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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Oh no, this was dissapointing
LOVED the writing style, its flow so so nicely, I will definitely read anything else Jimmy Juliano writes.
But the ending!!
I hate that they dont explain shit
or wait
I hate that the demon is really that stupid?
or
idk
but the ending oof
Everything else? amazing.
LOVED the writing style, its flow so so nicely, I will definitely read anything else Jimmy Juliano writes.
But the ending!!
I hate that they dont explain shit
or wait
I hate that the demon is really that stupid?
or
idk
but the ending oof
Everything else? amazing.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
If you put remote island, urban legends, potential time loops, and a heavy hand of “something is horribly wrong here” into a blender, the end result would be Dead Eleven. With so much going on, you’d think there’s plenty of opportunity for something to not really land well. But Dead Eleven is near perfect in my opinion – it hits that sweet spot of high stakes while still being wildly entertaining, with deep unsettling horror lacing each page.
What stood out the most, though, was how the story handled grief. Clifford Island, frozen in 1994, isn’t just a creepy setting; it’s a metaphor for emotional paralysis. The book explores the way grief can trap us, afraid to move forward, afraid of forgetting, and afraid of what lies ahead. Willow’s perspective is such a great lens for this exploration—her personal journey mirrors the larger, strange grief of the island itself. It’s a wildly entertaining, plot-driven story, but it doesn’t shy away from meaningful character development or deeper emotional themes, which I loved.
I know the ending is divisive, but for me, it worked. It might not be a big, splashy conclusion, but it fit the story’s tone and themes perfectly. Overall, this book was such a ride—ghostly, cultish, mysterious, and just plain fun. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a bit of horror with heart.
I enjoyed this. I don’t think it was anything mind blowing or scary, but I thought it was a fun book.
Dead Eleven follows a man named Harper on his journey to a strange place called Clifford Island to track down his sister Willow. Everyone on the island seems strangely stuck in the year 1994 and nobody will talk about it. Luckily, Willow left him clues in places he was likely to find.
In another (previous) timeline, we also follow Willow, until the two timelines more or less converge.
I listened to this on audio and I think the audio book was a great way to go. I’m not sure if the physical copy is portrayed as mixed media, but I know some sections of the book are recorded interviews and those bits were especially well done here. I liked all the characters, I liked the world building and the lore.
As a whole I think the book was a little on-the-nose as a metaphor for grief? But that’s okay. I wish it had been a little scarier? Or creepier? As it is it feels more like suspense or a thriller.
I’d be interested to read from this author again in the future.
Dead Eleven follows a man named Harper on his journey to a strange place called Clifford Island to track down his sister Willow. Everyone on the island seems strangely stuck in the year 1994 and nobody will talk about it. Luckily, Willow left him clues in places he was likely to find.
In another (previous) timeline, we also follow Willow, until the two timelines more or less converge.
I listened to this on audio and I think the audio book was a great way to go. I’m not sure if the physical copy is portrayed as mixed media, but I know some sections of the book are recorded interviews and those bits were especially well done here. I liked all the characters, I liked the world building and the lore.
As a whole I think the book was a little on-the-nose as a metaphor for grief? But that’s okay. I wish it had been a little scarier? Or creepier? As it is it feels more like suspense or a thriller.
I’d be interested to read from this author again in the future.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Everyone on Clifford Island seems to be reliving the same day in 1994 over and over again. When Willow arrives looking for her son who disappeared, it doesn’t take her long to realize that things are “off”. She immediately learns that at night, the curtains must be closed – or else.
Five weeks after Willow arrives she disappears without a trace. Her brother, Harper, arrives to find her. When he uncovers the truth about the island, he learns that things are more sinister than anyone could have imagined and he’s determined to blow the whole thing open.
I am so excited to be part of the @PRHAudio Influencer program. They have some amazing audios, and this is my most recent find. I’ve learned that for audios I love a good horror book or romance book, and this is a horror. There is just something extra listening to an audio that adds so much to the reading experience for me. It just makes the pages come alive in a way I don’t always get when I see the words on the page. I really enjoyed the different timelines and points of view on this one. I loved most things about this one, but felt the ending wasn’t quite up to my expectations. It was not a bad ending, but it wasn’t the bang that I expected it to be based on the book. There were several narrators on this one and they all did fantastic. I was however surprised to see how many there were, as it didn’t seem like that many when I was listening. I do think that if there are going to be multiple narrators then it should be easy to distinguish between them.
If you are looking for a fun audio for the upcoming spooky season then I recommend you check this one out.
Thank you so much to @PRHAudio for an audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Five weeks after Willow arrives she disappears without a trace. Her brother, Harper, arrives to find her. When he uncovers the truth about the island, he learns that things are more sinister than anyone could have imagined and he’s determined to blow the whole thing open.
I am so excited to be part of the @PRHAudio Influencer program. They have some amazing audios, and this is my most recent find. I’ve learned that for audios I love a good horror book or romance book, and this is a horror. There is just something extra listening to an audio that adds so much to the reading experience for me. It just makes the pages come alive in a way I don’t always get when I see the words on the page. I really enjoyed the different timelines and points of view on this one. I loved most things about this one, but felt the ending wasn’t quite up to my expectations. It was not a bad ending, but it wasn’t the bang that I expected it to be based on the book. There were several narrators on this one and they all did fantastic. I was however surprised to see how many there were, as it didn’t seem like that many when I was listening. I do think that if there are going to be multiple narrators then it should be easy to distinguish between them.
If you are looking for a fun audio for the upcoming spooky season then I recommend you check this one out.
Thank you so much to @PRHAudio for an audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a hard one to rate, since I thought about quitting the first half, but the last quarter was creepy and interesting. It was just so slow and the hooks to keep me interested were lacking.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No