Rio Youers

What a weird one for me.

I'd been told by a couple of different writer friends that this book was phenomenal, and that I had to read it. So, after a bit of this, I ultimately caved and picked it up.

And, if I'm honest, I was immediately underwhelmed by the narrative voice. Not because it was bad, it absolutely wasn't. I guess I'd just anticipated a much different voice, and this one was kind of dopey, kind of irreverent. And yet, it also suited the book, so after a while, while it never fit show more comfortably, I was at least able to slip into it.

But there were other choices the author made—primarily around things like Hub, the dog, talking very much like Westlake himself—that just rubbed me the wrong way.

And the whole Dr. Quietus thing? It was just fucking silly to me.

To be honest, I'd fully planned on panning the shit out of this book.

But then, goddamn it, along came Yvette, and the book took a corner. And then a couple of other plot points happened.

And I will fully admit, the last fifty-odd pages of this book, I was just barreling through, simultaneously not wanting it to end, and needing it to end so I'd know what the hell happened.

And then, without spoiling anything, along came the wall...or, perhaps that should be The Wall. And this author, Rio Youers, actually had me in tears. He got to me, and he got me good. The bastard.

So, I can say that this was a novel that completely confounded my expectations, it took some conventions of writing I tend to hold sacred and tossed them out the fucking window. But somehow, it all worked...and worked really well.

I guess I'm gonna be one of those people that'll tell you this book is phenomenal, and that you have to read it. show less

Youers is becoming a favourite of mine. Every book is a guaranteed solid read. I found, through the reading of this, that I really enjoyed three things that often don't snug together very well.

The first is, the sort of SF/horror premise of someone who can reach into your head and yank your memories from you. Then, through the course of the novel, different people with different abilities begin to show up. While there's times Youers seems to be on rather shaky ground trying to keep it real, show more he mostly succeeds, and in the end, makes it work.

The second is the action pieces. The author absolutely does not shy away from brutality, and it ramps up the stakes exponentially. As well, the car chases and other action sequences are stellar. And not just more of the same old same old.

Finally—and this is where he really shines—Youers writes about relationships like no one else I've ever read. He has an absolute knack for making his characters live and breathe on the page in just a couple of paragraphs, and you immediately fall in love with the ones you're supposed to. But it's detailing those little moments where nothing much happens, but they create a memory that lasts a lifetime...he writes them, the reader experiences them, and they're as real as real can be. It's a beautiful thing to behold.

But, of course, none of this would be worth much if he also wasn't masterful enough to blend all of this into an engaging story that first hooks you, then drags you along until the final page.

And the author does that too.

Well worth the read. show less

Rio Youers is a fascinating author for me, because I don't know that I've read a single summary of any one of his books that grabbed my attention. Every one of them hits me with, at best, a solid "meh" reaction.

I was pretty much browbeaten into reading my first Youers novel, WESTLAKE SOUL, by two different friends and, much to my surprise, I adored it. And I've enjoyed every single one of the novels he's put out since then.

But this one? This one is, as far as I'm concerned, his best since show more WESTLAKE. It's smart, it's brutal, it's unflinching, it's touching...Youers can freaking WRITE.

Once again, the summation you'll read can't hope to encompass all the elements that Youers effortlessly squeezes into this story. The best I can give you is, this is what you'd get if you mashed an offshoot of the psychic ability in Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE, the weird Charlie McGee/John Rainbird relationship in FIRESTARTER, and the tragic, large scale mass killing events of MR. MERCEDES/END OF WATCH. Then layer in a version of Booya Moon from LISEY'S STORY.

Sound like those elements will never come together and work? Yeah, you'd be wrong. Youers not only makes them work, but he wrings all the emotion he can out of them.

So, seriously, if you have read one of the summaries and thought "meh"...give him a shot. No one is writing novels like Youers, aside from maybe Philip Fracassi with his A CHILD ALONE WITH STRANGERS.

Brilliant book. show less

So, it turns out I was wrong on two counts.

I had one more ChiZine book left to read, and I actually enjoyed it. Then again, I figured I was on safe ground with Youers, the author of the stupendous [b:Westlake Soul|13096218|Westlake Soul|Rio Youers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335111472l/13096218._SY75_.jpg|18268324] (and the writer of the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of King and King's [b:Sleeping Beauties|34466922|Sleeping Beauties|Stephen show more King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510335748l/34466922._SY75_.jpg|51153790]).

Youers goes to some really goddamn dark places with this novel, but he handles all of it wonderfully, and he has an amazing style, somewhat poetic, but not sickeningly so. There's a particularly harrowing scene that I won't spoil, but it involves a car, the sheriff, and roadkill, that is a masterclass in drawn out suspense.

So, Youers ain't afraid to get his hands dirty.

This is the type of stuff I wish ChiZine had published more of.

Ah well, if I'm going to not read any more from a publisher, it's at least good to go out on a high. show less