Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

76 reviews

brooksie03051's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, and Forced institutionalization

cricket_witch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

4.5

I feel grateful every day that I avoided conversion therapy, and this book really highlights the way in which it is a nightmare. While fictional, this story touches on the fears that LGBTQ+ folks live with in the United States. The horror it evokes is real, deeply seated in the homophobia and transphobia that runs rampant through religious and conservative communities. It ends with a hope that we can move into a world that respects us queer folk and keeps space for queer faith.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Car accident, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Confinement, Hate crime, and Torture

embee007's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

"Beware a curious person whose attention has been piqued."

My first Chuck Tingle book, somehow, & definitely not my last (Bury Your Gays is also on my TBR for the fall).

“The stuff they believed, the messages they pounded into our heads … none of it was that weird. They’re just the thousandth little twist on the exact same book.”

As multiple other people have pointed out, Camp Damascus feels YA, not in a bad way. But if the book was marketed as YA, it would immediately be banned from at least half the country's school libraries, & quite a few public libraries as well.

"It’s hardly the worst thing organized religion has come up with."

This book is uncomfortable, & heavy. Bible quotes are repeated, as well as the cult's tenets. Religious trauma is heavily explored.

“There are things I miss about my old life, like community and family and just … going to church on a day like today. You’ve shown me how someone could find love in that book on their own terms, but too many people around here have used it for hate.”

Representation: Autistic lesbian MC, wlw relationship, gay supporting character.

Warning: Religious trauma, cult, gay conversion camp, gaslighting

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror and Confinement

millionsofmax's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

As a queer, non-binary ex-Christian… fuck. This book was painful and hopeful and the vindication that I need against the people who called my identity delusion my entire adolescence.

And thank you, Mr. Tingle, for letting the lesbians kiss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing and Gun violence

Minor: Drug use

Do not read this if religious trauma, especially as an LGBTQ person, is a triggering topic for you. While the book’s message is of hope and anger towards religious institutions that perpetuate hate towards the LGBTQ community, the details of its cult are difficult to read about.

blewballoon's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

This is my first Chuck Tingle book and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of their horror. If you are creeped out by bugs, you will have a very rough time with the horror elements here. I was surprised at how quickly things got freaky. I really liked the main character and the found family she made, I always prefer my horror books to feature good-hearted characters that I can get invested in. Mara Wilson did a great job narrating. A heavier spooky book if you've had any experiences with neurodivergency/autism, homophobia, and fundamentalist religion.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement, Drug use, and Gun violence

telurin's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Excellent! Give it a try, it picks up quickly and hooks you quick. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

phvntomstvrs's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement, Drug use, and Gun violence

coyotesoul's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Body horror and Gun violence

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

4.0

Gross, horrific and romantic! Long, long list of content warnings and the biggest one isn't even recognized by Storygraph: do not read this if you cannot handle bugs, body horror and religious abuse.

Otherwise, this Tingle title is a visceral romp from abuse to self actualization. As a queer person raised in a religious household I felt seen. It is a cathartic and horrifying feeling. 8/10 highly recommended!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

spaghettii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this (in a good way). When I was able to predict something, it would be only shortly before it was revealed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail