Set in an alternate universe with differing laws of physics and it's own history and mythology, Dead Cat Assassins follows Eveen, an undead assassin working for the guild of the same name. After making a deal with the goddess of death in return for her soul she carries out contracts under certain rules. When the latest victim she is lined up to take care of - or ship - turns out to be herself from another time a whole can of worms is opened and Eveen and Sky work together to try and find out what has happened and correct it before at least one of them ends up dead for good. I loved the worldbuilding in this, despite being a novella, so much is packed into it and the characters were so rounded out and interesting, I want to spend more time with undead assassins!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to love it, but the beginning of the book gave me severe The Assassin and the Pirate Lord vibes, which is a short story by Sarah J. Maas that I did not like. It was a struggle to get through the book.

There were so many times when I wanted to DNF it, but I didn't and just pressing on.

There's not much more I can say without ruining my review. over on my website.

This novella was amazing. The story was action packed, quick paced, and had the perfect length. For a novella just over 200 pages the characters were well fleshed out and the development of the story was impeccable. This was the first piece that I’ve read from P. Djélí Clark and I can’t wait to pick up more of their work. I would definitely recommend this novella.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing me with an E-ARC to review.

3.5/5 I definitely enjoy this author’s writing and have enjoyed past books, but this particular one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Interesting concept and characters.

P. Djeli Clark is an insta-buy author for me and I absolutely loved this novela so I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon!

What Clark is able to accomplish in such a small page count never ceases to amaze me. We yet again have been given a world that feels so realistic that it couldn’t possibly be fiction out and an outstanding cast that I was invested in.

Clark’s ability to provide unique story lines while still tackling social issues in a novella format will forever be impressive to me. The pacing was immaculate and kept me intrigued from start to finish. The beauty of this story is it leaves you wanting more while also expanding your personal views and education in regards to class, marginalized individuals and the strength of women.

I feel it was best said by EmmaSkies that “The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is out August 6, 2024 and it you like vivid fantasy worlds, undead assassins, quippy, murderous heroines, descriptions of food so good you may briefly want to eat ants (no i will not be explaining this, and women getting shit done, then you won't want to miss this one.”

This will 100% be added to my shelves in August and I already know a few people who would enjoy this as a gift as well :)

P. Djèlí Clark has in past works show himself to be a master of the short novel form, and that holds true with his newest, The Dead Cat Tail Assassins, a fast-paced mystery romp full of dark humor set amidst a twisting turning tale. I had a blast reading it and can’t imagine that reaction won’t be widely shared amongst those wise enough to pick it up.

That odd title (it gets explained in the opening scene) is the name of an assassins guild working in the port city of Tal Abisi. Our main protagonist, Eveen (aka “The Eviscerator”) is one of their best and a great creation — funny, charming in a rough sort of way though her propensity for violence and even torture (even if it metes out a quasi “justice”) makes it difficult perhaps for her to win readers over fully, resilient, persistent, smart, and, oh yeah, dead. Turns out at some point in her past life she’d agreed to pledge herself to Aeril, Matron of Assassins, and so was resurrected without any memories of her former self.
How that had happened, she didn’t know. No clue about who she’d been in life either. Not a single solitary memory … about the only thing she could say for certain was that she’d done this to herself. She’d been shown the contract and everything — the one agreed to in life, giving herself to the goddess she now served … to whom she was bound, body and soul, in death.

As one might imagine, revelations will be forthcoming about the void that is her past life. But I actually don’t want to say much at all about plot as the first major twist hits pretty early, followed by a number of others. The story opens with Eveen receiving her night’s contract from her “worker friend” Fennis. Suffice to say the hit does not go well, and for reasons best left unstated, Eveen ends up the target of her own guild as she works to solve the book’s major mysteries and stay alive while doing so (and also keep another major character alive as well). Pretty much everything else I feel comfortable noting about the plot is in the first paragraph: it’s twisty and turny, fast-paced (though Clark finds time for a few quieter, more introspective moments), keeps the reader on their toes, is filled with action (usually in the form of Eveen’s fights against her fellow assassins), and is very, very funny.

Eveen could have just been your stock quipped assassin character one sees again and again, but Clark avoids that pitfall by imbuing her with a distinctive personality at the start and then developing her further via her experiences in the narrative that change her or revelations about her that show a different, more complex side. And even if the story doesn’t dwell on it, or even highlight all that much, there’s a deep sadness underlying her cynical quipping: the lack of memories, her desire to know why her past self did what she did, her clear ache to have a sense of community despite her jaded exterior, and the way everything in her “life” is muted by her state of being: taste, pain, emotions —all there but deadened. One wonders if it would be easier on her if she just felt nothing at all rather than these pale shadows of life.

Other characters are equally strong regardless of how much page-time they get. Each feels distinctive, each comes fully alive, and most are just as funny albeit in different ways, whether we’re talking about Baseema, the head of the guild; Fennis, the gourmand-slash-assassin agent who came up with the guild’s odd name (and even printed up business cards), his quirky thaumaturgist brother, or even the goddess herself (one of my favorite running bits of humor is how her name could also be translated as Lady of Knives, so “lots of those resurrected by Aeril’s priestesses go into the culinary services. Most of the best chefs in Tal Abisi are her undead thralls.”

As for Tal Abisi itself, it shines as the setting for the narrative. Literally in some cases, as part of the city is still under the glow of a long-ago sorcery known as “The Shimmer.” There’s a whole great backstory to the city that gets doled out in pieces throughout the novel involving giant mechanical creatures, a pirate, and a sacrifice made for love. That historical event is celebrated in the multi-day festival that serves as the backdrop to the story’s action. We also get multiple reference to a series of “Terribles”—basically pulp fiction novels Eveen devours with titles like “Asheel the Maniac Hunter” or “Terrors of the Demon Lands.” Honestly, it’s amazing how good a job Clark does in conveying such an immersive sense of place in so few pages.

Between the great city setting and the fantastic character creation, though this story wraps up fully resolved as a deeply satisfying standalone fantasy, one can’t help but hope for more “Terribles” involving Eveen the Eviscerator in the City of Tal Abisi. Highly recommended.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins follows Eveen, who is not a cat, but is in fact dead and an assassin. She’s under contract to a fiery goddess to ship people for those who’re willing to pay for the service. And Eveen is one of the best in the business, until a strangely familiar face causes her to break contract and seek out answers to questions she’s tried not to ask herself before.

Eveen is a ruthless assassin, but she’s also genuinely funny and a huge book nerd. It’s hard not to love her instantly. She’s also positioned in a wonderfully detailed fantasy world on the days of a city-wide festival celebrating a legendary love story. The rich history and vivid imagery makes this novella feel all encompassing without needing an excess of words. And, as a novella, the adventure moves quickly forward, but that doesn’t take away from character and world development at all. The balance is perfect!

Any new book from P. Djèlí Clark is a delight. After "The Haunting of Tram Car 015," I eagerly anticipate his releases. Their latest novella surpasses expectations with its dark, intriguing fantasy world and compelling mystery. Told from the perspective of Eveen, an undead assassin, the story explores Tal Abisi's politics and underworld. Clark puts a unique spin on fantasy tropes, introducing undead assassins who lose their memories after making a deal with their god. The story is well-paced, engaging, and leaves readers wanting more. Highly recommended for dark fantasy fans.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

With memories of their previous life erased, the Dead Cat Tail Assassins are resurrected to work for the goddess Aeril. Eveen is an assassin who never questions a job and always fulfills her contract. Until the night she comes face to face with someone who could unlock her hidden past. And in her moment of hesitation, sets off a chain of events that will test the very fabric of her undead life.

Eveen is crude and sarcastic, the type of character who makes sure her opinions are heard. No matter the situation. She is a lethal assassin and has an attitude that can make readers snicker as she takes down her foes. While she must follow the rules of her trade, she will push the boundaries when the needs arise. Such as when her latest contract threatens her own undead life. She’ll do everything she can to thwart the powers to be and come out on top.

While the main character is a delight to read, the underlying mystery of the plot is just as intriguing. Readers will accompany Eveen as she uncovers back alley deals and impossible magical feats. Along the way, she will have to use her skills in combat and manipulation to fight off increasingly powerful and disturbing fellow assassins. Readers will be entertained right at the start as Eveen rises to each challenge, with weapons, and snark flying.

If you enjoy morally gray characters with a fiery personality, pick up a copy of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. This is a novella length story and a quick entertaining read.

This book was so much fun, I had a great time. P. Djèlí Clark manages to be funny while staying grounded. The characters and the magic were great and the plot was simple but entertaining.

Thank you Netgalley/Tor for the ARC.

P. Djeli Clark has become a favorite for his world building, dry humor, and well developed characters, and The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is no exception. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins follows Eveen the Eviscerator, a member of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins Guild. We follow her as she starts on a new contract when things start to go a bit unusual. The characters are all fun and fleshed out, and you can see Eveen traveling through Tal Abisi through the story. I loved the Assassins, and would gladly read more of their tales should Clark decide to revisit the world of Tal Abisi.

This story just didn’t grab me and I mostly was bored throughout. I really liked A Master of Djinn by the same author but for some reason, probably a fault of my own, I just could not get into this one.

The story centers around a dead but undead Eveen, a hired assassin resurrected by the goddess Aeril who is the head of the guild. One of the core rules of the assassins are to always compete the job.

But, in a big twist, Eveen is sent to assassinate someone and…she just can't. For reasons that will be a spoiler here.
The rest of the story is about Eveen trying to avoid fulfilling the contract, and might have even nodded off a few times while reading it. The background, setting, and characters were kind of interesting but I'd pass on this one had I not felt compelled to finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Is this book amazing? Not particularly. But is it FUN? Absolutely. There are so many interesting aspects of the world, gods, and magic system that I loved. What was lacking, though, was great character work. However, the premise and world were that compelling that I never considered putting the story down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a digital advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this quick little novella. It was fast paced, a little self aware, and funny! It could be due to recency bias but the book gave me Hazbin Hotel vibes. Mostly in the way the characters act, talk, and react to each other. I also enjoyed reading a Black/POC Fantasy book. Being a cis female white reader, I appreciate expanding my consumption to voices and experiences that are not like my own and challenging my assumed cis/whiteness bias. I am really interested in reading more P. Djeli Clark!

My copy did have some typos and weird sentence structure which may be due to the fact is was an ARC.

Who its for?: fantasy readers, fast-paced action, get out of a reading slump, not so hard to think about

Who is it not for?: People who want more complex/epic fantasy, People who think to hard when they read (that can be me sometimes!), people who don't like a little bit of gore.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
This book is wild fun from the get-go. It just dives straight into the action. It is short and wastes no time on world-building, but you get to pick up so many elements from throughout the narrative that are absolutely engaging and diverting. (I can’t wait to dive back into this world in the future) The book is fast-paced, but it does give the appropriate time to certain moments that need more space. The religious and assassin and science/magic aspects are so fun! I adore complex magical systems, even when there isn’t too much time spent on them and I was intrigued by the setup Clark has for magic and the study of it in this book, it felt kind of Discworld-esque, though without an orangutan.
Eveen, the main character, is so charming. She may be an assassin, but with the book from her perspective, we get to peek behind her curtain. She is funny, a voracious reader, and skilled. Honestly, I loved the characters in this book, even the villains and creeps (though those because they were written well, not because of any nobleness of spirit). There are so many little things that are very funny and kind of meta, without overpowering the story at the heart of the book. The themes of identity, love, and community are present and powerful without taking away from the violence I expected from an assassin story. There are fight scenes and spell-wielding that are fun and scientific and wicked cool. I loved this book for many reasons and had so much fun with it, I read it in one day because I couldn’t bear to drag it out.

This was a unique little story. I had no clue what it was about when I picked it up and had a lot of fun with it. Impressive amount of character development and world-building done in so few pages.

The Dead Cat Tail Assasins is a fun and breezy read. The world they inhabit is new and interesting and I'm curious to find out more about it. I hope more books are in store.

It's always a pleasure to read P. Djèli Clark's book and I'm very happy I got an early access to this one !

It's a shift from your regular hired-assassin tropes, no one falls in love in that one, but the mystery is a thick one to crack.

I really liked Eveen as a main character and I enjoyed the world building and magic system.

It's a short read and I wish we could have had something bigger as to explore the world more, but it was extrememy entertaining.

It was however a bit hard to understand the goddesses at the end.

This was such a fun, short, zombie assassin story that really should be a movie!

In this story, when you die you can choose which gods you serve, and our main character, Eveen chooses the Matrion of Assassins, which means she becomes the undead and can assassinate people - though there are strict rules about how and when they can do so. Eveen takes a job, but recognizes the person she is sent to assassinate, and refuses to go through with it, which is a big no-no.

I thought Eveen was going to be on the run, but she actually goes back to her boss and is like, so this isn’t supposed to happen, how do we fix it. I really appreciated that! She is not afraid to team up with people to fix the problem.

The world building is great. The conversations feel natural, and it doesn’t feel like they are aware of the reader. They are just talking about things they would naturally talk about, but also telling the reader information about the world. And some of the things that seem like fun, quirky facts about the world become plot relevant by the end. The set up, foreshadowing, and sprinkling in of details is great!

I also loved the vivid descriptions in this story. I am someone who doesn't picture things in my head as I read, and that sometimes means I get lost when reading battle scenes. I never felt lost in this book. I might not have been picturing things, but I had a strong sense of what was going on.

I feel like it is the type of story that would work well as a movie. It has action, witty lines, and it is short! Why aren’t novellas turned into movies more often? We generally accept that there needs to be things cut out of novels that become movies, but they shouldn’t have to cut as much story from a novella. It’d be perfect!

It is a zombie assassin story, and it doesn’t shy away from violence, but it also has witty banter going on the whole time, which lightens the tone of the story so it felt more like a fun adventure story.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t love the whole way through the story. In the final scene we have a being from the spirit realm who talks to our main characters, and the dialogue is written in a dialect or accent. So the words aren’t written the way they are in standard English, but rather how they are pronounced. The accent was thick enough that I didn’t understand everything that was said. Our main characters seemed to know what was being said, and I used them for context clues. I understand that it can be more immersive to have a character’s dialogue written this way, but in this book I found it actually taking me out of the story. I had to really slow down and reread a lot to try and figure out what was going on. This is unfortunate because these celestial beings played a major role in the climax of the story, and that’s when I was pulled out of the story. I might try to listen to the audiobook, because that might solve the problem I had with this portion of the book.

I also found it odd that a celestial being, who seems to not pay much attention to humans, uses modern human slang. As much as I felt the world building was thought out, this felt off to me and was never explained.

Our two main characters and their relationship really stole the show. I loved when we had down time with them and they were discussing their lives and trying to get to know each other. Their ending was satisfying and gave me all the feels.

When I heard Djèlí Clark was coming out with a new stand-alone book (novella?) I was immediately on board. Although Dead Cat Tail wasn't quite what I hoped for, it didn't disappoint, either.*

Assassins have become popular anti-heroes in modern fantasy literature, and Eveen's sect is even odder and colder than the norm--the assassins are members of the formerly alive who have been resurrected through magic and their relationship to their goddess.. It is perhaps one of the most interesting use of zombies-excuse me, the undead; zombies is a pejorative--I have yet seen. As with all religions, there's all sorts of constraints around the practicing of the work, and Eveen finds herself in a conundrum when the person she is contracted to kill seems eerily familiar.

The narration is third person, primarily Eveen's perspective. Eveen herself has a decidedly modern youth feel, putting me very much in mind of Gideon the Ninth. Plotting, while slightly less bananas, does get a little dizzying by the end. I would say that Djèlí Clark does a fair job of gradually setting the reader up with the world-building and the constraints that proves so difficult to manage.

There's a lot of interesting stuff here. Interesting, if somewhat florid, world-building that is well-used in context of the story. Intriguing character arcs and characters wrestling with mission and duty. A straight-forward plot that keeps the pace moving. Solid atmosphere that lends itself to the plot. The majority of characters have shades of brown skin, and it is always nice to see representation in fantasy. On that note, I will mention that Djèlí Clark is one of the few male authors that writes women like people. It's a wonder to behold.

I found it a story that was interesting and very hard to put down. That said, three issues prevent me from an easy 5 star rating. Wording could be tightened up, and quite possibly will be by final edition. I felt like for a matter-of-fact character voice, some of the adjectives seemed excessive, and some of the phrasing needed trimming. Second, a dialect is brought into the story near the end, and ended up being jarring enough that it threw me out of the story. Looking back, I think it would be about the same if someone had reached under a bed and pulled out an AK-47. It was weirdly specific to particular culture we hadn't been exposed to when nothing else in the story was contextually appropriate. Lastly, and most significantly, is the epilogue. While the ending worked (much like Briar Rabbit, you knew some fancy trick was coming), I have ethical problems with the wrap-up. It was an unsettling and harsh end to what was essentially a fairly harmless (but high stakes) story. Summation then: while certainly better than the last book, doesn't reach my favorites.




*while there are assassins, there are no cat tails or cats, dead or otherwise.




Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an electronic advanced reader copy. Unsurprisingly, opinions are my own.