Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

78 reviews

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Gore, and Vomit

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

brioches22's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Outing, Cursing, Confinement, Car accident, Biphobia, Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Homophobia

mosshroomish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this is one of my FAVORITE horror novels, hands down. a fantastic mix of religious trauma and the supernatural that keeps you on the edge of your seat. we love to see gay people winning

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Torture

laboromi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death, Car accident, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Body horror

Minor: Grief, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Alcohol

emizulu's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book. Heartfelt, heartbreaking, and fulfilling. Interesting world building, at just the kind of pace that lets you put together a few of the background pieces yourself. Would definitely recommend!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Biphobia, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Car accident, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry

errie's review against another edition

dark

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Medical content, Body horror, Homophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Torture

pacifickat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.5

*full review coming...*

"Something is wrong in Neverton, and that something isn't me." -Rose

"Don't worry, Rose. I've got you. I've always got you." -Dad

"Let there be Rose." -Rose

Content Warnings:

Religious abuse,

Demonic possession, Demons, Hell, Eternal conscious torment,

Guilt, Shame, Fear, Thought stopping, Brainwashing, Cults and cult ideologies, Gay conversion therapy, Confinement, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, Homophobia, Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Body horror, Toxic relationships, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Drug use, Amnesia and memory loss

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Drug use, Grief, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Gore, and Vomit

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Alcohol

Religious abuse,

demonic possession, demons, hell, eternal conscious torment

, guilt, shame, fear, thought stopping, brainwashing, cults, gay conversion therapy, gay conversion camps

peskilanim's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Gore, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Car accident and Blood

machewson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wow!  I consider myself to be a fairly slow reader, but I started and finished this book in one day.  It's not particularly long and I could not put it down.  The journey we go on in this book of self acceptance and love is absolutely incredible.  If you only read one book this year or even this decade make it this one.  I don't want to get into any spoilers, but if you are a queer person I can't recommend this book highly enough.  It feels cathartic, loving and incredible from start to finish.  The mystery and suspense absolutely keep you glued to this book until the last sentence.  I know this is rambling but my god this book has me feeling all kinds of ways.  This is very easily going in my top five all time reads.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, Car accident, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Murder