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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I´d give this novel that it is catchy. Because it is also silly to the point of absurdity, written by a person who has obviously very little info about the lives of both artistic and influencer people - I mean the real, everyday life, not the "dreamy", illogical take. This is like a fever dream, where you can believe almost any absurdity because you are conditioned by the feverish state of mind to believe it. But in the real life there is the money trail, the tax office, the police and even the secret services (much more capable and resourceful than one would think). There is also critical thinking. But, yes - I enjoyed this feverish dream read to a point. Catchy it is.
This book had so much potential. I was really intrigued by the premise-- Black Mirror meets Fyre Festival meets Hunger Games. I loved the podcast format and the racing plot- even when the timeline got confusing at times, it had me hooked and trying to figure out what would happen next.
However, I was extremely disappointed. The twists fell flat. I was expecting some intricate mystery about how each person on the island had a hand in Tuck's disappearance.. only to find that Tuck had actually been dead for years. Even though there seemed to be a lot of clues that Tuck was still alive. I was also very disappointed in the revelation of Wyatt James' identity. There was no backstory or clues that would lead to that child actress (I forget her name) becoming this masked figure. Absolutely no build up. It just left me confused. It felt like the whole explanation was rushed into the final chapter, which left me with so many questions. Here are a few...
How did Wyatt James stumble upon Tuck as he's taking his last breaths, and just happened to have his paints and a canvas with him to paint the moment? Like who carries their paints, brushes, easel, canvas etc. at a music festival?? And how did Tuck have time while bleeding out to tell Wyatt every memory he ever had of Carrie?
Some positive: I really liked Carrie as a character. She was resilient, in touch with her emotions, and wasn't like a typical female main character who is only looking for romance. (Also not sure why Cal was in love with her after like a week).
Anyways, while I was disappointed with the last ~30% of the book- I am glad that I read it! It only took me two days because I was so intrigued and wanted to know the ending.
However, I was extremely disappointed. The twists fell flat. I was expecting some intricate mystery about how each person on the island had a hand in Tuck's disappearance.. only to find that Tuck had actually been dead for years. Even though there seemed to be a lot of clues that Tuck was still alive. I was also very disappointed in the revelation of Wyatt James' identity. There was no backstory or clues that would lead to that child actress (I forget her name) becoming this masked figure. Absolutely no build up. It just left me confused. It felt like the whole explanation was rushed into the final chapter, which left me with so many questions. Here are a few...
How did Wyatt James stumble upon Tuck as he's taking his last breaths, and just happened to have his paints and a canvas with him to paint the moment? Like who carries their paints, brushes, easel, canvas etc. at a music festival?? And how did Tuck have time while bleeding out to tell Wyatt every memory he ever had of Carrie?
Some positive: I really liked Carrie as a character. She was resilient, in touch with her emotions, and wasn't like a typical female main character who is only looking for romance. (Also not sure why Cal was in love with her after like a week).
Anyways, while I was disappointed with the last ~30% of the book- I am glad that I read it! It only took me two days because I was so intrigued and wanted to know the ending.
I want to start this review by saying I'm unsure why people were so hard on this book for grammatical errors when all currently reviewed copies are ARCs. Most ARCs have not been edited fully and will be finalized before their release date. The author even sent out an email about the updated edited version today.
Moving on I am so thankful for this book and Kyle Rutkin. I have been in a slump this month and nothing much was holding my attention other than rereading some of my all-time favorite books until I started this book. I was immediately captured by the format in which this book is presented and tried to figure out the mystery before key things were revealed to me. I loved that you got different perspectives because the book is written like a podcast/interview so you're not stuck with just a certain set of POVs, but you get different perspectives about what was happening at the same time by different voices. I think this book would make a wonderful Audiobook and if Kyle Rutkin ever decides to go that route I will be eager to hear the story told to me that way even though I already know how it ends.
The only fault I found with this book was that I wish that certain parts had lasted longer. I felt like a lot of contestants were eliminated super early on in one big swoop and it would have been just a little better had they not been eliminated so soon. It would have given more time to experience the contestants and I felt like there could have been more told about how they were all connected. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone that is looking forward to this book. I feel like this is a perfect summery isolated island mystery/horror that shows just how corrupt the social media lifestyle has made us as a society. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for something fresh and new.
*I was granted an ARC of this book by Netgalley and Kyle Rutkin. While I did receive this book free all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by that at all.*
Moving on I am so thankful for this book and Kyle Rutkin. I have been in a slump this month and nothing much was holding my attention other than rereading some of my all-time favorite books until I started this book. I was immediately captured by the format in which this book is presented and tried to figure out the mystery before key things were revealed to me. I loved that you got different perspectives because the book is written like a podcast/interview so you're not stuck with just a certain set of POVs, but you get different perspectives about what was happening at the same time by different voices. I think this book would make a wonderful Audiobook and if Kyle Rutkin ever decides to go that route I will be eager to hear the story told to me that way even though I already know how it ends.
The only fault I found with this book was that I wish that certain parts had lasted longer. I felt like a lot of contestants were eliminated super early on in one big swoop and it would have been just a little better had they not been eliminated so soon. It would have given more time to experience the contestants and I felt like there could have been more told about how they were all connected. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone that is looking forward to this book. I feel like this is a perfect summery isolated island mystery/horror that shows just how corrupt the social media lifestyle has made us as a society. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for something fresh and new.
*I was granted an ARC of this book by Netgalley and Kyle Rutkin. While I did receive this book free all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by that at all.*
I really enjoy an epistle style novel so enjoyed this more modern update with the podcast transcript for the most part.
I loved the premise of the novel and the idea of trying to find answers to missing and mysterious people within the competition format of the story. The scariest, most horrific part is with the way social media is going I can see such a competition happening in real life and probably complete with murders for likes.
I would’ve liked more story. In some cases, characters were introduced and then disappeared (killed) and never heard from again and the best friend undergoes some kind of mind control/cult mind games which really isn’t covered enough or makes sense in the overall scheme of things. Another podcast episode/chapter would have really helped pack that out.
My only other quibble is that the voices in the transcripts all sound the same. There’s no accent/tonal variation. It might actually play out better in audible or any other audio book but purely reading I couldn’t pick up the distinction. But that’s it. Loved the rest. It’s fast paced and quite short. I had it read in one sitting. Really enjoyed it and will probably go back and check out the others by this author.
I loved the premise of the novel and the idea of trying to find answers to missing and mysterious people within the competition format of the story. The scariest, most horrific part is with the way social media is going I can see such a competition happening in real life and probably complete with murders for likes.
I would’ve liked more story. In some cases, characters were introduced and then disappeared (killed) and never heard from again and the best friend undergoes some kind of mind control/cult mind games which really isn’t covered enough or makes sense in the overall scheme of things. Another podcast episode/chapter would have really helped pack that out.
My only other quibble is that the voices in the transcripts all sound the same. There’s no accent/tonal variation. It might actually play out better in audible or any other audio book but purely reading I couldn’t pick up the distinction. But that’s it. Loved the rest. It’s fast paced and quite short. I had it read in one sitting. Really enjoyed it and will probably go back and check out the others by this author.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There's both too much and too little going on for me in this one. The overall story is a bloodthirsty influencer competition, seeing how far people would go for fame and followers, but within this there are three plots - a woman searching for her brother, a man searching for the truth about his father, and a mysterious cult marked with IXXI. There's also a romance subplot which I didn't invest in. It's a lot for 200 pages, and I felt it all fell a little thin.
I enjoyed the writing style - set up as a series of podcast style interviews. It's fast paced, and easy to read. It just lacks the punch I wanted in a mystery thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the writing style - set up as a series of podcast style interviews. It's fast paced, and easy to read. It just lacks the punch I wanted in a mystery thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting. It does come with warning in regards to it’s graphic nature, I personally did not find it very graphic, but I have also read a lot of dark and twisted books. The other warning was for the writing style as the story is told through transcribed podcast episodes which I personally loved! I thought this way of writing was creative and absolutely perfect for this book.
If you are an Influencer, then Influencer Island is where you want to be, however only 10 contestants will be chosen to compete on in this competition being compared to Fyre Festival meets The Hunger Games. None of the influencers knew what they were getting themselves into but the time the “contest” is over, dozens are dead or missing. Do you have what it takes to survive.
There’s much more to the story than just the competition and the storylines intertwine together so well.
If you are an Influencer, then Influencer Island is where you want to be, however only 10 contestants will be chosen to compete on in this competition being compared to Fyre Festival meets The Hunger Games. None of the influencers knew what they were getting themselves into but the time the “contest” is over, dozens are dead or missing. Do you have what it takes to survive.
There’s much more to the story than just the competition and the storylines intertwine together so well.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder