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A review by kayhush
Evil in Me by Brom
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If given the option of reading this via digital, physical, or audio - I highly recommend the audio format. Music and singing play a large part in this story; the audio production is extremely well done. 3 stars for the story, 5 stars for the audio production.
The setting and characters were well portrayed, and the reader is immediately dropped into the plot. The pacing is consistently medium throughout, from beginning to end, with minimal slow and fast portions. Something about the plot being so consistently paced reduced the impact of pivotal plot points. They opened a door straight to hell and were flooded with demons - this had the same intensity as when researching spells and discussing options.
I found myself increasingly irritated with Ruby and preferred the side characters (looking at you Beel). I hate to say it, but I found Ruby's POV much more agreeable AFTER the mental health magic (IYKYK)... That whole event felt like a very convenient method of forcing character growth, which left me feeling frustrated with that narrative choice.
All that being said, I think the aspect that pulled me out of the story the most was that it seemed to feel.... young adult? Gore, drugs, rock and roll, swearing, and yet the tone felt a bit YA to me, which feels like an odd thing to say.
Overall, I would still recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Brom's writing previously or is looking for an approachable horror that still packs a punch on vibes (80s punk rock with a dash of Southern summer and heavy on the demon possession).
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The setting and characters were well portrayed, and the reader is immediately dropped into the plot. The pacing is consistently medium throughout, from beginning to end, with minimal slow and fast portions. Something about the plot being so consistently paced reduced the impact of pivotal plot points. They opened a door straight to hell and were flooded with demons - this had the same intensity as when researching spells and discussing options.
I found myself increasingly irritated with Ruby and preferred the side characters (looking at you Beel). I hate to say it, but I found Ruby's POV much more agreeable AFTER the mental health magic (IYKYK)... That whole event felt like a very convenient method of forcing character growth, which left me feeling frustrated with that narrative choice.
All that being said, I think the aspect that pulled me out of the story the most was that it seemed to feel.... young adult? Gore, drugs, rock and roll, swearing, and yet the tone felt a bit YA to me, which feels like an odd thing to say.
Overall, I would still recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Brom's writing previously or is looking for an approachable horror that still packs a punch on vibes (80s punk rock with a dash of Southern summer and heavy on the demon possession).
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.