The Dead Cat Tail Assassins

Nebula Award winner Clark (Ring Shout) returns with an electrifying romp following a group of undead assassins in the ancient port city of Tal Abisi. The Dead Cat Tails sell their souls to their goddess Aeril, the Matron of Assassins, who strips them of their memories and transforms them into killers. In exchange, they must adhere to her sacred precepts: the contract must be just (no killing innocents), the assassin can only kill the person they’ve been contracted to off, and once a job is accepted, it must be carried out. Eveen the Eviscerator is one of the best assassins in the league, but she’s historically had trouble following the rules. When she shows up to take out her current target, she finds herself somehow face-to-face with her past self. Hit by a whirlwind of forgotten memories of her past, Eveen can’t finish the job, leaving her past self alive to instead investigate who wanted her dead in the first place. Clark’s plot moves at a breakneck clip with quick wit, offbeat characters, and plenty of intrigue. This is pure entertainment. (Apr.)