About the Book
-
Author:
- Karina Halle
- Genres:
- Adult
- Paranormal
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: It Works!
BFF Charm: Y- to the HELLS-E-S
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factors: Chills and Thrills
Relationship Status: Nothing Compares… To You
Content Warning: This book deals with experiences surrounding a miscarried pregnancy.
Spoiler Alert: This is the 5th book in the Experiment in Terror Series. Spoilers for the first 5 follow. Also, if you haven’t already, you should read my reviews for them: Darkhouse, Red Fox, Dead Sky Morning, and Lying Season.
Cover Story: It Works!
It’s a floaty girl! But it’s creepy! AND it represents the story very nicely, thank you very much.
The Deal
Perry has gotten a job working at a coffee shop, as she tries to get over the disastrous way she left things with Dex, and leaving her internet ghost hunting show, Experiment in Terror. Unfortunately, just because she’s left the ghost hunting behind doesn’t mean the ghosts have stopped appearing to her. As stranger and stranger things keep happening to her, and she is plagued by a mysterious illness, Perry is being haunted by a vengeful ghost… and something much, much worse.
BFF Charm: Y-to the HELLS-E-S
Oh Perry. I am SO proud of you. You have put EVERYTHING YOU HAVE into moving on with your life, and getting over Dex, and trying to make lemonade out of the pile of lemons that have been dumped on you. I’d just like to have you over for some pie and ice cream to tell you how awesome you are.
I also feel like I finally really KNOW Perry after this book. Halle answers some long-wondered questions that tie up the loose ends she created in her previous books, and prepare her characters for whatever it is that lies ahead.
Perry and her younger sister Ada (or as Dex calls her, “Little Fifteen”) grow close in this installment, and not only is it wonderful to get to know Ada on a deeper level, but since this book is so much more personal — following Perry in a descent of torment, where even she begins to question her own sanity and is betrayed by people she thought believed in her — Ada provides both her sister and us with reassurance that Perry isn’t just imagining things. The evil is very, very real.
Swoonworthy Scale: 8
I don’t want to get too spoilery, but Perry takes a much-needed break from Dex in this book. And it’s hard. Both for her and for me, because I think I missed him almost as much as she did, but after all of the shit he’s pulled in the past few books, he deserved it. We do get to see Maximus again, and I enjoy a tall drink of ginger rockabilly as much as the next girl, but nothing compares to the moment Dex swoops back into our lives a little older, a little sadder, and more determined than ever. I swoon.
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Halle BRINGS IT in this installment. On Demon Wings is a departure from the format we’ve all gotten used to — with Perry and Dex filming at some exciting and terrifying location, while battling their own personal demons as well as ghosts. However, it’s an important departure for the telling of the WHOLE story, and allows the author to take us to new emotional depths. Halle also finds a way to top the “ohshit” ending from Lying Season, leaving us with our mouths hanging open and hands outstretched, a high keening cry of want on our lips.
Bonus Factor: Chills and Thrills
Halle is a master at building suspense, and with this book scares in a way that is much quieter, much darker, and more deeply disturbing while maintaining the humor and hopefulness I’ve come to love in this series.
Relationship Status: Nothing Compares… To You
In my line of work, I meet a lot of books. Some of them are great, others good, and quite a few are bad, but every time this particular series happens my way, I experience the tell-tale quickening of my pulse, the sudden dry mouth, the twitchy fingers, just aching to reach out and touch it… if loving this series is bad, I don’t want to be right.
FTC FULL DISCLOSURE: I received my review copy from the author. I received neither money nor cocktails for this review (damnit!). On Demon Wings is available now.
