Horror and romance aren’t two things that go together very often. At least not the hide-behind-your-pillow-and-hope-the-bad-thing-goes-away kind of horror. But Karina Halle has managed to marry together some genuinely terrifying story lines with an angsty will-they-won’t-they romance in the Experiment in Terror series. It’s birthed something both beautiful and horrifying: the horror romance. A happily ever after where you need to change your knickers for two very different reasons.
Underneath the flashy lights and the slick streets and the throngs of people passing in the warm night, there was an undertone to the city that reeked of madness.
Dust to Dust by Karina Halle
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my horror romance confession
I’ve been reading for a long time. Over that time I have read books from every genre. So, although I experimented in my youth with what all those genres had to offer, I am now well and truly settled into the romance genre. My days of dallying with non-fiction and having hot steamy nights with a saucy little classic number are (more less) over. Horror wasn’t ever a genre I got that into and for one and only one reason. I am a scardy cat.
Then Karina Halle came strolling into my life with her Experiment in Terror series. Bewitching me with her murmurs of a steamy, yet angst ridden romance. With a plus sized heroine. With a dog called Rabbit. A girl only has so much willpower. Plus, the first book was free.
Want to see our fantasy cast for the series, click here to check out our series guide!
the horror
I now consider myself properly seduced by Karina Halle. She did a fantastic job of wrapping horror and romance together in a terrifying and sexy package. Then daring her readers to step into this surreal and scary world. There are some genuinely tense and creepy moments in these books. I know studios have a habit of picking up book series to translate into TV shows, if this happened with EIT I am not sure I would have the wherewithal to watch it. Like I said, I am big ol’ scardy cat.
the romance
But, lets move on to the romance. The at times:
Wait, did I mention frustrating…romance between Dex and Perry our hero and heroine. This series keeps you on the edge of exasperation and desperation and I know, I know, it sounds awful (and dare I say…frustrating?)! But it isn’t. It’s wonderful. I loved it. I had to keep reading. Sometimes it was because of what was happening in the story line. Sometimes it was because I wanted to get beyond the scary bit. And sometimes it was because I needed to know what the hell the situation was between Dex and Perry.
Here’s a sneak peek into our fantasy cast for Dex Foray and Perry Palomino:
the conclusion
Read it. It’s a horror romance genre that keeps you gripped from beginning right till the end. You have to know what is going to happen. Will Dex and Perry survive this time? Will they finally get together? You have to read on to find out!
add this series to your bookshelf
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Updates on 14 September 2022
Annnnnd I will stop myself there, before I start waxing lyrical about my love of historical romance and fantasy as well; no one needs to know about my elf fantasies. As you can tell, I adore and day dream about most romance genres, and my three big loves are 1) reading about romance 2) writing about romance and 3) talking about romance with my gals. Which, is why I love Under the Covers so much, I get all my bookish needs satisfied and don’t get judged when I talk about my favourite characters like they are real people. Which they are right?
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This series surprised me. It just sucked me in and, like you said, I HAD to know what was going to happen. Fortunately for the new readers they can read straight through without having to wait!
I will check this out!! My fave scary book is pet sematry!!! I love Stephan kings books!!! Salem’s lot was another fave too! Shared on all my socials!!
Not a fan of scary books or anything.
This series surprised me. It just sucked me in and, like you said, I HAD to know what was going to happen. Fortunately for the new readers they can read straight through without having to wait!
I will check this out!! My fave scary book is pet sematry!!! I love Stephan kings books!!! Salem’s lot was another fave too! Shared on all my socials!!
Not a fan of scary books or anything.