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A review by ojtheviking
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw, Richard Kadrey
5.0
4.5 rounded up!
Wow, I really loved this book! A great blend of Lovecraftian horror, urban fantasy, comedy and some neo noir vibes, highly action packed and well written.
My only regreat is that I haven't read any individual work of neither Khaw nor Kadrey, so I don't really know if one author's style is more dominant than the other's, or if it's a solid blend of both authors' style, with each their moments to shine.
Regardless, the writing is excellent. I've often heard about the notion of the perfect opening line of a book (Stephen King's "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed" comes to mind), but damn, there is also something to be said about an entire, solid first page. The introduction of the main character, Julie, and what she's all about hits you right in the face from the get-go with a setup that immediately turns into a grotesque scenario. Literally on the first page, I already thought: "...okay, you got my attention now!"
The mix of plot and world-building feels very smooth. There's a seamless blend of the real-life nitty gritty of New York and the magical underbelly. The fact that the story takes place in New York is in itself quite fitting, because it gives Julie's personality an extra edge in addition to how she conducts herself with a certain jadedness, a been-there-done-that attitude about all the supernatural elements, which in return makes some room for some delightfully dark humor. Julie has clearly been around the block so many times, she's dealing with monsters and creatures like a seasoned exterminator on just another day at the job killing roaches.
That's a thing I love about the narration overall. There are so many wonderful ways to describe scenarios that make them all the more vivid and colorful, like how something has to be explained to someone as if they're an infant with a concussion, or that someone is as discreet as an elephant on roller skates. It brings more life and flair to the storytelling. Ancient ideas are modernized; for example, the concept of a cult summoning cosmic entities from across dimensions is described here as an evil law firm, and their old rituals, curses, and sacrifices are similar to legal clauses and contractual guidelines.
And then it will occasionally hit you over the head with bursts of violence, fast-paced action sequences, and shocking gore, but still in a highly well-written and captivating way. It's all just such a fun ride (no pun intended).
I'm already looking forward to the second part of this Carrion City series. In fact, I liked this first part so much that I'm inclined to read it again in preparation before embarking on part two once it's released!
Wow, I really loved this book! A great blend of Lovecraftian horror, urban fantasy, comedy and some neo noir vibes, highly action packed and well written.
My only regreat is that I haven't read any individual work of neither Khaw nor Kadrey, so I don't really know if one author's style is more dominant than the other's, or if it's a solid blend of both authors' style, with each their moments to shine.
Regardless, the writing is excellent. I've often heard about the notion of the perfect opening line of a book (Stephen King's "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed" comes to mind), but damn, there is also something to be said about an entire, solid first page. The introduction of the main character, Julie, and what she's all about hits you right in the face from the get-go with a setup that immediately turns into a grotesque scenario. Literally on the first page, I already thought: "...okay, you got my attention now!"
The mix of plot and world-building feels very smooth. There's a seamless blend of the real-life nitty gritty of New York and the magical underbelly. The fact that the story takes place in New York is in itself quite fitting, because it gives Julie's personality an extra edge in addition to how she conducts herself with a certain jadedness, a been-there-done-that attitude about all the supernatural elements, which in return makes some room for some delightfully dark humor. Julie has clearly been around the block so many times, she's dealing with monsters and creatures like a seasoned exterminator on just another day at the job killing roaches.
That's a thing I love about the narration overall. There are so many wonderful ways to describe scenarios that make them all the more vivid and colorful, like how something has to be explained to someone as if they're an infant with a concussion, or that someone is as discreet as an elephant on roller skates. It brings more life and flair to the storytelling. Ancient ideas are modernized; for example, the concept of a cult summoning cosmic entities from across dimensions is described here as an evil law firm, and their old rituals, curses, and sacrifices are similar to legal clauses and contractual guidelines.
And then it will occasionally hit you over the head with bursts of violence, fast-paced action sequences, and shocking gore, but still in a highly well-written and captivating way. It's all just such a fun ride (no pun intended).
I'm already looking forward to the second part of this Carrion City series. In fact, I liked this first part so much that I'm inclined to read it again in preparation before embarking on part two once it's released!