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jamievincent's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
The moment i read the description of this book i knew that this was the queer religious horror of my dreams, and besides some qualms with the style/structure (most of which relate to it being a teen book which is not really a flaw) I throughly enjoyed it.
I love how throughly this book embraces the idea of community and aid during tough times just as much as it acknowledges what being queer amidst hostility really means. In this case, rage. deserved rage, rage that doesn’t contradict with that at all.
My only other issue with the book is honestly the character development. There are certain characters that I found unbelievable or who’s bonds with each other I just couldn’t get invested in. I think maybe the small details that flesh them out as people weren’t as there as I would have liked them to be. I loved Benji though.
Any issues with this are also somewhat negated by the very interesting apocalyptic world that the author created, because I was able to absolutely buy into it and was super intrigued by everything surrounding all its grisly history. Loved the little bits of sermons or journals or bible quotes that start off chapters and i thought those were often used for unique worldbuilding.
TLDR; We need more books with trans joy and also trans revenge and I will be reading more Andrew Joseph White
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, War, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Medical content, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gore, Deadnaming, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Child death, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
- 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
White definitely knows his craft because the descriptions of the horror and apocalyptic world were disgusting and terrifying how realistic he made it all seem. The commentary of current society and religion and politics, and how adults actually act like kids and the kids are forced to grow up faster than they were supposed to, was so on point it hurt. The fact of the matter is that the world depicted in Hell Followed With Us actually feels like a possibility in our future is insane.
As well, White is the first author who has been able to write LGBTQ+ characters with a modern tone/use of internet knowledge and slang without me wanting to rip my hair out in frustration or cringe at the attempt. He actually made it believable that a character can have xe/xem/xyr pronouns and not seem out of place, or for a character to outright state they're trans without a long tirade on what it means to be trans. He made it seem natural and normal, which it is.
Truly, hats off to Andrew Joseph White for accomplishing what so many authors have attempted with not great success. I look forward to reading his new book, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth.
Graphic: Genocide, Blood, Eating disorder, Torture, Terminal illness, Abortion, Dysphoria, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Child death, Murder, Gore, Vomit, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Violence, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Ableism, Misogyny, Confinement, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Outing, Body shaming, and Chronic illness
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
4.0
Please do read the full list of content warnings on Andrew Joseph White’s Goodreads review or website before starting.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
We watch as Benji, our trans masc main character, escapes a Doomsday cult committed to seeing the end of days through any means necessary. He's been fighting his entire life, though, so it's no surprise the fight is what pushes him forward.
He finds a home with ALC, a rag-tag group of queer kids who found themselves together when the world ended, and he sees himself in Nick, the autistic boy leading their battle party. He wrestles God, he wrestles the Flood, the sickness that rots away at him from the inside out, and he wrestles himself. What hope is there for absolution amongst the carnage?
I'm not kidding when I say this book is everything to me. I highlighted massive swaths of text, whole chapters even, captured by how relatable Benji is to my own history of fundamental religion being at odds with my queerness. Benji's victories became my own, his failures that much more painful.
White's prose is relentless, interwoven with twisted scripture and teachings, filled to the brim with references and callbacks. Everything within the story is connected, joined together at odd angles and dripping with sick. It's disgusting, it's visceral, it's stunning. A perfect match to those same things within Benji.
I'm never going to stop thinking about this book, and none of you can stop me!
Graphic: Deadnaming, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Transphobia, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Body horror, Vomit, and War
dummehure's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Transphobia, Vomit, Violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Misogyny, War, Eating disorder, Sexism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, and Murder
five_rats_in_a_trenchcoat's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Confinement, Death of parent, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Gore, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Murder, Medical trauma, Child death, Grief, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Racism, and Self harm
cheshiredownunder's review against another edition
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Outing, Sexism, Transphobia, Abandonment, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Eating disorder, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Hate crime, Violence, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Gore, Death, Misogyny, and Gun violence
onf's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Blood, War, Body horror, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Cursing, and Vomit
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Terminal illness, Confinement, Medical content, Suicide, Dysphoria, Genocide, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Drug use, Ableism, and Eating disorder
rapskylian's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Death, and Transphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Gun violence
Minor: Cursing, Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Genocide
jenna_04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Vomit, Blood, Deadnaming, Body horror, Violence, War, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Murder, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence