The gore! Lord Jesus, the gore!
This is a post-apocalyptic sci-fantasy story about a plague that induces horrific body transformations on those inflicted. Some are killed. Some continue on in a zombie-like state. The main character, Benji, has received a dose of a special strain of the man-made virus which allows him to control the other infected, but also causes him to undergo a slow but terrifying transformation of his own.
It would be a disservice to review this book and gloss over the transness of it. The main character, and a good number of the supporting cast, are trans youths. This is not a sole defining characteristic of any of these well-sketched characters, but it is crucial to the themes of the story. I have read that body horror is a common trope in trans fiction, that it has a special narrative power for those who experience dysphoria, so perhaps it follows an established set of tropes that I’m unfamiliar with. But Benji’s outward viral transformation has a complex interplay with his body image which is fascinating to read.
Ultimately the book is carried by the character relationships. They are hopeful, sweet, tragic, heartening, and cruel; and for those who have grown up in religious cults, particularly fundamentalist Christian sects in the US, I suspect all too familiar. Of particular interest are the relationships Benji has with his fiance who is still thoroughly embedded in their childhood cult, and a secondary love interest who leads a small group which hunts the cult’s death squads. To get into details would be to introduce spoilers, so I’ll just say that I thought these relationships had well-written arcs and just enough depth so that their progression felt natural and compelling.
The gore, though! There is a lot. There is biting, thrashing, shooting, slashing, blood and guts and broken, splintered, flying bones. It’s quite gross. So if that’s your thing, I urge you to pick this one up immediately.
Content warning: graphic violence and body horror, apocalypse, christofascist ecoterrorism, violence against children, mild sexual content
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
Themes: 10
Prose: 6
Overall score: well over 206 bones.
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