We start with Tyler Kyle who has just arrived on Echo Island, seeking the mother that abandoned him many moons ago. With new footage of her whereabouts and an unfortunate identity crisis to escape, it seems like the perfect time to head out to a suspicious, desolate island full of things that go bump in the night.
When he arrives, the reception isn’t exactly warm. That coupled with Tyler being hung up on the fact he drunkenly made out with his best friend and has no idea what that means, makes for an interesting head space on the island. Torn up over feelings of does he or doesn’t he love me back, Tyler throws himself to the mystery of his mother and the island itself. People here are weird, secretive, and even when they try to help, things get a little funky. This place would be perfect his YouTube channel that he shares with said best friend, but Tyler really needs Josh to stay the hell away for both of their sakes.
Full of conflicted feelings, complicated relationship dynamics and a longing for human connection in a dark and supernatural world, Tyler is going to need more than his quick wit to get him off this island alive.
There were so many things about this book that I enjoyed. The witty and sharp prose, the genre blend of horror, mystery, weird and comedy, the setting that toyed with my perception and the exploration of queer identities. Steve really packed a punch in one 500 page standalone that left me wanting more.
The prose and pacing of this book gave me a wild hit of nostalgia as we discovered journal entries written by Tyler Kyle who is on the verge of discovering his authentic self while dealing with some inner and outer demons. This coupled with his self-deprecating humour, witty and not always appreciated remarks to others and his ability to bounce of the side characters made him a joy to follow. He was written in a way that felt like home to me, and the rest of the story really played off his journey. There wasn’t one sentence or paragraph I thought didn’t fit or was out of place for the story.
Next up the genre blend was simply delicious. I knew going into this book that the author loves the weird and wonderful, The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle did not disappoint! Filled with plenty of wtf moments, coupled with a deeper understanding of our characters was fantastic. Throw in some monsters that were horrific to witness on the page, a drop of psychological turmoil and a few witty one liners and you have yourself a book!
The setting of Echo Island itself although arguably tropey for the horror genre was atmospheric, visual, and bold. Some of the world building elements played so well into the creepy feeling of being trapped in place you really don’t want to be holed up in for too long. From large traps to stop the ‘bears’, feral and wild dogs, poisonous plants literally everywhere and the island residents turning into WHAT? You’ll have to read it to find out.
Finally, this book goes much deeper than surface level enjoyment. As a queer trans author, Westenra has put his heart and soul into the thematics of the book while presenting them in an enjoyable way. Tyler is going through personal emotional hell, coming to terms with his own feelings of queerness and ability to be loved by others. His self-worth is tied up in the approval of others and he is having a really hard time learning to believe in himself. Echo island is an old gay conversion camp, nearly everyone on the island identities in some variation of the rainbow, this both helps and hinders Tyler’s ability to accept himself. I thought these elements while on the page and in your face were cleverly done and really made me think about my own experiences as a queer trans man.
This book is fantastic, and I implore more people to go out and pick it up! I cannot wait to see what comes next! I am now a fan for life.
Want to read more about The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle? Check out Esmay’s review here!