Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus is an absolutely chilling story. Set in the deeply conservative town of Neverton, Montana, the story delves into the sinister underbelly of a so-called “gay conversion camp”. Tingle blends the supernatural, sci-fi, and harsh realism to create a narrative that is both terrifying and thought-provoking. The creeping horror of Camp Damascus kept me glued to the pages, I devoured the book in just two days because I had to know what was really going on. Every twist shocked me, and just when I thought I had figured it out, the story veered in a direction I never saw coming.

What I loved most was how Tingle’s storytelling doesn’t just thrill, it resonates. The novel unflinchingly tackles the demons, literal and figurative, that the queer community faces, drawing sharp parallels to the hypocrisy of extreme conservatism and religious fanaticism. Tingle’s pointed exploration of these themes felt especially powerful in today’s political climate, where queer rights are under attack. Beneath the spine-tingling scares lies an earnest, empowering message about the importance of living your truth and challenging those who weaponize faith to hide their own darkness. The way Tingle intertwines these themes with a compelling and unique horror narrative is nothing short of brilliant. Camp Damascus is more than just a story, it’s a triumph, a rallying cry, and an unforgettable reading experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5