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Insidious Island #1
The Curse of the Clairvoyant
Get Out meets Lost at an elite university on an island that doesn’t exist on any map.
Amelia Fuentes is a poor college student from the crime-infested streets of Chicago who wins a trip to the Caribbean from a radio station contest. Upon arriving, however, she learns that she didn’t win anything. Someone has enrolled her in the most secretive university on the planet, a place only whispered about by the top 1% of American society.
Amelia’s first instinct is to leave, but even if she eluded the armed guards, she’d need to escape from the inhuman creatures that stalk the jungle and patrol the ocean, eager to slay anyone who attempts to flee.
To uncover who recruited her and why, Amelia needs to unravel the mysteries of a secret society, as well as the sinister occult practices taking place on campus. But when students begin disappearing under a cloud of secrecy, she discovers that snooping around has deadly consequences.
With mind-boggling enigmas wrapped around a global conspiracy, this first book in a series of dark academia novels will eventually radically transform how you perceive the cultural divide in the United States.
Amelia Fuentes is a poor college student from the crime-infested streets of Chicago who wins a trip to the Caribbean from a radio station contest. Upon arriving, however, she learns that she didn’t win anything. Someone has enrolled her in the most secretive university on the planet, a place only whispered about by the top 1% of American society.
Amelia’s first instinct is to leave, but even if she eluded the armed guards, she’d need to escape from the inhuman creatures that stalk the jungle and patrol the ocean, eager to slay anyone who attempts to flee.
To uncover who recruited her and why, Amelia needs to unravel the mysteries of a secret society, as well as the sinister occult practices taking place on campus. But when students begin disappearing under a cloud of secrecy, she discovers that snooping around has deadly consequences.
With mind-boggling enigmas wrapped around a global conspiracy, this first book in a series of dark academia novels will eventually radically transform how you perceive the cultural divide in the United States.
- GenresHorror
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2023
36 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Kirk Kilgrave
29 books24 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Sydney Bristow.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 26, 2023
Its ok!
Not one of my favorites from him. Basically the whole book is a back story and this books tells you absolutely nothing.
Not one of my favorites from him. Basically the whole book is a back story and this books tells you absolutely nothing.
June 25, 2023
When Amelia wins a paid vacation to an island resort she immediately has misgivings when arriving at the airport but wants it to be true so much C-4 goes any doubts and get on the plane. So when she is drugged and wakes up with a strange man staring at her she doesn’t know what to think. The man introduces his self as Mr. Blackwell and when he starts describing where they are her misgivings grow even larger. He says they’re at the University Place where do you live pay for the spoiled children to get a second chance at becoming the people they raise them to be the only problem is none of this fits Amelia. For one thing her parents don’t have millions of dollars, the drug addicts in for the past few years it’s been her making sure her poor younger siblings eat and make it to school on time so why is she there? she is not only the only poor person there she is the only person who is a minority her mom is Spanish and her dad is black but the longer she is there the more she know this is Mr. Blackwell seems to take a special interest in her being successful he even tells her he’s paying for her parents rehabilitation and has lined up a job for her while her siblings are staying with her aunt and uncle in Wisconsin. After the dust settles and Amelia resigned herself to the fact she is on an unknown island and some unknown ocean but that she will get her education and it will be paid for and all the other perks in store she is OK with it but when she starts receiving DVDs that have snippets of video , featuring others on the island she wants again doesn’t know what to make of it some of the people in the video she knows and some she doesn’t but it makes her question one of the people she has grown close to. Who is Mr. Blackwell and why does he have the interest in Amelia and why does she keep receiving these videos and what was that creature in the jungle? Mr. Blackwell said if they went too far out in the ocean to see monster would get them and if they went too far into the jungle a creature would attack them ha ha where did these things come from? Just know most of these questions will not be answered at least not in this book but want to read the book I am sure like me you’ll be down with reading the next one. I cannot wait to get my hands on it some of the questions are answered before the book is over but most of them or not but there is an authors note that says more books are coming and I cannot wait for that. If you like reading books with the long game in mind then definitely read this book S4 it’s hard being a Clavvoyant or psychic you’ll have to read and make up your own mind I think they should’ve named it something else however. I would’ve given this book 5 stars but they have too many unanswered questions and although some of my curiosity what satisfied I think the title is all wrong and the ending was to open ended. I am not big on cliffhangers but since I started reading this book not knowing it was I am definitely going to read the next one. I received this book from Book Sirens but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
May 17, 2023
The first book from a new series by Kirk Kilgrave, it has a very different feel and tone from his other series, including; Psychic Mysteries, Sadistic Souls and Whispering Ones.
They all deal with a very present, immediate and overpowering evil in one form or another.
The Curse of the Clairvoyant has tension from the outset but it is a tension borne from suspicion. The main character, Amelia, knows that *something* isn't right at every turn but any answers she gets throws up two more questions.
The story unravels at a good pace, every character is questionable, every choice a gamble.
The premise is very strong, I enjoyed the various ways in which Amelia is given slivers of information. We are introduced to a lot of characters at once but it's not confusing because, so far, there are 5 people who are mainly focused on.
All of those are interesting, realistic and have a lot of potential. I am hoping for another strong female character to emerge in subsequent books.
There is a theme of questioning morality, how it can shift so wildly when seen from the perspective of people who are very different to yourself. Few issues are black and white, regardless of how strongly you feel. I enjoyed this edge that runs throughout. As someone with strong political/social views and standpoints it's always interesting, and pretty necessary, to consciously check in with yourself. It happens to the characters which makes it happen to the reader
Amelia is a strong protagonist, likeable and mostly sympathetic. She feels like an outcast in many ways, which is very understandable although a couple of times it felt, perhaps, a little over-pressed.
One of two of her reactions based on a shadowy trauma didn't completely hit the mark for me - that could simply be down to how I have reacted and would react personally though!
There was one reveal that felt rushed, therefore pulling some of the potential impact away. I have an issue with how the subject of CRT was used as Amelia would know, from studying to be a teacher, the reality of the subject. These are all personal small quibbles so had no effect on my rating.
I would absolutely recommend this book and am very much looking forward to the rest of the series.
They all deal with a very present, immediate and overpowering evil in one form or another.
The Curse of the Clairvoyant has tension from the outset but it is a tension borne from suspicion. The main character, Amelia, knows that *something* isn't right at every turn but any answers she gets throws up two more questions.
The story unravels at a good pace, every character is questionable, every choice a gamble.
The premise is very strong, I enjoyed the various ways in which Amelia is given slivers of information. We are introduced to a lot of characters at once but it's not confusing because, so far, there are 5 people who are mainly focused on.
All of those are interesting, realistic and have a lot of potential. I am hoping for another strong female character to emerge in subsequent books.
There is a theme of questioning morality, how it can shift so wildly when seen from the perspective of people who are very different to yourself. Few issues are black and white, regardless of how strongly you feel. I enjoyed this edge that runs throughout. As someone with strong political/social views and standpoints it's always interesting, and pretty necessary, to consciously check in with yourself. It happens to the characters which makes it happen to the reader
Amelia is a strong protagonist, likeable and mostly sympathetic. She feels like an outcast in many ways, which is very understandable although a couple of times it felt, perhaps, a little over-pressed.
One of two of her reactions based on a shadowy trauma didn't completely hit the mark for me - that could simply be down to how I have reacted and would react personally though!
There was one reveal that felt rushed, therefore pulling some of the potential impact away. I have an issue with how the subject of CRT was used as Amelia would know, from studying to be a teacher, the reality of the subject. These are all personal small quibbles so had no effect on my rating.
I would absolutely recommend this book and am very much looking forward to the rest of the series.
June 13, 2023
Amelia Fuentes can't believe that she won a trip to the Caribbean. However, things seem very off from the get-go. Upon arriving on the island, Amelia quickly realizes that this "all inclusive resort" is not quite as it seems. There are armed guards everywhere, there are very strict rules and every person is given a gun. Unfortunately for Amelia, this will not be a fun filled resort stay; Amelia will not be leaving this island any time soon.
This book was pretty great. It's the first in a series and I definitely look forward to reading the second one. This had some great twists and definitely some "conspiracy theory" vibes. It had me questioning literally every single character, including Amelia. I was constantly guessing what would happen next and to be honest, I was wrong almost every time! I didn't trust anyone and I loved every second of it. This is the kind of thriller I enjoy - one where I second guess every little bit and question every single character. I was rooting for the main character and could not wait to find out what the heck was going on right alongside her.
The characters were greatly developed. Just enough information was given without dragging it on. The description of the island really painted a great picture and I feel this had the perfect amount of details without going overboard.
Thanks to BookSirens I was able to read this arc for free and this is my honest review.
This book was pretty great. It's the first in a series and I definitely look forward to reading the second one. This had some great twists and definitely some "conspiracy theory" vibes. It had me questioning literally every single character, including Amelia. I was constantly guessing what would happen next and to be honest, I was wrong almost every time! I didn't trust anyone and I loved every second of it. This is the kind of thriller I enjoy - one where I second guess every little bit and question every single character. I was rooting for the main character and could not wait to find out what the heck was going on right alongside her.
The characters were greatly developed. Just enough information was given without dragging it on. The description of the island really painted a great picture and I feel this had the perfect amount of details without going overboard.
Thanks to BookSirens I was able to read this arc for free and this is my honest review.
June 20, 2023
Welcome to Insidious Island, where a select number of travelers arrive at an all-inclusive resort, only to discover their destination has very strict rules:
Do not travel too far into the jungle.
Do not go past the red boundary lines in the ocean.
Lockdown is from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am every day.
Failure to comply may result in death.
Amelia Fuentes is stunned to see armed guards watching over the vacationers 24/7. She’s shocked when every tourist is given a gun. Before long, she realizes that she won’t be leaving any time soon, and this won’t be the vacation of her dreams.
Amelia doesn’t know it yet, but she is special. And as the days go by, and tourists begin disappearing from the island under a cloud of secrecy, she will discover who she is, what she is, and why the decisions she makes on vacation…will change the entire world.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Do not travel too far into the jungle.
Do not go past the red boundary lines in the ocean.
Lockdown is from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am every day.
Failure to comply may result in death.
Amelia Fuentes is stunned to see armed guards watching over the vacationers 24/7. She’s shocked when every tourist is given a gun. Before long, she realizes that she won’t be leaving any time soon, and this won’t be the vacation of her dreams.
Amelia doesn’t know it yet, but she is special. And as the days go by, and tourists begin disappearing from the island under a cloud of secrecy, she will discover who she is, what she is, and why the decisions she makes on vacation…will change the entire world.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 12, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An all expenses paid trip to a tropical island, no need to worry about a thing, and you win it through your local radio station. The problem comes when on the way there you are drugged on the plane, you are drugged on the shuttle to your destination and then you find out this isn’t a vacation after all! Amelia, our little heroine, has been enrolled in The University and soon finds everything is not what it seems.
This book has a lot of twists and plot turns that are really mind blowing especially the final one in this book. For the most part I really liked the book and the characters are well developed. There were some things that were brought up that are very controversial and personally I am tired of hearing about them, but I understood the author’s using them after reading his notes at the end.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I am inclined to want to read more. Will look for book 2 so I can continue the saga.
An all expenses paid trip to a tropical island, no need to worry about a thing, and you win it through your local radio station. The problem comes when on the way there you are drugged on the plane, you are drugged on the shuttle to your destination and then you find out this isn’t a vacation after all! Amelia, our little heroine, has been enrolled in The University and soon finds everything is not what it seems.
This book has a lot of twists and plot turns that are really mind blowing especially the final one in this book. For the most part I really liked the book and the characters are well developed. There were some things that were brought up that are very controversial and personally I am tired of hearing about them, but I understood the author’s using them after reading his notes at the end.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I am inclined to want to read more. Will look for book 2 so I can continue the saga.
July 1, 2023
Amelia thinks she's hit the jackpot when she wins an all-inclusive, tropical vacation. Something she would never be able to afford on her own. But, something seems off from the moment she arrives at her departure gate. And that's just the beginning. A dream vacation or a living nightmare? I would like to give this one 3 1/2 stars. The story was good, but it took a REALLY long time to start getting into the meat of it. The first 70+% of the book was Amelia's inner monologue. Every time the smallest thing happened, she would analyze it in her head for 2-3 pages. She is not the most likeable character and comes off as a bit self righteous and judgemental. This improves a bit as the book goes on and I'm hopeful she shows more growth as the story continues. Things really pick up in the last quarter of the book and left me wanting to read more. I will get the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. I like the story itself, I just wish it had gotten there a bit faster.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2023
The Curse of the Clairvoyant is the first book in the Insidious Island series. It is another phenomenal Kirk Kilgrave story. Kilgrave is the master of mixing genres, making you believe in the unbelievable and the impossible. He creates very relatable characters, with everyday problems magnified by extraordinary circumstances and events. Kilgrave's books bring in the political and social issues of the day, giving all sides their day without judgment, leaving one to ponder perspectives you may not have otherwise.
Like The Curse of the Clairvoyant, the entire series will be a never-ending mystery, wrapped in paranormal intrigue, chaos, action, thrills, hints of romance, some dark edginess, and more. I can hardly wait to delve deeper into the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Like The Curse of the Clairvoyant, the entire series will be a never-ending mystery, wrapped in paranormal intrigue, chaos, action, thrills, hints of romance, some dark edginess, and more. I can hardly wait to delve deeper into the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 21, 2023
There were many times while reading this book, I experienced so many varying emotions. I was angry t when the passengers were tricked and taken to some crazy island. As each layer of what Amélia would find out, I vacillated on how to react. On one hand Mr. Blackwell seemed to take a special interest in Amelia but then something would happen and Amelia would be either in danger or having panic attacks. This book drew me in and would not let go until the end. Then there was the cliffhanger. I need more of this series! Definitely reader recommended.
July 20, 2023
Interesting definition of ‘vacation’! I like that it takes place in the same world that the other books Kirk Kilgrave has written. I enjoyed experiencing The University with as much background information that Amelia had, it allowed me to empathize with her more when she got mad or upset. I also definitely commiserate with her migraines. I greatly enjoyed the book and look forward to more of her story!
July 12, 2023
While this was a slow starting book, it sure caught on fire about halfway through. Great race questions and social issues put forth along with Survivor and spooky Fantasy Island"esque" vibes. Actually a bit harder to lay a finger on describing the story but close enough. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The plot was solid too. I look forward to finding out what is in store next.
May 6, 2025
Too much political commentary
Too much political commentary. Easy to figure out the future story line. Really not a book you can get into and enjoy.
Too much political commentary. Easy to figure out the future story line. Really not a book you can get into and enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews