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Halcyon
'Halcyon' is the answer for all Americans who want to escape, but paradise isn't what it seems.
A beautiful island in the middle of Lake Ontario―a self-sustaining community made up of people who want to live without fear, crime, or greed. Halcyon is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, benevolent and altruistic on the outside, but hiding an unimaginable darkness inside. She has dedicated her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon, a place of eternal beauty and healing. And she believes the pathway there can only be found at the end of pleasure.
On the heels of tragedy, Martin Lovegrove moves his family to Halcyon. A couple of months, he tells himself, to retreat from the chaos and grind. He soon begins to suspect there is something beneath Halcyon’s perfect veneer and sets out to discover the truth―however terrible it might be―behind the island and its mysterious founder, Mother Moon.
A beautiful island in the middle of Lake Ontario―a self-sustaining community made up of people who want to live without fear, crime, or greed. Halcyon is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, benevolent and altruistic on the outside, but hiding an unimaginable darkness inside. She has dedicated her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon, a place of eternal beauty and healing. And she believes the pathway there can only be found at the end of pleasure.
On the heels of tragedy, Martin Lovegrove moves his family to Halcyon. A couple of months, he tells himself, to retreat from the chaos and grind. He soon begins to suspect there is something beneath Halcyon’s perfect veneer and sets out to discover the truth―however terrible it might be―behind the island and its mysterious founder, Mother Moon.
377 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
41 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Rio Youers
91 books431 followersRio Youers is the British Fantasy and Sunburst Award–nominated author of Lola on Fire and No Second Chances. His 2017 thriller, The Forgotten Girl, was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He is the writer of Refrigerator Full of Heads, a six-issue comic series from DC Comics, and Sleeping Beauties, a graphic novel based on the number-one bestseller by Stephen King and Owen King. Rio’s latest novel, The Bang-Bang Sisters, was published by William Morrow in summer 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
April 5, 2022
Me: A five-star cult book doesn't exist.
Rio Youers: Hold my beer.....
What can I say? I loved every minute of this book. Wouldn't change a thing. I loved the characters. The plot was excellent. Never dragged. Heart pounding moments. A pleasure to read all the way through. Standing ovation sir! Recommend.
Rio Youers: Hold my beer.....
What can I say? I loved every minute of this book. Wouldn't change a thing. I loved the characters. The plot was excellent. Never dragged. Heart pounding moments. A pleasure to read all the way through. Standing ovation sir! Recommend.
July 6, 2018
The book blurb for Halcyon by Rio Youers really seemed to skip the entire beginning of this horror/thriller read. The story begins following the Lovegrove family and also switching to the members of Halcyon’s activities.
Martin Lovegrove and his wife have two daughters the youngest of which is Edith who has begun to suffer from night terrors. The family does everything they can to help Edith get through this when they discover what Edith is seeing at night is really happening around the world.
During the time the Lovegrove’s are dealing with night terrors readers are also introduced to Halcyon, an island retreat that is ran by a woman named Valerie Kemp who refers to herself as Mother Moon. The members of Halcyon are those that want to escape from the horrors of the real world in this isolated society but Mother Moon has plans of her own that she hides from those coming to the island.
It’s not until probably halfway into the book that the two sides of the story collide when Martin meets a man from Halcyon after his family has suffered a horrible loss. At that time he’s invited to the island to get his family away from the violence but when getting there becomes suspicious of Mother Moon.
This one was a bit of a slow burner as the two sides of the story were being built and I have to say I was enjoying Edith and the rest of her family a bit more than the Halcyon side. The events happening are like those that we see in the news all too often which gave a realistic feel to the characters story as it went along.
As it all comes together it began to move at a faster pace and had me more on the edge waiting to see what would happen to the characters I’d become attached to. As much as the idea of a peaceful island community sounds appealing you just know the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is” was going to play out well in this one and the story certainly went a lot further than I expected it to leaving me to rather enjoy the creativity even in it’s cringe worthy moments.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Martin Lovegrove and his wife have two daughters the youngest of which is Edith who has begun to suffer from night terrors. The family does everything they can to help Edith get through this when they discover what Edith is seeing at night is really happening around the world.
During the time the Lovegrove’s are dealing with night terrors readers are also introduced to Halcyon, an island retreat that is ran by a woman named Valerie Kemp who refers to herself as Mother Moon. The members of Halcyon are those that want to escape from the horrors of the real world in this isolated society but Mother Moon has plans of her own that she hides from those coming to the island.
It’s not until probably halfway into the book that the two sides of the story collide when Martin meets a man from Halcyon after his family has suffered a horrible loss. At that time he’s invited to the island to get his family away from the violence but when getting there becomes suspicious of Mother Moon.
This one was a bit of a slow burner as the two sides of the story were being built and I have to say I was enjoying Edith and the rest of her family a bit more than the Halcyon side. The events happening are like those that we see in the news all too often which gave a realistic feel to the characters story as it went along.
As it all comes together it began to move at a faster pace and had me more on the edge waiting to see what would happen to the characters I’d become attached to. As much as the idea of a peaceful island community sounds appealing you just know the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is” was going to play out well in this one and the story certainly went a lot further than I expected it to leaving me to rather enjoy the creativity even in it’s cringe worthy moments.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 10, 2018
Thank you to Rio Youers and his publisher for sending this book to the Night Worms for early reading and honest reviewing.
It's such a pleasure to be reviewing this book on its publication date. Happy Book Birthday!! (July 10th, 2018)
I knew nothing about this book except that Paul Tremblay said it was "a page-turning, white knuckle thriller". For me, I would say that this story transcends all the typical genres--it has a little something borrowed from a lot of different genres I enjoy: It was coming-of-age in that two of our main protagonists are young girls (which was refreshing since most coming-of-age stories set in a thriller or horror, are boys). There were paranormal elements right from the beginning--not going to go into a lot of detail there because I believe in reader discovery but I love stories where there are some 'unique gifts' given to children.
There are dark fantasy/supernatural qualities-the first 150 pages or so was some of the best reading I've had in awhile.
Heavy mystery/thriller components--I love when a story bounces between a few main plot lines so that you're unsure of how they're connected but you know the author is going to BLOW YOUR MIND later (which Rio Youers totally does)
You'll find some domestic family drama--I was bawling several times and had to give myself a rest.
The characters are realistic, lovable and easy to form connections with--elevating that sense of emotional investment. The story is compelling, intricate and just immensely enjoyable.
I was entertained and engaged; tuning out the world so I can be totally immersed in the events unfolding at the perfect pace--it wasn't a breakneck speed so that I felt rushed or tossed about and it wasn't a slow burn where I grew impatient. Nothing dragged, everything felt intentional and relevant to the story. There are some pretty graphic scenes of violence but it was almost in a "Kill Bill"/Tarantino style--Rio Youers really knows how to draw his readers into some terrifying moments without crossing over into overdoing it.
I enjoyed every minute I spent with this book and I'm sad to see the end of it. I'll be looking to read some of his other books in his back catalog now and I'll be adding this book to my top favorites for the year. It's a must have from me, guys.
It's such a pleasure to be reviewing this book on its publication date. Happy Book Birthday!! (July 10th, 2018)
I knew nothing about this book except that Paul Tremblay said it was "a page-turning, white knuckle thriller". For me, I would say that this story transcends all the typical genres--it has a little something borrowed from a lot of different genres I enjoy: It was coming-of-age in that two of our main protagonists are young girls (which was refreshing since most coming-of-age stories set in a thriller or horror, are boys). There were paranormal elements right from the beginning--not going to go into a lot of detail there because I believe in reader discovery but I love stories where there are some 'unique gifts' given to children.
There are dark fantasy/supernatural qualities-the first 150 pages or so was some of the best reading I've had in awhile.
Heavy mystery/thriller components--I love when a story bounces between a few main plot lines so that you're unsure of how they're connected but you know the author is going to BLOW YOUR MIND later (which Rio Youers totally does)
You'll find some domestic family drama--I was bawling several times and had to give myself a rest.
The characters are realistic, lovable and easy to form connections with--elevating that sense of emotional investment. The story is compelling, intricate and just immensely enjoyable.
I was entertained and engaged; tuning out the world so I can be totally immersed in the events unfolding at the perfect pace--it wasn't a breakneck speed so that I felt rushed or tossed about and it wasn't a slow burn where I grew impatient. Nothing dragged, everything felt intentional and relevant to the story. There are some pretty graphic scenes of violence but it was almost in a "Kill Bill"/Tarantino style--Rio Youers really knows how to draw his readers into some terrifying moments without crossing over into overdoing it.
I enjoyed every minute I spent with this book and I'm sad to see the end of it. I'll be looking to read some of his other books in his back catalog now and I'll be adding this book to my top favorites for the year. It's a must have from me, guys.
July 12, 2018
This book was sent to my reading group The Night Worms by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I love when I find a fantastic new author. Not only had I never read a book by Youers before, but I had actually never heard of him. Sometimes I feel like I'm living under a rock. I've spent the majority of 2018 trying to find as many new authors in the horror genre as I can, and so far I'm very pleased with the authors I've discovered. I'm now adding Youers to that list.
I went into this book, like all other Night Worms selections, with zero expectations. I have this weird sort of "ritual" if you will, where I don't read the synopsis of a book until I'm actually ready to read the book. So I read the synopsis, and honestly it didn't sound like anything that was going to blow me away. Take note of that readers, much like a cover, you can't really judge a book by the synopsis. It sounded more like a thriller to me, and this is probably going to be a big surprise to my fellow Worms, but I'm also not as obsessed with cults as the other Worms. I think they are interesting, but I don't necessarily salivate when I hear that the plot of a book involves a cult.
So I picked this one up with a a synopsis that didn't wow me, but also with an open mind. And then I started reading, and right away I knew this was a book that was going to be a treat. Youers' writing is seamless and engaging. He even drops little literary and pop culture Easter Eggs throughout the story, and those were a delight! You have to know exactly what he's talking about to get each reference, and needless to say when he mentioned one of my all time favorite books I was thrilled. While this alone doesn't make a book fantastic, it certainly was cool and added an element of fun to the story.
Most importantly, the characters in this book are fantastic. These are people that the reader can really root for and care about. There are several instances where the characters are in life and death situations, and you genuinely feel tense and nervous for them characters. And while the bad characters are really bad, they have reasons for their behavior. This doesn't mean that I felt sympathetic for the antagonists, but to some degree Youers forces you to contemplate how these characters are horrible because really horrible things happened to them. There may not be any sympathy or humanity left in them now, but at one time they were victims too. And that definitely changes your perspective a bit. These are fully realized characters.
I'm purposely not going to rehash a quick synopsis because you can read it here, or on the book if you already own it. I'm actually going to recommend just going into this one without knowing anything. It may not have changed my reading of the book, but it would have changed my early expectations if I had not read the synopsis. I'm actually considering not reading book blurbs anymore, but I am a creature of habit, so I know that's probably an unrealistic goal.
At any rate, this book is a tense and thrilling read with characters that are easy to fall in love with. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish, and I look forward to reading more from Youers.
I love when I find a fantastic new author. Not only had I never read a book by Youers before, but I had actually never heard of him. Sometimes I feel like I'm living under a rock. I've spent the majority of 2018 trying to find as many new authors in the horror genre as I can, and so far I'm very pleased with the authors I've discovered. I'm now adding Youers to that list.
I went into this book, like all other Night Worms selections, with zero expectations. I have this weird sort of "ritual" if you will, where I don't read the synopsis of a book until I'm actually ready to read the book. So I read the synopsis, and honestly it didn't sound like anything that was going to blow me away. Take note of that readers, much like a cover, you can't really judge a book by the synopsis. It sounded more like a thriller to me, and this is probably going to be a big surprise to my fellow Worms, but I'm also not as obsessed with cults as the other Worms. I think they are interesting, but I don't necessarily salivate when I hear that the plot of a book involves a cult.
So I picked this one up with a a synopsis that didn't wow me, but also with an open mind. And then I started reading, and right away I knew this was a book that was going to be a treat. Youers' writing is seamless and engaging. He even drops little literary and pop culture Easter Eggs throughout the story, and those were a delight! You have to know exactly what he's talking about to get each reference, and needless to say when he mentioned one of my all time favorite books I was thrilled. While this alone doesn't make a book fantastic, it certainly was cool and added an element of fun to the story.
Most importantly, the characters in this book are fantastic. These are people that the reader can really root for and care about. There are several instances where the characters are in life and death situations, and you genuinely feel tense and nervous for them characters. And while the bad characters are really bad, they have reasons for their behavior. This doesn't mean that I felt sympathetic for the antagonists, but to some degree Youers forces you to contemplate how these characters are horrible because really horrible things happened to them. There may not be any sympathy or humanity left in them now, but at one time they were victims too. And that definitely changes your perspective a bit. These are fully realized characters.
I'm purposely not going to rehash a quick synopsis because you can read it here, or on the book if you already own it. I'm actually going to recommend just going into this one without knowing anything. It may not have changed my reading of the book, but it would have changed my early expectations if I had not read the synopsis. I'm actually considering not reading book blurbs anymore, but I am a creature of habit, so I know that's probably an unrealistic goal.
At any rate, this book is a tense and thrilling read with characters that are easy to fall in love with. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish, and I look forward to reading more from Youers.
May 15, 2018
A family, torn apart by tragedy, seeks solace at Halcyon, an island commune isolated from the horrors of the outside world....only to discover that other horrors await.
Rio Youers never fails to deliver powerful page turners, and Halcyon is no exception, wielding the raw edge of the real world terror, and making the supernatural just as real, and just as frightening, while offering up characters that you can't help feeling empathy for, because you know them, good, bad and completely twisted.
Highest possible recommendation.
This was an eArc from NetGalley.
Rio Youers never fails to deliver powerful page turners, and Halcyon is no exception, wielding the raw edge of the real world terror, and making the supernatural just as real, and just as frightening, while offering up characters that you can't help feeling empathy for, because you know them, good, bad and completely twisted.
Highest possible recommendation.
This was an eArc from NetGalley.
March 17, 2019
About seven or eight years ago, I attended my first Horror Convention, Horrorfind, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was in the reading room where I first encountered Rio Youers. He read from one of his stories in Dark Dreams, Pale Horses from PS Publishing. I loved the story and Rio was an excellent reader, too. Later I picked up his novella, Mama Fish, and I've been hooked ever since (pun intended).
What do I enjoy about Rio's work? It could be the character-driven stories, it could be the believability factor (even when dealing with the unbelievable). Then there's the way he weaves the ordinary into his stories. Like the scene where his character, Martin Lovegrove, is watching Lost on Netflix...
"...where Hurley was currently bouncing through the jungle. Oh Hurley...four and a half seasons without Kentucky Fried Chicken and still a goddam lard-ass."
That's the reason I gave up on Lost in season one. I couldn't buy into Jorge Garcia not losing any weight on that island.
Sorry, back to the review.
I already mentioned Martin, father to fifteen-year-old Shirley and ten-year-old Edith. Mom, Laura was out of the picture for the most part, but the parents did combine forces in an attempt to find help for Edith who suffered from Night Terrors. It is while on this journey of discovery we meet one of the most intriguing characters in the book, Calm Dumas.
Calm actually helps Edith a bit by teaching her to create a dream world inviting the girl into her own private place. It's where...I can't say more; this surprise is best discovered by the reader.
Then there is Valerie, an amazing character herself with a rich and dark backstory and the driving force behind Halcyon named for a seabird in Greek mythology that could calm the waves...
"As an adjective, it means a time of great tranquility and harmony."
I've said enough, but believe me when I say I have barely scratched the surface. Halcyon is broad in scope with multiple storylines which come together in a beautifully constructed climax.
Halcyon is one of those special books which reads like your watching a really good suspense thriller. Emotionally charged. Rio's writing is fearless and he really knows no bounds. He is actually one of the most gifted storytellers of our time and Halcyon is his most amazing work to date.
This is a book I can recommend with the greatest of confidence.
Halcyon is published by St. Martin's Press and is available now in all formats.
From the author's bio - Rio Youers is the British Fantasy Award-nominated author of Point Hollow and The Forgotten Girl. His short fiction has been published in many notable anthologies, and his novel, Westlake Soul, was nominated for Canada's prestigious Sunburst Award.
What do I enjoy about Rio's work? It could be the character-driven stories, it could be the believability factor (even when dealing with the unbelievable). Then there's the way he weaves the ordinary into his stories. Like the scene where his character, Martin Lovegrove, is watching Lost on Netflix...
"...where Hurley was currently bouncing through the jungle. Oh Hurley...four and a half seasons without Kentucky Fried Chicken and still a goddam lard-ass."
That's the reason I gave up on Lost in season one. I couldn't buy into Jorge Garcia not losing any weight on that island.
Sorry, back to the review.
I already mentioned Martin, father to fifteen-year-old Shirley and ten-year-old Edith. Mom, Laura was out of the picture for the most part, but the parents did combine forces in an attempt to find help for Edith who suffered from Night Terrors. It is while on this journey of discovery we meet one of the most intriguing characters in the book, Calm Dumas.
Calm actually helps Edith a bit by teaching her to create a dream world inviting the girl into her own private place. It's where...I can't say more; this surprise is best discovered by the reader.
Then there is Valerie, an amazing character herself with a rich and dark backstory and the driving force behind Halcyon named for a seabird in Greek mythology that could calm the waves...
"As an adjective, it means a time of great tranquility and harmony."
I've said enough, but believe me when I say I have barely scratched the surface. Halcyon is broad in scope with multiple storylines which come together in a beautifully constructed climax.
Halcyon is one of those special books which reads like your watching a really good suspense thriller. Emotionally charged. Rio's writing is fearless and he really knows no bounds. He is actually one of the most gifted storytellers of our time and Halcyon is his most amazing work to date.
This is a book I can recommend with the greatest of confidence.
Halcyon is published by St. Martin's Press and is available now in all formats.
From the author's bio - Rio Youers is the British Fantasy Award-nominated author of Point Hollow and The Forgotten Girl. His short fiction has been published in many notable anthologies, and his novel, Westlake Soul, was nominated for Canada's prestigious Sunburst Award.
July 9, 2018
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.
First off: do not go into this book expecting to immediately encounter the story as hinted at in the synopsis. That bit of the plot doesn’t kick in until part two, over a hundred pages in. The chapters leading up to that are largely shrouded in mystery; Rio Youers has written a definite slow burn. And that is fine. I love slow burns . . . if what I am reading is, at least, interesting. I found my attention wandering, and the stuff dealing with the development of Halcyon was pretty dull. It was a bit of a slog, matter of fact.
I did enjoy reading about the Lovegrove family, though — especially the two daughters, both struggling with psychic abilities they don’t understand. I feel their “connection” is not fully explain or fleshed out (a common problem for almost everything in this novel) . . . but this author does nail family life.
Mother Moon is not particularly scary, though I can tell the author is trying to make her a fearsome villain. Her backstory is, again, dull, and her characterization is weirdly murky and inconsistent. She is touted as being a master manipulator, but it seems she is thwarted several times, rather easily.
But I had fun with this book. I really did. It was a quick read, and several scenes here do work. I will never reread this, and I doubt I will check out this author’s previous works. But this one is okay.
First off: do not go into this book expecting to immediately encounter the story as hinted at in the synopsis. That bit of the plot doesn’t kick in until part two, over a hundred pages in. The chapters leading up to that are largely shrouded in mystery; Rio Youers has written a definite slow burn. And that is fine. I love slow burns . . . if what I am reading is, at least, interesting. I found my attention wandering, and the stuff dealing with the development of Halcyon was pretty dull. It was a bit of a slog, matter of fact.
I did enjoy reading about the Lovegrove family, though — especially the two daughters, both struggling with psychic abilities they don’t understand. I feel their “connection” is not fully explain or fleshed out (a common problem for almost everything in this novel) . . . but this author does nail family life.
Mother Moon is not particularly scary, though I can tell the author is trying to make her a fearsome villain. Her backstory is, again, dull, and her characterization is weirdly murky and inconsistent. She is touted as being a master manipulator, but it seems she is thwarted several times, rather easily.
But I had fun with this book. I really did. It was a quick read, and several scenes here do work. I will never reread this, and I doubt I will check out this author’s previous works. But this one is okay.
March 6, 2018
So, Halcyon is kind of a strange book.
There’s an aspect to it that trends toward paranormal that I hadn’t expected and ended up loving.
Mother Moon is, at first, bizarre, but as you read, you eventually understand everything that made her into this strange and dark human being. At times, I felt for her, even as I loathed her.
Note that some of what happens in the book is ‘ripped from the headlines’. As I read this in February/March 2018, it was way too close to much of what had been happening in the news. Hopefully, by publication date, there will be some distance there. Just know that the heartbreak in the book hits hard.
I’d read the author again. He has kind of a weird vision – Glam Moon is trippy – but I really liked it!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
There’s an aspect to it that trends toward paranormal that I hadn’t expected and ended up loving.
Mother Moon is, at first, bizarre, but as you read, you eventually understand everything that made her into this strange and dark human being. At times, I felt for her, even as I loathed her.
Note that some of what happens in the book is ‘ripped from the headlines’. As I read this in February/March 2018, it was way too close to much of what had been happening in the news. Hopefully, by publication date, there will be some distance there. Just know that the heartbreak in the book hits hard.
I’d read the author again. He has kind of a weird vision – Glam Moon is trippy – but I really liked it!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
July 1, 2018
Halcyon is my first novel-length exposure to Rio Youers, although I had previously read only a single short story from him in the anthology Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror. In fact, it was that short story that made me eager to read more of Youers work, and Halcyon served as an excellent introduction to his long-form writing. I suspect, though, that a simple WOW! isn't quite satisfactory enough for a review, but it encapsulates my feelings perfectly.
For the first 30-50%, Halcyon is a bit of a dual narrative that ultimately meets in the middle. On one hand, you have a cult whose members are carrying out unrelated terror attacks in various American locales. On the other hand, you have Martin Lovegrove and his family, who are doing their best to cope with daughter Edith's night terrors. Her night terrors, in fact, are premonitions of violent incidents linked to Mother Moon's cult activities. As the story progresses, and without spoiling the nitty gritty of it all, Martin's family and Mother Moon's cult grow inextricably entwined.
Rio's writing is top-notch, and his storytelling prowess is honed to a knifepoint's edge, cutting bone deep at times. He lulls you in with a naturalistic style, and builds up his characters in ways subtle enough that even minor events carry the strength of a powder-keg's blast, but when he really goes for the heart and soul it's with unflinching brutality. Halcyon gave me two particular moments of tragedy in which I had to set the book down for a bit in order to regroup; it's been a while since a book has done that to me on an emotional-level, so huge kudos to Youers for that.
Beyond his excellent character work, I absolutely loved the concept of Mother Moon's cult, which felt perfectly real to me, as well wholly understandable, even a little bit sympathetic. Building off present-day American politics and disillusionment I could, perhaps too easily, believe why people would want to escape to Halcyon and Moon's promise of a simpler, back-to-basics lifestyle. It's more than tempting to leave behind our world of daily mass shootings and the instant-rage machine of social media to live off the grid on an idyllic island retreat, free of the daily grind, where you can reconnect with your family, know your neighbors, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Of course, there is that bit of fine print warning you to be careful what you wish for and if it sounds too good to be true, well then...
This is a book that's packed with suspense, tragedy, several moments guaranteed to ramp up your blood pressure, and plenty of horror from both the supernatural kind and the all too-real world around us. I really cannot recommend it enough, and I think this is a title that is just as deserving, if not more so, than some of this summer's much-hyped reads. Halcyon perfectly balances moments of soul-crushing despair with uplifting hope, reminding us that even in our darkest moments there's still some light to be found if only we look hard enough.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley.]
For the first 30-50%, Halcyon is a bit of a dual narrative that ultimately meets in the middle. On one hand, you have a cult whose members are carrying out unrelated terror attacks in various American locales. On the other hand, you have Martin Lovegrove and his family, who are doing their best to cope with daughter Edith's night terrors. Her night terrors, in fact, are premonitions of violent incidents linked to Mother Moon's cult activities. As the story progresses, and without spoiling the nitty gritty of it all, Martin's family and Mother Moon's cult grow inextricably entwined.
Rio's writing is top-notch, and his storytelling prowess is honed to a knifepoint's edge, cutting bone deep at times. He lulls you in with a naturalistic style, and builds up his characters in ways subtle enough that even minor events carry the strength of a powder-keg's blast, but when he really goes for the heart and soul it's with unflinching brutality. Halcyon gave me two particular moments of tragedy in which I had to set the book down for a bit in order to regroup; it's been a while since a book has done that to me on an emotional-level, so huge kudos to Youers for that.
Beyond his excellent character work, I absolutely loved the concept of Mother Moon's cult, which felt perfectly real to me, as well wholly understandable, even a little bit sympathetic. Building off present-day American politics and disillusionment I could, perhaps too easily, believe why people would want to escape to Halcyon and Moon's promise of a simpler, back-to-basics lifestyle. It's more than tempting to leave behind our world of daily mass shootings and the instant-rage machine of social media to live off the grid on an idyllic island retreat, free of the daily grind, where you can reconnect with your family, know your neighbors, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Of course, there is that bit of fine print warning you to be careful what you wish for and if it sounds too good to be true, well then...
This is a book that's packed with suspense, tragedy, several moments guaranteed to ramp up your blood pressure, and plenty of horror from both the supernatural kind and the all too-real world around us. I really cannot recommend it enough, and I think this is a title that is just as deserving, if not more so, than some of this summer's much-hyped reads. Halcyon perfectly balances moments of soul-crushing despair with uplifting hope, reminding us that even in our darkest moments there's still some light to be found if only we look hard enough.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley.]
August 14, 2023
I've always loved cults as a subject, but I rarely find any fictional books about them which was why I was so excited to receive this book from Titan Books! And I can say straight off that this book didn't disappoint me.
I did a brief First Impression review for this book and all my initial excitement about the cult and the characters didn't wane through the story. It was a really exciting book all the way through with plenty of creepy atmosphere, violence and thrills!
I genuinely loved the characters in this book, particularly Mother Moon. As a kind-of cult leader, she needed to be an interesting and captivating character but she went so much deeper than the standard enigmatic cult leader facade. Her character was immensely complex with a devastating backstory that helps build out both her redeeming and unredeeming (is that a word?) qualities.
10-year-old Edith is another fantastic character. I feel like a lot of authors over or underestimate just how much a child knows, but with Edith's terrible psychic night terrors, you'd expect her to be a little more clued up and I think Youers wrote the knowledge and sensibility of Edith really well.
Moving on to the story, and oh what a story it is! I didn't read reviews before going in, so I wasn't expecting a supernatural element to show it's face right from the start and to begin with, I was nervous this wasn't going to be the sort of book I had originally hoped it would be. I'm not always the biggest fan of supernatural books because they're so easy to get wrong! Luckily, while this book is strongly focused around Edith's physic powers it doesn't completely take over the story and there is plenty of real life creepy going on!
I wasn't at all disappointed by the cult aspect of the book. What I was expecting was something like a wacky cult where everyone believed in free sex, taking hallucinogenic drugs and were bloodthirsty... which I honestly wouldn't have minded so much, but what I got was so much better! The Halcyon community is a far subtler creepy cult than I imagined but it worked so well in building tension. The communities pleasant lives made for a wonderful juxtaposition to the terrible secrets Halcyon was home to.
My opinion of the writing in this one is a little hit and miss. It mostly flowed really well, making it an easy book to lose yourself in, however, there were times when a singular line cropped up that put everything out of whack. The story would be moving along as normal and then all of a sudden you're hit with "he liked the back of his balls licked" and you have to pause to recalibrate.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It wasn't quite a spooky as I was hoping it would be but it was thrilling and gory which is almost just as good. I wasn't expecting this one to come and be a beefy 500+ pages, so it's definitely a book you have to dedicate a good chunk of your time to, but it's well worth it! This one is wacky, unique and exciting, not to be missed by any violent thriller lover!
Thanks so much to Titan Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange got an honest review!
I did a brief First Impression review for this book and all my initial excitement about the cult and the characters didn't wane through the story. It was a really exciting book all the way through with plenty of creepy atmosphere, violence and thrills!
I genuinely loved the characters in this book, particularly Mother Moon. As a kind-of cult leader, she needed to be an interesting and captivating character but she went so much deeper than the standard enigmatic cult leader facade. Her character was immensely complex with a devastating backstory that helps build out both her redeeming and unredeeming (is that a word?) qualities.
10-year-old Edith is another fantastic character. I feel like a lot of authors over or underestimate just how much a child knows, but with Edith's terrible psychic night terrors, you'd expect her to be a little more clued up and I think Youers wrote the knowledge and sensibility of Edith really well.
Moving on to the story, and oh what a story it is! I didn't read reviews before going in, so I wasn't expecting a supernatural element to show it's face right from the start and to begin with, I was nervous this wasn't going to be the sort of book I had originally hoped it would be. I'm not always the biggest fan of supernatural books because they're so easy to get wrong! Luckily, while this book is strongly focused around Edith's physic powers it doesn't completely take over the story and there is plenty of real life creepy going on!
I wasn't at all disappointed by the cult aspect of the book. What I was expecting was something like a wacky cult where everyone believed in free sex, taking hallucinogenic drugs and were bloodthirsty... which I honestly wouldn't have minded so much, but what I got was so much better! The Halcyon community is a far subtler creepy cult than I imagined but it worked so well in building tension. The communities pleasant lives made for a wonderful juxtaposition to the terrible secrets Halcyon was home to.
My opinion of the writing in this one is a little hit and miss. It mostly flowed really well, making it an easy book to lose yourself in, however, there were times when a singular line cropped up that put everything out of whack. The story would be moving along as normal and then all of a sudden you're hit with "he liked the back of his balls licked" and you have to pause to recalibrate.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It wasn't quite a spooky as I was hoping it would be but it was thrilling and gory which is almost just as good. I wasn't expecting this one to come and be a beefy 500+ pages, so it's definitely a book you have to dedicate a good chunk of your time to, but it's well worth it! This one is wacky, unique and exciting, not to be missed by any violent thriller lover!
Thanks so much to Titan Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange got an honest review!
February 6, 2018
Given the opportunity to read an advance uncorrected proof, I went into "Halcyon", the latest offering by Rio Youers, with eyes wide open and little expectation. Having not previously read anything by the Southwestern Ontario based author, I was excited to begin a journey I knew precious little about.
I was not disappointed. In fact, a borderline leap of faith I found myself thrust into through a Facebook contest of sorts organized by author Owen King, was highly rewarded with an entertaining story littered with intriguing characters.
Following a tragedy, Martin Lovegrove decides to take his own leap of faith, moving his family to Halcyon, a self-sustaining island which harkens back to a simpler way of living. On Halycon, there's no crime, there's no fear, and the group truly work as a community, taking group ownership of their chores and their belongings.
The island is helmed by the charismatic Valerie Kemp, who is known alternatively as "Mother Moon". Kemp has endured a difficult life, and has devoted herself to Halcyon, all in search of the Glam Moon, a place she believes harnesses healing and beauty in everlasting bounds.
As Martin heads to Halcyon for a brief reset he begins to suspect that not everything is as it seems, and terrible truths lie below the tranquil veneer projected by Mother Moon and the island itself.
What follows is the harrowing story of Martin fighting for his family, and his own survival, in pursuit of the truth behind this seemingly idyllic island.
"Halcyon" is brimming with intrigue. From the way in which Youers fleshes out the islands and utopias explored, to the absolutely fascinating cast of characters, there's a lot to like within the pages of this offering.
"Mother Moon" firmly entrenches herself among the most charismatic fictional cult-like leaders, with a magnetic personality and a backstory that will have you looking at her through many different shades and hues.
Likewise, the Lovegrove family at the centre of the novel are deeply layered and compelling. Though they are clearly a unit that can stand together in the face of great adversity, they are all simultaneously battling different issues as they navigate the various points in their lives.
"Halcyon" is a riveting piece of fiction that keeps the reader entertained throughout, and with a finale that you'll want to sit down and read in one doled out serving, Rio Youers has added admirably to his seemingly well-rounded bibliography, and has intrigued this reader to pursue his other works with great enthusiasm.
I was not disappointed. In fact, a borderline leap of faith I found myself thrust into through a Facebook contest of sorts organized by author Owen King, was highly rewarded with an entertaining story littered with intriguing characters.
Following a tragedy, Martin Lovegrove decides to take his own leap of faith, moving his family to Halcyon, a self-sustaining island which harkens back to a simpler way of living. On Halycon, there's no crime, there's no fear, and the group truly work as a community, taking group ownership of their chores and their belongings.
The island is helmed by the charismatic Valerie Kemp, who is known alternatively as "Mother Moon". Kemp has endured a difficult life, and has devoted herself to Halcyon, all in search of the Glam Moon, a place she believes harnesses healing and beauty in everlasting bounds.
As Martin heads to Halcyon for a brief reset he begins to suspect that not everything is as it seems, and terrible truths lie below the tranquil veneer projected by Mother Moon and the island itself.
What follows is the harrowing story of Martin fighting for his family, and his own survival, in pursuit of the truth behind this seemingly idyllic island.
"Halcyon" is brimming with intrigue. From the way in which Youers fleshes out the islands and utopias explored, to the absolutely fascinating cast of characters, there's a lot to like within the pages of this offering.
"Mother Moon" firmly entrenches herself among the most charismatic fictional cult-like leaders, with a magnetic personality and a backstory that will have you looking at her through many different shades and hues.
Likewise, the Lovegrove family at the centre of the novel are deeply layered and compelling. Though they are clearly a unit that can stand together in the face of great adversity, they are all simultaneously battling different issues as they navigate the various points in their lives.
"Halcyon" is a riveting piece of fiction that keeps the reader entertained throughout, and with a finale that you'll want to sit down and read in one doled out serving, Rio Youers has added admirably to his seemingly well-rounded bibliography, and has intrigued this reader to pursue his other works with great enthusiasm.
March 9, 2019
This one had a great opener then steadily moved its way into disturbing psychological thriller territory.
It's got a bit of a strange, supernatural thread running through it, but the strong foundation is the way it peers into the notion of pain and its causes.
It starts with a family: Martin, his wife Laura, and their two girls, Shirley and Edith. Edith has a touch of The Shine, so if you're not big on psychic visions etc this one may not be for you. For me, it was just enough to add an interesting angle, and not enough to take away believability.
That's one of the things I really appreciated about this book - there's that supernatural element, but it's subtle enough to have you questioning how much is real, and how much could have alternative explanations.
It takes roughly a third of the book to even get to the secluded island paradise of Halcyon, but it's not like things are boring until then. You can feel it setting up for something BIG and there's still plenty of drama and questions to keep you keen.
Halcyon is a dream I'm pretty sure most of us have had at some stage in our life. That fantasy you have when life gets a little too much and you just want to leave everything behind and go off grid. This novel really works with that, building the paradise we all know is too good to be true. There's definitely a cult vibe and the book acknowledges that which makes it even more honest.
Valerie is one of the most messed-up villains I've read in a while. I mean, she has some dark, dark secrets. But I also like that she's scarred and a fighter coz you kinda have to grudgingly admire that, even though she's clearly batsh*t insane.
The story takes a lot of twists and jumps around a bit in time which was a little confusing but overall I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. There are some graphically violent scenes, but overall this is more of a psychological horror, and one that will leave the wheels turning once you've finished it.
It's got a bit of a strange, supernatural thread running through it, but the strong foundation is the way it peers into the notion of pain and its causes.
It starts with a family: Martin, his wife Laura, and their two girls, Shirley and Edith. Edith has a touch of The Shine, so if you're not big on psychic visions etc this one may not be for you. For me, it was just enough to add an interesting angle, and not enough to take away believability.
That's one of the things I really appreciated about this book - there's that supernatural element, but it's subtle enough to have you questioning how much is real, and how much could have alternative explanations.
It takes roughly a third of the book to even get to the secluded island paradise of Halcyon, but it's not like things are boring until then. You can feel it setting up for something BIG and there's still plenty of drama and questions to keep you keen.
Halcyon is a dream I'm pretty sure most of us have had at some stage in our life. That fantasy you have when life gets a little too much and you just want to leave everything behind and go off grid. This novel really works with that, building the paradise we all know is too good to be true. There's definitely a cult vibe and the book acknowledges that which makes it even more honest.
Valerie is one of the most messed-up villains I've read in a while. I mean, she has some dark, dark secrets. But I also like that she's scarred and a fighter coz you kinda have to grudgingly admire that, even though she's clearly batsh*t insane.
The story takes a lot of twists and jumps around a bit in time which was a little confusing but overall I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. There are some graphically violent scenes, but overall this is more of a psychological horror, and one that will leave the wheels turning once you've finished it.
April 10, 2021
This book just knocked me right off my feet and into yesterday it hit me so hard! I was instantly engrossed and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to immerge myself into this fabulously dark and twisty story. It starts off strong, the middle stays strong and the end is just PERFECTION. There’s so many elements to this story, mass murder and cults and visions and Glam Moon and I know it sounds like a a weird acid trip but it all comes together so perfectly to make a freaking awesome story. I really love that we have so many characters that we can love to hate with this story. I’m a sucker for those kinds of characters and it’s a huge part of why I enjoyed this book so much, the cherry on the deliciously sinister sundae!
July 10, 2018
First things first, I want to thank the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of Halcyon in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this advanced reading copy in no way influences my opinions or thoughts on the novel.
Halcyon is Youers at his finest and is his best novel to date (and yes, that includes my raving over Westlake Soul). It is a slow burn that packs a wallop at every turn, mentally and emotionally. If you are looking for the perfect beach read or simply one to read before turning out the lights, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
Halcyon is paradise, at least to the individuals brave enough to give up everything in order to see its glory. But what lies beneath and behind the paradise is all-consuming.
It is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, a woman who has dedicated much of her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon (sorta like Heaven) and the riches it promises. The pathway to Glam Moon can only be found at the end of pleasure, which, as you guessed it, is pain. But in order to find that end, the pain that must be endured is unimaginable.
Martin Lovegrove knows that pain all too well. After a sudden and tragic accident, Martin decides to move his family to Halcyon in order to heal and push away the unnecessary evils of everyday life. But Martin soon suspects that Halcyon is not all that it seems, and Mother Moon may be the key to unlocking what is underneath the facade.
I have been a fan of Rio since reading ‘The Forgotten Girl’ last year and absolutely loving it. He is officially my go-to for psychological horror/suspense and Halcyon gave me just the dose I needed. He has a way of creating memorable and gripping characters, especially Martin Lovegrove (who I kept imagining as Martin Freeman for some reason). With everything that happens inside and outside Martin’s family unit, you as the reader continually pull for him and have to almost agree 100% with all of his decisions. He puts his family first, difficult as that is with a teenage daughter and a younger daughter with “powers” beyond comprehension. But what really kept me going was the backstory of Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon. Just the sheer pain and emotional toll she undertook to get to where she is almost made me cover my eyes while reading, but it was so fascinating to watch her grow from those experiences.
I can’t recommend Halcyon enough, not to mention all of Youers’ other works. I have to completely agree with this blurb from Benjamin Percy, author of The Dark Net, Thrill Me, and Red Moon:
“I’m warning you: stay away from Halcyon if you have a pressing deadline, children that must be fed, dogs that need to be walked. Because it will own you completely and gobble up all your time and focus with its spellbinding sentences, vividly realized characters, furious pacing, and skin-crawling chills. Rio Youers is a master.”
Halcyon is Youers at his finest and is his best novel to date (and yes, that includes my raving over Westlake Soul). It is a slow burn that packs a wallop at every turn, mentally and emotionally. If you are looking for the perfect beach read or simply one to read before turning out the lights, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
Halcyon is paradise, at least to the individuals brave enough to give up everything in order to see its glory. But what lies beneath and behind the paradise is all-consuming.
It is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, a woman who has dedicated much of her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon (sorta like Heaven) and the riches it promises. The pathway to Glam Moon can only be found at the end of pleasure, which, as you guessed it, is pain. But in order to find that end, the pain that must be endured is unimaginable.
Martin Lovegrove knows that pain all too well. After a sudden and tragic accident, Martin decides to move his family to Halcyon in order to heal and push away the unnecessary evils of everyday life. But Martin soon suspects that Halcyon is not all that it seems, and Mother Moon may be the key to unlocking what is underneath the facade.
I have been a fan of Rio since reading ‘The Forgotten Girl’ last year and absolutely loving it. He is officially my go-to for psychological horror/suspense and Halcyon gave me just the dose I needed. He has a way of creating memorable and gripping characters, especially Martin Lovegrove (who I kept imagining as Martin Freeman for some reason). With everything that happens inside and outside Martin’s family unit, you as the reader continually pull for him and have to almost agree 100% with all of his decisions. He puts his family first, difficult as that is with a teenage daughter and a younger daughter with “powers” beyond comprehension. But what really kept me going was the backstory of Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon. Just the sheer pain and emotional toll she undertook to get to where she is almost made me cover my eyes while reading, but it was so fascinating to watch her grow from those experiences.
I can’t recommend Halcyon enough, not to mention all of Youers’ other works. I have to completely agree with this blurb from Benjamin Percy, author of The Dark Net, Thrill Me, and Red Moon:
“I’m warning you: stay away from Halcyon if you have a pressing deadline, children that must be fed, dogs that need to be walked. Because it will own you completely and gobble up all your time and focus with its spellbinding sentences, vividly realized characters, furious pacing, and skin-crawling chills. Rio Youers is a master.”
March 23, 2018
Halcyon is, for me, sort of the perfect novel: characters facing real-life issues straight from the day’s headlines, but all churned up with fantastic supernatural twists. You know the dread, that deep down in the pit of your stomach dread that comes from following the news day after day, news of school shootings and suicide bombers? Take that dread, cross it with the bone-chilling fear you feel when you lose yourself in a perfectly executed supernatural thriller, and you’ve got Rio Youers’ Halcyon.
This is the story of a family that is rocked by the terrifying premonitions experienced by 10-year old daughter Edith, and ultimately devastated by unspeakable tragedy. In an effort to save them from a downward spiral of grief and anger in the wake of their loss, Martin Lovegrove moves his family to a private island that promises to provide respite and refuge: Halcyon.
Unable to shake the feeling that something on Halcyon is terribly wrong, Martin turns detective and begins a quest to learn the secrets of Halcyon’s leader Valerie Kemp, known as Mother Moon. What he learns is the stuff of nightmares and sends Martin racing to save his family.
I raced along with him, frantic to turn the pages faster, but also savoring every sentence. I highly recommend this novel of many layers, that somehow manages to be heart-breaking, heart-warming, and heart-stopping all at the same time.
This is the story of a family that is rocked by the terrifying premonitions experienced by 10-year old daughter Edith, and ultimately devastated by unspeakable tragedy. In an effort to save them from a downward spiral of grief and anger in the wake of their loss, Martin Lovegrove moves his family to a private island that promises to provide respite and refuge: Halcyon.
Unable to shake the feeling that something on Halcyon is terribly wrong, Martin turns detective and begins a quest to learn the secrets of Halcyon’s leader Valerie Kemp, known as Mother Moon. What he learns is the stuff of nightmares and sends Martin racing to save his family.
I raced along with him, frantic to turn the pages faster, but also savoring every sentence. I highly recommend this novel of many layers, that somehow manages to be heart-breaking, heart-warming, and heart-stopping all at the same time.
June 20, 2018
Youers’s Halcyon is gut-punch of a thriller, one that had me thinking about our American rat-race, our own visions and dreams, and some people’s perverted paradises. My advice: Don’t be like me. Let yourself go and enjoy this book right from the start.
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/19/hal...
All my reviews are on my blog: https://paulspicks.blog
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/19/hal...
All my reviews are on my blog: https://paulspicks.blog
February 24, 2018
I was fortunate to get to read an advanced, uncorrected proof of Halcyon. I count myself exceptionally lucky. This was my first time reading anything by Rio Youers, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to like it right away. Not many opening chapters are as enticing as this was. Usually with new authors I take awhile to get used to their style, but with Rio Youers, I was hooked almost from the start. It was a bonus to find out he is relatively local to where I live in Ontario so I hope if he does readings I will be able to go listen to him in the future. I suspect I am new fan for life after reading Halcyon.
I gave my review an additional star simply because while I currently live in Ontario, I grew up in and around Syracuse, N.Y. which acts as one of many important locations in the story. I will spare a synopsis, but suffice it to say that it was a brilliantly crafted tale. So rarely can an author take an antagonistic character and build, with extreme subtlety a path to sympathy by the end of the story. Rio Youers did this with ease. In fact, his characters all have a sort of beautifully tragic strength that had me rooting for them.
Good or bad, I kind of wanted them all to achieve their purpose. It would be impossible not to cheer for the sad father trying to make a better world for his girls. Or, how could you not cheer for the broken and angry teenager left to cope with the shrapnel in her life after a tragic school shooting? This plot point itself is so relevant today it was less like reading a novel and more like reading the news.
Of all the characters I found one of my favorite to be "Mother Moon". Her story alone could have been its own adventure. She was damaged in a way that oddly made sense. Her demeanor and actions throughout the story reflected it. Was she a villain? A victim? Both? I still haven't decided and that's the beauty of this work. There is room for sympathy even when there shouldn't be.
Rio Youers was able to paint a pretty amazing world simply with words. Again, not every author has that skill and Youers did so seemingly effortlessly. Halcyon became a character in its own right. The way the island and its residents were described seemed so honest, and real, its hard to imagine it isn't. Well done painting a picture with your words! My minds eye is filled with imagery that wouldn't be there had the author failed to create such vivid backdrops for his story.
This book has action. It deals with the reality of the daily grind, and humanity being lost in the noise. It has love, and hate, pain, and pleasure. More than once I found myself feeling a part of the narrative, simply because of how relatable all of it was.
There were not any places I found the plot lacking. The story was woven together cleverly, each piece its own treasure that when clicked together created a pretty darn amazing whole. Bottom line, read this book even if you have never read Rio Youers before. You will not be disappointed.
I gave my review an additional star simply because while I currently live in Ontario, I grew up in and around Syracuse, N.Y. which acts as one of many important locations in the story. I will spare a synopsis, but suffice it to say that it was a brilliantly crafted tale. So rarely can an author take an antagonistic character and build, with extreme subtlety a path to sympathy by the end of the story. Rio Youers did this with ease. In fact, his characters all have a sort of beautifully tragic strength that had me rooting for them.
Good or bad, I kind of wanted them all to achieve their purpose. It would be impossible not to cheer for the sad father trying to make a better world for his girls. Or, how could you not cheer for the broken and angry teenager left to cope with the shrapnel in her life after a tragic school shooting? This plot point itself is so relevant today it was less like reading a novel and more like reading the news.
Of all the characters I found one of my favorite to be "Mother Moon". Her story alone could have been its own adventure. She was damaged in a way that oddly made sense. Her demeanor and actions throughout the story reflected it. Was she a villain? A victim? Both? I still haven't decided and that's the beauty of this work. There is room for sympathy even when there shouldn't be.
Rio Youers was able to paint a pretty amazing world simply with words. Again, not every author has that skill and Youers did so seemingly effortlessly. Halcyon became a character in its own right. The way the island and its residents were described seemed so honest, and real, its hard to imagine it isn't. Well done painting a picture with your words! My minds eye is filled with imagery that wouldn't be there had the author failed to create such vivid backdrops for his story.
This book has action. It deals with the reality of the daily grind, and humanity being lost in the noise. It has love, and hate, pain, and pleasure. More than once I found myself feeling a part of the narrative, simply because of how relatable all of it was.
There were not any places I found the plot lacking. The story was woven together cleverly, each piece its own treasure that when clicked together created a pretty darn amazing whole. Bottom line, read this book even if you have never read Rio Youers before. You will not be disappointed.
November 22, 2018
I AM BLOWN AWAY
July 10, 2018
“They used to burn girls like you at the stake.”
Halcyon is the first book I have read by Rio Youers and it definitely did not let me down. I chose to not research this book before going into it because I have just started really enjoying going into books blind! I am sure this trend will come and go for me, but at this time, I am enjoying just opening a book that has been selected as one I may enjoy and seeing where it takes me. And this book took me all the way to Halcyon, “a beautiful island in the middle of Lake Ontario―a self-sustaining community made up of people who want to live without fear, crime, or greed. Halcyon is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, benevolent and altruistic on the outside, but hiding an unimaginable darkness inside. She has dedicated her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon, a place of eternal beauty and healing. And she believes the pathway there can only be found at the end of pleasure.”
I was instantly drawn to Edith Lovegrove, the 10-year old daughter who suffers night terrors that are somehow connected to real life tragedies, terrorist attacks, and mass murders. There are things happening in this book that Edith has to see that we are all seeing in real life. I love that Youers did that because it helped strengthen the connection I was already forming. I did expect this supernatural element to the book, and this is the first of a handful that are all connected somehow. I am glad Youers went this route. I got a slight Firestarter vibe from it? A little girl and someone wants her for a darker purpose. Could just be me!
Mother Moon seems to be this almost celestial, carefree woman with no worries and no troubles on the surface. But dang, this woman is DARK and SECRETIVE with a past made me cringe and writhe around. Her persona reminds me (for some odd reason that I cannot begin to fully explain) of Stahma Tarr from Defiance if anyone ever watched that show. There is something just so charismatic, regal, poised, and darkly seductive about her. I guess that’s why she is so successful at what she’s doing.
When we start discovering more and more about Halcyon, Mother Moon, Glam Moon, her “cult” leaders (I use quotes because no one ever calls it a cult, but as a reader I can’t help but think that is exactly what is going on over there), etc… the pages started flying and I was gasping here and there and never knew how far someone was going to go for their purpose or to stay shrouded in mystery.
What I wanted more of:
• Calm Dumas and her Miyagi-esque teachings. I really enjoyed the character and would have liked to see more involvement with her and the Lovegrove family.
• Alyssa. She was a character that really had me on the fence a couple times and I wish she and her connection with Martin had been explored a little deeper.
I am giving this book 5 stars and I think it is going to end up on my top 10 favorite books of 2018! Thanks to the author and St. Martin’s Press for sending me and my fellow Night Worms review copies in exchange for an honest review!
Halcyon is the first book I have read by Rio Youers and it definitely did not let me down. I chose to not research this book before going into it because I have just started really enjoying going into books blind! I am sure this trend will come and go for me, but at this time, I am enjoying just opening a book that has been selected as one I may enjoy and seeing where it takes me. And this book took me all the way to Halcyon, “a beautiful island in the middle of Lake Ontario―a self-sustaining community made up of people who want to live without fear, crime, or greed. Halcyon is run by Valerie Kemp, aka Mother Moon, benevolent and altruistic on the outside, but hiding an unimaginable darkness inside. She has dedicated her life to the pursuit of Glam Moon, a place of eternal beauty and healing. And she believes the pathway there can only be found at the end of pleasure.”
I was instantly drawn to Edith Lovegrove, the 10-year old daughter who suffers night terrors that are somehow connected to real life tragedies, terrorist attacks, and mass murders. There are things happening in this book that Edith has to see that we are all seeing in real life. I love that Youers did that because it helped strengthen the connection I was already forming. I did expect this supernatural element to the book, and this is the first of a handful that are all connected somehow. I am glad Youers went this route. I got a slight Firestarter vibe from it? A little girl and someone wants her for a darker purpose. Could just be me!
Mother Moon seems to be this almost celestial, carefree woman with no worries and no troubles on the surface. But dang, this woman is DARK and SECRETIVE with a past made me cringe and writhe around. Her persona reminds me (for some odd reason that I cannot begin to fully explain) of Stahma Tarr from Defiance if anyone ever watched that show. There is something just so charismatic, regal, poised, and darkly seductive about her. I guess that’s why she is so successful at what she’s doing.
When we start discovering more and more about Halcyon, Mother Moon, Glam Moon, her “cult” leaders (I use quotes because no one ever calls it a cult, but as a reader I can’t help but think that is exactly what is going on over there), etc… the pages started flying and I was gasping here and there and never knew how far someone was going to go for their purpose or to stay shrouded in mystery.
What I wanted more of:
• Calm Dumas and her Miyagi-esque teachings. I really enjoyed the character and would have liked to see more involvement with her and the Lovegrove family.
• Alyssa. She was a character that really had me on the fence a couple times and I wish she and her connection with Martin had been explored a little deeper.
I am giving this book 5 stars and I think it is going to end up on my top 10 favorite books of 2018! Thanks to the author and St. Martin’s Press for sending me and my fellow Night Worms review copies in exchange for an honest review!
July 13, 2018
What a world we live in.
Just this year, there have already been over 20 school shootings in the United States. If that isn't enough to make you start seeing that there is something horribly wrong in our society these days, I don't know what will.
What if there were a place you could go, a place to live away from all the chaos, the news feeds, the violence, the technology? A quiet back-to-nature sort of society of like-minded individuals who just wanted to reboot and get back to what really matters, like spending time with family? Would you give up all the modern conveniences to know you'd be safe and far away from potential man-made disasters?
That's the idea behind the island community of Halcyon. But this book is so much more than that.
This is an intricate multi-perspective book that seems almost disparate in the beginning, jumping from one plot thread to another that is completely unrelated (but also totally captivating, I might add). But hold on. Because the more you learn, the more you (almost) wish that you could have stayed in the dark just a little bit longer, dreaming of that perfect place.
But everyone has their darkness, and everywhere has its flaws. Eden doesn't exist in Halcyon—at least not once you scratch the surface.
There is so much that I loved about this novel. I wouldn't call it a slow burn, because although it does take a while to get to the island itself, there is so much going on in the plot that I really stayed invested in the characters, their individual stories, and the mystery behind putting together the missing pieces.
And the pacing really does not let up. Though at some points I could definitely see where the story was headed, I was propelled through the pages by the writing and the characters. The only weak link of the characters to me was Shirley, the older sister, who felt underdeveloped at times and was used as a device to move the plot toward its inevitable conclusion rather than a person making decisions of her own.
As I have been thinking through why we read (and need) horror a lot recently, I think this book offers a great argument for exactly why horror is so important. It touches on real-world issues, fears, and frustrations about the state of our society and then imagines what if?
That "what if" spins a lot of different directions, but most memorably for me, in the mind of young Edith. Suffice to say that she reminded me a bit of some kids from King novels.
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and I was totally blown away. Youers has a great talent for story and I would love to read another of his books!
My thanks to St. Martins Press and the author for sending copies of this one to the Nightworms to read and review!
Just this year, there have already been over 20 school shootings in the United States. If that isn't enough to make you start seeing that there is something horribly wrong in our society these days, I don't know what will.
What if there were a place you could go, a place to live away from all the chaos, the news feeds, the violence, the technology? A quiet back-to-nature sort of society of like-minded individuals who just wanted to reboot and get back to what really matters, like spending time with family? Would you give up all the modern conveniences to know you'd be safe and far away from potential man-made disasters?
That's the idea behind the island community of Halcyon. But this book is so much more than that.
This is an intricate multi-perspective book that seems almost disparate in the beginning, jumping from one plot thread to another that is completely unrelated (but also totally captivating, I might add). But hold on. Because the more you learn, the more you (almost) wish that you could have stayed in the dark just a little bit longer, dreaming of that perfect place.
But everyone has their darkness, and everywhere has its flaws. Eden doesn't exist in Halcyon—at least not once you scratch the surface.
There is so much that I loved about this novel. I wouldn't call it a slow burn, because although it does take a while to get to the island itself, there is so much going on in the plot that I really stayed invested in the characters, their individual stories, and the mystery behind putting together the missing pieces.
And the pacing really does not let up. Though at some points I could definitely see where the story was headed, I was propelled through the pages by the writing and the characters. The only weak link of the characters to me was Shirley, the older sister, who felt underdeveloped at times and was used as a device to move the plot toward its inevitable conclusion rather than a person making decisions of her own.
As I have been thinking through why we read (and need) horror a lot recently, I think this book offers a great argument for exactly why horror is so important. It touches on real-world issues, fears, and frustrations about the state of our society and then imagines what if?
That "what if" spins a lot of different directions, but most memorably for me, in the mind of young Edith. Suffice to say that she reminded me a bit of some kids from King novels.
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and I was totally blown away. Youers has a great talent for story and I would love to read another of his books!
My thanks to St. Martins Press and the author for sending copies of this one to the Nightworms to read and review!
November 14, 2018
With a title that bleeds on the cover, Halcyon is just as dark as you imagine it would be! Where the blub reads “self-sustaining community”, I read “cult”! Just look at this books cover, I don’t care how wonderful “Glam Moon” sounds, you just know things are going to get dark and twisted, it’s just a case of how dark, how twisted?
Halcyon has several of what I like to call “oh shit!” moments, or “oh my!” moments for those of you who shy away from curse words. But, I should be clear, if you shy away from swearing, violence and plots that can get extremely dark, then it’s probably best you skip this novel. However, if you want to step into the darkness, and see just how close heaven is to hell, then you should definitely go ahead and read this novel. Back to those “oh shit!” moments, these are moments where the plot shocked you in a way you didn’t see coming; when the author surprises you in a way that makes things a whole lot more interesting.
The story/tragedy of how Martin and his family end up moving to Halcyon was so interesting, it delivered the first “oh shit!” moment, because I certainly didn’t see it coming, but I loved it! Halcyon also introduced some concepts that I really like reading about, when the boundaries of this world are pushed, and a touch of the supernatural comes into play. But it’s done in a way that’s not overstated, instead, it draws you deeper into the plot.
One of the things that really stood out in this novel was the complexity of the characters, the trauma they’re dealing with, and how they chose to address it. This mostly applies to Mother Moon, the leader of Halcyon, now there’s a dark backstory, one that shows what happens when a person is pushed to the brink of pain. Halcyon homes in on the psychological, how the mind copes with certain events; this notion underpins the plot, and it made for a brilliant, and dark, read. At a little over 500 pages, Youers has enough time to explore and expand on certain parts of the plot, but never does the plot become dull or lacking in tempo. It isn’t the fasted paced novel, but it is a quick read because it’s psychologically intense and interesting!
Bestselling author, Sarah Pinborough, dubbed Youers a “King for the new generation” – a bold statement, but a very exciting one, because when I read this novel, I got major Doctor Sleep vibes! Granted, I’m only half way through Doctor Sleep at the time of writing this review, but reading both of these novels, side by side, showed just how much promise there is in Pinborough’s statement, and how talented Youers is. I definitely recommend Halcyon to fans of King, and fans of horror fiction in general. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, it’s one not to be missed!
*My thanks to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book*
Halcyon has several of what I like to call “oh shit!” moments, or “oh my!” moments for those of you who shy away from curse words. But, I should be clear, if you shy away from swearing, violence and plots that can get extremely dark, then it’s probably best you skip this novel. However, if you want to step into the darkness, and see just how close heaven is to hell, then you should definitely go ahead and read this novel. Back to those “oh shit!” moments, these are moments where the plot shocked you in a way you didn’t see coming; when the author surprises you in a way that makes things a whole lot more interesting.
The story/tragedy of how Martin and his family end up moving to Halcyon was so interesting, it delivered the first “oh shit!” moment, because I certainly didn’t see it coming, but I loved it! Halcyon also introduced some concepts that I really like reading about, when the boundaries of this world are pushed, and a touch of the supernatural comes into play. But it’s done in a way that’s not overstated, instead, it draws you deeper into the plot.
One of the things that really stood out in this novel was the complexity of the characters, the trauma they’re dealing with, and how they chose to address it. This mostly applies to Mother Moon, the leader of Halcyon, now there’s a dark backstory, one that shows what happens when a person is pushed to the brink of pain. Halcyon homes in on the psychological, how the mind copes with certain events; this notion underpins the plot, and it made for a brilliant, and dark, read. At a little over 500 pages, Youers has enough time to explore and expand on certain parts of the plot, but never does the plot become dull or lacking in tempo. It isn’t the fasted paced novel, but it is a quick read because it’s psychologically intense and interesting!
Bestselling author, Sarah Pinborough, dubbed Youers a “King for the new generation” – a bold statement, but a very exciting one, because when I read this novel, I got major Doctor Sleep vibes! Granted, I’m only half way through Doctor Sleep at the time of writing this review, but reading both of these novels, side by side, showed just how much promise there is in Pinborough’s statement, and how talented Youers is. I definitely recommend Halcyon to fans of King, and fans of horror fiction in general. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, it’s one not to be missed!
*My thanks to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book*
June 17, 2019
I’ve been an avid reader of Rio Youers for years, and while Westlake Soul will always be my favorite for a number of reasons, Halcyon quickly became a favorite of mine. Expertly written, this book explores themes of trauma, domestic terrorism, psychosis, and the supernatural all while creating a bond between the reader and the Lovegrove family that makes it hard to put down. And I truly mean that—I mostly listened to this book during my work commute throughout the week, and I found myself taking the long way home multiple days just so I could spend more time inside this world.
Something that I found especially effective here is that this book takes its time getting inside of you: it burrows, festers, and gnaws at your heart strings, works to confuse you, rewire your brain. And I mean that as an absolute compliment because this approach isn’t much different from the method Mother Moon uses on those who visit her community in hopes of reaching Glam Moon. There were times when I was screaming at Martin and other times I found myself wanting to believe alongside him just as hard. The human mind is a terrifying thing, and the truth of the matter is that in this world, we all just want to feel safe, valued.
And sometimes we do horrible things to achieve that.
Other times, we’re naive, too hopeful.
Either way, we pay a price…and sometimes others do, too.
Halcyon is a must read for thriller fans, and hell, if you’re interested in True Crime, I’d recommend it to you, too (although this is not true crime, but for the sake of spoilers, just trust me on this one). It’s a book that broke me twice, and much like his other work, in the end, it all comes back to love, which is a topic that I think he writes about with just absolute aplomb and beauty.
Definitely pick this one up.
Something that I found especially effective here is that this book takes its time getting inside of you: it burrows, festers, and gnaws at your heart strings, works to confuse you, rewire your brain. And I mean that as an absolute compliment because this approach isn’t much different from the method Mother Moon uses on those who visit her community in hopes of reaching Glam Moon. There were times when I was screaming at Martin and other times I found myself wanting to believe alongside him just as hard. The human mind is a terrifying thing, and the truth of the matter is that in this world, we all just want to feel safe, valued.
And sometimes we do horrible things to achieve that.
Other times, we’re naive, too hopeful.
Either way, we pay a price…and sometimes others do, too.
Halcyon is a must read for thriller fans, and hell, if you’re interested in True Crime, I’d recommend it to you, too (although this is not true crime, but for the sake of spoilers, just trust me on this one). It’s a book that broke me twice, and much like his other work, in the end, it all comes back to love, which is a topic that I think he writes about with just absolute aplomb and beauty.
Definitely pick this one up.
May 10, 2018
In a world filled with tragedy and despair, there is "Halcyon."
After facing unspeakable tragedy, Martin Lovegrove embarks on a journey to take his family to “a healing place.” Enticed by the possibility to leave a troubled world, he brings his family to Halcyon. Following the persuasive leadership of Valerie Kemp, they begin the path to “Glam Moon.” Each day on Halcyon leads to more questions about this utopia, its leader, and his family’s safety.
Having never read anything by Rio Youers, I was intrigued by the plot summary. Although it is categorized as a thriller and supernatural, I was pleased to find that it did not weigh too heavily on the supernatural allowing for more credibility. Youers does a fantastic job pulling inspiration from current events and uses detailed descriptions to impact his narrative. Some of that detail was missing from the second part of the book, and made the storyline feel rushed. I was not able to get a good feel of life on Halcyon before I was thrust into part three. The main characters were well-developed, and immediately my feelings towards them were polarized. There would be no empathy for Mother Moon! Martin Lovegrove’s character showed the most conflict and growth, but it was also interesting to see the impact of lesser characters on the storyline – such as Calm Dumas, Alyssa, and Nolan.
On the whole, “Halcyon” was an enjoyable read with a storyline that could have come from the news today! The narrative presented some unexpected twists, and the characters were believable. This novel will be a welcome read for anyone who enjoys thrillers.
Reviewed from Uncorrected Proof ISBN 9781250188960 thanks to Owen King.
After facing unspeakable tragedy, Martin Lovegrove embarks on a journey to take his family to “a healing place.” Enticed by the possibility to leave a troubled world, he brings his family to Halcyon. Following the persuasive leadership of Valerie Kemp, they begin the path to “Glam Moon.” Each day on Halcyon leads to more questions about this utopia, its leader, and his family’s safety.
Having never read anything by Rio Youers, I was intrigued by the plot summary. Although it is categorized as a thriller and supernatural, I was pleased to find that it did not weigh too heavily on the supernatural allowing for more credibility. Youers does a fantastic job pulling inspiration from current events and uses detailed descriptions to impact his narrative. Some of that detail was missing from the second part of the book, and made the storyline feel rushed. I was not able to get a good feel of life on Halcyon before I was thrust into part three. The main characters were well-developed, and immediately my feelings towards them were polarized. There would be no empathy for Mother Moon! Martin Lovegrove’s character showed the most conflict and growth, but it was also interesting to see the impact of lesser characters on the storyline – such as Calm Dumas, Alyssa, and Nolan.
On the whole, “Halcyon” was an enjoyable read with a storyline that could have come from the news today! The narrative presented some unexpected twists, and the characters were believable. This novel will be a welcome read for anyone who enjoys thrillers.
Reviewed from Uncorrected Proof ISBN 9781250188960 thanks to Owen King.
August 5, 2018
I thought this would be a book I would enjoy when I read its description. I usually enjoy thrillers and with the added supernatural element it sounded appealing. It was a slow read for me. I did enjoy the family, a devoted husband and wife and their two daughters. Edith is 11 years old and is having night terrors. It turns out that she is seeing visions of mass killings and other calamities taking place around the country. 15 year Shirley is starting on a course of teenage angst and rebellion. There is much love in the family and Edith has been seen by a series of psychologists and paranormal charlatans to no avail. She is finally seen by an effective medium and her advice seems to be curing Edith of her frightening night visions.
There is also the story of Valerie who suffered from unimaginable abuse and torture over four years. Valerie, now known as Mother Moon is the head of a cult located on an island in Lake Ontario. The island is called Halcyon and is supposed to be a place for healing for those who have suffered in their lives and are disillusioned by the state of the country.
After the family is shattered by a terrible tragedy their father moves them to Halcoyn. The girls seem quite content with their new, seemingly idyllic, peaceful surroundings. The father senses something sinister about the place and starts to investigate. The story has been moving at a slow pace until the family has relocated there and their story converges with that of Mother Moon. Victim of horrendous abuse I should feel sorry for as a survivor, but failed to connect with her part in the plot. Towards the end there is an outbreak of violence, and it is difficult to hope for a happy ending, but I was pleased with its conclusion.
There is also the story of Valerie who suffered from unimaginable abuse and torture over four years. Valerie, now known as Mother Moon is the head of a cult located on an island in Lake Ontario. The island is called Halcyon and is supposed to be a place for healing for those who have suffered in their lives and are disillusioned by the state of the country.
After the family is shattered by a terrible tragedy their father moves them to Halcoyn. The girls seem quite content with their new, seemingly idyllic, peaceful surroundings. The father senses something sinister about the place and starts to investigate. The story has been moving at a slow pace until the family has relocated there and their story converges with that of Mother Moon. Victim of horrendous abuse I should feel sorry for as a survivor, but failed to connect with her part in the plot. Towards the end there is an outbreak of violence, and it is difficult to hope for a happy ending, but I was pleased with its conclusion.
April 9, 2024
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 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.
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 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.
March 2, 2019
Rio Youers is a fine writer. Unlike most people, I found the best part of this novel to be the first third or so. I was very engaged in the characters and the writing was very fluid and true.
I guess I shouldn't knock a book for what it is, and ultimately it is a predictable thriller with a lot of action towards the climax, where I must confess to skimming before my eyes glazed over. And, to be honest, by this point there were some things that had really bugged me about some of the characters to where I wasn't buying in anymore, but still wanted to see how things played out (which was exactly as I suspected they would).
First: you, Martin:
And you, Shirley:
No, no, no, no.
Look, I can suspend disbelief with the best of them. It's a great escape. But I can't buy into illogical actions of characters. I should two star this, but like I said,
there was some excellent writing and storytelling for almost half the book. So I'm at 2.5 stars and rounding up to three for that alone.
I guess I shouldn't knock a book for what it is, and ultimately it is a predictable thriller with a lot of action towards the climax, where I must confess to skimming before my eyes glazed over. And, to be honest, by this point there were some things that had really bugged me about some of the characters to where I wasn't buying in anymore, but still wanted to see how things played out (which was exactly as I suspected they would).
First: you, Martin:
And you, Shirley:
No, no, no, no.
Look, I can suspend disbelief with the best of them. It's a great escape. But I can't buy into illogical actions of characters. I should two star this, but like I said,
there was some excellent writing and storytelling for almost half the book. So I'm at 2.5 stars and rounding up to three for that alone.
June 21, 2018
Rio Youers has done it again with Halcyon.
Man, can Rio tell a damn good story. And tell it so beautifully, too.
From the moment the story kicked off with ten-year-old Edith Lovegrove's premonitions, I was hooked.
Everything unfolds at a perfect pace, and by the time you're three quarters in, you're thinking, how the hell does Rio manage to pull things together so well.
If you are looking for a bit of supernatural, a bit mystery, a bit thriller, horror, and a huge slice of drama, in fact, a bit of bloody everything really, this one hits all the right spots, bang centre.
Look, put it this way, if Joe Hill, Sarah Pinborough, Christopher Golden, Paul Tremblay, and Peter Straub ( to name but a few) sing Rio's praises, you know he's doing something right.
I've yet to read anything bad by him.
Another 5 stars from me.
Oh, and the cheeky wee nod to another novel was a real nice touch.
I'm not saying which. Go buy them all.
Absolutely perfect, Rio
Man, can Rio tell a damn good story. And tell it so beautifully, too.
From the moment the story kicked off with ten-year-old Edith Lovegrove's premonitions, I was hooked.
Everything unfolds at a perfect pace, and by the time you're three quarters in, you're thinking, how the hell does Rio manage to pull things together so well.
If you are looking for a bit of supernatural, a bit mystery, a bit thriller, horror, and a huge slice of drama, in fact, a bit of bloody everything really, this one hits all the right spots, bang centre.
Look, put it this way, if Joe Hill, Sarah Pinborough, Christopher Golden, Paul Tremblay, and Peter Straub ( to name but a few) sing Rio's praises, you know he's doing something right.
I've yet to read anything bad by him.
Another 5 stars from me.
Oh, and the cheeky wee nod to another novel was a real nice touch.
I'm not saying which. Go buy them all.
Absolutely perfect, Rio
April 18, 2018
Rio Youers where have you been hiding?
Rio was on my radar for a while now and I was lucky enough to win a Facebook contest organised by Owen King. I received an ARC and proceeded to read or more accurately inhale this novel. "Timely" gets thrown around a lot but Halcyon deserves it. A family torn apart by senseless violence and lured to a Utopian Island (but is it really?) The supernatural elements crept in and took hold of these believable characters. I won't give too much away but I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and went out and bought Point Hollow straightaway. Highly recommended and don't worry we will be hearing more about Rio Youers.
Rio was on my radar for a while now and I was lucky enough to win a Facebook contest organised by Owen King. I received an ARC and proceeded to read or more accurately inhale this novel. "Timely" gets thrown around a lot but Halcyon deserves it. A family torn apart by senseless violence and lured to a Utopian Island (but is it really?) The supernatural elements crept in and took hold of these believable characters. I won't give too much away but I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and went out and bought Point Hollow straightaway. Highly recommended and don't worry we will be hearing more about Rio Youers.
April 15, 2018
To me the book started a little slow, as I was trying to figure how the different characters would mesh. Once everything came together, the book became a page turner. Although some parts may be disturbing to some people, it is needed to explain what happened to a main character.
The book takes place in 2018 so all the things that are happening the reader can relate to and understand why Martin does what he does. Youers does a great job of making characters totally believable and being a father, I could feel every emotion that Mitch was going through.
This is a very good book and I would recommend it to everyone.
The book takes place in 2018 so all the things that are happening the reader can relate to and understand why Martin does what he does. Youers does a great job of making characters totally believable and being a father, I could feel every emotion that Mitch was going through.
This is a very good book and I would recommend it to everyone.
November 19, 2018
Unfortunately, I think this one is going to be a DNF for me. I read to the halfway point & just
can't connect with this story. Other friends have given this book positive reviews, so look into what a few others have said. I had a few moments where I would start getting into it, and then it would go back into pages of descriptions. It was an up & down experience for me. There were a lot of tangents that I found to be distracting. There are similar elements to other stories I'm interested in like The Stand, Glimpse, and the Manson family. This one just isn't clicking for me.
can't connect with this story. Other friends have given this book positive reviews, so look into what a few others have said. I had a few moments where I would start getting into it, and then it would go back into pages of descriptions. It was an up & down experience for me. There were a lot of tangents that I found to be distracting. There are similar elements to other stories I'm interested in like The Stand, Glimpse, and the Manson family. This one just isn't clicking for me.
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