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entityj'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
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.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror and Confinement
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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Vomit
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
aidenm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I wish there was more of it tbh? There were time skips that I found myself really wanting to know what happened!! Also I fully thought the main character was 15 until they said she had turned 20. They felt young and that made sense for how much information they had withheld from them but being reminded they were in their 20s always surprised me. That’s such a small thing tho I ate this up in 2 days. During midterm season of my senior year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Vomit
sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise of this book interested me, as well as its popularity online. While I was expecting a humorous horror novel about queerness and Christianity, I was thrilled to also discover how strong Chuck Tingle’s writing is.
My main issue with the book comes from the time jumps. There are a few places where Rose talks about weeks of research she’s done, but we never get to see it. Especially considering how intelligent she is, I would have loved to spend more time seeing what her research process is like and discovering new information. There were a few times I felt I was being told what happened, rather than getting to experience it. I also found the themes of this book to be incredibly heavy-handed, I didn’t need to be told conversion therapy is wrong and would rather see the repercussions of these beliefs without being pulled out of it by somewhat condescending phrases. Trust your readers, Chuck!
My complaints aside, I did really enjoy this book. There are several passages that were incredibly visual and exciting, from monster descriptions to the sunset. I also loved how Tingle built suspense, I felt like I was reading a marathon with how excited I felt. The premise of this book is also a brilliant idea and I enjoyed going on this journey with Rose.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of sci-fi horror. While there are definitely religious themes, it’s the scientific procedure of the characters that really moves the story along.
My main issue with the book comes from the time jumps. There are a few places where Rose talks about weeks of research she’s done, but we never get to see it. Especially considering how intelligent she is, I would have loved to spend more time seeing what her research process is like and discovering new information. There were a few times I felt I was being told what happened, rather than getting to experience it. I also found the themes of this book to be incredibly heavy-handed, I didn’t need to be told conversion therapy is wrong and would rather see the repercussions of these beliefs without being pulled out of it by somewhat condescending phrases. Trust your readers, Chuck!
My complaints aside, I did really enjoy this book. There are several passages that were incredibly visual and exciting, from monster descriptions to the sunset. I also loved how Tingle built suspense, I felt like I was reading a marathon with how excited I felt. The premise of this book is also a brilliant idea and I enjoyed going on this journey with Rose.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of sci-fi horror. While there are definitely religious themes, it’s the scientific procedure of the characters that really moves the story along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
These are definitely graphic trigger warnings, be aware!crisscrossedshelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Body horror
bexmonkey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Vomit
litspinster's review against another edition
Bugs. I should have read the content warnings first. Love the idea, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Vomit
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
This was an interesting look at the intersection of religion and LGBTQ. Although I am not LGBTQChuck Tingle’s portrayals of religious experiences (both good and bad)made me feel very seen. If I didn’t think it was an invasion of his personal space, I would hug him and say, “Thank you”. I found his writing very enjoyable and entertaining. I look forward to picking another book by him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing, Vomit, and Car accident