Book Review – The Dex-Files by Karina Halle

The Dex-Files (Experiment in Terror #5.7) —> slight spoiler alert!!! This book contains scenes from the series, but from “Dex’s” point of view. Do not read this review unless you’ve reached this point in the series. There is nothing better then experiencing “Dex” through Perry’s eyes… and then finally getting into his head after the whole shebang! WOW!!! Quite the revelation! Scroll all the way to the bottom for everything I’ve written about the series, so far. I LOVE THIS series, just thought I’d let you know. 

This book absolutely delighted me. FIVE STAR delighted. It was shorter, sure (I mean I’d love to re-read the entire series form his POV) but there was plenty of meat and real substance to this “series companion” to absolutely thrill me. I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised by his depth (I mean…he really kind of is!), and the very heartbreaking life that he was born into. Where he came from…

.. I didn’t care to remember that sh*t. That whole period was blocked out for very good reasons.

… and what made him “who” he is today as we know him. Right from the start, I was hooked (even though I had already lived so much of it through Perry’s eyes). I sort of  knew what I was in for, but EIT through Dex’s eyes, was different. Complete. Just as exceptional and actually made me love it even more. And since the author sent it to me for my review I had an absolute need to let her know:

“Dex is 100% real to me, because of how you write him. Blows me away. I love how he thinks, where he came from, his own mental and personal struggles … all of it. I prefer an obviously imperfect (yet in other ways, better than perfect) hero. He makes no apologies. And yet he really kind of does.

Ok enough gushing. Can you tell I’m all crush-y on Dex again. Not like it ever went away, you know… but it’s back with a vengeance now. Oh oh. ”

“Oh oh” was right, ’cause that, my friends, was my reaction towards the beginning/middle of the book… once I hit the end, my full-fledged crush on Dex turned into a day of me floating in a “Dex haze” of … *sigh*

All day, all I’ve been doing is re-living the scenes from his perspective, then recalling her perspective, mixing the two, watching them play out in my head, scene after scene after scene. Then, re-imagining it (okay daydreaming it) a little different, had they “just”… well. You know. Said something. Butterflies and heart flutters, physically FEELING it deep in my stomach. Just… living and re-living it. It’s all I could think about. But you know how it goes. Hindsight is always 20/20, and boy was it the case, here. I even took a nap to take a break from myself, and what did I do? Fell asleep thinking about them, and then … yep. Dreamed about them.

That moment would be burned in my head. That moment when I knew that I was way in over my head. I was f&%ked.

Hehe. That was a “Dex” quote, but it was totally me, too.

Dex, to me, is one of “those”. The unforgettable book-guy, that just has that real affect on me, that stays with me long after I’ve finished the story… and that feeling always comes back in full force with each installment. In this case, my Dex-crush DID come back with a vengeance. And it would seem that fellow EIT fans agree!

Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m finally reading the Dex Files and I’m right back in full-on Dex-crush mode…. *sigh*

Fathima: OMG ! Yaaay ! Loved the Dex Files ! And Dex and his super perviness is out of the world !

Jennifer: … you will LOVE the Dex Files!!! absolutely loved it, and counting down til Oct. 23rd!!! As a matter of fact, the books I have been reading since the Dex Files have been nothing more than filling the time books.. sigh…

Terttu: I’m in between books at the moment :/ Oh,loved,LOVED Dex ♥ can’t wait for #6 to be released!

Nikki: LOVE Dex!!!!!!! Can’t wait for the next one.

Christina: I can’t start anything, I can’t wait till oct. I love me some dex!

Sue: Oh I love the Dex Files, what a mind that man has, and I am so totally crushing on Dex, love that guy, (the pervert)… LOL

Michelle : … I’m missing Dex (another book boy crush) lol

Maryse’s Book Blog: Okay wow… I just finished the Dex-Files and OMG I LOVED it. He is absolutely one of my #1′s with the top #1′s. I’ll be reviewing in a few minutes, but I just had to post my initial end of book reaction and I’m just all… starry-eyed feeling and I can’t wait for more. WOW. I totally needed that considering a few of the awesome but nerve-wracking endings in this series. *sigh* (not saying it’s HEA or anything… it’s still a series in progress) but SO many questions answered… and a few new ones that make me look forward to the next installment like no other.

Aimee: … seriously just biding my time until Into the Hollow – need more Dex and Perry!!!! Reading your review, Maryse, may inspire a re-read of the Dex Files…the character “voices” in this series are so real, it’s like reading an actual guy’s journal (‘cept for all of the ghostly business, of course).

Kathy: Nearly there reading OLD BLOOD thanks for recommending EIT they are awesome I can’t put them down!!!!!

Kelly: Loved the Dex-files!!! Just can’t get enough of Perry and Dex!!!

Sandra: squeeeee don’t you love Dex even more???

Johanna Luis Awww damn i ♥ that twisted douchcanoe..

Maryse’s Book Blog: Sandra I’m a MESS right now. A MESS!!!! ALL I can think about is him. I’m almost ready to change yesterday’s answer with you, to HIM as my favorite hero. But then there’s also Travis. and Kellan… Christian.. ahhhh sheesh. But DEX is my #1 right now SO BAD!!! LOL Johanna!!!! He is IT!!!

Sandra: I know Maryse – one thing I loved about him was that he was so real and raw. Plus his thoughts on Perry was…….<no spoiler>….

Megan: Maryse, I want you to know I fully blame (thank) you for my unhealthy EIT series obsession. Dex And Perry are the best and I can’t wait for Into the Hallow to come out. I The Dex Files was sooooo good!

Elissa: Team Dex and perry!! That is all lol ♥ those books I’m so glad when I seen dark house free on my nook that I downloaded it!

Sherry: We Love our Perry & Dex ♥

Dex is at the top of my hero list. And don’t expect your typical prince charming with this hero. No knight in shining armor here. Although… . Nuh uh. I won’t say any more about that part. He can be crude, obnoxious, arrogant and cocky. I’ve described him that way before, but I just love that he stays true to his character through and through. He can say some pretty awful things. He can fly off the handle with the best (or worst) of ‘em, but he’s so REAL and just *shakes head* I can’t explain, why him (well aside from his confidence, and obvious sex-appeal) that I think he’s so perfect despite how obnoxiously flawed, and seemingly proud of it, he is.

Here is Karina Halle’s “Dex”. (This button was made by one of her readers and this quote is from one of the scenes in this book. LOVED it!)

I chuckled over and over again at his internal musings, his reactions, his perception of those that he interacted with (especially his frenemy, the equally sexy “Maximus”).

He had a strange sense of confidence though. I guess being built like a small giant had it’s advantages. Chicks always fell for it. I had to rely on my good looks and god damn charm.

LOL!!! Pooooor you Dex. What a thing to have to fall back on . I blushed and giggled like mad at his unabashed observations, his sarcastic wit.

But best of all… what absolutely stole me away were the rare and priceless glimpses of his fragile heart. Those rare moments when he let his guard down (especially his guard against himself).

She was mine. For the sake of appearances, she was my wife, but she was mine anyway. She didn’t know it yet, but I did. It was wrong and it made no sense, but she belonged with me. No one else, not anyone else.

It was a shame that I was the one who belonged to someone else. I wondered if I’d ever have the strength to correct that or if I’d punish myself forever.

Reading the series, we didn’t quite know what he was thinking (although there were hints… we had our “feelings” didn’t we?). It’s impossible to hide that kind of intensity. That kind of connection. But thanks to this “Dex-collection”,  we certainly have a better grasp of it now. Some of those very important moments that had us in an uproar, this book provides the answers and then some.

And as we re-live some scenes from his POV (btw: I was thrilled to realize it actually kind of reads like a book, and not so much like a set of randomly collected scenes), we are also granted two scenes that we hadn’t yet experienced. And one of them happens at the end of book #5 (remember how rough that ending was? ACK!!) THANK YOU Karina for continuing that part for us! Plus, it leads us perfectly into her upcoming release, “Into the Hollow”.

I. CAN’T. WAIT!!!!! October is one of my favorite months of the year, and now it’s even more special because I’ll get some SERIOUS Dex time. You know… ’cause the author has hinted at… Wait! Shhhhhhhhh…. My lips are sealed!!

5 STARS!!! PLUS!!

For more about what I’ve written on the Experiment in Terror series, see below:

• Karina Halle – Experiment in Terror Series Reading Order
• The Experiment in Terror Series – Intrigued Readers Want to Know…
• Behind The Books – Interview With Karina Halle
• Book Review – Darkhouse by Karina Halle
• Book Review – Red Fox by Karina Halle
• Book Review – Dead Sky Morning by Karina Halle
• Just Finished Reading Lying Season by Karina Halle & I’m Freaking Out!! The Torture Is Just So Gooood!!
• Book Review – Lying Season by Karina Halle
• Book Review – On Demon Wings by Karina Halle
• Book Review – Old Blood by Karina Halle
• Book Review – The Dex-Files by Karina Halle

Tagged as: 5 stars, Dex, EIT, Experiment in Terror, ghosts, Karina Hall, Perry