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Carrion City #1
The Dead Take the A Train
Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill.
Julie Crews is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-something who packs a lot of magic into her small body. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs to claw her way to the top.
Julie is desperate for a quick career boost to break the dead-end grind, but her pleas draw the attention of an eldritch god who is hungry for revenge. Her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts her closest friends – and the entire world – directly in the path of annihilation.
The first explosive adventure in the Carrion City Duology, The Dead Take the A Train fuses Khaw’s cosmic horror and Kadrey’s gritty fantasy into a full-throttle thrill ride straight into New York’s magical underbelly.
Julie Crews is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-something who packs a lot of magic into her small body. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs to claw her way to the top.
Julie is desperate for a quick career boost to break the dead-end grind, but her pleas draw the attention of an eldritch god who is hungry for revenge. Her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts her closest friends – and the entire world – directly in the path of annihilation.
The first explosive adventure in the Carrion City Duology, The Dead Take the A Train fuses Khaw’s cosmic horror and Kadrey’s gritty fantasy into a full-throttle thrill ride straight into New York’s magical underbelly.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
About the author
Cassandra Khaw
122 books2,320 followersCassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,082 reviews
August 27, 2024
Halloween
I think Cassandra's work just isn't for me, which is unfortunate, because I'd love to support non-binary authors in any capacity. Do take this with a grain of salt, because I've had problems with Tor Nightfire in the past.
I zoned in an out as I listened to this. Julie's POV didn't captivate me. When we got to the mother, I was confused. Tyler's story was even worse. I see other reviews labeling this as cosmic horror, and perhaps I'll add that to the list of genres that are not for me.
PSA: It is ableist to say that audiobooks don't count as reading.
📚 Buddy read with Zana
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
I think Cassandra's work just isn't for me, which is unfortunate, because I'd love to support non-binary authors in any capacity. Do take this with a grain of salt, because I've had problems with Tor Nightfire in the past.
I zoned in an out as I listened to this. Julie's POV didn't captivate me. When we got to the mother, I was confused. Tyler's story was even worse. I see other reviews labeling this as cosmic horror, and perhaps I'll add that to the list of genres that are not for me.
PSA: It is ableist to say that audiobooks don't count as reading.
📚 Buddy read with Zana
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
June 9, 2024
Check out our interview with Cassandra Khaw and interview with Richard Kadrey.
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Cassandra Khaw teams up with Sandman Slim author Richard Kadrey for The Dead Take the A Train, their new urban dark fantasy set in a riotous, magic-infused New York City. Khaw and Kadrey are a match made in hell, spawning horrific gods and demons who run amok in the rotten core of the Big Apple.
Freelance magic operative, Julie Crews, is a coked-up whirlwind of chaos, whose self-destructive tendencies are matched only by the unbridled mayhem she brings to her commissions. As the novel opens, Julie executes an anarchic job at a bachelorette party featuring a possessed bride-to-be who gives new meaning to the word bridezilla.
Despite her proven track record taking on the dirtiest, most dangerous jobs in a demon-infested New York, thirtysomething Julie can’t seem to get ahead in her career or social standing. It doesn’t help that her ex-lover, Tyler, takes credit for their work and is climbing the corporate ladder at a prestigious, deep-pocketed Wall Street-type firm.
Julie decides to summon a guardian angel to help pull her life together and advance her career. But the angel is actually a shapeshifting elder god bent on bringing global annihilation in a New York minute.
The Dead Take the A Train serves as a scathing satire of American capitalism, as Khaw and Kadrey skewer Wall Street culture and its obsession with climbing the corporate ladder. In many ways, The Dead Take the A Train feels like a nightmarish dark fantasy take on The Wolf of Wall Street. But at its core, the novel is also a feminist tale of a strong woman who accepts no nonsense as she blasts herself at the corporate glass ceiling.
The Dead Take the A Train also reminds me a bit of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, both dark fantasies that feature horrific creatures hidden beneath the surfaces of London and Tokyo, respectively. Compared to these novels, Khaw and Kadrey have moved the action to New York and significantly amped up both the horror and hysterics.
The Dead Take the A Train is a fast-paced madhouse of mayhem combining the best of Kadrey’s thrillers with Khaw’s gruesome Lovecraftian horror. It’s also blisteringly funny, striking the perfect balance between humor and horror. The writing flows smoothly throughout the novel, with Khaw and Kadrey finding a common voice that perfectly suits the irreverent nature of the tale. My only complaint is that the novel feels too long, and the plot could have been tightened up in several places.
Overall, The Dead Take the A Train is a blast and highly recommended for dark fantasy and horror fans looking for a good time. The story will continue with Khaw and Kadrey’s next volume of their Carrion City duology.
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Cassandra Khaw teams up with Sandman Slim author Richard Kadrey for The Dead Take the A Train, their new urban dark fantasy set in a riotous, magic-infused New York City. Khaw and Kadrey are a match made in hell, spawning horrific gods and demons who run amok in the rotten core of the Big Apple.
Freelance magic operative, Julie Crews, is a coked-up whirlwind of chaos, whose self-destructive tendencies are matched only by the unbridled mayhem she brings to her commissions. As the novel opens, Julie executes an anarchic job at a bachelorette party featuring a possessed bride-to-be who gives new meaning to the word bridezilla.
Despite her proven track record taking on the dirtiest, most dangerous jobs in a demon-infested New York, thirtysomething Julie can’t seem to get ahead in her career or social standing. It doesn’t help that her ex-lover, Tyler, takes credit for their work and is climbing the corporate ladder at a prestigious, deep-pocketed Wall Street-type firm.
Julie decides to summon a guardian angel to help pull her life together and advance her career. But the angel is actually a shapeshifting elder god bent on bringing global annihilation in a New York minute.
The Dead Take the A Train serves as a scathing satire of American capitalism, as Khaw and Kadrey skewer Wall Street culture and its obsession with climbing the corporate ladder. In many ways, The Dead Take the A Train feels like a nightmarish dark fantasy take on The Wolf of Wall Street. But at its core, the novel is also a feminist tale of a strong woman who accepts no nonsense as she blasts herself at the corporate glass ceiling.
The Dead Take the A Train also reminds me a bit of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, both dark fantasies that feature horrific creatures hidden beneath the surfaces of London and Tokyo, respectively. Compared to these novels, Khaw and Kadrey have moved the action to New York and significantly amped up both the horror and hysterics.
The Dead Take the A Train is a fast-paced madhouse of mayhem combining the best of Kadrey’s thrillers with Khaw’s gruesome Lovecraftian horror. It’s also blisteringly funny, striking the perfect balance between humor and horror. The writing flows smoothly throughout the novel, with Khaw and Kadrey finding a common voice that perfectly suits the irreverent nature of the tale. My only complaint is that the novel feels too long, and the plot could have been tightened up in several places.
Overall, The Dead Take the A Train is a blast and highly recommended for dark fantasy and horror fans looking for a good time. The story will continue with Khaw and Kadrey’s next volume of their Carrion City duology.
November 12, 2023
"Not being dead is a good baseline to work from"
Book Information
“The Dead Take the A Train” by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey is a 400-page science fiction/fantasy/horror novel published on October 3, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Natalie Naudus and spans 12 hours and 30 minutes. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Julie Crews, a coke-fueled, burnt-out thirty-something, strives to make her mark in the NYC magic scene through any means necessary. However, her relentless pursuit of success unwittingly attracts the attention of a vengeful god. Julie's power grab sets off a deadly chain of events, endangering her friends and the entire world.
My Thoughts
Bottom line up front: I loved this book.
"The Dead Take the A Train" by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey is an absolute thrill ride that had me hooked from start to finish. This book offers nonstop action, surprises, and shocks that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. If you thought the apocalypse couldn't get any stranger, buckle up, because this book turns it into a darkly hilarious, jaw-dropping spectacle.
The book is gritty. It’s a dark fantasy world. The story is fast-paced and irreverent, delivering a visceral and chaotic narrative filled with cosmic horrors. The authors' highly imaginative worldbuilding and characterization are incredibly engrossing and masterfully well done. It immersed me in a world like no other…but most importantly, it highly entertained me.
The prose in the book is a striking mix of beautiful and vulgar, showcasing the authors' impressive command of vocabulary and their ability to fully engage the reader. The writing flows smoothly, and the dialogue is sharp.
However, a word of caution for those easily offended by strong language—the book doesn't hold back. If profanity is a concern, it might be best to give this one a pass.
One of the standout elements of the book is its main character, Julie. Despite her apparent lack of redeeming qualities—self-destructive, substance-abusing, violent, and unpredictable—there's an unexpectedly huge heart beneath her tough exterior. The quirky supporting characters and dark humor, coupled with Julie's sarcastic demeanor, help balance out the horror aspects and add a human dimension to the story.
Another word of caution—this novel doesn't shy away from graphic descriptions of gore. From popping pustules to exploding eyeballs from otherworldly creatures and internal organs becoming external, the prose is vividly descriptive and shockingly graphic.
What truly caught me off guard, especially as someone not typically drawn to romance novels, is that deep down, this book weaves a love story amidst the looming threat of Armageddon. It delivers an exceptional fusion of emotions, making it an undeniably enjoyable experience.
The audiobook is enhanced by the exceptional narration of Natalie Naudus. She doesn't just read the story; she performs it. Her soothing and captivating voice, coupled with impeccable pacing and passion, significantly elevated my enjoyment of the book. It's an unforgettable auditory experience. Naudus now ranks among my favorite narrators.
Recommendation
"The Dead Take the A Train" is a fun, fast-paced, and wild read that combines dark fantasy, irreverence, and shockingly funny moments. In a world where the bizarre meets the visceral, this book is the explosive Pandora's box you won't be able to put down. If you're looking for an immersive and thrilling experience, this is a ride you won't want to miss.
Rating
5 Barbed Wire Magic Stars
Book Information
“The Dead Take the A Train” by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey is a 400-page science fiction/fantasy/horror novel published on October 3, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Natalie Naudus and spans 12 hours and 30 minutes. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Julie Crews, a coke-fueled, burnt-out thirty-something, strives to make her mark in the NYC magic scene through any means necessary. However, her relentless pursuit of success unwittingly attracts the attention of a vengeful god. Julie's power grab sets off a deadly chain of events, endangering her friends and the entire world.
My Thoughts
Bottom line up front: I loved this book.
"The Dead Take the A Train" by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey is an absolute thrill ride that had me hooked from start to finish. This book offers nonstop action, surprises, and shocks that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. If you thought the apocalypse couldn't get any stranger, buckle up, because this book turns it into a darkly hilarious, jaw-dropping spectacle.
The book is gritty. It’s a dark fantasy world. The story is fast-paced and irreverent, delivering a visceral and chaotic narrative filled with cosmic horrors. The authors' highly imaginative worldbuilding and characterization are incredibly engrossing and masterfully well done. It immersed me in a world like no other…but most importantly, it highly entertained me.
The prose in the book is a striking mix of beautiful and vulgar, showcasing the authors' impressive command of vocabulary and their ability to fully engage the reader. The writing flows smoothly, and the dialogue is sharp.
However, a word of caution for those easily offended by strong language—the book doesn't hold back. If profanity is a concern, it might be best to give this one a pass.
One of the standout elements of the book is its main character, Julie. Despite her apparent lack of redeeming qualities—self-destructive, substance-abusing, violent, and unpredictable—there's an unexpectedly huge heart beneath her tough exterior. The quirky supporting characters and dark humor, coupled with Julie's sarcastic demeanor, help balance out the horror aspects and add a human dimension to the story.
Another word of caution—this novel doesn't shy away from graphic descriptions of gore. From popping pustules to exploding eyeballs from otherworldly creatures and internal organs becoming external, the prose is vividly descriptive and shockingly graphic.
What truly caught me off guard, especially as someone not typically drawn to romance novels, is that deep down, this book weaves a love story amidst the looming threat of Armageddon. It delivers an exceptional fusion of emotions, making it an undeniably enjoyable experience.
The audiobook is enhanced by the exceptional narration of Natalie Naudus. She doesn't just read the story; she performs it. Her soothing and captivating voice, coupled with impeccable pacing and passion, significantly elevated my enjoyment of the book. It's an unforgettable auditory experience. Naudus now ranks among my favorite narrators.
Recommendation
"The Dead Take the A Train" is a fun, fast-paced, and wild read that combines dark fantasy, irreverence, and shockingly funny moments. In a world where the bizarre meets the visceral, this book is the explosive Pandora's box you won't be able to put down. If you're looking for an immersive and thrilling experience, this is a ride you won't want to miss.
Rating
5 Barbed Wire Magic Stars
October 17, 2023
2.5 Stars
I really wanted to love this, but I couldn't get into the story.
The novel definitely had an exciting start. The introduction of Julie and her unique job of dealing with demonic possessions and weird creatures had me eager to read on. However, as I progressed through the book, I found myself struggling to maintain my enthusiasm and focus.
Overall, not for me. But if you're a fan of cosmic horror, maybe give this novel a try.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Cassandra Khaw, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I really wanted to love this, but I couldn't get into the story.
The novel definitely had an exciting start. The introduction of Julie and her unique job of dealing with demonic possessions and weird creatures had me eager to read on. However, as I progressed through the book, I found myself struggling to maintain my enthusiasm and focus.
Overall, not for me. But if you're a fan of cosmic horror, maybe give this novel a try.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Cassandra Khaw, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
March 20, 2024
I couldn’t wait to read this book from the moment I saw Cassandra Khaw was involved. And boy did it not disappoint! What a ride! Imagine some straight up mind bending cosmic horror meets Wolfram & Heart from the Angel/Buffyverse—then dial up the horror, gore and mayhem by 10x! And don’t forget some absurd hilarity. This ain’t one for the squeamish, but I highly recommend it. And oh—there’s gonna be a sequel!
Read
November 8, 2023Cosmic horror, capitalist satire, and a surprisingly tender and delicate f/f friends to lovers romance, in a blender.
Julie Crews, a name that has had me earwormed by the Twin Peaks theme tune all day, is a freelance exorcist sort of thing. She gets mixed up in the shenanigans of her ex Tyler, a corporate drone at a deeply evil law firm, and her old friend Sarah, escaping an abusive relationship. There is drink, drugs, mayhem, extreme violence, and cosmic horror to the eyeballs, which are numerous and rarely in the right place. It's fast paced and funny, with enough heart to balance all the splatter and a very endearing cast of goodies. I enjoyed it a lot.
Julie Crews, a name that has had me earwormed by the Twin Peaks theme tune all day, is a freelance exorcist sort of thing. She gets mixed up in the shenanigans of her ex Tyler, a corporate drone at a deeply evil law firm, and her old friend Sarah, escaping an abusive relationship. There is drink, drugs, mayhem, extreme violence, and cosmic horror to the eyeballs, which are numerous and rarely in the right place. It's fast paced and funny, with enough heart to balance all the splatter and a very endearing cast of goodies. I enjoyed it a lot.
September 22, 2023
3.0 Stars
I have previously loved books by Cassandra Khaw so I was eager to read this collaboration with Richard Kadrey, an author I needed to read.
I liked this one but I will admit that cosmic horror is not a personal favourite of mine. I thought this one was well done, but not the kind of story I tend to love.
The characters were very adult and snarky in a way I didn't particularly care for, which is hard in a story set dependent on caring for these individuals. New York City also acted as a character in this one, but as an outsider I didn't get as much out of the story.
This is a case where I liked the idea more than the story itself. I think readers more familiar with New York City or those that love cosmic horror will get more out of this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I have previously loved books by Cassandra Khaw so I was eager to read this collaboration with Richard Kadrey, an author I needed to read.
I liked this one but I will admit that cosmic horror is not a personal favourite of mine. I thought this one was well done, but not the kind of story I tend to love.
The characters were very adult and snarky in a way I didn't particularly care for, which is hard in a story set dependent on caring for these individuals. New York City also acted as a character in this one, but as an outsider I didn't get as much out of the story.
This is a case where I liked the idea more than the story itself. I think readers more familiar with New York City or those that love cosmic horror will get more out of this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 13, 2024
Star Rating: ➳ 5 Stars
Welp. This was exactly as trippy as every part of its marketing implies! It actually has a wildly compelling storyline as well! It’s not all aesthetic !
This is as freaking WILD as it looks on the cover! Totally a John Dies at the End vibe too! and I LOVE Cassandra Khaw’s writing style! I am SO EXCITED for this collab!!!!
Welp. This was exactly as trippy as every part of its marketing implies! It actually has a wildly compelling storyline as well! It’s not all aesthetic !
This is as freaking WILD as it looks on the cover! Totally a John Dies at the End vibe too! and I LOVE Cassandra Khaw’s writing style! I am SO EXCITED for this collab!!!!
October 17, 2023
I loved the idea of a magical New York, but the execution felt a bit choppy. For example, I had a hard time understanding everyone's level of power when they were so easily defeated by people previously described as weak. Also, it was weird how naive the main characters were. They can come up with elaborate plans to save the world, but don't use their peep hole when someone knocks on their door. Or maybe don't cast spells without making sure you know what you're doing? Also, this was a little too gore filled for me.
October 13, 2023
Maybe 4.5
Basically never answer a knock on your door
Basically never answer a knock on your door
October 25, 2023
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, (For now, anyway.)
And, there's a very nice set-up for what promises to be another hellish dark ride with book number two.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the read.
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, (For now, anyway.)
And, there's a very nice set-up for what promises to be another hellish dark ride with book number two.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the read.
October 13, 2023
Buddy read with Mai!
And it seems that our buddy reads rarely work out lol
Neither one of us liked this at all. In hindsight, maybe we should've DNF.
Unlike Mai, I'm the perfect audience for this kind of urban fantasy horror demon fest, but it flopped pretty badly for me.
I loved Cassandra Khaw's The Salt Grows Heavy, but I'm starting to think that's a one-off thing because I didn't like this book. Nor did I like Nothing But Blackened Teeth (which was one of the worst things I've ever read).
The Dead Take the A Train is more in the line of Nothing But Blackened Teeth, which is incredibly unfortunate. You've got a quirky mixed(?) Asian FMC, Julie, and her ex, Tyler. They both hunt monsters and demons. While Julie works as a contractor, Tyler is employed as a corporate demon hunter.
This all sounds like an awesome urban fantasy, but it came off as the tryhard version of it. It gave off hardcore pulp fiction vibes or the kind of book you'd find on Kindle Unlimited. Also, it was just boring as hell.
Most of the first half dealt with Julie and Sarah's domestic problems, like relationship stuff such as Julie's huge crush on Sarah, and Sarah's misogynistic ex. I fell asleep a few times waiting for the monster slaying.
Both Mai and I were zoned out most of the time when we listened to the audiobook. Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite audiobook narrators for Asian fantasies with Asian FMCs, and even she couldn't save this yawn fest.
The only events I remember are Julie and Sarah's domestic problems (yawn), gross out deaths (actually cool), and demon possessions and demon dimensions. While the second half was more my style of creepy gross demon stuff, I was already tuned out by then to even care.
Two stars because the authors tried, I guess. It looks like other reviewers really liked it, so ymmv.
Also, this isn't cosmic horror. It's just run-of-the-mill monster horror. Nothing Lovecraftian about this at all. Don't besmirch the good name of cosmic horror with this mediocrity.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc.
And it seems that our buddy reads rarely work out lol
Neither one of us liked this at all. In hindsight, maybe we should've DNF.
Unlike Mai, I'm the perfect audience for this kind of urban fantasy horror demon fest, but it flopped pretty badly for me.
I loved Cassandra Khaw's The Salt Grows Heavy, but I'm starting to think that's a one-off thing because I didn't like this book. Nor did I like Nothing But Blackened Teeth (which was one of the worst things I've ever read).
The Dead Take the A Train is more in the line of Nothing But Blackened Teeth, which is incredibly unfortunate. You've got a quirky mixed(?) Asian FMC, Julie, and her ex, Tyler. They both hunt monsters and demons. While Julie works as a contractor, Tyler is employed as a corporate demon hunter.
This all sounds like an awesome urban fantasy, but it came off as the tryhard version of it. It gave off hardcore pulp fiction vibes or the kind of book you'd find on Kindle Unlimited. Also, it was just boring as hell.
Most of the first half dealt with Julie and Sarah's domestic problems, like relationship stuff such as Julie's huge crush on Sarah, and Sarah's misogynistic ex. I fell asleep a few times waiting for the monster slaying.
Both Mai and I were zoned out most of the time when we listened to the audiobook. Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite audiobook narrators for Asian fantasies with Asian FMCs, and even she couldn't save this yawn fest.
The only events I remember are Julie and Sarah's domestic problems (yawn), gross out deaths (actually cool), and demon possessions and demon dimensions. While the second half was more my style of creepy gross demon stuff, I was already tuned out by then to even care.
Two stars because the authors tried, I guess. It looks like other reviewers really liked it, so ymmv.
Also, this isn't cosmic horror. It's just run-of-the-mill monster horror. Nothing Lovecraftian about this at all. Don't besmirch the good name of cosmic horror with this mediocrity.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc.
January 10, 2024
I really tried to like this book and finish but at around 60% I gave up and dropped it. To me looks like that writer was trying for a cross genre story but unfortunately it's a failed cause. There are too many unnecessary details and dialogues.
September 14, 2023
Yes!!!! The gore! The humor! The main character coming from her pov in NYC and the way this involves that city's most elite! (I'm applauding) (Standing ovation)
Julie is about as real as they get, and I immediately loved her sarcastic, no nonsense, beautiful style when it came to handling some very... very... disgusting creatures. She is barely making it by, spending too much money on drugs and liquor and not enough on keeping up with rent. When she becomes invested in a bigger fight than usual.
This was empowering (in a weird way, I guess, but still), and I was diabolically giggling while simultaneously being horrified (what must my neighbors think??). It's definitely a great read.
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
Julie is about as real as they get, and I immediately loved her sarcastic, no nonsense, beautiful style when it came to handling some very... very... disgusting creatures. She is barely making it by, spending too much money on drugs and liquor and not enough on keeping up with rent. When she becomes invested in a bigger fight than usual.
This was empowering (in a weird way, I guess, but still), and I was diabolically giggling while simultaneously being horrified (what must my neighbors think??). It's definitely a great read.
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
November 28, 2023
DNF. 44%
I tried, becausev this book should've been a slam dunk for me. Interesting premise, and I love disaster queer women. But this book was painful. Every fourth page I was looking up words because the author was using extremely obscure words that felt picked out of the thesaurus for being smart vs. it being chosen because it was the best word.
I could have got past this road block if enough other interesting things were going on but those were also missing. The characters' motivations are a mystery. The main character is a classic self destructive bad ass mess, but we have no idea why. Nearly halfway through the book and I have no idea why she behaves this way, how she got into her line of work, why she can do magic... Similar problem with the antagonist. No clue as to why he is an evil bastard working with a company that clearly is a liability to work for. These are point of view characters, they should have more depth.
The world building and plot also are lacking. There's magic but we never see it.
Promising book is an unfortunate mess.
I tried, becausev this book should've been a slam dunk for me. Interesting premise, and I love disaster queer women. But this book was painful. Every fourth page I was looking up words because the author was using extremely obscure words that felt picked out of the thesaurus for being smart vs. it being chosen because it was the best word.
I could have got past this road block if enough other interesting things were going on but those were also missing. The characters' motivations are a mystery. The main character is a classic self destructive bad ass mess, but we have no idea why. Nearly halfway through the book and I have no idea why she behaves this way, how she got into her line of work, why she can do magic... Similar problem with the antagonist. No clue as to why he is an evil bastard working with a company that clearly is a liability to work for. These are point of view characters, they should have more depth.
The world building and plot also are lacking. There's magic but we never see it.
Promising book is an unfortunate mess.
November 8, 2023
This was tedious. Too long. Too wordy. Over the top violence that didn’t really serve a purpose. It felt like the authors were trying too hard. I listened to this on audio and at one point jumped ahead four hours and was still able to follow along. It was just that slow. The only thing I liked about it was the romance, but there wasn’t enough of that to make the torturous rest of the story worth it
Absolutely will not be reading book two.
Absolutely will not be reading book two.
May 28, 2024
If you made a soup containing the gnarliest, goriest moments an urban monster hunter could encounter, and sprinkled in a really sweet, Sapphic friends to lovers relationship, you'd have this book. Fantastic.
November 24, 2023
3.5 stars
November 29, 2023
One thing about a Cassandra Khaw book: I never know what I'm getting into. Even two-thirds of the way through this, completely invested in the story, I still kept thinking, "What genre is this? And also, what's the plot?"
... And that's sort of the plot. Two bisexual girls falling for each other while their ex-boyfriends try to ruin their lives. It's probably the goriest book I've ever read—the descriptions are truly skin-crawling—but it doesn't feel like horror to me. It doesn't feel like I'm supposed to be afraid. If you're the kind of person who needs to understand the magic system of a fantasy world, this is not for you. It's a mess of different types of magic, demons, curses, Eldritch gods, and other inexplicable weirdness. It's dense with world building, without any one structure weaving it together. This totally worked for me, but you need to just let it was over you.
Then, just to keep things interesting, at the heart of this gritty, gruesome, often gross story is a ridiculously cute bisexual F/F pining love story. I love a sapphic friends to lovers story. I won't spoil it and say whether they get together in the end—also, this is only the first in a duology—but I will say the pining is not one-sided. I'm also annoyed that I had such trouble finding out if this was a queer book before I read it, because so much of the book is about Julie and Sarah's relationship.
Full review at the Lesbrary on December 5th.
... And that's sort of the plot. Two bisexual girls falling for each other while their ex-boyfriends try to ruin their lives. It's probably the goriest book I've ever read—the descriptions are truly skin-crawling—but it doesn't feel like horror to me. It doesn't feel like I'm supposed to be afraid. If you're the kind of person who needs to understand the magic system of a fantasy world, this is not for you. It's a mess of different types of magic, demons, curses, Eldritch gods, and other inexplicable weirdness. It's dense with world building, without any one structure weaving it together. This totally worked for me, but you need to just let it was over you.
Then, just to keep things interesting, at the heart of this gritty, gruesome, often gross story is a ridiculously cute bisexual F/F pining love story. I love a sapphic friends to lovers story. I won't spoil it and say whether they get together in the end—also, this is only the first in a duology—but I will say the pining is not one-sided. I'm also annoyed that I had such trouble finding out if this was a queer book before I read it, because so much of the book is about Julie and Sarah's relationship.
Full review at the Lesbrary on December 5th.
September 22, 2023
3⭐️
Overall I thought this book was a good time and it's one I'm going to pick up again but read it physically. There was just so much going on that I don't think this one is great in audiobook format only. A tandem read would be perfect;
This book definitely is gross but can I say in a fun and sometimes hilarious way, the dialogue is great and there is a lot of humor in it. The first 15% I was captured but then it started to fall apart and got really hard for me to follow,
I absolutely love Natalie Naudus as a narrator there is just something about her narrating that I find soothing and captivating. I don't think my issues with this audiobook is really a reflection on her delivery.
I struggled a lot this book understanding what and which character we were following, I would all the sudden realize we weren't with Julie's character anymore. I also don't think I could explain what this book is about.
Again I do plan on picking this one up physically and giving it another try. Because I did really love Julie's character and her dialogue. I think it had great potential for an interesting series.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audiobook my review is voluntarily my own.
Once I reread the physical copy I'll decide then if I'll post to my bookstagram page The.Floofs.Booknook.
Overall I thought this book was a good time and it's one I'm going to pick up again but read it physically. There was just so much going on that I don't think this one is great in audiobook format only. A tandem read would be perfect;
This book definitely is gross but can I say in a fun and sometimes hilarious way, the dialogue is great and there is a lot of humor in it. The first 15% I was captured but then it started to fall apart and got really hard for me to follow,
I absolutely love Natalie Naudus as a narrator there is just something about her narrating that I find soothing and captivating. I don't think my issues with this audiobook is really a reflection on her delivery.
I struggled a lot this book understanding what and which character we were following, I would all the sudden realize we weren't with Julie's character anymore. I also don't think I could explain what this book is about.
Again I do plan on picking this one up physically and giving it another try. Because I did really love Julie's character and her dialogue. I think it had great potential for an interesting series.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audiobook my review is voluntarily my own.
Once I reread the physical copy I'll decide then if I'll post to my bookstagram page The.Floofs.Booknook.
October 19, 2023
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.
June 30, 2023
This book was so fuckin’ fun holy shit.
So much happened at once in the best way possible. It had the perfect amount of humor mixed in with the serious moments and plenty of gore and disgusting mental visuals to keep you up at night. It had everything, Freelance magic work, Wall Street eldritch bosses, worms! The works. I loved this.
I’ve never read from Richard Kadrey before but I have read from Cassandra Khaw and I think this is my new favorite book they’re written.
I need the next one yesterday.
So much happened at once in the best way possible. It had the perfect amount of humor mixed in with the serious moments and plenty of gore and disgusting mental visuals to keep you up at night. It had everything, Freelance magic work, Wall Street eldritch bosses, worms! The works. I loved this.
I’ve never read from Richard Kadrey before but I have read from Cassandra Khaw and I think this is my new favorite book they’re written.
I need the next one yesterday.
July 29, 2023
i think this was entertaining and the concept is fun but it was all over the place. it needed a couple more rounds of edit to tighten up the plot and pace, and strengthen the individual voices of each character and perspective. at times it really felt like the narration didn't quite match up the dialogue. i also could've done without ever having to read that much about tyler and his character. a magical nyc is always cool though and i'd like to see more horrific beings pop into existence in this universe!
April 18, 2024
Two really talented writers. One really interesting world.
The lore and demons and dark magic culture is great. The Lovecraftian corporation reminded me a lot of The Wolfram and Hart from Angel. But I loved that concept, so seeing Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey take a shot at re-imagining it was a lot of fun. The gore and cosmic horror elements were pretty brutal, very imaginative, well-executed and exciting. The monsters were quite well done (loved the parasite/angel concept). I thought the antagonist(s) were suitably intimidating.
But the ending got telegraphed way too much and the romance elements felt repetitive instead of genuine. A lot of the scenes with the two main characters are superfluous. Like, we get it, Julie's infatuated. We don't need to be reminded every other page when you've already established that your tough-as-hell, take-no-shit, demon-hunter melted like butter in a microwave when their love interest laughed at their joke. Move on. Develop the relationship, or end it, do something. Heck, do anything besides spin your wheels.
Please.
I'm making that complaint sound overwhelming and it's not. I'm just being dramatic/hyperbolic because I'm a critic. That's what we do.
The elements that bugged me, only did that. They just bugged me. They didn't derail the plot for me. The prose is slick and fantastic. The pacing (for the most part) is tremendous. And the best qualities of the book are found in the world the characters inhabit and the creatures within. Lots of interesting and deranged concepts.
I'll absolutely take a look at the next one in this series.
7.5/10
The lore and demons and dark magic culture is great. The Lovecraftian corporation reminded me a lot of The Wolfram and Hart from Angel. But I loved that concept, so seeing Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey take a shot at re-imagining it was a lot of fun. The gore and cosmic horror elements were pretty brutal, very imaginative, well-executed and exciting. The monsters were quite well done (loved the parasite/angel concept). I thought the antagonist(s) were suitably intimidating.
But the ending got telegraphed way too much and the romance elements felt repetitive instead of genuine. A lot of the scenes with the two main characters are superfluous. Like, we get it, Julie's infatuated. We don't need to be reminded every other page when you've already established that your tough-as-hell, take-no-shit, demon-hunter melted like butter in a microwave when their love interest laughed at their joke. Move on. Develop the relationship, or end it, do something. Heck, do anything besides spin your wheels.
Please.
I'm making that complaint sound overwhelming and it's not. I'm just being dramatic/hyperbolic because I'm a critic. That's what we do.
The elements that bugged me, only did that. They just bugged me. They didn't derail the plot for me. The prose is slick and fantastic. The pacing (for the most part) is tremendous. And the best qualities of the book are found in the world the characters inhabit and the creatures within. Lots of interesting and deranged concepts.
I'll absolutely take a look at the next one in this series.
7.5/10
December 9, 2023
THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN by Cassandra KHAW and Richard KADREY
Publication: October 3, 2023
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Page Count:400
Jump on board for a horrific ride into Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror as we are introduced to Julie Crews … a thirty-something Bitch on wheels … as she renders magic spells “for cash” in between consuming mass quantities of drugs, Vodka and Korean take-out. This marvelous urban-fantasy horror novel is the brainchild of the dynamic duo of Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. Julie feels her magic career in the NYC scene is going nowhere and to “bump” things up, she congers up a “guardian” angel that is intent on progressively annihalting the world, rather than promoting her success. Blood, gore and entrails will drip from the pages. Julie’s ex boyfriend, Tyler Banks drags her into the mess of dealing with the eldritch horror, “ The Mother Who Eats” , as part of his ongoing battle to climb the corporate ladder of the nefarious law firm, Thorne & Dirks. His job at the firm was head of Excisions, meaning he made problems disappear. Cut them entirely out of existence. ( This law firm is the equivalent of Wolfram and Hart as seen on the television show, “Angel”) Complicating matters, Sara, her best friend (from her earlier life) and the essence of “ goodness” shows up on her doorstep, fleeing from her abusive boyfriend, Dan. Her present day friends, the ancient, sort of fairy god-mother, St Joan and the wheelchair-bound Dead Air (computer wizard and hacker) immediately visualize the “sparks between the two”
Khaw and Kadrey manage to dish up a carnage of gore and entrails in between their dark horrific humor. The convoluted plot progressively escalates in complexity and intrigue as the exciting action filled denouement draws to a close, with yet some unresolved loose ends dangling for the sequel. In between the snarky humor are frequent jabs of satire at corporate culture. I anticipate the need for further adventures in the burgeoning magic career of Julie Crews. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: October 3, 2023
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Page Count:400
Jump on board for a horrific ride into Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror as we are introduced to Julie Crews … a thirty-something Bitch on wheels … as she renders magic spells “for cash” in between consuming mass quantities of drugs, Vodka and Korean take-out. This marvelous urban-fantasy horror novel is the brainchild of the dynamic duo of Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey. Julie feels her magic career in the NYC scene is going nowhere and to “bump” things up, she congers up a “guardian” angel that is intent on progressively annihalting the world, rather than promoting her success. Blood, gore and entrails will drip from the pages. Julie’s ex boyfriend, Tyler Banks drags her into the mess of dealing with the eldritch horror, “ The Mother Who Eats” , as part of his ongoing battle to climb the corporate ladder of the nefarious law firm, Thorne & Dirks. His job at the firm was head of Excisions, meaning he made problems disappear. Cut them entirely out of existence. ( This law firm is the equivalent of Wolfram and Hart as seen on the television show, “Angel”) Complicating matters, Sara, her best friend (from her earlier life) and the essence of “ goodness” shows up on her doorstep, fleeing from her abusive boyfriend, Dan. Her present day friends, the ancient, sort of fairy god-mother, St Joan and the wheelchair-bound Dead Air (computer wizard and hacker) immediately visualize the “sparks between the two”
Khaw and Kadrey manage to dish up a carnage of gore and entrails in between their dark horrific humor. The convoluted plot progressively escalates in complexity and intrigue as the exciting action filled denouement draws to a close, with yet some unresolved loose ends dangling for the sequel. In between the snarky humor are frequent jabs of satire at corporate culture. I anticipate the need for further adventures in the burgeoning magic career of Julie Crews. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
4.5 Stars
This was a fun, wild ride that started from the beginning and didn't let up until the end. I am a big fan of Khaw and their writing style. I'm not as familiar with Kadrey but slowly becoming a fan. Although, I didn't care for the MC that much, the story and all the other characters kept me entertained. Looking for to more in this series.
**Special shout out to that cover art! Magnificent!!
This was a fun, wild ride that started from the beginning and didn't let up until the end. I am a big fan of Khaw and their writing style. I'm not as familiar with Kadrey but slowly becoming a fan. Although, I didn't care for the MC that much, the story and all the other characters kept me entertained. Looking for to more in this series.
**Special shout out to that cover art! Magnificent!!
October 28, 2023
I was drawn to The Dead Take The A Train because of the NYC setting since I'm still reminiscing about a recent trip to the city and also because of the fact that I don't read much horror, but usually enjoy what I do read.
The story follows Julie Crews, a down on her luck practitioner of magic who has just lost her intern after her ex, Tyler Banks, sends the pair to do a "routine" job removing a creature from the office of an important client ... only it turns out to be a far more dangerous task than he conveyed.
As Julie decides on her next move, her best friend Sarah shows up at her door asking for help fleeing her abusive partner Dan. This sets off a potentially apocalyptic chain of events involving a fake spell book, a parasitic monster posing as an angel and Tyler's unstoppable quest for power at his literal soul-sucking corporate job.
The premise of the book was fantastic and it started off strong, kind of like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but with a lot of cocaine ... and a lot more worms. Unfortunately, midway through the book, the story started to lose me a little. I wish we had seen more of Julie and Sarah's background story and learned more about Julie's magical origin story to make her a little more well-rounded.
The book also introduced a lot of secondary characters and made a lot of references that weren't explained - I looked a few up, but couldn't find others online so it seems like they are part of the lore that just wasn't built out enough. I am also still confused about the ending of the book. It wasn't clear cut if certain actions had the intended outcome. The ending also seemed very abrupt.
Content Warnings: Gore, Graphic Violence, domestic abuse, excessive drug and alcohol use
The story follows Julie Crews, a down on her luck practitioner of magic who has just lost her intern after her ex, Tyler Banks, sends the pair to do a "routine" job removing a creature from the office of an important client ... only it turns out to be a far more dangerous task than he conveyed.
As Julie decides on her next move, her best friend Sarah shows up at her door asking for help fleeing her abusive partner Dan. This sets off a potentially apocalyptic chain of events involving a fake spell book, a parasitic monster posing as an angel and Tyler's unstoppable quest for power at his literal soul-sucking corporate job.
The premise of the book was fantastic and it started off strong, kind of like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but with a lot of cocaine ... and a lot more worms. Unfortunately, midway through the book, the story started to lose me a little. I wish we had seen more of Julie and Sarah's background story and learned more about Julie's magical origin story to make her a little more well-rounded.
The book also introduced a lot of secondary characters and made a lot of references that weren't explained - I looked a few up, but couldn't find others online so it seems like they are part of the lore that just wasn't built out enough. I am also still confused about the ending of the book. It wasn't clear cut if certain actions had the intended outcome. The ending also seemed very abrupt.
Content Warnings: Gore, Graphic Violence, domestic abuse, excessive drug and alcohol use
June 25, 2024
I can't do it. DNF at page 52, mid-way through chapter 5 when Brad was doing math magic.
It's Khaw's writing. I attribute it to Khaw, even though this is co-authored, because it matches the wordplay in Hammers on Bone. I haven't read anything by Kadrey yet but I have something in my TBR; if it turns out to have similar issues I'll revise my opinion here.
It's too much: too hip, too consciously cool, too forced. It draws too much attention to itself. I can't stand it. I'll spare you all but one example. No shade on those who enjoy it, it's hyper-contemporary, very online, and technically sound. I just can't stand it.
I almost gave up after chapter 1 with one line in particular stuck in my head: "... the pieces mosaiced into place." I appreciate the effort to subvert the cliche. The visual metaphor fits. But it forces consideration, stops the reader, holds up a sign saying, "look at me!" There should not be sentences that I can't get over in a bad way, certainly not multiple such.
I can't do it. I tried Khaw but I can go no further.
What a baller of a book cover though. It immediately recalls The City We Became. I couldn't stand that book either.
It's Khaw's writing. I attribute it to Khaw, even though this is co-authored, because it matches the wordplay in Hammers on Bone. I haven't read anything by Kadrey yet but I have something in my TBR; if it turns out to have similar issues I'll revise my opinion here.
It's too much: too hip, too consciously cool, too forced. It draws too much attention to itself. I can't stand it. I'll spare you all but one example. No shade on those who enjoy it, it's hyper-contemporary, very online, and technically sound. I just can't stand it.
I almost gave up after chapter 1 with one line in particular stuck in my head: "... the pieces mosaiced into place." I appreciate the effort to subvert the cliche. The visual metaphor fits. But it forces consideration, stops the reader, holds up a sign saying, "look at me!" There should not be sentences that I can't get over in a bad way, certainly not multiple such.
I can't do it. I tried Khaw but I can go no further.
What a baller of a book cover though. It immediately recalls The City We Became. I couldn't stand that book either.
October 10, 2023
Initial Thoughts
I like weird books and this one definitely fits that description. The story started out with a bang and I was hooked. The story did meander a bit in the middle but the story still held my attention. I liked our flawed protagonist, Julie, and was eager to see how she would possibly come out ahead with so much stacked against her. The story was violent and gory at times so it may not work for all readers. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did an amazing job of bringing this book to life.
ARC provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
I like weird books and this one definitely fits that description. The story started out with a bang and I was hooked. The story did meander a bit in the middle but the story still held my attention. I liked our flawed protagonist, Julie, and was eager to see how she would possibly come out ahead with so much stacked against her. The story was violent and gory at times so it may not work for all readers. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did an amazing job of bringing this book to life.
ARC provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
June 8, 2024
4.5 stars and yes I wish it was a five
man this book was giving all the good shit in the beginning with the killing demons and the mother who eats and the Julie and Sarah love story but then it got kind of mess up like no fun like so much death that I didn't give a shit about who died and I didn't like that at all
but I still loved Julie because her character was so fucking good and man she was giving that new york vibe and I loved that so much and her love for sarah was everything.
but at the end this book was becoming not a vibe but I hope there will be more books I really do
I will give it another chance
- sincerely the illiterate child that one psychopath
man this book was giving all the good shit in the beginning with the killing demons and the mother who eats and the Julie and Sarah love story but then it got kind of mess up like no fun like so much death that I didn't give a shit about who died and I didn't like that at all
but I still loved Julie because her character was so fucking good and man she was giving that new york vibe and I loved that so much and her love for sarah was everything.
but at the end this book was becoming not a vibe but I hope there will be more books I really do
I will give it another chance
- sincerely the illiterate child that one psychopath
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