I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw, Richard Kadrey Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Series: Carrion City #1
Published by Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire on October 3, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Length: 12 hours 59 minutes
Pages: 400
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm
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.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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. The story was violent and gory at times so it may not work for all readers but it worked very well for me. This book had everything I hoped for including a main character that I wanted to see succeed, a nemesis that was easy to hate, and enough action to keep things very interesting.
I liked our flawed protagonist, Julie, and was eager to see how she would possibly come out ahead with so much stacked against her. Her ex, Tyler, is pretty horrible and has no problem putting Julie in impossible situations as long as he thinks that he will come out on top. I enjoyed watching Julie take on the monsters that most people don’t even know are there. Her friend, Sarah, added a lot to the story and I liked watching their relationship grow and change over the course of the story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did an amazing job of bringing this book to life. I feel like I have listened to quite a few titles read by this narrator lately and she is quickly becoming a favorite. I find her voice to be very pleasant and she has an impressive range which really helps to bring the story and characters to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this novel.
I would recommend this book to others. I was really impressed by this original story that kept me guessing until the very enjoy. I was invested in how things would work out for Julie and the rest of the characters. I am looking forward to the second book in this duology!
I received a digital copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Nightfire.
This does sound like a weird but fun urban fantasy read.
This one sounds like a lot of fun, with a lot going on. Seems like a solid start to the series!
That cover is awesome.. not sure if the book is right for me though. Good to hear you enjoyed it.
This sounds good except for the gory parts. If I can find it at the library I will give it a try and just skim over those parts. Great review!
Weird can be good.
Wow, that cover is something creepy