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Description
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats.
Nor do they have tails.
But they are most assuredly dead.
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 ?nal 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.
Summary
It was an absolute joy to read The Dead Cat Tail Assassins, a grimdark and magical realism novella by US author P. Djèlí Clark.
Review
Clark beautifully blends thriller-level suspense and action with intricate world-building and a good dose of dark humour. The world-building is exquisitely portrayed with the city of Tal Abisi full of diverse cultures in a celebration of multiculturalism. The inspiration from a variety of cultures creates a world which is relatable and fantastical at the same time. Characters are well-developed, compelling and highly relatable. This is a novella and the brevity does exclude the reader’s understanding of this fantastic world-building which does feel so close but not fully explorable. Regardless, Clark’s is a master of short form and richly crafts a fresh grimdark and engaging fantasy work.
Conclusion
A highly recommended read! This is a fast-paced novella is perfect for fans of P. Djèlí Clark’s The Dead Djinn Universe series and readers of grimdark, fantasy and science fiction that challenges social norms and conventions while maintaining dark humour in a well-crafted work.
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Leanbh Pearson 