What do you think?
Rate this book
Evil in Me
Evil in Me is bestselling author Brom's novel of possession, damnation, and rock-n-roll where one woman must get the world singing in order to save her soul.
This devilish tale includes nearly two dozen of Brom’s immersive paintings and brilliant endpapers
Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.
While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious relics, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger―possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no getting it off unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh.
If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It's time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song―one powerful enough to raise some Hell.
This devilish tale includes nearly two dozen of Brom’s immersive paintings and brilliant endpapers
Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.
While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious relics, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger―possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no getting it off unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh.
If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It's time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song―one powerful enough to raise some Hell.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2024
308 people are currently reading
6199 people want to read
About the author
Brom
60 books6,455 followersBorn in the deep dark south in the mid-sixties. Brom, an army brat, spent his entire youth on the move and unabashedly blames living in such places as Japan, Hawaii, Germany, and Alabama for all his afflictions. From his earliest memories Brom, has been obsessed with the creation of the weird, the monstrous, and the beautiful.
At age twenty, Brom began working full-time as a commercial illustrator in Atlanta, Georgia. Three years later he entered the field of fantastic art he’d loved his whole life, making his mark developing and illustrating for TSR’s best selling role-playing worlds.
He has since gone on to lend his distinctive vision to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games, to comics and film, receiving numerous awards such as the Spectrum Fantastic Art Grand Master award and the Chesley Lifetime Achievement award. He is also a national best-selling author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: Slewfoot, Lost Gods, Krampus the Yule Lord, The Child Thief, The Plucker, and The Devil’s Rose. Brom is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Savannah.
At age twenty, Brom began working full-time as a commercial illustrator in Atlanta, Georgia. Three years later he entered the field of fantastic art he’d loved his whole life, making his mark developing and illustrating for TSR’s best selling role-playing worlds.
He has since gone on to lend his distinctive vision to all facets of the creative industries, from novels and games, to comics and film, receiving numerous awards such as the Spectrum Fantastic Art Grand Master award and the Chesley Lifetime Achievement award. He is also a national best-selling author of a series of award-winning illustrated horror novels: Slewfoot, Lost Gods, Krampus the Yule Lord, The Child Thief, The Plucker, and The Devil’s Rose. Brom is currently kept in a dank cellar somewhere just outside of Savannah.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews
August 5, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Evil in Me is a love letter to the punk underground and vibe back in the 1980s. It sprinkles in some Satanic panic for good measure with excellent characters to love and hate.
I enjoyed this one immensely!
I grew up in the 80s and felt like Brom nails down the culture, fashion and overall rebellion that teens and young adults were going through during time.
Evil in Me starts off with a bang with intense horror and a new look at demon possession.
Ruby Tucker wants to play punk and escape her small community and broken family. Boy could a relate with that one!
Besides doing community service due to her probation, she's taking care of her elder neighbor Josh. One day, she comes across a religious artifact owned by Josh that will change her life forever.
Not only does Evil in Me have Jewish mysticism but repulsive demons, serial killers, ghosts and punk music that hits.
I was worried about Ruby throughout the whole book and Brom has a fantastic way of getting the reader to emotionally invest into characters and the plot.
There’s enough dark humor in this one that keeps the plot fun and helps when the pivotal moments are intense.
Definitely recommend this to fans of the horror genre, the 80s, and anyone that loves an underdog story! 😈
Evil in Me is a love letter to the punk underground and vibe back in the 1980s. It sprinkles in some Satanic panic for good measure with excellent characters to love and hate.
I enjoyed this one immensely!
I grew up in the 80s and felt like Brom nails down the culture, fashion and overall rebellion that teens and young adults were going through during time.
Evil in Me starts off with a bang with intense horror and a new look at demon possession.
Ruby Tucker wants to play punk and escape her small community and broken family. Boy could a relate with that one!
Besides doing community service due to her probation, she's taking care of her elder neighbor Josh. One day, she comes across a religious artifact owned by Josh that will change her life forever.
Not only does Evil in Me have Jewish mysticism but repulsive demons, serial killers, ghosts and punk music that hits.
I was worried about Ruby throughout the whole book and Brom has a fantastic way of getting the reader to emotionally invest into characters and the plot.
There’s enough dark humor in this one that keeps the plot fun and helps when the pivotal moments are intense.
Definitely recommend this to fans of the horror genre, the 80s, and anyone that loves an underdog story! 😈
September 23, 2024
this is fine, i just didn’t love it :/ it started off good but just felt a bit silly after a while
August 25, 2024
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 I'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 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 publisher.
I've loved every Brom book I'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 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 publisher.
October 19, 2024
Vutto is a good egg
February 12, 2025
Relics, rock-n-roll, aspiration, and possession are center stage in Brom's Evil in Me. Ruby Tucker is an aspiring musician who has an ancient ring clamp down on her finger while helping him organize his relics. The entity inside the ring possesses her while hoping to be free of its evil master.
Evil in Me is rock-n-roll meets horror complete with interesting and larger than life characters. This book contained music, horrific scenes, danger, dreams, and drama. I was hoping that I would enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery, but I was not as drawn into this book as much as I had hoped.
This book goes from horror to cartoonish, from creepy to silly, from intense to weird. This was a bizarre ride that had its highs and its lows. While I didn't love this book, I was entertained by it. Brom does excel at vivid descriptions and crafting unique characters, but that wasn’t enough to fully wow me.
Other reviewers enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Evil in Me is rock-n-roll meets horror complete with interesting and larger than life characters. This book contained music, horrific scenes, danger, dreams, and drama. I was hoping that I would enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery, but I was not as drawn into this book as much as I had hoped.
This book goes from horror to cartoonish, from creepy to silly, from intense to weird. This was a bizarre ride that had its highs and its lows. While I didn't love this book, I was entertained by it. Brom does excel at vivid descriptions and crafting unique characters, but that wasn’t enough to fully wow me.
Other reviewers enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 6, 2024
Omg! This is the type of book amazing cult horror movies are made from. I’d watch it in a heartbeat! It’s weird and creepy and just the right amount of violent. I loved the music performed and made just for the audiobook. The narrator was amazing. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
September 22, 2024
2.5 Stars
This was a bit of a miss for me. Objectively, this one offered a fine delivery of a very classic horror story involving the cursed object trope. However, it failed to invoke much of an emotional response for me.
My biggest disappointment was the artwork which is usually my favourite part of his books. Some of the pictures are just so flat.
I think this one will most appeal to readers who really enjoy traditional older books with the usual tropes. If you already love Brom, you will undoubtedly want to try this one out.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a bit of a miss for me. Objectively, this one offered a fine delivery of a very classic horror story involving the cursed object trope. However, it failed to invoke much of an emotional response for me.
My biggest disappointment was the artwork which is usually my favourite part of his books. Some of the pictures are just so flat.
I think this one will most appeal to readers who really enjoy traditional older books with the usual tropes. If you already love Brom, you will undoubtedly want to try this one out.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 1, 2024
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a great, unique horror book, I was so happy that Brom’s latest definitely scratched the itch! I’ve only read his Krampus novel which fell a bit flat for me, but this one was a lot of fun - horror that’s campy, silly, and gory, but still has moments of metaphor and introspection, I’d compare this to Grady Hendrix’s work.
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!
curious if the final product will include Brom’s usual illustrations
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!
curious if the final product will include Brom’s usual illustrations
September 10, 2024
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.
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.
June 28, 2024
I am not new to Brom. However, this one pleasantly surprised me. It was more gorey than I expected but I loved it. Right from chapter one I was screaming, "Oh, right in the eye!!"
There were plenty of characters being introduced to our story but it wasn't in a hard to keep track of way. Very easy to follow along with. Each character had their own personality that bled through the pages and I fell in love with them. Each and every one of them in their own special way. Even the villains. Even The Goddess. Even Richard. His character was a surprising element to the book that I enjoyed. The character development that our main character went through made me so happy for her by the end of the book.
The story was RICH with content. There were so many layers to this- sympathy for certain villains, feminist rage, growth, revenge, justice, true friendship and love, self empowerment, touches on mental illness and abuse, healing..... the list goes on. I noticed how there were even pieces connected to his book Lost Gods, but keeping Evil In Me as a standalone. It felt like a cool little Easter egg. 🤓
This was a fun one to read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
There were plenty of characters being introduced to our story but it wasn't in a hard to keep track of way. Very easy to follow along with. Each character had their own personality that bled through the pages and I fell in love with them. Each and every one of them in their own special way. Even the villains. Even The Goddess. Even Richard. His character was a surprising element to the book that I enjoyed. The character development that our main character went through made me so happy for her by the end of the book.
The story was RICH with content. There were so many layers to this- sympathy for certain villains, feminist rage, growth, revenge, justice, true friendship and love, self empowerment, touches on mental illness and abuse, healing..... the list goes on. I noticed how there were even pieces connected to his book Lost Gods, but keeping Evil In Me as a standalone. It felt like a cool little Easter egg. 🤓
This was a fun one to read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
October 10, 2024
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.
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.
December 15, 2024
I am a fan of Brom. But my enjoyment of the story is directly reciprocal to how well I empathize with the characters. Sadly I really didn't like any of the main human characters. They are all some version of fuck up or fucked up. It's annoying because they are annoying. But the "others" shine- from Beel to Vutto.
Ruby is a very disturbed girl who doesn't take her meds and tends to freak out. Great. One day she finds a magical ring that bonds to the wearer and is cursed. The demoness Lady Sheelbeth (another great character) sends the Shedim, Beel, to corrupt her and make her kill the last Jewish Kabbalist mage left. As Beel and Ruby try to break free, Lady Sheelbeth also sends the demon Vutto to coerce them both back. On top of this, there is a weird serial killer following them.
The entire punk rock group and stupid musical band conversations were tiresome. The good characters are all the non-human ones. The art is, as usual, stellar. But this story, while good, doesn't measure up to the superb quality of his other stories.
Ruby is a very disturbed girl who doesn't take her meds and tends to freak out. Great. One day she finds a magical ring that bonds to the wearer and is cursed. The demoness Lady Sheelbeth (another great character) sends the Shedim, Beel, to corrupt her and make her kill the last Jewish Kabbalist mage left. As Beel and Ruby try to break free, Lady Sheelbeth also sends the demon Vutto to coerce them both back. On top of this, there is a weird serial killer following them.
The entire punk rock group and stupid musical band conversations were tiresome. The good characters are all the non-human ones. The art is, as usual, stellar. But this story, while good, doesn't measure up to the superb quality of his other stories.
September 21, 2024
TW/CW: Language, gambling, mental health, homophobic slur, cancer, divorce, gory scenes, blood, infertility, death by suicide, loss of parent, racism, drunk driving, physical abuse, mental illness, domestic abuse, PTSD, sexual abuse, gaslighting, toxic parent relationships
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious relics, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger―possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no getting it off unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh.If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It's time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song―one powerful enough to raise some Hell.
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. That cover is stunning
2. Writing sucks you into the story
3. Loved the audiobook
What I Didn't Like:
1. Bees knees & cat's meows & cat's pajamas
2. Chapters too long
3. Some parts felt repetitive
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Ruby is typical punk snob. No one else can like anything other than punk. It's the same in the metal club.
Ruby being sexually assaulted and having them blackmail her. This sucks that everyone is so ready to turn her in for anything.
I was shocked when Ruby dropped that bucket of tar on Billy and Stacy. I understand her complete frustration, but wow it was crazy.
I can not believe her mother gave away her money (from her dad) to this loser. I seriously not see what it is about Eduardo that Rudy's mom thinks he's such a great guy. How does she go from Ruby's dad (described as amazing and kind) to this dude that has a man baby and constantly threatens Ruby? I didn't understand though why Ruby's mom was in control of her money when she's 24 years old.
Why would demons eat ghosts?
If she was in trouble I had to save her, and believe me, the irony wasn’t lost on me. For at that moment, I could think of no worse tragedy than someone murdering her before I did.
Omg some of the stuff that Richard says is too funny. This character is killing me!
Eduardo getting a felony for almost killing a woman when he was driving drunk.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh Ruby's dad was actually dealing with mental illness from Vietnam and was abusing the family and she just now remembered this with help.
I get that the radio host was being nice to Tina, but he wouldn't think it's odd that they had already forced their way into the radio station to play their song and then here they are promoting the song, after the singer is missing? Weird.
Final Thoughts:
“The taint is upon you. You can run, but never hide. Evil will find you.”
How am I not supposed to think about a dudes taint whenever I read these parts??? I felt as though I was a 12 year old boy every time I came to a part that said taint. I cannot be the only one thinking this. There has to be other people out here who got a laugh out of this. Some context;
{{The perineum, or the area between the anus and genitals, is also known as the taint or gooch in American slang.}}
The book was good and there aspects of the book I loved, but it reminded me so much of a Scooby-Doo episode. The episode with The Hex Girls.
After a certain point the song that continues to play becomes really annoying. It's played over and over too many times.
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a lot of fun. There was a point (60%) where I felt like it was getting repetitive. They would run and Dick would chase them. They would play and Dick would chase them. They played and Eduardo and Dick chased them. It also felt like the police didn't really care about what Ruby had done to Billy and Stacy. They were able to make flyers with their names on them and blast her name on the radio. I'd think that's assault for what she did to them.
Also I am not letting Ruby's mom off of the hook - she's horrible;
• She allowed her daughter to live with a dangerous man (her father) that was threatening to kill them & almost succeeded
• She stole money that was Ruby's to give to a man that was threatening to Ruby
• She allowed Eduardo and his son to abuse (sexually & verbally) Ruby on a daily basis
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor publishing for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Aspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious relics, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger―possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no getting it off unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh.If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It's time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song―one powerful enough to raise some Hell.
Release Date: September 17th, 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. That cover is stunning
2. Writing sucks you into the story
3. Loved the audiobook
What I Didn't Like:
1. Bees knees & cat's meows & cat's pajamas
2. Chapters too long
3. Some parts felt repetitive
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Ruby is typical punk snob. No one else can like anything other than punk. It's the same in the metal club.
Ruby being sexually assaulted and having them blackmail her. This sucks that everyone is so ready to turn her in for anything.
I was shocked when Ruby dropped that bucket of tar on Billy and Stacy. I understand her complete frustration, but wow it was crazy.
I can not believe her mother gave away her money (from her dad) to this loser. I seriously not see what it is about Eduardo that Rudy's mom thinks he's such a great guy. How does she go from Ruby's dad (described as amazing and kind) to this dude that has a man baby and constantly threatens Ruby? I didn't understand though why Ruby's mom was in control of her money when she's 24 years old.
Why would demons eat ghosts?
If she was in trouble I had to save her, and believe me, the irony wasn’t lost on me. For at that moment, I could think of no worse tragedy than someone murdering her before I did.
Omg some of the stuff that Richard says is too funny. This character is killing me!
Eduardo getting a felony for almost killing a woman when he was driving drunk.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh Ruby's dad was actually dealing with mental illness from Vietnam and was abusing the family and she just now remembered this with help.
I get that the radio host was being nice to Tina, but he wouldn't think it's odd that they had already forced their way into the radio station to play their song and then here they are promoting the song, after the singer is missing? Weird.
Final Thoughts:
“The taint is upon you. You can run, but never hide. Evil will find you.”
How am I not supposed to think about a dudes taint whenever I read these parts??? I felt as though I was a 12 year old boy every time I came to a part that said taint. I cannot be the only one thinking this. There has to be other people out here who got a laugh out of this. Some context;
{{The perineum, or the area between the anus and genitals, is also known as the taint or gooch in American slang.}}
The book was good and there aspects of the book I loved, but it reminded me so much of a Scooby-Doo episode. The episode with The Hex Girls.
After a certain point the song that continues to play becomes really annoying. It's played over and over too many times.
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a lot of fun. There was a point (60%) where I felt like it was getting repetitive. They would run and Dick would chase them. They would play and Dick would chase them. They played and Eduardo and Dick chased them. It also felt like the police didn't really care about what Ruby had done to Billy and Stacy. They were able to make flyers with their names on them and blast her name on the radio. I'd think that's assault for what she did to them.
Also I am not letting Ruby's mom off of the hook - she's horrible;
• She allowed her daughter to live with a dangerous man (her father) that was threatening to kill them & almost succeeded
• She stole money that was Ruby's to give to a man that was threatening to Ruby
• She allowed Eduardo and his son to abuse (sexually & verbally) Ruby on a daily basis
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor publishing for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 22, 2024
Brom's latest offering, "Evil In Me," is a non-stop action that had me reading throughout the day, sneaking a peek in here and there as I was about my chores in the day. Could I wash dishes and read? Peel vegetables and read? Pretend to have a conversation and read? I sure did! :)
The story opens on an insane scene of demonic possession, Jewish mysticism, and graphic violence that nearly peeled my eyeballs. And then, just as quickly, it moves to the daily life of young Ruby, who just wants to move to Atlanta to play punk rock with her best friend, but has to get off probation first. She has one week left. Things quickly morph from bad to worse as Ruby is possessed by a demonic ring, chased by a serial killer, bounty hunted by her mom's Jesus-loving boyfriend, and in general gets into enough trouble that I genuinely felt sorry for her. And the story is set in the 1980s, when most of America thought rock music was Satanic and the moral majority was up everyone's buttholes. I was reminded of the PMRC and Dee Snyder testifying before Congress and my brother's love of the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag during this decade.
This book was great fun and an awesome read. My thanks to Netgalley, Tor Nightfire, and the author for an opportunity to read for an honest review.
The story opens on an insane scene of demonic possession, Jewish mysticism, and graphic violence that nearly peeled my eyeballs. And then, just as quickly, it moves to the daily life of young Ruby, who just wants to move to Atlanta to play punk rock with her best friend, but has to get off probation first. She has one week left. Things quickly morph from bad to worse as Ruby is possessed by a demonic ring, chased by a serial killer, bounty hunted by her mom's Jesus-loving boyfriend, and in general gets into enough trouble that I genuinely felt sorry for her. And the story is set in the 1980s, when most of America thought rock music was Satanic and the moral majority was up everyone's buttholes. I was reminded of the PMRC and Dee Snyder testifying before Congress and my brother's love of the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag during this decade.
This book was great fun and an awesome read. My thanks to Netgalley, Tor Nightfire, and the author for an opportunity to read for an honest review.
August 6, 2024
I have read some of Brom's work previously - Lost Gods and thought it was great with a unique style of writing. I was very excited to receive a copy of this new Brom title.
I love rock and roll horror, and this novel delivers.
It kind of reminds me of a more serious version of Grady Hendrix's We Sold Our Souls
Dark in the ways that Brom writes best, I highly recommend this title to horror fans, and particularly to any musicians out there.
*Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.
I love rock and roll horror, and this novel delivers.
It kind of reminds me of a more serious version of Grady Hendrix's We Sold Our Souls
Dark in the ways that Brom writes best, I highly recommend this title to horror fans, and particularly to any musicians out there.
*Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2024
I really wanted to love this. I've never read this author before but have seen amazing reviews for them. This started out strong and the plot was quick paced. The characters were really well developed too. Lots of gore and violence. This was entertaining and creepy, but it did feel a bit YA. That didn't ruin the book for me, it's just that I wasn't expecting that. I definitely want to pick up more books by this author because I was definitely intrigued by the writing. This is a good read for spooky season!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 9, 2025
I love Brom, but this was more Josie and the Pussycats than punk rock.
follow me on booktok
follow me on bookstagram!
follow me on booktok
follow me on bookstagram!
November 2, 2024
Saw this at the bookstore and couldn’t resist a Brom novel. This was fantastic. Horrifying and funny, and somehow heartbreaking all at the same time. Not saying it wasn’t cheesy with the plot, but I was very entertained
June 20, 2024
This is a punk rock roller coater ride straight to hell with an amazing narrative and characters you'll absolutely love. Filled with demons, Jewish mysticism, and a twisted serial killer, this novel begs you to keep reading well into the night.
Ruby is on probation and just wants it to be over, to have her freedom back. But she has anger issues and, soon enough, she's broken her probation and is now wanted.
But that's going to be the least of her worries when she's drawn to a ring. Opening a portal to a viscious demon, another entity posseses her body and mind. But instead of destroying her, this entity wants to be free from it's demonic master. They'll have to find a way to coexist with the help of some friends and strangers or they'll both be in hell before long.
I absolutely loved this book and the author's writing style is bold, visual, and takes no prisoners. It's unlike any traditional "possession" story you've ever read and it's filled with enough dark humor and heart to keep it engaging and fun.
I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Ruby is on probation and just wants it to be over, to have her freedom back. But she has anger issues and, soon enough, she's broken her probation and is now wanted.
But that's going to be the least of her worries when she's drawn to a ring. Opening a portal to a viscious demon, another entity posseses her body and mind. But instead of destroying her, this entity wants to be free from it's demonic master. They'll have to find a way to coexist with the help of some friends and strangers or they'll both be in hell before long.
I absolutely loved this book and the author's writing style is bold, visual, and takes no prisoners. It's unlike any traditional "possession" story you've ever read and it's filled with enough dark humor and heart to keep it engaging and fun.
I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
September 24, 2025
Turn on The Cramps and get ready to plough through this book with Ruby, Tina, and Vutton, members of the Night Mares. Story revolves around Lord Sheelbeth who has been trapped in hell with one eye still on earth in the form of a magical ring. Beel, a devils pawn, is shackled to Lord Sheelbeth and ring and existence is to free Sheelbeth from hell. Ruby, a troubled young woman comes into contact with the ring and all hell breaks loose only to be fixed by joining forces with her old punk rock friend living in Atlanta.
Story is set in the 1980s punk rock era with a scene taking place at the 688 Club in Atlanta which was an actual venue, host to a huge list of punk, new age, and alternative bands. The mystical side of the story is rooted in Judaism. It felt like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure retold by Brom. It was a fun Brom read with lots of action right from the start.
Story is set in the 1980s punk rock era with a scene taking place at the 688 Club in Atlanta which was an actual venue, host to a huge list of punk, new age, and alternative bands. The mystical side of the story is rooted in Judaism. It felt like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure retold by Brom. It was a fun Brom read with lots of action right from the start.
September 4, 2024
I'm a huge fan of Brom so I knew I would enjoy this book before I even read it. What I didn't anticipate was how much I was going to love the audiobook. I was following along with the eARC while listening to this and the audiobook added so much to the story, specifically the musical portions of it. Hearing the song and how it was supposed to sound was interesting and immersed me even more in the story.
As for the actual contents of the story, I thought it was captivating but I still wanted a bit more from it. I wish it focused more on the hellish portions of the story or other hellish artifacts, but besides that, I thought this was great and I highly recommend reading it!
Big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for this ALC!
As for the actual contents of the story, I thought it was captivating but I still wanted a bit more from it. I wish it focused more on the hellish portions of the story or other hellish artifacts, but besides that, I thought this was great and I highly recommend reading it!
Big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for this ALC!
October 3, 2024
the characters are all so endearing for different reasons, you want to know more about everyone. this book feels vivid and complete i loved it
November 21, 2024
Brom is a master story teller, with a unique style to his writing, his character development is phenomenal, they are complex, have depth and are relatable, making you genuinely care for them throughout the story, even the demons.
This was a unique twist on the usual trope of a musician selling their soul for fame, and It was a refreshing change, I loved it.
The story was light on the punk music, but that’s ok, because this story is not about the type of music, but more about how your type of music effects your life and soul. There is also a little social commentary about how others see different genres of music.
I also have to say that I love the artwork in the book.
If you have read and liked any of Brom’s other books than I highly recommend this one also.
This was a unique twist on the usual trope of a musician selling their soul for fame, and It was a refreshing change, I loved it.
The story was light on the punk music, but that’s ok, because this story is not about the type of music, but more about how your type of music effects your life and soul. There is also a little social commentary about how others see different genres of music.
I also have to say that I love the artwork in the book.
If you have read and liked any of Brom’s other books than I highly recommend this one also.
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.
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.
October 18, 2024
Another fantastic Brom read. A book heavily steeped in the occult and music that takes you on a wild bloody ride. Loved the characters, the story, and I loved all the shades of grey in this between good and evil. A fantastic story of the strange things betwixt and between.
September 19, 2024
Probably 3.5/5 but I'll round it up because I greatly enjoy popcorn horror books.
If you’re in the market for a book that combines punk rock, demonic possession, and family drama, look no further. Evil in Me has it all.
Ruby Tucker, a twenty-something with bad luck and a knack for making poor life choices, finds herself caught between a cursed ring, a serial killer, and a bunch of literal demons. Including a demon drummer.
The mentioned ring isn’t a shiny accessory. It’s alive (sort of) and unbeatable. Things escalate quickly, and moments of gore intertwine with more humorous/popcorn fun moments. Brom’s use of Jewish mythology appealed to me, and made the book more than just your average “girl gets possessed” story. I liked how Evil in Me mixed the punk rock references and songs with ancient magic and kept the momentum going. The pacing here is crazy, and I enjoyed the fast-paced, rebellious spirit of it all.
Sure, Ruby makes some questionable life choices (a prerequisite for a protagonist in a horror), but you’ll probably root for her every step of the way. And even though the demons aren’t all that scary, they’re extremely entertaining. As for the ending, it might feel like it’s rushing to the end, but the climax is one hell of a show.
So if you’re ready for a gory (ish) mix of punk, horror, and chaotic fun, you’ll probably enjoy Evil in Me. It’s not deep or genuinely scary, but it’s definitely entertaining.
Audiobook narration: excellent.
If you’re in the market for a book that combines punk rock, demonic possession, and family drama, look no further. Evil in Me has it all.
Ruby Tucker, a twenty-something with bad luck and a knack for making poor life choices, finds herself caught between a cursed ring, a serial killer, and a bunch of literal demons. Including a demon drummer.
The mentioned ring isn’t a shiny accessory. It’s alive (sort of) and unbeatable. Things escalate quickly, and moments of gore intertwine with more humorous/popcorn fun moments. Brom’s use of Jewish mythology appealed to me, and made the book more than just your average “girl gets possessed” story. I liked how Evil in Me mixed the punk rock references and songs with ancient magic and kept the momentum going. The pacing here is crazy, and I enjoyed the fast-paced, rebellious spirit of it all.
Sure, Ruby makes some questionable life choices (a prerequisite for a protagonist in a horror), but you’ll probably root for her every step of the way. And even though the demons aren’t all that scary, they’re extremely entertaining. As for the ending, it might feel like it’s rushing to the end, but the climax is one hell of a show.
So if you’re ready for a gory (ish) mix of punk, horror, and chaotic fun, you’ll probably enjoy Evil in Me. It’s not deep or genuinely scary, but it’s definitely entertaining.
Audiobook narration: excellent.
May 23, 2024
I loved this book. It is dark, intense and so messed up. The book kept me up all night. This is for true horror lovers. The beginning of the book was so frightening .
The story revolves around an ancient ring that has its own spell and evilness in it, it binds whoever wears it and makes them do evil things. The devilish tale will grip you and keep you on the edge of your seat. Life became hard after the death of Ruby’s father. Ruby Tucker is an aspiring musician but the world turns upside down when things go horribly wrong and strange things starts happening. As soon as she touch the ring, the world becomes dark, evil and it posses her soul. Now she will either have the same fate as the man had or she must find a way to free herself from it.
The twists and turns were so unpredictable. The ending shook me and surprised me both at the same time. I was on the edge the entire time. This is a mind blowing and delightful devilish tale that will leave you wanting for more. You can expect blood, gore, demonic possession, damnation and blood thirsty demon.
I love the Author’s books. Brom is my favourite Author.
Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.
The story revolves around an ancient ring that has its own spell and evilness in it, it binds whoever wears it and makes them do evil things. The devilish tale will grip you and keep you on the edge of your seat. Life became hard after the death of Ruby’s father. Ruby Tucker is an aspiring musician but the world turns upside down when things go horribly wrong and strange things starts happening. As soon as she touch the ring, the world becomes dark, evil and it posses her soul. Now she will either have the same fate as the man had or she must find a way to free herself from it.
The twists and turns were so unpredictable. The ending shook me and surprised me both at the same time. I was on the edge the entire time. This is a mind blowing and delightful devilish tale that will leave you wanting for more. You can expect blood, gore, demonic possession, damnation and blood thirsty demon.
I love the Author’s books. Brom is my favourite Author.
Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.
March 21, 2025
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!
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!
June 11, 2024
I’m honestly rounding up for this review. Brom is a fantastic artist and storyteller in my opinion, but this personally did not hit the mark for me. I didn’t find it to be on par with previous works (I loved Krampus). The characters were the worst part and drove me absolutely mad for the majority of the story. I definitely recommend this one for Brom fans, but have a feeling that reviews will continue to be mixed.
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Tor Publishing for a copy!
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Tor Publishing for a copy!
September 3, 2024
4.5/5
Evil in Me is a story about a young girl, Ruby, with the weight of the world on her back. She is a reclusive outcast who has lost touch with her friends, on probation and paying time off at the YMCA teaching kids how to play music, and trying to survive a very rocky relationship with her mother on account of her dad having committed suicide after his time in Vietnam. Things couldn't get much worse, until they do. Ruby is seen as someone with mental health issues and mad at the world for it. Things hit rock bottom after she fails her position at the YMCA making her escape from extended probation nonexistent and finds a ring in a friend's home that makes her feel and desire weird things. The journey from there takes Ruby through hell. The ring is linked with a very powerful goddess locked away in the hells and she is using a special entity to possess the wearer to complete horrible tasks that will set her free on Earth side. Ruby fights for her very soul and experiences connections she never thought possible. Will she become who she needs to be to save herself and the world?
This is my fourth Brom book and it amazes me how this is the same author for all that I've read. He has an amazing ability to set tones and execute stories so very different than his others. There is a small connection between this book and Lost Gods that, if you have also read both, you will get and appreciate. Brom is also not afraid to give the reader an absolute feeling of despair for the main character. You're in it thick and heavy with the story line thinking the author will give an out or a breath for escaping the moment and then the floor just falls from under them.
This story has an array of characters that have depth and purpose to them, although I'm not a huge fan of Richard and that's my only complaint if any. Ruby is really a girl of the heart and honest feelings. She doesn't want to see anyone get hurt and her growth in the story is really a blooming rose. Tina is such a wonderful friend and knows her worth for the most part. I feel bad for Eduardo, but he really needed to learn more lessons. I felt connected with the characters in this book and felt the flow of emotions right along with them.
As a lover of possessions I really enjoyed this very unique duo. Beel is a unique entity entirely and how he engages with Ruby was fascinating. There were the eerie moments when he used her eyes to see around a room while she was sleeping (shudders), and gave her a second voice while talking that scared the begeezus out of whoever was on the receiving end, but getting to see him struggle with his existence while possessing Ruby was a really clever approach. Brom has a really wonderful way of reaching and going beyond limits I've yet to experience adding so much more depth to the journey. This story really is 'the bees knees'.
Evil in Me is a story about a young girl, Ruby, with the weight of the world on her back. She is a reclusive outcast who has lost touch with her friends, on probation and paying time off at the YMCA teaching kids how to play music, and trying to survive a very rocky relationship with her mother on account of her dad having committed suicide after his time in Vietnam. Things couldn't get much worse, until they do. Ruby is seen as someone with mental health issues and mad at the world for it. Things hit rock bottom after she fails her position at the YMCA making her escape from extended probation nonexistent and finds a ring in a friend's home that makes her feel and desire weird things. The journey from there takes Ruby through hell. The ring is linked with a very powerful goddess locked away in the hells and she is using a special entity to possess the wearer to complete horrible tasks that will set her free on Earth side. Ruby fights for her very soul and experiences connections she never thought possible. Will she become who she needs to be to save herself and the world?
This is my fourth Brom book and it amazes me how this is the same author for all that I've read. He has an amazing ability to set tones and execute stories so very different than his others. There is a small connection between this book and Lost Gods that, if you have also read both, you will get and appreciate. Brom is also not afraid to give the reader an absolute feeling of despair for the main character. You're in it thick and heavy with the story line thinking the author will give an out or a breath for escaping the moment and then the floor just falls from under them.
This story has an array of characters that have depth and purpose to them, although I'm not a huge fan of Richard and that's my only complaint if any. Ruby is really a girl of the heart and honest feelings. She doesn't want to see anyone get hurt and her growth in the story is really a blooming rose. Tina is such a wonderful friend and knows her worth for the most part. I feel bad for Eduardo, but he really needed to learn more lessons. I felt connected with the characters in this book and felt the flow of emotions right along with them.
As a lover of possessions I really enjoyed this very unique duo. Beel is a unique entity entirely and how he engages with Ruby was fascinating. There were the eerie moments when he used her eyes to see around a room while she was sleeping (shudders), and gave her a second voice while talking that scared the begeezus out of whoever was on the receiving end, but getting to see him struggle with his existence while possessing Ruby was a really clever approach. Brom has a really wonderful way of reaching and going beyond limits I've yet to experience adding so much more depth to the journey. This story really is 'the bees knees'.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews