A review by asipofcozy
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.0

 This is the first time I really delve into horror in literature. It's not that it's not my thing, it's just never intrigued me as a genre before. However, I will say I enjoyed what White was introducing to us within Hell Followed With Us.

I loved this idea of an apocalyptic world where a scientist created a disease that made monsters and said "it was god's doing" thus creating an insane cult group that goes on to destroy the rest of the world. It intrigued me and was what initially made me pick up the book, second to this having a rebellion group made up of all queer individuals (just love the rep).

God is an absent parent who demands loyalty despite never coming around.


However, after 50 or so pages I was let down. This book, while focuses on that cult element and this very religious background moreso focuses on the found family and friendship of the queer rebellious group. In the first part of the book (50 pages or so) we are given a decent background into The Flood, the graces, the cult, and the coming of this new religious group. However, that soon dies off and we are left with a book that is more character focused. Which slowed down the story.

While I loved all the characters and am so grateful we finally have a book with so much queer and mental health rep...it just wasn't enough. I wanted both the representation and the world building...which could be asking for too much. I wanted to know more about the cult, the disease, and these monsters that were created. We were given so little and by the end of the book I was still left confused.

I want to bludgeon his head against the cinderblock walls until his skull comes apart in my hands, seeping brain and shards of bone between my fingers.


Also, the ending. *Sigh* I hate ambiguous/ open ended books.

However, don't let my review stop you from reading it, if you are into lots of queer rep, body horror, horror in general, monsters, creepy cults, and loveable characters then this book is for you. 
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