Into the Hollow (Experiment in Terror, #6)

by Karina Halle

Perry Palomino has fought her demons - and won - but the battle is far from over. She's now left broken and on her own, leaving behind her life and family in Portland to focus on giving Dex Foray - and the Experiment in Terror show - a second chance. But their past mistakes con­tinue to tease and test their relationship, as does the wild and desolate terrain of the Canadian Rockies.

The snow-covered peaks and ravenous forests hide an urban legend too unbelievably frightening to be true and the only way the duo has a chance of surviving is if Perry can let in the very man who sent her to hell and back.

• ISBN10: 0349402574
• ISBN13: 9780349402574
• Publish Date: 2 December 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 70000
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

So here's what Karina Halle has done. She started me on this series with a book that I think most would consider soft horror. Got me all attached to the characters and invested in them. And then with each book, she has increased the horror just a little bit more. The last two are probably neck-in-neck for their horrific-ness. And I loved it. Damn it, she may just turn me into a horror reader!

So part of what worked for me in the previous Experiment in Terror books was that they were in your head scary, more than any of the blood and gore that I tend to associate with horror. The last book began to cross that line, but it was still mostly mental; only "special" people like Perry and Dax could truly experience the horror because of their connections with the mystical realm. This book has left that in the rearview mirror. We are now fully in the physical, where every single person is at risk of being, well, torn to shreds. Yep - the monster in this book is no ghost or demon, it's an actual monster and it's leaving blood and gore in it's wake. Fucking terrifying y'all!

And that's not to mention the reason I'm so hooked on these books - the relationship between Dax and Perry, and also Perry's relationship with her family. With the events of the last book - which left on a really rough cliff - I wasn't sure where things were headed and was super excited to find out. I feel like it's pretty spoilery to reveal anything because of the cliff... but let's say it's not all smooth sailing but I'm super happy with how it ended.

And I'm really glad I'm listening to these books. I feel like otherwise, I'd be doing some book throwing when things get intense. It's like, having Jo Rylan's voice both amps up the horror and keeps me moving past it at the same time. Despite my earlier uncertainty about her narration, I'm really happy with it now and would be unhappy if the narrator changed.

I think this is the last book I have on audio right now :( I have more in print, but I really want to listen so I guess we'll see how long I can wait to read the next book.

Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt Item #29: Read a book that takes place in the winter.

[Amanda]

After On Demon Wings, I was SO READY for Into the Hollow. After everything that comes to light during On Demon Wings (and then what we learn during the two novellas--Old Blood and The Dex-Files--between books 5 and 6), I had to know how it all played out. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Dex! Perry! Dex and Perry! The ginger douchebag! Perry's parents! Her sister! Dun-dun-dun.

Perry makes some big changes in her life--like moving out of her parents' house and going back to Experiment in Terror. Though where she moves and who she moves in with is worth noting, the bulk of this book deals with the latter--Experiment in Terror. Perry thinks searching for Bigfoot (major points to Karina Halle for getting in a mention of Bigfoot erotica) will be better and safer than hunting for ghosts. Oh, Perry. You'd really think she'd know better by now. But honestly, it's better that she doesn't otherwise...where's the fun in avoiding a little risk taking?

So, this book. Into the Hollow is a book of moments. Funny moments. HILARIOUS moments. (Twatwaffle, anyone?) Awkward moments. Angry moments. Sexy moments. Swooning moments. (Dex really brings the swoon in this one. Karina brings teh sex. We're talking hot enough to melt snow.) And lots and lots of utterly terrifying moments. But honestly, it wouldn't be a Experiment in Terror book without being scared shitless. And being scared shitless is just part of the Experiment in Terror charm. It's good stuff.

I really can't get enough of this series. I don't want it to end! The Experiment in Terror series has really awoken an interest in ghosts and the supernatural. And I love it.

[littleread1]

Words fail to describe the feelings this book created for me in my book-loving heart. I am going to do my best to explain the love I have, but if I fail, just remember I said it is my

FAVORITE BOOK OF 2012

Yeah. It is that awesome. So as I ramble on and on, if you don't even make it to the bottom of this post, you know the love I have.

Be warned, if you haven't read the series up to now, this will spoil some of the earlier books. I have tried to keep actual Into the Hollow spoilers out though. It was hard. I need to tell you all the things. Into the Hollow picks up right where On Demon Wings left off. Perry, her parents, Ada, and Max are on their way home from the hospital, Dex is in jail, and I need him Perry needs to talk to him, whether or not she admits it to herself. Good thing her little sister is smarter than she is when it comes to Dex. :-)

Long story short, she moves in with Dex, and Experiment in Terror starts back up. They go hunting myths ... and don't get me wrong, that was exciting and terrifying and wonderfully written, but THE DIALOGUE between Dex and Perry ... holy f**k. Really. I don't think I have ever highlighted so many passages in a book before. God sometimes I wanted to smack them both. Sometimes I wanted to smack just one. Sometimes I wanted them to just take their clothes off already ... I sound like a creep. And I don't care.

Both Dex & Perry have gone through some major shitty (and some not so shitty - remember Jen?) life changes. Which makes them both more brave and more fragile all at the same time.

I was going to warn you up front, that I am a giant fan-girl over this series, and was so wrapped up in the story the whole time reading it that the tension made me sick. But I decided against it, and let you discover my own brand of crazy on your own.