Old Blood
(Experiment in Terror #5.5)
By Karina Halle
5 of 5 STARS
A haunting novella from the Experiment in Terror Series...
From her harrowing introduction in Darkhouse, the spectre known as “Creepy Clown Lady” has been a constant fixture in Perry Palomino’s life. But beyond the horrid makeup and piercing stare lies Pippa, a woman just like everyone else.
Well, not quite.
When Perry discovered Pippa’s message to her and Dex on the EVP recordings, she thought she heard the last of the old woman’s message. She was wrong. In the novella Old Blood, Pippa relays the tale of her troubled and tortured past, revealing how an aspiring actress and loving mother fell into madness and how an unfathomable betrayal led to her untimely death.
For Perry, the repercussions of her message are life-shattering.
Old Blood is #5.5 in the series and occurs between books #5 On Demon Wings and #6 Into the Hollow
Once again Karina Halle has whisked me away with her colorful descriptions to a different time and place as the story of Pippa unravels.
This was an amazing novella that is a must read in my opinion for anyone who has read the Experiment in Terror series books 1-5. Pippa has had a long and strenuous existence. For this being only a novella, although a lengthy one (Thanks Karina!), so much is explained and in such a wonderful format. I love that Pippa's story was a message to Dex and Perry. Her story is not a happy one but one filled with lots of emotions. Hope, lust, jealousy, heartbreak, love, regret, betrayal, sympathy. To start out on her journey with such hope and exhilaration, to the lonely and desolate ending it became. I was enraptured with this novella from start to finish.
I can't fault Pippa any choices she made in life. We all choose our own path and sometimes make wrong turns along the way. Yes, there are repercussions for those bad decisions, but she persevered and marched right on.
It was really sad to read about her relationship with her daughter Ingrid. I already didn't like how Ingrid treats Perry, but to now know the background information on how she treated her mother is just too cruel. OK, this is Emmy uncensored. What a selfish bitch!
To hear those words coming out of my daughter’s mouth hurt me more than anything in the world. She said them with such venom, such hatred. I wondered what I ever did wrong, why I deserved to be treated like this by someone whom I did nothing but love.
Pippa's transformation from that young girl at the lakeside to creepy clown lady is a heartbreaking story. But we gain so much insight into her character, learning more about her connections with both Dex and Perry, and how she will protect those she loves to the very end.... And beyond.
I love the glimpse we get into Dex's childhood. He had it rough. Seriously messed up and thank Odin Pippa was there to help him out. His mom was nucking futz I tell ya. But it was great to see that even as a young boy, he approached strangers with the ease and confidence he has as an adult. One of his many endearing qualities. :)
Side note: This novella contains the first chapter of book 6, Into the Hollow and HOLY CRAP!!! I CANNOT WAIT! With the crazy end of On Demon Wings, this is promising to be a wild ride ahead of us!
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Thank you for the awesome review! I am glad you saw Pippa's choices as not just "bad" but as realistic and necessary (to her) :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It was another stellar addition to the Experiment in Terror series! Though my rave reviews should come as no surprise, I'm a Poliminion for life! ;) But I'm always honest.
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