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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
I really enjoyed this story, set in an exotic fantasy realm, of a hired assassin known as Eveen the Eviscerator whose latest contract ends up being someone she just cannot bring herself to kill. While I expected the kind of colourful characters that populate an assassin's story (tricky bosses, competing killers out for your blood, local crime lords, etc.), the world-building in this story was much more expansive (including a healthy share of assassin lore and really fantastic local legends), especially for such a short novella. Think more Arabian Nights than John Wick. The plot contained some interesting twists and goes in certain surprising directions right from the start, as Eveen tries to figure out what's going on. Despite all that good stuff that makes this a pretty fresh, fun tale, there was one big issue that was distracting through most of the story. Clark's writing is very good for the most part. He can paint a picture (especially a character portrait) with words pretty well. However, the choice to use contemporary colloquial language and slang (the word "mansplain" was used!) in such a fantastical setting, was really distracting. It lessened as the story went on, but it was frustrating to me throughout. Also, for the audiobook, some of the voices used were not great. One of the main characters sounded like a 5 year old girl, who I was shocked to learn was supposed to be 19! And at the climax of the book, a major character has a patois that was a bit tough for me to understand. Nevertheless, I found this to be a really imaginative and enjoyable read. I hope there will be more adventures in this world.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this read. Just when I thought I’d figured out the plot, something new developed and kept me engaged. A very easy read with great details about the assassins Guild, as well as just the fantasy world, and the fight scenes were rather engaging. There were also a few moments that made me chuckle a bit, nothing to make me laugh out loud, but the dry and sarcastic sense of humor from the characters was enjoyable.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is a delightful genre mashup.
I don’t know how Clark manages it in a novella, but he takes what’s a cool premise on its own, undead assassins in cat masks, and adds on top of that a magic festival, double identities, pulp fiction, magic science, and an additional plot twist that’s so well set up you can’t help but embrace it.
There’s heart under the tongue-in-cheek references (including sorcerers literally called “edgelords,” which made me chuckle). It’s a novel about identity, the power of memory, and self vs reputation.
And also a heart warming ending, despite the underlying grisliness in it. Whole-heartedly recommend this!
I don’t know how Clark manages it in a novella, but he takes what’s a cool premise on its own, undead assassins in cat masks, and adds on top of that a magic festival, double identities, pulp fiction, magic science, and an additional plot twist that’s so well set up you can’t help but embrace it.
There’s heart under the tongue-in-cheek references (including sorcerers literally called “edgelords,” which made me chuckle). It’s a novel about identity, the power of memory, and self vs reputation.
And also a heart warming ending, despite the underlying grisliness in it. Whole-heartedly recommend this!
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed it. The audiobook narration was good, but my only critique is that I could only understand about half the words of one of the characters, later in the book.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes