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The Mountain City Chronicle #1
Necrotown: Dead Men Cast No Spells
Sam Flint lives in a world of monsters and magic, and as a quasi-immortal, he is King. Well, King of a hole in the wall apartment infested with more rats than the politicians shiny offices up in Standard Heights. The life of a private eye in Necrotown isn't glamourous, but Sam has all he as ever wanted wrapped up in the sexy embrace of his kitsune wife, Fox.Unfortunately, landlords and rent wait for no man and Sam needs to get paid fast. When big bellied and bigger pocketed Lloyd Burgess hires Sam for a quick snatch and grab of his wayward daughter, Sam is all in. Easy, grab the girl, deliver her back to her gilded cage, pay rent, and buy mama some new shoes with whatever is left. The girl, Sarah, turns out to be deadlier than Sam was bargaining for. Sam is left with two choices, and the wrong decision will put him in the ground for good.
- GenresFantasy
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2017
About the author
Alexander Nader
30 books108 followersWrites novels about the dark things floating around in his head because the demons won’t let him sleep otherwise. Jokes are his weapon of choice, but will resort to deflection in times of emergency. Did you know Maine is closer to Africa than any other state?
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2024
My complete review of Necrotown is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Necrotown by Alexander Nader is a dark urban fantasy noir narrated by Sam Flint, a quasi-immortal private detective living in squalor on the wrong side of Mountain City—not that there’s any right side of Mountain City, a town overrun by drugs, violence, and corruption.
Mountain City is also teeming with monsters, including arms dealing werewolves known as Hairs, usurious Trolls, and several other magical races. The only part of the city where these races coexist is the Glow, the neon-drenched slum that Sam calls home.
Sam’s sleuthing partner in Necrotown is his voluptuous wife, the appropriately named Fox, a body-hopping kitsune with a living fox tattoo. The fox tattoo has a name, Sune, and exhibits plenty of personality as it scampers over her body, baring its teeth in anger toward any perceived threat.
As the novel opens, the loving couple are desperate for rent money. They accept a job from Lloyd Burgess, a deep-pocketed sleazebag who instructs them to retrieve his wayward daughter, Sarah, from the notorious Necrotown. Was she kidnapped by gang members? Or perhaps running away from an abusive father? Sarah has more than a few surprises of her own in store for the reader.
Necrotown is the worst section of this godawful city, overrun by death Mages and plenty of necromancy. As a quasi-immortal, Sam himself is not immune from death, and in fact dying is still quite painful. But if he’s lucky, death may be followed by an equally painful resurrection:
“‘This week is gonna suck for you.’ Fox trails a delicate hand across my throat. ‘You are going to die at least six times.’”
The loving and overly flirtatious relationship between Sam and Fox is the highlight of Necrotown, especially as Fox inhabits other beings’ bodies. This keeps their enemies guessing while also providing fuel for Sam’s lowbrow humor.
Alexander Nader’s pulp fiction-style writing superbly conveys the noir vibes of Necrotown, striking a nice balance between humor and horror without ever taking itself too seriously. That being said, the novel would benefit from another round of editing to polish the text and clean up a number of distracting typos. For example, discussion of the five “burrows” of New York City conjures a more leporine image than I believe the author intended.
Nevertheless, Necrotown is an intoxicating read, offering plenty of fun for fans of urban fantasy and noir fiction. The Mountain City Chronicles continues with Vampire Valley, the second book of the series.
Necrotown by Alexander Nader is a dark urban fantasy noir narrated by Sam Flint, a quasi-immortal private detective living in squalor on the wrong side of Mountain City—not that there’s any right side of Mountain City, a town overrun by drugs, violence, and corruption.
Mountain City is also teeming with monsters, including arms dealing werewolves known as Hairs, usurious Trolls, and several other magical races. The only part of the city where these races coexist is the Glow, the neon-drenched slum that Sam calls home.
Sam’s sleuthing partner in Necrotown is his voluptuous wife, the appropriately named Fox, a body-hopping kitsune with a living fox tattoo. The fox tattoo has a name, Sune, and exhibits plenty of personality as it scampers over her body, baring its teeth in anger toward any perceived threat.
As the novel opens, the loving couple are desperate for rent money. They accept a job from Lloyd Burgess, a deep-pocketed sleazebag who instructs them to retrieve his wayward daughter, Sarah, from the notorious Necrotown. Was she kidnapped by gang members? Or perhaps running away from an abusive father? Sarah has more than a few surprises of her own in store for the reader.
Necrotown is the worst section of this godawful city, overrun by death Mages and plenty of necromancy. As a quasi-immortal, Sam himself is not immune from death, and in fact dying is still quite painful. But if he’s lucky, death may be followed by an equally painful resurrection:
“‘This week is gonna suck for you.’ Fox trails a delicate hand across my throat. ‘You are going to die at least six times.’”
The loving and overly flirtatious relationship between Sam and Fox is the highlight of Necrotown, especially as Fox inhabits other beings’ bodies. This keeps their enemies guessing while also providing fuel for Sam’s lowbrow humor.
Alexander Nader’s pulp fiction-style writing superbly conveys the noir vibes of Necrotown, striking a nice balance between humor and horror without ever taking itself too seriously. That being said, the novel would benefit from another round of editing to polish the text and clean up a number of distracting typos. For example, discussion of the five “burrows” of New York City conjures a more leporine image than I believe the author intended.
Nevertheless, Necrotown is an intoxicating read, offering plenty of fun for fans of urban fantasy and noir fiction. The Mountain City Chronicles continues with Vampire Valley, the second book of the series.
October 25, 2023
A genuinely entertaining urban fantasy that mixes a very solid mystery plot with lots of action and loads of fantasy stuff. I’m not normally a fantasy fan, but this was infectiously enjoyable.
October 15, 2023
Fantastic!
My first read by Nader, and I had a blast with this one. Is it crime? Horror? Fantasy? Noir? NECROTOWN is all that and more. This story is filled with great characters and great writing, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Nader. Highly recommended!
My first read by Nader, and I had a blast with this one. Is it crime? Horror? Fantasy? Noir? NECROTOWN is all that and more. This story is filled with great characters and great writing, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Nader. Highly recommended!
July 11, 2023
4.5
I read this book as part of SPFBO (Team Bookborn!). This book was a pleasant surprise. I went in not knowing much about it, and was greeted by a gritty, brutal world, where these two flawed people have found happiness. I loved the 2 main characters so much. Their relationship was a wonderful beacon of light in this sad existence. I am excited to continue this series.
I read this book as part of SPFBO (Team Bookborn!). This book was a pleasant surprise. I went in not knowing much about it, and was greeted by a gritty, brutal world, where these two flawed people have found happiness. I loved the 2 main characters so much. Their relationship was a wonderful beacon of light in this sad existence. I am excited to continue this series.
October 8, 2023
Slow beginning, which isn't unusual for this kind of genre when it's a series, but I didn't feel like it took advantage of this by developing the world and the characters, I feel like we still don't really know the characters only their circumstances.
The plot was interesting when it got going with some twists and turns, and the ending was good and does make me wonder where it's going to go next. I liked the writing style, and the format of the book.
The plot was interesting when it got going with some twists and turns, and the ending was good and does make me wonder where it's going to go next. I liked the writing style, and the format of the book.
January 24, 2024
Anyone with a soft spot for hard boiled detective novels and pulpy noir will enjoy Necrotown - which combined those two with an urban fantasy setting overrun with vampires, zombies, werewolves and body-hoppers.
As far as characters went, I especially enjoyed Fox: set up in the beginning like a stereotypical femme fatale…only to become a helluva lot more interesting as her backstory unfolded. My only quibble is the ending seemed to come on too rapidly. But a really fun read!
As far as characters went, I especially enjoyed Fox: set up in the beginning like a stereotypical femme fatale…only to become a helluva lot more interesting as her backstory unfolded. My only quibble is the ending seemed to come on too rapidly. But a really fun read!
January 27, 2024
Its a blast.
An immortal private eye and his wife try to find whisky and a girl in the zombie district of a town in this grimdark urban fantasy.
Contra:
The plot is pretty plain and lacks side characters. Its a bit weird that somebody who life over 100 years in the same town has zero friends, but it doesn't really matter.
Pro:
I like the pacing and that his wife is not just an annoying good-for-nothing stay-at-home-person in desperate need for protection but somebody equal. The dialogues are also very funny.
Overall its just a supervillain comedy with zombies. Don't expect anything more. It's not that deep.
And ignore the cover art. Its not about aliens in a cave at all.
An immortal private eye and his wife try to find whisky and a girl in the zombie district of a town in this grimdark urban fantasy.
Contra:
The plot is pretty plain and lacks side characters. Its a bit weird that somebody who life over 100 years in the same town has zero friends, but it doesn't really matter.
Pro:
I like the pacing and that his wife is not just an annoying good-for-nothing stay-at-home-person in desperate need for protection but somebody equal. The dialogues are also very funny.
Overall its just a supervillain comedy with zombies. Don't expect anything more. It's not that deep.
And ignore the cover art. Its not about aliens in a cave at all.
June 26, 2023
Wonderfully Grimy
Nader writes loveable psychopaths, I'll say that. Our two leads Sam and Fox are, without spoilers, wonderfully dysfunctional. Their relationship was my favourite part of the story, and not due to any conflict therein, but because of how closely they rely on one another.
That bond being tested and coming through every time was the heart of the novel. I could just read about these two getting drunk and murdering people together, honestly.
The plot itself is classic noir, but seasoned with a kind of Shadowrun-esque poverty-punk fantasy vibe.
The first person voice of Sam comes through as cynical as a quasi-Immortal should. This man is VERY old, and so is his wife, and that weariness gives them a strangely optimistic perspective that makes them shine amongst the worn down world they inhabit.
It's a bit chaotic at times, but it fits the setting and characters perfectly. It feels like the Dresden Files, Constantine, Shadowrun, but through the lens of a ride-or-die immortal romance.
I'll be reading the sequels, and then everything else Alexander Nader writes. 10/10.
Nader writes loveable psychopaths, I'll say that. Our two leads Sam and Fox are, without spoilers, wonderfully dysfunctional. Their relationship was my favourite part of the story, and not due to any conflict therein, but because of how closely they rely on one another.
That bond being tested and coming through every time was the heart of the novel. I could just read about these two getting drunk and murdering people together, honestly.
The plot itself is classic noir, but seasoned with a kind of Shadowrun-esque poverty-punk fantasy vibe.
The first person voice of Sam comes through as cynical as a quasi-Immortal should. This man is VERY old, and so is his wife, and that weariness gives them a strangely optimistic perspective that makes them shine amongst the worn down world they inhabit.
It's a bit chaotic at times, but it fits the setting and characters perfectly. It feels like the Dresden Files, Constantine, Shadowrun, but through the lens of a ride-or-die immortal romance.
I'll be reading the sequels, and then everything else Alexander Nader writes. 10/10.
November 1, 2022
great read
A fun read, great sense of humor and a fantastic imagination. I’m looking forward to buying more books from this writer.
A fun read, great sense of humor and a fantastic imagination. I’m looking forward to buying more books from this writer.
October 16, 2023
This week is gonna suck for you. You are going to die at least six times.
Sam Flint is a Quasi-Immortal. Which in short form means he'll live forever unless he's no longer alive. Yeah, he and all the folks of Monster City - dammit, I keep doing that! (stupid brain!) - I mean, MOUNTAIN City are a wild bunch. You've got Hairs, Necros, Sharps, Kitsune, Mages, Stones, Trolls, Shamblers… and of course Standards. It could be considered an eclectic mix of creatures but what it more closely resembles is a drum of nitroglycerine falling off a truck and bouncing down a steep mountainside. So, yeah, it doesn't take long for author Alexander Nader to start seeing just what bones can be broken, what laws can be, um, yeah again, broken and more!
My kind are fairly rare. We’re part of a dying breed, ironically enough.
The set-up reminds me of what I still consider to be Nader's signature series, namely, "The Beasts of Burdin" books including at this writing his accompanying "Demon Hunter Academy" add-on. And if you have NOT read these, then quite frankly, I wonder if your literary needs are being met. Anywho, here in Necrotown, we've got lots of your urban fantasy favorites doing their best and/or worst to survive in a world infected with all kinds of nasty things. That includes especially humans and our protagonist is just the lousy but occasionally lucky investigator needed to find out what's going on.
I die, just like anyone else, but I don’t stay dead.
In addition, you've got (checks notes) Mountain City's different suburbs that act as essentially living entities themselves. There are definitely a few neighborhoods you do NOT want to cross or cross into, depending on your point of view! You've got the Glow (think Sin City without anything fun to do), Necrotown (just like it sounds) and - gasp - Downtown among others. Like Nader says, it's divided up like New York City, only "without the hip street names." All kidding aside, it's an awesome set-up and definitely the kind I just love to experience!
Immortal or not, dying hurts like hell.
And along the way we're also treated to both some pretty creepy magic and a lot of bloody messes, both literally and figuratively. And like any truly thrilling story, there's some twists and turns that occur that I would have never seen coming. Noting I have read several of Nader's offers which, come to think of it, should have prepared me for all the weirdness! Even the way the ending is kind of "left open" in terms of what really happened or what is to come made the story work all that much better. Just having our heroes - and villains, too - do what they did, is enough to have you questioning the whole kit and caboodle!
Behind every great woman is a decent guy with enough power to rip the city apart and who takes orders well.
So with that folksy sign off - unless y'all wanna sit on the porch and enjoy some jean-ewe-ine Deer Piss with me! - I guess I'll, well, sign off here! Thanks again to the author for the free book that if memory serves I got by signing up for his newsletter (which I wanted to do anyway). I've been saving up my copy for this years "Spooky October Read-A-Thon" and it was perfect for that! I can't wait to read the next installments, especially now that Part IV is out!
Sam Flint is a Quasi-Immortal. Which in short form means he'll live forever unless he's no longer alive. Yeah, he and all the folks of Monster City - dammit, I keep doing that! (stupid brain!) - I mean, MOUNTAIN City are a wild bunch. You've got Hairs, Necros, Sharps, Kitsune, Mages, Stones, Trolls, Shamblers… and of course Standards. It could be considered an eclectic mix of creatures but what it more closely resembles is a drum of nitroglycerine falling off a truck and bouncing down a steep mountainside. So, yeah, it doesn't take long for author Alexander Nader to start seeing just what bones can be broken, what laws can be, um, yeah again, broken and more!
My kind are fairly rare. We’re part of a dying breed, ironically enough.
The set-up reminds me of what I still consider to be Nader's signature series, namely, "The Beasts of Burdin" books including at this writing his accompanying "Demon Hunter Academy" add-on. And if you have NOT read these, then quite frankly, I wonder if your literary needs are being met. Anywho, here in Necrotown, we've got lots of your urban fantasy favorites doing their best and/or worst to survive in a world infected with all kinds of nasty things. That includes especially humans and our protagonist is just the lousy but occasionally lucky investigator needed to find out what's going on.
I die, just like anyone else, but I don’t stay dead.
In addition, you've got (checks notes) Mountain City's different suburbs that act as essentially living entities themselves. There are definitely a few neighborhoods you do NOT want to cross or cross into, depending on your point of view! You've got the Glow (think Sin City without anything fun to do), Necrotown (just like it sounds) and - gasp - Downtown among others. Like Nader says, it's divided up like New York City, only "without the hip street names." All kidding aside, it's an awesome set-up and definitely the kind I just love to experience!
Immortal or not, dying hurts like hell.
And along the way we're also treated to both some pretty creepy magic and a lot of bloody messes, both literally and figuratively. And like any truly thrilling story, there's some twists and turns that occur that I would have never seen coming. Noting I have read several of Nader's offers which, come to think of it, should have prepared me for all the weirdness! Even the way the ending is kind of "left open" in terms of what really happened or what is to come made the story work all that much better. Just having our heroes - and villains, too - do what they did, is enough to have you questioning the whole kit and caboodle!
Behind every great woman is a decent guy with enough power to rip the city apart and who takes orders well.
So with that folksy sign off - unless y'all wanna sit on the porch and enjoy some jean-ewe-ine Deer Piss with me! - I guess I'll, well, sign off here! Thanks again to the author for the free book that if memory serves I got by signing up for his newsletter (which I wanted to do anyway). I've been saving up my copy for this years "Spooky October Read-A-Thon" and it was perfect for that! I can't wait to read the next installments, especially now that Part IV is out!
Want to Read
March 11, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A rough-around-the-edges noir fantasy with living tattoos, sex, magic, violence, and a missing girl that’s going to send our man to the worst town in the world: Necrotown
This effective opening leads with voice and character, steadily introducing us to the setting through persistent narrative asides in that classic noir 1st person.
I might almost call this deadbeat noir, because our MC is sloppy, unwashed, and living in a sum with his missus, instead of equally down-on-his-luck, but still decked out in a suit and fedora. The difference is striking and effective, tho.
This oozes character with every word, drawing the reader into the story. The narration explains just enough for us to get the feel for where we are without dumping information on us.
This one isn’t in a rush, and yet nonetheless manages to start right away with an untimely knock on the door. I did scratch my head a little over what seemed an overreaction to the characters to that knock, but the author has me, nonetheless.
Style leads here, and that style is dripping with appeal. I want to see more of the magic in this weird world. I want to see more of the humor. I want to see just how bad things can get. I own the book. I’m in!
A rough-around-the-edges noir fantasy with living tattoos, sex, magic, violence, and a missing girl that’s going to send our man to the worst town in the world: Necrotown
This effective opening leads with voice and character, steadily introducing us to the setting through persistent narrative asides in that classic noir 1st person.
I might almost call this deadbeat noir, because our MC is sloppy, unwashed, and living in a sum with his missus, instead of equally down-on-his-luck, but still decked out in a suit and fedora. The difference is striking and effective, tho.
This oozes character with every word, drawing the reader into the story. The narration explains just enough for us to get the feel for where we are without dumping information on us.
This one isn’t in a rush, and yet nonetheless manages to start right away with an untimely knock on the door. I did scratch my head a little over what seemed an overreaction to the characters to that knock, but the author has me, nonetheless.
Style leads here, and that style is dripping with appeal. I want to see more of the magic in this weird world. I want to see more of the humor. I want to see just how bad things can get. I own the book. I’m in!
December 14, 2023
I really enjoyed Necrotown, for someone who isn't typically a fan of the werewolves and vampire stories I found this one to be such a breath of fresh air and really reinvented the genre for me. The author built a wonderful world that was so easy to get lost in, but at the same time felt so real, with dynamics between all of the different species at play. It was really cool to see and think about the underlying politics of it all!
The story too was gripping, the protagonists were some of the best I've read in awhile, and watching them develop was great. There's just so much to uncover in the Mountain City Chronicles and I'm already looking forward to the sequel!
The story too was gripping, the protagonists were some of the best I've read in awhile, and watching them develop was great. There's just so much to uncover in the Mountain City Chronicles and I'm already looking forward to the sequel!
April 2, 2024
Pulpy and enjoyable!
This is a book filled with a deliciously over-the-top noir atmosphere and a fascinating setting. I thoroughly enjoyed the world of the Glow, Downtown, Necrotown, and the other districts of Mountain City, where Standards mingle with Trolls, Hairs, Sharps, Stones, Mages, and other special denizons. Sam and Fox have fascinating fantasy powers and a fun Nick and Nora relationship (if Nora was as kick-ass as she was beautiful). The suspense sizzles, and the action rocks!
My only real complaint is that I found the ending to be less than satisfactory. Still, this book is the beginning of a series, and I suspect the unsatisfactory elements will be further developed as the story continues. All-in-all, a fun, fun read!
This is a book filled with a deliciously over-the-top noir atmosphere and a fascinating setting. I thoroughly enjoyed the world of the Glow, Downtown, Necrotown, and the other districts of Mountain City, where Standards mingle with Trolls, Hairs, Sharps, Stones, Mages, and other special denizons. Sam and Fox have fascinating fantasy powers and a fun Nick and Nora relationship (if Nora was as kick-ass as she was beautiful). The suspense sizzles, and the action rocks!
My only real complaint is that I found the ending to be less than satisfactory. Still, this book is the beginning of a series, and I suspect the unsatisfactory elements will be further developed as the story continues. All-in-all, a fun, fun read!
September 28, 2024
this book does everything it can to not be in Necrotown.
you spend maybe a total of 5 pages there and the plot has nothing to do with Necrotown.
TROLLED would've been more accurate since they have more relevance.
you spend maybe a total of 5 pages there and the plot has nothing to do with Necrotown.
TROLLED would've been more accurate since they have more relevance.
April 30, 2023
I'd give it more like 3.5 stars. I did enjoy it although the beginning seemed tediously slow. It got a lot better though :)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews