A review by just_one_more_paige
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

adventurous dark funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 
Ok, I read a novella from Clark, The Haunting of Tram Car 015, a few years ago...and was enchanted by the steam-punk alt-Egyptian world and fun magical mystery story. So, naturally, it took me this long to get around to picking up a second book from him. Lolz. Thanks to Libro.fm for offering the ALC that made me finally do so, because I was, again, enchanted. 
 
For a short novel, Clark really packed so much into it! The world-(city, really)-building is full and vibrant, with details from the neighborhoods to the architecture to the mythology and celebrations to the legal and political systems, all being given page-time. And I really appreciated that it was not all dumped at the beginning, but unfolds for the reader as the story goes. There are times where that can be harder on the reader, or one feels a bit lost/adrift for a minute, but as with visiting any new place, it becomes familiar at a more natural pace, and it's simply great writing. 
 
Speaking now to the story...it was just as gripping as Tram Car 015, centering magic and mystery and a bit of an "unlikely" heroine around a classic central theme of assassin guilds and "eat the rich/powerful" messaging. There's an incredibly satisfying "you get what's coming to you" comeuppance finale, which is a favorite "it all falls into place perfectly" ending style of mine (recently, Swordcrossed was a similar type wrap-up) . Plus, a generous helping of action and violence. Eveen is a super fun MC to follow, and the narrator of the audiobook did an absolutely fantastic job bringing her cynical and "what the actual f*uck?" tone to life. The humor was always there in the writing, but the narration made the reading experience low key actually funny, in a great way. 
 
As you know, I am always a bit of a sucker for magic and fantasy, and those aspects were strong here, with urban and steampunk-y and thaumaturgical theory and multiverse magical vibes combined in a totally creative way. I loved all of it. And I mean, just look at that cover...absolutely stunning! 
 
“Turns out, really hard to get rich and powerful without doing somebody some kinda grevious harm.” 
 
 “Magic […] It imitates life, seeking symmetry out of randomness.” 
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