So fucking good. It’s unbelievable this is my first time reading Brom.

This book has everything: a cursed ring, satanic panic, actual demons, punk rock, fucked up family dynamics, and talking worms. I really appreciated the true to life depiction of wannabe cops and commercial photographers as pathetic and evil.

Evil In Me by Brom It started off with a bang with a man who is experiencing a demonic possession and does the unthinkable. This instantly sucked me in and I wanted to keep reading more about this possession.

Years pass and we follow the story of Ruby Tucker who has had a tough life and has found herself in trouble with the law. She lives at home with her mom and gives guitar lessons to children as part of her community service. Her life doesn’t seem to be going in the direction that she wants but she does have some things she looks forward to like spending time with Josh who is an elderly man that she takes care of while his daughter is working. During one of her visits with Josh she encounters an ancient artifact and that is when things take a turn.

Overall the story was really good. I loved the pace of it and I kept wanting to read more and more. I also listened to the audiobook while I was reading this book and let me tell you that you all must listen to the audiobook!!! Not only did the narrators do an incredible job but the book mentions a special song that is so important to the story and the audiobook incorporates this song throughout the book giving the reader/listener an amazing experience while reading. I highly recommend this book and audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillon Audio. All opinions are my own.

Cheers to resting bitch faces, revenge on exes and best friends with this story about possession and damnation.

Demons and killers and lead-singers, oh-my!

This is such a creative story. I love our deeply dislikable FMC as she shoulder-checks her way through life the only way she knows how. I love the back and forth between her and her ex-bf, and how she ultimately gets revenge. No notes.

There is a character named Richard/Dick, and he is such a small part of the story, but every time we hear his POV I was mesmerized. He is so evil, and yet so confident in his own actions and view of the world. Brom, if you're reading this. Give me a Richard/Dick novella. I need his backstory.

I wish the rock'n'roll part of the story started earlier than 60%. That's when our FMC re-connects with her best friend and has agency over her situation. The last 40% was amazing.

This audiobook goes next level with the actual song used in the book turned into a fully accompanied punk-rock song! Brom and AJ Grey of The Maxines created an original song to fit the story and it's so cool to hear the guitars and professionally recorded song within the story. This detail elevated my whole listening experience.

Shahjehan Khan and Stephanie Németh-Parker do an amazing job with the narration. A majority is done by Stephanie, as most of the book is from our main character's point of view. But I loved the POV from Richard/Dick and Shahjehan's narration made my skin prickle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

This book is best listened to in your best friends basement, while she tries on rings.

You can always count on Brom to give you the ultimate WTF story! 😂 I was intrigued by the blurb and it did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of rock and roll and demon possession! 😈 The narration was great as well! 🎙️
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy

I’m obsessed with Brom’s spooky, weird, and morbid stories! No one makes you love a demon quite like he does. His audiobooks are always a hit, but this one is special as the main character is in a punk band, possessed, and the only way to exorcise her demons is to rock out in front of hundreds of people to get them to chant her spell. In true Brom fashion, there’s a parade of side characters you love to hate, and I genuinely wished the worst for all of them. And, of course, there’s a morally gray, sweet demon you can’t help but root for. Evil In Me was fantastic and even features a song written by Brom himself, performed by The Maxines. I’m also impatiently waiting for the physical copy to see Brom’s deliciously creepy illustrations that go along with the story. Is it Slewfoot? No, but that’s a Top 5 all-time favorite for me, so it’s a tough bar to clear—but this was still sooo good! HUGE thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook. As soon as I realized Brom had a new book coming out, I was ready to do whatever it took to get my hands on it ASAP! Pub date is set for September 17th!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to Evil in Me by Brom in exchange for my honest feedback.

Music, drugs, demons, a serial killer, and poolside fun at the YMCA. What's not to love?

I enjoyed the premise of Evil in Me somewhat more than the execution. There were a lot of interesting elements that should have easily won me over, but ultimately, the book felt a lot more YA than I had expected when I started the book.

Ruby struggles, on the cusp of adulthood, with finding out who she wants to be and where she wants to go in life. She finds herself with a lot more dire problems, quite by accident, while helping an elderly friend sort through old boxes of his belongings. Then all he'll breaks loose... or tries to.

For fans of Young Adult Horror, I think this book would be a lot of fun. There's music, adventure, gore, good friends, bad exes, and a jerk of a younger sibling for us to hate.

Brom has written another engrossing, deliciously grungy tale of a woman fighting against powers greater than herself to win her freedom back. Evil In Me is a thrilling story of Ruby’s possession and quest to free herself of her demons - in every sense of the word.

This audiobook was a blast! The music included really brought Ruby’s tale to life. Each character was fleshed out and fun to follow. Ultimately that’s what this book was - a truly fun, nostalgic read. The gore was also on point. Straight from chapter one I was left uncomfortable and enthralled.

I highly recommend this to all horror fans and particularly recommend the amazingly done audiobook. I’ll also be picking up the physical copy when it publishes so I can see the artwork too

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

If there was ever a book to read with audio, this is it! Punk rock horror with an actual band playing the titular song. The music was good too, though I did wish we got a bit more. I had a lot of fun with this one. Everyone started off annoying and selfish but slowly grew on me by the end. Especially the ‘evil’ characters. Evil in Me is the perfect spooky read for this season and the cool cover would look great on a bookshelf. Can’t wait to check out Brom’s other works now.

I recently completed Brom's The Evil in Me, and it proved to be a captivating blend of 1980s punk rock and horror elements. The novel, which features demons, a cursed ring, and intricate supernatural themes, was particularly enhanced by its audiobook format. The combination of a distinctive soundtrack and skilled narration created an immersive experience.

The protagonist, Ruby, is portrayed as a complex and compelling character grappling with both external and internal challenges. The narrative delves into significant themes such as mental health and trauma, offering a nuanced exploration of these issues. The audiobook's musical accompaniment further enriched the storytelling, aligning perfectly with the punk rock atmosphere. Although The Evil in Me may not surpass Brom's earlier works like The Child Thief or Slewfoot, it remains a highly engaging read, especially in audiobook form. The vivid imagery and innovative use of music make it a noteworthy experience for both long-time fans and new readers.

Dear Author,

This demon-infested, 1980’s punk band-flavored, horror-charged novel of a girl just trying to survive was a superb tale. I was privileged to get this as an audiobook e-arc, and the experience was immersive and wonderful, easy to listen to as the narrators transported me into your world. I look forward to having this title on my shelf. Horror is fun!


Yours truly,
J.D. McCoughtry

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the opportunity to listen to this e-arc.

This was everything I loved in a book! Possession, demons (a hierarchy even!), and a cursed ring! This story was well paced and showed the inner struggle of the "victims" of the cursed ring. I was even rooting for one of the lesser demons as well as the FMC! This story had a vibe and I was here for all of it. The vibe was an evilness and the people willing to accept and understand said evil. I love Brom and will be reading much more of his work going forward!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and most especially Brom for the audio e-ARC of Evil in Me.

Wow, what an unexpected and delightful ride! I've been a fan of Brom's writing since just after Krampus: The Yule Lord released and voraciously read every work published since. I thought I had a pretty good handle on what to expect, but this one caught me off guard. The narrator was fabulous and the production delightful. And the story? Ruby is an absolute badass and relatably flawed human being. The themes of parent/child trauma;, strained, mended, broken, and un-interpretable relationships; of debts owed and obligations in conflicts; and of self knowledge and empowerment were all strong, woven integrally throughout, and entirely unexpected. Perhaps the most shocking element of the book came towards the end in which many (though certainly not all) of our characters had a hope-filled resolution rather than one quite so bittersweet as the ending of his other works (looking at you, Lost Gods!)

What remains consistent is the balance of horror & wonderment, Brom's mastery of compounding narrative strands that re-contextualize one another as each is discovered, and a delightful if sometimes nauseating reader-experience.

My only regret in having partaken of this ARC is that I've finished the book so soon and now have an even longer wait for his next outing than those who read this one at publication.

I wanted to try this because I think of Brom as someone who does brilliant illustrations, and this was an audiobook with a unique soundtrack. Brom doesn't just write books -- Brom creates an entire experience, and the music in this was so smart and interesting. The story is great too and I loved the main character Ruby so much as she had to deal with her own mental health issues while also navigating a harsh world. Can Ruby get the band back together in time to save the world? Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the eArc copy as well as the audiobook copy through NetGalley.

This is a book that's 100% meant to be taken in through audiobook. The musical accompaniment as well as the various voices used all make for an absolutely immersive and cinematic experience.

I really enjoy the overall premise of this book as it explores mental health and the stigma surrounding it. I enjoyed the dynamics between our main female character and the accompanying demon that inevitably inhabits her. The family with her friend as well as her complicated dynamics with her family, all added to the overall richness and complexity of the plot line.

I really feel like this is a book that should have its own soundtrack. It was absolutely punk rock in every which way. The descriptions and imagery was absolutely stellar as is on par for Brom and all his other books.

The Evil in Me by Brom is a wild ride of a story with 1980s punk rock, Jewish Mysticism, serial killers, found family, and demons large and small. Fans of Brom’s Slewfoot will also enjoy this one, another good for her story with the same affinity for pagan and ancient spirits. As in other Brom stories, humans are the most monstrous of all. I loved all the shout outs to different punk and alternative bands, and the settings in legendary Atlanta 80’s music venues 688 and the Metroplex. I read both the eARC and listened to the ALC of the audiobook which I highly recommend. Everyone should have a physical copy if nothing else, for Brom’s beautiful art and illustrations. The audiobook really brought all the vibes though, with real life band the Maxines playing the music. Thank you to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the eARC and MacMillan Audio for the excellent audiobook advance copy.

(2.5 Stars, rounded up to 3 for the artwork)

This author can clearly write. The dialog is very good. The characters are distinct and well developed. Sure some literary shortcuts are taken with them, but only for the lesser characters. Even the pacing is good. The artwork is very good, and the narrator does a great job.

However, I personally feel like this book is a good example of the sum of its parts being greater than the whole. I loved a lit of the little story segments, but thought the overall story was uninteresting and disconnected, and to be honest, lacking originality. But I really liked everything except the overall arc.

I haven't read anything else by this author, but it really seemed to be very self-indulgent. I'd still give him another try.

This was beautifully wicked. The audiobook is truly the way to go with this one. Narrated by a really fantastic duo of Shahjehan Khan and Stephanie Németh-Parker, I was pulled right in.

This is a wild, very vivid fever dream of music and madness, where both of those elements are woven deeply into each page. Loved the characters, loved the drama of it all, and especially loved the heart at the center of the book.

4 / 5 .... I'm still going back and forth. 
We'll go with 3.75 for now.


Ok, so ...

Full disclosure: I'm new (and late) to Brom's novels, so this was my first one. 

I went into this book totally blind. I saw the cover, and instantly wanted to know what was within. And I was so very pleasantly surprised.

Man, that was one hellishly knarly rollercoaster. And I loved every minute spent within the world of this book. (Well, from a safe distance, of course.). 

Ruby Tucker rocks. She was such an interesting character to follow and get to know.

She's a bad ass. 

All of the characters had very distinct personalities and quirks.

As a lifetime horror lover, this book was a blast to read. 

Fast paced, gory, and tense... There's a lot of rage in this book. 

And it's all so very well written. 

(There's an element that has a much more horrific Lord of the Rings vibe that I loved as well.)

Will be recommending! 

(I just got back from Barnes and Noble where I purchased three of Brom's other novels.... That's how much I loved his writing style, his characterization, the horror elements, the bloody, breathing heart at the center of everything ... I'm an instant fan.)

And the audiobook is incredibly well done. Highly recommend.

My full spoiler-free review, as well as getting into what I didn't like, will be posted to my socials on the publication date.

I read this book in digital form first and only gave it 3 stars, which was shocking for me because usually, everything Brom writes is a 5-star book for me.

Then, I got an ARC of the audiobook and listened to it, too. As I said, Brom is usually a 5-star author for me, so I felt he deserved a second chance.

The audiobook listen was enough for me to bump my rating to a 4. It's definitely the superior experience. A lot of the things that bugged me about the print version (most notably the WAYYYYYY TOO SOUTHERN Southern dialect and the numerous errors and mistakes that should have been caught by editors) weren't nearly as noticeable in audio format.

The Southern dialect still had a few moments where it felt forced and ridiculous, but not nearly as many as in the book. And I'm assuming the errors were fixed prior to the release of the audiobook or -- at the very least -- the narrators realized they were errors and so didn't read them that way.

Either way, the audiobook was much better than the print version.

There was no art, of course. How could there be with an audiobook other than a link to included computer images (which I assume will come with the book's actual release)? But there WAS a live version (instruments and all) of the song the main character writes in the book, which I found very enjoyable. I also liked the way they played bits and pieces of the song and put in drums and strumming throughout the book to enhance and intensify the scenes. It made it easy to stay involved and connected, and it brought that little something extra to the experience.

For a book that relies so heavily on music to tell the tale, I thought that was a very nice touch. If you're going to make an audiobook, why not go all out and make it as engaging as possible?

So yes. If you're already a Brom fan, this one may not live up to "The Child Thief" and "Slewfoot," but it's still a very good book. I do, however, recommend listening to it on audiobook as opposed to reading the print or digital version. You'll enjoy it so much more.

If you're NOT a Brom fan, this audiobook is a good place to start.

I really love Brom's writing style and the visuals he puts in the reader's head. The first chapter is easily my favorite moment of the entire book and it's a hell of a way to start the story.

I feel this captures the punk rock scene of the 80s and satanic panic very well. It's also very much a story about a young woman fighting not just real demons, but also her own inner demons.

You can expect gore and great visuals of hell and demons, a complicated main character that not everyone will like, an interesting connection between music and magic, and themes like female rage, mental illness, trauma, revenge, and justice.

All that said, it's not a perfect story. First of all, I feel like the MC's breakthrough happened a little too quickly after a very long set up and, instead of being a result of her own inner work and growth through the ordeal she goes through, it's a result of something else literally facilitating that breakthrough.

I don't mind the help she got, I just wish it happened some other way, with her having more of a role in it. Something as simple as her asking for it would've hinted at some growth, but I feel like she stays the same person until that happens, and from one moment to the next, she's changed.

Second, I don't feel like the other characters were as well-fleshed out as the MC. Given how important some of them were for the story, I definitely expected to learn more about them and dive a little deeper into their motivations, but they feel very surface-level.

Third, some things are left unresolved and I don't mind it as much, but you do notice it. Overall, it's a solid horror fantasy with a few issues IMO, but they don't take away from how campy and fun this was to read. 3.5 stars from me.

About the audiobook: it was good! I liked the narrators and I appreciate that they made an actual song (I didn't love it, but that's beside the point). Bringing the music to life like that made it a bit more immersive.