This novella is a nonstop thrill ride featuring assassins, magic, a unique and intricate world building and characters full of snark. This would be a great pick for readers who are looking for an entry point into fantasy and reluctant readers. It totally delivered on the Kill Bill and John Wick vibes. Loved it!

This was a fun, quick read that left me wanting so much more. It felt like a taster and now I need the full course!

I absolutely loved this dark and twisty tale undead assassins. No cats were killed in the telling of this book, but there is plenty of mischief and mayhem. I loved the wryness of the main character and found the completely new world Clark created to be compelling and adequately described to live in my mind. Five fun and dark stars, very much a great late summer or fall read for this year or anytime! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for this unbiased review.

I don't read enough fantasy, and every time I drip back in I am rewarded. This was a great read. The world was rich and the characters complex. I loved every minute of this read. The action was nonstop, and the ending was totally fulfilling. Really, really enjoyed!

A great "takes place in one crazy night" story. Filled with fun city lore, varied assassins and interesting mysteries. Would love to see more of this world and characters (especially the side ones).

I want to preface this by saying that I've thoroughly enjoyed Clark's other works, but for some reason I could just not get into this one. Which isn't to say that it's not well-written - it is - and that the world-building isn't strong - it is - there was just something about it that felt a little lackluster. I'd still recommend his books to anyone, though.

A fast-paced novella about an undead assassin who accepts an unbreakable contract only to discover its target is a past version of herself, The Dead Cat Tail Assassins strikes a fun balance of humor, action, and mystery as the main character tries to reason and stab her way out of the contract, with some fun twists and an interesting world as backdrop.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark is a fantasy novella about a group of undead assassins. And no, they aren’t cats. And no tails, either! The premise? In exchange for your memories and servitude (as an assassin), you can live (as a zombie) forever.

This is a quick read. While I wanted to love it, I just didn’t. I found it a bit boring and lackluster. The ideas are great, but the execution is missing something.

⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for sharing my opinions. All opinions in this review are my own.

I enjoyed reading this for the most part. The concepts were amazing, and the world the author built up was fascinating, but I can't help but be disappointed when I find myself being bored whilst reading a novella.

An exciting and well crafted tale of an assain in death.
This was a beautifully crafted story dropping lore and world building in way that sucks you into the events happening.
The assassins of the Dead Cat Tail Assassins are all dead, oh and not cats. Choosing to serve the Matron of assasins in life means that in death you're brought back with no memories of your life before and have 3 unbreakable views to follow.

Eveen has been one of the best since she started working for her guild. Never missing her mark and making quiet a name for herself, but during a festival things don't go right and Eveen has to solve a bit of a mystery.

This story has great action and cool characters, with a fantastic and thrilling end. A bit of magic, lots of fighting, and some sassy deities.

A perfect book for a quick weekend read.

This was so incredibly fun! This was my first P. Djeli Clark book and I don't think I've ever read anything like it. Fast paced and full of (zombie?) adventure and mystery. The world building was done extremely well, the characters were engaging with a great sense of humor. Dare I say this felt too short of a read for such an expansive world? I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and will absolutely be buying myself a copy on release day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
By P. Djélí Clark

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it was shorter than my other current reads, the chapters were packed with details, events and did not leave you hanging. The flow of the story kept me so interested and almost made me feel like I was within the story - which is one of my favorites.

This is my first book by P. Djèlí Clark, and it won't be the last.

*This was an advanced reader copy and my review is completely voluntary.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I always love Clark's novellas and this was no exception. The amount of world-building that happens in this small novella is impressive, and the characters are engaging and entertaining too.

The story takes place in Tal Abisi, an ancient city with a deep history of magic and mythology. I was incredible impressed by the world-building here and hope that future stories take place in this world. There is a subtle steampunk theme to this world but there is also magic and an intriguing structure of gods. We are reading the story from Eveen the Eviscerator's point of view. She is a dead assassin who can't remember her past, although her most recent target changes that. Now she is left struggling to figure out if she should break the third and most simple rule of the guild, "Once you accept a job, you must carry it out."

I loved this. The premise is a bit crazy once you get in to the story. Eveen, and the characters that surround her, have amazing depth and are highly entertaining. I am always impressed by Clark's ability to engage me with his characters so completely in such a short page space. Additionally, this is just a downright fun story. The action scenes are really well done, the dialogue is witty, and the mystery Eveen is trying to solve is complex and keeps you guessing.

I was incredibly impressed with every aspect of this story and douby impressed that all this was contained in this novella! This was incredibly readable and entertaining and my only complaint was that it was over too fast.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this. The world-building, story, characters, and action in here are all amazing and innovative. I am stunned by the complexity of both the world and characters that are created in such a short page space without seeming confusing or info-dumpy. This was an entertaining and flat-out fun read that I really enjoyed. I hope we see future books set in the complex ancient city of Tal Abisi. I eagerly await Clark's next story.

This is my first time reading from this author and I had no idea of the writing style, but based on the cover and synopsis I was already ready to read. I can say I wasn’t disappointed at all and I still can’t believe they gave so much in a novella. The world building, action, and message in between the pages were heard loudly. I mean who wouldn’t want to read about Assassins, and females who are bad ass. I can say I would read from this author again.

An extremely fast read, The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are a great reminder as to why P. Djèlí Clark is one of my absolute most favorite authors. Witty, entertaining, heartfelt, and skillfully written, this book is a small masterpiece that made me wanting more. I would love a full-length novel in this universe that more broadly expands how the world works and meeting more of the different assassins and their varieties. A must read if you're a fan of the author, and I definitely recommend if you're looking for a fast paced fantasy novella. A huge thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for a free copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Not for my, requested on a recommendation. The writing was good just not my cup of tea. I was expecting something more immersive, or perhaps I didn't have enough information going in like a previous book I was supposed to read.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats. Nor do they have tails. But they are most assuredly dead.

What an interesting take on an assassin story. I love books with a unique mystery and different beings and especially love anything with undead. This book was imaginative, quick paced and full of action. Our main character, Eveen the Eviscerator is snarky, witty and clever and I love her so much. For such a short novel, this one packs a punch with a well detailed storyline with a satisfying end that will make you wish the book was longer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy this book, first time reading anything from the author and I have to say this has made me a fan.
the story is not long and draw out. Eveen got a job to do and couldn't do it but instead rescue the job and decide to get answer. This was not a coincidence that the job look exactly like you. So it follow Eveen on her journey as try to find out how this could be. the has it funny moments: the banter between the Goddess was hilarious. "A we run thing, things nuh run we"
The Plot is awesome and straight forward
World Building is on point and you feel immerse into the Eveen World

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this novella about a fantastical city full of gods, magicians, living and the undead, and the strange goings on that take place during a festival.

I'm going to bust a few bubbles here, but life, no matter how we scheme, beg, pray, plead, even commit science on, will end. Many have an idea of an afterlife. A heaven where one is reunited with loved ones and favored pets. A Hell, where one can laugh with the sinners, while suffering the pains of torture for the rest of eternity. Maybe even reincarnation,being born again in a chance to get things right. Possibly the void, where the lights just go off, and stay off. The city of Tal Abisi offers one more afterlife. A chance for your corpse to be made undead, with a contract lasting one hundred years. As an assassin. Not just an assassin but a member of the The Dead Cat Tail Assassins which shares its title with this novella by P. Djèlí Clark, about a an undead killer who is faced with in impossible target in a plot that reaches across time and space.

Eveen the Eviscerator is the best she is at what she does, but what she does is not very nice. Eveen is Undead, returned to the world by the power of the God Aeril, Matron of Assassins, The Silent Blade, the Lady of Knives, Snatcher of Souls and, the Crafter of Delectable Culinary Delights, to do the valuable work of riding the city of Tal Abisi of those who would cause problems, disrupt the flow, cause chaos, or were just jerks for money. The cost is one hundred years of service, one's memory wiped and the following of rules that keep order, even while killing. Eveen is given a quick job, one that Eveen was asked which is odd, and one that seems strange from the start. The guards around the target seemed more determine to keep the person under threat contained, than protected. When Eveen sees the target's face she knows why. Eveen is caught in a trap, to do her job might cause her own death, to not do it signs her own death warrant, and might mean an end to things in the city. For Eveen has made a powerful enemy, one Eveen doesn't know, nor does Eveen know how to stop what is going on.

Another great story from Clark. This is my third work by Clark and each one has been different, which is exciting, and set in completely different worlds that seem real. This book is no exception. Starting right from the first lines, Clark draws the reader in, gives an idea what the characters are plotting, the ideas behind the world, and a few jokes. And for a novella this is a very full and broad adventure. Clark explains the world, and shows the rules, not info dumping or wasting lines on exposition that is not important. Clark also gives the characters, all them space to shine, and more importantly breathe. The readers care what is going on, why its happening, and where the story might be going. The ending is big, and full of ideas that are uncommon in fantasy books, but works well. Enough hints have been dropped in the book to make the ending fit. A fantasy that seems bigger than a novella, but one that never drags, and more importantly does not disappoint.

Absolutely amazing just like everything else that P. Djèlí Clark writes! They create a strong bond between the reader and the characters almost immediately and you, as the reader, become deeply interested in people we only get a short time with. A quick read page wise that was fabulous on every page!