I've had the great pleasure of coordinating this blog tour this week for Karina Halle and the release of the The-Dex Files. Please check out Escapism From Reality for the blog tour kick-off with her review and an International Giveaway! Also check out the tour home page for calendar of events. One of my favorite series out there, The Dex-Files is an intimate glimpse into the multifacted character of Dex Foray. I loved every minute of it.
The Dex-Files
(Experiment in Terror #5.7)
By Karina Halle
5 out of 5 STARS
Release date: August 13th, Metal Blonde Books
"And with madness comes the light..."
When I started this, I knew I was going to gain a new perspective of one of my favorite and tortured characters to ever grace my kindle. Is that dramatic? Yes. Is it how I feel? Absolutely. But what I did not expect was the larger puzzle unravelling that you will see if you just pay attention. I will not go into detail. This is too great an addition to the series to spoil anyone with my perceived revelations of the bigger picture. But I got my eyes on you Karina, and your wicked ways.
My perspective of Dex Foray:
I’m a hypocrite because I can’t stand weakness in others, even though I’m born of weakness myself. I dish it out and then laugh when they try and dish it back. Like I’m above it. And sometimes I think I am.
I’m a hypocrite because I hunt ghosts and I’ve pretended all
this time that the ghosts haven’t been hunting me.
And I’m a hypocrite because I judge people. I judge the fuck out of everyone I meet, from their music tastes, to their jobs to their lifestyle choices. I judge them but fuck them if they dare judge me. They think they understand this monster in me, the monster in all of us. But they don't.
The prologue is a deeper look into the young Dex we got a sneak peak of in Old Blood. The times they are a changing for this young one and I wanted to just give the lil guy a hug. So young and scared.
In After School Special, Dex is 15 and a ladies man already. Yeah, he was a slut. Not going to sugar coat it. We also get to see what a trouble maker he was and what was happening at home. I had an "Oh shit" moment for sure. The riddle starts to unravel.
Dear Abby: Dex is in college. Max joins the band and soon, Dex is dating Abby. Just another little sliver in that crazy cranium of Dex's. And all the while, I'm only 24 pages in and have already been astounded by this look into this amazing character.
Big Dumb Sex: I should not have enjoyed this as much as I did. I was properly scandalized to say the least.
Fuck trouble. I wasn't asking for it.
I was inviting it.
Butterfly Caught: Red Fox! This was such a fantastic book and things were still so new and fresh between him and Perry. They're practically still strangers. Max is back on the scene and we hear of a Dex Foray special.
Seriously people, I could not put this down. I wanted to know more about Dex, needed it. To know what the hell he is thinking. He's so complex.
... At the same time, I wanted to draw her out and make her strong, like a diamond from coal.
Digging the Grave: During Dead Sky Morning... So much was happening in that book. My heart was breaking to read his inner thoughts. Just one of many times that it would happen in this novella.
When Good Dogs Do Bad Things: It was really hard not to jump to this chapter when I first got my hands on this ARC.
Then I threw caution to the wind and did the thing I'd been dreaming about doing.
You now what scene I'm talking about. Karina brings out a whole new definition to the term Slip N' Slide and I couldn't appreciate her pervy mind more if I tried. I make no apologies people. I like getting to know the dirty side of Dex. Every side of Dex is worth knowing.
It was a mistake, even if it was the most unregrettable mistake of my life.
She Loves Me Not fast forwards to Lying Season. This was a very poignant moment in discovering the depth of Dex Foray. I can't even quote what I want to from this because it's so profound, so telling, and so heartbreaking.
Mr. Self Destruct: In all of the EIT books, this was the most difficult part to read. My emotions change like a reflection upon a fun house mirror.
Bailout: This is an amazing insight into the future of Experiment in Terror in this glimpse from Into the Hollow. This series has already taken us through many highs and lows, taken us to the darkest corners of Karina's imagination and the progression of the series looks just as emotionally gripping.
Karina also provides a soundtrack for the The Dex-Files with her use of song titles for most of the files. Just one more reason for me to love this series. “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Berthold Auerbach
Overall, this series is one of my favorites and calls to me on many levels. Possibly defined as a newer genre or category called new adult, it's generational yet timeless all the same as we see the characters encounter personal demons.
Enter below for a chance to win an autographed book from the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle! This Giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Also included is a wallet I embellished with a Twinkie. ;)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For more about Karina Halle, please check out these links:
My reviews and tags related to Karina Halle and the EIT series:
~ Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror #1)
(Free: Nook, Kindle & Smashwords)
~ Red Fox (Experiment In Terror #2)
~ The Benson (Experiment in Terror #2.5)
(Free on Smashwords)
~ Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror #3)
~ Lying Season (Experiment in Terror #4)
~ On Demon Wings (Experiment in Terror #5)
~ Old Blood (Experiment in Terror #5.5)
~ My interview with Karina Halle
Check back Saturday, August 4th for my interview with Maximus! ;)
Oh dear Pervy Dex! Love your review!! ahhh and the Twinkie Wallet .... Soooo NEED that :)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I had fun with the twinkie wallet. I need to make myself one. :)
DeleteGreat job with the tour and nice giveaway. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Can't wait for your teaser post!
DeleteLove the first quote. I'm a sucker for arrogant bad boys ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! <3
He's got it in SPADES Cat! He's very... persuasive and confident. I think you'd like him!
DeleteOh I do LOVE me some DEX...but I always love your reviews. Keep them coming please.
ReplyDeleteThanks Fran! :D
DeleteOh I do LOVE me some DEX...but I always love your reviews. Keep them coming please.
ReplyDeleteohhhhh must win this lol thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHeehee! Good luck!
DeleteAwesome giveaway, Emmy! I scanned your review 'cuz I don't want to ruin it! Can't wait to see Dex's side of things! :D
ReplyDeleteUnderstood. You'll be at the Dex-Files soon enough. You're flying through these! Glad you love them!!! :D
DeleteThanks for the awesome review and the giveaway!! Is it wrong that I love the bloggers participating in the blog tour for teasing us with glimpses and tidbits of The Dex Files and hating them at the same time for getting to read it before me? Love you blog and I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I TOTALLY get that! You'll have it soon enough! And you're going to love it. ;)
DeleteThanks for the follow!
I got an ARC copy from the EIT FB page and I absolutely loved it. It was my favorite book in the series. I could live in Dex's perverted mind. He is such an awesome character. I suggest everyone read the entire series and get this book.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more!
DeleteGreat review Emmy. You atleast gave this justice. Mr. Self Destruct was so painful.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW. Oh gawd, I was ecstatic then plunged into ice cold. Oy, so many emotions.
DeleteI loved your review! Fanigirling Pervy Dex is rad!
Yep, Pervy or not Dex is great. I like him so much that I thing something may be wrong with me.Or else why would I like an almost mad person?
DeleteLOL! Then a lot of us are "wrong" in the head. Nope, nada. I'm sane. :D
DeleteThis is a fantastic giveaway! I like that the series touches on different elements, hence the highs and lows.
ReplyDeleteMany, many highs and lows.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
i want that twinky wallet so bad...
ReplyDelete:D Good luck!
DeleteFinally finished my review, so I could look at yours. :-) <3 the wallet!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I love the wallet too!
DeleteWhat a great series and giveaway!!! Thanks! I hope I win! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Good luck!
DeleteThanks for the giveaway! It sounds like a book that will help keep me awake!!
ReplyDeleteThat it will, that it will. Very good.
DeleteI can not wait to get my hands on this book! All the teasers are making me ache for more Dex!!
ReplyDeleteYou will LOVE it!
DeleteDex and Perry!!!
ReplyDelete4 life! :)
DeleteThe Dex Files sounds great and I'm very happy to enter for a signed book in the EIT series. Not absolutely sure about the wallet. Cute, but not my personal style. I've got lots of friends though. Maybe someone will have an early Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Good luck anyway!
DeleteGreat review! I couldn't put it down either. I completely agree, I also needed to know Dex from all angles and have a whole new perspective on him.
ReplyDeleteWe learn so much! He has so many layers and it was great to see them revealed.
Delete