P. Djèlí Clark has done it again. After Ringshout I don’t know why I was surprised, but The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is fantastic. With the word cat in the title, what did I expect? Keep reading this book review of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins for my full thoughts.
Summary
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats.
Nor do they have tails.
But they are most assuredly dead.
Nebula and Alex Award winner P. Djèlí Clark introduces a brand-new world and a fantastical city full of gods and assassins.
Eveen the Eviscerator is skilled, discreet, professional, and here for your most pressing needs in the ancient city of Tal Abisi. Her guild is strong, her blades are sharp, and her rules are simple. Those sworn to the Matron of Assassins―resurrected, deadly, wiped of their memories―have only three unbreakable vows.
First, the contract must be just. That’s above Eveen’s pay grade.
Second, even the most powerful assassin may only kill the contracted. Eveen’s a professional. She’s never missed her mark.
The third and the simplest: once you accept a job, you must carry it out. And if you stray? A final death would be a mercy. When the Festival of the Clockwork King turns the city upside down, Eveen’s newest mission brings her face-to-face with a past she isn’t supposed to remember and a vow she can’t forget.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I could not stop reading The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. Every day I was looking forward to reading and when you’re reading five books at a time, that’s an achievement! I loved the world we are dunked into. It’s full of assassins, contracts, and immediate intrigue. What I loved is that you have this typical “these are the rules of the world, and now we break one”, but you have enough time, enough wonder – and introspection – from the main character to make that rug pull feel believable. I was there with Eveen! The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is full of adventure.
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And let me also just say, the audiobook is 100% necessary. Not only did I look forward to listening and doing whatever mundane chore I needed to, but I loved the emotional character work and expressiveness. What I also loved is while there’s ton of actions, chases, and battles, there are also some interesting questions being asked. When we are confronted with the past versions of ourselves, we wonder what went wrong. We see everything we were and could have been. Will that change who we become? If you loved Ringshout, this is an autobuy! If you also love unique fantasy premises with some great themes too, pick it up!
Find The Dead Cat Tail Assassins on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.