C. J. Daley
This one has been on my TBR for a minute and when I had the chance to bump it up for the Indie Ink Awards, I didn’t hesitate!
The erstwhile Tyler Kyle has received a video that looks to be proof of his missing mother having been on a remote island. But when his best friend, and YouTube channel counterpart, doesn’t receive permission to visit and Tyler does, he goes ahead without him. Even though they’ve received emails from some super stalker, he goes anyway … because that’s what you do when you’re Tyler Kyle. But as things begin to unravel, both on the island, as well as in Tyler’s life (and mind), he will struggle to find answers even at the cost of his own safety.
First and foremost, since I first saw this cover when the book was announced I honestly have thought the title was The Erstwhile Tyler Kelly, even going so far as to refer to it as such when thinking about it. So feel free to take anything I say with a pinch of salt, because apparently I can’t even read. Don’t judge a book by its cover? Don’t … read a book by its cover. I don’t know.
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to read this for a good while now. The main character of Tyler is one half of a cryptid hunting show that, even if unsuccessful in finding proof, has gone on to find some decent popularity. It made me think of my two best friends in BestGhost, and the author and I have even spoken about some parallels. After getting into this, I can see that the best friends in this certainly have a different dynamic to mine, often flirting with each other to the point of fans launching their own fan-fictions. The book features a rift between them, and a drunken mistake one night is actually why Tyler was so willing to go off alone all willy nilly. Well, that and the fact that there’s a chance for news of his mother.
Tyler is a complicated main character, often propelling himself into situational self-sabotage and unnecessary danger. However, with this being a novel and all, I can forgive him quite a lot, and I do find that I like him overall. As a man that has struggled with his own sense of self and purpose (and attractions), I can even see pieces of myself in Tyler as well, just not the manwhoring. I’ve never been huge on the use of smut or spice scenes in books, however this does do well with showing off how they seem to come at Tyler from all angles. More often than not, these things kind of happen to him, not directly because of him, but most definitely because of how unsure he is. I like that it’s an approach I would not have taken if it were my own writing, personally, and yet it’s an incredibly honest and spot on way to showcase his struggles with self worth. I try hard not to insert my own style onto other’s stories, however when doing so brings to light something that I think is particularly deftly handled, I’m all for it. Westenra has a distinct voice.
If being in love with your best friend and coworker isn’t enough. If your mom going missing and allegedly having stayed on an island with a mock-cowboy that’s definitely the head of a cult isn’t enough either, the author paints the island as its own separate entity. From a bunker in the woods that felt a la Lost (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) that requires swimming through what is essentially a moat, to strange elk-ish monster noises, large “bear traps”, an “art display” of old skeletons nailed to trees, and an insane stray dog population, this place just seems to be one big ball of secrets and deception. This part really brought me enjoyment, I had zero idea where this was going and where it went to eventually my mind hadn’t even considered. I also love the tough conversation around being in any way LGBTQ, as the town’s initial purpose was to be a conversion camp, pushing the limits beyond what is socially, and even legally, acceptable. And I think it was really well developed and delivered in how the people in the town free themselves from one oppressor just to be trapped in a different cage.
Perhaps not the happy ending you’d imagine, but there is a sense of resolution. Between Tyler and Josh, between Tyler and Conrad, Conrad and his people, between the island and its stagnant and bigoted past. People might still be on a leash of sorts, but the taste of freedom is just the beginning for those willing to reach for it. Great for fans of mystery and thriller, with horror and supernatural elements, and a taste of romance—it’s even, in many ways, inherently, darkly humorous. This is unique in a way that I feel has some mass appeal, especially in the current market with CJ Leede, Brian McAuley, and Chuck Tingle’s works being on the rise. I think this would successful share self space with them. I hope you’ll check it out.
This one has been on my TBR for a minute and when I had the chance to bump it up for the Indie Ink Awards, I didn’t hesitate!
The erstwhile Tyler Kyle has received a video that looks to be proof of his missing mother having been on a remote island. But when his best friend, and YouTube channel counterpart, doesn’t receive permission to visit and Tyler does, he goes ahead without him. Even though they’ve received emails from some super stalker, he goes anyway … because that’s what you do when you’re Tyler Kyle. But as things begin to unravel, both on the island, as well as in Tyler’s life (and mind), he will struggle to find answers even at the cost of his own safety.
First and foremost, since I first saw this cover when the book was announced I honestly have thought the title was The Erstwhile Tyler Kelly, even going so far as to refer to it as such when thinking about it. So feel free to take anything I say with a pinch of salt, because apparently I can’t even read. Don’t judge a book by its cover? Don’t … read a book by its cover. I don’t know.
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to read this for a good while now. The main character of Tyler is one half of a cryptid hunting show that, even if unsuccessful in finding proof, has gone on to find some decent popularity. It made me think of my two best friends in BestGhost, and the author and I have even spoken about some parallels. After getting into this, I can see that the best friends in this certainly have a different dynamic to mine, often flirting with each other to the point of fans launching their own fan-fictions. The book features a rift between them, and a drunken mistake one night is actually why Tyler was so willing to go off alone all willy nilly. Well, that and the fact that there’s a chance for news of his mother.
Tyler is a complicated main character, often propelling himself into situational self-sabotage and unnecessary danger. However, with this being a novel and all, I can forgive him quite a lot, and I do find that I like him overall. As a man that has struggled with his own sense of self and purpose (and attractions), I can even see pieces of myself in Tyler as well, just not the manwhoring. I’ve never been huge on the use of smut or spice scenes in books, however this does do well with showing off how they seem to come at Tyler from all angles. More often than not, these things kind of happen to him, not directly because of him, but most definitely because of how unsure he is. I like that it’s an approach I would not have taken if it were my own writing, personally, and yet it’s an incredibly honest and spot on way to showcase his struggles with self worth. I try hard not to insert my own style onto other’s stories, however when doing so brings to light something that I think is particularly deftly handled, I’m all for it. Westenra has a distinct voice.
If being in love with your best friend and coworker isn’t enough. If your mom going missing and allegedly having stayed on an island with a mock-cowboy that’s definitely the head of a cult isn’t enough either, the author paints the island as its own separate entity. From a bunker in the woods that felt a la Lost (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) that requires swimming through what is essentially a moat, to strange elk-ish monster noises, large “bear traps”, an “art display” of old skeletons nailed to trees, and an insane stray dog population, this place just seems to be one big ball of secrets and deception. This part really brought me enjoyment, I had zero idea where this was going and where it went to eventually my mind hadn’t even considered. I also love the tough conversation around being in any way LGBTQ, as the town’s initial purpose was to be a conversion camp, pushing the limits beyond what is socially, and even legally, acceptable. And I think it was really well developed and delivered in how the people in the town free themselves from one oppressor just to be trapped in a different cage.
Perhaps not the happy ending you’d imagine, but there is a sense of resolution. Between Tyler and Josh, between Tyler and Conrad, Conrad and his people, between the island and its stagnant and bigoted past. People might still be on a leash of sorts, but the taste of freedom is just the beginning for those willing to reach for it. Great for fans of mystery and thriller, with horror and supernatural elements, and a taste of romance—it’s even, in many ways, inherently, darkly humorous. This is unique in a way that I feel has some mass appeal, especially in the current market with CJ Leede, Brian McAuley, and Chuck Tingle’s works being on the rise. I think this would successful share self space with them. I hope you’ll check it out.