Julie is always working to climb her way to the top even when it means battling demons and monsters, but her friends and enemies end up in the crossfire along the way. This is described as “cosmic horror” which is a new genre to me, and one I didn’t quite connect with, but fans of NYC can appreciate the references. Also great for fans of snarky characters and gritty dark humor.
Thank you to NetGalley & Tor Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is out now.

This book is nuts and I loved every second of it! Yes, it’s gory. Yes, it’s completely bonkers. And yes, there are monsters, parasites, and tons of otherworldly creatures. There is also found friendship, a budding romance, and plenty of magic!

New York City is the perfect setting because no one bats an eye when something weird happens. If any city truly has a behind-the-scenes magical landscape, it’s going to be NYC. The combination of @casskhaw ‘s particular brand of horror and @rkadrey ‘s flair for fantasy provide for a unique reading experience you won’t soon find in any other book! Unless book 2 is coming which…..I’m totally hoping for!

With an out-of-the-box story such as this one, you need an equally animated narrator for the audio version and @natalienaudus DELIVERS. Her firm grasp on the sarcasm thickly spread throughout this tale is a five star performance on its own. I read most of this book as I followed along with the audio and it truly enhanced the experience for me!

If you’re a fan of gruesome horror, an out of this world plot, and likable characters, definitely add this one to your lists!

I don’t know what prompted Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey to write a book together, but I am so glad they did. I’m also very excited that there will be another book from them. The Dead Take the A Train is the first in the Carrion City duology. I saw an ad for the book a couple of days ago, and John Langan blurbed the book as “compulsively readable.” I can’t think of a better description. It was hard to put down, and even when I did, I was thinking about it. It is a visceral read with A LOT of viscera.

We meet Julie Crews at a bachelorette party at a speakeasy themed bar that’s gotten very bloody. The bride to be is possessed by a demon and in Julie’s efforts to remove him, the bride’s body has lost some parts. Things go downhill from there and Julie isn’t paid what she’s owed. She doesn’t have enough money to cover the next month’s rent, so she isn’t in a position to say no when Tyler, her Wall Street dirtbag ex, calls with a job offer. What we know, that Julie does not, is that Tyler is trying to farm out a job that may get Julie killed. Upping the stakes, Julie’s old friend Sarah shows up, fleeing her abusive ex. They are, of course, in love with each other, but they keep insisting they are just “best friends.”

“It’s like they’re trying to be stupid,” said St. Joan in an awful stage whisper.

“I know,” said Dead Air before his face softened. “But we probably should let them be stupid in peace.”

There is a lot of plot and I would gladly recite it to you like a three year old tells you all about Thomas the Tank Engine, but I won’t. I will tell you that The Dead Take the A Train is funny, and kind of mean. It has a big heart, and that heart is actually an eldricht god who will burrow into your brain and wear you like a meat suit. This cosmic horror is smiling too widely with too many teeth and whispering “be careful what you wish for” so softly you don’t understand what it said until it’s too late. Khaw and Kadrey don’t shy away from using big words and the prose is otherworldly. I loved it.

CW: intimate partner violence off page, torture mostly off page, eternal torment, possession, murder, self harm, piles of entrails, gun violence, threats of violence, violence.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Tor Nightfire and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

This book was B.A.N.AN.A.S. in a completely amazing way! Gruesome and gory and hilarious and fun and I cannot wait for the second book in this duology.
Julie is a demon hunter who is just barely getting by on the meager earnings from exorcising demons, casting spells and ghost-hunting. When her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her front door, Julie will do just about anything to protect her. Casting a spell for a guardian "angel", Julie unwittingly unleashes pure evil among the city.
So many layers and crazy characters and storylines that will need to get all wrapped up neatly in the second book. At least that is what I'm hoping for. That, and a happy ending for poor Julie.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this e-arc.*

I loved this! Fantasy horror is such a great genre, and these two authors hit it out of the park. The different POVs were done well, and I enjoyed the way the "villain" was characterized a lot. This definitely walks the line of how much gore I can handle, so if you're really not into gore I would steer clear of this one. This was brutal and gross and I cannot wait for more from both these authors and this world!

I’ve got to hand it to both of these authors. Their books really go right up to and beyond the borders of how much gore and horror I can handle, yet I still keep reading them anyway because the writing is so good. This is not a book for the faint of stomach but if you want fantasy horror you’ll very probably like this book. I don’t know if I have the stomach for book two but the odds are pretty good I’ll read it anyway because book one was great.

I loved all of this. Multi-POV, great anti-hero, reasonable explanation for America's financial situation

TW: drug addiction, death, blood, self-harm, domestic violence/abuse

If you like gore and humor, then this one is for you. There is a lot going on and was a bit difficult to keep up with the e-book, so I will probably pick up a physical copy at some point to read it again. The first in a series, be sure to grab yourself a copy.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy.

Remember when urban fantasy was at its height? This book is like that but more brutal and horrific than any of those books were. I'm no delicate flower (usually) but this one got to me. Thank goodness (or Them) that it's also got such a sense of fun to it. A gross, explicit fun, but fun nonetheless.

A very exhilarating read. The main character, Julie, takes a few chapters to warm up to, but becomes a great example of a prickly teddy bear.

I feel like this was three books wrapped into one, so the pacing is the only major complaint I have. Due to the pacing, it took me much longer to read this then something of this page count would have.

The authors did a fantastic job of making characters you love, ones you hate, and ones you love to hate. The worlbuilding was well layered, the stakes high, and you just feel worn out by the time you finish a chapter.

This has to be some of the best eldritch horror I've personally read from a modern author. Definitely not for any readers sensitive to gore or violence, this story is oozing with both.

I'm so glad I gave this author another chance.

I started reading this expecting something totally different but ended up enjoying it alot. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing free copy to review.

I don’t know how to adequately review this book without stating that maybe I am not the target audience. I was sucked in by the cover because it is stunning and then I limped along through it with the help of my friends in my buddy read club. But there was so much gore, so much chaos, so much cosmic madness that I didnt know whether I was coming or going at some points. That being said, I loved the snarkiness of Julie, and the city of New York became a character in itself, and as someone who’s never been there, I enjoyed that.
Julie is a self destructive operative who tends to bring chaos to her missions. From page one the gore runs amuck as she executes a job on a possessed bride to be. When her ex lover, Tyler, takes credit for her work, Julie decides to summon a guardian angel to help her get her life together but he ends up being a shapeshifter bent on global domination.
This is dark fantasy at its center, but there is also a strong woman who takes no crap as she tries to blast the glass ceiling.
While this book was not for me, I could definitely see there being an audience for it.
Thanks to Tor Nightfire for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I am going to start off with what initially drew me to this book is the cover! I think the cover is absolutely amazing. Love the bright colors and the uniqueness of it! I think I am the wrong target audience for this book! I’ve never quite read anything like it so I was excited to give it a try. I will honestly read just about anything however, I could tell early on in the book however it wasn’t quite my jam. The gory humor missed the mark for me. I don’t want to dissuade anyone from reading this because if cosmic horror is your thing then give it a try! The writing and storyline were great, just not for me.

This was such an emotionally intense read for something so steeped in horror and terrifying lore. I wanted to know more about each and every character, I need follow ups, background stories, and for them to become my penpals. I loved getting to know each and every morally grey asshole in this book. The cosmic horror, the immersive details, the wit and humor. I loved it all. I can't wait to read the next in this series and I only wish it was a larger, already published series so I could dive in.

I was in a bit of a reading slump, unsure what to look for next, and needed a palate cleanser. Now I'm ravenous for more.

The Dead Take the A Train left me wanting more in the best possible way! What a strange, wild, at times gory. and entertaining book! I really got into the world here and all of the characters, I wanted more, I wanted more backstory and more about what happens next to Julie, Sarah, St. Joan, and Dead Air. I even wanted to know more about Tyler's firm -- so interesting and so evil! If you're a fan of off-beat horror, don't sleep on this book.

Thanks you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was WILD. I knew within 5 pages that The Dead Take the A Train was going to be exactly my kind of weird, gross horror humor. But this book also had so much heart. It was whip smart, the worldbuilding was delightful (Arcane, creepy occult Wall Street? I can buy it.), and the romance unfolding between Julie and Sarah is so sweet. Bonus points for the best kind of find family: loving, call you on your bull, immortal, probably inhuman, and the only time you're not the wierdest person in the room. I can't wait for book 2!

A Gruesome, Gory Corporate Wall Street full of Snark and Eldritch Horrors.

Khaw and Kadrey combine to masterfully blend elements of gruesome horror, graphic descriptions, and gory encounters over a backdrop of a literal cut-throat Wall Street, tinged with a healthy dose cosmic horror, snark, and a captivating cast of characters.

At it's heart, it's the characters that drive the story, with the central protagonist, Julie, reminiscent of a magical Jessica Jones-esque heroine, fueled by booze and cocaine and other exotic drugs, barely scraping by, fighting the good fight against all manner of demons and supernatural entities that threaten to consume her world, (and all so she can afford to pay her rent). Set against her is Tyler, a devious, back-stabbing corporate climber that you love to hate, but also can't help but acknowledge just how ruthless and cunning he can be in his climb amidst his corporate adversaries and overlords.

The book kicks off by dropping you right into a tragically graphic and gory beginning that sets the tone for the ride. Readers are thrust into a world where the dark and twisted aspects of mundane reality coexist with the supernatural, creating a vivid atmosphere. Think American Pyscho vs a spellcasting Jessica Jones-esque Sandman Slim. The authors paint a vivid, and often disturbing, picture of a greedy New York all too eager to capitalize and profit from eldritch and cosmic horrors. It's a dark, urban fantasy narrative, where the pursuit of wealth and power takes on a sinister and otherworldly dimension. The blending of high finance with cosmic horror adds a unique layer to the story, as characters grapple with forces beyond their comprehension while navigating the cutthroat world of corporate intrigue.

The authors balance the dark undertones with complex characters and an ample dose of snark. Despite the grim circumstances and gruesome encounters, the characters inject welcome breaks of levity and sarcasm, while bonding over their shared circumstances and this makes for a more dynamic and engaging story.

Cassandra Khaw (of The Salt Grows Heavy) and Richard Kadrey (of the Sandman Slim series) team up in The Dead Take the A Train to deliver a gore-spattered tale of a hex-first-ask-questions-later anti-heroine, a new love, scheming corporate sorcerors, and way more mysteries than I could shake a haunted stick at. Readers with cast iron stomachs will find a lot here to love—especially with Halloween on the horizon. If you don’t have such a stomach, you might want to pass on this one unless you can strategically turn off your ability to picture what’s happening in the book in your head.

Julie Crews makes a living in the margins of an already marginal society. She then uses the cash she earns exorcising ghosts and demons, fighting supernatural critters, and the like, to buy drugs and—if anything is left over—pay rent to her extremely tolerant landlady. Her unique brand of magic involves harnessing the power of pain to create spells or unleash magical tattoos to lash back at whatever beastie is currently trying to kill her. Julie is the kind of world-weary anti-hero I love. She metes out a violent kind of justice against the entitled, the cruel, or evil on behalf of the innocent even though she knows that she can only temporarily right wrongs. To put it another way, she’ll keep tossing starfish out to sea while at the same time trying to punch the tide for hurting the poor little guys.

After reluctantly taking a job from her much-loathed ex-boyfriend, Tyler, Julie finds herself caught up in a years-long, eldritch, scheme hatched by members of the mysterious Thorne & Drake organization. (We don’t get too many details about what the corporation is doing other than that they’ve made details with creatures that probably should have been avoided like ten plagues.) Tyler is the kind of repulsive corporate ladder climber that wouldn’t be out of place in a cutthroat law firm or on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. He should never have been entrusted with any kind of power over anything; I wouldn’t trust him not to turn a wet paper bag into a plan to seize some kind of power. Even though I know Tyler is an evil little shit, I could never have predicted the twists and turns he executes in this book.

On Julie’s quest to 1) figure out what the hell is going on and 2) how to fix it, Julie has a trio of allies that add a wonderful note of found family and love to what would otherwise be a series of scenes involving exploding bodies and inexplicable rituals. These characters raise the stakes as they teach the traumatized Julie to trust someone other than herself for a change; they give Julie someone to fight for. And while they might not have a lot of ideas about #2, they do amazing work figuring out what Julie is up against as she fights Lovecraftian monsters, vengeful witches, and capitalist scumbuckets like Tyler. Best of all, they have enough mojo of their own to make them more than easy targets for Julie’s enemies.

In addition to the wonderful characters Khaw and Kadrey created, I loved how original The Dead Take the A Train is. There are some nods to Lovecraft but, honestly, there are so many things in Julie’s world that I’ve never seen before or heard of from fantasy or horror fiction. This is an incredibly rich world where you need to be really careful about what books you read, immortality can result from weird bargains, there are entities like gods in the wires, and the city around you can have untapped magic. I’m really looking forward to future books in this series because I want more time with Julie and her motley family and more details about her strange universe.

A fantasy horror about Julie. She’s a thirty something with a cocaine addition who is often hired to deal with creepy crawlies around NYC. However, one day, she attracts the attention of a god who wants revenge.

I like books that are far off the beaten path, but this one was weird even for me. I think it’s just because the reader gets thrown right away with little explanation of what is going on. Even after the first “fight scene,” we don’t get much context. I think if I’d had that, I would’ve been in on it more. The writing duo here were super inventive with the monsters and all the supernatural stuff, and I enjoyed that part! I just often felt lost in the bigger plot.

In the late 1990s, I had the great gift of working (at a creative corporate gig) with Richard Kadrey. Even then, he was about a billion times cooler than I could ever be, and he's only gotten more so. He's a novelist and a talented photographer, and he has a band. He's best known for his 12-book series Sandman Slim, starring a demon hitman who's escaped from Hell and is now getting into misadventures in Los Angeles. It's a decidedly supernatural world with a noir vibe. It's wicked fun and then bam! suddenly you're deep in your feelings. Kadrey is very good at imbuing his undead characters with a ton of humanity.

Which brings me to his new novel, a collaboration with the Malaysian horror writer Cassandra Khaw. An urban fantasy extravaganza, it's set in a magical New York City, and our guide to this alternative Big Apple is Julie Crews. She might not be the poster girl for 'upstanding citizen,' but you'll fall for her anyway. A victim of her impulses and a crush on her best friend, she's doing the best she can — where 'the best she can' is paranormal odd jobs to make ends meet. When she hatches a cockamamie plan with the very best of intentions, circumstances spin out of supernatural control.

Kadrey and Khaw are masters of comedy-horror; they have a gift for making the occult equal parts unsettling and giddy fun. That is their super power, and they wield it with mad skills. Get your hands on this kickass novel, grab some Halloween candy, and go on a caper with the one and only Julie Crews.