actual rating: 3.5⭐️

This was nearly a stunning 4 star read but it didn’t quite pack the punch that I thought it would. To start, the vibes in this book are epically pure 80s rock ‘n’ roll with damnation of one’s soul and all things sinister mixed into its plot. Ruby, our main character, has had a rocky upbringing which has led to her being not the healthiest of minds to put it lightly. During her community service trek, she finds herself lured into putting on a ring that has nothing but a tragic history tied with its wearers. And thus, the journey to rid herself of this odious yet alluring song in her mind begins with a lot of swearing, near death experiences, and plenty of groovy moments.

Ruby as a character is very interesting because she unravels in the span of days as there is so much bad happening around her. Yet, in the midst of all it her desire for making music really smooths out her rough edges and brings some really amazing moments with the newly formed—or should I say reunited band. I loved Ruby a lot as a character so much so that I was really bummed out that there wasn’t an epilogue because I would’ve loved to see a fast forward of what her life is after going through some pretty traumatic events.

This movie to me screamed of an 80s film because of how goofy the plot felt at certain times. When reading with that in mind, it made my experience so much more enjoyable. Like it feels like the set up of a joke: What do you get when you have a serial killer, a Jesus-obsessed-crappy-step-father, and a demon blob chase after a demon possessed girl? Like seriously! The 80s is quite literally the perfect setting for this kind of crazy plot because it just makes sense!

Thank you to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Demons. Possession. And a rock band. I enjoyed everything but the band aspect. I think that trope is just not for me. That being said, I’m still singing the song in my head. Thanks Brom.

The mess of personal growth in lieu of a demon and an ancient relic intrigued me. Relics are a piece of history that will always be baffling whether in fiction or not. The thought of having to break free from it in an unconventional way could have been great; however, after a while, it almost felt…silly.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and author Brom for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

(4.5 stars rounded up)
As soon as I heard about this book I knew I wanted to read it. I’ve previously read Slewfoot and Krampus by Brom and loved them both. Evil in Me did not disappoint.

As always, the art included with the book is beautiful and strange. This book also has a mini soundtrack to go with it (music is available on Spotify, YouTube etc). The Maxines play as The Night Mares from the book. The EP includes Piss Off, Skank Howl, and two versions of Evil in Me. I’d highly recommend you give it a listen if you decide to read this book. Reading this felt like an immersive experience. Seeing the artwork and listening to the music really added to the story.

The author takes his time and allows the reader to get to know Ruby. This made it easy to root for her right from the beginning. Although not all of the characters are likable (by design) all of them are interesting. There were moments/characters that made me angry and others that had me laughing out loud. I love when a book does that. I was never bored while reading this. Either something was happening to Ruby or we got the POV of Lord Sheelbeth, Beel, Richard, and Eduardo. The premise of the book was also unique in that it turned the possession trope on it’s head. The author took a different approach to religious horror from how the demons act to how to get rid of them, and tone of the whole book. Instead of a traditional Catholic exorcism, Ruby needs people to sing her song. This book is full of violence and gore, creepy men, and an endearing demon. All of these things worked for me. I hope someday this gets turned into a movie.

Overall, I had a really good time with the story and I liked where it ended. My criticisms of the book are few and far between. One being that I didn’t really enjoy Richard’s POV (I don’t think you’re supposed to since he’s a horrible person). The other is that I wish the ending was a tad longer or that we’d gotten an epilogue to get a final look at where everyone ended up.

I’d highly recommend this book to any horror fans, especially if you’re already a Brom reader. I’d also recommend this book to those who enjoyed books like Shrader’s Chord, We Sold Our Souls, and/or books about possession (My Best Friend's Exorcism).

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.

Totally epic book. Gorey, demented, and fast paced. However, it was just not for me. I really wanted to be cool enough to vibe with this book but I’m just not. I think this book is going to find its audience quickly but unfortunately that audience isn’t me

Yessssssss! Brilliantly weird! Evil in Me by Brom was so organically brilliant and creepy. I adored the characters, all of the characters. The plot points and suspense was EVERYTHING! More please! I need to read this author's backlist immediately.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.