On Demon Wings: Experiment in Terror #5 (Experiment in Terror, #5)

by Karina Halle

What happens when you no longer feel like your self anymore? When fires spontaneously start-up around you, when you hear growling coming from underneath your bed, and you no longer recognise 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.

• ISBN10: 1475079370
• ISBN13: 9781475079371
• Publish Date: 15 May 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 332
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

4.5 stars

Holy hell. This series went and got me comfortable and attached to the characters and now it's getting progressively more horrific. This book, under any normal circumstances, I would not have been able to read because of the horror element. But I'm too invested to not find out what happens!

Ever seen The Exorcist? Well, I haven't because HORROR but I imagine it's similar to this. Except I love Perry and that made it all the more horrific. First of all, she's reeling from the ending of the last book. This is depression, hard-core. But imagine depression coupled with demonic possession? And a family that thinks you're either sick or crazy? And the nagging self-doubts? I feel like that is the saving grace of this book in terms of the horror - even though it got more graphic than I like, it dwells quite a bit in the ordinary - her depression, her job, her family and relationships - all of which are falling apart.

There's a ton of character growth, development, and revelation in this book too. People show their true colors, questions are answered, identities revealed. It's one hell of a book. And it ends in such a massive cliff - if I hadn't had another book that I needed to read, I would have been picking up the next book immediately. But I'm picking up that next book as soon as possible.

The narration, which I was initially hesitant about has really blossomed and I'm officially a fan. I think I partially got used to Jo Rylan and partially she got better. Either way, I will continue listening.

Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt #28 - Read a book featuring a strong female protagonist. There's no way you read this book and think of Perry as anything but strong for all the shit she's dealing with. I would be cowering in a corner.

[Amanda]

4.5

Son of a bitch! THIS BOOK. Perry is in a deep, dark place in On Demon Wings. After the ending of Lying Season, Perry's mental and physical state doesn't really come as much of a surprise. On Demon Wings shows us the ramifications and consequences of what happened in the previous book. (Yes, like seriously OhMyGlob, WhatTheFuck THE HAPPENINGS IN THIS BOOK.) I don't think Karina Halle could have written this book more perfectly. I was enthralled. (And, if I hadn't been in a weird cold-induced daze, I would have read this book from start to finish without stopping.)

There are certain aspects of this book that were predictable to me, as a reader but that were not so clear to Perry, as the narrator. I kind of actually liked this. It worked for the story and for Perry being where she was emotionally. It had me emailing Kelly as I progressed throughout the story and had to SAY THINGS to someone as I flailed in reaction. And it is really, really hard to say anything more without spoiling what happened in Lying Season, BUT SERIOUSLY. THIS BOOK. SO MUCH HAPPENS.

Unlike previous books, there was no filming for the Experiment in Terror show in On Demon Wings. Everything that happens in this book happens to Perry. (Poor Perry. She really can't catch a break.) Our allegiances to certain characters change as more secrets and revelations are unveiled. Innocuous characters turned into characters I wanted to drop kick across the room. Characters who were supposed to be safe and comforting turned into enemies. Characters we loathed along with Perry turned into very missed and beloved saviors. (Okay. That last part may be a little dramatic, but it's how I felt.)

Overall, I'm digging this series. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but the last couple of books have really picked up and blown me away. I find myself reading these back to back because I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. (After I finish this review, I'm off to read the next two novellas because DEX! and PIPPA!) That's a rare quality in a series for me--the need to know what happens next and to utterly immerse myself within the series without burning out on it.