A review by crushedvelvet
Red X by David Demchuk

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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? No

4.0

Part confessional & part ghost story, Red X is gruesome, haunting, & emotional. It follows a variety of gay men over a span of decades as they fall victim to a folkloric monster. A bit like an interconnected anthology, we get to know each man before tragedy strikes. Acquaintances & friends left picking up the pieces. Demchuk himself weaves in and out of the narrative as both a character & the author. Reflecting on the relationships between queerness, horror, & fear. The creature at work serves as a conduit through which he channels these fears. Of disease, of loneliness, of violence. All in all the book is poignant & raw.
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