{REVIEW} THE DEVIL'S METAL (DEVILS #1) by KARINA HALLE

Series: Devils #1
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Publication Date: Sept. 21, 2012
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages:
Source: Received from author for review.

It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

***

The Devil's Metal is the first book in a two-part New Adult Horror/Paranormal Romance and very (very!) loosely based on the author's exploits as a music journalist. Hell comes in different forms.

 

A Twisted Tale of Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll

Aspiring music journalist Dawn Emerson is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity: Tour with her favorite band, Hybrid. Wanting to earn a credible reputation, Dawn strives to get her story, but stay above the scandalous adventures the band has behind the scenes. The lure of drugs and seduction is hard to resist, particularly when it's offered by your idols. Day by day, Dawn becomes closer to the band, and even begins to join them in the fun. But soon enough, the demons come out to play, and people begin to die. Turns out, someone made a dangerous deal to secure Hybrid's place in the music industry, and it's time to pay up.

The best way I can describe The Devil's Metal is... Almost Famous with demons. Sounds incredibly strange, yes? Much like that iconic movie, you have a young protagonist (but in this case, older and female) touring with her favorite band, in an effort to get the "big" story, and make a name for herself as a music journalist. Because I consider Almost Famous one of the best movies ever, and because I'm obsessed with music, this story held automatic appeal for me. If The Devil's Metal had been simply that story, I would have been fine with that.

But, this isn't simply that story. This is also the story of a band that paid a steep price for success. A price that is now being collected. Karina Halle is fantastic at delivering the creepy. I'm a huge fan of all her books, surprising since I don't typically read or watch horror. But I find her style works for me. It's scary enough to give me the heebie-jeebies, but not so much that I'm tempted to sleep with a steak knife under my pillow.

I tend to like my books with a contemporary setting. I usually find myself annoyed by the constant references that are meant to remind me of the specific time in which the story is set. The exception are books set in the 1990s (THE BEST!!) and 1980s. The 1970s are my hard limit. This era is doable; any further back and I'm done. The fact that The Devil's Metal is set in the 1970s means that you  get tragic fashion and decor, but rad music. Due to the very thorough inclusion of the era's lingo, trends, and pop culture, Karina Halle gives the reader an authentic look at at that place in time.And truly, from a rock history stand point, the story is fascinating.

From beginning to end, I found The Devil's Metal to be a very good book. The story had a fairly solid resolution. The Prologue, however, delivered another big dose of WTF, and you better believe that I'll be on board for book two.

The Devil's Metal is another solid, unique story from the very gifted Karina Halle.



Favorite Quotes:

"During that show I forgot all about the talk I had with Robbie earlier, or the unexpected sass I delivered to Sage. I was just a fan, always a fan, a worshipper who talked to God in her head but fell to her knees at church." (eARC, 31%)

  "He patted the top of my head gently with his hand, his expression melancholic. 'Are you here? Right now? There are different ways to run away and I know them all. Whatever you run from will always find you.' " (eARC, 36%)



You can purchase The Devil's Metal at:
Amazon  |  Smashwords 

Giveaway

Karina Halle is offering one lucky winner:

• A print copy of The Devil's Metal
• A Hybrid v-neck shirt

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Review ~ ON DEMON WINGS (Experiment in Terror #5) by Karina Halle

When the life you wanted has crumbled beneath your fingers, there’s nothing left to do but pick up the pieces and soldier on. You’ve done this before. But what happens when you no longer feel like yourself anymore? When fires spontaneously start-up around you, when you hear growling coming from underneath your bed, and you no longer recognize your face in the mirror. What happens then? Ghost-hunter Perry Palomino doesn’t have much time to find out. Now, the evil she used to hunt is a lot closer to home. It’s inside of her, taking over her life bit-by-terrifying bit, and there’s only one person who can help her. If part of her doesn’t kill him first. ~From GoodReads

I must, must start this review by saying HOLY EFFING BLEEEEP!!! Whew. I feel better.

Seriously? Whoa. Author Karina Halle has always held the ability to creep me out. Each book in the Experiment in Terror series has gotten progressively freakier. And now, in ON DEMON WINGS, I feel nearly ready to piss myself with fright. I'm telling you, if you grew up in the 80s, with a parent who liked to scare the shizz out of you, then surely you've watched Poltergeist. That is the freaked out, crazy-scary vibe I had while reading this book. The day I read this, I was poolside in Atlanta, in June. I should have been hot, right?! Um...no. I had freaking chill bumps running along my arms and legs. I kept looking behind the potted plants, in the pool drains, and jumping when shadows crossed over. So if Karina was aiming to freak me the eff out, mission accomplished. Two thumbs up.

Alright. The big questions. Perry? Dex? Perry and Dex? What happened after LYING SEASON? I have to say, it hurt to see Perry without Dex. At first. But really, it was nice to see Perry make a new life for herself after the fallout. She proves her inner strength, her ability to deal with everything, even though it hurt. But then...Perry's life goes to south in a major way. This poor girl has handled more than most characters ever go through. I'm just waiting for Perry to completely crack.

The ever-infuriating, yet hopelessly sexy and intriguing, Dex Foray is largely absent in much of the story. I say largely and not completely because though he's not physically present, he's always near the front of Perry's consciousness. His past actions still play a tremendous and devastating part of Perry's life. But don't fear, Dex lovers. I am one of you and I will say that when Dex does make a return, it is PERFECTION. For once, Dex does and says the right thing. I have never loved that man as much as I did in this book.

I would be a total loser if I did not mention Perry's sister, Ada. How this girl has grown on me! She was a brat in the first few books in the series. But along the way, she has morphed into a ridiculously funny, surprising astute, and fiercely loyal sister. She was Perry's thread to sanity in much of this book. I can't tell you how many times this girl made me snarf. Especially when she's telling off the men in Perry's life. You can always count on Ada to dish out the truth, in her unique way. Here's her discussing the weird events happening with Perry:

"Look, I don't know, Perry. You've been through a lot. You just watched a whole bunch of Tyra Banks. Combined, those things can create nightmares." (ebook, 21%)


ON DEMON WINGS was all I had hoped for and more. It had the traits I've come to expect from Halle's books: quirky, fun, scary, exciting, tense, and full of "WTF?" moments. So many lingering questions were answered. But I have to say that the ending made me shriek and thrash, much like possessed-Perry. The story was utterly imaginative. I have truly been taking places I never dreamed possible when I began this series nearly a year ago. Karina Halle is a fearless author and I am anxiously (understatement) waiting for book six, INTO THE HOLLOW.


Favorite Quote:

"I pictured Dex, his deep eyes, his smirk, his stark determination that blew me over from time to time. He was a strong man and a weak man all at once. A friend once, a lover last. A father in another lifetime. Now nothing. But he was going to try to save me all the same." (eARC, 90%)

Published May 13th 2012 by Metal Blonde Books

You can purchase ON DEMON WINGS at:
Amazon Kindle  |  Smashwords  |  Paperback


Source: Received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review ~ LYING SEASON (Experiment in Terror, #4) by Karina Halle

Ama­teur ghost-hunter Perry Palomino has bat­tled ghosts, fought off skin­walk­ers and skirted the fine line between life and death. But can she sur­vive bunk­ing down in Seat­tle for a week with her partner (and man she secretly loves) Dex and his perfect girl­friend, Jennifer? And can she do so while being tor­mented by a mali­cious spirit from Dex’s increas­ingly shady past? With love and life in the bal­ance, Perry must dis­cover the truth among the lies or risk los­ing every­thing she's ever cared about. ~ From GoodReads

LYING SEASON, book four in the Experiment in Terror Series, centers around the ever-freaking-adorable Perry Palomino and her partner (and would-be love) Dex Foray. In this installment, Perry and Dex are investigating a reportedly haunted mental institution in Seattle.  Scary, huh? Turns out, that scenario is not nearly as scary as the fact that Perry is spending the week with Dex in his apartment... oh, and his longterm girlfriend, Jenn, too. Let the fun begin.

Damn. That pretty much sums up my feelings at this moment. When I finished LYING SEASON a few hours ago,  I thought I should probably sit on my thoughts for a day or two and let everything settle. But I don't think waiting will change anything.  So here goes...

LYING SEASON. What a perfect name for this book. Perry and Dex have never been wholly upfront to one another, about their complicated and turbulents pasts, certainly not about their feelings towards one another. But the level of dishonesty is ratcheted up to a new, disturbing level in this book. Like I said, Dex has never been totally honest about his history. In LYING SEASON, though, Dex's protective shell begins to chip away, and he begins to reveal pieces of himself to Perry. It's haunting, disturbing, and quite heartbreaking. I've never seen Dex this vulnerable. I don't think he'd ever been this open with anyone before, even Jenn. Only Perry does he trust. But then he reveals these secrets he's been keeping from Perry. Things that don't seem to be a huge deal to an outsider, but have a tremendous impact on her and show her how truly selfish he can be. He just... I don't know. I love Dex, I honestly do (cue the Olivia Newton-John music), but sometimes, I want to slap the literal sh*t out of him.

And Perry, sweet Perry. This girl, she keeps going, no matter what life (and Dex) put her through. She's starting to gain some much needed confidence now. And I love that. And she always acts with the best of intentions. But she turns a dark corner in LYING SEASON. What she does...it made me so disappointed in her. I still love her. I totally get why she does it, and know that she does have good intentions. But I wanted to climb into my book and shake the girl. You cannot mess with people's minds and bodies like that, Perry!

And Jenn. I gave you a fair chance. I was determined that there must be something worthy in you if Dex loves you. Screw that. For all the fans of the series who've wanted to know Jenn better. Here's your chance.

Even though the series is called Experiment in Terror, LYING SEASON is the first book in the series that made me nearly pee my pants from fright. The other books did have tense, scary moments, but nothing that compares to this scenario. What is more terrifying than a mental institution? A haunted one at that? Compound that with a ghoulish blast from Dex's past and you have a true Experiement in Terror.

LYING SEASON definitely left me with more questions than answers. The last few chapters had me reading with my eyes bugging out and my hand over my mouth so I wouldn't swear in front of my kids. The chemistry between Dex and Perry has never been hotter. The stakes have never been higher. The dialogue, internal and verbal, has never been sharper or as laugh-out-loud funny. I must give Halle some serious credit. She is a master at bringing the characters and story up to the very cusp of happiness, then pulling the rug right out from under them. She has never given Dex and Perry an easy road, or an easy out.  And I suspect that will be the case until the very end. The ending to LYING SEASON...I'm still shattered. The fact that I'm still shell-shocked is a compliment to Halle's writing. I am excited, anxious, and terrified to read book five in the series ON DEMON WINGS.


Favorite Quote:

" 'What are you saying?' I asked softly.
'I'm saying that you're like my best friend,' he said. 'You are my best friend, and I could never let pills take away what makes you, you. Your heart. And your beautiful soul.' " (pg. 213, ARC)


Published December 13th 2011 by Metal Blonde Books

My review of DARKHOUSE (Experiment in Terror, #1).

My review of RED FOX (Experiment in Terror, #2).

My review of DEAD SKY MORNING (Experiment in Terror, #3).

You can purchase LYING SEASON at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon

Source: I received an ARC of LYING SEASON from the author, for review purpose.