Berls
Written on Oct 24, 2021
Well I wasn't scared 100% shitless. Maybe 90% lol. But it was a good, enjoyable scary for the most part.
I would say the description of this series as a paranormal horror is accurate, since we're basically dealing with ghosts (maybe demons?). I think I would rate it as a Supernatural scarier episode level of horror, so in my wheel house. I think the reason it worked is that it didn't have the blood and gore that a lot of horror has and is really hard for me to stomach.
I really enjoyed the main character, Perry. She is a little rough around the edges, lost some weight since high school but still carries that "fat girl" feeling and judgement about her appearance from family and strangers alike. I really get that, being in a very similar situation. She's made some bad choices - like drug use - but as the story progresses we see it has a lot to do with her supernatural "senses."
Their is a love interest - Dex - her older, unavailable, handsome accidental ghost/paranormal hunter/videographer partner. I think I like him, though I think we still have a lot to learn about him through the series. Which we should easily do, as I'm expecting each book in the series will involve Dex and Perry filming their adventures. I look forward to reading more.
I have mixed feelings about the narration on this. I think it probably helped reduce the tension/horror of the book for me, since I wasn't in my head with images for too long. Jo Raylan has a kind of "disinterested" quality to her voice, that's the best way I can describe it -- which on one hand creates some personality for Perry. But I think it also makes it easier for me to drift - something I haven't struggled with in a long time with audiobooks. It may have also been timing and my frame of mind. So we'll see how the next book goes. I didn't not enjoy it on audio, but I'm thinking it might not be the best audiobook for an easily distracted listener.
This book qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt item #1 - First book in the Experiment in Terror Series.