This was really fantastic religious horror! The reveals were well paced and engaging, and the sense of the creeping terror and shame of religious conservatism was terrifyingly rendered. It deals with similar themes as Camp Damascus but much better.

Thank you Netgalley and Quirk Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lindsay King-Miller’s “This Is My Body” is a chilling and deeply unsettling queer horror novel that focuses on religious trauma and the terrifying power of belief. With an intense blend of supernatural and psychological horror, the book follows Brigid, a single mother who has spent her life trying to escape the extremist Catholic upbringing that nearly broke her. But when her daughter Dylan begins exhibiting disturbing, violent behavior—eerily reminiscent of a girl from Brigid’s past—she finds herself drawn back to the place she swore she’d never return: home.

Brigid’s uncle, Father Angus, is a strict, fanatical priest with a history of performing exorcisms—exorcisms that seem to have disturbing ties to violent crimes committed by those who attended them. As Brigid becomes convinced that Dylan is possessed, the book toys with the question of what is real and what is psychological trauma manifesting in terrifying ways. The demonic presence in “This Is My Body” is uniquely crafted, acting almost like a parasite, feeding on faith, fear, and power. The horror is visceral and unsettling, with graphic imagery that makes it clear—something deeply unnatural is at play.

At its core, “This Is My Body” is a story about trauma and survival. The book’s depiction of religious abuse and homophobia is gut-wrenching, making it an emotionally heavy read, particularly for those with similar lived experiences. However, it also offers moments of hope, particularly in Brigid’s rekindled romance with Zandy, an old flame from her past. Their relationship is one of the book’s emotional anchors, offering a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding Brigid’s family history.

The final act of the book is an all-out descent into madness—graphic, intense, and nearly impossible to put down. The line between reality and nightmare blurs as Brigid unravels the horrifying truth about her family’s past and the real nature of the entity haunting Dylan. The climax is shocking and brutal, but the epilogue offers a much-needed sense of closure, focusing on healing, acceptance, and the power of breaking free.

With its sharp writing, relentless tension, and gut-punch themes, “This Is My Body” is an unforgettable read for fans of queer horror. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page—haunting, thought-provoking, and deeply personal.

Brigid is a single mother of a teen girl, Dylan, who is starting to behave strangely. Dylan's erratic behaviour stirs up Brigid's old religious and childhood trauma and forces her to confront her past and how unprocessed generational trauma is bleeding into the present. This book reminded me quite a bit of American Rapture by C.J. Leede and Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison (the latter I enjoyed, the former I did not as much).

I Liked:
-Great lesbian representation
-Brigid's behaviour and thoughts/feelings are messy in a way that read as accurate and relatable for a trauma survivor
-Nuance in how different belief systems are represented (ex: an important character is Catholic but not terrible about it)

Things Not For Me:
-Certain things happened that I was not expecting and did not see coming, which in some ways was good, but some of the twists about certain characters really felt like they came out of nowhere and I would have liked more set up and less misdirection (I can't say much else without spoiling)
-Dylan is already...not well...right from the start of the book, so it was hard for me to build a connection to Dylan and relate to Brigid's concern or fears about her child's transformation

Ultimately the main message I'm taking away from this is that healing from trauma takes time, it is messy and non-linear, and facing abusive patterns straight on is the only way to break them. This is a good message and I think the author did a good job overall conveying these themes in an engaging way.

Thanks for the ARC!

This was an engrossing horror novel, even though it took most of the novel to get to the horrifying bits. I cared about the protagonist and I liked how the ending wasn’t cliched and did not let anyone off the hook.

Really interesting and gripping exploration of religious traima and how that can bleed into your adult life.. Horric and enthralling this pulls no punches.

This Is My Body is an intense, unsettling dive into religious trauma, family secrets, and the terrifying power of belief. Packed with tension, the novel’s exploration of faith, guilt, and motherhood feels deeply personal. The horror elements—both supernatural and psychological—are gripping, and the slow unraveling of the family’s dark past keeps the pages turning.

King-Miller delivers a gut-punch of an ending and a thought-provoking look at generational trauma. This Is My Body is a haunting, emotional ride that lingers long after the final page.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing an eARC of This Is My Body prior to publication.