I have grown to be a big fan of this author and this one did not disappoint. I feel like my favorite will always be slewfoot but this was unique in its own way and I just love how the author tells the story. I bought my own copy of this one!

𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗺 might be my favorite by him yet. Maybe second to 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 because the quotes from that audio still resonate with me. 🙌🏻

This was so much fun!! Unlike his other stories, this one was full of all the punk rock vibes my little rock n’ roll heart desires. 🤘🏻 Complete of course with demonic possession, damnation, and the power of friendship. I really loved this one.

First and foremost, you CANNOT talk about a Brom book and not give praise to his phenomenal illustrations. Seriously they alone are worth buying the book.

Second, there was so much praise for the audio with original music performed by The Maxines that I had to check it out myself and the 6.5 hours yesterday was 100% worth it. The narration was done so well from Ruby to Beel and everyone in between! Highly recommend this with accompanying the physical book. You’ll thank me.

Ruby was a fantastic FMC who began as someone kind of unlikeable but quickly developed into this badass punk rock hero. There’s an array of side characters (some with their own POV) that are either heartfelt or seriously deranged and I think they all give unique aspects to the story that I loved. From a serial killers POV to the demonic slave possessing Ruby. There’s some gore and body horror, revenge, and a full on rock lovers dream. This was a story worth risking demonic possession for.

Evil In Me is a love story to the 80s punk culture. And while it at times was absolutely fun, it ultimately fell flat. This novel follows Ruby Tucker, a teenage rebel, who discovers a demonic ring and ends up being possessed by a demon.

The first half was fun and exciting. But once Ruby got possessed, I found the story dragging. All the characters are horrible people and I really didn’t care about anyone. I found myself waiting for the story to just end.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eArc in exchange for a review.

The latest from Brom is a punk rock romp peppered with folk lore, lost magic, a cursed object, and a (mostly) loveable motley crew of characters. The story follows main character Ruby as she navigates friendship, family and her troubled past.

This was my first Brom read! I found the writing style fast paced and easy to read. The POV changes were easy to follow and kept me engaged. This is horror and parts of the story truly scared me.

Comps-We Sold Our Sold by Grady Hendrix, Schrader"s Chord by Scott Leeds.

Thanks to Tor for the chance to review this as an eARC. I'm excited to get my own print copy so I can enjoy Brom's amazing artwork but I really enjoyed this story on words alone.

BROM takes the concept of possession and makes it his own. Loved the references to music throughout the book but did feel at times like I just couldn’t connect to the story. However, it was still an enjoyable read that really takes off right from the start!

I guess the 80s storyline and “boogerhead” way of speaking is just not enjoyable for me to read. The cover of the book drew me in, it’s absolutely beautiful. It took me a while to finish this book as I did not want to give up on it. The overall storyline was pretty good even scary in the beginning but it sort of lost its appeal in the middle of the book. There were some characters (Dick) that didn’t make sense to me at all and the ending fell flat. I do love the possessed object idea so I think it may be the 80s punk rock/musicians that I did not enjoy. The book had a lot of small moments that were interesting and cut me off guard (religion) so overall it’s a good read.

If horror mixed with dark humor is your thing, and you’ve always wondered what it would’ve been like had the Satanic Panic in the 80s been an actual occurrence, then you’ve found your next read.

Brom takes us on a wild journey through Ruby, an aspiring musician whose dream of making it in the ATL punk scene is derailed when she’s possessed by a demon. Or is it?

This was such a fun read and I truly love how Brom spins the “music is a conduit for evil” belief that follows certain musical genres on its proverbial head. The whole vibe of the book just comes across as a love letter to the 80s, punk music, and of course horror. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you love these things like I do, you definitely need to read Evil In Me.

I read an ARC version which does not have Brom’s artwork included, so I’m curious to see how much that enhances the feel of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightlife for the ARC. Receiving it had absolutely zero influence on my review, and as always, my opinions are my own and honest.

5 ⭐️

The cover for this book is gorgeous, to start. This book is a fast-paced and has demons, religious horror, folklore and serial killers. You`re getting a lot of content in less than 300 pages! I loved how it brought together an oddball group of characters to help Ruby fight. I really enjoyed some of the characterizations, especially the friendship between Ruby and Tina which was really sweet.

The slow start and the serial killer subplot didn’t quite hit the mark for me, which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5. That said, overall I did enjoy Brom’s writing - this is the first book I`ve read of his. I read the kindle version and I’m excited to see the full artwork in the final printed version. If you like stories about possession, punk rock, religious themes, and coming-of-age struggles, this is definitely worth checking out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for the opportunity to read the eARC—my review reflects my honest opinions.

"Evil in Me" by Brom is a dark, twisted ride that blends rock 'n' roll with the supernatural. The story follows Ruby Tucker, a struggling musician who becomes possessed by a demon after an ancient ring latches onto her. The book is packed with heavy themes of mental turmoil, rage, and the cost of ambition, as Ruby must gather her band back together to cast out the evil force inside her. Brom’s vivid writing pulls you into Ruby’s emotional conflict while delivering a fast-paced, punk-fueled horror. The plot is gripping, with Ruby constantly battling inner demons as well as literal ones, leading to an intense, chaotic narrative. If you love edgy horror with a dash of musical mayhem, this book hits all the right notes.

This book was unlike anything I have ever read in the horror genre. I think the combination of 80s punk rock and possession made for a unique and fun story. This book was action-packed and fast-paced. I could hardly put it down. I also loved that it leaned heavily on Jewish mysticism, which I feel is rarely seen in fiction. I will definitely be exploring more of Brom's work in the future.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.

Punk rock, demonic possession, satanic panic and gore! What better combination for a horror novel could there be? This was such a fun, campy and creepy read. It sucked me in from the first chapter and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I really enjoyed Brom's writing, especially the characters. I didn't really like any of them (except Vutto - I've always been a sucker for drummers 😂), but I loved their arcs and how real they felt.

This is the first book I've read by Brom and it definitely won't be the last! I need to get physical copies of his books so I can see the illustrations too. The cover art on Evil In Me is so very cool 🤩

EVIL IN ME: BROM -- ✨out today 9-17-2024✨

OK so I recently finished Brom's new book and I was SO EXCITED for it but ended up giving it 2.5 stars. For context, the only other book I've read by him was Slewfoot which I am OBSESSED with. It was the perfect gothic witchy moody horror and I can't recommend it enough for this time of year.
When I heard he was coming out with a new book (ESPECIALLY WITH THIS COVERRR) I could not resist requesting it on netgalley and read it right away.
This is set in the '80s (my problems with it start here but we'll come back to that) about a girl named Ruby. Ruby is a troubled young adult currently on probation with a dead dad, a terrible stepdad, and a love for rock and roll. When she unluckily finds herself connected to a ring that is possessed by a demon and will not detach itself from her, she must go on a journey to save her soul and separate the ring from herself.
SOUNDS AMAZING right? And honestly it was... at the beginning. This was SCARY at the beginning and some of the imagery surrounding the demon and the way the ring makes you feel were truly immersive. However, after the first 20% it lost me.
I want to be clear that this is not necessarily a bad book, it's actually well written with an interesting and lively main character (although I didn't find her to be very interesting), I just found it to be kind of silly and preachy.
I don't want to spoil anyone with how the horrors are resolved, but I will say it has to do with the power of rock and roll - which I just found to be ridiculous. If you like '80s punk rock you will probably LOVE the setting and the direction the story takes, but it's both a generation and a music style that I have no particular fondness for or attraction to, so it did not really suit my tastes.
I was also sooo disappointed that this really didn't feel like horror anymore once we reached the middle. The stakes may have been high but they certainly were not scary. There was also a secondary storyline about someone named Dick that felt out of place and even by the end didn't seem to tie in well or add any value to the storyline.
The dialogue also felt robotic and was only broken up by weird slang like characters calling each other "boogerhead."
SO SAD that this was not for me, but my love for Slewfoot will definitely keep Brom on my roster for future releases.

1985, Enterprise, Alabama. Ruby Tucker is nearing the end of her community service requirement for her probation. Ruby regrets not going to Atlanta with her best friend Tina to pursue their dreams of punk rock stardom after high school. If she had, she wouldn't be living in her mother's basement and enduring her small-minded town. At least she's really enjoyed teaching guitar classes to the kids at the YMCA and assisting her elderly neighbor, Mr. Rosenfeld.

But while assisting Mr. Rosenfeld with his religious artifacts, an evil ring latches on to Ruby. Now, to free herself from the sheid that has possessed her, she'll need to harness the power of music to save her soul.

I really enjoyed this fun horror story. Ruby and the cast of characters who accompany her on her journey are all endearing. Even the demon. Maybe especially the demon.

However, I do think that the narrative suffered from a lack of editing. There is a bit too much exposition and the events teased in the publisher's blurb aren't fully realized until about two thirds of the way through the book. There is also a serial killer character who feels wholly unnecessary. Ruby's character arc would have been stronger if there had been more focus on her relationships with her mother and Tina rather than the spent on her exacting revenge on her ex-boyfriend.

Again, I really did enjoy the book and had a great time reading it. There was just some wasted potential to make this a five-star read.

This review will be posted to Goodreads and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on September 17, 2024.

I remember when Brom caught me by surprise with Krampus: The Yule Lord. It looked like it would be fun and cheesy, and it was, but it was also so much more than that.

Evil in Me is in the same vein: Quirky, comical, and horrific, but also smart and meaningful. The story is shaped by its lovable, morally gray characters (along with a few detestable and completely immoral ones), and that fantastic development leads to a wholly enjoyable structure. It’s important to know, however, that even though you’ll likely have a good time reading Evil in Me, there is content surrounding mental illness, bullying, suicide, and domestic violence.

Evil in Me is well-paced, with a rather graphic scene to open the story that sufficiently piques curiosity. Brom doesn’t waste any time in moving the narrative along, and even as he introduces another component that seems distant from the story at hand, he succeeds in building suspense as we wonder how it will all mold together.

I enjoyed this adrenaline fueled horror rich with folklore, and I found that Ruby was a fantastic, nuanced character who I wanted nothing but the best for. I feel certain that fans of Grady Hendrix’s similarly themed We Sold Our Souls are going to love Brom’s latest, as well!

I am immensely grateful to Tor Nightfire, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for my copies. All opinions are my own.

I’d like to start by noting that the audiobook ACTUALLY HAS THE SONGS!!!!! And yes, they are stuck in my head.

I really loved this book. Brom is a master at horror and really pulls you in/keeps you hooked from the beginning. I hope this is made into a movie. This book was un-putdownable. I love the use of multiple POVs to move us through the story and really feel every characters motivations. Any horror fan will love this book!

This is a visually stunning book from the endpapers to the chapter headers to the full illustrations, and I’m so fortunate to hold something like this in my hands!

Picture this: Daisy Jones and the Six got tangled up with Hellraiser and had a baby. This baby would look an awful lot like Brom’s latest book, Evil in Me, only with a little more punk and a lot less sensuality. We follow twenty-something Ruby Tucker as she tries to get her life “together” following a run-in with the law. She’s dedicated herself to community service and helping others to escape the hellscape that is her home thanks to her somewhat absent mother, a pervy step-brother, and an asshole-ish stepdad. It’s during this time helping others that Ruby stumbles across a ring, an artifact that signals the beginning of a siren song for the Devil that just won’t let up. Sucked into this world of damnation and salvation, Ruby is thrust into a landscape of ancient magic, demons, and spells. Her one shot at an exorcism comes in the form of a song, one she needs thousands to sing with her soul quite literally on the line.

The intersection of rock’n’roll in its various forms with horror is something that’s been rather enjoyable as seen in Scott Leeds’ Schrader’s Chord to Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls to Keith Rosson’s Fever House duology. There’s something about the loud, unabashed cacophony of rock that speaks to horror, some kind of exorcism made possible through a group of people loving the same thing all at once. Brom leans heavily on this idea to craft Evil in Me, showcasing the limitless magic of communal veneration through song. It’s quite literally the way that Ruby sees a way out of this unwanted possession and something that makes a lot of sense in the world Brom creates.

This is also where the first half of Evil in Me really shines, in the details of the magic and lore that explain this possession. Of course, this tracks for Brom given his stunning illustrations; it is here that were are introduced (both through written word and picture) to the cast of demons and creatures that make this novel function. Brom’s use of Jewish mythology and faith to forge a background for these characters felt fresh, a unique foundation to Ruby’s story that sets the tempo for the rest of this wild, fun, and somewhat chaotic setlist.

For the most part, Evil in Me is functional mayhem that is undoubtedly entertaining. These characters, *ahem* Vutto, establish a solid emotional connection to keep us invested through the loud racket of intensity and the softer tones of psychological reckoning. My only qualm is with this book’s ending which felt a little rushed as if it was getting played off stage. Despite what felt to be a slightly anti-climatic conclusion for Ruby and Co., Evil in Me is still a romping good time complete with captivating visuals and a bangin’ soundtrack. It’s a kind of catchy tune that’s sure to hang around in your head for a while, a punk song with uniform measure before descending into a devilish frenzy.

Long live Vutto!
I loved the parallels to LotR, Ruby’s growth as a character, Vutto and Tina, and it goes without saying that Richard’s chapters were amazing to watch unfold (like a train wreck). My only complaint is not seeing more of the end; what happened to everyone afterwards?

I’ve attached both my review and IG post!
Thank you for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the advanced digital and audio access to this book that published today!

Possession, demons, rock n’ roll, and… band drama? This book has everything going for it. Ruby Tucker is stuck in her small-town life when an ancient ring hijacks her soul, turning her into a demon’s puppet. Now, she has to get her band back together and get the world singing to save herself.

I really loved how it started — totally chaotic and creepy — but it lost some steam for me midway through. Vutto the sassy demon stole the show and was my favorite character. The audiobook was well done, especially with the full-on produced track by The Maxines as The Night Mares.

I think I would have rated it higher if I had a physical copy to pair the story with the illustrations and would have added a lot to the experience. I still have Slewfoot and Krampus on my TBR and I can’t wait to read those!

Evil in Me follows Ruby, a young woman on probation in 1985, who is possessed through an evil ring that's looking to help its master escape from the bowels of hell.

First of all, the cover for this book is FIRE. It's absolutely what drew me to slamming my finger onto the request button. Oh, and that it's written by Brom (ok, if I'm being honest I requested first BECAUSE it's Brom, AND the cover is wicked).

I’ve quickly become a fan of his. His strong willed main characters, the ever-lurking sense of dread and uneasiness, the horror (OH THE HORROR) he inflicts on both the reader and his characters. It's monstrous in the best way possible.

Evil in Me feels like a step back. Brom-lite, if you will. While his other books have an undeniable air of masterpieces from another time, this one felt like a horror movie from the 80’s. I was expecting existential dread and got a manic girl road trip! Ride on.

I think my only issue is that some of the characters/plotlines either ended too abruptly or felt a bit disjointed from the overall plot. They all merged together and I do understand why they were included, but I ended up thinking, “was it really necessary”? Or “gee, that could have been handled differently”. Personal preference!

There is one character that absolutely broke my heart when it was introduced to Ruby, and I hold it very dear to my heart (insert angel halo and egg emoji here).

Overall a very enjoyable and bingeable read! I can't wait to pick up a physical copy in the hopes that it includes illustrations as well.

Evil in Me is SO. MUCH. FUN. This one has demons, possession, punk rock, religious horror, folklore, serial killers, multiple POVs. Ruby is a fantastic main character with flaws and an amazing arc throughout this novel. There are evils both monstrous and human in Evil in Me and I’d argue the human monsters are way scarier as usual.

This is the punk rock equivalent of a possession novel. It’s lean, it’s fast, and it’s f**kin’ awesome. You will cheer, you will laugh, you will cry, but most of all, your fist will be in the air.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.