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A review by rin_varga
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Camp Damascus was just the right mix of spooky, ominous, queer & heartfelt that I was looking for in a summer horror book! An ultimately satisfying and liberating jump-scare thriller that will make the questioning question more than they ever bargained for.
It actually made it spookier for me to go in knowing that the premise was heavily religiously influenced—it gave the story that "cult" feel, especially because the intelligent Rose can tell right away that she's probably being gaslit by the adults who know more than they're telling her.
When things started getting into the characters' personal reasons for having/not having faith, how their faith has influenced not only their sexuality but how they lie to themselves as a person, and how not everything needs to be in black and white, I really appreciated how respectful their little found family could be for one another even when their perspectives didn't always see eye to eye.
This was a book I'd hoped would give me a scare or two, and it did not disappoint: the fear of the unknown and the lurking suspicion of something supernatural waiting just at the corners of a dark hallway summoned by the wandering thoughts in the back of your mind gave me more than a few jump-scares and spine-tingles! The atmosphere of a conservative Minnesota town in the heat of summer creates a particular mood all its own, and I was easily swept up in the madness of everything as Rose navigates a bizarre reality of unnatural flies, overeager friends and family wanting to "help" her overcome a temptation she doesn't even understand, and the tangle of supposed memoriesof something (or someone) she's left behind...
The only wish I have for this book was one you might have too if you went in thinking we'd get to see most of the book taking place within the actual brain-washing camp part of Camp Damascus. That expectation led me to crave a little more of Rose's past relationship with Willow, not just through vague flashbacks: how they met, the little moments they shared, how they ultimately fell in love, etc. Many of these memories that were touched on seemed like they'd be super cute and endearing to read about in real time, and I love reading about relationships that form despite the odds stacked against them...but sadly, these events were only foggily glanced over.
Camp Damascus might not be a book for everyone, especially if you're a queer reader and topics of homophobia, organized religion, and family rejection are painful sore spots you'd rather not dig into. However, as I mentioned, I think many queer readers will appreciate the moral exploration that Rose eventually allows herself to consider, the kindness of found family still struggling with their own sexuality vs. religious beliefs, and the room for possibility that lies within morally gray areas. Everyone's journey is their own, and Camp Damascus has never made the power of choice, faith, and fact seem so amazing.
It actually made it spookier for me to go in knowing that the premise was heavily religiously influenced—it gave the story that "cult" feel, especially because the intelligent Rose can tell right away that she's probably being gaslit by the adults who know more than they're telling her.
When things started getting into the characters' personal reasons for having/not having faith, how their faith has influenced not only their sexuality but how they lie to themselves as a person, and how not everything needs to be in black and white, I really appreciated how respectful their little found family could be for one another even when their perspectives didn't always see eye to eye.
This was a book I'd hoped would give me a scare or two, and it did not disappoint: the fear of the unknown and the lurking suspicion of something supernatural waiting just at the corners of a dark hallway summoned by the wandering thoughts in the back of your mind gave me more than a few jump-scares and spine-tingles! The atmosphere of a conservative Minnesota town in the heat of summer creates a particular mood all its own, and I was easily swept up in the madness of everything as Rose navigates a bizarre reality of unnatural flies, overeager friends and family wanting to "help" her overcome a temptation she doesn't even understand, and the tangle of supposed memories
The only wish I have for this book was one you might have too if you went in thinking we'd get to see most of the book taking place within the actual brain-washing camp part of Camp Damascus. That expectation led me to crave a little more of Rose's past relationship with Willow, not just through vague flashbacks: how they met, the little moments they shared, how they ultimately fell in love, etc. Many of these memories that were touched on seemed like they'd be super cute and endearing to read about in real time, and I love reading about relationships that form despite the odds stacked against them...but sadly, these events were only foggily glanced over.
Camp Damascus might not be a book for everyone, especially if you're a queer reader and topics of homophobia, organized religion, and family rejection are painful sore spots you'd rather not dig into. However, as I mentioned, I think many queer readers will appreciate the moral exploration that Rose eventually allows herself to consider, the kindness of found family still struggling with their own sexuality vs. religious beliefs, and the room for possibility that lies within morally gray areas. Everyone's journey is their own, and Camp Damascus has never made the power of choice, faith, and fact seem so amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting