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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow! This is a book so full of rage and anger and destruction. It’s amazing. I love the plot and narrative, as well as the autistic representation. There is also sort of queer representation in this book and the rage that comes with that in an evangelical Society. I felt such rage and sorrow at the cult and I loved seeing it destroyed. This is a very powerful narrative, especially in these trying times. I could’ve done with a little bit more explanation about the virus and the roles of grace and seraph, but the anger and bodily horror really shot through in this narrative. Perfect post apocalyptic rage filled novel.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been waiting for this to free up at the library for awhile now. I enjoyed this almost as much as I was expecting - I was expecting this to be a 5 star, but there was just a little bit holding it back from feeling that way. That didn't stop me from being on the edge of my seat as I read through the climax.
The little bit holding this back from being 5 stars can be broken down to two main aspects: I wish we got more time to develop the ALC cast and I wish we got more time to develop the romance between Benji and Nick, especially as these are core to the story and the weight of the ending. Unfortunately, even by the end, there were several names brought up that made me go "who?" and a few others that I feel went MIA.(What happened to Calvin? He leaves in a huff with people saying he's going to come crawling back, but then we never hear from him again? At least, as far as I remember, he never gets mentioned it. Also lowkey kept mixing him and Cormac up.) While Nick having a few POV chapters was a nice addition in fleshing out his character and perspective (and as an autistic person, I love Nick as a character and what was done with him in this story), and I adore that he (and the other love interest) found the fully Seraphized Benji breathtakingly beautiful , I still feel like the relationship hadn't developed enough in order to justify all that happens in the end. Ironically, it feels like we got more attention to the toxic romance between Benji and him other love interest.
Speaking of, I had no idea going in that this was going to be a love triangle, although I ended up not minding most of how it was handled. I liked how Benji had to grapple with still loving someone who hurt him; although the plot twist with Theo can be predicted well before it happens, I still enjoy the execution of it. I was a bit on the fence about Theo being accepting of Benji as a trans man, but I ultimately enjoyed how he represented the kind of "undesirable" that still delusionally believes that if they obey Christian Nationalism and religious extremism, they will somehow make it out on top, and how bigotry is more complex than someone hating every single minority to the extreme - sometimes people accept only some of humanity while still trying to hurt the rest. Besides what I said at the end of the previous paragraph, I also was a bit iffy onhow Benji sends Theo off with a murmur and a kiss, even tho the bastard was spewing genocidal hate and doubled-down on choosing to hurt Benji over seeing his cult for what it really is. But I still loved that the book didn't 180 into the cliche of "the only right way is to show mercy to unrepentant monsters" - Benji calls a few Angels out (admittedly within his head) over their behavior (Sister Kipling only feeling remorse after slaughtering 9 billion people, his own mother only showing him affection after brutalizing his body and making him a weapon of destruction, everything Theo) .
I do find it a little unrealistic that Benji's mom was a high-ranking member of the cult. As much as it would've ruined the aspect of "the father being more loving / compassionate than the mother", I think in order to have a plot point of "Benji's parent is a leader in the cult" it would've made more sense to use the dad. Knowing how misogynistic Christian Nationalists can be, with one of the ironic end goals being that the female leaders helping them will lose all that power, it just took me out a little bit.
Still, this is a queer horror that I think anyone able to stomach body horror and evil Christian rhetoric should read at least once in their life.
The little bit holding this back from being 5 stars can be broken down to two main aspects: I wish we got more time to develop the ALC cast and I wish we got more time to develop the romance between Benji and Nick, especially as these are core to the story and the weight of the ending. Unfortunately, even by the end, there were several names brought up that made me go "who?" and a few others that I feel went MIA.
Speaking of, I had no idea going in that this was going to be a love triangle, although I ended up not minding most of how it was handled. I liked how Benji had to grapple with still loving someone who hurt him; although the plot twist with Theo can be predicted well before it happens, I still enjoy the execution of it. I was a bit on the fence about Theo being accepting of Benji as a trans man, but I ultimately enjoyed how he represented the kind of "undesirable" that still delusionally believes that if they obey Christian Nationalism and religious extremism, they will somehow make it out on top, and how bigotry is more complex than someone hating every single minority to the extreme - sometimes people accept only some of humanity while still trying to hurt the rest. Besides what I said at the end of the previous paragraph, I also was a bit iffy on
I do find it a little unrealistic that Benji's mom was a high-ranking member of the cult. As much as it would've ruined the aspect of "the father being more loving / compassionate than the mother", I think in order to have a plot point of "Benji's parent is a leader in the cult" it would've made more sense to use the dad. Knowing how misogynistic Christian Nationalists can be, with one of the ironic end goals being that the female leaders helping them will lose all that power, it just took me out a little bit.
Still, this is a queer horror that I think anyone able to stomach body horror and evil Christian rhetoric should read at least once in their life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Transphobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this. I loved the religious commentary, and it was a really unique take on the post apocalyptic genre. I feel like we don't see apolcolypses that are directly and openly driven by people in a cult. If they are caused by people, it's either on accident or a government secret of somekind, so I really liked this variation. The main two characters are sweet and relatable. A great introduction to this author's work.
dark
This is an incredibly well done book and one of the most unique/disturbing things I've ever read. I both loved it and was completely horrified by it, which was probably the point. Recommended for older teen readers and adults, but trigger warnings for graphic violence, religious trauma, and emotional abuse.
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To put it simply: great book, fascinating plot and engaging characters, but VERY challenging to read due to themes and graphic depictions of gore. HIGHLY recommend the book to any horror lovers who enjoy things like The Walking Dead/The Living Dead and other zombie-apocalypse type books. Very interesting spin on religious fanaticism and very creative way to put an apocalyptic spin on Christian Nationalism. Love it, but be warned!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Very queer, post-apocalyptic YA body horror spiked with some terrifying religious fanaticism.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes