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jess2obsess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This series has really taken me by surprise, I am falling more and more in love with Perry, Dex, & the author's style with each one! The creepiness/"haunting" in this one was better than the first, and I can already see myself devouring Halle's whole repertoire. This book is so charming, and yet that charm is not jarring next to the horror aspects at all! It meshes well together, even in tense situations---referring to Dex's eyes as "his peepers" in a particular scene had me laughing out loud. God I love Perry. What a great protag.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
Moderate: Ableism, Violence, Sexual assault, Drug use, Alcohol, and Body shaming
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Cultural appropriation
From my perspective as a white woman, I think that the Navajo aspects were well-written and respectful language was always used. That said---trisha_thomas's review
3.0
so, what I liked
* I just love Perry and Dex. Their bantor keeps me coming back to these books. They take the suspense and the unbelievable and break it up with great jokes and cute remarks. I love reading them!
* The world building. I didn't mind the huge cast of new characters. I felt like I got to know them well and even appreciated when they were around. I hope we see Maximus in many more books! He was just great and I know he holds some secrets I'd love to know! LOL
* The fun they got to have. I loved the dancing, singing and the bar scene (before the incident) and I loved the story of how the first met (made up of course). I loved their 'pretending' and the moment at death's door when they were in the trees!
So, that leaves what I wasn't a huge fan of.
I was so tired of everyone telling Perry that Dex is not who she thinks! JUST GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! Fine, he's not who he pretends to be. Then, just OUT WITH IT! They had to have warned her 100 different times and by the 10th one, I was read to smack someone. Just, ugh. No. More. Foreshadowing.
If Dex sucks, let's just have it out with it. Otherwise, Shut up about it!
The plot line. You know, I loved the location and the setting for it - but I wanted some ghostly fun. I would have loved a poltergeist or some type of haunting. And even though this activity was interesting to read about and definitely fit the bill for paranormal, it was not the kind of plot line /story that I wanted to read and had hoped for when I picked this series up.
I will read the next book for Dex and Perry alone, but I'm hoping the story gets back to the ghostly line or some secrets are reveiled or I may not continue......
* I just love Perry and Dex. Their bantor keeps me coming back to these books. They take the suspense and the unbelievable and break it up with great jokes and cute remarks. I love reading them!
* The world building. I didn't mind the huge cast of new characters. I felt like I got to know them well and even appreciated when they were around. I hope we see Maximus in many more books! He was just great and I know he holds some secrets I'd love to know! LOL
* The fun they got to have. I loved the dancing, singing and the bar scene (before the incident) and I loved the story of how the first met (made up of course). I loved their 'pretending' and the moment at death's door when they were in the trees!
So, that leaves what I wasn't a huge fan of.
I was so tired of everyone telling Perry that Dex is not who she thinks! JUST GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! Fine, he's not who he pretends to be. Then, just OUT WITH IT! They had to have warned her 100 different times and by the 10th one, I was read to smack someone. Just, ugh. No. More. Foreshadowing.
If Dex sucks, let's just have it out with it. Otherwise, Shut up about it!
The plot line. You know, I loved the location and the setting for it - but I wanted some ghostly fun. I would have loved a poltergeist or some type of haunting. And even though this activity was interesting to read about and definitely fit the bill for paranormal, it was not the kind of plot line /story that I wanted to read and had hoped for when I picked this series up.
I will read the next book for Dex and Perry alone, but I'm hoping the story gets back to the ghostly line or some secrets are reveiled or I may not continue......
annapsxx's review
4.0
Okay, I'm officially obsessed. Very badly. These books are addicting and I loved them.
HOWEVER.
The whole book I felt like Dex was trying to get away with cheating without actually cheating and then he actually cheated and I'm like why?? You obviously don't love your girlfriend so what's the point? BREAK UP. And I also think it's unfair for Perry because she's obviously confused and so am I.
HOWEVER.
The whole book I felt like Dex was trying to get away with cheating without actually cheating and then he actually cheated and I'm like why?? You obviously don't love your girlfriend so what's the point? BREAK UP. And I also think it's unfair for Perry because she's obviously confused and so am I.
bibliophile90's review against another edition
4.0
The Experiment in Terror is the perfect series to get you out of your book slump. This series has the right amount of action, paranormal activity, romance and character development. Both Perry and Dex are becoming favorite characters of mine because they are so intriguing and very unique. These two are a perfect duo and I love their teasing and collaboration. Nowadays, I find it very difficult to find series that focuses on one couple that keeps me interested throughout the whole series. But I think I found a winner with this series. I am a very picky reader and I look for books with original plots, and interesting characters. Karina Halle didn't disappoint with this book, I liked Red Fox more than I did Darkhouse, because I always struggle with starting a new series where the story and characters need to be set up.
What I liked most about this book was the subject of the story. I am a huge fan of anything Native American related and I really enjoyed how Karina tackled the story. I predicted a couple of things pretty early on the story, I do wish it was a bit more unpredictable but that didn't take away from how awesome this book was. I also loved seeing both Perry and Dex grow as individuals but also as partners. There is little bit of romance but it is more in the background, which I am happy about. The investigation of paranormal happenings is in my opinion more important than romance in this series. There are enough romance books I can dive into if I want straight up romance. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
fallen_for_books30's review against another edition
5.0
Oh...WOW!! So awesome I can't explain. Oh my god..This was more horrifying than the first one. I was like Shit shit!! God..I will have nightmares lol.Now in this book they are dealing with skinwalkers. Who are killing sheep and many other things.Perry and ex don't know whom to trust and whom to not. And as usual Dex and Perry pretending to be married added to the awesomeness of the book. Few secrets revealed which made me sympathize with Dex and oh I won't spoil anything for ya people..But it does have a scene between them ;)
paradoxically's review
2.0
I want so badly to like these books for some reason, but it just doesn't seem to happen. For one, Perry makes me want to smack my head against something. Dex makes me frustrated. In fact, this entire book could have been so much more, only no, it doesn't happen. You have skin walkers and a creepy setting, but the ending just seemed like a giant failure to me and I keep going back and forth with my feelings on Perry and Dex's relationship.
On one hand I root for it because, hey, male lead and female lead. It's inevitable. On the other hand, Dex has a girlfriend. That immediately makes me want to shake Perry and have her stop this wishy-washy crap that makes her pant after Dex and then sternly remind herself that he has a girlfriend and then go back to attempting to get herself into situations that may or may not lead to some kissing. Or something. Just... just go for him. Or at least stop pretending otherwise. It's not cute. As for Dex--you have a girlfriend. Knock it off or dump the girl.
Then there are situations that happen that don't seem to have lasting consequences when they should. A The fact that (BIG SPOILER) It's like big things just sort of happen and are important and then the next page it's gone.
I feel like I could tolerate the books more if I enjoyed Perry and Dex's relationship, but... as I said above, ambivalence. Dex just seems kind of skeezy, and I already mentioned my annoyance with how Perry handles the relationship. The plot could have made up for it, but while it was sort of creepy in parts, it never took off. The big bads flopped in my eyes and the resolution wasn't satisfying. This was mostly Dex and Perry's relationship taking baby steps, and if you're not that enthused about the relationship in the first place then this book isn't going to make things much better. 2 stars.
On one hand I root for it because, hey, male lead and female lead. It's inevitable. On the other hand, Dex has a girlfriend. That immediately makes me want to shake Perry and have her stop this wishy-washy crap that makes her pant after Dex and then sternly remind herself that he has a girlfriend and then go back to attempting to get herself into situations that may or may not lead to some kissing. Or something. Just... just go for him. Or at least stop pretending otherwise. It's not cute. As for Dex--you have a girlfriend. Knock it off or dump the girl.
Then there are situations that happen that don't seem to have lasting consequences when they should. A
Spoiler
near rape scene? What near rape scene? It's like it never happened past the first 'omg what happened'.Spoiler
Randy is apparently dead? Gone somehow? Hahaha... Randy who?I feel like I could tolerate the books more if I enjoyed Perry and Dex's relationship, but... as I said above, ambivalence. Dex just seems kind of skeezy, and I already mentioned my annoyance with how Perry handles the relationship. The plot could have made up for it, but while it was sort of creepy in parts, it never took off. The big bads flopped in my eyes and the resolution wasn't satisfying. This was mostly Dex and Perry's relationship taking baby steps, and if you're not that enthused about the relationship in the first place then this book isn't going to make things much better. 2 stars.
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series. It's now official.
I think I'm going to have a problem here because I already gave book one, Darkhouse, 5 stars because I thought it was awesome on toast with a side order of shamazeballs. But this one was undeniably, unquestionably and indisputably better in almost every sense. So where do I go from here? I do not have 6 stars, people! Everyone knows all books have to be rated out of 5 and that half stars are against God's plan, so how can I express the, the...betterness of this one? Yes, I am aware betterness isn't a word. But it should be!
In my first joint review with Janice I said that I suspected there may end up being more to the series than just ghosts and ghost-hunting. And I was right! There's so much more. I really, really loved the storyline for this book. And the setting. And all the extra paranormal elements. And the fact that it was more mystery based - almost a whodunnit. And most especially, I loved the developments between Perry and Dex!
I'm just flabbergasted at how much they both seemed to change before my very eyes in this book, and in each other's. They say that scary, life-threatening events will form an emotional bond between two people, and I certainly think that was part of it. But I also think Perry and Dex are two people who just fit together anyway. Like slightly broken puzzle pieces, they each may not be completely whole, but they still fit.
I have to admit to a certain amount of fangirl squeeing when it became apparent they would have to feign a higher level of closeness during the case they were working on down in Red Fox. Anything that might have forced them to be in the same room where they could get to know each other more would have made me happy, but the deception they had to maintain made it even better!
There were some really interesting secondary characters in this book including a blast from Dex's past who provided us with some much-needed back story on him. I loved all that but I'm not yet convinced I like the person who delivered it. His motives are highly questionable.
So, to sum up, in case you missed your cue—yes do I recommend this series! If book one was awesome on toast with a side order of shamazeballs, then book two was spaghetti bloody marvellous with Parmesan genius.
5 Stars 6 Stars ★★★★★★
I think I'm going to have a problem here because I already gave book one, Darkhouse, 5 stars because I thought it was awesome on toast with a side order of shamazeballs. But this one was undeniably, unquestionably and indisputably better in almost every sense. So where do I go from here? I do not have 6 stars, people! Everyone knows all books have to be rated out of 5 and that half stars are against God's plan, so how can I express the, the...betterness of this one? Yes, I am aware betterness isn't a word. But it should be!
In my first joint review with Janice I said that I suspected there may end up being more to the series than just ghosts and ghost-hunting. And I was right! There's so much more. I really, really loved the storyline for this book. And the setting. And all the extra paranormal elements. And the fact that it was more mystery based - almost a whodunnit. And most especially, I loved the developments between Perry and Dex!
I'm just flabbergasted at how much they both seemed to change before my very eyes in this book, and in each other's. They say that scary, life-threatening events will form an emotional bond between two people, and I certainly think that was part of it. But I also think Perry and Dex are two people who just fit together anyway. Like slightly broken puzzle pieces, they each may not be completely whole, but they still fit.
I have to admit to a certain amount of fangirl squeeing when it became apparent they would have to feign a higher level of closeness during the case they were working on down in Red Fox. Anything that might have forced them to be in the same room where they could get to know each other more would have made me happy, but the deception they had to maintain made it even better!
There were some really interesting secondary characters in this book including a blast from Dex's past who provided us with some much-needed back story on him. I loved all that but I'm not yet convinced I like the person who delivered it. His motives are highly questionable.
So, to sum up, in case you missed your cue—yes do I recommend this series! If book one was awesome on toast with a side order of shamazeballs, then book two was spaghetti bloody marvellous with Parmesan genius.
diaryofthebookdragon's review
3.0
It took me almost a year to read the next book after the [b:Darkhouse|11356211|Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror, #1)|Karina Halle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602888946l/11356211._SY75_.jpg|16286238]. That's enough to show you my level of enthusiasm for this series ... (Not much but I didn't completely lose interest.)
I liked Red Fox more than Darkhouse. While I still can't connect to the main heroine Perry and Dex was still weird, the mystery was better. I liked that Native American mythology was used.
This was very close to 4 stars. Goodreads when are you going to add half star ratings???
Looking forward to the next book. :)
I liked Red Fox more than Darkhouse. While I still can't connect to the main heroine Perry and Dex was still weird, the mystery was better. I liked that Native American mythology was used.
This was very close to 4 stars. Goodreads when are you going to add half star ratings???
Looking forward to the next book. :)
kayla_llbr's review
4.0
his book had my holding on to the edge of my seat. I LOVE the myth and storytelling involved in this book. Red Fox takes place in the deserts of New Mexico. This book is also our first glimpse at the mysterious Maximus (Friend or Foe?)
As much as the frights of poltergeist qualities, dangerous animals and overall distrusting hosts what keeps me coming back is the evolution of Dex and Perry’s relationship.
“It’s our song,” he said. He held out his hand. I took it, as if in slow motion, and let him lead me onto the dance floor.He put one arm around my waist, holding me snuggly against him. It was a different kind of awkward than it was with Maximus. It was a wonderful, head-spinning awkwardness that made my heart beat out of my chest and my knees turn to putty. He held my hand with his other one and grinned at me, our faces so intoxicatingly close that he grazed the top of my head with the felt brim of his hat. I kept my eyes on those cocoa brown orbs of his. It wasn’t hard. And then…then he started singing along with Joel’s voice. Softly, quietly. I was such a sucker right there and then and he knew it, that bastard. If he wasn’t holding me up, my spine would have collapsed in a warm puddle of blissed-out nerves. He leaned further in and sang into my ear, a deep murmur that sent shivers through me that I tried to contain. Why was he doing this to me?”
Their connection is continuing to grow and lines are being blurred. Not only are the constantly flirting but one of the aspects of the story is the two of them pretending to be a married couple. Que the sexual tension! If the relationship between Dex and Percy doesn’t have you hooked then the crap they get themselves into does! UGH I totally need a valium after that adventure…
4 stars*
mybookmuse.wordpress.com
As much as the frights of poltergeist qualities, dangerous animals and overall distrusting hosts what keeps me coming back is the evolution of Dex and Perry’s relationship.
“It’s our song,” he said. He held out his hand. I took it, as if in slow motion, and let him lead me onto the dance floor.He put one arm around my waist, holding me snuggly against him. It was a different kind of awkward than it was with Maximus. It was a wonderful, head-spinning awkwardness that made my heart beat out of my chest and my knees turn to putty. He held my hand with his other one and grinned at me, our faces so intoxicatingly close that he grazed the top of my head with the felt brim of his hat. I kept my eyes on those cocoa brown orbs of his. It wasn’t hard. And then…then he started singing along with Joel’s voice. Softly, quietly. I was such a sucker right there and then and he knew it, that bastard. If he wasn’t holding me up, my spine would have collapsed in a warm puddle of blissed-out nerves. He leaned further in and sang into my ear, a deep murmur that sent shivers through me that I tried to contain. Why was he doing this to me?”
Their connection is continuing to grow and lines are being blurred. Not only are the constantly flirting but one of the aspects of the story is the two of them pretending to be a married couple. Que the sexual tension! If the relationship between Dex and Percy doesn’t have you hooked then the crap they get themselves into does! UGH I totally need a valium after that adventure…
4 stars*
mybookmuse.wordpress.com