Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

613 reviews

rosesus'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this is definitely a teen book, and outside of my demographic, but i'm happy that teenagers today get to grow up, and read stories about themselves. i never had that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Deadnaming

Minor: Sexual content

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

mokkekitty's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Dysphoria, and War

Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent

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

obsydian's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

splashcat360's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Transphobia