Going into this book, I was very nervous because I am not typically a fan of horror and gore. I imagine that you are reading this and wondering why on Earth I requested it but the synopsis sounded incredible so I decided to be brave and read out of my comfort zone for the sake of this unapologetically queer, dystopian novel. And wow, am I glad that I did.

This book was a wild ride. I adored the main character, Benji, and I feel like I felt every single emotion he went through right along with him. My heart ached for him as he struggled with his physical changes as the seraph and I felt THAT betrayal down to my core. He was a main character really worth rooting for. And yet, he was angry. He fought for himself and his friends and all of their freedom. He made some questionable choices and he didn't always get it right. But that made him all the more endearing, all the more human in a world that tried so hard to force him into becoming a monster.

The world was so fully realised and with every new thing I discovered about the Angels and the society they were trying to create, I was shaken to my core. This is a future that looks absolutely terrifying. And in spite of all of that, there is cast of such beautiful characters who shine a light of hope in all the dark. Their friendship and their pride in who they are made me feel so hopeful about the world we actually live in. If they could maintain a strong sense of pride and community in a world out to hurt them then I have even more belief in the future of our own societies.

The characters were so wonderfully diverse and just like Benji, unapologetically queer. The idea of having the survivors be based in an LGBTQ+ centre together is a stroke of genius and led to a cast of characters with so many different identities that just add to the richness of this story. I also loved the inclusion of a character who uses xe/xem pronouns because they were used so naturally and this helps to normalise their use within conversation.

Also, there was autistic rep that I thought was done really well and I learnt a lot by reading from the perspective of someone with autism who is in a position of leadership. Seeing their interactions with other characters from their perspective was very interesting too.

Without giving anything away, the plot was phenomenal. I was hooked all the way throughout and whenever I wasn't reading, it was all I could think and talk about. The ending was so satisfying to me and left me with so much hope.

This was an incredible debut and I cannot wait to read more from Andrew Joseph White. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree for the arc. I am so glad I stepped out of my horror comfort zone to read this equally terrifying and beautiful story.

Thoughts

This book comes with some big claims and some big comparisons. I try not to judge a book by its comps, but this book was still disappointing. It's very dark and very angsty, which is a definite mood but not the one I was in. It has some really great pieces, but they didn't mesh together well in the end.

Pros
Autistic Rep: It is really great to have some neurodivergent representation in a main-cast character, especially when that representation is so carefully incorporated (and not the end-all-be-all of the character himself). It is great to see an autistic character who is not a side character used purely to "round out" and "diversify" the cast, and it is even better to see an autistic character as a love interest, a person in power--a viable player in the plot itself.

Trauma: Benji is a character burdened with all kinds of trauma. Now, this isn't going to be something that everyone will enjoy reading--Benji's trauma is certainly heavy--but it is important to represent broken, struggling, scarred characters--characters who aren't just broken and scarred due to some "traumatic backstory" that doesn't ultimately do much besides add an "edgy" flair to the writing. Benji has scars from religious trauma, family trauma, gender dysphoria, relationship trauma. Benji has been hurt and continues to be hurt, and these wounds don't just magically go away. They continue to affect him, and he continues to struggle through this trauma in both unhealthy and healthy ways. And the representation of struggle to overcome is important, too.

Building Apocalyptic Dread: This book starts with a bang--the bang of a gunshot--and so appropriately starts with vivid trauma splashing onto the bag. The building sense of dread after this abrupt and shocking opening only help to enhance that. As the world expands, so does the sense of woe and foreboding--impending, apocalyptic hopelessness. That hopelessness is a vital tone to any apocalyptic narrative, I think, and it is definitely captured in this book. This book got off to a bit of a rocky start for me, worldbuidling-wise, but it definitely gets into a groove once the characters are settled, and the sense of uncanny dread that grows is something I greatly appreciate.

Cons
Tonal Mismatch: As I said, this book did get off to a bit of a rocky start to me. There was a distinct difference in tone between the "apocalyptic" scenes at the very start and the more "domestic" scenes Benji becomes a part of when he finds his new group. When he is with these new friends, there is no strategy, no sense of urgency, no ultimate point. They are just friends sitting around and chatting, doing chores, and vaguely considering the apocalyptic world around them. I just wish there had been a bit point apocalypse in these found-family scenes. They didn't mesh well with the world, even though I appreciated what the author was attempting. It didn't work.

Third Present: It definitely tripped me up when we switched into Nick's point-of-view the first few times. Unlike Benji's, Nick's perspective is told in third person, still in present tense. The combination of third person present tense really threw me off here. It drew attention to itself. It felt clumsy and awkward. Any time you notice this type of narrative choice (unless you're actually studying the book in that capacity) is a problem.

Neo Pronoun Apocalypse: The discussion that happens within these pages on this topic is really great, but it also ties into the tonal mismatch. I'm just not sure people will have the energy to be debating neo pronoun usage in the literal apocalypse. It just doesn't feel like a top-tier priority. Don't get me wrong. People will definitely still be using the pronouns that they prefer, and they will still be sharing these pronouns with their friends as applicable. But debating the merits seems a little... not tonally right? It just doesn't feel like a hill to die on when there are literally people dying on hills traumatically all around. I felt similarly about This Golden Flame. There's a time and a place, but is this the time and the place? I don't think so. The representation is good, and I know why Andrew Joseph White felt the need to include explanation and debate, but... It doesn't feel natural, and that makes it feel a little bit too agenda-y (even though I don't believe it was meant that way).


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10

Fans of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale will enjoy this darkly religious new world. Those who appreciated Steven King's The Stand will like this new cast of characters surviving the aftermath of a plague apocalypse.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Trigger Warnings: physical abuse, transphobia, self harm, massive body trauma

Benji is on the run. He's trying to outrun the Flood, a disease of biblical proportions released upon humanity and injected into Benji. He was meant to be their general in the continued war on nonbelievers, even though Benji is a nonbeliever himself. As a trans young man he is doing everything in his power to stay out of the hands of the Angels(the believers, who feel like they have ascended), be good, and make the Angels suffer. When Benji stumbles upon an LGBTQ+ group of young adults fighting to stay alive he joins and begins to make a new home with them. But will he be able to escape where he came from? Or will the Flood brewing inside his body drown him and his new found family?

There is so much to unpack here. Religious indoctrination, child abuse, transphobia, and lots and lots of gore. The author called to something within myself, as a queer person who was raised in an uber religious house, that I always kept buried deep. That feeling of being truly understood by author and characters wove Kristin into the story right alongside Benji. I understood that sick feeling he experiences, that feeling that you can't win, and finding people who finally treat you like a human being. Hell Followed With Us is a great look into the cult mentality some people have grown up in, not just queer people either. Horror fans will love the gore factor and fantasy lovers will even enjoy the look into the Flood itself and the post apocalyptic setting.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This book will make you uncomfortable, but in the most necessary ways. It will pull on some people's heartstrings and hopefully help others realize IT GETS BETTER. Age recommendation for this one is 16+ for graphic violence and gore

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hell Followed with Us is one of the best novels I've ever read, hands-down. The plot structure and world building are tight and imaginative, offering an incredible backdrop for Benji's growth. This novel is full of beautiful symbolism and thought-provoking themes. I also saw myself and so many other trans people in Benji and his story, and I think this novel offers an incredibly hopeful, affirming, and rage-fueled conception of liberation. I am thankful this book exists and I am excited to put it in readers' hands.

Let's start with what I loved: everything is a metaphor. There are so many things here that represent the real struggles that trans people go through, the struggles of dysphoria and unpredictability of medical and transition, and all those metaphors? Amazing. There's also so much amazing representation in here. I loved all of these characters so much. Benji is just another in a long list of beautiful angry messy and complicated trans masc characters that I will defend forever. Nick was a wonderful character as well and I found the autistic representation to be great--I think it's really important to show an autistic person who is not only *surviving the apocalypse* but is actively leading an entire group. The other side characters were amazing as well--I loved the entire queer cast that makes up the main squad of the ALC.

Despite loving the characters, I struggled with the plot and structure of the book, which made things difficult since this is a plot-heavy story. Part of this is I struggled with the world-building--I wanted a little more background on the cult at the beginning and a little more information on the virus. I also struggled a little with the structure of the book--it was entirely written from Benji's POV, except for three or four chapters. I wish we had either gotten more of a balance between Benji and Nick's POVs, or simply only followed Benji.

I also struggled to picture several of the concepts in the book, but that was completely an 'it's not you, it's me' thing. I think the author did a fantastic job with grotesque and graphic descriptions when necessary; I just can't really visualize things in my head, and I am factoring that into my rating since that did affect my enjoyment of the book.

It seems this book is already finding its audience and I'm glad for that. I can't say I loved it, but I will definitely be promoting the book and Andrew Joseph White's work in the future.

Queer horror fantasy heck freaking yes! So even though I wanted some more like initial world building from this book, I loved it anyway. I got really attached to the characters and one of my favorite parts was this huge group of queer people and they weren't all perfect. So often you get queer books with every school queer person is the best person ever and that's not just it's not realistic. Being queer does not mean you're a good person and you can absolutely still be sexist and homophobic and queer phobic and transphobic and misogynistic and fat phobic etc if you're queer. Doesn't exempt you from all of those things and I thought that those are very realistic approach.

This is one that I will be recommending widely. The twist on horror and monsters is amazing. Who are the monsters and who are the heroes? It's hard to talk about it much without spoilers.

The center is LGBTQIA+ people. This is a post-apocalyptic romp, but the characters are what makes this a gem.. What a safe space means and is. What community, family, and belonging must be sometimes.

Not that there's no action. The book draws you in from page one and makes you instantly sympathize with Benji.

The horror fan in me *loved* the horror in this book. It is so well done! Body horror is the immediate one, but it seems just an external piece, the true horror lying beneath. Much of it is a sloughing off of the lies other people packed onto those who become monsters. Can monsters be the norm and the rest the monstrosity of conformity?

If you're doing a lit class about monstrosity - include this! If you have any contrrol over a library with a YA section, grab this! If youre looking for LGBTQIA+ rep or on the Pride Month readint bandwagon, get this one now!

Thank you to Andrew Joseph White, Peachtree Teen, and Netgalley for access to this awesome book for review!!

Hell Followed with Us is a queer YA post apocalyptic dystopian fiction that follows Benji, a trans boy who has escaped from an evangelical cult that brought on the apocalypse by creating a virus called the Flood.

This book was weird and gory and quite different from other books I have read. The amount of body horror and gore can be too much for some readers.

The book is violent and horrifying but the real horror here is that this is a future that doesn't seem so far off sometimes.

The plot was well thought out and the bits of the book that had fantasy elements were well explained as the story went on.

When it comes to world building, it wasn’t confusing whilst reading but it wasn’t over explained either.

Perfect for: People looking for a different bloody and gory take on a dystopian world in which we get plenty of representation. Among others: Trans boy, autism and mental health

This is such a powerful book and made me feel so many things; all the way from dread, to hope.

The gore and body horror in this book was so well done and truly horrifying, the plot was fascinating while providing important commentary, and the characters had amazing development and just inspired so much. The representation (LGBT+, and autism) is also fantastic.

Hell Followed with Us is a book with a brilliant concept at its core. It’s a dystopian horror novel that places religion and its structured form as the villain. We follow Benji, a trans boy who has fled home and his fanatic mother after being injected with some sort of serum that’s eventually going to turn him into a monster.

There are many reasons to read this book, and I believe that Benji himself is one that should be talked about. I adored following his journey from the escape to finding the LGBT+ center, the ALC, and seeing him deal with everything that’s happening to him. I especially loved how unapologetic he becomes about being himself and how we get to see part of what he’s had to go through to get to this point.

Thanks to the setting being the ALC, we also get to see a huge cast of characters, Nick being one of the most relevant ones. He’s one of the leaders and his position is also a great place to explore this character and how his autism and past experiences affect his role in the ALC. The rest of characters, although we don’t explore them as much, is still really interesting to read about, and I loved learning more about them.

I also cannot write a review of this book without talking about the body horror. This is an aspect of the book I can’t say I’ve had much prior contact with, but I thought it was magnificent. I truly did become fascinated by the increasingly disturbing descriptions of organs and bodily fluids doing things they shouldn’t. It’s definitely something to be on the lookout for if you’re squeamish, but it’s handled so well that it might be worth giving it a shot.

Additionally, I thought that the concept of placing organised religion as the enemy was really interesting, and it worked perfectly. It was especially effective when placing the ALC as the main stage for the book, as it reflected the fight between these two very different ways of thinking.

All in all, Hell Followed with Us accomplished what it set out to do. It managed to make the interesting premise work while embracing a full cast of really lovable characters. All combined with a masterful depiction of body horror that made this a very compelling horror dystopian novel.

[3.5] clap your eyes on that gorgeous cover and tell me your interest wasn't even the slightest bit piqued! the design instantly drew me in, and when i saw the extensive list of content/trigger warnings that came along with this debut YA novel, well, a siren call to my dystopian horror loving heart if there ever was one 😌 (but in all seriousness, make sure to check the list out before jumping in if needed!)

for all the gamers out there, think Walking Dead/The Last of Us character dynamics and gore + Resident Evil monsters + the weaponization of religion amped up to a billion to construct this story of a fundamentalist cult cleansing the world in its entirety in the name of all that is holy via a bioweapon named the Flood.

the imagery is gruesome and powerful as gritty themes like religious trauma and queer anger are explored through a diverse cast of LGBTQIA+ characters and rep—from our runaway trans mc Benji housing the perfected version of the virus, to the ragtag group's leader Nick on the autism spectrum, to a trans side character who goes by neopronouns (the first time i've seen this in a book!), etc.

unfortunately i was hit with a few lulls in the story, and the lack of worldbuilding put a damper on my personal enjoyment as my brain has this insatiable desire to understand the hows and whys in order to fully digest any happenings. since a handful of major points were left to the imagination (such as the liberties taken in the final scene to achieve a version of success in a worst case scenario), i was hungry for explanations by the end.

but despite my niggles, i had to round up out of love and respect for the message behind Benji's journey and the heartfelt emotions that poured off the pages in the author's notes. AJW's writing style is absolutely captivating and one i will most certainly come back to read in the future.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review :)

Easiest 5 stars I've ever given!!!!
I wish I had read it sooner because I genuinely loved every single thing about this book whether it was characters, writing style, the plot or anything else.
I did see the twists coming but ah, it didn't decrease my enjoyment of how things unfolded even a bit!!!
And also the trans rep in this book? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
Highly recommend to everyone but please check the TWs before you read! Most of them are mentioned at the beginning of the book and I would like to add: misgendering and deadnaming.

**The author very helpfully posted a list of content warnings on his site

You know what one of the few things better than a cult book is? An apocalypse cult book. Such a favorite concept, when executed well, which Hell Followed With Us absolutely was. The world in this story was, as the title suggests, an absolute hellscape. Benji has spent his life stuck in a super messy cult that has straight up infected him with the virus that has all but ended humanity, as a sort of experiment. And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these fools. So yeah, to say they suck is the understatement of the year. Benji is able to make a run for it when his dad helps him escape, but it comes at the cost of his dad's life.

While on the run, escaping cultists wiling to do anything to recapture him, Benji runs (literally) into the antithesis of the cult: a delightfully badass group of LGBTQ+ kids from a local center called the ALC. This group is kind of everything, okay? They save Benji both literally and figuratively, as he is finally able to connect with people who accept and understand him. He's still reeling from the loss of his father, and the knowledge of what the cult has done to him, but the ALC takes him in and provides both safety and support.

The world is bananas, frankly, and I loved it! This is one dark, dismal situation that Benji and company find themselves in, and it becomes abundantly clear that no one will be helping them, even though they are kids themselves. Nope, in this monstrous place, it's every person for themselves, and even the non-cult folks they stumble upon are fully willing to take advantage of them for their own gain.

Benji has to figure out how he plays into the whole of society, since he has been so thoroughly manipulated and used by the cult. It will take a lot of soul searching, and some help from his new friends to figure out how he'll move forward. I loved that Benji was able to undergo such intense character growth during such a tumultuous time. Likewise, his new friends, especially Nick, have face many of their own demons and ask themselves the same hard questions Benji does.

There is a lot of action in the story, but also a lot of time for characters to develop their relationships with themselves and each other. The book was compulsively readable, very high stakes, and I never felt assured of anyone's survival, no matter how important. My one minor qualm was that the ending felt a little quick, and as a result, a little confusing for me at first. I didn't dislike it, necessarily, but had hoped for a little more. I also would definitely be here for a sequel, as the world and characters are absolutely compelling!

Bottom Line: Dark and intense, but also full of hope and heart, the story of Benji and his friends is one not to be missed!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Peachtree, and Peachtree Teen in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings (provided by the author): Violence (explicit gore, arson, murder and mass murder including children, warfare, terrorism), body horror, transphobia (misgendering, dead-naming with name written out repeatedly, threats of transphobic violence, forced detransition), religious abuse/Christian terrorism, combined with elements of eco-fascism, abusive parents and domestic partner violence (including returning to an abusive partner and victim self-blame), self-injury (including attempted suicide of a side character), mass-death by virus, and vomiting warning throughout

This is an incredibly brutal novel. It's full of gore and violence. It focuses on the deadly impact of religious fanaticism. There's a lot of transphobia and turning children into weapons of war. And all of this is set in a post-apocalyptic America. HELL FOLLOWED WITH US is not a happy, feel-good novel. This novel has teeth and claws and it can be cruel, but at its heart, it's a novel about a group of queer teenagers fighting for their existence and for the space to live into adulthood. Told mainly through the point of view of Benji (a 16-year-old trans boy) that has fled the fundamentalist cult that released a virus killing most of the global population, readers follow Benji's escape, discovery by the ALC teens, and how they work together to fight back.

It's a difficult read but it's well-worth sitting with your discomfort to get through it. The message is powerful. Given everything going on in the world in 2022, this novel may hit you hard. It's definitely one that I will be thinking about for a while. There is a lot of gore, but this isn't a horror full of jump scares. This is a well crafted horror that shows you that the monsters are really just humans and that evil is an aspect of humanity.

Thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book!

5/5 stars, and a serious contender for best book of this year.

“Hell Followed With Us” begins with Benji, a gay trans boy, on the run from the cult he’s been raised in. The very same cult which created the apocalyptic plague that wiped out the earth’s population.. As he tries to leave behind an abusive life, religious trauma, a fiancé, and an old identity, Benji finds himself fallen in with The Watch. The Watch is a group who managed to survive the plague from within their LGBTQ+ youth centre, and are the only people who seem to care enough to try and fix things.

This book is by far the best thing I have read this year. I am completely blown away by the authors ability to write a such a wonderfully complex plot that flows so easily for the reader. It’s not often I find such a strong plot paired with equally fantastic prose. Though published as YA, this novel could be read by anyone. It is also perfect for a potential screen adaptation.

The themes and topics in this book are intense, heavy, and often difficult to read. The author handles transphobia, abuse, homophobia, religious trauma, and extreme violence, with tact. The novel pulls no punches (at times I did have to set the book down and take a few breaths over the gore), yet is not exploitative of its characters or situations. You are also prepared for the rough stuff by the best content warning I have ever encountered. The author made the content warning a piece of the story, building anticipation for what you are about to read while preparing you for the difficulty.

The book has a diverse cast of characters that centres an LGBTQ+ youth group. The representation felt natural, authentic, and was well done. The queer and trans characters are complex, layered, and deeply empathetic to the reader.

I also want to touch on the horror element of this novel. I’ve recently been on a horror binge, reading both classics and modern novels. The horror and gore in this novel is visceral, unsettling, and absolutely unforgettable. The author did a perfect job of pairing the frightening nature of the plague and it’s violent effects with the religious fervour and trauma the cult creates. I could see each creature and act of violence so clearly. The grotesque was certainly present in this novel, and not only as bait or a climax.

I cannot recommend enough that people read this book, just be prepared for all that comes with it.

Benji was infected by the Flood; a disease created by right-wingers to cleanse the population of all sinners. He was selected with a particular strain, one that would turn him into a being that could control the monsters created by the flood itself. As he attempts to escape with his dad, he finds himself with a group of teenagers who are also trying to survive. As the cult comes back for him; he has to figure out how to help defend this new community from what’s to come.

When requesting this from NetGalley, I was just thinking about that gorgeous cover! But honestly, I don’t think I’ve read a book like this one before! I can’t imagine a person describing all those transformations. The detail is just insane!

The representation and all the nuance were phenomenal! The fact that we have all these queer characters, and we have different pronouns included was wonderful to read.

The plot itself was also incredibly different! I did not see that coming from Theo or Nick, but at the same time that was so well done that it didn’t feel like it was out of the blue. Despite all that blood and gore, we technically have a happy ending, but it’s also not entirely happy because of all that’s happened leading up to it.

I can’t wait to see everyone’s art after they’ve read the book! I’m still having a hard time picturing the Graces, and I would love to see the takes on that!

I’m privileged enough to not need to focus on trigger warnings, but I do want to say that there is a lot of gore, misgendering deadnaming, and religious abuse! I would highly recommend that you take a look at the trigger warnings once just to be prepared; I don’t think there was anything senseless, for the sake of it, but what you would expect from a religious cult in a post-apocalyptic world.

Finishing this kind of left me with the feeling I get when I've watched a particularly horrific, bloody anime and I'm like "well I have seen some Things." Admittedly, horror is not my genre but I always end up tuning in when it's queer horror. In the hellscape that is the world post-Flood, I loved that one of the core groups of survivors and fighters are queer and trans young adults. Like with all groups, they're not perfect and there are divisions and arguments, but they've found unity and purpose. On the other side are the evangelicals who decided to bring about Armageddon and kill off most of humanity and create a host of mutated humans. While I'd like to think "oh this is really far-fetched," the repeated litany of verses from the Bible - mostly Old Testament and Revelations - reminds me that the horrors perpetrated by this group aren't that unimaginable.

Violent, dripping in gore, and body horror for days, Hell Followed with Us left me more disturbed than hopeful. And yet I can absolutely see the appeal - especially for any angry queer and trans teens or adults who have felt the violence of organized religion, cults, and/or our own government.

Post-Apocalypse, Religious, Cult, Abuse, Trans, Autistic, survival, love, hope, and LGBTQIA

I loved this book so much, it was scary good. Good in the fact the writing, story and characters were amazing. Scary in the way this horrific post-apocalypse world was depicted, and terrifying in fact that this end-game scenario is so completely plausible. Benji. a trans boy finds himself with a group of Queer youth trying to survive, after escaping a religious cult responsible for creating and spreading a deadly pathogen that kills most of the world's population and continues to kill and maim in “the Lord’s name.”

I was completely captivated from the first page. Benji goes through so much both in his past and in his attempt to live his life on his terms. It's a dark book with a lot of trigger warnings dealing with abuse in all different forms. I found that White's author's note at the beginning really highlights the underlining tone of the novel. It is also the reason I could get through all the brutal aspects knowing that though the book is full of “[t]terrible things” it’s also about “survival, love, and a future worth fighting for” (letter from the author).

Such a fantastic read, it was dark, twisted, graphic, visceral, yet hopeful and full of love.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #AndrewJosephWhite and #PeachTreeTeen for sharing this digital copy, these are my honest thoughts on #HellFollowedWithUS.

I was very excited about Hell Followed With Us since I first heard about it months ago. I’m always interested in SFF with trans protagonists, especially if they focus on trans anger, and this really fell in that category.

I’m happy to say that I got what I expected. I found the main character I had been waiting for, with his anger and desire to exist, and really loved the fast pacing that kept me on the edge of my seat. I hadn’t read much horror or body horror before, but after this, I realize that it’s a genre I could be interested in. This is a story about religious extremism and terrorism, with teenagers fighting for autonomy over their body, and I’d definitely recommend it for readers who love post-apocalyptic stories.

I really loved the characters in Hell Followed With Us. Aside from the main character Benji—whom I was rooting for from start to finish—, there is also a large cast of side characters who were maybe not the most fleshed-out characters, but who were distinguishable from one another and added something to the story. I especially loved Nick a lot and wish I could’ve gotten more of him. I was thankful for the found family vibe and the interactions between the teens as they added something comforting to this mostly dark and terrifying story. Benji’s chapters were told in the first person, but the few other POVs were written in the third person, keeping Benji at the center and presenting the others as guests in his story.

Hell Followed With Us was interesting to me not only because of the characters but also because of the themes it touches on, and the scary universe and plot. The book was full of parallels, between the characters but also between Benji’s various “sides”. It was interesting to see him try to make sense of his identity and looking for a way to exist freely as himself. I liked how the story explored his relationship towards his own body as a trans person, but also as a monster, and how he searched for a way to claim this body as his own.

The writing in general managed to create one story where all elements fit together and nothing is left on the side. There was nothing unnecessary in this book, which made it a really comfortable reading experience for me. The prose was exactly what I expected from this, providing many visual elements and making scenes easy to picture. I also thought it distanced itself from typical young adult literature. The story wasn’t overflowing with pop culture references and didn’t have a rushed, surface level romance. The author also didn’t shy away from showing violence, despite having young characters as protagonists. I’m really glad that we get to see more complex, messier queer teens in books these days, and Hell Followed With Us is a great example of that.

Though I enjoyed the book and thought it brought so many important things to young adult literature, I felt pretty confused at times. There were many things happening that I had a hard time understanding or locating. I would’ve needed to know more about the past to really be invested in the present. It sometimes felt like building a story without the basic foundation, which made it hard to believe in the plot sometimes. For example, I didn’t really understand how Benji’s family ended up joining the sect, and how the apocalypse happened. The same goes for Benji’s relationship with Theo, I was just really confused about this. I wasn’t fully satisfied with the ended either, as it happened very quickly and felt a bit messy.

On a last note, I wanted to say that I am glad that this book is what it is and that the author didn’t censor himself to fit some mold, which is awesome. But that also means that there is a lot of gore and triggering content. The body horror is present, on every page, and there are war scenes that feel very real. So, proceed with caution!

Hell Followed With Us was definitely the book I expected it to be, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for trans representation in YA literature, especially if you’re into horror.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree Teens for this eARC!

Content warnings: violence, transphobia, religious abuse, terrorism, abuse, emetophobia, body horror, self injury.

Wow okay, where to start with this one?

Our main character Benji, is a 16 year old trans, gay boy on the run from the cult that raised him, including his own mother and finance.
This is a religious cult who thinks that in order to save the world, a six-winged clawed beast called Seraph will be unleashed and raise havoc upon the world.

“I’m scared of the beasts in the trees, the barest glimpse Seraph has given me of fangs, feathers, and flesh.”

Basically they mean genocide.

Our poor Benji is injected by force with what will turn him into Seraph, the chosen one for the end of the world.

“I am a monster standing among the living, a boy made of raw meat and dying flesh. I’m turning into an abomination.”

On top of all of this, there’s also a virus called The Flood that will either kill you or turn you into a zombie if you’re one of the unlucky ones. So basically there’s a lot against Benji right now.

“I want to crack my head open and search through the brain matter for the rot creeping across my frontal lobe.”

He runs into the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, who rescue him and become his friends. The leader Nick, welcomes him in and together they figure out how how to rebuild and fight these battles together. I don't want to give away much of what happens so I will stop there.

Every character is super perseverant in this book, even the bad guys. I would have given up a long time ago, especially if I was weeks away from turning into a monster.

That being said, I enjoyed the characters, the representation, and the story itself. It is full blown body and gore horror - some of it was absolutely disgusting. Some of the writing was really good but it was also a little inconsistent at times. The ending did wrap up neatly but it was a little too happy fairy tale for me, but that’s just me.

I would look into the trigger warnings too as I could imagine this to be triggering for some.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!