Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

545 reviews

jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

Queer and trans kids in a dystopian world fighting an oppressive religious fundamentalist group dead set on bringing about the end of times. I loved this dark, gritty story of a trans teenage boy (err biblically accurate bioweapon) questioning his faith and where he belongs in the world while simultaneously working to overthrow the extremely evil people who was raised by. At times he's so alone in this cruel world that I found myself so deeply emotionally traumatized for him.

Like most queer stories Hell Followed with Us has a strong found family element. I loved the ragtag group of kids from the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center; they lean on each other and fight so hard for each other in their dystopian society. Benji finally gets to be in a place where his transness isn't "wrong" and it's a heartwarming bit of love in an otherwise hateful world. Every bit of representation in this is so powerful. Andrew Joseph White is a powerhouse when it comes to terrifyingly realistic dystopian setting, and I will definitely be reading more of his works in the coming future

Read this if you like biblically accurate weapons of mass destruction, dark and gritty dystopians, found family, queer, trans, and neurodivergent representation, and taking a stand against fundamentalist sects. 

An animated adaption is in the works, and I’m seated. The theater employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s ‘not adapted yet’ but I’m simply too seated 💀

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Transphobia

Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

Minor: Sexual content

knittyreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

This book is more action-focused than the previous book I read from this author, which made it a bit harder for me to get into it. However, I love how this more fast paced, dystopian action is used to discuss heavy topics and character development in a more natural way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

in_love_with_him's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eliof's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

What a beautiful gorgeous book. Holy shit. Visceral and angry and cathartic and gory and hopeful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

ewinnk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

nyxxxhere_'s review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Dysphoria

aplemus's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

this is surprisingly healing in a gay kid kicked out of church for being different and still has a holy kind of vengeful spite they needed to release kinda way

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, and Dysphoria

silas_the_skeleton's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death of parent

Moderate: Death and Dysphoria

Minor: Cursing and Deadnaming

aspen_suxs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and War

Moderate: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Outing, and Dysphoria

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

hippievamp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism