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.

Happy pub day to Evil in Me! 🎸🖤

This book got 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 from me and I cannot wait to grab a physical copy to see all of Brom’s artwork within!

We follow Ruby, an aspiring musician, after she has a falling out with her bandmate and loses her job teaching music to children. She finds a ring while helping her neighbor organize his religious artifacts, and events quickly take a turn. The ring is possessed by a demon! Ruby must face her past and literal demons to save her soul, and makes some friends along the way.

Read this if you like:
Cursed objects
Religion horror
Overcoming past traumas

Thank you so much @netgalley and @tornightfire for an advanced copy!

4.75 Stars ⭐

Happy Pub Day to Evil in Me and thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review purposes.

Evil in Me is a horror novel about outcasts, friendship, and punk rock. The main character Ruby is one week away from getting off probation when she is drawn by the siren song of a ring. When she puts it on, she gets possessed and must figure out how to exorcise her demons with the help of her friends and punk rock.

This book was such a fun time to read, especially if you're listening to the songs written for the book by the Maxines during the climax. Brom has such a vivid way of describing both scenery and action that makes it so easy to picture exactly what is going on. The characters were all unique and relatable that you become invested in seeing how they handle the situations thrown at them. The small point deduction in my rating is due to the pacing being a little slow to start, but once the halfway point hits, the plot picks up and I was hooked til the end. And the absolutely STUNNING cover art is just the cherry on top of an awesome book.

I love Brom and this is just like him in his writing style that teeters on the gothic. Any fan will surely love this.

Evil in Me by Brom was a nice fast-paced, bingeable read that took me by surprise.
An intriguing horror and dark fantasy story that I couldn’t stop once I started.
This was an absorbing read filled with interesting and complex characters.
A great cast of characters that just jump off the pages.
The plot, the characters and the setting all combine to give you a wonderful story!

When I read the summary for this book, I wasn't honestly sure what I thought. It didn't seem like it would be something that I would enjoy, truthfully.

But then, I thought--hey, it's Brom. When has Brom ever led you astray?

This book was a journey. I found myself hooked from the first page and read all of it in one sitting, unable to pull my attention away. The storyline was unique, fun and interesting and the characters--most of them, anyway, cough--were delightful and I enjoyed getting to read about them and see their progression through the story. (Beel was my favourite. Beel was best.)

This is the sort of book that leaves me struggling for what exactly to say other than to recommend that you read this book. It will stick around with me for a long time and I think it will stick around with you, too. It's just that good and, c'mon--it's Brom. Brom has never led us astray and definitely did not this time with this weird, amazing little tale.

Posted on Goodreads:
4.25/5⭐️

Alright. Generally I don’t care for characters like Ruby. You know, hot mess and always making bad decisions. However, Brom really made me care for her.

Ruby is constantly making bed decisions, like going off her meds and trusting the wrong people, like her ex. She’s surrounded by crummy people. Her mom is garbage and selfish and the woman at the YMCA is just trash. However, she has Pam who believes in her and gives her the chance to make some little cash by helping look after Pam’s dad.

Now, Pam’s dad has a plethora of relics and one in particular has caught her eye and in return it has its eye on her. Once she puts it on, Ruby’s day gets worse and now she’s in a journey with Pam’s dad Josh to get the ring off.

Brom is so good at description and his imagination is just top tier. I can’t wait to see the final product.

Thank you netgalley, tor and Brom for the opportunity to read this book.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

I would classify this novel as horror and dark fantasy. It includes some violence and gore, demonic possession, serial killers, and dark lords. I loved it! I feel it was tame and could even be considered a young adult book.

The story is set in the 80’s and follows a young woman named Ruby who wants to escape to Atlanta away from her hometown and broken family to reunite with an old friend and start their band backup. Only problem is, she has to wait for her probation to end. People around her believe she has mental health issues and needs to be medicated, but Ruby does not agree and stops taking her meds.

Simultaneously, she is taking care of her elderly neighbor, Josh, who holds a secret... he has an ancient tool that is very powerful. Ruby comes across this artifact and realizes trouble will soon follow..

I could feel the underlying evil and dread through the whole story, along with Brom’s dark humor. There are many layers to this story including multiple POVs, sympathy for villains, self-empowerment, mental illness, justice, friendship and love. Brom has a great way of making the reader care for the characters, even the villains. This was my favorite thing about Evil In Me; I felt real emotions for the “bad guys” and the “good eggs”.

I think it was super cool that a real band made the song in the book and recorded it so you can go listen to it. What fun!

This was my first Brom book, and I really enjoyed it! I have been waiting to read his other novel, Slewfoot, and now that I’ve read Evil In Me, I am even more excited to do so. It appears there is a small connection to Brom’s novel Lost Gods, so I will be picking that up too!

This was my first book by Brom. It features well fleshed out characters, mental health representation, 80s style Horror vibes, and some well-timed comedic relief.

The horror was well done, including the demonic possession. I liked how everything tied together at the end. The punk rock and roll vibes were a nice bonus. Definitely recommended this for lovers of the horror genre.

Tysm for the ARC.

I went into this book blind and with no expectations.

It was decent. The characters are well developed, the scenes are set well, the descriptions are good visuals.

The fun cheesyness of an 80s horror novel is underlaid by grief and suppression, the misconceptions of mental health and illness, and the prominence of the 80s 'devil will get you' with DnD and metal. And somehow Richard wormed his way into the book, his somewhat side story feeling irrelevant but ties in eventually.

If you love Brom, you will love this book.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Brom always creates the most fleshed out characters and vivid surroundings; you feel like you know the people in the book, or perhaps walked in their shoes at one point in life (particularly for punk fans like myself). I was emotionally invested in Ruby's outcome, and loved the comedic breaks throughout. Easily digestible despite the gore and violence, I can't wait to get my physical copy!

The first chapter of Brom’s Evil in Me goes hard and then takes its’ foot off the pedal for some laughs. Brom’s immersive paintings and brilliant endpapers as well as The Maxines song “Evil In Me” make this horror novel a multi-media affair. A ring’s curse, demons, possession, punk rock, serial killers are all blended into this psychedelic trip. ARC was provided by Tor Nightfire via NetGalley. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio. I received an advance review copy and advance listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.