Don’t Give Into Fear: Hollywood Horror, Movie Stars, Machetes, and Satanic Rituals.

by Yuichi Sin

Hollywood's a bitch. She'll eat you alive. Jack Cunningham, OTOH, prefers you carefully butchered, thoroughly de-boned, lightly seasoned, pan-fried or grilled, medium well-done, thank you very much. People come to Tinseltown for many reasons—to act, write, make movies, make music. Some just come to die. Jack learns the hard way it takes talent, luck and perseverance. So he becomes an agent instead. A killer agent. And zeros in on one special client...actress Rayna Rourke. Why wouldn't she be interested? Jack's young and handsome, with a love of glitz and glamour she's willing to overlook for the sake of her career. He drags her up the food chain, literally, exploiting the flaws of LA's entitled locals, creating his own rich cuisine from a cookbook of old movies, self-help baloney, imagination and failed dreams. The secret ingredient? It's not love. If you run into Jack, you might just survive, as long as you... DON'T GIVE INTO FEAR...

Genres: Horror

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2021

Reviews

[Adeana Libman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was absolutely not what I imagined it would be and that might be a good thing, I like an author who can totally throw me off course!

Jack C. Cunningham is a psychopath of the highest degree, raised by surefire sociopaths so
I guess nurture over nature in this scenario. What an interesting narrator he ended up being. The multiple POVs in this novel were actually done quite well, I got hooked on to multiple characters. However, this brings me to a criticism. I am gutted when authors get us connected to a character only to kill them off/ruin their life which is what Sin did for me with Larry and Hoffsberger. I wanted better for them. I also think the self-centredness of certain characters made it impossible for me to connect with them at all (cough cough Rayna).

What I think Sin does well is create a very addictive and twisty plot. This book had all the makings of a great horror/psychological thriller. However, I think there needs to be a bit of cleaning up in terms of the writing and the flow of the novel. The leaping to different POVs was something I enjoyed but also could have been clearer at some parts of the novel. It would changed from paragraph to paragraph which did my head in a bit.

Overall, I would read more by Yuichi Sin, looking forward to him honing his craft!

[Leylaˢ ᵖᵃᵍᵉˢ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhere in the world people go to parties to have fun, eat supper for the flavor and nourishment, take in a show for entertainment. In Hollywood, it's all to get ahead, to be seen, connect maybe, belong.

Don't Give Into Fear is about the dark and seedy side of the Hollywood entertainment industry. The story revolves around a series of interconnected characters, each with their own vices, ambitions, and secrets. The plot explores themes of corruption, betrayal, and the pursuit of fame at any cost.

Several aspects of the book are problematic and detract significantly from the overall experience:

One of the most irritating issues is the author's portrayal of women. Female characters are frequently objectified and reduced to mere sexual objects, which feels outdated and discomforting. This approach undermines the potential depth and complexity these characters could have brought to the story.

Additionally, the plot lacks cohesion. The narrative jumps between scenes in a disjointed manner, which made it difficult for me to follow the storyline. Furthermore, the writing style—particularly the overuse of em dashes—was often awkward and poorly executed, making it feel unnatural and disrupting the flow of the story. There is also an overuse of made up abbreviations/acronyms, which further complicates the reading experience and detracts from the narrative's clarity. I found myself skimming a lot through the story, which honestly I never do.

While the book’s ending is okay and wraps up the story, I found the side characters' points of view to be much more engaging than the main plot. If there was any at all.

Perhaps readers who fancy dark humor and Hollywood movies are interested this book. I'm guessing my age (2001 baby) made me miss out on a lot of references to these movies. I would not necessarily describe the book as a horror, yes there are some graphic descriptions but it was not the kind that keeps me up at night or had me at the edge of my seat.

Thank you Booktasters for a copy.

[Wanny Syazzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect when first bumped my head into this book. Actually I never read anything about satanic kind of things so I guess I wanted to try reading something out of my zone. However the title made me a little uncomfortable at first. The genre was somewhat confusing me it was somewhere in between the one I loved and the one I felt like throwing it away because it freaked me out. Overall I could say I enjoyed the book but somehow couldn’t really concentrate on it as my schedule was quite busy for now. Maybe it was the wrong timing for me to read it. I think I’m gonna reread it soon it could probably give me a different feeling. Who knows right?

[Idanijiye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character despite being a psychopath captured the reader's attention in a fascinating way. I was always looking forward to what he would do next. It was a fascinating read, fast paced and action packed. It would fall in the thriller, slasher category for me, rather than outright horror. For an author's first work, it was outstanding.

[Nkesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yuichi Sin's debut novel Don't Give Into Fear proves to be something that lovers of Hollywood noir and dark psych thrillers will appreciate. It is a kind of macabre and confrontational read that resembles a wild ride through the questionable side of showbiz where fame and fortune come with a gruesome price. With its blend of horror, thrills, and detective drama, the novel paints a chilling portrait of ambition, betrayal, and survival in Tinseltown.

The novel primarily follows Jack C. Cunningham, an agent who rises through Hollywood's ranks with a cutthroat attitude and a bloodthirsty secret. His latest client, Rayna Rourke, is a young actress eager to make it big. But her journey to stardom is far from glamorous, marked by tragedy and violence. As Jack's dark tendencies surface, the novel weaves through Hollywood's glitz and gore, revealing a world where human life holds little value, and people will do anything for their moment in the spotlight.

While I appreciated the writing style, and how it alternated between first-person and third-person perspectives, it sometimes became jarring when the sudden POV shifts that disrupted the flow of the story. The characterisation is another element I found a bit problematic, especially where the women characters are concerned. They could use some depth and care in how they are portrayed. I found this to be very dated, but also wondered if perhaps it speaks to the setting of the novel and its world.

Overall, the novel is a debut that shows promise with how it manages to keep readers engaged with its fast-paced, twist-filled narrative. The author's ability to craft tension suggests that his future works could become standout psychological thrillers with a bit more refinement. The exploration of fame, human nature, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of success resonates on a deeper level, especially in the context of Hollywood’s notorious history of exploitation.

Special thanks to Booktasters for providing the opportunity to review this book.

[Nikoleta Grigerova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Give Into Fear is the first book that Yuichi Sin wrote, and after reading it, I can’t wait for him to write more books.
This book is kind of the horror / detective drama. It’s heavily focused on Hollywood, and the movie industry. It’s about a guy, an actor and agent named Jack, who lives in Hollywood, and is currently an agent to a new actress Rayna. Along the way Rayna gets missing, and 2 detectives from that are friends with her parents come look for her. Besides Rayna missing, there are also some murders that happen.
Don’t Give Into Fear made me feel quite a few emotions. It was funny at times, but it was a true horror book. I don’t recommend eating while reading some parts. It also made me feel a little bit sorry for the murderer after reading what they had to go through in their past. Growing up like that, I’m not sure I’d be okay either. The whole story had a nice flow, where you were always excited to see what’ll happen on the next page. The ending was surprising, so you won’t get bored until the end.
I found the writing style unique, because every chapter is told from a different character’s point of view. Also, when the chapter focuses on the main character, the story has 1st person POV, and all other characters have 3rd person POV, which I think is quite smart and unique thing to do.
The reason I’m giving this book 4 starts is because of a continuous movie references, which I didn’t get since I don’t know most of the movies, and I feel like I kind of lost some of the plot. It might be because I’m a foreigner and I don’t care that much for Hollywood movies. But I’m sure movie fans with love this.
I recommend this book to those who like horror and detective genre (and are also okay with graphic display of violence and murder), and to Hollywood movies fans.

[Karlie Gries]

The premise of this book interested me and I love a psychopathic killer so I was in.

As I began reading, there were a few things that distracted my reading experience. For one, the acronyms were pretty constant and while I understand they were probably meant to illustrate his obsession and psychopathy, I feel we still would have understood this part of him with much fewer references to it. The references to movies and actors were also constant, with the author sometimes referring to as many as 13 actors in two sentences. There were other niche references and obscure details or times the narrator went to reference random topics and would then tell the reader to go google it.
Something confusing that I felt could have been avoided were the two main detectives names. Their names were George Landon and Larry Gregg and their first and last names were used interchangeably making it difficult to distinguish them. This I adjusted to and it was not the biggest offense to my reading experience but I felt I would include it because it bothered me for a while and I believe it could have been easily avoided and made for a better reading experience.

Overall, I was interested in the story. I love a tale of cat and mouse and enjoyed the alternating POVs. I felt walking with the other characters made this story more engaging and fascinating. I also felt including the main characters' childhood and past added depth to the story and his character.

Unfortunately, for me, the distractions outweighed the story. If you are a huge movie buff and love movie references and history with niche bits of information then you may really love this. If you aren’t into this added layer then it may feel distracting and keep you from feeling fully engrossed in the book.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This meticulously researched and engagingly written book offers a fascinating exploration of the darker aspects of Hollywood's history. By skillfully intertwining true crime narratives, entertainment history, and paranormal mystique, the author has crafted a compelling and unsettling volume that will appeal to scholars and enthusiasts alike.
The author's writing style is characterized by its clarity, fluidity, and narrative sophistication, making this a highly readable and absorbing work. The book's central focus on the intersection of Hollywood's storied past and the darker aspects of human nature is both thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating.
One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to balance academic rigor with popular appeal, rendering it an excellent choice for both academic and general audiences. The author's use of primary sources, archival research, and expert interviews adds depth and nuance to the narrative, while the writing remains accessible and engaging.The novel presents a riveting and unsettling excavation of the sinister underbelly of Hollywood, adeptly intertwining narratives of horror, enigma, and intrigue set against the verdant backdrop of Tinseltown's ostensible glamour. By melding true crime, entertainment history, and paranormal mystique, the author has crafted a work that will captivate aficionados of podcasts like "My Favorite Murder" and "Lore"

Overall, I would highly recommend "Don't Give Into Fear" to anyone seeking a captivating and unsettling read. Be prepared, however, to find yourself ensconced in a state of heightened vigilance, necessitating illumination throughout the nocturnal hours

[Mylife Style · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Give Into Fear” by Yuichi Sin is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of Hollywood. The novel follows Jack Cunningham, a ruthless agent who will stop at nothing to climb the ladder of success, and Rayna Rourke, an aspiring actress caught in his web of manipulation and deceit.

As an English student, I found the novel’s exploration of themes such as ambition, fear, and the corrupting influence of power particularly compelling. Sin’s writing style is both vivid and engaging, painting a stark picture of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood contrasted with its sinister side. The characters are well-developed, with Jack’s complex personality and Rayna’s vulnerability adding depth to the narrative.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is its ability to maintain suspense throughout. The plot twists and turns, keeping the reader on edge and eager to find out what happens next. Sin’s use of descriptive language and imagery enhances the eerie atmosphere, making the reader feel as though they are right there in the midst of the action.

Overall, “Don’t Give Into Fear” is a thought-provoking and thrilling read that offers a unique perspective on the price of fame and the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone interested in the darker side of human nature.

[Miracle Meryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while for me to finish this one. Please check the trigger warning before diving in. You need to be in the right headspace before starting this book.

The narrative follows Jack Cunningham, a ruthless agent who will stop at nothing to climb the ladder of success, and Rayna Rourke, an aspiring actress caught in his web of manipulation and deceit. This debut novel by Sin is filled with suspense, dark twists, and complex characters.

The details, story, and plot are reminiscent of crime documentaries, which I'm a fan of. However, there are aspects that I didn't particularly enjoy. I'm not really a fan of the excessive use of acronyms, and the movie references felt like a bit of a brag. It's great that the author watched many movies, but it can be overwhelming for readers who aren't as familiar with them.

Another confusing part was the author's shift from third person to first person within a single chapter. It felt like you had to catch up constantly, or you might not survive Jack Cunningham's intense world. Hahaha!

Despite this, I genuinely enjoyed the book. It showcases the extremes of ambition and desperation and the dangerous situations and consequences that can arise from it.

Thank you so much, @booktaster, for the free copy.

[Reemahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone sees Hollywood as the land of opportunities and fame. The place were movies come to live and stars are found. However, this novel dive into the ugly side of the land of dreams. A side filled with blood, abuse and horror. Everyone want a piece from the pie and is welling to do anything to get it.

The main character, Jack C. Cunningham or his real name Porter Skully, a young actor chasing his dream in fame and fortune, but he is also thirsty for blood. This young actor come from an a troubled childhood and an abusive family. He grew up to be angry at the world and whenever he walks, lives are taken and bodies are piling. He also had appetite for human flesh or Cannibalism

There is also Rayna, a young woman wants to be a big Hollywood star. She had what it takes to be a star, but her path to fame is painted with pain and blood.

The characters were all interesting and I loved the way the author let each character tell us his side of the story. Also enjoyed when a character makes a reference to scene from a famous movie, felt like history.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Booktasters for the complimentary review copy!

People come to Hollywood for many reasons - to make movies, to make music, to become rich and famous. Some people come to die. Jack learned all of this the hard way, so he became an agent who breaks others into the business instead. When he settles on actress Rayna Rourke, he knows he can take her all the way to the top. After all, Jack has a secret ingredient for success - don’t give into fear.

I rarely choose a book by the cover, but this one scared the pants off me so I had to grab it! The premise of the story - all the dark and spooky things that go on behind the scenes in Hollywood - was fascinating to me. After all, it can’t all be glitz and glamor. The plot was a little confusing at points, and felt a little disjointed, but overall, this was an entertaining read. With dark humor and Hollywood references, it was fun to read into my typical thrillers and horror books.

”Don’t Give Into Fear” is out now. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[aji ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

This book was definitely a wild ride, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. Jack Cunningham, the main character, is a total psychopath, and following his twisted perspective was fascinating. The plot is fast-paced and packed with twists, but the constant jumping between different points of view sometimes made it hard to keep up.

There were characters I got attached to (Larry and Hoffsberger were my favorites), but some, like Rayna, fell flat for me. The Hollywood setting was interesting, though the constant movie references went over my head at times. And heads up—there’s a lot of graphic violence, so it’s not for the squeamish.

Overall, it’s a decent thriller with some memorable moments, but the chaotic storytelling and a few flat characters held it back for me. Worth a try if you’re into dark, twisty reads!

(ty booktasters for this book!)

[Luis Orozco Aragón · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came by this book through Booktasters in Exchange for an honest review.

Mr Sin’s book is a fantastic book. Short, yet full of old and new movie references, it’s DEFINETLY a MUST READ for any movie lover and a treat for those of us who love movie references specially horror/thriller ones. The story is placed in LA and you can really feel the city’s vibe on the book pages. You’re constantly inside the mind of a very twisted and intelligent sociopath which makes the book only better! A couple of deux-ex-machina moments that can be justified for the sakes of story continuation, this book will definitely a page turner that will leave any reader waiting and hungry for more deliveries from Mr Sin.

[Emz G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect from this book. It was in equal parts fascinating and absolutely horrifying. It has a lot of snippets and reference to many historical movies and actors from years past, so if you are a movie buff, you will definitely enjoy this trip down memory lane, chuckling at some anecdotes and remembering memorable lines in a number of seminal movies.

The main character Jack and who he is now seems to have originated from his childhood. However later in the book, it seems like his early reminiscences from his childhood and his love hate relationship with his parents could have mostly have been in his mind? Since that does not explain his fixation with the types of "steak" he ate. Gosh!!! I was horrified. How this dysfunctional human being on the fringes of Hollywood was able to get by and do what he was able to do mostly because no one seemed to care about what was happening around them. A sort of dystopian and dysfunctional society that is fixated with the fake and fictional aspects of only becoming famous.

The way the book ended and the fact that Jack has an affinity for a certain type of steak, makes me believe that there is definitely a sequel to this book. There is no way he will stop doing what he does. That itch will have to be scratched. Will he be caught?

I was so appalled at what I was reading but I could not put this book down. If you love action, mystery, a little bit of murder and are a movie buff - this book is for you.

[Oyinkansola Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first, I finished this book in less than a day. That’s how interesting it was. I was horrified whilst reading the book because what do you mean you are a cannibal? And the fact that he kept killing people in charge of the case which meant Justice was far fetched was scary because this is the reality of most unsolved murders.

I’m extra pissed that Porter didn’t get to pay for his crime (preferably in a slow torturous way).

In all, I like that the imagery in the book made my imagination run wild as it felt like I was a third party witnessing the events.

I hope every porter skulls is caught and tortured, sighhh.

[Reading with Ren🍒📖 · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.25 stars**

This book was definitely out of my comfort zone. With that being said, I did not totally hate it. It was definitely disturbing, as advertised, but there was a nice flow to it and I found myself intrigued through the entire book.

The best way I can describe this book would be Silence of the Lambs meets American Psycho.

I will say, PLEASE RESEARCH THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. I did not and was definitely shocked and overwhelmed at times. However, this was a good book to guide me into spooky season!

TW for book: cannibalism, descriptions of sexual acts, sexual assault, detailed descriptions of murder

[Kelsey Ducote Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hollywood’s a bitch. She’ll eat you alive.

Here is an absolute Halloween horror. Don’t Give Into Fear dives into the dark and seedy side of Hollywood’s entertainment industry and the risks one takes for fame. Our MMC Jack, survives an abusive childhood only to become power hungry for success without any concern for the blood and lives that might interfere with his goals. Psychopathic obsessions, homicide detections, glitz, glamor… truly a lot occurring in this book.

Not my usual type, but if you are looking for a psychological thriller this one will leave you with many WTF moments.

Thank you @booktasters_ for the opportunity to read this book!

[Oloruntosin Sofolahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning! The writing style is cocky yet beautiful.
Jack C. Cunningham, aka Porter Skully, is a highly disturbed young man who was a cannibal, lived inside his head and wanted to manage actors. The book takes us into the made-up world of Jack, where reality is distorted, and we are almost gaslighted into sympathising with him. He brought death along with him everywhere and left chaos with anguish in his path.
If you are into thrillers, carnage, blood, and Hollywood's history, you will enjoy it a lot! I highly recommend.
I am not sure if it's because of the format I was sent, but the spacing, paragraphs and font size were off-putting.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a horror book with a Hollywood theme.

I didn't find it scary exactly, but it was quite a fun, entertaining horror read. At the start, the narrator introduces himself as Jack C. Cunningham. I liked the way he talked to the reader, both about himself and others. Something about him sparked my interest.

Reading on, I found this book a little bit humorous, in a dark sort of way, and I enjoyed all the references to film and television that were scattered throughout. If you're a horror reader who also happens to be a film buff, this book may be your kind of thing.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was completely gripping from beginning to end. The distinguished difference between ‘Jack’s’ chapters and those from other perspectives made this a super easy and compelling read. The level of gore, horror, and thriller blended perfectly to ensure it remained completely plausible in the bleakest way. The references to Hollywood, and old Hollywood films, were perfectly sprinkled throughout. Couldn’t put it down and recommend to everyone who enjoys a darker side to their reading!

[Mirela Lohja · Rating 4 out of 5]

That novel its intense and captivating, diving into the darker side of Hollywood. The characters are complex and intriguing, especially with their unique perspectives on the industry. It's interesting how the author weaves in famous movie references, adding depth to the story. The setting in LA enhance the overall atmosphere of the book.
It’s a must-read for those who enjoy thrillers and movie references.

[IEU · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover and title alone made me eager to read this book! It was definitely a great choice! The combination of an unfamiliar setting with a personally favorite genre was fantastic! The deep secrets woven into Hollywood and its characters make you want to keep reading. If you're a fan of horror, this story will captivate you and urge you to read quickly. There's something irresistible about the dark and frightening genre. I couldn't get enough of the allure of the characters.

[Reeds Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. From start to finish this book had me intrigued. The author did a great job of creating the characters. I have no complaints at all.

The writing for this book was beautiful. The author clearly avoided using telling words because everytime action was described it was violently portrayed.

If you get the chance to read this one I would highly recommend it. The ending is great too. This book is high quality writing and a well worked through plot.

[Skylar Bucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It shows us the behind the scenes of Hollywood and a particular crazy killer Jack C Cunningham. Rayna gets arrested for his killings, but her new attorney helped her get out and becoming famous like she wanted.

George Landon and Marry Gregg’s bodies never turned up, and neither wife remarried.

Jack now lives in NY under a new name which he says he’ll tell us later.

Overall really interesting story and good to read if you like thrillers!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

While horror is not my vibe, I really found myself enjoying this book!
I was emotionally invested the whole way through and I enjoyed the way the author portrayed a dark side to Hollywood. It also felt very much like its own thing. I love when stories have new ideas and are not just recycling the content that came before it. Great characters and a plot that kept me wanting to know more!

[Musa Nana Rukaiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely unhinged, I knew it was horror but I was thoroughly horrified. Just when I thought I'd gotten to the peak of it, another shocking twist surfaces.
I loved the over pace and tempo of the book, although I did get confused with how the POVs were switched. But overall it was a great read and Jack C. Cunningham is the king of psychopaths.

[William Ringold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a quick read, not short but the time does fly. Disturbing where it needs to be, but with all the best components of horror, biting satire, an ironic viewpoint, a self-absorbed protagonist. What stands out is the writing, its sleek and targeted. Really well done overall.

[Hailey Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book hoping it would be really good. While I enjoyed the book I definitely feel like it was missing something and had some errors. But the gore was written pretty good and I honestly enjoyed the characters for the most part. Overall it was a a decent read.

[Namitha Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to try a different genre and picked this book. I did not know what to expect. The lead character who is supposed to be hated and we somehow seem to understand him while fearing his actions. It was a different read and a good one for a one-time read.