⭐⭐⭐
Overall, I enjoyed Influencer by Adam Cesare, just not quite enough to bump it higher.
The concept is great: a horror story rooted in internet fame, parasocial chaos, and the curated madness of influencer culture. Cesare leans into the world of streaming and online personas, blending satire and genuine menace. When the horror elements surface, they’re energetic and entertaining, the sort of scenes that make you feel like you’re watching a livestream spiral completely out of control.
My biggest hurdle was the pacing. The opening takes its time, maybe a bit too much, especially when we’re spending pages with characters who are intentionally shallow and irritating for the sake of commentary. It’s effective, but not always engaging. Once the story hits its stride, it becomes a much smoother ride, and the tension grows nicely. Even then, some of the scares land better than others; a few moments feel brilliantly creepy, while a couple feel predictable or underdeveloped.
On the positive side, the social media angle is handled well. There’s a real sense of how performative online life can be, and Cesare captures that hunger for attention—both the harmless and the dangerous varieties. It feels contemporary without being cringey, and the book offers flashes of sharp insight into how we interact with audiences and strangers.
Having said all this, I did have a good time with it. It’s not a new favourite, but a fun, fast, modern horror read that delivers enough to keep you turning the pages, even if it doesn’t fully shine all the way through.
Gareth Ellis - Author 