A review by arlingtonchamberofgay
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

His first baptism was a violation, but the second was a renewal.
There is so much to love about this story, and it is amazing that it accomplishes all that it does in less than 150 pages. Mandelo presents us with a familiar enough scene: city nurse and former vet Leslie gets assigned to the small, rural, religious community of Spar Creek. Nearly all the townsfolk regard him with an icy demeanor, which only grows frostier when he takes notice of the “troublesome” youth, Stevie. Despite growing threats from the community, lead by the overzealous Pastor Holladay, Leslie knows that he and Stevie share a commonality in their gender — one that’s only further put a target on their backs. But, maybe, you call someone a monster enough times, they’ll show you their claws and you’ll live just long enough to find out how monsters fight back.
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