Release Date: 27th July 2023
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 256
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

A searing and earnest horror debut about the demons the queer community faces in America, the price of keeping secrets, and finding the courage to burn it all down.

They’ll scare you straight to hell.

Welcome to Neverton, Montana: home to a God-fearing community with a heart of gold.

Nestled high up in the mountains is Camp Damascus, the self-proclaimed “most effective” gay conversion camp in the country. Here, a life free from sin awaits. But the secret behind that success is anything but holy.

Review

Camp Damascus is a dark and haunting horror story that follows a young woman named Rose, who has had a very Christian upbringing. She believes wholeheartedly in the tenets of the Church, living in a town that is famous for Camp Damascus, the “most effective” gay conversion camp ever. When Rose starts seeing strange things, she begins to realize that something more sinister might be going on at the church.

Camp Damascus is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s horrifying, unsettling, and has more than a few moments that send a shiver up your spine. The story is a compelling one and is very relevant in today’s world. I really enjoyed Tingle’s writing style and it was a fascinating exploration of homophobia and religious extremism. I did think the pacing was a bit uneven but overall this was a pretty quick and engaging read. Tingle does a great job of creating atmosphere and there are definitely some scenes that really horrified me.

Rose is a believable main character and I felt for all that she goes through in this story. I would have loved for the story to be just a little bit longer, to see the relationships develop just a little bit more. Overall Camp Damascus is a thought-provoking and creepy horror tale and if you’re looking for a short, spine tingling read, this could be exactly what you’re looking for.