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songwind's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent continuation of and improvement upon the original Sandman Slim.
shalini_rasamdaa's review against another edition
3.0
Quite a nice, action-filled romp like the original, only instead of crazy not-angels we have zombies. I didn't give this book as many stars as the original because of the sexual scenes and improbable female characters (unlike the previous book, where the girls weren't so one-dimensional). I was also not happy that none of the characters grew. This being a testosterony author writing a testosterony book, I'll just shut up about the women being one-dimensional and lacking in real character interest (two cardboard cutouts especially, one who wanted to boink Stark and the other who did). The worldbuilding could have been fleshed out more. The idea about the place where the dead go was very interesting, as is the ancient curio dealer who gets more interesting by the page. Fleshing out the world would have been good. People becoming different, rather than dead, would have been better; more energy on existing characters' growth (art students suddenly becoming super smart witch doctors don't count). Unfortunately, even Stark himself doesn't change at all. He experiences something new, and becomes something new, but only for a while. Then there's an Episode Reset and he's back to mean old secretly sentimental Stark.
You know what? That's why I'm reading the next book. Sometimes no change is good, especially when you can look forward to more Hellion keister-kicking (and one particular angel whom I hope will be very living-challenged).
You know what? That's why I'm reading the next book. Sometimes no change is good, especially when you can look forward to more Hellion keister-kicking (and one particular angel whom I hope will be very living-challenged).
ptothelo's review against another edition
4.0
This series reminds me of the Dresden Files. Saying his and Dresden's views of Heaven & Hell are the exact opposite may be oversimplifying their differences but given that they are both, loosely speaking, investigators of the paranormal and the unknown and unpredictable factor in these larger games, they are largely alike in other respects.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Sandman Slim is the ultimate anti-hero. I love him, and can't wait to keep reading more books in this wicked series.
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointing. The first novel had a focus I found original-Hell. The main character was a gladiator/assassin who'd lived in Hell for a while. Pretty bad-ass, interesting magics. Well, living on the surface for a while made him not so bad-ass.
Characters were weak.
Plot was pretty good. Not too slow. Interesting things happened. Interesting zombie treatment.
Characters were weak.
Plot was pretty good. Not too slow. Interesting things happened. Interesting zombie treatment.
showell's review against another edition
3.0
Funny, profane, with a plot that is simultaneously engrossing, over the top, and mindless. An excellent choice for waiting out a blizzard.
jmoses's review against another edition
4.0
More of the same, and not in a bad way. I like this world, and the magic system, and the characters. Slim is conflicted, as he should be, and everybody else is complex and true to form. Fun, quick and dirty (not that kind of dirty).
sevaspeto's review against another edition
4.0
I was fairly on the fence about this for a *good* bulk of it. One of my complaints about the first entry in the Sandman Slim series was that the dialogue and narration felt too pulpy and witty and inauthentic. But without delving into spoiler territory, there's a good section of this book that deviates from that pulpy, witty style of writing and I found that I *immediately* missed it. It's part of our hero's attitude and demeanor and maybe it's Kadrey's signature voice. I'm actually highly motivated to read something of his outside the Sandman Slim series to confirm or deny that now, haha.
Although I thought the central storyline of "Sandman Slim" was stronger than "Kill The Dead", this book is a solid continuation of the story and extends the world-building a bit further. If you dug "Sandman Slim", you'll definitely enjoy "Kill The Dead". And now that I've delved deeper into the universe and made peace with his voice and the characters, I'm definitely interested in tearing through the rest of the novels in this series =0)
Although I thought the central storyline of "Sandman Slim" was stronger than "Kill The Dead", this book is a solid continuation of the story and extends the world-building a bit further. If you dug "Sandman Slim", you'll definitely enjoy "Kill The Dead". And now that I've delved deeper into the universe and made peace with his voice and the characters, I'm definitely interested in tearing through the rest of the novels in this series =0)
tobinlopes's review against another edition
3.0
A good, lightning fast-paced installment of Sandman Slim and his buddies. At times the plot, largely driven by Slim himself, felt forced.
It's still good enough for anyone who's interested in angels, demons, vampires, zombies.
I gave it a 7/10 on my own scale.
-tpl
It's still good enough for anyone who's interested in angels, demons, vampires, zombies.
I gave it a 7/10 on my own scale.
-tpl
bethtabler's review against another edition
5.0
"Hell is hilarious if you're the one in charge." ~ Lucifer
I absolutely love this series thus far. It was one of the books I wanted to finish reading by the end of the year via this list. 10 Books I Want to Read This Year.. And Why
My blog post from earlier this year, "Kill the Dead" by Richard Kadrey - I read the first "Sandman Slim" book, aptly named just "Sandman Slim" and dudddde, holy anti-hero batman. Yaas. Bring on the "I don't give a shit attitude." I love that the language in Sandman Slim is punchy. Not overly wordy and detailed. I want some concisely written words."
I received everything I asked for and more after reading #2 in the series. Sandman Slim should be on more lists and garner more praise. It should be up there with the likes of Dresden, and October Daye because it is just that damn good. It is so refreshing when there seems to be so much unoriginal urban fantasy out there. Always the same sort of schtick. Not this book...
“Twenty percent? What am I, your waiter? I got you five vampires, not a BLT.”
― Richard Kadrey, Kill the Dead
This story picks up a while after the first Sandman Slim story left off. We have our resident anti-hero having a hell of a time mentally, and in some ways physically while trying to the bills by doing the odd killing or menacing here and there. I don't want to give too much away, but if you enjoyed the first book in this series, "Sandman Slim" you will probably enjoy this one. They are a little different in style and texture. But, the dark humor and great story come through. There is a bit of a love interest, and a new interesting character getting fleshed out in Lucifer. I am going to keep this short, as this book is a pause in a longer story. But read the series. It is so worth it.
Check out my blog- more review to come www.beforeweblog.com