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A review by jays_fairytales
We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First of all, I feel it’s important to note that since reading A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires in January, I’ve read pretty much all of Grady Hendrix’s bibliography (with How to Sell a Haunted House, his newest release, being the exception). Suffice it to say, Grady Hendrix could release his tax release and I would read it.
I left We Sold Our Souls until second to last because I knew from the synopsis it wasn’t going to be my favorite. Growing up Christian, there was a point that I bought into all that satanic panic and the scary blurred lines between the devil and heavy metal.
What I was not expecting was for Hendrix to put write my childhood fears so clearly into this novel. Unlike the more classic horror elements of his other works (slaying vampires, performing exorcisms, fleeing a slasher, surviving a haunted house) this novel focuses on conspiracy theories and real life horror.
For me, the best of this book was the relatable 40 something year old female protagonist who was once a rock star going on an emotional journey and falling in love with music again. A girl with a guitar has nothing to apologize for.
This book did take a while for me to get into - I think it was because while the first few chapters had lots of action and interesting twists, there were moments on the main characters journey where the tension dipped and took me out of it.
The ending (like almost all of the Hendrix’s novels) did leave me feeling unsatisfied. I tend to like a tidy ending and Hendrix likes to leave you thinking about the implications of an open end.
Definitely read the trigger warning son this one.
I left We Sold Our Souls until second to last because I knew from the synopsis it wasn’t going to be my favorite. Growing up Christian, there was a point that I bought into all that satanic panic and the scary blurred lines between the devil and heavy metal.
What I was not expecting was for Hendrix to put write my childhood fears so clearly into this novel. Unlike the more classic horror elements of his other works (slaying vampires, performing exorcisms, fleeing a slasher, surviving a haunted house) this novel focuses on conspiracy theories and real life horror.
For me, the best of this book was the relatable 40 something year old female protagonist who was once a rock star going on an emotional journey and falling in love with music again. A girl with a guitar has nothing to apologize for.
This book did take a while for me to get into - I think it was because while the first few chapters had lots of action and interesting twists, there were moments on the main characters journey where the tension dipped and took me out of it.
The ending (like almost all of the Hendrix’s novels) did leave me feeling unsatisfied. I tend to like a tidy ending and Hendrix likes to leave you thinking about the implications of an open end.
Definitely read the trigger warning son this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore