Ruby Tucker has dreams of escaping her hometown and making it big as a musician, but things aren’t looking too good in that department after having a disagreement with her bandmate and best friend. In the meantime Ruby has been helping out a neighbor of hers, but when a strange ring decides to attach itself, literally, to Ruby’s finger she suddenly finds herself possessed by an evil demon. The only way for her to remove the ring and escape the evil in attacks is to have hundreds of people repeat a spell, and the only way to accomplish that is to get the band back together.

When I saw there was a new novel by Brom out in the world I jumped at the chance to immerse myself in another one of his stories, and Evil in Me did not disappoint. I enjoyed the characters, the events, and especially the music. Not only did Shahjehan Khan and Stephanie Németh-Parker do an amazing job telling the story, the fact that music by The Maxines was included was simply epic. Not only did I like the song, but I also loved how it brought people together, as music often does. This is one of the best audiobooks that I have listened to.

Demon possession but make it even more metal.

Ruby Tucker just wants to play punk music. Our MC is an angsty, chain smoking badass in a small, conservative town. Life with her mom and shitty stepdad is becoming unbearable, and her connection to anything relatable is waning. Well, at least until she finds a whole ass corpse finger adorned with a magical ring. When the ring gets stuck on her own finger and a demon starts living in her head, she's gotta figure out exactly how to pry it off and kick him out before she's bound to an eternity in hell.

I think this was fun. Ruby is a romp, and I'm quite the fan of hers. Shout out to Vutto for being the cutest golden retriever of a demon and to bestie Tina for her nuance as a supporting character. The reason for a 3 star rating is the cheesiness of it. I could see what was about to happen before it did, and some of the conversations were a bit contrived. I'm still gonna read more Brom.

This was a great story. I love it when music and horror are combined! I’ve seen a few few books that do this, but this one did it exceptionally well

Wow, what a trippy read! Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker is living at home with her Mom and future stepfather while figuring her life out and completing her mandatory probation. This all changes when she encounters a ring that will possess the wearer and wreaks havoc and destruction in its wake. To escape the clutches of a demon, Ruby gets help from the most unexpected group of characters and in the most unexpected way. One song to set her free!

Great story of possession and friendship! Family trauma and one woman finding herself in the midst of trying not to lose herself to a demon! I loved this!

It starts out with a bang in a wince-inducing gory opening chapter, before we start following our main character Ruby and what follows is a bit of a coming-of-age type of story. I will say the music aspect from the synopsis doesn’t come into play until pretty late in the book, and the horror is a bit of a slow build but I enjoyed spending time learning about Ruby and the people in her life. It becomes a demonic possession horror tale that I thought was easily bingeable!

This isn’t a book. It’s an entire artistic EXPERIENCE. I LOVED every rich MAXIMALIST Punk rock moment of my time in Brom’s Evil in Me. I actually had to slow myself down and take this one in with all of my senses. I listened to the audiobook, while reading the GORGEOUS hardcover, and I even loved this so much, I ordered the Maxine’s as The Nightmares EP of Evil in Me.

An absolute bad ass artistic meditation on what it means to be human and the many internal battles we all can face while walking this earth. Though we may have many different beliefs, there are some evils within and without ourselves we all know very well.

Looking for a book that throws punk rock rebellion, demonic thrills, and family drama into a wild blender? Meet Evil in Me by Brom.

Ruby Tucker, a twenty-something with a knack for bad decisions, stumbles into a nightmare: a cursed ring, a serial killer, and literal demons — one of them even a demon drummer. This isn’t your typical shiny accessory; it’s alive (sort of) and unbeatable. As things spiral, expect a rollercoaster of gore mixed with popcorn-fun moments. Brom’s twist with Jewish mythology adds depth beyond the usual possession tale. The punk rock vibes and ancient magic keep the pace frantic and rebellious.

Sure, Ruby’s choices are eyebrow-raising (a horror must!), but you’ll cheer for her every step. And those demons? More entertaining than terrifying. The ending rushes, but the climax delivers one hell of a show.

If you crave a blend of punk attitude, horror thrills, and chaotic fun, Evil in Me promises a gory (ish) good time. It’s not deep or spine-chilling, but it’s pure, unadulterated entertainment.


Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.