SteveWestenra writer
Stories
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The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra Tyler Kyle doesn’t believe in monsters. A washed-up thirty-year-old actor and reluctant cryptid investigator, Tyler is used to playing the Scully to his best friend Josh’s Mulder on their stupidly popular YouTube channel. But when Tyler receives previously unseen footage of the B movie bombshell mother who abandoned him eighteen years ago—footage linked to an isolated island in the Canadian wilderness—the mystery is one conspiracy he’s determined to investigate. The fact that following the scent gives Tyler an excuse to run away from the “straight” Josh, whom he drunkenly made out with, is just the cherry on the shit sundae. But Echo Island isn’t what it seems. Its eerily scenic veneer hides a twisted secret buried in its roots as a gay conversion camp, and as Tyler retraces his mother’s footsteps, he discovers a supernatural connection between the residents and the island—one they seem to think Tyler and his mother share. Even worse, the footage of Tyler’s mom came from someone on the island–a stalker whose obsessive fascination with both Tyler and Josh is about to make Tyler wish he hadn’t gone this one alone. Puppeteered by his stalker, searching for his mother, and debating whether it’s possible to queerbait yourself, Tyler comes to realize that it doesn’t matter so much whether you believe in monsters, if they believe in you. THE ERSTWHILE TYLER KYLE is an adult horror comedy for fans of GHOST FILES, BUZZFEED UNSOLVED, and TWIN PEAKS. |
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The Wings of Ashtaroth by Steve Hugh Westenra The great city of Qemassen is at a crossroads. A powerful empire from beyond the ocean threatens to reignite a centuries-old feud. A slave rebellion brews in the tangled labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city streets. And Crown Prince Ashtaroth, the city’s supposed saviour, is considered unfit to rule even by those closest to him. When the high priest burns one of the royal children alive as a desperate offering to the city’s absentee gods, it destroys the fragile peace within Qemassen’s scheming first family. Seeking revenge for the death of her child, Ashtaroth’s mother calls on a powerful demon named Lilit. But Lilit cannot be trusted. Her cruel machinations pit brother against sister and father against daughter, laying waste to Ashtaroth’s family. Then Lilit approaches Ashtaroth with a demonic pact of his own – one that could save his people and his home. But between war from within and a revolution erupting within, even a demon may not be enough to keep Qemassen standing. Set in a secondary world based on the conflict between Ancient Carthage and Rome, The Wings of Ashtaroth is a sprawling, multi-PoV epic fantasy, full of queerness, political intrigue, and demons. |
Reviews
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The Art Collector by Katelyn Brehm
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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An imPerfect Samhain by C.N. Rowan
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Minimalistic
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |
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Daughters of Tith by J. Patricia Anderson
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Mostly clear Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Jesus and John by Adam McOmber
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Ambiguous Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: Did some research after reading
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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The Sunset Sovereign by E.M. McConnell
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Minimalistic
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |
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The Hand of God by Yuval Kordov
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Ambiguous Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Splinter: A Diverse Sleepy Hollow Retelling by Jasper Hyde
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Warlock of Muscovy by Brien Feathers
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Mostly clear Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Legacy of the Vermillion Blade by Jay Tallsquall
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Mostly clear Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Heart of Fire by Raina Nightingale
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Ambiguous Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Did some research after reading
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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The First Rule by Steven William Hannah
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |
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Fragmented Fates by Nancy Foster
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Mostly clear Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Minimalistic
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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The Bone Spear by Alexander Layne
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Mostly clear Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |
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The Fractured God by Gerard Howard
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Ambiguous Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |
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A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R.K. Ashwick
Worldbuilding: Didn’t add anything
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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Your Blood and Bones by J. Patricia Anderson
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Reviewed on |
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The Briar Crown by Helen Rygh-Pedersen
Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: Focus on the story solely
Cover: Adequately represents the story Reviewed on |