Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

452 reviews

doctorw0rm's review against another edition

4.25

this was a tough read, especially towards the end, not because it’s not good but because the descriptions of dysphoria and the transphobia Benji faces were so authentic and relatable. i’ve never been in any situation nearly as awful as what Benji goes through in this book, but I think all trans people have been through some version of many of the events, like learning that someone important to you is misgendering you or doesn’t view you the way they said they did, or just realizing how bullshit the rules of the society you’re accustomed to are. 
I wasn’t a fan of Nick.

I never forgave him for using the wrong pronouns for Benji. Every autistic person I’ve ever met has respected trans people’s pronouns, so his black and white thinking being the reason he called Benji “it” just doesn’t work for me. Yes, it technically was not for transphobic reasons, it was because he didn’t view Benji as a real person. But if that isn’t a metaphor for how trans people are so often dehumanized which leads to people intentionally misgendering us to be cruel, then what was it? That had to be what White was going for, right? And while I know people can change and learn from their mistakes, I think Benji forgave Nick WAYYY too easily, and should not have apologized for comparing Nick to his mother. If I found out that a cute cis guy friend I liked was intentionally misgendering me behind my back, I would tear his throat out with my teeth, not continue to consider him as a romantic interest. I also just didn’t really buy their chemistry. Nothing about their relationship stood out as particularly profound or romantic to me.

I wish Benji had gotten to hang out with the other transmascs more,

just because Calvin was terrible doesn’t mean the rest of them are.

Literally the best part of being transmasc is hanging out with other transmascs.  
That’s really my only gripe with the book though.

Seeing Theo through Benji’s eyes go from a flawed romantic partner to a monster was great! Benji’s turmoil at having to pretend to continue to like him while he’s at New Nazareth was great! Really all of New Nazareth was great.

The book really shines in its descriptions of body horror,

and Benji describing the monster he had been turned into by the church was fascinating and horrifying. I definitely preferred the latter half of the book because of this, since most of the relationships Benji built at the youth shelter seemed pretty surface-level and not all that interesting, except for maybe Cormac since he started out an asshole and then they warmed up to each other.

I can’t wait to see what Andrew Joseph White will do with his Adult book, when he isn’t restrained by the barriers of the YA genre! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Murder, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Sexual content

fuqing_god's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic

steinheimer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, War, and Classism

yashaflwrs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

paintpaw's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed the writing style, it felt fresh and interesting but did take me a bit of getting used to.  I also really enjoyed the characters, even the minor characters were fun and distinctive. I loved the ALC kids, especially Erin and Savador. I felt really seen by Benji's characterisation. I've never read about a trans guy in published fiction and man did this hit, I sometimes struggle to identify with trans characters with me being non-op and other stuff but Benji spoke to me. I can't even fully explain.

 The descriptions are visceral and have fascinating imagery. The chapter lengths felt good and punchy, although I have to say I found the alt POV chapters a little redundant and actually spoiling the twists that would have come more naturally and had bigger impact if we had stayed in Benji's POV.  The ending felt a little rushed too but otherwise fine, those are the only reasons it's not a 5. 

Also I'm absolutely dying to make some beaded lizards now.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and War

Minor: Confinement and Alcohol

marloesisalive's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The book is quite heavy on body gore. I do still have a lot of questions, like

why did Benji survive and how did Seraph form his body

I don’t find it realistic that everyone was quite mentally stable despite the flood happening in 2015. Benji’s dialogue also did not always fit, I would have like to see some personal growth.

He talked a lot about his feelings about bodydismorphia but I didn’t feel his emotions. When he changed into Seraph he mentioned feeling a different bodydismorphia. I did not feel it, the author should have showed and not told us about it instead. I wanted his dialogue to reflect more that he finally could be open and out trans man.

It was the first horror book I read and it was enjoyable. The antagonist is a christian cult so that is something yoy have to consider before picking up the book. There is quite some religious criticism

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Transphobia, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Cannibalism, and Classism

lisacanteven's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Following a trans teen through his escape from a fundamental Christian cult that as developed after a catastrophic event where most of the world's population was killed, we meet a group of queer teens who have managed to survive in the local LGBTQIA+ teen center. Despite the MC, Benji's, awkwardness they accept him and unknowingly give a safe place for the monster he is becoming. Maybe this monster can help them in their fight against the Angels, the cult members Benji just escaped from. 

Benji is a great character. He has always known he is a boy, but his transness is still new to him. Without his new found family, he might not have ever been able to live truly as Benji. The writing of Benji and his internal thoughts was so good. He is flawed, but he is real. None of his thoughts ever felt manufactured. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at him, but others I just wanted to hold him.

Dystopian settings are my favorite, and this one was one of the best. I wish we could get a prequel. I would be invested in seeing how Judgement Day came about because we got little glimpses into the history, but I would be interested in more. It also felt so real, like of of this is just foreshadowing for our own futures. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

sal_the_cat's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Medical content, and Alcohol

nervcorp's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

im fucking crying. im fucking crying. 
not over the plot. over the thinks theis fucking book says about living. kill me now!!! i am so insane!!! i put this book down atleast twice because it was so REAL!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

this one is CRAZY. please please please read at your own risk ...

pastelhxrmony's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Body horror and religious trauma. What more could you ask for? Never seen myself more in a book, definitely one of my favorite books

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

Minor: Sexual content