I don’t love books classified as “horror”. I’m the biggest chicken! But there was something more to this book than simply being a horror/thriller that had me totally engrossed from the very first page. This is simply, an incredible story. It was dark and creepy, but I was so invested in the main character, and all the obstacles she had to overcome, I had to see it through. I also thought the ending was perfect.

In the 1990s, Kris Pulaski was the guitarist of a heavy metal band called Dürt Würk, and even though the band gave their best to succeed, Dürt Würk didn't get their big break, so, twenty years later, we see Kris, who is now in her forties and broke, working as a hotel receptionist at a Best Western, where she has to deal with annoying, drunk guests.

The premise of We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix immediately appealed to me because of the heavy metal aspect and, in essence, the novel is a fast-paced, supernatural story that reflects on modern-day consumerism and looks at how far some people would be willing to go in the name of fame and success?

As the story develops, we find out just how close Dürt Würk was to making it big, and how it all came crashing down when their lead singer, Terry Hunt, decided to betray his bandmates and go solo, while continuing to use the band's old material. Terry goes on to achieve phenomenal fame with his metal band Koffin, and the announcement of Koffin's epic farewell tour sparks Kris's determination to reconnect with her old bandmates and confront Terry about the events that lead to the dissolution of Dürt Würk. Along the way, she gets involved in a conspiracy, which suggests that Terry's stardom might have come from some kind of Faustian deal, as suggested by the title of the book. Kris sets out to uncover the truth and races against time to stop an evil force from taking over the world.

The story takes some time to gain momentum and the horror elements really start to appear only around the midpoint of the book, but, overall, We Sold Our Souls is an engrossing and spooky love letter to heavy metal music, and Kris's passion for the genre made me quite nostalgic to revisit some of the bands that are mentioned in the book. As expected, metal music plays a significant part in the narrative and each chapter heading is a fun reference to a song title. The book also makes some strong statements about the meaning and appeal of heavy metal music, and it obviously comes from a place of love for the genre. If you're looking for a fun, spooky Halloween read with a strong female lead, I suggest giving this book a try.

Wow, this book was something else.

As someone who grew up on a steady diet of heavy metal, this book was absolutely written in my language.

It's the story of a failed heavy metal guitarist, Kris, whose former bandmate Terry went on to absolute superstardom following the breakup of their just-about-to-hit-it-big band; Kris finds herself in a dead-end job in a dead-end town, on the eve of a set of sold-out retirement shows by Koffin, Terry's new nu-metal outfit. As Kris seeks to reunite with her old bandmates to find out the truth about their group's breakup, she uncovers a vast and sinister conspiracy that shows the dark machinations leading to Koffin's mega-platinum status, while discovering that an unreleased concept album might hold the key to the survival of the entire world.

Fans of the Faustian horror genre would love this Quixotic tale; for me, this was a five-star effort grounding itself in the language of metal with which I surrounded myself in my teenage years. Those less familiar with darker rock and roll might find themselves a little lost, however.

I thought it was sufficiently creepy-if you are claustrophobic this might not be for you. The beginning was slow to start for me, but it picked up quickly enough. About a third of the way through, I had a hard time following the story. But I felt everything came together in the end. I didnt enjoy this as much as his other books, but I'll keep reading his stuff!

Hendrix Faustian tale based on The Devil and Daniel Webster with a heavy metal slant which is an interesting tale told in its own right. This is a cautionary tale which deals with the age old moral issues of be careful what you wish for.

The book is a well written and totally absorbing tale written in the third person but told from Kris’s point of view. The action of the piece stays with Kris through her many fables and foibles and she is a heroine that is to be admired and adored through her vim and verve. She is a strong female character that really pushes her feminine role that shows a strong independent woman as she works out the mystery behind her lost past.

The other characters are very well drawn and Hendrix is very strong on bringing them out without using cartoonish clichés. Even the most superficial characters are well written and he is able to encompass a three dimensional view of all the characters showing the good and the bad and being able to show the motivations to make them understandable. This is an incredible feat that most authors have difficulty putting together but Hendrix makes this look easy which shows what a remarkable writer he is.

I have read Hendrix’s Paperbacks From Hell which was a testament to the 80’s horror pulp fiction which was well written and deeply researched. It was one of the excellent novels of 2017 and one that if you are a fan of horror, a book that should be included in everyone’s bookshelf. Although I digress, it is to show this is a man who loves his subject matter and genre and knows exactly what to do with this.

The novel looks at the world through a 1980’s lens and although most of the action takes place in the present, it still has that horror pulp feel to it. Saying this, it does lifts its subject matter above these tropes to show a better written novel than some of the pulp fiction that it plays ode to. His use of heavy metal lyrics and looking at the subgenre in rock as a whole is very well done. This is a writer who understands his subject material and this is really highlighted when he compares music of today with the music of yesteryears and the differences. He even ties in corporate America buying out of the music industry that shows that music today is market studied before it is released to feed the population what they think is should be fed. This is a big bravo and one of the many reasons that lifts this well above the norm.

The book has an uneven opening which takes it’s time setting up the premise but after about three chapters, the story picks up speed and never lets go until it’s final conclusion. It is a very involving tale that grips its audience with a knowing smirk that shows the circle of hell within the music industry. The one minor flaw which would be up to the audience who must read this outstanding novel is the ending which is left ambiguous. For myself, I thought it was the perfect ending building up a myth and legend in the world of rock.

Overall, this is an outstanding novel that shows a master at full work creating a world that gives odes to the 80’s against a political backdrop of today. Also shows how the world may be too connected and the changes that have happen for the better or worse. A cautionary tale which true scares and horror mixed in with a deep rooted mystery that keeps the audience involved. This is a gem of the book from the increasingly fascinating talent of Grady Hendrix.

<b>Thanks to Quirk Books for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.</b>

What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said by all my book blogger friends? <i>We Sold Our Souls</i> is a rocking good time filled with well-developed characters and shocking twists, all told in Grady Hendrix’s assured, witty voice. Hendrix is quickly becoming a superstar in the dark fiction field, and rightfully so.

What is most impressive about this book, to me, is the character. As seen in 2016’s <i>My Best Friend’s Exorcism</i>, Hendrix is one of the best at character development, and this story’s main protagonist, Kris — former lead guitarist for Dürt Würk and all-around badass — has one of the most satisfying arcs I’ve read in some time. She’s an important character for the times in which we live, and she is sure to leave any reader feeling empowered.

Once begun this novel is hard to stop, with thrilling scenes of action and many moments of excellent character reflection. Highly recommended for all you rock ‘n’ rollers (and the pop kids).

"A girl with a guitar never has to apologize for anything."

If you want to read a book that will give you an authentic feel for the Metal music scene, and really the music business as a whole, wrapped up in an excellent Horror/Psychological Thriller story, grab this book as quick as you can. Oh, and the MC is a woman... a woman Metal guitarist!

The story brought up so many points about the current state of affairs in the music industry that I almost put on pants (trousers for you folks in the UK) at this late hour to hop over to my friend's recording studio for some rousing conversation with whomever happened to be hanging out. In person discussion... there's noting better.

The .5 star deduction came from a few cliche stereotypes which I'm not completely sure weren't thrown in the mix for good reason, but come on, a fat lesbian sound tech? I'd love to interview and pick the brain of this author.

It is a book I will read again and take notes on to do a proper full blog review. I'm going to also promo and mini-review it in a Facebook women's gear group of which I am a member.

Grady Hendrix is basically the new voice of our Gen X generation. The man has given us a haunted Ikea in Horrorstör, then proceeded to take us back to our formative years with both My Best Friend's Exorcism, where he gives us an '80s tale worthy of an upside-down universe-John Hughes flick. Paperbacks from Hell brought me back to my family's bookshelves, with the best memories of those crazy horror paperback novel covers (remember die-cut covers? EVERY. V.C. ANDREWS. NOVEL) lining the walls of my home and my bookworm uncle's living room. So where is Grady taking us next? Welp, we've grown up and moved on - or have we? - so we're kinda sorta stuck between present and past with We Sold Our Souls.

In the 1990s, heavy metal band Dürt Würk was a band on the verge of the breakthrough, and guitarist Kris Pulaski was ready for it. But lead singer Terry Hunt decided to go in a different direction, signing a solo contract and gaining huge success with Koffin, leaving his fellow band members to wallow in obscurity. Twenty years later, Kris is working as the night manager at a Best Western and still wondering what the hell happened that infamous night when everything went to hell. Literally. As Kris travels cross-country to reunite with her band members and find out what really happened on contract night, she starts uncovering the conspiracy to end all conspiracies, tin foil hat and everything. Did Terry sell their souls to get fame, fortune, and unlimited merchandising royalties?

Real talk: This book needs to rocket to the top of your TBR, and that's not just because I will read anything that Grady Hendrix writes. He's aces at creating strong, smart female characters, for starters. Kris is not going down without a fight, and we are right there with her, including an escape scene that fed on every single nerve in my body. My chest was tight, my hands were clenched, and I had a cold sweat just envisioning the scene. That's how Grady Hendrix writes. Every chapter is named for a hard rock/heavy metal album, and the references to bands and songs are liberally sprinkled throughout the book. The main plot surrounds a concept album: Remember when Queensryche hit with Operation: Mindcrime? We were RAISED on concept albums, so this story? We've been preparing for this our whole adult lives.

Let's go beyond the plot to the real horror story: we're living in a society that anesthetizes us. Got a bad feeling? We've got a pill for that. Don't like the news? Don't worry about it, go find something peaceful to watch and take your meds so you don't have to feel bad. We're living in dangerous times, where we're medicating ourselves just so we can cope with the world around us - but Hendrix points out how easy it is to just turn off and ignore everything, and how people with less than stellar intentions can use that against us. The key here: stay vigilant; just because you think they're out to get you doesn't mean they really aren't.

We Sold Our Souls is everything good about horror and the '80s: it's an over-the-top, violent thrill ride where a chick with a guitar is the only thing standing in the way between us and total, soul-sucking destruction. Rent the 1986 flick Trick or Treat, dig into this book, and make yourself the greatest of playlists.

Don't miss Grady Hendrix on tour! He's got a schedule up on his website. And sign up for his Book Reviews of the Damned. You'll thank me later. Check out We Sold Our Souls' starred review from Booklist!

I first heard about this book when Jamie told me about it as I was buying another of Hendrix’s books at YALC this year so when she emailed about a chance to read an ARC of it I was excited!

We Sold Our Souls is about Dürt Würk, heavy metal rock band, who’s souls have been sold yet they don’t remember.

The majority of We Sold Our Souls is from DW former guitarist, Kris Pulaskis’ perpective and I think she was the perfect person to tell this story. Its set years later when Kris is fed up of her life draining hotel desk job cleaning up drunk guys piss.

She knows there is injustice in her current and past heavy metal life simply because she’s a woman and she never used to let that get her downtrodded. She rocked hard, kicked hard, and didn’t give a fuck so long as she had her music.

So now she’s wondering how the fuck she ended up here accepting her dead end job and no metal life.

When she sees the ex lead singer of DW is doing a final tour she decides enough is enough, she deserves answers and to get her life back. Her attitude, strength, and will power were great. I love Kris okay!

But not everything is as it seems.

The pace of the horror throughout this book is amazing, it starts simple and has you questioning what that dude is taking to come up with such wacky ideas, but soon the conspiracy theory starts to unfold. To show Kris that there is more out there and this journey isn’t going to be as straight forward as she had hoped.

We get both gorey horror and supernatural horror. And it all ties in with music which makes me think this would make an amazing movie.

Because of how integral music is to this story I read about two chapters before I went back and started tabbing every song and band mentioned. Then using the most popular songs from each band I put together a playlist! It really is a love letter to heavy metal.

What I loved most is that I’ve been listening to the playlist since finishing the book and there are certain songs and artists that really connected me back to the story and made me think again about what Kris was going through at that time. It really has made a huge impact on me.

Even though this is a horror the ending blew me away because it sends such a positive message to everyone and it really illustrates how you can have an equally positive outcome on other peoples lives.

So once you’re done reading Sawkill Girls from my previous horror recommendation, you better go pick this one up too!

Everybody has been raving about this book. I haven’t read one negative thing and that’s rare in blogland. We like to complain and pick things apart. Or at least I know I do. I probably shouldn’t speak for everyone else. But I think that’s what makes us (or me) so fantastic, haha. Now that I’ve finally read it, (sorry Netgalley, I am late again but you really should know this about me by now) I totally understand why this book is being treated like horror gold. Author Grady Hendrix knows the horror scene and he’s created a modern day classic that gives the old “sold our soul to the devil” trope a fresh new spin. It’s firmly earned its place in a future Paperbacks From Hell volume.

This story is a lovingly written present to all heavy metal loving horror fans. If you grew up in the 80’s or 90’s listening to that stuff you need to buy yourself the beautiful physical copy of this book with the black binding. I’m going to do so as soon as I can. It’s seriously that good.

Kris is having a “what the hell happened to my life” moment. She’s 47 and works the front desk at a Best Western when a customer decides to piss all over the front desk. She was once a guitarist in an almost famous metal band when it all when to shit and she was forced into abandoning her dreams. When she sees a billboard with her nemesis’s face on it that declares he’s going back on tour, she decides to track down her old bandmates in order to stop the man who ruined them all.

Nothing goes as planned. And that’s what I enjoyed so much about this book. It takes turns and twists and I predicted none of them. Not a single one. It is filled with dark and disturbing surprises. I loved that the lead guitarist and main character is a strong, kick-butt kind of woman. I adored this character.

“Kris wasn’t a hugger. She had a body like a bag of knives.”

She’s also very sympathetic and determined.

“Kris wanted to press her fist to the planet and leave a mark.”

And she thinks some very funny thoughts:

“Men never know when to shut up.”

Sorry, guys, but sometimes it’s true (though the same can be said about me, I suppose!).

Music plays an enormous part in the story. It’s not a little set piece or an afterthought. This book would not exist without the music and the end is simply magical. I don’t know what else to say without giving too much away. I’m no good at writing 5 star reviews. I guess I’ll leave you with a drop everything and READ THIS BOOK RIGHT THIS MINUTE! If you hate it, you can always send your copy to me.

In the 1990s, heavy metal band Dürt Würk was poised for breakout success — but then lead singer Terry Hunt embarked on a solo career and rocketed to stardom as Koffin, leaving his fellow bandmates to rot in rural Pennsylvania.

Two decades later, former guitarist Kris Pulaski works as the night manager of a Best Western – she’s tired, broke, and unhappy. Everything changes when she discovers a shocking secret from her heavy metal past: Turns out that Terry’s meteoric rise to success may have come at the price of Kris’s very soul.

This revelation prompts Kris to hit the road, reunite with the rest of her bandmates, and confront the man who ruined her life. It’s a journey that will take her from the Pennsylvania rust belt to a Satanic rehab center and finally to a Las Vegas music festival that’s darker than any Mordor Tolkien could imagine. A furious power ballad about never giving up, even in the face of overwhelming odds, We Sold Our Souls is an epic journey into the heart of a conspiracy-crazed, paranoid country that seems to have lost its very soul…where only a girl with a guitar can save us all.

I’m old enough to remember the media outrage regarding Judas Priest and alleged Satanic messages in their lyrics (if you played their album backwards). Laughable, I know, but it does suggest a cracking premise for a horror story. The idea that dark forces are using metal music to control the masses. Grady Hendrix’s latest novel, We Sold Our Souls, takes that idea and runs with it.

Kris Pulaski is a fascinating character. Having come tantalisingly close to rock stardom only to have it snatched from her grasp has left an indelible mark. She is broken and more than a little bitter. For years she has hidden away from the world, working a dead-end job, denying her history. Underneath it all though, somewhere deep down in the depths of her soul, there is still a tiny spark of rebellion. There is that lone voice in the dark that refuses to ever give in, refuses to quit. When she learns her ex-bandmate is on the road again she realises she needs to confront him. She needs to understand why it all went wrong, how the dream fell apart.

Terry Hunt is the flipside of the same coin. Where Kris has faded into obscurity after the break-up of Dürt Würk, Terry has become a living legend, The Blind King. Koffin is the biggest band on the planet and their enigmatic frontman is viewed as a true megastar. It’s only towards the end of the novel that you discover more about the real Terry, the handful of scenes he appears in do a perfect job of rounding out his character. The ultimate resolution of his thread in the story is particularly well handled.

I think a lot of the horror in We Sold Our Souls can be viewed as psychological in nature. Is Kris imagining it all? Her erratic actions could be viewed as those of someone teetering on the brink of insanity. There are moments where the narrative suggests that all the events could be nothing more than the twisted imaginings of a rock star wannabe. It could be that Kris is projecting her anger onto everyone she thinks wronged her in the past. Or is that what the dark powers want you to think? As Kris continues her road trip, the author ramps up the tension. Each step brings her closer to achieving her goal, but as it does the horror also escalates. There are a handful of moments that manage to be as gory as they are unexpected.

I have come here to chew bubble gum and review books, and I’m all outta bubble gum! This is good news as there is a wonderful John Carpenter-esque quality to We Sold Our Souls. Like the cult classic They Live, the novel explores how faceless entities can use their endless reach to control and manipulate. Hendrix really plays into these topics, and the book reads like a laundry list of 21st century paranoia. Mass market consumerism and social media are the new religion. It makes perfect sense that the ultimate evil would view these as the ideal tools to enslave a generation. Looking at the news from time to time, I reckon this suggestion may actually have some merit. The only thing that can combat this seemingly unstoppable march is the spark of creativity and individualism. Kris is driven by the need to make music. It burns in her, right down to the marrow of her bones. Rock music is angry, it is uncontrollable, and it refuses to back down.

There is something unashamedly rebellious about We Sold Our Souls. I’m of an age where every comment made by our heroine, excuse the pun, struck a chord. If you’re looking for rock and roll horror then look no further.

I’ve gone proper old school with my music recommendation to accompany We Sold Our Souls. It strikes me that Master of Puppets by Metallica has the ideal tone. The tracks Battery, The Thing That Should Not Be or Welcome Home (Sanitarium) could all easily be viewed as Kris’ own personal anthems.

We Sold our Souls in published by Quirk Books and is available now.

I first became aware of Grady Hendrix's work as a non-fiction author for his massively popular hit last year, Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction. However, I'm ashamed to say that not only did I have no idea he writes fiction and has published in some very prestigious avenues, but also, he wrote frickin' Horrorstör, which was also a blockbuster success a few years ago (that's downright embarrassing for me).

In any case, my ignorance aside, Hendrix is back at it with his latest novel, We Sold Our Souls, which combines two of my favourite things: horror and heavy metal. One of the first things I admired most about this novel was the refreshing choice to have the point of view of a female member of a metal band and to see her genesis. Her experiences definitely aren't pretty and they get uglier as the book goes on, which is to be expected. 

She was in a band that didn't quite take off as she'd hoped, so she has been stuck in a dead-end job with not much else in the way of other options. Reading this book often felt like watching an intimate and disturbing behind-the-scenes documentary about a metal band. It was like getting an insider's look at how a band was formed written with the closeness from someone who was there. 

The intensity of the more horror-centered parts and scenes was quite vivid and the action leapt off the page. I also thought this was mingled very well with a definite case of "don't believe everything the narrator tells you." Survival and adaptation have never really been pretty, and in this book, it's certainly not an exception. Overall, Hendrix has crafted a cleverly-plotted, nuanced, and action-packed thrill-ride of a novel that should be on everyone's list for Halloween.

Grady Hendrix knocks it outta the park.. again!
This time we have a middle aged FEMALE badass that shreds the guitar and never says die. With an old metal album filled with mythological lyrics to guide her, Kris takes us on a journey of reclaiming souls and bringing life back to the music (and human) world. I read this book in two days because I just could not put it down. It was a fast, fun, and sometimes gruesome read that I will recommend to anyone looking for a good thriller/horror novel and all the metal heads I know!

The nitty-gritty: Grady Hendrix’s latest hums with frenetic energy, a dark and dangerous, pulse-pounding love letter to the power of music

A girl with a guitar never has to apologize for anything.

I became a Grady Hendrix fan after reading Horrorstör several years ago, and I enjoyed My Best Friend’s Exorcism (although not quite as much), but I can honestly say that We Sold Our Souls is his best book yet. Hendrix has grown by leaps and bounds as a writer, in my humble opinion, and I was stunned by how good this was in every single way. Word of warning, this story is dark. A lot of bad stuff happens, and it happens to good characters, but there’s also a lot of good in this story. We Sold Our Souls is a heavy metal take on the Faust legend, and just like it says in the title, one of the characters sells his soul in order to become a music legend—except there’s a twist, a big twist.

Kris Pulaski is a washed-up forty-seven year old, with a dead-end job working for Best Western, but she used to be part of a heavy metal band called Dürt Würk, until her best friend and bandmate Terry Hunt stole her music and sold out Terry and the rest of the band for fame and fortune with a new band called Koffin. Terry pressures Kris into signing a contract that gives her a big payout, but she must agree to give up rights to her original songs and never perform again. Devastated by Terry’s betrayal, Kris packs her beloved Gibson Melody Maker away in a closet and resigns herself to a life devoid of her one true love, music. It’s been years since Terry has been on her radar, but all that changes one day with the announcement of an epic music event dubbed Hellstock ‘19, a heavy metal festival with none other than Koffin as the headliner. All the rage she’s suppressed over the years bubbles to the surface, and Kris knows this is her chance to finally confront him.

But first, she must round up the other members of her old band, although that’s going to be tough since no one really likes Kris after the events of “contract night” when Terry sold them out. As Kris makes her inevitable way toward Terry and her final chance at redemption, fate will do everything it can to stop her.

I loved the way this story is constructed. Hendrix intersperses the present story of Kris’s long and tortuous journey to Hellstock ‘19 with snippets of Kris’s past, how she became a musician, met Terry and started Dürt Würk, and the major events that led up to the night when everything fell apart. There’s a lot of information that we don’t know in the beginning—what exactly happened that horrible night and why Kris is living a life of near-poverty—but Hendrix drops hints bit by bit until the full horror of what’s going on is revealed.

There’s also a side character named Melanie who is desperately trying to get out of her going-nowhere-life in a small West Virginian town. Melanie is a huge fan of Koffin and especially of Terry Hunt, and when she hears about Hellstock ‘19 she’s determined to get there no matter what, even if she has to leave her good-for-nothing boyfriend behind. Melanie is young and naive and makes some terrible choices in this story, but I adored her plucky attitude and her positive outlook on life, even when events take a nasty turn in Vegas. At first I couldn’t figure out what her purpose was in the story, but eventually things start to come together when Melanie and Kris meet on the road and help each other on their journey.

Kris bears the brunt of the pain in this story, however, from the moment she decides to track down Scottie, Tuck and Bill—her former Dürt Würk bandmates—and make the trek to the desert to find Terry. This story turns batshit crazy, and there were several scenes that were actually tough to read. Terry knows Kris is coming and he’s got his own private posse who will go to any lengths to stop her, including some assassins dressed up as UPS employees.  I used to love seeing the UPS truck stop outside my house, because it usually meant there was book mail on the way, but I’m telling you, after reading this book I’m going to think twice before I open my door!

And pulsing through every page is the music. I absolutely loved the descriptions of Kris picking up a guitar for the first time, the pain of the strings cutting into her fingers, the sound of a chord when it’s played exactly right. And you don’t have to be a metalhead to love this book. Hendrix’s descriptions could work for any musical genre (and there is an awesome chapter that made me fall in love with Dolly Parton!) Part of the story revolves around Dürt Würk’s lost album Troglodyte. Hendrix has created a mythology around an entity known as Black Iron Mountain that lives in a hole in the center of the world (the devil), and the songs on the album explain that mythology in an epic burst of metal. I loved the way that Kris resurrects Troglodyte in her head as she’s trying to (literally) stay alive, and if you’ve ever had a time in your life where music may have actually saved you (I mean, haven’t we all?), then you’ll probably get goosebumps just like I did.

The final showdown is suitably larger-than-life—I expected nothing less from this author—but I loved the way he ended his story on an emotional note. In fact, I can’t say I’ve ever read a more perfect ending. If you’re already a fan of Grady Hendrix, then reading this book is a no-brainer. And if I’ve tempted you Hendrix virgins to give this author a chance, then you are in for a treat.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

Grady Hendrix is a unique writer. While he might be classified as horror, I think of it as twisted supernatural. Kris was a member of a heavy metal band that could have made it big, but things didn’t work out and she is working at a Best Western. The lead singer of her old band has gone on to reach acclaim with his new band Koffin and he has a big tour coming up. Kris hits the road to visit some of her old bandmates that were discarded on Terry’s rise to fame only to find a freaky conspiracy at play. Can Kris use the lyrics from their unrealized album to guide her in the right direction?

At some points my interest waned while reading, but then something would happen to pull me back in. I wish Terry was more villainous. I really liked Melanie as a secondary character and young Koffin fan, she really made the book for me. I loved how empowered Kris felt when she had her guitar in her hands. Rock fans will find tons of great references here.

I loved this book! Everyone needs to read it. The main character, Kris Pulaski, is so kickass! You don't need to love metal music to enjoy this book. Although it did spark an interest in listening to metal music and it inspired me to make my own spotify playlist for the book. I hope this book gets made into a movie.

This is the second Grady Hendrix book I've read, and now I need to read Horrorstor immediately. 

We Sold Our Souls is intense and unsettling. It's dreadful in the truest sense---full of dread. 

Like Kris, we don't know what to think. Everyone else seems to be varying degrees of paranoid and crazy. The events of this book are over the top and it makes no sense. There's no way to describe it so it does.

If you are in the mood for horror (fun, insane, over the top horror), check this out. Highly recommended.

This is the second time this year time this year I’ve looked at a description of a book and thought it was going to be awful or brilliant. My old CD collection filled with Metallica and Iron Maiden albums wouldn’t let me pass on this one – and I’m so glad it didn’t. Made an incredibly slow work day just fly by.

We Sold Our Souls is a self-aware, preposterous, fun and thrilling read with the appropriate amount of creepy moments to classify it as a decent horror novel, despite being a superb story in itself. Underneath the increasingly intensity as the plot strands start to come together there’s an excellent running commentary throughout that doesn’t just apply to the music industry which I couldn’t help but agree with.

The book also wins bonus points for its suitably loathsome villain that I thoroughly enjoyed rooting against from the get-go.

With thanks to Netgalley and Quirk for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading and loving Grady Hendrix's previous novels Horrorstor and My Best Friend's Exorcism I was really looking forward to picking his new book up. I was not disappointed! The main character Kris is such a real and relatable character, while not without her faults I easily found myself rooting for her. The story is very fast-paced, at times funny, at times dark, with occasional gruesome moments. Kris's journey builds to an emotional climax that might have even made me cry a little bit! Hendrix's observations and attention to detail really enhance the story, making it both authentic and enjoyable. Whether you're a metal fan or not, this is a fun read with a lot of heart and a very timely message.

We Sold Our Souls is a unique type of horror novel that uses heavy metal music as its inspiration. I'm not a heavy metal fan, but I found that this did not affect my ability to relate to the characters or enjoy the story. It's dark, creepy, unsettling, and has a strong message. The main character, Kris, is easy to root for. There are unexpected twists and turns. At times, some of the twists seem pointless, but it all works out by the end. This was an enjoyable horror novel.