Full review on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aowXruZrzix7LFxOE7Fek?si=e40bc963ebcb4a36

3.5 ⭐️

If I had to describe this novel in the word, that word would be "challenging". It was a story that threw me for a loop. Suddenly I liked it. Suddenly I was very interested, suddenly it made me despair, and suddenly it made me put the kindle aside and not touch it for days. But you know what? It's okay. It's great when a novel grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go, but I also appreciate stories that make you struggle a bit more, that ask you to pay attention to details, that ask you to be patient and face little things you might not like along the way.

I didn't love the division of the chapters (it made me a bit desperate, as I felt Tyler didn't make much progress and just wandered around the island), but I liked the author's writing style. What a way to combine genres like horror, comedy and romance. The setting was a great touch, all these dangerous island vibes, cults and secrets offered me a great sense of immersion. While the protagonist felt like too much at some point, by the end I ended up really caring about him and ached to see him suffer repeatedly. Who I think takes the cake as MVP is Josh and the dynamic he has alongside Tyler. I can't wait to read more about this pair!

The horror, gore and its aftermath were also shocking. I appreciate that it did not feel like gratuitous violence and that importance was also given to the marks left by these situations. What happens in this book is not for everyone and I suggest that the content warnings offered in the first few pages be heeded.

In summary, The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle is a read that surprised me quite a bit, and while it demanded my patience, it rewarded me with a great ending. I highly recommend it to all lovers of horror and lgbtq+ themes!

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle.
It was a good horror comedy and I had fun reading it!
The only negative is that the story could be a little confusing at times and there were some pacing issues that made this book a little difficult to get through but i definitely don't regret pushing through as they were so many good scenes in this book as well!

The characters were fun and I really liked Tyler!
The book also made me laugh a few times which happens rarely.
I definitely would still recommend this book!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

Hey there, book lovers! If you're looking for a wild ride that'll keep you up all night, you gotta check out 'The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle'! This horror comedy is lnothing you've ever read before - it's like 'Twin Peaks' and 'Ghost Files' had a baby, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Tyler Kyle is a lovable mess of a protagonist who's searching for his missing mom, and let me tell you, he gets way more than he bargained for. The island he ends up on is seriously creepy, and the secrets that come to light will have you going "whoa, didn't see that coming!"

Westenra's writing is super engaging and funny, and they're not afraid to tackle some heavy themes. The queer representation is amazing, and I love how it's woven into the story. It's like having a conversation with your witty friend who's telling you a crazy-but-true story.

Anyway, if you're looking for a book that'll keep you on the edge of your seat and make you laugh out loud, grab 'The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle' and buckle up, buttercup! 😱🎉"

This book is not for everyone, but you can bet I'm recommending it to my horror groups and horror loving friends. If you want dark mystery and violence, there's plenty of that here, but this book also has that extra ingredient I personally think makes horror so much better: humor. The main character is perfectly snarky, and some of the darkest situations are described in hilariously descriptive ways.
There was also a lot of courage and intelligence, very pleasant in horror stories, which usually depend on characters making dumb choices. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

If you are looking for a horror story with snark and queer representation, this book is for you. Now, I’m not generally a horror novel reader, but this was so very good. It’s definitely not for the lighthearted and it made me so so stressed, but it was compelling. Both the storyline and characters were so fleshed out. I was attached to all of them and felt deeply about what they were going through, even the characters who showed up later in the book. I felt very immersed in the world building and the twists kept me on the edge of my seat!

Recently, I was looking for new books to read, and I came across The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra. Once I saw the title and book cover, I knew I had to read it, and I’m glad I did. The story immediately plunges readers into a mesmerizing narrative that deftly intertwines horror, comedy, mystery, romance, and psychological thriller twists that creates a story as rich and captivating as it is unique. And its vibrant storytelling and strong character dynamics craft an experience that is not simply a journey into the supernatural but an exploration of human emotions and relationships.

Tyler Kyle is the novel’s snarky, witting, and darkly humorous main character who immediately draws readers into his complex world. Who is he? He is a thirty-year-old, washed-up actor turned reluctant cryptid investigator who sets out on a deeply person mission. The mission? Find his supposedly dead mother. He receives footage from a mysterious stalker that leads him to the eerie and secluded Echo Island. His quest promises to unravel dark and twisted secrets that force him to confront his own fears and desires, particularly those surrounding his relationship with his best friend Josh, who claims to like women. The novel presents a masterful balance of tension and chemistry between Tyler and Josh that becomes a slow-burn romance between the two.

Two things make this novel stand out. First, there is Westenra’s prose. It is at once hypnotic and lyrical, allowing readers to experience the full spectrum of emotions — from the panic and dread expected in a horror story to the tension of the romantic subplot. This, especially, comes across in the story’s character development. This storytelling dexterity keeps the story’s narrative grounded, even when the plot ventures into the fantastical and surreal.

The second is the story’s horror elements. This is one area that can make or break a story faster than someone can scream. Unlike some horror stories, this one does not rely on jump scares or graphic violence. Instead, it draws more on the deeply unsettling from its atmospheric and psychological elements. This much more subtle approach to horror, along with its moments of searing dark humor, makes the novel a standout in its genre.

Overall, The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle is a brilliantly crafted novel that isn’t easily shoved into a single category. It is a demonstration of the power of genre-blending in storytelling, and it gives readers a richly textured narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. For those seeking a story that combines the best elements of horror, comedy, and romance with strong character development and a captivating plot, this novel is a must-read.

[Originally posted in Illumination on Medium.]

There was so much going on in here! This book had the feeling of a queer-indie-horror-video game, if that means anything to you, but I think this would be really cool with some kind of graphic/visual content. Overall, I couldn't have predicted exactly where we ended up, but I did figure some of the reveals out before they came. The pacing also felt a little inconsistent to me, where we lingered sometimes in certain scenes and sped through others, and I couldn't really get a grasp on a lot of the secondary characters, or the actual scale of the setting in terms of area or population. Overall, though, I had a fun time with Tyler and Josh and Kayla, even though I'm still wrapping my brain around the more bananas parts of this!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Blending genres is so hard to get right, but this book nails it. The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle glues the reader to the page with its constant gear-switching between horror, romance, fantasy, and mystery. Huge fan of horror, especially when it’s as gory and as detailed as this.

Rating: 3.88 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2/5
-Cover: 4/5
-Story: 2/5
-Writing: 3/5
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, LGBT, Romance
-Fantasy: 4/5
-Horror: 1/5
-LGBT: 4/5
-Romance: 3/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Ehh

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

This whole book was... something. I liked the base of the story and adore podcast/youtube type books. From the beginning though it was just so confusing. That threw me off for most of the book because then towards the middle it just slowed down. Then the characters, Tyler especially, wasn't someone I connected or even really liked. I felt like he had me by the collar and was dragging me everywhere.

This book may not be for me. I couldn't get into it but I can respect the writing style which is punchy and quirky, and the voice is consistent.

Giving 3 stars because I'm not going to punish a book for my feral ADHD and I sincerely think this is a clever concept and I will recommend it to readers I think will enjoy it.

3.5

Setting: Canada
Rep: queer protagonists; mostly queer cast; trans author; BIPOC side characters

This is a weird ass book. It's a mash up of several genres and for a lot of it I wasn't sure what direction it was going in. It is also a long ass book - it took me a while to get through! I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it but it was a good book, so it's a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I was so pleased to be allowed to read The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle through Net Galley even though it has already been published.

This book was a hilarious and gruesome fever dream about a man struggling with his sexual identity and feelings for his best friend all while getting tangled in the mystery of his missing mother and the purpose of the shady island and its secrets.

There is no way to anticipate where things are going to go in this story and that's part of what makes it outstanding.

I loved this book and it kept hitting me with heartbreaking twists and turns I didn't see coming. Truly a rollercoaster ride. It had so many moments that made my heart race and made me laugh out loud. Could not recommend enough. 10/10 no notes.

**SPOILERS**

Tyler is a Youtuber who investigates cryptids and other mysteries with his best friend, who he is in love with but was recently rejected by. He receives a strange video featuring his mother, a B Movie Star, from an unknown source he believes is a stalker. The strange video propels him to go investigate his mother's last known whereabouts, a weird island.

Tyler's quest to get information about his Mother who left when he was a child takes him to a secluded island that is populated with all manner of strange and interesting people who are all queer. Lorded over by a larger than life and oddly charismatic man in a cowboy hat who moonlights as a Drag Queen, Tyler discovers packs of roving dogs, sleepwalkers, strange vibrations in the forest as well as strange hypnotic creatures.

Tyler visits during the Island's famous Dog Days annual celebration and while he investigates his mother's connection to the island he discovers pieces of a larger mystery all while he obsesses over the dynamics of his relationship with his best friend. Things go sideways when it turns out the stalker was on the island all along. Not only that, the island has a strange effect on its residents, making it impossible to leave as well as other strange and unusual changes. A lot happens in this story and the author managed to wrap everything up in a neat bow.

Short synopsis: Cryptid-hunting influencer goes into the woods to solve a mystery that he has a personal connection with in a smart, gory, comedic horror novel with strong queer representation.

I can't think of a higher difficultly level in genre writing than horror comedy. You have to construct tension and please seen-it-all horror fans. You have to be funny, which is just really hard. You have to be clever to convince the audience that they have to be sharp to keep up. The action has to move fast to keep the audience's attention - no soaking in gothic dread here. Plus, there has to be real emotion grounding it or it's just a forgettable puff of smoke.

The book that comes to mind when I read this was The Dresden Files, which engages in similar high wire act of marrying action, wit and a deepening mystery. One of my favorite series of all time. But, it reminded me of early Dresden Files, which are notably the work on an author still finding his footing. (Want to be clear I am talking about quality of writing and not the famously cringe-y boob-talk elements of those books.)

Basically, I liked this book, but I think the author has only scratched the surface of his potential.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher and TRULY, best of luck to Steve Hugh Westenra.

Title: The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle
Author: Steve Hugh Westenra
Pub Date: 13/Oct/23
Publisher: Victory Editing
Genre: Horror
Percentage read: DNF at 40%
Youtube: February Wrap Up video, 3/3/24
The StoryGraph: 7/2/24
Instagram: Review post on 9/2/24
So Tyler Kyle is a youtuber with his friend. They investigate cryptid sightings together and although Tyler knows that his friend is heterosexual, he has confusing feelings of romantic love towards him. After they drunkenly kiss one night Tyler decides to investigate a video he was sent, by his stalker, revealing a link with his long lost mother. However, when he arrives on the island he is overwhelmed by the ominous feeling and odd occurrences that seem to be going on the island. Will Tyler find the answers he wants and will he figure out his own sexuality questions along the way?!
This review will only comment on the experience of reading it to 40%. This novel is written in the first person and is overtly stream of consciousness. Although this is not my favourite style of writing, I did love the amount of queer representation there was. There were references to Canadian folklore which was fun too. If you enjoy books that feel like a fever dream this is definitely for you. There is something about Tyler and the plot that makes you want to know what happens and find out what’s going on. And while I did not find it funny or particularly atmospheric, I can see how a lot of people would get that aspect. I also really wanted to know the outcome of Tyler telling his friend how he feels. However, all of this was not enough to keep me reading. While I could see the potential of the plot and the characters, I felt it would have benefitted from a couple more rounds of editing (Tyler read like he was a teenager instead of in his thirties); and potentially a sensitivity reader due to the nature of many of the themes. For example, references to gender, sexuality, race, religion, and ethnicity were all bandied about in a very jarring way that was not always called for, or appropriate. I wonder if this was intended to be social commentary, if this is the case I support it 100% and this is why I am still making the effort to review a book I did not finish. More editing I feel would work out the disjointed nature of the sentence structure and flow. As a reader, I want to be shown more and less of the telling what to visualise.

Whew, what a ride!

That title. That cover. That synopsis. How could I not insta-request The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle?

Unlike other reviews I'm seeing, it actually took me a little while to fully get into the book. I just could not tell where it was going, and what everyone's deal was. But once I did, I was absolutely hooked. I love the characters, the setting, the "soundtrack", the writing, and especially the representation. It's subversive, it's part mystery - part horror, it's sometimes gross, and at times hard to follow, but at the heart it's a love story, and I loved it.

This book is out now, read it!

So thankful to the author for writing this, and to Victory Editing NetGalley for the e-book I received in exchange for an honest review.

Tyler Kyle is kind of an ahole, but a charismatic and sarcastic ahole. To escape his best friend slash cryptid hunting YouTube co-host Josh (who Tyler is hopelessly in love with), the ever self-depricating. Tyler decides to investigate the mystery of his missing B-movie actress mother Virginia Kyle.

After receiving a cryptic video of his long missing mother and a clue involving a mysterious island that once was the home of a conversion therapy camp, Tyler enters a conspiracy greater than anything he could have imagined. The residents of Echo Island are cut off from society with no Internet, no cell service, a despot-like town leader, and a hush-hush Stepford wife response to all of Tyler's questions.

But is Echo Island a prison or a sanctuary? Tyler will have to discover the town's secrets on his own, but perhaps he has more in common with the townsfolk of Echo Island than he originally thought.

I was blown away by this book! Greek Mythology and LGBTQAIP representation meets John Dies At The End style sarcasm.

The blurb for this book hooked me but the story and the characters had me devouring it in a single sitting. I laughed, I cried (twice), and I will 100% be buying a physical copy to keep on my bookshelf.

Fabulous read. Huge fan of horror, especially when it’s as gory and as detailed as this. Writing was superb, if slightly above my levels of intelligence (thank you, kindle, for your dictionary definitions). Will be recommending!

This was a good novel by a first time author for me. Wasn't really scary to me, but enjoyable still. Look forward to more by the author

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this upcoming release!

I must be honest, this was bizarre. It is eclectic at its best and drawn out at its worst. On paper I should have loved this but I think for me it just fell flat. I don’t think it’s the books doing, it just was not for me.

4.5 stars

I loved this. I was invested from the jump.
Steve Westenra has written a phenomenal genre bending novel. It is obviously a horror novel but with so much heart and humor.

I can’t wait to own this as a physical copy ❤️