantastic at showing, not telling, and it's fun to find out about this world as Eveen's story unfolds.
Though the world building is strong, there are other aspects of the novel that didn't work as well for me. This feels like a madcap sort of story; it moves along at a strong pace that is steady but also feels very rushed at times. Additionally, I wasn't a huge fan of the humor or tongue-in-cheek character work. I never really felt totally connected to all the characters, which was unfortunate because the story itself was interesting as it unfolded.
This is a pretty fun novel, in the end. I would highly recommend this for readers who love plot driven stories, and who are looking for a fun new fantasy world with fun characters to read about.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing this ARC for review. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins will be released on August 6, 2024.
March 24, 2025
It looks like the genius mathematician in me (I was awarded the Fields Medal when I was naught but a wee little shrimp, just so you know) is out to play again, so let's do the Quick Maths Thingie (QMT™) again, shall we?
A guild of assassins who are not cats, have no tails but are most assuredly quite very dead + a most scrumptious cast of characters + chambers pots (aka the banes of professional killers everywhere—then again, maybe not) + refreshingly refreshing world building and plot (that's P. Djèlí Clark for you) + tentacles, yay! + hahahahahaha + sky nomads + fantastic narration (that Caribbean accent! I didn't understand half of what Lynnette R. Freeman was saying but I couldn't have cared less, I loved it! 😍) + pirate princesses + clever everything (because P. Djèlí Clark, duh) + tendrils vs. tits (you don't want to know) = there might be no felines in this story, but I have it on good authority that they approve of it all the same...and dance away in celebration whenever the book is mentioned.
See? What did I tell you?
P.S. Eveen the Eviscerator kindly requested that I mention that she might be dead and an assassin but is certainly NO GHOUL.Right.
[Pre-review nonsense]
P. Djèlí Clark + no cats or tails but assassins galore + Slightly Scrumptious Narrator (SSN™) =
➽ Review to come and stuff.
A guild of assassins who are not cats, have no tails but are most assuredly quite very dead + a most scrumptious cast of characters + chambers pots (aka the banes of professional killers everywhere—then again, maybe not) + refreshingly refreshing world building and plot (that's P. Djèlí Clark for you) + tentacles, yay! + hahahahahaha + sky nomads + fantastic narration (that Caribbean accent! I didn't understand half of what Lynnette R. Freeman was saying but I couldn't have cared less, I loved it! 😍) + pirate princesses + clever everything (because P. Djèlí Clark, duh) + tendrils vs. tits (you don't want to know) = there might be no felines in this story, but I have it on good authority that they approve of it all the same...and dance away in celebration whenever the book is mentioned.
See? What did I tell you?
P.S. Eveen the Eviscerator kindly requested that I mention that she might be dead and an assassin but is certainly NO GHOUL.
[Pre-review nonsense]
P. Djèlí Clark + no cats or tails but assassins galore + Slightly Scrumptious Narrator (SSN™) =
➽ Review to come and stuff.
dnf
February 25, 2024DNF. I've been sitting on this for a while trying to decide if I should continue but I think it's pretty telling after a couple weeks, I'm just not going to. There's many things about this story that are so cool. I mean who wants to read about a middle aged (actually I think she's like 60 or 70 if I did my math right) assassin who is technically dead and breaks her super duper mandatory assassins vow and saves a pretty girl. ME!
But unfortunately this isn't holding my attention. The old woman wisdom I wanted isn't there as she just acts and speaks like a normal 20 year old and that threw off the whole book for me. I'm sure many will like this though.
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
But unfortunately this isn't holding my attention. The old woman wisdom I wanted isn't there as she just acts and speaks like a normal 20 year old and that threw off the whole book for me. I'm sure many will like this though.
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
March 3, 2025
Could have been an easy 4* for me, but what was with the almost unintelligible way of talking at the end? it came out of nowhere and quite ruined the pleasure of reading the ending for me :(
Up until then, a very interesting and nice to read story.
Up until then, a very interesting and nice to read story.
September 29, 2024
"Eviscerator?" The girls jaw went slack. "You're called the Eviscerator?"
Eveen rolled her eyes. "It was just the once."
I have to admit I struggled a bit with this one. The whole enterprise seemed . . . long, as if what should have been a nice, taut short story was padded to become a novella. But, it was just so darned good, my rating stays at four. This is the second book I've enjoyed by Mr. Clark, who does a fantastic job of packing his tales with strong female characters, though he frequently does not supply enough information about the gals to make you REALLY care about them. Does Eveen like to read spicy romances while eating bonbons when she's NOT eviscerating? I want to know.
Also - this had one of the best last lines I've ever read, though you'll have to read the book for it to make sense.
Eveen rolled her eyes. "It was just the once."
I have to admit I struggled a bit with this one. The whole enterprise seemed . . . long, as if what should have been a nice, taut short story was padded to become a novella. But, it was just so darned good, my rating stays at four. This is the second book I've enjoyed by Mr. Clark, who does a fantastic job of packing his tales with strong female characters, though he frequently does not supply enough information about the gals to make you REALLY care about them. Does Eveen like to read spicy romances while eating bonbons when she's NOT eviscerating? I want to know.
Also - this had one of the best last lines I've ever read, though you'll have to read the book for it to make sense.
August 1, 2024
3.5 stars - I assume this is the beginning of a series, and I'm interested to read more! This is a playful book about assassins, which seems like an oxymoron, but if you know PDC's work, he pulls it off. There was a certain je ne sais quoi missing for me, but that's just my tastes/high expectations for him - this is a very strong short novel that had me laughing & intrigued
Read
June 17, 2025“The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats. Nor do they have tails. But they are most assuredly dead.”
This was a lot of fun! I've never read a P. Djèlí Clark book before this one, but will definitely be reading more of his work going forward.
This was a lot of fun! I've never read a P. Djèlí Clark book before this one, but will definitely be reading more of his work going forward.
December 5, 2023
The moment this book ended I practically SOBBED.
Not because this book was immensely sad or dismal, I just simply did not want to leave this world. Reading the last page felt like being RIPPED away from the story. But that’s how good P Djeli Clark is at creating such an interesting world and such cool characters that I feel heavily invested in, so much so that having to return to real life was jarring!
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins was magical. It was atmospheric, it was exciting, and it was compelling ALL the way through. Clark didn’t miss a single beat with this one and I ate up every single page.
I absolutely adored both Eveen and Sky and their unique dynamic. It was interesting to watch them try and exist along side each other while navigating their complex situation. I loved Eveen for her shitty memory and her foul mouth, and Sky being her complete opposite was just perfect.
The world was perfection, I have no notes. I love the clockwork elements (Master of Djinn? 👀), the way magic works in every single world Clark creates is so vivid and tangible. He is just a master. Sorry if this is just me complimenting him back to back to back…😬
Anyways, I loved loved loved loved the plot! I didn’t know exactly what to make of it at the beginning but as the pages turned I found myself hooked and by the end I was entirely enthralled. Loved the execution and outcome. Ugh I just wanted more more more! This novella was just so pleasant!
Please read this when it comes out you won’t regret it!
Not because this book was immensely sad or dismal, I just simply did not want to leave this world. Reading the last page felt like being RIPPED away from the story. But that’s how good P Djeli Clark is at creating such an interesting world and such cool characters that I feel heavily invested in, so much so that having to return to real life was jarring!
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins was magical. It was atmospheric, it was exciting, and it was compelling ALL the way through. Clark didn’t miss a single beat with this one and I ate up every single page.
I absolutely adored both Eveen and Sky and their unique dynamic. It was interesting to watch them try and exist along side each other while navigating their complex situation. I loved Eveen for her shitty memory and her foul mouth, and Sky being her complete opposite was just perfect.
The world was perfection, I have no notes. I love the clockwork elements (Master of Djinn? 👀), the way magic works in every single world Clark creates is so vivid and tangible. He is just a master. Sorry if this is just me complimenting him back to back to back…😬
Anyways, I loved loved loved loved the plot! I didn’t know exactly what to make of it at the beginning but as the pages turned I found myself hooked and by the end I was entirely enthralled. Loved the execution and outcome. Ugh I just wanted more more more! This novella was just so pleasant!
Please read this when it comes out you won’t regret it!
July 28, 2024
4.0 Stars
This was a solid piece of assassin fantasy. It wasn't doing anything particularly unique but it played well into the traditional narrative of the subgenre. I enjoyed this one despite hitting the usual tropes.
To be clear, this is not a cat story, but rather assassins named after the stealthy felines.
I would recommend this one to readers who love the assassins genre and just want more.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a solid piece of assassin fantasy. It wasn't doing anything particularly unique but it played well into the traditional narrative of the subgenre. I enjoyed this one despite hitting the usual tropes.
To be clear, this is not a cat story, but rather assassins named after the stealthy felines.
I would recommend this one to readers who love the assassins genre and just want more.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 9, 2024
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats. Nor do they have tails. But they are most assuredly dead.
Eveen was dead. Like dead, dead. For real dead. How that had happened, she didn't know. She didn’t have a single memory about who she'd been in her life either.
Now she was bound by a contract, agreed to in life, binding herself to the goddess of knives she now serves.
Story like that should be a Terrible Escapades of Eveen the Eviscerator!
This was a fun one and only an hour read. I definitely preferred the first half as after that it became more of either being chased or chasing down important people. (If you’ve been following my reviews for long, you know I tend to get bored with repetitive fight, chase scenes.)
I also struggled to follow along the last part due to the written dialogue which Clark adapted to demonstrate accents. Whilst this made it more immersive and authentic, I sometimes struggled to make out the meaning.
I loved how Clark manages to cram so much vibrant world-building into such a short amount of time without it ever feeling overwhelming or overdone.
Also, the writing is just so self-aware, snarky, and witty!
This short taster is testament to Clark’s talent and will make you all the more excited to dive into their slightly longer works!
Bookstagram
Eveen was dead. Like dead, dead. For real dead. How that had happened, she didn't know. She didn’t have a single memory about who she'd been in her life either.
Now she was bound by a contract, agreed to in life, binding herself to the goddess of knives she now serves.
Story like that should be a Terrible Escapades of Eveen the Eviscerator!
This was a fun one and only an hour read. I definitely preferred the first half as after that it became more of either being chased or chasing down important people. (If you’ve been following my reviews for long, you know I tend to get bored with repetitive fight, chase scenes.)
I also struggled to follow along the last part due to the written dialogue which Clark adapted to demonstrate accents. Whilst this made it more immersive and authentic, I sometimes struggled to make out the meaning.
I loved how Clark manages to cram so much vibrant world-building into such a short amount of time without it ever feeling overwhelming or overdone.
Also, the writing is just so self-aware, snarky, and witty!
This short taster is testament to Clark’s talent and will make you all the more excited to dive into their slightly longer works!
Bookstagram
October 22, 2023
slayed (hehe)
December 20, 2024
5/5
This was pitched as John Wick meets Dungeons and Dragons, and they pitched it perfectly, just imagine urban D&D.
Probably one of the best things I read all year. It didn't look like it when it started, but it certainly was when I finished it.
It starts with the typical story of an assassin who fails a job and the whole organisation turns against it, with the twist that all the members are already dead and can't die again, so her job is to protect the person who she refused to kill.
This world is so rich it's crazy that this book is only 200 pages long. We have gods, necromancers, a child assassin who lived for centuries, spirits, sorcerers... I could read 4-5 more books following some of these characters.
This was pitched as John Wick meets Dungeons and Dragons, and they pitched it perfectly, just imagine urban D&D.
Probably one of the best things I read all year. It didn't look like it when it started, but it certainly was when I finished it.
It starts with the typical story of an assassin who fails a job and the whole organisation turns against it, with the twist that all the members are already dead and can't die again, so her job is to protect the person who she refused to kill.
This world is so rich it's crazy that this book is only 200 pages long. We have gods, necromancers, a child assassin who lived for centuries, spirits, sorcerers... I could read 4-5 more books following some of these characters.
August 14, 2024
I thought this was a fabulously unique and surprising novella (borderline novel). This is the second of Clark’s novellas I have read and I am always struck by how rich the world building he is able to condense into these books is, with them often evoking more imagery and character than other books twice the length and a unique magic system and world.
Eveen is an undead assassin who belongs to the assassins guild The Dead Cat Tails. In this world the undead agree to service contracts whilst alive and then when they die wake up with no memories of their past lives and are now in the service of the Matron of Assassins where they carry out contracts on her behalf. Eveen has cultivated a reputation of some notoriety, leading to her being contracted for a job which is tied to her mysterious life prior to her death, however, of course, she has no memory of it.
I was fortunate enough to get an audio ARC of this story narrated by Lynette Freeman and I thought she did a fabulous job voice acting all the characters and bringing life to this story.
A great, action packed, fast paced, slightly gory time.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review this audio ARC.
Eveen is an undead assassin who belongs to the assassins guild The Dead Cat Tails. In this world the undead agree to service contracts whilst alive and then when they die wake up with no memories of their past lives and are now in the service of the Matron of Assassins where they carry out contracts on her behalf. Eveen has cultivated a reputation of some notoriety, leading to her being contracted for a job which is tied to her mysterious life prior to her death, however, of course, she has no memory of it.
I was fortunate enough to get an audio ARC of this story narrated by Lynette Freeman and I thought she did a fabulous job voice acting all the characters and bringing life to this story.
A great, action packed, fast paced, slightly gory time.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review this audio ARC.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 20, 2024
This book was a straight-up delight.
And I wasn't expecting that. The blurb makes it seem like it's going to be heavy fantasy—and it is—but it's unexpectedly (and intentionally) hilarious. There are so many jabs at high fantasy tropes and toxic fandom, complete with an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to worldbuilding that was just fantastic.
No notes, just stabby vibes.
Clark is a master of the craft, and this is his playground.
I received an ARC from Netgalley
And I wasn't expecting that. The blurb makes it seem like it's going to be heavy fantasy—and it is—but it's unexpectedly (and intentionally) hilarious. There are so many jabs at high fantasy tropes and toxic fandom, complete with an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to worldbuilding that was just fantastic.
No notes, just stabby vibes.
Clark is a master of the craft, and this is his playground.
I received an ARC from Netgalley
May 15, 2025
Audiobook (7 hours) narrated by Lynnette R. Freeman
Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
Lynnette R. Freeman has won both the Earphone and Audie awards for her narrations. She knocks this one out of the park. I especially enjoyed her ability to age her voice up and down without it sounding off putting or odd. A lot of times it is difficult for even skilled narrators to voice someone significantly younger and make them sound both age appropriate and decent. It was extremely easy to follow along with who was who and who was saying what even with a heavy dialogue filled with many voices.
The audio is flawless.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a very fun and unique tale that takes the game of assassins and puts it into a fantasy world in a way that seems fresh and new.
P. Djeli Clark's spin on things was a lot of fun to read. Even in a shorter story there was a lot of character growth and a nice build up with a satisfying ending.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Would definitely read more from this author.
Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
Lynnette R. Freeman has won both the Earphone and Audie awards for her narrations. She knocks this one out of the park. I especially enjoyed her ability to age her voice up and down without it sounding off putting or odd. A lot of times it is difficult for even skilled narrators to voice someone significantly younger and make them sound both age appropriate and decent. It was extremely easy to follow along with who was who and who was saying what even with a heavy dialogue filled with many voices.
The audio is flawless.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a very fun and unique tale that takes the game of assassins and puts it into a fantasy world in a way that seems fresh and new.
P. Djeli Clark's spin on things was a lot of fun to read. Even in a shorter story there was a lot of character growth and a nice build up with a satisfying ending.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Would definitely read more from this author.
July 26, 2024
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats.
Nor do they have tails.
But they are most assuredly dead.
This is science fiction fantasy PERFECTION right here. Yes, the Dead Cat Tail Assasins are dead. That's just the beginning. The protagonist, Eveen, is an undead assassin in the world of Tal Abisi. I'm a big fan of absurd comedy in fiction, and that's the true genre of this book. The brilliant humor of this novella was a cornerstone of the story, giving me gems like-
Eveen: "I'm *not* a zombie. That's racist."
The story picks up pace when it introduces the SF into the SFF. In a mere 200 pages, P. Djèlí Clark constructs a unique and immersive world with nuanced characters, intricate backstories, folklore, magic, and mayhem. Clark's expressive prose brings Tal Abisi and its characters to life, with the lore peppered into the events masterfully. The story is fast-moving, and is often predictable, but has several unexpected twists and turns, which snowball towards the end. The ending felt slightly haphazard and childish to me, although hilarious, thoroughly entertaining, and perfectly satisfying. Honestly, the only gripe I have with this novella is the fact that I wanted this to be longer. Or better yet, a full series with more characters because Tal Abisi is now one of my favorite fantasy worlds.
This one is for the Umbrella Academy/Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency/Everything Everywhere All At Once fans. Interesting how only shows come to my mind - it should tell you how descriptive Clark's prose is for me, that this novella is almost entirely visual in my head.
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review of this book!
Nor do they have tails.
But they are most assuredly dead.
This is science fiction fantasy PERFECTION right here. Yes, the Dead Cat Tail Assasins are dead. That's just the beginning. The protagonist, Eveen, is an undead assassin in the world of Tal Abisi. I'm a big fan of absurd comedy in fiction, and that's the true genre of this book. The brilliant humor of this novella was a cornerstone of the story, giving me gems like-
Eveen: "I'm *not* a zombie. That's racist."
The story picks up pace when it introduces the SF into the SFF. In a mere 200 pages, P. Djèlí Clark constructs a unique and immersive world with nuanced characters, intricate backstories, folklore, magic, and mayhem. Clark's expressive prose brings Tal Abisi and its characters to life, with the lore peppered into the events masterfully. The story is fast-moving, and is often predictable, but has several unexpected twists and turns, which snowball towards the end. The ending felt slightly haphazard and childish to me, although hilarious, thoroughly entertaining, and perfectly satisfying. Honestly, the only gripe I have with this novella is the fact that I wanted this to be longer. Or better yet, a full series with more characters because Tal Abisi is now one of my favorite fantasy worlds.
This one is for the Umbrella Academy/Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency/Everything Everywhere All At Once fans. Interesting how only shows come to my mind - it should tell you how descriptive Clark's prose is for me, that this novella is almost entirely visual in my head.
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review of this book!
October 21, 2024
Love it. Concise, well written fantasy with POC representation and not romance driven. While I like romance, sometimes I feel like it overshadows bigger issues in fantasy novels. I don't need everything to be an 8 book series. This was a nice feel good story with some murder that wraps up tidely.
December 24, 2025
Djèli Clark does not miss. There are few authors out there who can make fantasy feel fresh and fun for me, he is one of them. I had a great time with this book, I loved the characters, the settings, and the ending and would have happily taken a few more chapters of this book.
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