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courtneys_shelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is not for everyone. But it is for some very specific people who will cherish it.
The book is graphic, both sexually and with regards to violence. It is a dark, dark novella. It begins slowly, but when it picks up, it REALLY picks up, and I didn’t want to put it down.
Leslie is a trans man serving in the Frontier Nursing Service in rural Appalachia in 1929. When he is assigned a post in a small, religiously zealous town, he struggles not only achieve the medical ends he wants to achieve to help the people of Spar Creek, but also to find ways to help Stevie, a young man with whom Leslie thinks he may have much in common. As trouble between Leslie and the town grows, so does the sense that something supernatural is afoot.
If you you can stomach the intensity, this book has much to say about belonging, revenge, and religious zealotry.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
acrosstheskyinstars's review
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
alphabetseeds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Animal death and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape and War
ktakeeley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Rape
kieu's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, Hate crime, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape, Abortion, and War
cmd586's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Outing, and Sexual harassment
erin0999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
I attended Lee Mandelo’s lecture in Richmond, VA a couple weeks ago where he discussed the inspiration for this book, the explanation for certain scenes, and the overall sex positivity/horniness he wants to bring to queer art. All of which I massively enjoyed and support and comes through super honestly in this novella. Anyways, sometimes revenge fantasies are fun ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
paracosim's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape and Abortion
smalltowncreepy'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
4.5
As a gender queer person from Kentucky, this book sang to me in so many ways. Despite being in 1929, we unfortunately deal with the same mindset today as Les did with Preacher Holladay and his congregation. The scariest, most disturbing, and hardest parts to read for me weren't the ones dealing with a monster in the woods or the details of Les having to help the dying people around him, it was the moments Les was forced to listen to the preacher spout bible passages about a "woman's place" in the world. Horrifying, pointed, and well done.
I can't claim my favorite parts without spoiling the story completely but there is a romance in this book that is beautiful and weird and I love it.
If you have read What Moves the Dead and are looking for more trans and queer rep, especially queer veteran rep, in historical or pseudo-historical horror, this is the book for you.
I received an eARC of Woods All Black for my honest review.
You can also watch my tiktok rec for it https://www.tiktok.com/@smalltowncreepy/video/7384073467940834602?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6993813173514176006
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
@ Sony consider the river scene required reading for the next Venom movie pls & thx
edit: mandelo thanking joon for Indigo in the acknowledgements is so real, apobangpo
Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Rape, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Colonisation and War