And With Madness Comes the Light

Experiment in Terror #6.5

by Karina Halle

The Man. The Mystery. The Madness.

Dex Foray has never been anyone’s fool – until he missed his chance for happiness with Perry Palomino. Broken and alone, Dex has no choice but to rise from the ashes Perry left behind and find his own path to redemption. But nothing in Dex’s life has ever come easily, especially when there’s a dark madness waiting in the wings.

Told from Dex’s POV, And With Madness Comes the Light is short story/novella that spans the time period from the end of Lying Season (Book #4) until the end of On Demon Wings (Book #5). If you were ever wondering what really happened to Dex while Perry was gone - his journey to Dex 2.0 - now is your chance.

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Romance, Ghosts, New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Novella

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2013

About the author

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of River of Shadows, The Royals Next Door, and Black Sunshine, as well as 70 other wild and romantic reads, ranging from light & sexy rom coms to horror/paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever genre you're into, she's probably written a romance for it.

When she's not traveling, she and her husband split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, their sailboat the Norfinn, and their condo in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com

Reviews

[Georgia ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★GALAXY★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cracking the Foray code...



"I'm just a girl, standing in front of Dex, basking in ALL his glory." - Georgia

And With Madness Comes the Light is Dex' side of the story...



We all wondered what happened to our beloved Dex, after the catastrophic events in the end of Lying Season. How he survived, picked up the pieces and why in seven hells, he didn't show up sooner.

There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I’d been waiting for you. Finish me off. Please.



To properly understand the sheer amount of feelings we go through, a little reminder of what we dealt with in Lying Season and On Demon Wings.









This book sooths you and enrages you, throws you deeper in love with the freaking amazing bastard and you can't help but root for him and grovel with him, as he is destroyed and left to pick up his soul piece by piece.

I wasn’t Dex Foray. I was just this emotion that was crumbling to the floor, holding onto the doorway like it was the last thread of my humanity.

The stubborn fool, opens his eyes to realise that he lost the one thing that mattered to him, the light in his existence... Perry.

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

Love comes unexpectedly and when you lose it, you fight heaven and hell (literally) for it. And you may end up an unlike superhero. A white (in Dex' case more like grey) knight, that saves the damsel after condemning her..

Once again this novella from Dex' POV, proves how much awesome Karina Halle is. The alpha mentality, Dex' sarcastic and fucked up way of viewing himself, people and situations, flows naturally in this book. You live in his head and you hear his voice.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RESIST HIM???

My new favourite author Karina Halle, conspires with his Majesty Declan "Dex" O'Shea Foray to create a wild ride of emotions...

*STOP LIVING YOUR LIVES UNAWARE!! READ THE EXPERIMENT IN TERROR SERIES, NOW*

bonus quote:

“You’re my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. “It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.”



This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...

[Karina Halle]

I'm getting worse at reviewing my own books. Which, you know, makes sense. So let's just say I had a blast being in Dex's head again (thought it was heart-wrenching at times) and I'm super stoked I made some people cry *cough* Megan Simpson. Lol.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Hope your date with Dex goes wonderfully!

[Kristalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey continues with my wonderful Vilda :))) (oh look at that sexy chest ♥_♥)

Final rating: 5/5 stars

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE A PROPER REVIEW FOR THIS ONE! I JUST CAN'T DO IT PROPERLY *SOBS*

THIS SERIES IS KILLING ME!! LIKE...SERIOUSLY.. KILLING ME!!!!!

Every single book told from Dex's pov is freaking DEVASTATING!!!!!!! It's like a nuclear catastrophe of emotions!!! like Armageddon of feelings!!!! Like... who the hell cares, you get what i mean. It was as amazing as every other Karina Halle's books, utterly devastating and awesome and fantastic.

In this novella, we find out what happened to Dex between fourth and fifth book. This time... we see two sides of him: the depressed side and the new person he tries to become.

Every time i find out more about Dex, my heart breaks a little. After the events of the "Lying Season", Dex broke into pieces. He became depressive, felt discarded... and he felt alone.

There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I’d been waiting for you. Finish me off. Please.

Dex officially ripped my heart out - utterly and completely - near the end. Don't click if you haven't read it!



The baby scene *sobs uncontrollably*

I smiled though she couldn't see it and placed my lips on her stomach. "I would have loved the baby too, more than you'll ever know."'

But...

I fell in love with Perry. I was in love with Perry.

Dex realises that if he wanted to have Perry back, he should try to become a better person... for her. And for someone like Dex, change doesn't come easy. He has to face his demons, his faults, his mistakes... his past.

And with madness comes the light.
Within your light, I lose the madness.

Well done Karina Halle, well done! Oh, you amazing woman, you :)


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● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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MY EXPERIMENT IN TERROR REVIEWS:

◉ Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror, #1)
◉ Red Fox (Experiment in Terror, #2)
◉ The Benson (Experiment in Terror, #2.5)
◉ 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)
◉ The Dex-Files (Experiment in Terror, #5.7)
◉ Into the Hollow (Experiment in Terror, #6)
◉ And With Madness Comes the Light (Experiment in Terror, #6.5)
◉ Come Alive (Experiment in Terror, #7)
◉ Ashes to Ashes (Experiment in Terror, #8)
◉ Dust to Dust (Experiment in Terror, #9)

This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfection as always. Karina Halle - you are the best!

Giveaway on my blog Reading Is My Breathing

"There’s nothing more frightening than the dawn that seems darker than the night. When you wait for hours for that first glimpse of daylight, the constant reminder that our planet is turning and life does go on, and you get only darkness instead. Maybe the sun is out there, somewhere, and maybe the world keeps rolling on, but fuck if I knew it. All I could see was this darkness, this black oblivion that sucked me dry until I was nothing but a husk of my former self. There was no light in all this madness. My tattoo was a lie."

After reading first paragraph of this novella, it was clear that this story will be depressive. Dex was lonely, sad, self-pittying himself, without any aim in his life. Those who read Lying Season know that Dex messed up and he messed up big. He hurt and lost love of his life and now he has to face all painful consequences.

"Because even after all of this, I still loved her. Love and hate were two sides of the same coin, and my coin was destined to land with love facing up. And the minute I made peace with those odds was the minute I’d start winning."

But no matter how desperate Dex was, his snarkines never left him. I loved Dex before, but now, after reading And With Madness Comes The Light, I will never have enough of him. Love is powerful emotion an this novella perfectly shows how true love can change person for better. Add flawless writing and this books is pure perfection!

After everything that happend in previous books, and after everything that Dex and Perry had to go through, I feel strongly connected to them. I love them both, I am supportive of them and they are my all time favourite couple. So obviously, last chapter made me extremely emotional and I hope from bottom of my heart that Dex and Perry will get their HEA one day.

All Experiment in Terros fans - you are here for a treat. And With Madness Comes The Light is a must read!

Moreover, add to your vocabulary following insults:
* Metro von Dickfucker (for him)
* Twatwaffling she-devil (for her)

MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. “It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.”

Oh Dex ...



I don't think I can love you any more than I already do .. But then you go ahead and say things like these , and not only does my heart palpitate to unimaginable heights but it also results in ... umm ..





True story ...

It really does .

Alright , before I get started with this review , let me rewind or back track to 14th February , fucking Valentine's day , which had me waking up early , not because I needed to spend some precious love time with ... with .. my .. ahem .. Crush , but because I needed to see - no , I was literally praying that Karina might have released this early - and that I could get started with it right away ! What ? Ah , spending Valentine's day with Dex Foray , now that could have been a rocking start to fanfuckingtastic day !! I mean what else could be important !!!! But no , such wasn't the reality .



So , I found myself hanging out in The Thin Veil instead .. you know going around talking to my crazy ass girlfriends and fellow-Dex-lovers-and-Karina-Halle-fanatics . Turns out , they were hoping for an early release too . But then 3 witches angels show up at the Thin Veil , * cough Bree , Meg and Kayla * prancing around like fucking godfairies , telling us that they all have an ARC and are currently reading it .. Imagine our shocked faces !!! No don't , we weren't that shocked , we were just ...



okay we were kinda shocked ..

But on the outside we were all like ..



On the inside , that could be a total different story ..



Anyway , so , yeah , here we are waiting , running around crazy with anticipation , checking Amazon like a crazy stalker who has nothing better to do



And then its finally here ...



And when I finally did manage to read it and be done with it ... It felt sooo fuckin good !!!!



Karina Halle ...



Now you must be wondering . ' Why in the big ass world is she telling us all this ? ' Honestly , I have no idea . I guess I just wanna talk ... or blabber .... or something .

Alright then , review time !!!

And With Madness Comes The Light is Dex's story after Lying Season .If you thought that Dex was swimming in a pool of sunshine and rainbows ,while Perry was battling her demons , then you might have another thing coming at ya !!!!!



Dex was suffering in silence (okay maybe not silently - but he was suffering alright !) ... Drinking away his pain , letting his guilt , eat him inside out . But that didn't let his snarky side die ..

“Great idea,” I yelled back. “They can spray you both down for your crotch rot while they’re at it . "

*laughs* Don't you just love this man ??? I Do !!! ;)

Anyway , so yeah , Dex is broken . But he mans up .. He sets up on a mission , to be a better man for the woman who had become his world . And boy he mans up good !!! Beyond this , I think you should pick up this book , hell , pick up this series if you haven't read it yet , and read it !!!

When I was done with it , I just couldn't stop my tears from flowing ..



Just let me ... okay ... just .. leave me alone .....

Karina Halle , you do us good babe ! I don't even know where to begin ..





WE LOVE YOU !! THAT IS ALL ...

ROCK ON !!!!

[Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more reviews like this at Reading Books Like a Boss

I have been counting down the days until this book released. When Karina announced she was going to write another Dex novella as a "thank you" to the fans, I jumped for joy. More time in Dex's head is a beautiful thing. Apparently, the readers aren't the only ones who enjoy getting inside Dex's twisted mind. Karina loves hanging out up there so much that the next novel in the EIT series, "Come Alive," is going to be entirely in Dex's point of view. SQUEEEE!

Come Alive comes out in June 2013, which gives those of you who haven't read the Experiment in Terror series plenty of time to catch up. *wink wink, nudge nudge* Seriously, read it.

**Review contains spoilers**

"Sometimes you have to fall pretty fucking far before you can see the light."

This novella takes place after Lying Season and during On Demon Wings. The Dex Files gave you a little taste of Dex's state-of-mind after Lying Season's shocking ending, the ending that chewed me up and spit me out. However, you didn't get the full depressing, heartwrenching story in The Dex Files that you get in And With Madness. In this novella, you find out exactly how much pain Dex was experiencing after he broke Perry's heart. From the first paragraph, my heart broke for Dex. I wanted to crawl inside the fictional EIT world and comfort Dex (okay, maybe cop a feel, I'm human after all). Poor, poor Dex.

"I wasn’t Dex Foray. I was just this emotion that was crumbling to the floor, holding onto the doorway like it was the last thread of my humanity."
"I didn’t want to die but I didn’t want to live either. Living, breathing, existing from day to day only added to the weight on my heart."

My emotions were all over the place as I read this. One minute I was on the verge of tears and the next I found myself laughing at his twisted humor. Whether he was commenting on Fat Rabbit's judgmental stares or coming up with new, hilarious nicknames for Jenn's boy toy, I couldn't help but laugh.

“God, I’m fucked,” I said to the dog as he took a leak on the railing. He was judging my parenting skills again, I could tell. Well, let him. At the moment, he was eons more evolved than I was.

Surprisingly, Jenn was there to pick up the pieces the morning after "the event". She found Dex crying on the floor (*sniff, sniff* I KNOW!!) and took care of him. For a moment (a very brief moment), my heart softened towards her. I was proud that she tossed aside her terribleness and put on a mask of decency. Don't worry Jenn haters, she's goes back to bad ole Jenn in no time. Dex and Jenn's "talk" was much tamer than what I was expecting. There were no Chuck Norris roundhouse kicks to Jenn's face like I was hoping. No, no that came later when Dex laid the smackdown on the ginger. Okay so maybe there were no roundhouse kicks there either, the fight was satisfying.

And thank heavens for Dean and Rebecca. Rebecca quite literally knocked some sense into Dex. My man, Dean, had a little come to Jesus moment with Dex, and IT WAS WONDERFUL. I was happy someone had that talk with Dex. As I read that scene, I was cheering Dean on, but I still felt horrible for Dex.
The poor guy had no clue what he was doing when he asked Perry if she was in love with him.

One of my favorite things about this novella was seeing the transformation of Dex 1.0 into Dex 2.0. The close-lipped man of few words you see in the first few books is long gone. Now, he wears the bloody mess of heart on his sleeve, his emotions exposed and vulnerable. I'm loving this new Dex. I didn't think it was possible to love him more, but I do, I do.

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

When it comes to Perry Palomino, Dex is willing to do whatever it takes to win her back and win her heart. His love for her is raw, real, and beautiful. If you've read On Demon Wings, you'll know that Perry is not in this book until the very end. That moment, oh that moment, when Dex finds out "the secret" was gutwrenching. I don't want to give the ending away for those of you who haven't read it. Suffice it to say that the last two paragraphs are indescribably beautiful and touching.

"I wished I could have realized how I felt sooner. I wished I could have told her how I really felt, that she was more than a friend and a partner, that she was my everything. The only person who really understood—who really loved me for me. But if wishes were fishes, this whole place would really stink."

_________________________

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[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
Oh, Karina....what have you done to me?

***If you have not read through to Into The Hollow do not go further****



After the infamous 'bow-chicka-wow-wow" moment in Lying Season I didn't think my heart could hurt any worse than it already did....

...but I was SOOO wrong.

With 'And With Madness Comes The Light' we are getting Dex's side of the story. And it is pure agony.

"All I could see was this darkness, this black oblivion that sucked me dry until I was nothing but a husk of my former self. There was no light in all this madness. My tattoo was a lie."

I know for many of us we were wondering what the hell Dex was thinking after he took a wrecking ball to Perry's heart. Did I want Dex to suffer for that unspeakable action?

But our once passionate, strong, funny (well he's still funny) Dex was drowning in his own sorrow. I know I wanted him to grovel and suffer after he hurt our poor Perry, but I didn't realize how heartbreaking it could be.

“I fucked up. More than I have ever fucked up before. I had the love of my life in my hands for one beautiful, exquisite moment before I ripped her apart and my heart bore the paper cuts.”

His heartbreak and loneliness are what fuels his transformation from his drunk, unkempt, addicted-to-doritos self into the buff, sexy, suave charmer we all know Dex is. With the help of his friends Rebecca and Dean, Dex starts to change and mature all while biding his time for his love, Perry.

“Shit. Dean and I had gone from workout buddies to acting like a bunch of overanalysing pussies. Next thing you knew, we’d start having our periods at the same time.”

There is a notable appearance by his ex-girlfriend (THANK GOD!) the devil-in-disguise known as Jenn, who is moving out with her new bang-buddy Bradley.



And thankful while Dex is cloaked in darkness, well he still manages to put a smile on my face.

"Jenn," Bradley yelled from the living room, "maybe we should come back after we call the hazmat team." "Great idea," I yelled back. "They can spray you both down for your crotch rot while they're at it."

There are a couple close calls during Dex's romantic recovery. One notable example in the form a skank Dex encounters at a bar.

“Nailing someone in the bathroom of a grungy metal bar was a probably one of the grossest, dirtiest things you could do. But I felt like bathing in dirt after being so clean for the last month”

HELL NO! We like you clean Dex, well at least clean of STD'S. but Dex isn't the same man anymore. And finally Dex has the opportunity to prove what kind of man he has become. After a frantic call from Perry's sister Ada, Dex is on a mission to save Perry from the evil that is surrounding her.

"I didn't want to be that guy anymore, the one that hurt her. I wanted to be me. Perhaps the same me she had seen underneath all this time."

While Dex hatches a plan with Bird (from Red Fox) to exorcize the evil from Perry, he also didn't plan on his other obstacle standing in his way---Max. Yes that redheaded twattwaffle, douchecanoe has been taking liberties from a possessed Perry, and when this discretion come to light, well Dex sees red.

"Wildcat in the sack. He liked it rough.

Perry had scratched him during sex.

Perry had slept with Maximus.

He stuck his dick in her.

I was going to be sick.

I was going to cry.

Oh, wait. No, I was going to BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF HIM!"

Dex and Maximus finally come to blows. Dex was a crazed, violent, beast of a man....and I was totally turned on.....



After some family interference, Ada logic, and a quick getaway, Dex finally has Perry with him. After a stressful night driving, Dex, Ada and Perry make there way to Lapwai. After some exorcism preparation, Dex finally learns the truth of what really happened to Perry in his absence.

"She'd lost it. What was ours. What was love. What was life. There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I'd been waiting for you. Finish me off. Please."

If that moment does not leave you in miserable gut-wrenching sobs as it did me, well you must be the tin-man. So after some cray-cray exorcism business, Dex goes all romantic-self-sacrificing-amazeballs man we know who he is and he pulls Perry from the darkness for good.

"It all fades away when I'm with you. Everything fades until it's just you and it's just me. I'm Dex and you're Perry and I love you. I won't stop loving you, even when you won't love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end."

'And With Madness Comes The Light' is heartbreaking-ly beautiful. To finally get into Dex's head and heart is the greatest experience as a fan of the series. He is by no means perfect, but he is real and honest and passionate. What more could you want? If you want to spend a good hour or two crying, swooning, laughing and falling in love with Dex all over again, 'And With Madness Comes The Light' is a novella you HAVE to read. And to quote Dex just one more time:

"A world without Perry Palomino is just too fucking boring. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone."

Touche.

5 stars*

My Playlist:

Doves-Sea Song (During Dex's agony)

Florence + The Machine- Seven Devils (During Perry's possession/exorcism)

The Rolling Stones- She's A Rainbow (after Dex saves Perry)

Favorite Quotes:

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

***

"A movement at Perry's window caught my eye- the silhouette of he-who-shall-not-be-named-except-in-insults-I-found-fitting."

***

"Maximus-THAT-DOUCHEFUCKER

***

"...I said to the dog as he took a leak on the railing. He was judging my parenting skills again, I could tell. Well, let him. At the moment, he was eons more evolved than I was."

MORE REVIEWS @ www.mybookmuse.com

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because this series may be new to many of you, I am going to try to keep my review as spoiler free as possible! :) In And With Madness Comes the Light we are lucky enough to get another peak into the twisted mind of Dex Foray. The Dex Files (EIT # 5.7) is one of my favorites of this series, it’s when we got our first glimpse into Dex’s head, so I was BEYOND excited to dive into AWMCTL and get more of his POV.

Due to when this book takes place, there is a different feel from Dex. He is down in the dumps and isn’t in a great place.

“That was the ball-sucking thing about heartache. It didn’t follow logic or physics or any sort of rules. It wasn’t that you started off in absolute grief and then slowly got better. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, from hate to love and back again. Each day was different. It was a roll of the dice, a turn of the cards."

There is a lot of interaction between Dex and secondary characters, Rebecca and Dean in this one. Even through the heartache and depression, the trademark Dex humor, wit, and snark is still very present. The conversations been him and his friends were hysterical.

“Shit. Dean and I had gone from workout buddies to acting like a bunch of overanalysing pussies. Next thing you knew, we’d start having our periods at the same time.”

…

“Frankly, I don’t think I could hang out with you if you weren’t the vice type of guy.”
“Well then, you’ll be pleased to know that I’m still drinking and I’m still wanking to porn.”
“That’s my boy,” LOL! <3 Rebecca!


Also, a new more vulnerable, open, honest side of Dex is revealed (Hello, Dex 2.0!). I didn’t think it was possible to love this man any more than I already did, but this book proved that my Dex-love knows no bounds.

This book helped to fill in a lot of blanks and get a better, deeper understanding of Dex as a person. He once again had me laughing my ass off, clutching my chest in agony, doing happy dances, and finally sobbing like a baby.

I highlighted over 70 passages in this book, and let me remind you it was a NOVELLA, not a full-length novel. I think that right there speaks for itself. If you haven’t had a chance to check this series out, what are you waiting for?! The first one, Darkhouse is free on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They get better and better as you go and will continue to surprise you. Check them out and if you are updating on here, chances are I’m already stalking your updates! :)

LOVED IT! 5+ STARS

CHECK OUT THE FULL REVIEW & GVEAWAY GOING ON NOW at Reality Bites! Let's Get Lost!! at our stop on the tour.

LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!




Check out Reading Books Like a Boss for the full tour schedule and more details!

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dex's side of the story from when the sh*t hit the fan at the end of Lying Season to the end of On Demon Wings where ~maybe~ a little "light" started shining through.

So whether you're Pro-Dex or Anti-Dex, your heart can't help but soften a little as you read the utter pain that Dex went through. I do have to say that it was good reading about him being in as much pain as Perry. Some of the things we had gotten a hint of in the main books but it's something else to get the full out heart break. Nothing even remotely close to what Perry went through but still.



I enjoyed seeing him try to make his life somewhat livable especially through the help of his friends, mainly, Rebecca and Dean. I enjoyed the 'bromance' between Dean and Dex...it certainly made for some laughs. And I can appreciate that he was "good".

As much as I enjoyed seeing Dex changed for the better, I still love some of the things that come out of his mouth ~ or just the things he thinks! They really makes me laugh!




Favorite quotes:

♦ "It was colder than a nun's vagina outside."

♥ "She muttered, “Dex,” once in her sleep, then smiled to herself and drifted off again. I felt like I was on top of the f*cking world."


♥ “You’re my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. “It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.”

I felt myself choking on my tears a bit while I kissed her hand. I kissed her soft forehead. Then I peeled back the blanket and gently touched her middle, watching her serene face as sleep still held her so close.

I smiled though she couldn’t see it and placed my lips on her stomach. “I would have loved the baby too, more than you’ll ever know.”

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read more reviews like this at The Book Asylum.

And With Madness Comes the Light (AWMCL) is the perfect book to hold you over until Come Alive, the next book in the Experiment in Terror series, comes out in June. It is the answer to all your Dex Foray withdrawals, which I seem to have continuous bouts of. That's normal, right? Maybe that's because Dex Foray is my all time favorite book boyfriend, and when you read as much as I do, that's saying A LOT! Until I read AWMCL, I really didn't think it was possible to love Dex any more than I already did. But, much to my utter delight, Karina Halle wrote her ass off again, as usual, obviously, and I fell a little more in love with him.

If you've read the Experiment in Terror series you know all about Perry's dark days that began at the end of Lying Season. What you don't know, but have been dying to find out about, I'm sure, is how Dex handled the separation. Well, wonder no more because AWMCL answers all your questions and brings Dex's pain, heartbreak, and regret into perfect clarity. I won't lie to you, AWMCL is pretty heavy. Although Dex's signature sarcasm, wit, and dry humor are still present, there's also a metaphorical black cloud that hovers over him at all times. It's intense. When our two favorite ghost hunters are finally reunited, the stakes are, as you know, higher than ever. Glimpsing the situation from Dex's perspective was staggering. The emotion I felt during Lying Season the first time around was jarring enough, but a whole new level of depth was added when I read it from Dex's point of view. I was totally thrown and more than a little emotional. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Not sayin' I needed them. Not sayin' I didn't. I'm just sayin'... have them on standby.

Thanks again to Karina for writing an amazing novella to tide over her obsessive fans until Come Alive comes out. Oh, and did you know that Come Alive is written entirely from Dex's perspective too? Can this series get any better? I think not. Pick up AWMCL today and don't be ashamed of the love you feel for this fictional guy. It's hard not to love him.

"Perry was my light. I didn't know it at the time, but I know it now. And in her light, I lost the madness. It only came back when she left."

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥♥♥ 5 I LOVE YOU DEX STARS ♥♥♥

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"I wasn’t Dex Foray. I was just this emotion that was crumbling to the floor, holding onto the doorway like it was the last thread of my humanity."

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There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I’d been waiting for you. Finish me off. Please.

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I fucked up. More than I have ever fucked up before. I had the love of my life in my hands for one beautiful, exquisite moment before I ripped her apart and my heart bore the paper cuts.

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After Perry left Dex in his apartment. I had seriously wondered what was doing with Dex. I wanted to know what he was going through and why he never attempted to go after her. Well this novella answered those questions. And it was pretty painful. My heart literally ached for Dex. I couldn't believe the amount of pain he was in. In some moments, it seemed as though he was worse off than Perry was. He was drinking his pain away and had absolutely no clue what to do now that he lost everything.

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"I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously."

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I am SO, SO glad that Dex had a wonderful support system. Rebecca really helped him put himself back together. He underwent a transformation that took a lot of work, but one that was meant to make him a better man. For Perry. He freaking bulked up. As if he couldn't get any hotter. He seemed to mature quite a bit from the way he use to be. Or maybe it was that he was finally allowing himself to feel. I LOVED that!! I think he definitely deserved to be forgiven by Perry. I think they were both at fault and needed that second chance.

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"You’re my light in all this madness, Perry," I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. "It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end."

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This was a very emotional novella. But I LOVED every moment of it. I LOVED Dex!!! There were many moments of laughter so it wasn't all gloomy. I can't get enough of being Dex's head and hopefully future books will have more of his POV. I can't wait to read Come Alive next, which is completely in Dex POV. I MUST go read it NOW!!

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"And with madness comes the light."
"Within your light, I lose the madness."

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[JB · Rating 5 out of 5]

There Can Be Only One...Dex Foray

The famous tagline, "There can be only one", may have been written for the Highlander movies, but I think it perfectly describes Dex Foray. He is truly an original. Who else can shock, entice, and make us laugh the way he does? It's no coincidence he is at the top of nearly every EIT fan's book boyfriends list. Goodness knows he's at the top of mine! It's because with Dex, we know there will never be a dull moment. Good or bad, he always finds ways to surprise us. It's what makes him so fascinating and fun to read about. It's also the reason all other male characters stand in his shadow. Don't get me wrong, there are a ton of truly amazing male characters out there and I've ranted and raved about quite a few of them, but there is only one Dex.

In his second novella, And With Madness Comes The Light, we see Dex at his very lowest, starting right after the fateful events of book 4, Lying Season. He's a despairing wreck, neglecting himself, his apartment, his job, even Fat Rabbit. Fortunately, he has some excellent friends who refuse to let him go quietly into that good night. Rebecca, Emily and Dean are lifesavers, and without their support and help, Dex would still be lost in the darkness of his own misery.

I love Dex to bits, but I'm almost glad he hit rock bottom. There have been too many mistakes, too many moments missed and chances blown. It was time for him to step up and be the man we all believe he's capable of being. To prove, not just to Perry, but to himself as well, that's he's worthy of her.

If you're looking for feels, you'll find lots of them in AWM. Maybe you'll cry, maybe you won't, but you WILL experience every high and low Dex does. He WILL tug at your emotions, he WILL pluck all your heart strings. And yet, as often as I ached for Dex and what he was going through, I was so damn proud of him too. Perhaps that's strange to say about a fictional character, but it's true. And I loved him all the more for transforming himself into a better man while still retaining his essential Dexness. He's still the same pervy weirdo we fell for in Darkhouse; he's just a new and improved version. Dex 2.0.

And With Madness Comes The Light is flawlessly written and sure to shoot straight to the top of every Dex-lover's favorites list. I read it twice in 24 hours, and then a third time a few days later. If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does!

I cannot wait for Come Alive (EIT #7) to release later this year. An ENTIRE BOOK written from Dex's POV? Yes please!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heart-wrenching look into the head of Dex Foray, this novella tells the story of what Dex went through while Perry was suffering through the events of On Demon Wings, and OMG it’s an intense read!

A quick warning that if you haven’t read the Experiment in Terror books, there will be some spoilers for the overarching storyline in this review, so read at your own risk!

The story starts after ‘that’ big showdown at the end of Lying Season, and Dex is completely broken.

“I wasn’t Dex Foray. I was just this emotion that was crumbling to the floor, holding onto the doorway like it was the last thread of my humanity.”

We are given hints in other books of the series about what Dex went through while he was separated from Perry, but actually witnessing it is gut wrenching! He is broken hearted, angry and full of self loathing, and the depths to which he falls is absolutely devastating!

“I fucked up. More than I have ever fucked up before. I had the love of my life in my hands for one beautiful, exquisite moment before I ripped her apart and my heart bore the paper cuts.”

And again, the depth of emotion he was feeling just blew me away. He feels things so incredibly deeply, and that made the whole thing so much more painful to read!

“I felt like I was choking. My words came out hoarsely as I gasped for air, as I allowed myself to feel. “It hurts more than I know what to do with. I can’t handle this. I can’t.”

But, with a little help from his friends, we witness his journey from moody, angsty, and closed-off Dex, to the new and improved Dex 2.0, which I really enjoyed. After seeing him so low, I loved seeing him find his strength, pick himself up and sort himself out.

The story takes us all the way up to the big moment in On Demon Wings, and watching it all unfold from Dex’s POV was brutal! As he watches Perry struggle through her ordeal, and realises all that she has been through, my heart broke for him. And that final page… WAAAAAAIL!!! Heart breaking stuff!

But there are enough moments of lightness to keep this from being utterly depressing. Moments with Rebecca and Dean are hilarious and definite highlights

“Frankly, I don’t think I could hang out with you if you weren’t the vice type of guy.”
“Well then, you’ll be pleased to know that I’m still drinking and I’m still wanking to porn.”
“That’s my boy,” she said appraisingly.

And we also get to see interactions with Bird, “little fifteen”, the “twatwaffling she-devil, Metro von Dickfucker and the Red nutsack (aka “douchecanoe”). LOL! Dex has a way with words!

Another 5 stars for the genius that is Ms Halle. I love how this series is so fleshed out, and even though some of the books leave you with questions, or maybe left trying to interpret something, with her novellas and the added POVs, she is filling in all the gaps and giving us extra pieces of the complete picture that just make the overall story so much stronger.

Love, love, loved it!!!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC for an open and honest review.

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

Another Dex Novella. Swoon...Karina Halle gets us (her batshit crazy EIT lovers). She gets her reading audience and she gives us what we love. In this case, more into the dirty pervy mind of Dex Foray.

Only...this time we don't get so much of dirty or pervy Dex. We get a heartbroken mess of a man whom you can hardly recognize. In that one single moment in The Lying Season, he realized he loved his best friend, didn't know what to do about it because he thought she didn't love him, and in an unconsious reaction ruined it. “I fucked up. More than I have ever fucked up before. I had the love of my life in my hands for one beautiful, exquisite moment before I ripped her apart and my heart bore the paper cuts.” He lays depressed in bed and after thinking suddenly his tattoo "And with Madness Comes the Light" he realizes there was no light in all the madness. That his tattoo perhaps was a lie.

He's broken, alone mostly naked (YUM!), surrounded by dog turds, grasping a bottle of the closest liquor and most of all missing Perry.

Who does he turn to? Even poor Fat Rabbit is left by the wayside. Honestly though, at least he was coherent to know Fatty Rab needed him at most times.

Throughout this journey, Dex leans on his friends. Rebecca, Emma, Dean and Sheb - all mostly from Shownet, and what an eyeopening experience. He realizes how much he missed them. He gave them all up for that bitch Jen. (I mean who hasn't done this in real life? Given up friends for a dude/chick?)

After moving in with Rebecca and Emma for a week, he decides to turn himself in to the man Perry deserves. He's still pining but learning more every day. During a very enlightening conversation with Dean regarding his tattoo that Perry is the light in all of his madness. So he honors her by getting a tattoo. (swoon).

After an enlightening run/conversation with Dean (Dean totally manned up in this Novella - he's totally team dex and perry!) Dean convinces Dex that Perry was his light. That he should get a tattoo as a tribute to her. And so he does "Within your light, I lose the madness"

Weeks, months go by and he hasn't heard from or heard of Perry. He thinks of her daily but just doesn't feel he's there yet to show himself he deserves her. Then comes the phone call from Ada that Perry's in trouble.

“Nothing mattered at that moment except for the fact that the love of my life was in emotional and physical pain.”

To see the quest pan out from when he enters the scene in On Demon Wings...the saving of Perry, HIS reaction to the misscarriage (enter ugly cry number 1). It all was amazing to see this through his eyes. After all, he may not be perfect, he may be a pervy sexy man 99% of the time, but he's real.

At the end as he's sitting there looking at her and says "“We weren’t going to be apart for a minute, not if I could help it. If that made me overprotective, so be it. I was going to protect this woman – my woman – until the day I died.” I thought to myself, OMG, Dex has grown up. (cue ugly cry 2) And to see what he did at the end of the book, his proclamation to both her and her belly (cue ugly cry 3 & 4).

That sealed it for me. There's no one in the world like Dex Foray. Cannot wait for Come Alive. I hope he and Perry can get their shit together.

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

In And With Madness Comes the Light we read about Dex's POV from the end of #4 Lying Season through #5 On Demon Wings. The only thing that we learn about from this book in #6 Into the Hollow is about Dex's body art for Perry. This book can be read after book #5. You won't spoil the story or learn anything new in #6.5.

Our hearts are magnets. -Dex

SERIES:

Must be read in order. Continuing story.

Novellas:

(#2.5)(#5.5)(#5.7)(#6.5)

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly spoilerish with quotes from the book

Here's to you Declan Foray O'Shea!!

Dex who is a sexy badass superhero!

Wildcat in the sack.
He liked it rough.
Perry had scratched him during sex.
Perry had slept with Maximus.
He stuck his dick in her.
I was going to be sick.
I was going to cry.

Oh, wait. No, I was going to BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF HIM!

KICK HIS CHICKEN ASS DEX!!


Oh my poor poor Dex!

“You’re my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. “It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.” I felt myself choking on my tears a bit while I kissed her hand. I kissed her soft forehead. Then I peeled back the blanket and gently touched her middle, watching her serene face as sleep still held her so close. I smiled though she couldn’t see it and placed my lips on her stomach. “I would have loved the baby too, more than you’ll ever know.”

Thank you Karina!!!!!!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh it's Dex time...


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Ok, calm down!!! I'm not going to sing! I don't want to torture anyone,eheh.

But did i said it's Dex's time...


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*breathes deeply

So, have you wondered what happened to Dex in the time between Lying Season and his appearance on On demon wings?
We did get some glimpses of it but now we have the whole thing...and it's AMAZING. Well, it's Dex, so not a surprise in that, right?

His story is full of heartbreak, pain ,angst and anger ...

"I was afraid. I was afraid to take a chance with Perry for a million different reasons. I was afraid to get hurt. I was afraid to lose my heart, my soul, my everything, for a woman who might not have wanted me back. For someone I needed more than anything. "


" I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her...dangerously."


"Perry was my light. I didn't know it at the time, but I know it now. And in her light, I lost that madness. It only came back when she left"







And we get his journey to became a better man...a man that gives everything and doesn't ask anything in return. The man he always was but was afraid to reveal. A man that is trying to learn from his mistakes and get a second chance.

Like Dean, each time we get a glimpse of Dex's mind, it feels we're cracking the Foray code... and each time, we get to love him even more.

Oh and Dex 2.0?







Now on a serious note, I just can't recommend this book and especially THIS SERIES enough!
The series is just amazing and rich...and you'll get addicted to it.
For me I couldn't stop reading, and took me more less than a week to read them all.
And i LOVED every second of it!




Can't wait for the next one ;)


5 WE LOVE YOU DEX stars

[AleJandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 In her light, I lost that madness STARS

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

ALERTA DE SPOILERS DE LA SERIE EXPERIMENT IN TERROR

Estaba haciendo limpieza en mi cuarto y encontré mi viejo eReader escondido en un rincón. Es un kobo Mini que mi esposo me regalo en Navidad hace como 3 años, y sorprendentemente aun esta vivito y coleando.

Cuando lo cargue el primer libro que me apareció fue este. Este libro es parte de la Serie Experiment in Terror (mi serie favorita de Karina Halle y mi serie favorita de terror), leí la serie hace como 2 años y en aquel entonces no leí este libro, porque es solo un extra y yo lo que ansiaba era leer la continuación de la historia central.

Pero bueno este libro es cortito, y nos muestra lo que le paso a Dex después de tener sexo con Perry por primera vez y su rompimiento, en Demons Wings vimos todo lo que Perry sufrió con la posesión demoniaca, aquí conocemos lo que Dex tuvo que afrontar, el dejar de tomar las pastillas y empezar a ver fantasmas otra vez, la depresión, su rompimiento con Jess. Y como logro llegar al final a rescatar a Perry y llevarla a que la exorcizaran.

Lo mejor fue ver lo que realmente sintió Dex al enterarse del embarazo, me sorprendió su reacción y me rompió el corazón.

En conclusión: Fue genial reencontrarme con personajes que tiene un lugar tan especial en mi corazón. Y recordar el porque me enamore tanto de la escritura de Karina Halle, ojala y ella regresara a escribir historias como esta.



Comentario random: siempre he querido hacerme un tatuaje con de la frase que tiene tatuada Dex, algún día lo hare, algún día.

[*.Amaia.* BlackMagicRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex's POV!! Again!! :)



Too many quotes, too many feelings, too much of everything I would love to write down everytime I get into Dex's mind *.*
This time we find out what happened to Dex since the moment Perry left his apartment to the moment he saved her in (Chapter 5 we already read in The Dex-Files). And well, experiencing his guilt and pain once again is heartbreaking. But this is Dex we are talking about, and among all the sadness you will also find time to laugh and fall for him even harder.

His feelings for Perry... just wowwww *.*

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

“You're my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me. "It all fades away when I'm with you. Everything fades until it's just you and it's just me. I'm Dex and you're Perry and I love you. I won't stope loving you, even when you won't love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end."

But what absolutely melt my heart (and I really missed in The Dex-Files but finally got in this one YAY! :) ) was Dex's feelings about the pregnancy and the miscarriage.

[Lynsey is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real treat for Dex fans!

And really, who reading this series isn't a Dex fan? How could anyone not be? It's impossible not to love that man, even as flawed and downright incorrigible as he is!

So, this novella picks up the morning after the night before; that now infamous scene from the end of Lying Season that is forever scarred across my heart. I had to take a minute, actually, to just sit and recall that scene, to put myself in Dex's current headspace (which is basically a cluster**** of raw emotions and self-loathing), so that I wasn't coming to it too cold. Ideally, I would have read this straight after On Demon Wings as I think it fits in better there than as #6.5, but there you go.

So, our Dexy is in a terrible, dark place. And so he damn well should be! This is the story of how he climbed out of that deep pit of despair (which can be found via the second tree on the left—Princess Bride, anyone?) and how/why he became the Dex version 2.0 that came waltzing back into Perry's life in book five. There are a couple of really gut-kicking moments for Dex in the book. It was both enlightening and painful to see them from his perspective. His POV is refreshing and interesting and I can't wait to see how it works as a full-length novel in Come Alive when that releases later this year.

All together, a great read. One of those rare novellas that is well worth its cost and then some, and an absolute must read for fans of the series. It basically only reaffirmed what I already knew: I love Dex and Perry!

5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short-story takes place between the end of Lying Season and the almost-end of On Demon Wings and it’s under Dex POV. (Okay, stop screaming girls!)

After he self-destruct his happiness and the chances he had with Perry he is on a very bad place. So he decides to become a better man… for him, but especially for her.

“I felt like I was choking. My words came out hoarsely as I gasped for air, as I allowed myself to feel. “It hurts more than I know what to do with. I can’t handle this. I can’t.”

And after he finds out that she is in trouble he’s going to do everything in his power to save the girl he loves, and try for a possibility of having a happy ending with her.

“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.” ~

Again, this was perfect.
I really can’t say anything more because there’s nothing more to say except that.
I love Dex mind and I can’t get sick of it.
Go read these books people… like, now.

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un relato desde el punto de vista de Dex y ya me tiene más que ganada únicamente por eso. Podemos ver una parte muy importante de la historia de Dex y Perry desde sus ojos y eso me encanta. Voy a por el siguiente libro!

[Tara♥ {MindforBooks} · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You've given up. And the Dex Foray that I know, never gives up, no matter what life throws at him"



"I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her... dangerously."

Dex POV's are just amazing. His mind is a rather wonderful and messy place. On Demon Wings was mostly without Dex. And With The Madness Comes the Light is the story of what he was doing during that time, the creation of Dex 2.0 is within.

During the first book I was skeptical about how I could learn to love Dex, I was very silly. Now I'm skeptical about how I could ever like that ginger dickmonkey!!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Reread with Nikki**

****5 Painful Stars****




This series is driving me insane!!! It should come with a Warning: Reader likely to go insane and requires a bottle of Valium!!!

I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her...dangerously. ~ Dex




This book is written in Dex's POV and reveals what he went through after he broke Perry's heart and she walked out of his life. God! As if my heart wasn’t broken enough during Into the Hollow. Now it's completely shattered! It was painful to read this. We already knew from The Dex Files and Into the Hollow how Dex felt about Perry and the reasons behind his Douchcanoe actions. To be honest, I forgave him a long time ago (and not just because he makes me *swoon*). I forgave him because he did what he did out of fear of suffering and rejection. I understand that he hurt Perry, but she lied! They were both wrong and it's been so hard watching them torment each other for 7 books straight! This book was my undoing - my heart completely broke for Dex and I started to feel so much anger towards Perry. As I much as I understand that she was hurt by what he did, I think she took it all too far. I mean she was acting like he cheated on her !! Something’s gotta give People!!!

In all this madness when do WE get to see the damn light!!!





“I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end”.~ Dex

*Oh God! My heart!*




I feel disconnected to Perry and I'm also kind of angry at her. I think it's because we have been given a lot insight as to how Dex has been feeling and not much from Perry. Ever since Lying Season she’s been a different person. She was one of my favourite heroines but at the moment with everything that Dex has said and done to redeem himself; my anger is starting to turn into dislike. Please Perry snap the f*ck out of it because at the moment I feel like doing this to you....




To Katrina Halle...




To my book buddy Nikki - God help us for what's to come!!!!

[☆ Sammy ☆彡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific novella showing Dex's POV dealing with the events of Lying Season up through the events that took place in On Demon Wings. His POV broke my heart but I really loved seeing how he transformed into Dex 2.0

5 ★'s

Memorable quote:
"Love and hate were two sides of the same coin, and my coin was destined to land with love facing up. And the minute I made peace with those odds was the minute I'd start winning." =D

[Ellelou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The making of Dex 2.0

You know when Perry left Seattle in a hurry never wanting to look back?
Remember when she fell apart and tried to put herself together, cutting all things Dex out of her life, and if that wasn't enough having to deal with demon and ghost possessions?

Did you wonder where Dex was, what was he doing and why didn't he come back running to see her?

Well in this short novella we get his side of the story, told from his POV.

And yes, he did hurt and lost himself for a while. He spiralled into a depression and drinking stupor, trying to bury his regret, anger, his loss. He hit rock bottom. On top of everything else, after listening to Pippa's message he learns about Perry switching his meds.

“I fucked up. More than I have ever fucked up before. I had the love of my life in my hands for one beautiful, exquisite moment before I ripped her apart and my heart bore the paper cuts.”

****
“I wasn’t Dex Foray. I was just this emotion that was crumbling to the floor, holding onto the doorway like it was the last thread of my humanity.”


Thank god for his friends, Rebeca, Em, Dean and Seb. But it's his strong love for Perry that it's a great incentive for him to get himself back on track. Not only he chooses a healthy route, healthy eating, no smoking, no meds and training, he chooses to better himself for her. It's good to see that the old Dex who would rather lie or avoid the answers can now not only admit to himself but also to his friends the real feelings for Perry.


“I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her…dangerously.”

****
“Christ, I was in over my head and my head was over my heels. I was just a fucking tumbleweed in love with a constant breeze at my back."



We know what happens after he gets himself sorted, he's asked to go and help Perry, by Little Fifteen.
He has to deal with a lot, seeing Perry in agony holding desperately to her life, hearing her sister telling what she had to go through all these months and learning about the terrible loss, that is too much for our poor Dex.

“There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I’d been waiting for you. Finish me off.”

After he asks for her forgiveness and manages to save her life again, Dex doesn't want to leave her side ever again. That's why he sleeps on the floor next to her bed holding her hand, not wanting to let her go.

“You’re my light in all this madness, Perry,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. “It all fades away when I’m with you. Everything fades until it’s just you and it’s just me. I’m Dex and you’re Perry and I love you. I won’t stop loving you, even when you won’t love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.”

And then we get what I wanted to know for the last two books and I cried, really cried, for what they lost and for what could have been.

"I smiled though she couldn’t see it and placed my lips on her stomach. “I would have loved the baby too, more than you’ll ever know.”


Have got a massive Team Derry withdrawal already and June 2013 it's going to be a very long wait...

[Lise *friends don't flag* · Rating 5 out of 5]

He just gets better and better.... that is all!


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I'll be spending it with Dex Foray!!!



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[Autumn Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Demon Wings was one of my favorite books in this series, so I was really anxious to get this novella to see what Dex had been up to during that time. I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I flew this this novella within a few hours.

We do see Dex near then end of On Demon Wings and when he comes back, I literally let out a sigh of relief. I love this guy. Hard. In And With Madness Comes Light, I fell in love with him even more. Dex is a broken guy. He was destroyed by Perry leaving at the end of Lying Season and we get to see just how devastated he was. It broke my heart. In true Dex fashion though, he bounces back and saves the day. Dex truly loves Perry and this novella made me root for them as a couple even more. Even though I've read Into the Hollow, where I wanted to punch Perry in the face, (multiple times) I have faith that their love for each other will endure all the craziness that comes their way. ;)

If you are a fan of the EIT series, you must read this novella. Period.

Quotes:
~I took off my shirt, trying to get some cold air on my skin, vaguely aware that with the way Dean and I were posed, him bending over and me sweaty and shirtless, we could have been gladiator porn.-Loc 226

~"Well, the flannel-coated pussy stealer won't be taking care of her much longer," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. She looked at me blankly. Perhaps she didn't appreciate her sister being referred to as "pussy."-Loc 1109

~Perry had slept with Maximus. He stuck his dick in her. I was going to be sick. I was going to cry. Oh, wait. No, I was going to BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF HIM!-Loc 1265

~"You're my light in all this madness, Perry," I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me. "It all fades away when I'm with you. Everything just fades until it's just you and it's just me. I'm Dex and you're Perry and I love you. I won't stop loving you, even when you won't love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end."-Loc 1980

[Anali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relectura



Esta novela corta es tan maravillosa y genial porque te muestra el crecimiento y la transformación de Dex como personaje. Lo AMO. Sentía que tenía que leer de nuevo la historia, ahora que tengo planeado terminar la serie. Extrañaba mucho a Dex y a Perry.


Review original

Oh Dex!!!



And With Madness Comes the Light fue muy interesante de leer y me gustó. Sobre todo, porque no es un secreto que Dex me costó como personaje durante varias novelas. Recién me agradó desde la quinta obra.

Sin embargo, esta novela me permitió entenderlo un poco más y, lo que más adore, fue leer como se produjo su cambio. Dex 2.0 es mejor que cualquier Dex que haya existido y es mi Dex favorito y al que AMO desde que leí Veiled.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 STAR glimpse into the BEAUTIFUL MIND that is DEX FORAY!!!!!

And With Madness Comes the Light is not only the name of this amazing novella, but it is also a phrase that was lovingly tattooed on the chest of its main character. Declan Foray. What it means is personal to the owner. But it is most likely based on the idea that one must go completely mad before one can really see, really feel, really experience life.

This story relives part of the Experiment in Terror series in the eyes of the other half of the equation. Dex. The book begins where Lying Season left off. Dex's split with Jenn, and his subsequent coupling and immediate betrayal of Perry lead off the opening chapter. This story reveals what we didn't see as we worked our way through On Demon Wings with Perry and Maximus in the foreground.

I didn't understand how it was even possible that the giant ginger king was there, in Portland, in their house, meddling in what used to be my affairs. After everything that he and I had been through, this just reeked of sabotage.

What we didn't know was the pain that Dex was experiencing. The transformation he underwent, not only to survive but to become a better man. A man that he could live with. A man that maybe Perry could forgive.

"I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her...dangerously.

What I need to say upfront is that Karina Halle is an amazing writer. She has captured Dex's character to perfection; his humor, his pain, his deep feelings of need and love, and yes... his madness! Every line.... every thought...FUCKING PERFECTION!!!!! You truly live his pain... and his love... for life and for Perry.

In the story, Dex starts out really low...so low that he can't see at all. He is completely blind in his regret, in his pain, and in his loss of everything that held meaning for him in life. Because in the realization that he fell in love...which he vowed never to do again, and with none other than the one person who actually meant something to him... his best friend...his partner...his Perry.

No, this time I was so completely and utterly alone. I had no one but a smelly dog, and even he was starting to resent me for the deteriorating conditions.

How could he let that happen? How could he open up his chest and let the fear take over? The fear of losing it all. That is the question that hits his brain, the moment he took Perry. The moment he lost control. The moment he let her in. Now what? There is nothing left but loss and pain. Where could they possibly go from here? She didn't love him... at least that's what she told him... or did she lie?

So, Dex hits bottom. But what he forgot was that he still had friends. Friends that cared about him. Rebecca and Emily.. Dean and Seb. Together they descended, and united they brought him back... to the living, to the hopeful, and finally to Perry. Dex has come to terms with his mistakes. He is ready to right his wrongs, and he wants nothing more than to be forgiven, and maybe given a second chance. And then there is the tattoo. The new tattoo......SWOOOOON!!! Meaning more to him than the first one.... Within your light, I lose the madness. Need I say more...

But really it is Ada. Little fifteen, who reaches out and brings him back to Perry, his whole reason for living. But he didn't realize that it was going to be one hell of a fight to get her back. He didn't know he was going to be battling not only to get her back, but to save her life!! And he answers that call, with the force of a raging fire, and the will of a man possessed!!

You're my light in all this madness. Perry," I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me. "It all fades away when I'm with you. Everything fades until its just you and it's just me. I'm Dex and you're Perry and I love you, I won't stop loving you, even when you won't love me. I love you more than I can ever really tell you. I love you until the end.

Hearing Dex's thoughts throughout this story was completely intoxicating. His inner monologue is incredibly funny, even in his deepest desolation, he never loses the rancor, the cool that is Dex. He is crude, he is self-centered, he is perverted, he is flawed. He is all man. And we LOVE him for it. Every single thought, every single word, every feeling passing through his haggard heart. I just LOVE THAT MAN. What else can I say. I loved this book. I loved experiencing the story from Dex's POV. Even a mere glimpse into his BEAUTIFUL MIND is worth every word!!!

THANK YOU KARINA for giving Dex and Perry to us!!! And yes this is a gush session. And one that cannot even come close to the passion I feel toward these characters, and to this series!!! I am completely enthralled by the Experiment in Terror series and I am waiting with baited breath for the next chapter in the series... Come Alive.

5 Incredibly Swoony Dexy Stars!!!!!!!

Declan (Dex) Foray


Perry Palomino