I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix Published by Quirk Books on September 18 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Grady Hendrix’s latest hums with frenetic energy, a dark and dangerous, pulse-pounding love letter to the power of music.
A girl with a guitar never has to apologize for anything.
I became a Grady Hendrix fan after reading Horrorstör several years ago, and I enjoyed My Best Friend’s Exorcism (although not quite as much), but I can honestly say that We Sold Our Souls is his best book yet. Hendrix has grown by leaps and bounds as a writer, in my humble opinion, and I was stunned by how good this was in every single way. Word of warning, this story is dark. A lot of bad stuff happens, and it happens to good characters, but there’s also a lot of good in this story. We Sold Our Souls is a heavy metal take on the Faust legend, and just like it says in the title, one of the characters sells his soul in order to become a music legend—except there’s a twist, a big twist.
Kris Pulaski is a washed-up forty-seven year old, with a dead-end job working for Best Western, but she used to be part of a heavy metal band called Dürt Würk, until her best friend and bandmate Terry Hunt stole her music and sold out Terry and the rest of the band for fame and fortune with a new band called Koffin. Terry pressures Kris into signing a contract that gives her a big payout, but she must agree to give up rights to her original songs and never perform again. Devastated by Terry’s betrayal, Kris packs her beloved Gibson Melody Maker away in a closet and resigns herself to a life devoid of her one true love, music. It’s been years since Terry has been on her radar, but all that changes one day with the announcement of an epic music event dubbed Hellstock ‘19, a heavy metal festival with none other than Koffin as the headliner. All the rage she’s suppressed over the years bubbles to the surface, and Kris knows this is her chance to finally confront him.
But first, she must round up the other members of her old band, although that’s going to be tough since no one really likes Kris after the events of “contract night” when Terry sold them out. As Kris makes her inevitable way toward Terry and her final chance at redemption, fate will do everything it can to stop her.
I loved the way this story is constructed. Hendrix intersperses the present story of Kris’s long and tortuous journey to Hellstock ‘19 with snippets of Kris’s past, how she became a musician, met Terry and started Dürt Würk, and the major events that led up to the night when everything fell apart. There’s a lot of information that we don’t know in the beginning—what exactly happened that horrible night and why Kris is living a life of near-poverty—but Hendrix drops hints bit by bit until the full horror of what’s going on is revealed.
There’s also a side character named Melanie who is desperately trying to get out of her going-nowhere-life in a small West Virginian town. Melanie is a huge fan of Koffin and especially of Terry Hunt, and when she hears about Hellstock ‘19 she’s determined to get there no matter what, even if she has to leave her good-for-nothing boyfriend behind. Melanie is young and naive and makes some terrible choices in this story, but I adored her plucky attitude and her positive outlook on life, even when events take a nasty turn in Vegas. At first I couldn’t figure out what her purpose was in the story, but eventually things start to come together when Melanie and Kris meet on the road and help each other on their journey.
Kris bears the brunt of the pain in this story, however, from the moment she decides to track down Scottie, Tuck and Bill—her former Dürt Würk bandmates—and make the trek to the desert to find Terry. This story turns batshit crazy, and there were several scenes that were actually tough to read. Terry knows Kris is coming and he’s got his own private posse who will go to any lengths to stop her, including some assassins dressed up as UPS employees. I used to love seeing the UPS truck stop outside my house, because it usually meant there was book mail on the way, but I’m telling you, after reading this book I’m going to think twice before I open my door!
And pulsing through every page is the music. I absolutely loved the descriptions of Kris picking up a guitar for the first time, the pain of the strings cutting into her fingers, the sound of a chord when it’s played exactly right. And you don’t have to be a metalhead to love this book. Hendrix’s descriptions could work for any musical genre (and there is an awesome chapter that made me fall in love with Dolly Parton!) Part of the story revolves around Dürt Würk’s lost album Troglodyte. Hendrix has created a mythology around an entity known as Black Iron Mountain that lives in a hole in the center of the world (the devil), and the songs on the album explain that mythology in an epic burst of metal. I loved the way that Kris resurrects Troglodyte in her head as she’s trying to (literally) stay alive, and if you’ve ever had a time in your life where music may have actually saved you (I mean, haven’t we all?), then you’ll probably get goosebumps just like I did.
The final showdown is suitably larger-than-life—I expected nothing less from this author—but I loved the way he ended his story on an emotional note. In fact, I can’t say I’ve ever read a more perfect ending. If you’re already a fan of Grady Hendrix, then reading this book is a no-brainer. And if I’ve tempted you Hendrix virgins to give this author a chance, then you are in for a treat.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Excellent review, Tammy! I’m never looking at UPS the same way either!
Right?? Luckily most of my packages come when I’m not home:-)
Sign here.
AAAAGGGGHHHH! Stop, I’m trying to forget that part!
Brilliant review and I’m so glad you loved it. I just placed a hold for the library copy. I was going to buy it for my Kindle but I saw yesterday my library had a copy in processing so I figured I could save some money and be thrifty. I still need to read Horrorstor and yes, My Best Friends Exorcism was pretty good – but the dog!
Oh I had forgotten about the dog…No animals are harmed in this book! I actually read a Kindle version but when I really love a book I buy a physical copy. It’s totally worth buying this because it’s such a gorgeous book. It has sprayed black edges and it’s just all over beautiful. $15 on Amazon, totally worth it!
I am so excited to read this one! It’s up really soon for me.
Oh good, I’ll look forward to your review!
Oh heck yea, this sounds AWESOME. Great review!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious recently posted…Priest of Bones (War for the Rose Throne #1) by Peter McLean
It was, Kaleena! I hope you get the chance to read it sometime:-)
For some reason, heavy metal and horror seem to me like perfect companions, so this might turn out to be a great book – and there’s the theme of gathering back the old band, through many difficulties, that quite resonates with me and makes me want to read this story…
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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This “gathering the old band” doesn’t quite go the way you might think, but I do love the idea of revisiting the past and all the emotions that come to the surface.
Sounds intriguing, glad you enjoyed this one so much!
I did, it just worked for me:-)
I honestly couldn’t tell if this would work for me when I first heard of this book, but this sure does make me want to give it a shot. Wonderful review, Tammy! 😀
Thanks Lashaan, it’s hard to say who this will work for, it’s very violent and disturbing in places, but the theme of music is what made it so good, at least for me:-)
I thought this review be lovely but the book does not sound like it would float me boat at all. I am also one of the few people who couldn’t finish Kings of the Wyld despite several attempts. I appreciate the effort but get bored. What can I say? I be odd.
x The Captain
Hey, this definitely isn’t for everyone:-)
This sounds wild! And I’m right there with you. I think I’d be side eyeing my UPS driver after reading this as well, lol.
The UPS scenes are so creepy and disturbing, I may need counseling, lol!
I can’t wait to read this! Everywhere I’ve looked, people are loving this book, saying it’s their favorite thing they’ve read by him so far. I wasn’t as fond of his last book, so I have high hopes for this one.
I liked the last one but this was so much better.
This looks like a good book and thanks for your review of it. Storyline sounds interesting.
It was interesting! Thanks for visiting:-)
I so NEED this book, Tammy, but I need to ask…. how much horror is there exactly? Bc I it’s entirely not fair that something that sounds this good, is horror.
Well, I realize I didn’t really talk about the supernatural aspects, and there are some “deal with the devil” scenes that are pretty creepy. But most of the horror for me was the horror of what humans are capable of, but still a fantastic story if you can deal with that kind of thing.
I don’t think this would have appealed to me tbh but your review has me sold.
Lynn 😀
It’s hard core horror, but less of the supernatural kind and more of the “humans suck” kind. So if that works for you, definitely read it!
I loved Horrorstor, but havent read anything else by Hendrix yet for some reason. This sounds like a good one to go with
It’s sooo good! In a violent, wtf just happened way:-)
I have this book on my TBR but after reading you’re review I’m so excited to read it! Think I might keep it for later in October for Halloween vibes!
This would be perfect for October! I hope you enjoy it:-)
I haven’t read a Grady Hendrix book before but I think I need to pick this up. Like, right now. 😀 Music was such a huge part of my family and I love, LOVE books that weave it into their stories. And the “batshit crazy” bit just makes me even more excited!!
Yes, definitely try this! If you want to check out Hendrix, this is my favorite.
Excellent review! I am so glad you loved this one, though I think I remember us talking about it once before—what a fun and suspenseful read! I felt like I was constantly on the edge of my seat because I was rooting so hard for Kris. Also, seconding what you said about thinking twice when you see UPS now, haha!
Kris really went through hell, literally. I was cringing the entire time, I just wanted her to be OK!
Yay! I’m glad you loved it. I love Hendrix. I still haven’t read Horrorstör!
Horrorstor is a lot of fun, definitely not as serious as We Sold Our Souls.
I just ordered a copy of this book because of your awesome review! Back in the 90s, I was a radio DJ with a late night heavy metal show, and I used to interview so many bands. (Probably my favorite interview was with Pete Steele from Type O Negative, but I can’t repeat anything he said, because it’s definitely not safe for work.) Can’t wait to read this book!
Wow, thanks Laurence! I also bought myself a copy because I read a digital galley and just had to have a copy on my shelf. And it’s a gorgeous book with black sprayed edges! So cool that you were a DJ