In the 1990s, heavy metal band Dürt Würk was poised for breakout success — but then lead singer Terry Hunt embarked on a solo career and rocketed to stardom as Koffin, leaving his fellow bandmates to rot in rural Pennsylvania.
Two decades later, former guitarist Kris Pulaski works as the night manager of a Best Western – she’s tired, broke, and unhappy. Everything changes when she discovers a shocking secret from her heavy metal past: Turns out that Terry’s meteoric rise to success may have come at the price of Kris’s very soul.
This revelation prompts Kris to hit the road, reunite with the rest of her bandmates, and confront the man who ruined her life. It’s a journey that will take her from the Pennsylvania rust belt to a Satanic rehab center and finally to a Las Vegas music festival that’s darker than any Mordor Tolkien could imagine. A furious power ballad about never giving up, even in the face of overwhelming odds, We Sold Our Souls is an epic journey into the heart of a conspiracy-crazed, paranoid country that seems to have lost its very soul…where only a girl with a guitar can save us all.
Source | Format | Pages | Publisher | Genre | Publication Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NetGalley | eARC | 336 | Quirk Books | Horror | September 18th, 2018 |
*I received a copy of We Sold Our Souls through Netgalley and below are my honest thoughts. I have also included a few quotes from the eARC- I couldn’t help myself- so, please note, the quotes are subject to change in the published version.*
We Sold Our Souls in a word? Epic! In three words? Epic, epic, epic! I mean- it’s about heavy metal- how can it not be epic, right? Am I saying ‘epic’ too much? 😀
Anywhoo, what a satanic ride this one was… I mean, not only was the plot utterly devilish and filled with dark, sinister agendas and death and gore and other horror-y stuff, I also- seriously- laughed at some scenes… Like the piss-scene in a Best Western lobby. It was disgusting and horrible but I laughed. So hard. Sue me.
The book starts off by filling the reader the detail of the background, of the beginning of it all slowly, but surely… and epically, naturlich! We get to know the beginnings of Dürt Würk and the members of the band. Ambitious group of young ones with individuality in spades, wanting to take over the world with heavy metal one location, one club at a time.
They didn’t agree on anything except the most important thing: heavy metal was their religion. It tore the happy face off the world. It told the truth. It kicked down doors.
But it’s tough going for them… and just as Dürt Würk are certain they’re going to have a breakthrough, everything flops, like a limp, wet sock. Not only did Terry break up the band but he went and started his own- Koffin- and it’s freaking nu metal! Sacrilege of the highest order!
Now, 20 years later, most Dürt Würk members have settled in to their lovely suburban mansions with a partner and kids. But not Kris. She’s just a Best Western worker and, rightly so, bitter. The light of her life- music- has been taken from her.
Nothing stays hidden behind closed doors, though, especially in a horror novel. Behind the doors- this is where the monster is! Or escape… You know how it goes- they always open the door and go looking for trouble! Kris can no longer sit back and as Terry, who left all of the Dürt Würk members coughing up the dust as he took off towards his stardom, makes his comeback on stage, Kris knows that it’s time to dig up the bones of the past.
Thus begins the incredible unravelling of the plot as Kris insists on going head first into that one night 20 years ago that changed everything. What ensues is truly quite difficult to describe. It’s fast-paced, hard-core and totally gripping. But it’s also covered in conspiracy, madness and death. And betrayal and escapes. But, tap into metal, and you can do anything…
Metal never dies. Metal never retreats. Metal never surrenders.
And then… We Sold Our Souls is about more than just revenge by ex-band mates. It’s an example of a heavy metal way of life, it’s a case study of the value of music and a piss-take on the mainstream auto-tuned radio waves. It’s a shout out to calloused fingers and aching necks and certain kind of passion… No excuses made for what matters most in this book…
Have you noticed how soulless this world has become? How empty and prefabricated? Soulless lives are hollow. We fill the earth with soulless cities, pollute ourselves with soulless albums.
… and it’s made good with that added bit of craziness… Kris is a helluva woman. She’s heavy metal down to her very core and her stamina and willpower alone are the driving force of this novel. She finds herself in situations that would break a person mentally in half, but Kris? She’s no quitter and she will see things through to the very bitter end against the most powerful evil. To the bitter end, I said… well, that is actually open for debate… 😉
We Sold Our Souls is a novel of strong beginnings, unbelievable realities, claustrophobic crescendos, gruesome deaths and unimaginable prophecies looking for heroes… Oh! And the chapters are named after the best albums- Bathory, Manowar, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth and so on… ! Thoroughly enjoyable, much recommended!
While music is very low key with me at the moment, my favorite music genre is: surprise, Metal! Hence I have to say that I quite like the premise of this, and the naming of the chapters is seriously funny too!. Great revieuw…Rock on! 🤘😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
ahh, yeah, mate… metal foreva! 😀 \m/
This book truly captured the essence of the metal scene, down to the very detail of heavy/death/black metal folks saying that nu metal isn’t tr00 enough 😀 haha, well not in those words, but close enough 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like my kind of funny. I haven’t read a ‘fun’ book for a while, and I’ve been on the look out for something to cleanse the pallet. I think this will do nicely! As always, an excellent review there my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers, m’dear! 🙂
It’s a quite a fast paced ride alright! and not just a simple -ooh, some horrible things happen- kind of story but with good bit of character substance and insight into the passion for music, too… 🙂 Hope you enjoy it 🙂 even the gory bits…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved Horrorstor! Sounds like I should read this one too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, do read it 🙂
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I will definitely explore more of his works now… I recall MY Best Friend’s Exorcism made waves last year in the blogosphere and it sounded a pretty fun read- have you read that one yourself?
LikeLike
OMG a heavy metal book? That sounds like heaven! Wonderful review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right? It’s like the best ever- heavy metal, a bit of horror, and great fun! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whew, this book sounds rather intense! The mention of a piss-scene in this review made me laugh too, but the rest of it seems quite dark and gritty. I really like the sound of the synopsis (yikes, that’s dark) and the protagonist seems very resilient! This typically isn’t my cup of tea, but I’m actually really intrigued to check out where this madness leads to. 😂 Terrific review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha, thank you! I do wonder what you’d make of the book, especially as this isn’t your typical read but… it’s really entertaining.. and if you can deal with a few gory scenes, then I’d defo recommend 😀
LikeLike
“Not only did Terry break up the band but he went and started his own- Koffin- and it’s freaking nu metal! Sacrilege of the highest order!” I laughed at that!😂 I mean, I like heavy metal and nu-metal but damn, that got me!😱😂😜
Great review and the book sounds fantastic. I’ve had my eye on it for a while. As in, I saw the cover and thought it looked awesome so I’m glad to see it’s a great read.👍🤘
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha, I’m quite a fan of nu metal myself- they actually don’t at all like Slipknot in the book and it entertained me so much 😀
Thank you, Drew! I hope you get to read it some day soon and I shall look forward to your thoughts 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guess what just moved up my reading list based on your review?
This sounds epic…. epic…. epic…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
ahhh *clutches chest* – this is such a compliment! I thank you and I truly hope you enjoy the book! 🙂
LikeLike
That band name is priceless! Ha ha. This sounds like a fun read. I am jubilant that the MC is a female guitarist! I just requested this on Netgalley. I hope I get it and like it because I can promo it in the women’s gear group on Facebook. They’ll eat that storyline up. \m/ *Android still has no horns emoji, geesh. Thank for sharing your review! 👍✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
The band nname is totally priceless, and where the name came from is rather cool, too! 😀
Yes- I was actually thinking of you whenever the female guitarist aspect was highlighted in the book in certain scenes… there is a saying the book that goes something like- ‘a girl with a guitar has nothing to apologize for’ and I really liked it and thought you’d like it, too! 🙂
I have fingers crossed that you get the book! \m/ *totally insane that android doesn’t have horn emoji*
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ace!!!
LikeLike
This ARC makes me so happy! I just finished reading an ARC about something similar– only with Classical music. It’s like we found our soulmate books on NetGalley! XD I’m glad that you loved We Sold Our Souls so much. I’ve definitely added this to my TBR. You convinced me! 🙂
LikeLike
Not a crazy huge fan of metal, and definitely not a fan of screamo, but there are some songs/bands who does it just right for me to appreciate them! I actually have this book but I have been hesitant about if it would ever be something I’d enjoy hahah It does sound like it might have just the right amount of crazy fun though! Great review, Liz! 😀
LikeLike
Grady Hendrix is easily my favorite modern author and how could I pass up a book on metal?🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
LikeLike