Wow! This was fantastic! Such a great mix of horror, gothic fantasy and a dark noir detective story. Once I started this book I just couldn't put it down and I'm hoping that there will be a sequel or at least some more books coming soon from this very talented author.
Thank you NetGalley, Blood Bound Books, and S.C. Mendes for the wonderful time I had with this book!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

The City is an extreme horror by S.C. Mendes. This was my first time hearing of the author, but seeing that Kristopher Triana gave a positive review of it; I was totally on board.

Noir isn't my typical goto, so I wasn't too sure of what to expect.
Overall, the author has an unique writing style, which is easy to follow but also easy to stay engaged with.
The storyline moved along at a great pace. There were a few short lulls in action, but nothing too crazy.
The author did an amazing job at making you feel for the main character Max, which is in huge part what kept me engaged in this book. I WANTED him to be okay.

I will definitely check out other books by SC Mendes!

A very gritty detective vibe throughout. it kept me invested but I can see it chasing off some typical horror fans. I enjoyed it because it was a little different than what I'm used to.
Set in a time where detectives broke the big cases.

Let me praise S.C. Mendes because his style of writing catches my attention until the end.

At first I'm so hesitant to download this free book at Netgalley because I don't think I will be interested in a horror noir thriller type of setting. But it reminds of Repairman Jack the protagonist named Max Elliot in the story.

Horrific especially to the climactic part of the story that I didn't expect to be on that way. The ending very french kiss mwahhhh so excellent that I'm itching to read now the sequel to The City.

Just read it! You will not regret the story about The City and the evil that lurks ahead called Mara.

Look, I wanted to really like this book. There are a lot of dark ideas that feel infused with potential, but when you scratch at the surface there doesn’t seem to be the substance. Still, the story moves quickly and has enough going for it that I am open to reading the sequel (which was written, or at least published, five years after this, hopefully time enough for what felt like weaknesses to be strengthened).

The heart of my problem is how generic and uninspired all of the characters are. A brooding cop with substance abuse problems and a dead family; cheeky teenager wise/experienced beyond their years; optimistic rookie cop with big hopes that crash against the realities of the system; and so on. None of them feel like more than every generic character in every half-hearted noir ever, and I had a hard time caring about them. I say they were the “heart” of my lackluster reception of this novel because if the characters were better that would have gone a long way to papering over the other things that felt mediocre or inexperienced. The setting feels wildly conflicted. For reasons unknown to me it is set in the early 20th century, but the description of police departments/divisions, the way investigations are handled, and firearms used, all little details like that, feel anachronistic. The actions and language screams 1970s noir, so why set it in 1910? The idea of a hidden fantastical/magical reality parallel to what we know is nothing new, but that’s fine, it is a huge canvas that can be decorated in infinite ways, and what Mendes has done with it here just feels boring, and not inventive. Everything feels like the easiest, most impulsive option. That goes for the character development and plotting, too, especially in the back half of the book. The character growth and development feel entirely unearned, with whiplash decisions and yet somehow nothing surprising.

Yes, there is explicit violence and depravity. None of it was too shocking, and none lingered long enough to be too disturbing, especially because it was enacted on unknown, largely nameless characters. Even in the violence none of it felt particularly inventive. Take the most puerile ideas about snuff films and live sex shows and then maybe mature them one or two clicks up the dial and that is what is here, nothing particularly offensive but not interesting, either. Again, it felt like easy, unearned choices. I liked the combination of gritty noir and graphic violence/depravity, they feel like bedfellows that often cross paths in the night but don’t spend enough time together. I just didn’t feel like anything complicated or interesting was explored, it felt juvenile and first draft-y.

After all that complaining, why would I want to read the sequel? Even with what felt like cookie-cutter characters, a rushed plot, and conflicted world-building, there is a lot of potential here. Not every story needs to be totally fresh and new, and the story did play with noir literary conventions in ways that had some interest. Everything and everyone were open enough that they could be made more interesting. The plotting and character development did feel rushed, but the actual story beats were solid. The twists and turns and so on all were strong ideas that just felt like they weren’t executed in the best ways.

Mendes put a lot on the table, maybe too much for them to handle in this novel (as opposed to short fiction, which it seems they have written more of). But those ideas are strong enough that I am interested in seeing where the second installment might take them and hoping that the years between publication dates was time enough for their writing to develop enough to match their ideas.

(Rounded up from 2.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Blood Bound Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This one was wild! I’ll be honest that this toes the line of extreme horror and I likely wouldn’t have read it based upon that. Luckily I didn’t realize and made it through this awesome book.

I loved the vibes. It’s a very dark book with some wild characters. The atmosphere within The City is palpable and the various horrors were so well done. The skin puppets were a personal favorite of mine.

Overall, this horror noir was one I won’t forget. I definitely look forward to the follow ups.

Highly recommend, but definitely check tws if you have them!

I received a review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another solid pulp story. I think perhaps the pacing was a bit off, which made some of the plot points seem a little thin. As far as the "entertainment" offered in the City, I think Mendes would have been better served by hinting at the atrocities and leaving more to the imagination.

I expected noir but didn't realize this was going to be so brutal and heart wrenching. There was a scene that broke my heart and horrified me at the same time. The author deftly creates a unique world and draws you in. I was excited to see there is another book in this universe. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

The City is absolutely gripping! The author takes the reader on such a dark and very detailed dive into the underground. The mystery within the city and the Mara was so fascinating! I wanted to explore things deeper right along with Max. The author really did an amazing job with world building in this book. So many sights and sounds to take in and just immerse yourself in the story.

Max Elliot was a great character who was very broken and haunted by his own past yet so determined to help Ming. The lengths he went to and the amount of danger he placed himself in was astounding. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, Max turns things up a notch as he moves deeper into the city.

If you enjoy suspense-filled reads and horror noir, check this one out. Everything about this was unique, and I hope there will be more.

It's a brutal and wild story with kinetic quality. I enjoyed it most of the time. Sometimes it veered into gratuitous territories and I wasn't crazy about these parts. That being said, it's fun.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BloodBoundBooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my own, and unbiased opinion.

The first chapter reminded me of a scene from Johnny Depp's movie "From Hell," and I had more or less an inkling of what this book is all about. But I was wrong. Should Depp's film specifically examine the Jack the Ripper murders, "The City" goes beyond a simple cat-and-mouse pursuit of serial killings. It becomes a deep analysis of the ubiquitous evils of society that loom large and cast a shadow over human lives.

As a detective, Max Elliot is used to seeing the darkest sides of crime and society's ills. When someone brutally murdered his wife, and the disappearance of his child remained a mystery, he finds himself lulled into the opium dens of Chinatown to help overcome his grief. When another case that is similar to how Elliot's wife was mutilated - skin flayed and bones removed - comes up, the police force knows that only Elliot's expertise can solve the killings. As he began his search to lead him to what the media has called the "Chinatown Surgeon," Elliot didn't expect to be led into an underground hellhole known as "The City" - a secret thriving society ruled by reptilian humanoids known as "The Mara." But the horror that resides in this malevolent city that burgeons on perverse spectacles and slave shows where sadists bid upon for sick enjoyment and pleasure was something Elliot was not prepared for.

Gruesome yet suspenseful, "The City" isn't like any other noir I have read. Every chapter will leave you with an afterthought. As the atmosphere became even more sinister, I was left gauging the depths of human depravity. When I came across this book for the first time, I had no idea how deep down a rabbit hole it would take me. It will either repel or draw you in, but once you've consumed the pages, the horror it leaves behind will be the stuff nightmares are made of.

"The City" by S.C. Mendes is not for everyone. Readers like myself, who may have bravely stomached disturbing books in the past, have fallen by the wayside on more than one occasion with this one. The narrative is replete with unsettling graphic content that reflects human nature's dark capabilities. I often wonder what goes on in the author's mind as he drafts this book. However, the fact that underground human trafficking exists leaves an acrid taste of bitter reality. Still, the novel drives home a positive point: people with strong moral values and self-discipline can refuse the temptations of the flesh and soul.

Another point that I think the author wants to impart is the power of choice; despite the seeming inescapable madness once you are in "The City," you are free to come and go as you please as long as you adhere to the twisted rules of the Maras. But, the somber truth reveals itself: even when allowed to walk away, yielding to the lure of malevolence may trap one in an endless state of darkness with no discernible way out.

The author also wishes to illustrate that "the city" and "the surface" (where humans reside) are not at all different, save for the supernatural beings that rule an underground network of sex slavery. In both societies, humans are plagued by desires for sex, drug addiction, torture, and, to some extremes, everyday sadists and human traffickers.

"The City" has a compelling cast of characters and a masterfully written social commentary that sucks you in and won't let go. As the ending leaves on a cliffhanger, there's growing anticipation for the second book, "The Order of Eternal Sleep," which I need to secure a copy of. If you are a sick and twisted crime fiction fan, this book is for you.

Review: This was quite the genre bending adventure. We go from a depressed detective who lost his family in horrific fashion to alien species living in an underground city. There is a grande mystery coupled with the fantastical and horrific that makes for a riveting story line.

The writing is superb with consumate character and scene development. The movement is constant and if you do not watch out, it will be early in the morning when you lift your nose off the pages.

I sure hope this is not the last we see of this world and Alex. Ming is awesome and I hope she is there as well.

Bravo!

Rating: 4.9/5

I really enjoyed the blend of horror and noir, it really worked so well with what I was expecting and glad I got to read this. It uses both genres perfectly and I enjoyed how well everything flowed together. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and glad I was able to read this. S.C. Mendes does a fantastic job writing this and leaving me wanting more.

Gorgeous noir which def earns a 4.5 from me. The entire idea is great and I really think it deserves more attention. Thanks for the arc

Detective Max Elliot has been specifically requested to help on a mysterious homicide case. One that resembles a gruesome unsolved crime from six months earlier. Although a loose cannon, Elliot just happens to be the best investigator in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Max is personally linked by the cold case and the tragedy surrounding his daughter. Will this investigation finally bring peace and justice to his life or will it be his final case?

S.C. Mendes’ The City, is a puzzle solving narrative where inner demons are explored among an underground city of non-human creatures and skin puppets. Inside this unearthly metropolis lies a place where you can find anything within a world of sinister taboo lifestyles. Mendes brings his writing style to a multi-layered story that flips the world of reality on its head. His ominous creativity carves up flesh and bone within an unforgettable evil environment of pleasure and pain. With the purchase of this book, you have been allowed entrance to Mendes’ dark environment.

I love this original creation of a horror-noir novel. It successfully creates a nitty-gritty ambiance within an unsettling true-crime element. The author is able to capture monstrosities and bizarreness to a new level. Believe me fellow bookworms, there’s plenty of skin crawling moments to satisfy the most morbid reader.

The City is one heck of a mind trip. And by that I mean the extra-dimensional characters were a creepy representation of an unearthly order. Wait till you see the “demons to some, angels to others” aspect that Mendes has assembled. Ya know, mysteries were destined to remain hidden. A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

In The City we follow homicide detective Max Elliot for one last case as he hunts down serial killer and murderer of his wife, The Chinatown Surgeon. As Max begins to look into this case, things continue to unravel and lead him down a supernatural path unknown to most people, where sex, drugs, and especially violence prevail.

S.C. Mendes delivers a classic detective noir story made unique by the added, incredible elements of extreme horror. If you're a fan of films like The Big Sleep but also a fan of authors like Duncan Ralston and Kristopher Triana, this book will be right up your alley. It's almost like the game L.A. Noire, but with way more violence and gore and its own spin that makes the story much, much darker.

I can't stress enough how well-executed the noir elements of The City are. From the crime-ridden streets of San Fransisco, to the seedy underbelly of the titular city, to the well-writen perfectly juxtaposed pair of detectives doing their best within the confines of a politicky department, every aspect feels deliberate and effective.

Again, the extreme horror elements of this book are also remarkable. There were several times I found myself with my lip curled in disgust, as is to be expected in extreme horror. If you are more sensitive to things like violence, gore, and assault I highly recommend checking out content warnings before diving into this book. That being said, I didn't find any of the violence or gore to be there simply for shock value; it is there to drive home the atmosphere and norms of The City, in which they take place.

It looks like The City is going to be a series, and I personally can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. I do think this book can also be read as a standalone though!

Noir detective fiction and dark fantasy at its best!

Max Elliott is a detective in 1909 San Francisco. Max has very personal reasons for being on the case of a sadistic killer, and during his investigations he discovers the worst in human, and non-human, depravity.

At first I was a little reluctant as this is considered extreme horror but I really enjoyed this medium paced noir horror novel. Parts of this are extreme but not in anyway near as some extreme horror novels. There wasn't so much as to take away from the story.
My only critique is about the time period to which it pertains; Supposedly set in 1909, the characters come across as living in a later time period. The speech is closer to something from the 1940's or '50's and had to remind myself that it was 1909 many times.
However, that said, I did not think it takes anything away from the story itself and I highly recommend.

I think this would appeal to Gaiman fans, fans of dark fantasy, and noir.

I received a free copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The City is a horror novel with a great gritty noir-ish detective vibe and these two elements work seamlessly to create a frightening twisted world.

Set in San Francisco in 1909, our protagonist, Max Elliott, is a detective with a painful past. His wife was brutally murdered and skinned alive and his daughter was kidnapped. He's taking some time off but spends that time mired in alcohol and opium dens.

When another case with the same MO happens, he decides to rejoin because he hopes this will help him solve what happened to his family.

An informant has some interesting information but it's a lot to take in. Under the city, far below in the earth, is another city. This one is run by the Mara, a group of lizard like creatures. Max decides to take a chance and this is where this novel turns bizarre and absolutely terrifying.

The city below is real and it's basically a playground for adults to indulge in their every sick degenerate fantasies. It's a brutal place where absolutely everything is available for a price. Some of the scenes from here are bloody, perverse, sickening, and horrifying. But if it helps him maybe find his daughter, Max is willing to suffer for it.

Along the way we'll meet other humans from that city. From truly sick individuals to the closest thing he can find as friends. With twists and turns, this book moves along like a locomotive. It's fast paced narrative and perverse imagery will stay with you for a long time.

I highly recommend this book.