Series: Experiment in Terror #8
Publication date: December 11th 2013
Genres: Horror, New Adult, SupernaturalBuy Links: AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE
Synopsis: It’s been two months since Perry Palomino and Dex Foray’s relationship reached a new turning point, two months since Perry started a new life in Seattle, and two months since their Experiment in Terror show took on a new partner, ex-Wine Babe Rebecca Sims, and found a new level of success. But whenever there is light in their lives, the madness still has a way of coming back in.
When the team is sent back to the stormy Oregon coast to investigate a haunted school, Perry wants to use the opportunity to reconnect with her family and reintroduce Dex into their lives. Only Perry’s not the only one who’s reaching out - her grandmother Pippa has started appearing to her with disturbing warnings and Perry’s presence at the school has ignited a chilling new wave of supernatural phenomenon. Once used a century ago as a sanatorium to house children dying of tuberculosis, the school’s past residents are slowly coming back to life and with one thing on their mind. They want someone to play with, someone to join them. Forever.
Even when dead, some children get whatever they want.
And they want Perry.
Scary Good
My love of the Experiment in Terror series is well-documented. I've recommended it to anyone who will listen, I have read and re-read each of the books at least three times, and to this day - despite reading many other awesomesauce novels filled with to-die-for heroes - Dex Foray remains my #1 book boyfriend choice. For me and this series, it's a case of true book love, and I've got it bad. When my EIT journey finally ends (only 1 more book after this one! *sobs*) I will be a bawling, snot-nosed mess in need of some serious chocolate and ice cream therapy.
For now, though, I can still enjoy the utter perfection that is Dex and Perry. Over the course of eight novels, these two characters have been to hell and back - literally - and somehow, they have lived to tell about it. Don't ask me how. Clearly their balls are made of a rare type of steel, because if it had been me, I would have run far and fast the other direction within 5 seconds of entering that creepy-ass lighthouse in Darkhouse. (Wuss? Me? Yep, guilty as charged.) And it's not just supernatural challenges they've faced. They've been put through the refiner's fine in their personal lives as well - and they're about to be again.
In Ashes to Ashes, Dex, Perry and their friend and new EIT partner, the uber-fabulous Rebecca, are headed back to Oregon, where it all began. This time, they're investigating a school that used to be a sanatorium for children with tuberculosis. There are reports of everything from shadow figures, to disembodied voices and animal-like noises, to actual walking, talking spirits.
All of the EIT books have creeped me out on some level, and a few of them have freaked me out so badly, I still can't read them at night or when I'm alone in the house. Is it because they are the most terrifying novels ever written? I honestly don't know, because horror isn't usually my go-to genre, but what I can tell you is that they are the scariest books for me. There's something about the words and phrases Karina Halle uses when building a frightening scene that gets under my skin and screws with my head. There is no "fourth wall" separating me from the scariness playing out on the page. Oh no, Karina pulls me out of my comfortable seat and right onto the stage of her book, into the very thick of the action. I hear every footstep Dex and Perry hear, see every shadow, and feel every phantom touch.
In Ashes to Ashes, I wasn't just scared. I was utterly shaken to the core. Even now, as I type this, I can't decide which was worse, all the paranormal events that happened, or reading about the horrific methods of treatment doctors of the time used on their patients - on children. It was....god, there aren't even words to describe how awful it was. Karina didn't spare any details, either. She painted a vivid, disturbing picture that will haunt me for a long time.
Ashes to Ashes wasn't all darkness and mind-effery. As in every EIT book, there is an abundance of snarkiness and snappy one-liners, some truly fantastic character development, and, yes, now that Dex and Perry are a couple, there are some hot and deliciously steamy scenes that would make the surface of the sun seem cool in comparison.
I'd like to pick a favorite moment and gush about it, but all my favorites are heavy on the spoilers, and I'd really prefer not to get attacked by a mob of angry EIT fans for spilling the beans ;). I can tell you what I loved most about the book as a whole, though, and believe it or not, it wasn't Dex. I mean, he was schamazeballs, as always (even if he does have the worst timing in the world, lol) but this time, all the honors belong to Perry. She's always been stronger than she gave herself credit for, but in Ashes to Ashes, I felt like she really started to believe it, and believe in herself. I don't know how to convey to you how effing cool it was to see Perry - our Perry - stand tall and finally, finally look some of her fears and insecurities in the face and give them a long-overdue middle-fingered salute. Did Perry conquer all of her personal demons in this book? No, but she didn't let them kick her around either. It was beyond incredible. It was like Christmas, my birthday, and winning the lottery, all rolled into one.
I could go on and on about this book (and truly, I've barely scratched the surface of all the awesome within its pages) but rather than continue my rant-and-rave fest, I'd rather you just experience Ashes to Ashes yourself so you can do your own ranting and raving. So go on. Do it. Stop reading my words and go read Karina's!
5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out. Like many of the flawed characters she writes, Karina never knew where to find herself and has dabbled in acting, make-up artistry, film production, screenwriting, photography, travel writing and music journalism. She eventually found herself in the pages of the very novels she wrote (if only she had looked there to begin with).
Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she's preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup.
Author Links:
Website: http://experimentinterror.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Grand prize giveaway!
(open to US and Canada):
A signed copy of Perception (it's a paperback compilation of all the e-book novellas), a signed copy of Darkhouse, a signed copy of Red Fox (with new cover) as well as a signed copy of Ashes to Ashes and an EIT tank top
Eep I so have to catch up on this series. I read book 1 and really liked it but haven't made time to read the others yet it would be an awesome series to binge read, me thinks! :D
ReplyDeleteGisellle, when I first discovered EIT, I binge read the first 5 books in a single weekend. It was awesome lol. It's definitely a series you can do that with :)
DeleteNice review, missy. Now if you can just arrange for some FREE TIME so I can get to it too, that would be marvelous.
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks, Lyns! I'll arrange for reading time for you as soon as I find my magic wand. I know it's around here somewhere.... ;)
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