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naomidanae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wasn't expecting sexual explicitness in this novella, and I do think those scenes have a place, but the juxtaposition of that with everything else that happens in the book is a bit off-putting. Being a survivor of sexual assault is not incongruous with still having desire by any means, but these scenes happened so quickly and suddenly that I wondered if they could have been handled a little more carefully or with a bit more nuance instead.
Some quotes:
"The forest whispered around him with a thousand holy mouths. As Woolf had written, Everything, in fact, was something else."
"He'd been a raw-blooded young thing once, and he understood the sweetness—the genuine security—of revenge. He even understood the desire to keep one's hometown, but the thing was, he also understood how dangerous Stevie's path of resistance would be. Sometimes survival meant ripping loose those domestic roots."
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
chantaal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape
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
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
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
devh8su'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
narzibenoucdel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
livlamentloathe'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
5.0
HIGH recommend to queers, non-cis queer folk especially. Please enjoy this strange, dark tale of justice.
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Deadnaming, Gore, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Abortion
This book does NOT bury its gays. There is a lot of triggering subject matter but trust me when I say it’s worth it for the ending.thegayestghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion