This was a cosmically wild rice with so much grossness and intrigue. Haha. I seriously loved it. If you enjoy cosmic horror with an unhinged, bad ass main character you should read this book. Can’t wait for the next in the series!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fun and horrifying dark fantasy that takes on capitalism and the worst parts of NYC. Fast-paced and memorable for both its unexpectedly hilarious moments and terrifying gods and demons that run amok, this book was definitely something new for me as a reader but enjoyable all the same!

Book Summary:

Julie Crews may not be the best at making friends, but she is pretty solid when it comes to chasing off demons and the like. It's a good thing, too, since handling possessions and other magical problems is her job.

It's arguably not the best job in town, given how little she makes. Unfortunately, it's also about to set Julie up for a world of trouble, setting off a chain of events that very well could result in her death – and that's the best-case scenario.

My Review:

I think it's safe to say that we can add this series (Carrion City) to my new favorites list! I loved The Dead Take the A Train, and I can't wait for the next book to drop. Honestly, I'm not all that surprised that I loved this book since I am an avid Cassandra Khaw fan. I know less about Richard Kadrey, but I had a feeling it would be a phenomenal combination.

When I say that Julie Crews is snarky, I mean it. She's the type of badass heroine that doesn't take crap from anyone. Well, there's probably one person she'll listen to. Yes, that's right, we have a bit of a grumpy & sunshine pairing in this book, and I am here for it!

The Dead Take the A Train isn't afraid to get dark – or graphic – but it's also a lot of fun. I was surprised at how often this book made me laugh. Julie's wit is a thing of beauty. All said and done, The Dead Take the A Train is perfect for darker urban fantasy fans or readers looking for something that feels like a Neverwhere.

Highlights:
Urban Fantasy & Horror
Snarky Female Lead
NYC with Monsters
Grumpy & Sunshine
LGBT+

This was just ridiculous fun! Magic, cosmic terror, and all sorts of supernatural crazy. Julie was an amazing main character, and surrounded by the best supporting cast a spell worker could ask for. A bestie who speaks to Them and plays video games, a landlord who is eternal and giving, a bestie who's so much more than just the best friend a girl could
have.
With villains you'll love to hate, creatures you can picture clearly in your mind, and an ending that will leave you reaching for more, it's a solid four star and well worth every page.

A great team up between Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. It felt a little disjointed at times but it's a great magical thrill ride through NYC.

I’d found the previous title from Cassandra Khaw that I’d read (Nothing But Blackened Teeth) a bit off-putting. In that story, five friends convene to have some pre-wedding adventures at a purported haunted castle– but I have never in my years of reading been subjected to a group of friends who hated each other more. The Dead Take A Train, for all its bombastic horror and gore, ruthless demons, and repulsive gods…is actually a tale of love and friendship? I liked that. I found the writing lush and disgusting and completely over the top –which is very much my thing!– and the story itself, that of self-destructive demon hunter/supernatural-squasher Julie attempting to prevent a cosmic-horror-end-of-the-world scenario and save her friends in the middle of New York’s gritty, magical underbelly–was an absolute hoot.

Horror, chaos, gore, demons, drugs, sarcasm, wit - a truly wild ride from start to finish. I had a fun time reading this but I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. For the right lover of cosmic/monster horror and pure chaos, this will be a 5 star.

Another reviewer wrote that this book was "dark, disturbing, and colorful" and I think that's a perfect description. It reads very much like an older paranormal / urban fantasy mystery book -- especially those with a snarky main character who's on the low end of dealing with supernatural / paranormal creatures. The writing is fun and easy to read, definitely leaning on the darker side with the descriptions.

This book is a wild ride. I absolutely love cosmic horror but unfortunately all the fantastic monsters and the gruesome descriptions just couldn't save this story for me. the characters themselves just were not compelling enough to hold my interest. There was a lot that I enjoyed from this book but I had a hard time pushing through it.

Thanks to NETGALLEY and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire for eARC

Plot: 4.75
Characters: 5
Writing Style: 5
Cover: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Buyable/Re-readable?: Oh, yes. I look forwards to what comes next.

This enjoyable, wild ride is told through third POV via mainly Julie, a biracial (Korean×White) almost-30 year-old female, as well as Tyler, & then snippets from side characters. Each character holds their own and has a unique voice. The setting is New York City and what seems to be present-day, in a world where Gods, monsters, and magic exists. For me, it was like "American Gods" meets "The Magicians" with a dash of the 2005 "Constantine" movie. Considering how obsessed I am with two of those, I was instantly hooked. It's gritty and clever, vulgar and fabulous, original and thrilling.

I do have to note that my eARC had faaaaaarrr too many typos, though. Too many to count, if I'm being honest, and if I hadn't fallen in love with the book, I would have had to stop reading, as they took me out of the moment.

Bonus points for : "(S)he put on Wolf Totem by The Hu, her favorite Mongolian metal band." A Hu mention (Mongolian folk metal band)?? Let's go!

The gloves are off now, rich boy. I'll see you in a vat of boiling shit with little devils flossing your taint with razor wire.

Yikes! Words to remember when a simple "Screw you!" won't do.

Demons are on the loose in NYC causing havoc and defenestrating innocent civilians while they wait for the arrival of The Mother Who Eats.

Woah, boy!

This is definitely one of the grossest books I've read. There's quite a bit about human spines that are no longer attached to any humans. I don't say this very often, but I hope they don't make a movie based on this one.

I honestly had no clue what was coming next with this one, and was completely surprised by, of all things, (view spoiler) (For now, anyway.)

And, there's a very nice set-up for what promises to be another hellish dark ride with book number two.

Absolutely no regrets on picking this book up. Cosmic fantasy horror with some Lovecraft maybe. I went in blind and just let the world open up to me. Vivid descriptions and characters I wanted to know more about, even the douchebags, made this an entertaining and engaging read. The romance was a bit dull for me and the only time I wanted to skip ahead. That is a personal preference in books that have a lot of high stakes action. Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for and advanced copy for review. I also quickly purchased my own physical copy for my library and will be recommending this read.

I had a tough time deciding on a rating for this one because at the end of the day I just don’t think this book was for me. It’s well written and I think well paced, I just had a hard time connecting to the story. I think I tend to prefer strictly fantasy over a fantasy/sci-fi mix which is probably where the book lost me.

Just not my type of book, and I probably wouldn't recommend to anyone else. The writing felt lacking, and the overall story didn't have the kind of cohesion that I'm looking for.

I am a huge fan of Richard Kadrey, I love Sandman Slim. I also enjoyed Cassandra Khaw's Nothing But Blackened Teeth, So I was very excited to read this one, It did not disappoint. I couldn't put it down. So many good characters, a very interesting story. Lots of action and magic and gore! Can not wait for the follow up book.

The Dead Take the A Train was beyond phenomenal for me. I'll truly read anything Cassandra Khaw writes and I'm so excited to have read Richard Kadrey's writing now as well. This book is the most perfect blend of urban fantasy and horror that I've come across so far. I love the NYC that the authors paint for us - the barefaced bustle, rot, and ruin perfectly captured the heart of the City That Never Sleeps and combines it with a magical underground that is powerful, disgusting, and has major consequences for the weilder. I loved the way these two authors worked together and can't wait to see what they do next, both together and in their own projects

Wow, I have very mixed feelings about this book. I am a fan of Urban Fantasy so the description was intriguing. This book is very much fantasy but with a heavy heavy emphasis on horror. When the authors are describing the characters, their relationships, foibles, dialog. There is real strength and compulsive action to be had. There are battles to be fought, snappy dialog, and further mysteries to uncover. But for me, the descriptive passages were highly problematic. I flatter myself to believe that I have a really solid vocabulary, and when actual definitions of words fail, context is usually my friend. But The Dead Take the A Train is peppered, when trying to describe supernatural beings and settings, with obscure terms, unnecessarily florid prose, adjectives that make the reading seem like heavy lifting. When I began highlighting the examples, I felt well out of the story narrative. I do not need to be impressed when reading a novel. But I do need to remain involved throughout.

I loved every second of this book. The characters, the monsters, the city, the lore, the plot, EVERYTHING was perfection.

This may be a weird comparison to make, but it reminded me a bit of Gideon the Ninth. The plot, characters, and writing all could not be more different, but the dry, dark humor was similar and I loved it. The Dead Take The A Train was so weird and gory and hilarious and fun. Basically every character was fucked up in some way and they were all so fascinating.

We spent a lot of time with main character Julie's douchey ex boyfriend who's off on his own little subplot, which sounds like it would be awful and annoying but was actually my favorite part. I despise romance but this had my favorite kind of romance, if I had to pick- the kind where they're both complete idiots and don't realize they love each other when it's extremely obvious.

I could spend another 10 books in this world easily. I will definitely be picking up the rest of Cassandra Khaw's books that I've been putting off reading because this was so awesome. 10 out of 5 stars, hands down.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering this ebook in exchange for an honest review.</i>

3 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“The Dead Take The A Train” By Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey

📕 Edition: Audiobook & eBook

This is a wild and unpredictable journey through the dark and magical underbelly of New York City. I was initially drawn to this book by its intriguing cover, expecting a story about zombies, but what I found within its pages was a whirlwind of monster-slaying, spells, ghosts, and even a guardian angel. To say that there's a lot going on in this book would be an understatement.

One of the standout features of this story is its unique blend of gore and humor. The authors manage to infuse even the most gruesome scenes with a sense of fun and humor. The sharp and witty dialogue adds to the overall enjoyment of the story, making it a genuinely entertaining read.

The book hooked me in from the start, with the first 20% of the story capturing my attention and setting high expectations. However, as the narrative progressed, it began to feel somewhat hard to follow. The sheer complexity and abundance of supernatural elements made it challenging to keep track of at times.

Overall it’s a unique and imaginative tale that combines elements of cosmic horror and gritty fantasy. If you're a fan of dark, supernatural urban fantasy with a healthy dose of humor, this book might be worth a read for you!

Natalie Naudus @natalienaudus does a fantastic job on the narration. Her ability to give distinct voices to the cast of characters added depth to the story and helped me stay engaged, even during the more slightly confusing parts.

Thank you @NetGalley, and @Macmillan.audio , @casskhaw , @rkadrey for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I need to know which one of the two authors went to the other one and said, "ok, hear me out..." because this book is a twisted fever dream that only New York natives could write. Someone who knows where to find the pop-ups, the newest speak easy, and other seedy places that are there one day and gone tomorrow.
Other than the enthralling setting and originality of this whole novel, there is the paranormal aspect of the main character and her fight to make herself stand out among the other mages and demons hunters.
Crew's bestie, Sarah, could have had more personality, but that is just my opinion.
Final verdict? From starting a book I was unsure about finishing it with my vivid imagination in overdrive. But a little bit of "what did I just read"???