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corsetedfeminist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not sure how to write a review for this book without giving away most of the plot, but I shall attempt.
This book is a ride, and I mean that in the best way possible. What the plot sometimes lacks in detail and worldbuilding logic, it makes up for in sheer heart and aesthetic.
It wasn’t what I explicated, from the descriptions I’d heard, but I think it’s actually better. I’ve often seen it described as a conversion therapy horror novel, but I’d describe it more as a loosing the fear of hell horror novel.
I love the main character, who was incredibly relatable to me as a fellow autistic lesbian recovering from fundamentalist religion, and the romance was so sweet and simultaneously an embodiment of rebellion and freedom. And Saul is the perfect sidekick. 10/10 chosen family. 10/10 cathartic vengeance on the homophobes.
I’d best describe this book as the love child of a Frank Peretti book and Good Omens.
Please be forewarned that there is a lot of bug related horror, and act accordingly
This book is a ride, and I mean that in the best way possible. What the plot sometimes lacks in detail and worldbuilding logic, it makes up for in sheer heart and aesthetic.
It wasn’t what I explicated, from the descriptions I’d heard, but I think it’s actually better. I’ve often seen it described as a conversion therapy horror novel, but I’d describe it more as a loosing the fear of hell horror novel.
I love the main character, who was incredibly relatable to me as a fellow autistic lesbian recovering from fundamentalist religion, and the romance was so sweet and simultaneously an embodiment of rebellion and freedom. And Saul is the perfect sidekick. 10/10 chosen family. 10/10 cathartic vengeance on the homophobes.
I’d best describe this book as the love child of a Frank Peretti book and Good Omens.
Please be forewarned that there is a lot of bug related horror, and act accordingly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Gore, and Vomit
nightmarebees's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
this was a lot different than what i expected, but i really enjoyed the ride. very creepy in fundamentalist christian ways and very gross in bugs-coming-out-of-your-mouth ways.
i love rose and i was not expecting the mc to be openly autistic, so that was a nice surprise. i wish we got more time with willow in the present, but i am always a sucker for lovers who have been made to forget each other but inevitably find their way back to each other.
we don’t actually spend that much time at the titular camp itself, but the slow burn and mystery of the first half was so well executed. it honestly felt a bit too fast in the second half just because the pacing changed so abruptly, but the reveals and explanations for how they do their brainwashing and torture were thoroughly satisfying.
i love rose and i was not expecting the mc to be openly autistic, so that was a nice surprise. i wish we got more time with willow in the present, but i am always a sucker for lovers who have been made to forget each other but inevitably find their way back to each other.
we don’t actually spend that much time at the titular camp itself, but the slow burn and mystery of the first half was so well executed. it honestly felt a bit too fast in the second half just because the pacing changed so abruptly, but the reveals and explanations for how they do their brainwashing and torture were thoroughly satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, and Homophobia
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Gaslighting
bookishbisexual's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A fun horror novel for those who love Buffy and But I’m a Cheerleader. I fully expected for the plot to go in a different direction but I’m glad I was wrong! Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Child abuse
yoursam's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
"You've got no shadow."
My shadow stretches on for miles, fully engulfing the city below.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Gore, and Religious bigotry
shadowykittenwizard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Blood
sortabadass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Homophobia
Moderate: Car accident and Forced institutionalization
nevermoregothic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gore, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Torture
kaia_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Body horror, and Homophobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
archaicrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Camp Damascus is fun campy horror at its best but with a terrifying under-layer that touches on the evil of gay conversion camps and organized Christian based religions overall. Excellent representation, excellent characters and story! This one is very out there so I recommend to those that can look past logic and appreciate fun horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Death, Body horror, Confinement, Homophobia, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
zenzi2read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I have to give this book credit. It did a rare thing. after a supernatural occurrence, we characters took time to think about the real world repercussions of that. Is there an afterlife? Is it as represented by the Bible or something else. Most books don’t stop to ponder this although I imagine that most people would think about it, my only disappointment was that this book did not take place during the main characters time in a conversion camp. My expectation is that. It would be a slasher of some sort taken place during the camp. That’s not what this was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia