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A review by readthesparrow
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
5/5 (If I could rate it higher I could!)
No joke, if I had had this book as a high schooler, I think my entire life might have been changed. I won't get into it but this is exactly what I would have needed as a queer kid and Benji would have helped me figure out so many things about myself a helluva lot earlier. I would advise anyone to check out content warnings, as well as read the authors note (which contains some content warnings in itself as well) before reading the novel, because it tackles topics which might be potentially upsetting or triggering for some folks.
What can I even say? This books has everything I could have ever wanted and more. Excellent queer rep (especially when it came to trans folk), body horror galore (even a flesh church, are you kidding me? I'm being spoiled here), gorgeous prose and a really satisfying ending. Monstrosity as something that frees is a theme that I've been really interested in and something I want to use in my own work and this book does it near to perfection.
I normally don't like apocalypse stories, zombie stories (even though it isn't technically a zombie apocalypse, it shares enough with the idea of one--peoples bodies changing, viral spread, etc--that it clearly has elements of one), or YA, but it all really worked for me here. I think it all comes down to how well the narrative handles the themes: religious trauma, mental illness, neurodivergency, queerness, gender, extremism, and white supremacy, just off the top of my head.
My only criticisms aren't really even criticisms. I really wish that this novel gave us more time at the ALC and more development between Benji and some of the side characters, like Salvador and Faith. The conversations and scenes we do get between them were great, and I just really wish we'd gotten more of Benji's time with the ALC and the healing power (and pitfalls) of having a queer community. In that vein, I almost wish this book was a duology, so that we could spend more time in the world and relationships.
I really, really hope the author writes more in this world, even if it isn't Benji's story.
No joke, if I had had this book as a high schooler, I think my entire life might have been changed. I won't get into it but this is exactly what I would have needed as a queer kid and Benji would have helped me figure out so many things about myself a helluva lot earlier. I would advise anyone to check out content warnings, as well as read the authors note (which contains some content warnings in itself as well) before reading the novel, because it tackles topics which might be potentially upsetting or triggering for some folks.
What can I even say? This books has everything I could have ever wanted and more. Excellent queer rep (especially when it came to trans folk), body horror galore (even a flesh church, are you kidding me? I'm being spoiled here), gorgeous prose and a really satisfying ending. Monstrosity as something that frees is a theme that I've been really interested in and something I want to use in my own work and this book does it near to perfection.
I normally don't like apocalypse stories, zombie stories (even though it isn't technically a zombie apocalypse, it shares enough with the idea of one--peoples bodies changing, viral spread, etc--that it clearly has elements of one), or YA, but it all really worked for me here. I think it all comes down to how well the narrative handles the themes: religious trauma, mental illness, neurodivergency, queerness, gender, extremism, and white supremacy, just off the top of my head.
My only criticisms aren't really even criticisms. I really wish that this novel gave us more time at the ALC and more development between Benji and some of the side characters, like Salvador and Faith. The conversations and scenes we do get between them were great, and I just really wish we'd gotten more of Benji's time with the ALC and the healing power (and pitfalls) of having a queer community. In that vein, I almost wish this book was a duology, so that we could spend more time in the world and relationships.
I really, really hope the author writes more in this world, even if it isn't Benji's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Murder, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
The sexual content is fade to black and contains no explicit descriptions of sex.