Member Reviews

I love when horror or thriller books involve music and musicians, and this was so fun! Ruby was such a cool character, I found her so likable and relatable throughout. This is my first time reading a horror book with religious themes that weren't rooted in Catholicism, and it was such an interesting and unique way to frame a possession story - loved it. There were a couple of spots as I read where I felt myself being confused or wishing certain characters had a bit more depth or story involvement, but overall, this was a wild ride and I am absolutely here for it!

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Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. This reminded me along the lines of Schrader’s Chord, and I couldn’t get that out of my head.

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LOVED this book! Absolutely gnarly, but what else would you expect from Brom? The punk rock vibes are fantastic and I loved the MC Ruby- I was rooting for her from the get-go. If anything, I wish this book had been just a little longer. The ending, while definitely satisfying, did feel just a little rushed. Overall, a fantastic punk horror novel from hell!

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I love horror with a religious spin. Evil In Me is a possession story with the Jewish faith. I found that part of the book really engaging.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters, although Ruby and Josh’s relationship was really interesting. I liked their interactions and how they handled the issue of that unholy ring that caused all the trouble.

Overall, I think the story didn’t delve enough into the characters or the world building. I think a lot of readers would like this book. Just wasn’t quite for me.

For fans of possession horror and historical fiction.

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Brom’s Evil in Me is a thrilling blend of possession, music, and the quest for redemption, set against the backdrop of a gritty punk scene. Ruby Tucker, the determined aspiring musician at the center of this tale, is a relatable and vibrant character whose struggles resonate deeply, especially for anyone who's ever felt trapped by their circumstances.

The premise is both captivating and unique—an ancient ring binds Ruby to a blood-thirsty demon, and the only way to exorcise it is through the power of music and the support of her band. The stakes are high, and Brom expertly weaves tension throughout the narrative, making every page turn feel like a step closer to either salvation or damnation.

Brom’s signature immersive paintings enhance the experience, adding a visual depth that complements the story's dark themes. Each illustration pulls you further into Ruby’s world, showcasing the stark contrasts between her desires and the chaos unfolding around her.

While the plot is gripping, there were moments where the pacing felt uneven, and certain character arcs could have benefited from more development. Nevertheless, the journey of self-discovery and the importance of community shine through, making Ruby’s quest both poignant and exhilarating.

Overall, Evil in Me is a wickedly entertaining ride filled with heart, horror, and a rock 'n' roll spirit that will leave readers wanting to chant along. A solid 4 stars!

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Brom is a household name in horror circles and I think his books all need to be physical copies with artwork and getting to hold the actual book. This one didn’t translate as well and just wasn’t as powerful as Krampus or Slewfoot for me. I found myself forcing my way getting through this one.

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If Brom writes it, I'm going to read it.

I absolutely love his use of folklore to dig deeper and deeper into a story.

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Brom hits another one out of the park. He is so good at writing charters and Ruby is his next masterpiece. Evil in Me is another excellently creepy work of demons and possession, and is endlessly captivating. This book is for horror and punk rock fans alike as well as fans of 80s pop culture.

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I’m such a fan of Brom. Slewfoot is one of my all time favorites and I loved Krampus so I will truly read anything he puts out. But add in possession, rock and roll and demons and I’m definitely in.

Evil In Me follows Ruby Tucker as she gets possessed by a demon and sets her on a mission to break the spell..

This was one of those books where you can just envision it as a movie as you’re reading. This book is gory and tough to read at times but heartwarming and fun in other places. I really enjoyed Rubys character.

As always, I’ll continue to read anything Brom releases. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

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This book is a delicious love story to all thinks punk, Satanic panic, and horror.

Ruby is such a relatable (and cool!) character who just wants a different life than the one she has. Playing punk music is her key to that. One day while working as a caretaker, she finds a mysterious object and a whole world of monsters and horror comes to life.

This book is gory, messy, and fully unique. It felt like watching an 80s B horror movie that you find in the back bin of the video rental store.

This would be perfect for anyone wanting a quick, horror read this spooky season.

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Brom’s latest novel follows Ruby—an aspiring musician who dreams of making it big in Atlanta’s punk rock scene. When Ruby stops taking her bipolar medication and finds a religious artefact at a neighbour’s house, she becomes possessed by a demon who can only be stopped by rock ‘n’ roll.

Evil in Me is a bold new direction for Brom, and it’s an ode to punk rock and demonic possession in the 80s using the cursed object trope.

I really enjoyed the campness of this story, however I’m sorry to say that this wasn’t my favourite of Brom’s novels. The setting and characters were well portrayed and I really enjoyed the reading experience (especially the starting chapters), but I found myself feeling more compelled by side characters (Richard, Beel) than by Ruby herself.

The story also has a distinct Young Adult tone, which reads quite tame and even silly at times compared to his other novels. There are some strong gore scenes (especially at the start and the end) but I was hoping for more.

I do also wonder whether my reading experience was impaired by the fact that Brom’s artwork was omitted from the advanced copy.

Overall I recommend this one to readers who are looking for a lighthearted and approachable horror, especially for fans of Grady Hendricks. However, I’d recommend Brom’s other works (especially Slewfoot) for those looking for the best that Brom has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for sharing an advanced copy of Evil in Me in exchange for an honest review.

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Evil in Me started out super super strong. I absolutely was intrigued by it and couldn't put it down to start with. It continued being really awesome and I liked finding out more about Ruby. She was a bit difficult to get into because she seemed very negative. However, I enjoyed Evil in Me a lot.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed Krampus by this author; this book was well written for the genre but somewhat of a miss for me. The story revolves primarily around Ruby, a bipolar young woman with anger and abandonment issues who accidentally comes in contact with a ring inhabited by a “demon” who is in turn the slave of another demoness. Trying to rid herself of the ring Ruby comes to attention of a serial killer who wants to make her his next victim. If there is a follow up book involving the demoness it might be a more interesting read, the portrayal of her character and conflicts was one of the highlights of the book.

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Brim doesn’t disappoint again!

Fast Paced and easy to get through and its weird, creepy, and downright horrifying The details was top notch and I appreciated the cursed object trope. It’s been a minute since I enjoyed a story like this. Don’t get me started on the cover to this one too! Amazing work.

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A Rock n Roll Horror novel involving the 80’s satanic panic era.
I’m a bit on the fence with this one.
I enjoyed the occult side of it. Enjoyed the gore and protagonist. Didn’t much care for the YA vibe or the humor. I would still recommend it, being a Brom book and all.

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Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Evil In Me is a horror love story to 80's punk and grunge culture and Satanic Panic. The story follows multiple POVs as it navigates its it way through the US South. Brom's way of describing demonic possession is so poetic and you can't help praying for the character's soul.

This was my first introduction to Brom, and I cannot wait to read the rest!

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So this was a surprise for me because my other Brom books were in such different settings. This book has a modern heroine and setting, with Brom's signature magic. Although I have to say, I'm very amused at his take on damnation and rock and roll.
Ruby Tucker made her way into my heart pretty quickly, because she seems trapped in a bad situation Her family is dysfunctional, her boyfriend is with someone else, and she is serving out her probation in her small town. An encounter with a demonic ring changes everything, and she is off on her adventures.
Ruby's adventures are dark, and it doesn't help that Ruby is off her meds. Everyone who enjoys modern fantasy and horror should read Brom, who is also a brilliant artist. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

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Wow. What a ride! Ruby Tucker kicks absolute ass. It had everything I wanted in a novel: grit, easy to follow POVs and one hell of a redemption arc. Being set in the 1980s era where punk rock and non conforming are looked down upon, it was nice to see the main character still strive to be themselves. Mentioning the era in whence the novel is set, I thoroughly enjoyed music helping in the case of demonic possession instead of helping cause it. My only cons are that I wish the redemption arc wasn't so obvious, it almost felt like 'breaking the fourth wall', where the main character knew this was their redemption arc and I wish it was just a bit longer.

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This was a bit of a miss for me. Objectively, this one offered a fine delivery of a very classic horror story involving the cursed object trope. However, it failed to invoke much of an emotional response for me.

My biggest disappointment was the artwork which is usually my favourite part of his books. Some of the pictures are just so flat.

I think this one will most appeal to readers who really enjoy traditional older books with the usual tropes. If you already love Brom, you will undoubtedly want to try this one out.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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This novel rocked so much (pun entirely intended). So many elements of it stand out to me: the artwork depicting several of the characters of the book is so metal, the creepiness of the demons and Lord Sheelbeth, and the character of Ruby and everything that she has gone through shines through this story of demonic possession and rock’n’roll. And Vutto is just such a good egg. I cannot express how much I loved this. Now I need to go read everything else Brom has created.

Additionally, if you get the opportunity, you need to listen to the audiobook for a few reasons: 1) the voices for the demons are so creepy, I was getting goosebumps from them, 2) the music! The Maxines created the titular song Evil in Me and it gets played a few times during the book and just adds so much to the ambiance and the reading experience. This is one of those books that I highly recommend for an audio and physical book experience. Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC of this book.

All thoughts are my own. Thank you to @tornightfire for sending me a copy of the book!

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