silver_ethereal's Reviews (205)

Gray Area

5.0

i didn't think it was possible but reading this made me gayer. i'm having an 'I ❤️ Mean Travis' tshirt made immediately.

The Church of the Mountain of Flesh

Kyle Wakefield

5.0

challenging dark emotional 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: Yes

Diving into Kyle Wakefield’s debut novel is like being plunged into a freezing ocean—much like the situation the protagonist, Sole, is in when we first meet him. It is a shock, an awakening—a call to bear witness to the words, rather than just consume them.

We dance between different periods of Sole's life—from childhood tempest to catastrophic aftermath and through the lightning storm in between. This asynchrony keeps the tension tight and emotional stakes high; I both anticipated (dreaded) what I knew was coming and found myself continuously shocked over what happened next. It is equal parts deliciousness and pain.

The Church of the Mountain of Flesh is a mastery in character study. I adore every character for their refreshing fullness and unapologetic complexity. Sole is a horrible, wonderful genius; so wretchedly full of feeling that he is volcanic. In Nene he finds his perfect balance—an unheated kettle begging for Sole's fire to boil him over and make him feel.

Ersilio feels like a projection of my own thoughts while reading—trying to hold onto rationality while watching everyone and everything around him descend into madness. At the same time, the love (and patience) he has for everyone is palpable, even if he can't quite fathom what's happening and why everyone he loves is slipping through his fingers.

Prasede is the personification of her knives; sharp and unyielding. She cleaves off the fat to offer us the leanest cut of meat—whether we like it or not. And Malacresta? Malachite Malachite? Well, he is a perfect angel and has never done anything wrong in his life. He would love tooth gems.

The body horror in the novel is the most intense I've ever read. I was squirming, sometimes nauseous, and it is all made harder by how much I love the characters. At the same time, it is beautifully rendered and purposeful. Nothing feels done for shock value alone—each horrific transformation is vital. I don't want to say much more, since I think the less you know going in, the better. (Though, please do check the content warnings first!)

I'll be honoured if The Church of the Mountain of Flesh plagues me as a recurring nightmare, and I suspect it might. It seems like a worthy exchange for having experienced Wakefield's words. There we go—I'll finish off this review with a Faustian pact of my own!