Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

163 reviews

atomicbritt's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

blighted_beak's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

Very fun read that was not what I expected. I like the take on demons and how that played out in the book, even tho some parts had me rolling my eyes or scratching my head. Not enough to detract from my enjoyment though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Car accident

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.5

Excellent look at religious homophobia and the horrors of conversion therapy that centers a character at a surprising point in her relationship to her queerness. Some of the lore didn't quite make sense, but that was okay. I loved how Rose's autism came through in the writing style. It was very friendly to me as an autistic reader. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry

rainbeauregard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I’m not sure that I would’ve picked up this book on my own, but I did for book club, and then I couldn’t put it down. A fascinating look at the cult like sects of Christianity that are common in America and what that looks like when a member of the community doesn’t fit in exactly how they’re supposed to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

If you have a fear of insects, especially flies, this one might not be for you.

50shadesofrae's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The good Dr. Tingle proves love is real yet again. It’s nice to see someone dive into the deep horror of a mega church in an evangelical small town. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

bookswithbreck's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry

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.

randi_jo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.25

This was such a good read. And while it does have some very anxiety inducing scenes, in typical Chuck Tingle form, there are some very poignant themes and thoughts sprinkled throughout the narrative, like: life's balance between knowledge and faith, identity and how mutable it is, real evil is done with intention (sometimes even best intentions), sometimes your family won't choose you but you can always choose your found family, and as always: love and acceptance.

Pros:

🪰 Some of that horror really did make me squeamish, but not because it was "in-your-face" offensive. Just tense and sometimes gross.

🪰 MC is gay and autistic - she displays hyperfocus tendencies and has her own soothing rituals, which honestly sometimes made ME feel better, too lol. Anyway, she is portrayed really well as she struggles with faith, the loss of faith, and coming to terms with her identity.

🪰 A very thoughtful approach to the insidiousness of hatred in institutions (the church in this case). That there is no black and white message that "all religion is evil or good" makes it more compelling to examine your own thoughts and values.

Cons:

🪰 Minor pacing issues, but most of them I think occur in places that don't affect tension buildup for the thriller/spooky stuff.

🪰 Marina was forgotten maybe a bit too soon.

🪰 Had alcohol instead of chocolate milk.

this is a joke and not a real con unless you are very rigid on your tingleverse canon, which would be understandable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Vomit

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

imandubose's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Torture

feuercrux's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry