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Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent
I’ve seen people call this book bad representation, but I don’t think it’s trying to be “representation”, in the sense we often use it these days. It’s not meant to show the queer experience to non-queer people in a way that shows them how Not Scary and Great To Give Human Rights To they are.
Instead, it directs itself to the people who have had those experiences, and presents every horrifying second of its narrative with an understanding that you know how this feels. I find myself reminded of the original concept of “the male gaze” - the way a woman watching a woman on screen must see her through the eyes of a man, because the Intended Audience are men. I never realised how much most queer media made me feel like I was watching a non-queer person watch queer people until I read this book, and realised it didn’t. Ironically, I actually think that makes it better representation than many books that try harder to be.
It is also one of the best portrayals of Autism I have ever experienced. I have NEVER seen a book that just… shows it, in all its messy reality, and treats the character as simply a person with flaws and strengths that so happen to fit a diagnostic criteria. I ain’t never seen a love interest lose speech before, and now I shall be chasing that high for the rest of my days.
Another thing I adored was the way that the characters were allowed to be angry. In this book, there is no strength to be found in Just Calming Down, or in Being The Bigger Person - at least, none that does not come from calmness letting you do exactly what you wanted to do angry. There is a certain relief in having a book take you by the shoulders and say you should be angry.
I would recommend Hell Followed With Us. No caveats, beyond making sure you can handle the content warnings. Read this book. You won’t regret it.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Self harm
Minor: Ableism, Sexual content, Alcohol
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing
Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
u should read this if u want a 10/10 queer horror book that has a p wild and original plot and shit
Also this is the second book ive read this year about religious groups at the end of the world which is cause by a ‘flood’- what does this say about me?
The only thing is i wanted a bit more at a couple points esp the last lil bit
‘Stand on any roof, wall, or hill tonight and watch the world slow down. Watch it empty.’
‘In what world was their God ever a benevolent one?’
‘If they believe in judgment, let them feel it.’
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Abandonment
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Dysphoria
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, War
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, Medical trauma