Reviews

This isn’t even close to what I expect from this author. The last two novels I read were fast paced, twisted and a bit gory. I liked that about them though so this felt a bit slow and anticlimactic.

amybrooklyn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me review this arc!

I was very intrigued by this story as it was mentioned it was crossed between Eyes Wide Shut and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

I don’t want to say much about the story as it might give it away. I have to say this was a wild ride and I felt so many different emotions reading this one, I had no idea where this was heading.

This is full of mystery, thriller, horror and even romance.

The ending was a bit disappointing for me, I was kinda of expecting something different to happen.

I will be checking out the author's other books!

3.75 stars

rachel_cupec's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

breadsalot's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

What a wild ride this was. Hollywood glitz and glamour, starving artists trying to make it, a mysterious symbol, troubled characters, and a very dark and dangerous power.

I was so easily sucked into the quick pace of the story and as it all began to unravel, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I think I’ve discovered a new favorite sub-genre(?) or style of storytelling - where the story is told as an interview. Made me think of the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven. Any other books similar to these?

Thanks Netgalley, for the ARC.

itputsthebookupontheshelf's review against another edition

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5.0

A mysterious symbol, Hollywood elite, a deal with the devil... The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Eyes Wide Shut. 👀

This book had me in a chokehold from page one. I knew it would, Rutkin is a phenomenal writer. It seems that no matter what he writes, the story brings you deep into the belly of the beast and eats at your soul before spitting you back out. In the best way possible.

It's not only the mystery of what happened to Savannah and the story Kohl has to tell. There is so much mental anguish and turmoil that you feel as you read the book. It's like you are in a fever-dream. Your psyche is right there in the thick of it. Your heart is pounding. Your mind is racing. What the f is going to happen next...

The characterizations are phenomenal! Kohl was so gritty and real. While at times terrible, my heart also broke for him. The twists and turns are flawlessly executed. I audibly gasped many times as secret after secret was revealed.

The Eleven, though about Hollywood and selling your soul for that greatness, is so much more!

This story is soul-suckingly dark, twisted, and heart-wrenching. There is also rebirth and reawakening. As the story unwinds, there is a great takeaway. It is the journey of finding yourself in spite of the darkness and trauma. The freedom of realizing that you are the true hero of your own story. It's the tiniest bit of light you snatch at, giving you hope that you can overcome the worst parts of life. It's about breaking the curse that was placed upon you by outside forces, knowing you have the power to break the chain instead of spreading the darkness.

It is amazing the way the mind works, both within the story and as the writer relaying it. Bravo, Kyle. For everything!

𝑿𝑰𝑰𝑿

I highly recommend checking out Kyle's other books, 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 & 𝑻𝒊𝒌 𝑻𝒊𝒌 𝑮𝒐𝒏𝒆

mosreads's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

michbrito's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What caught my attention about this book was the beautiful cover. Both the title and the cover feel so eerie, this book could've been about anything. But what really caught my attention was the comparison to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (which I loved) and Eyes Wide Shut (which freaked me the fck out). Having these two comparisons in which I have consumed in the past didn't even prepare me for what to expect because this book was a ride itself!

The Eleven is about Kohl Reynold's, a screenwriter who has produced one of the best scripts for films, and what it told for him to ascend into his fame, as well as just how deep his downfall went. All books I've read that centered Hollywood painted this world as rainbows and butterflies with a few drama points to move the plot along. This book, however, took the theme of Hollywood into a darker path where we get to peak behind the curtains. With a narrator as unreliable as Kohl is once his madness begins to fester, we as readers don't know what's reality and what is a drug induced haze.

I started this book yesterday and the way this book is paced I was able to finish it today because I just had to find out what in the world was happening. There were times were I though Kohl was genuinely mad and committing crimes with no one behind the trigger, but boy was I wrong.

I wanted more answers at the end about certain parts that I feel like were left blank (or maybe I missed it), but overall, all the reveals at the end were worth it and if you're in the mood to read about Hollyweird (and this book is coming at a perfect time with all the downfall stuff happening in celebrity culture right now), pick this up! And it's such a nice cover I will be getting it for my shelf

Thank you NetGalley, Greater Path LLC/Died Famous, and Kyle Rutkin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

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