I love the idea of this book but with all the trigger warnings folded into the beginning I made the decision not to continue after a short while. Super appreciate the trigger warnings! I will be recommending this title to my students who would be interested!

This book was fine. Great for fans of Six of Crows. I think it had the same winding, vast plotline that Bardugo fans enjoy, but it just wasn't for me. I did find myself racing to the end, though, even though I was only vaguely aware of what was happening by that point. I think that a lot of queer teens will love this one, though.

Holy shit.

I’m so excited for when this book comes out, for three reasons. One, I’m super excited that in a few months, trans teens are going to get to read this book. As a trans adult, I wish I had been able to read this book at 16. In addition, I work with kids (many of them being queer or trans), and I can assure you I will be recommending this to all of them. Two, I can already tell this is gonna be the next big YA book, and I’m gonna be able to tell people that I read it before it was published. Three, I cannot wait to read this again.

What I Liked:
- The narrative here is so compelling that I could not put the book down. I cannot remember the last time I was excitedly awaiting the end of a class so that I could come home and read, but it certainly happened with Hell Followed With Us.
- I loved all of the characters, Benji especially. His voice is so interesting to read and I missed him when he wasn’t at the center of the narrative.
- The metaphor of transness as monstrousness is impeccably done here; the body horror aids in this a lot and is also very well done.
- This is one of the first books I’ve read (and the first YA book that I’ve read) that centers around trans anger and portrays it realistically.

What I Disliked:
- There were details about the world that I wish had been more fleshed out, specifically surrounding the cult and New Nazareth, Benji’s history and his family’s connection to it, etc.
- Spoilers Ahead: I didn’t love the romance between Benji and Nick, I thought it was somewhat rushed and didn’t feel super necessary to me.

Overall: in all honesty, I have very little to say about Hell Followed With Us other than “please read this when it comes out” as well as “please make sure any trans kid in your life knows about this book”. This was easily my most anticipated book of 2022, and it was everything I wanted it to be.

I devoured this book. This was the book I needed 25 years ago. I fell in love with so many of the characters, I can't even enumerate.

QUOTES:
- I hate that I can’t cry. I want to sob, I want to do something, anything, to get this pressure out of my head, this awful thing building behind my eyes, I hate it so much, and if I can’t tear Nick to pieces, I need to get it out.
- A banner flutters high above me: GOD LOVES YOU. Corpses dangle from the wires, yellow-pink organs hanging from their stomachs to obscure their nakedness, like Adam and Eve ashamed of their bodies.

hell followed with us is a book that will probably end up meaning a lot to quite a lot of people. i can definitely see it blowing up because it’s such a good story and i have to say it’s a solid debut novel. the gore parts were absolutely amazing and, from what i’ve heard from other people, it’s got great trans rep! however, i don’t think i was the main target for this book as i was very confused by the whole religion aspect. in my opinion, the book wasn’t coherent and consistent enough which hindered my enjoyment of the story.

it's got a great cast of characters, i really liked how distinct their voices were and how each of them had a well thought-out personality. it’s not my place to comment on the rep, but i’ve heard nothing but good things about that as well. i really liked Benji as a character quite a lot, he was a very complex character and his journey was interesting to read about. the author does such a good job at making Benji’s emotions come across and making the reader sympathize with him. nick was probably my favourite character but i have to say the romance felt a bit too rushed. i couldn’t fully embrace the romantic plot line, but i loved all the other dynamics. love me a found-family trope.

now, the actual plot made me so confused. we’re thrown right into the action without any explanation of why everything went bad in the world or any background as to what happened, who started it or even what’s going on now. maybe my brain is just tiny but i was fighting for my life trying to keep track of everything. i didn’t get why people transformed into graces? why some are okay and others turn? eventually it felt a bit messy. however, it was fun to read and the gore was *chef’s kiss*.

the ending was rushed. the plot twist of a said character turning into a certain thing was a bit questionable, like i don’t think it did any good to the story. it kinda lost me as a reader because it wasn’t believable. not that the rest of the book tetters on reality, but considering it all, i still didn’t buy into it. a lot of things weren’t explain and i simply couldn’t fully grasp the story because of these plot holes. the villain characters were severely underused for the build-up they had, especially mother woodside and sister kipling.

all in all, hell followed with us is a stunning debut and i’m so looking forward to reading more from this author because the horror parts were so, so bloody good

Definitely a creative and interesting plot. This being said, I don’t think it’s for me. I would consider it more of a literary fiction, and generally that is not my favorite kind anyway. Great premise, just not my style.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book .hell followed with us is a story about a trans boy who has just escaped a cult in a futuristic america. this book blew me away, it was so powerful, emotional, angry and tense. the pacing was perfect i never felt bored and it was super easy to read. there were a few shifts in perspective which made the story well rounded. the plot was well thought out and the slightly more ‘fantasy’ elements of this book were explained well as the story went on, the same can be said for the world building which wasn’t confusing whilst reading but it wasn’t over explained either. the representation in this book is something all books should aim for i loved seeing the inclusion of someone who uses neopronouns! i would recommend this book to those who liked ‘Between Perfect and Real’. however i think readers should be aware that this book can be quite graphic and gory at some points and features moments of transphobia and dead-naming. i would recommend this to readers 16 or older. i thoroughly enjoyed this and have rated it 5 stars.

*3.75 stars*.

I'm honestly really disappointed that I didn't enjoy this to the extent that I thought I was going to. The premise sounded incredible - a rag tag team of Queer kids trying to survive the apocalypse? Yes please, sign me up. For me though, the execution was not pulled off as smoothly as I wish it had. I didn't enjoy the worldbuilding, and the world itself didn't really excite me. The idea of an eco-fascist Christian cult taking over the world sounds interesting, but it didn't pull me in in the way that I thought it would. Perhaps if I had grown up with an Evangelical Christian background it would have a bigger impact on me, but lots of the references just went straight over my head.

But onto what I did like: The characters! I loved the diversity in race, genders and sexuality and am so happy to see more of that in YA literature. Benji was a sweet main character, but it was Nick who stole the show for me. I loved the way he was portrayed, and especially loved the way his autism was written. Seeing an autistic character who isn't treated like a baby was incredible, and I hope to see more of that in literature.

Although this wasn't my cup of tea, I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

"For fans of Gideon the Ninth" hell yeah it is! Although if you're familiar with the Locked Tomb Series, Hell Followed With Us is a lot more Harrow the Ninth than it is Gideon the Ninth. Something about body horror, religious trauma and queerness just speak to me.

Let's be honest, I was a little afraid going in because I cannot stand any kind of zombie media. I just cannot. So when I saw reviews about how heavy it was on body horror and how people who liked zombie video games I was apprehensive. Well yeah they were right but I feel like I've grown into loving the weird queer genre. I want more. I want more queer stories that are raw and weird and gross and angry.

Hell Followed With Us is an post apocalyptic story where Christian terrorists have unleashed a plague that killed most of the planet (yeah they're the ecoterrorist "too many people on the planet" type). Benji escapes the cult that's been making him into a monster and runs into a group of queer teenagers where he learns to full embrace his transness. And his revenge. This story just reeks of anger and vengeance in the best way. The anger of queer kids who were wronged by their upbringing and will never let it happen again.

There's something about a trans kid (especially a transmasc teen) turning into a monster that's so poetic. To shed the the skin of "girl" and been born anew into yourself but yourself is a monster angel of destruction and wrath. I absolutely loved how Benji thinks about how "monster" hides "girl". Peak transmasc experience (I may be going through some things right now and trying to figure myself out so this whole book is a blessing). The way Benji speaks about his dysphoria... chef's kiss "My dysphoria comes from the way other people see me" yes.... so true king.

Also I need to talk about Nick who is the man Benji bonds with after he escapes and our other main character. Nick is autistic (among other things) and I just loved all the little things: the way he hides his stimming even though he is surrounded by people who could technically understand, the "acceptable" stimming, the way he processes emotions and feelings.... Nick you are so dear to me.

Also this book is Queer Religious Trauma: the book. Like queer ex-christians that's your book. I feel like it will feel more visceral to (American) Protestants than Catholics because it's missing some stained glass and and I don't know the vibes are different. As a non American, what Christianity has become in America both fascinates and terrifies me (what on Earth is a mega church?). But overall this will be very cathartic for some.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I was excited to get an early copy of this because the concept was so unique and interesting, the cover even more so. A cult that brings about an apocalyptic plague, check. A trans boy who may be the key to saving humanity, check. Representation out the wazzoo, check. Religious deconstruction, check.

Unfortunately, and the reason this is a 2.5-3 star read for me, the body horror/gore elements didn't just border on gratuitous, it jumped the fence and ran into the next county. I KNOW that there is an audience for this level of gore but I am not it. If that had been scaled back I think it would have made for a stronger overall debut novel.

All of this said I am so interested in seeing where Andrew Joseph White's literary journey goes next.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a book about queer/trans rage and horror of Christianity gone even more wrong. I was hooked from the author’s note to the end, if you do Dec to read this please do heed the content warnings included in that note because this book is not for the weak of stomach or faint of heart.. Horror is not typically my jam but I think it portrayed the anger of a young trans character and how mess up society is very well. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives in the story and honestly wished there was more but I think how they were used was a great way to give information to the reader that the main characters still had to learn.

My favorite part of this sorry were the many in-group (trans) based jokes and the multiplicity of diverse well developed characters. Very impressive to have a story of horror and rage turn into one of found family and hope. Definitely recommend!

When I first laid eyes on Hell Followed with Us I knew I absolutely had to read it. That cover alone is worth a five star rating. I mean.. look at it. It's stunning and gorgeous. It would make a lovely tattoo. I jumped at the chance to read this when I saw it was a read now book on NetGalley. Then I had to brag to my friend that I had it.

As for the actual story which is what I'm really supposed to be talking about, let me just say it is as awe inspiring as the cover art. Right at the beginning, you're picked up by the scruff and tossed into this world that seems like hell on Earth. The main character is Benji, a trans boy who has escaped a cult but not before they injected him with something that will turn him into a monster.

Benji does not want to become Seraph but he especially doesn't want the cult to use Seraph to wipe out what remains of humanity. They already killed so many during the Flood, which deformed those not killed and made other monsters they use called Grace. The cult's soldiers are called Angels. So Benji is being hunted by Angels and Grace when a group of kids save him. The group is lead by Nick who knows what's up with Benji and wants to have him on their side.

So Benji is taken in by the ALC, named for their home base at the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center. He immediately bonds with and is accepted by his new found family. Though there are exceptions of course because humans are complicated. I love all of the representation, love that these kids have each other and can be themselves. Just like in real life, they have to band together and fight for the chance to live as they want and be left alone.

Hell Followed with Us is dark and brutal. It is chock full of blood, gore and body horror. There's rage and love, hope and despair. Take heed of all the content warnings the author has kindly provided. If you can handle it, this book is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley, Peachtree Teen and Andrew Joseph White for the opportunity to read an e-ARC.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I want to read everything Andrew writes.
Hell Followed With Us explores the religious trauma, how society tries to form us and make us in the image that they think is the right way. I love Benji, I love Nick and everyone at the ALC. I hope this is not the last time we see them.

(I received an advanced readers copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

Hell Followed With Us was one of my most anticipated books of 2022 so when I saw I got an ARC I literally SCREAMED and let me tell you, it delivered!

I rarely read horror but this book really made me delve deeper into the genre. The horror parts of the book are so unsettling and creepy in the best way possible.

The rage in this books is so visceral and very cathartic for me as a trans person so thank you to Benji for taking one for the team and being the rage monster I sometimes want to be😎

Also can we please talk about that cover it’s stunning!

All in all, I’m definitely planning to buy a physical copy of Hell Followed With Us when it comes out!

Rep in this book: trans and queer mc, autistic and queer major character, a side character with neopronouns + very diverse and almost all queer side characters

Some major trigger warnings: religious bigotry, trauma, and horror, transphobia, gun violence, violence, very graphic body horror, death, cults (the cult is based on Christianity)

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Peachtree and Peachtreeteen, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

TW: violence, abuse, murder, body horror, transphobia, religious abuse, abusive parents and partner, victim self-blaming, self-injury,
Check the author's website for the complete TWs
https://andrewjosephwhite.com/content-warnings%3A-hfwu

Benji is a sixteen year old trans boy, on the run from the cult that raised him, a religious extremist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world's population and infected him with a bioweapon. Desperate to find a place where they can't find, hurt and use him. Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, known as the ALC. Its leader is Nick, gorgeous and autistic and he knows Benji's darkest's secret, that the bioweapon is turning him into a deadly monster. Rescued and sheltered, Benji decides to learn how to control the monster and use its power to defend his new family. Even if that means confronting the cult's hate and power and escaping from it alive and free.

Hell followed with us is a magnificent and furious queer debut, about embracing your monster and fighting back against your oppressors, to be alive and free.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world, with destroyed cities, dead and/or mutated bodies, where the survivors are fighting to live, eat and be safe from the monsters, humans or not.
Benji was raised by a fundamentalist cult, struggling with their hate and ideas, trying to get free and to live as a boy, when everyone in the cult wants him to be their savior girl, battling transphobia, deadnaming and violence from abusive parent and partner.
When he's rescued by the ALC, a ragtag group of queer teens, with different ideas, but who built a safe place for them, Benji starts to see another world, a chance to be himself and to find his own home, place and love.
The ALC is strongly opposed to the cult's ideas and violence and there Benji starts to make friends, to find a new family and a place to survive and he will be willing to do anything to keep them all safe, even getting back to the lion's den and destroy it from within.

The worldbuilding created by the author is eerie and scary, filled with violence and surviving, monsters and mutations, virus and religious fanatism and religion used and abused to justify genocide and bigotry. the writing style, the prose is so vivid I could imagine everything so clearly and I absolutely loved how immersive and evocative the story was.
Benjii is a great main character, struggling with victim self-blaming, religious brainwashing and wanting to be free and himself. He's stubborn, brilliant and filled with justified anger and the desire to destroy those who hurt and still threaten him.
I loved his relationship with Nick and how they slowly start to understand, respect, protect and love one other in a very messy and violent situation. I've also loved the disability rep and how wonderfully written was Nick's character.
The extremism, the constant use of religion to justify hate and violence is strongly opposed by the ALC and by these wonderful queer kids, fighting back and resisting a world bent on destroying them, by loving and taking care of one other.

The horror, grief, rage and hate are mixed with hope, found family and love in this awesome dystopian story. The author wrote a book full of gore, fire and justified anger, about monsters who decide to fight back for themselves and their loved ones. A story about embracing yourself and the monster within and fighting against your oppressors, finding your own home and family.

Hell followed with us represent a cruel world and the amazing queer teens who fight to survive.

Absolutely one of my new all-time favourite books. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it!! Can't wait for this book to be out, and for everyone to be reading it. It's just so so so good.
Angry and spiteful and graphic - this is exactly the feral queer story my heart needed right now.
Obssessed.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow… I’ve got to say that I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages. The cover and bio stood out to me immediately. Religious trauma mixed in with an apocalypse and gay people, heck yeah! Anyway, the general plot of this book focuses on a young trans boy named Benji who has been raised in a religious cult during an apocalypse started by that very same cult. He meets up/is rescued used by a group of youth from a former queer rescue center and things fall into place. Also, the cult did something to slowly turn Benji into a monster. Furthermore, the book itself sure did impress. As a nonbinary/trans individual myself, I relate a whole lot to Benji. The book drew me immediately in with the first chapter. Gore, trauma, evil manipulative jerks that taunt the MC, amazing! I love love love it when a book just hits you with absolutely terrible environments and characters who have been through a whole lot.

The description in this book was absolutely rich. As someone obsessed with horror, I was totally satisfied. The Flood is definitely something that still freaks me out. The realistic and gut crushing portrayal of abusive relationships was another thing that hit me hard. It is hard to love someone who treats you horribly. And when everything comes crashing down, everything just sucks.

Despite really loving the plot, atmosphere, and the MC, I felt slightly unsatisfied with how rushed the ending was. Nick and Benji in particular felt slightly rushed. We went from Benji being in a not-so-good place to immediate romance, and that just wasn’t my style personally. Moreover, we were introduced to a lot of interesting characters that sadly never got the development they needed. I didn’t get the warm satisfaction I craved when I reached the ending, but I suppose for a mostly horror-based book that’s just what happens.

All-in-all, I’d give this book a solid 4/5. I think the bittersweetness of the end just didn’t cut it for me.

TLDR of my review: Weird in the best way possible. I loved the plot, the relationships between the characters, and the diversity of the characters. Such a cool read 5/5 stars. Check out the full review here: https://maeflowerreads.wordpress.com/2022/03/02/hell-followed-with-us-review/

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Wow i really don’t know to start this book was just amazing and my top read of 2022 so far !!

The representation in this book is just outstanding !! almost every character is queer as hell and i’m here for it !! our main protagonist Benji is a trans boy who escapes from a deathly cult who have just injected him with their deadliest weapon yet. on this path to escape he comes across an LGBTQ+ centre who take him in.

Yes you heard that right an LGBTQ+ centre, literally everyone is queer and the representation is just amazing !!! we have trans rep non binary rep, characters who use neo-pronouns, lesbian rep, aromatic rep, POC characters and autism rep and more !! i really loved the autism rep in this book the way it was portrayed in my opinion was genuine and with sensitivity.

I just love love love the plot of this book, it was so interesting and such a page turner i couldn’t stop reading as soon as i started !! i also really conected with the characters, and whilst their were quite a few i found myself connected to almost all of them by the end of the book and i thank the characterisation for that. the main queer (mlm) couple as well, i had so much love for them and were rooting for them the whole book and i think the author did a good job at building the romance whilst making sure it didn’t compromise the plot or get in the way of it. don’t even get me started on the found family this book has, my biggest weakness !!

Perhaps what captioned me the most abt this book was the writing and writing style this author just has a way with his words and descriptions that i could actively picture most of what was happening in my head especially the description of the horror and gore involved.

I really think this book has the potential to become a top seller for 2022 and i hope that everyone enjoys it as much as i did.

First of, i want to say that i was scared to be disappointed by such a large cast of lgbtq+ teenager, i didn't want it to be cliché or even bad representation like it often end u being, and i wasn't disappointed at all. The anger that many lgbtq+ teenager, especially transgender people was so well depicted, i wish i've had a book like Hell Followed with Us when i was a younger.
What i also loved is the relationship between the main character and religion, because he never hated God, he only ever hate the organisation representing Him and i think it was brilliant, because not all lgbtq+ turn their back on religion or hate it.
On another less serious topic i loved how love is depicted, this fierce feeling of loving something or someone so deeply that it easily turns to hatred.