So technically this is novella #6.5 in the Experiment in Terror Series, but it takes place between Lying Season and On Demon Wings. So it could be read out of order, between On Demon Wings and Into the Hollow. It is Dex's side of the story, and what was going on with him while he was missing during part of Perry's journey in book 5.
So I knew, for the most part, what was going to happen. And it still tore me up inside. Dex has grown from the pervy weirdo we fell in love with to the mature, do anything for the woman he loves, pervy weirdo we would all leave our husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends/wives (yes I went there - he could get you to switch teams) for.
Part of me was glad he was miserable, for what he had done to Perry. He was a DICK. When all that went down I couldn't believe it. I just ... it was bad. But the majority of me wanted to run to Seattle, find his apartment, and crush him to me, rocking him while he cried, and tell him everything would be ok. I don't think anyone deserves that much pain. It was rough to go through with him.
He is honorable, loyal, and REAL. You get an even more in depth look into his psyche than you do in The Dex Files. And his reaction to certain revelations we all were DYING to know when we first found out? HOLY CRAP. Not at all what I was expecting. I bawled like a baby.
The intensity of his love for Perry is best described by himself. When asked by a friend if he loves Perry, his response is:
"Yes," I told her, looking her straight on, my heart banging in my chest. "I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her ... dangerously."
Oh hell. Even reading that now, several days after putting this novella down, my stomach does flip-flops. This is not a book you should read if you are not at least through On Demon Wings, so don't even try. You will be so confused and it will ruin lots of things for you. But on the same note, if you haven't started this series, what are you waiting for? Getting into Dex's head is enough of a reason to read it. But not the only reason.
I bet you can already guess this is getting 5/5 from me. This is one of those novellas that stays with you after you have put it down. If I were a more emotional girl, I would tear up in public every time I thought about it. Good tears.