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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
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
neens_m'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, 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.
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
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
moscat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
This is a great, fast-paced, cinematic horror. It has fun with demonic possession tropes while being a pretty scathing swipe at Christian bigotry and conversion therapy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Torture
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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Confinement, Drug use, and Gun violence
glorifiedloveletters's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
I'd never read anything by Chuck Tingle before, but the library had his first horror novel and I thought I'd give it a go. Written from the point of view of a sheltered autistic twenty year old, Rose, who has only recently graduated high school because of her religious upbringing, the supernatural action starts right away and the pace never slows. Rose is trying to figure out why she's seeing a literal demon, why she feels physically cold every time her mind wanders into "impure" areas, and also why her parents seem to be keeping something from her.
The somewhat simplistic writing style makes a lot of sense for her character, but readers who are into the art of individual sentences may not vibe with it. Still, the story is VERY much a page-turner, and I read the whole thing in basically 2 days. Rose's neurodivergence does not hinder her discoveries — in fact, she makes some connections more quickly than her friends because of the way her mind works. I'd definitely recommend this to people who are looking for "New Adult" horror.
The somewhat simplistic writing style makes a lot of sense for her character, but readers who are into the art of individual sentences may not vibe with it. Still, the story is VERY much a page-turner, and I read the whole thing in basically 2 days. Rose's neurodivergence does not hinder her discoveries — in fact, she makes some connections more quickly than her friends because of the way her mind works. I'd definitely recommend this to people who are looking for "New Adult" horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Car accident and Gaslighting