Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

A rock n roll-infused story of demons and possession, with a soupçon of Jewish mysticism, Brom's Evil In Me is an edge-of-your-seat ride. Punk rocker Ruby Tucker has had enough of her life and her go nowhere rock 'career', but when a religious relic ring attaches itself to her finger, she finds the hoards of hell out for her soul. Now, if only she can get the band back together to save both her soul, and the world, things would finally start looking up for her.

Includes several of Brom's gorgeous character illustrations.

Thanks to NetGally and Tor Nightfire for an advanced eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#EvilInMe #Brom #TorNightfire #NetGalley

I liked this less than his other works, but still enjoyed. Unfortunately for me I feel that he did not create the eerie atmosphere I am used to with Brom in this novel.

I really enjoyed this humorous, grotesque horror-possession story. A mix of punk culture, Jewish folklore, roadtrip and personal growth - all with a lot of really creepy imagery (including some of Brom’s gorgeous artwork). I am a big fan of Brom’s unique horror voice. 4.5⭐️

This was a fun, punk-rock, Satanic-panic-vibes horror with plenty of gore and craziness. The story felt a little flimsy amidst all the other elements - lapsed friendships, punk rock dreams, mental health/medical history issues, drama with some past crime leading to parole stuff, past/present parent issues, the most horrible creep step-brother and father, and a whole other set of people and story surrounding demons with dreams of freedom and enslavement and a rabbi with a ring ... it got to be a bit much to really feel like any of it was fully realized. Decent time-passing book to listen to, though.

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5
You've got an angsty young woman who lives in the alternative scene. You've got demonic possession. You've got rock n' roll (...well, punk rock). You've got a funny side character, and you've got a ride or die best friend. What's not to love here?

This is my third book by Brom and this man just does not miss. This one is an absolute riot! The other two I've read were both horror-fantasy hybrids, whereas this one I feel leans heavily into solidly horror territory.

The plot is a fun take on a good ol' fashioned demon possession. The characters are engaging. I did feel that there was perhaps one too many antagonists, which is the only reason for that half star being knocked. It made the story feel crowded at times. Overall, this book felt like a celebration of the meeting of a classic subgenre of horror fiction and punk rock music. Both horror and punk rock are places where people who feel different, who feel like outcasts, or who feel misunderstood gravitate towards and find a home in, and melding them in this way just makes sense.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC! This was my first Brom read, and I tandem read it while listening to the audiobook—and I’ve got to say, the audio experience really added something extra. Hearing Ruby's song with that punk heart edge was an awesome addition to the listening experience. It gave the story an extra pulse that worked beautifully with the book’s tone.

What really hooked me was the blend of Jewish mythology, the raw punk energy, and the idea that music isn’t just sound—it’s memory, magic, and rebellion all in one. The concept was rich, the gritty vibes were on point, and I instantly vibed with it.

The ending caught me off guard, in a good way. While it didn’t blow me away, I still really enjoyed the ride. Overall, a solid first taste of Brom. I liked it, I’m glad I read it, and I’m definitely open to exploring more of his work.

Gods, demons and rock n roll! What else would you want in a story. I loved Ruby and the author did a great job letting the reader feel her frustration and sadness along her journey. There were several times reading about Ruby's home life that I was absolutely pissed! This was a super fun and fast read. I will be reading more from this author.

In true Brom fashion, this read has everything we horror fiends, pine for. Brom creates demons, gods, and humans that tiptoe the lines between life, death, and some spiritual realm that we all know sits right on the edge of our reality, but we are too afraid to look into. "If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." Nietzsche says it best and that is the exact type of fear that Brom brings us into to wallow helplessly in this particular story.

You know those split-second decisions, those times where impulse takes over and looking back you know the exact moment you fucked up. Evil In Me is the epitome of that feeling. One silly impulse, a devil whispering into the ear to just go ahead, do it...it's just a ring.... It's really so much more though, it always is. Ruby, the main character finds that out and then some after such an impulse. There's a reason we are told not to play with fire...
This is a punk rock, hell-ride that makes you feel like you've been dancing with devils and being punched in the gut repeatedly...
A damn fine time, indeed!

Also, can we just acknowledge that Brom creates this creepy, awesome realm's that will horrify even the most seasoned of us gore lovers. I want to hang out with Vutto, I really do!

Ruby Tucker is off her meds again and trouble will soon follow. With a family life that is sad and scary, Ruby just wants to get her band back together and get out of her podunk town. Working part time as a caretaker for a friend's father, Ruby discovers a collection of artefacts, one of which was a ring. Ruby puts it on and hears a song. The ring grabs on to her finger of its own accord and it cannot be removed. Can its siren song be silenced? Will Ruby ever be free from the taint caused by the ring? You'll have to read this to find out!
I've loved every Brom book l've read, except for this one. The plot was a good one, (though a bit silly at times), and the characters were strong. There was lots of violence and gore as well. So why didn't I enjoy it as much as Brom's other books? The only thing I can put my finger on is a feeling. While I was reading I kept feeling that EVIL IN ME had a distinct YA feel to it. In spite of the violence, in spite of a truly horrible serial killer, (It's me, Richard.) and in spite of some great characters, I just felt this was a bit tame. I love the idea of the saving grace of Rock and Roll and have loved other books with the same exact theme. I really dug the character of Ruby and I empathised with her situation, especially as more and more of her past was revealed. If it weren't for my love of this girl, I might not have even continued reading.
Don't get me wrong, the story is entertaining as all get out, (featuring demons, dark lords, serial killers and half-mad Jesus worshipping stepfathers), and who doesn't want to see Rock music save the world, (or at least one young woman?) Overall, it just felt... light to me-like trying to satisfy a cheesecake Jones with cream cheese on a cracker. It's still good-just not all you you wanted it to be.
One thing I missed by reading a digital ARC is Brom's artwork. Perhaps combined with that I would have given this a slightly higher rating? It's hard to say. I may buy a copy of this anyway, because I did enjoy the story and I always enjoy Brom's art.
I do recommend Evil in Me and I hope you enjoy it if you decide to give it a go!
ARC from the publisher

Evil in Me does an amazing job with the possessed object trope!! We follow Ruby who accidentally obtains this possessed object and watch as she uses punk rock to save herself from damnation.
This story has demons, singing worms, and everything else I wanted this book to have. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good spooky read during spooky season!
Big thanks to the publisher for a review copy!

This is the second book I’ve read by Brom. The first being Slewfoot, which I loved.
Brom has a way of subverting horror so that by the end, you can empathize with the monster, at least a little bit.
Ruby was such an interesting character and I loved how her and Beale came together.
This is one of those stories that made me feel more than I thought I would.
I’m definitely going to need to go back and read their back catalog now.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Ruby, a young woman who has gotten herself into trouble. She has to do community service hours and take her meds. The whole community seems to pick on ruby and call her crazy and things like that.

When she finds a possessed ring, things quickly go downhill when she gets possessed and she has to find a way to get the ring off.

I was not a huge fan of this book but I will start with the positives. I believe this takes place during the 80s and I loved the vibes throughout. I also enjoyed the music throughout since it was a big part of this story. Ruby was a good character to follow since she was trying to better herself and she seemed relatable. The whole town was really mean to her.

On the other hand, this book just felt silly to me. Everything felt unrealistic and just really extreme. I just couldn’t take it seriously. It just kept getting worse and worse for me as it went on.

While this book wasn’t for me, many others have liked it so I would still suggest checking it out if you’re interested!

This book started out a bit slow but turned into a real page turner. This is the first book by Brom that I have read and I look forward to reading more.

4.5 star rounded up.

First, I have to admit that I love books that have a song attached and the fact that this album is on Spotify!? I could listen to the song and hear it - for real.

Evil in Me.. was a great paranormal horror story. I love that this story didn't take your normal religious spin, but that it was focused more on Judaism and the relics and supernatural powers within that religion. That alone intrigued me.

Now, Ruby, my girl Ruby, she was dealt a terrible hand in life, but I can say, that between her, Beale and Vuto. This was a wild wild ride, but I enjoyed it.

Brom knows how to write a book that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and makes you both love and hate his characters.

The idea that music can be both your damnation and your salvation is so accurate. Brom hits the ground running setting you directly in summer in the 80’s in the mind of a woman whose off her meds and just trying to get through her probation so she can finally be free to pursue her music career. Ruby is angry and with every character you encounter you can see why. And what mixes perfectly with satanic panic and an angry girl that loves rock n’ roll; a procession!

I really love Brom’s take on a procession story that’s set in the Jewish religion over the typical Christian demonic procession. The way everything revolves around music from the way Ruby gets possessed, to the way the ring (the tool of her possession) sings a song that is a beacon to anyone evil around, to the fact that getting a group of people to sing a song will (hopefully) eventually set Ruby free makes it fun! The story weaves between gory to funny and is, to be frank, a ridiculous ride. A ride I enjoyed.

We also get the perspective from multiple characters including characters that you don't necessarily want to be in their head. It can be slightly jarring at first, but easy to get used to the different perspectives and adds a lot to the book. It also keeps the action moving and gives you a glimpse into the why behind some characters.

This is definitely on the lighter side for a Brom book but still has plenty of scenes that had me flinching. This was an ARC so I didn’t get to see Brom’s signature images but I’m excited to get a physical copy to see them.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Brom. At first I was disappointed by the slow start, but then the action happened. I felt like the action and dialog ue at times was a little campy, but it was a fairly enjoyable read and I'm willing to try another of the author's books in the future.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

I can always count on Brom to be insightfully creepy and haunting. This was a hell of a good time, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

The perfect mix of fantasy and horror.
And the prologue....Holy Shit!! 😲🖤

Making the choice to be evil, even more terrifying than being born evil. Becoming evil because you are that fucking bored of life and you can't think of anything better to do! And then, on the other hand, being possessed by evil, and overcoming it....

Brom has a true gift for making horror so beautiful! So exciting! So emotional! This book gave me such a buzz!

A new fave Brom for me! Incrediblly addictive, I will be reading this at least once a year! 🤘😍🤘

I 🖤 Vutto!

I can always rely on Brom for a great time! This book is beautiful, haunting, and will stick with you well after the last page.