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. And they’ll scare you straight to hell.

This book was insanely well done and, sadly, relevant in 2025. Do not dismiss this one just because Chuck Tingle wrote it. It's scary, gross, poignant, and just so fucking well done. I will absolutely read everything Chuck Tingle puts out from now on. Love is real, buckaroos! 5 stars

Loved loved loved Camp Damascus, definitely a favorite in queer lit from now on! It was not what I expected and I found it both relatable but a very unique premise on the topic of conversion camps. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

As much as I'm always willing to recommend a Chuck Tingle book, I can't say I'm a fan of the overall writing style. I appreciate what he's doing, but not for me, unfortunately!

One of the best books I've read in ages! It absolutely captures the horror of an Evangelical childhood as a Queer person. The accuracy was terrifying.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

Camp Damascus is a scathing commentary on Christian extremism, religious trauma, queer strength, and a reckoning of faith.

I loved the unsettling atmosphere that Tingle instantly creates in the first chapter. We know something is not right ... and that feeling is turned up a notch by the end of the first chapter with Rose's missing bedroom door and mayflies (I am not detailing to not spoil anything!). This feeling further creeps and intensifies as the story progresses, keeping me SAT, awaiting as Rose unravels the mystery of Camp Damascus while I simultaneously played sleuth. Once demons were introduced, it was easy to figure out the sinister plot the church played. Yet, the ending had me FLOORED to my little heart's delight.

In the middle, the book slows down, which took me out of the story a bit. The middle chapters were used to explore Rose's relationship to Sal and Willow. I loved the backstory for both of these side characters as they offer our mc solace, joy (even if fleeting), and strength. I like how Rose is not alone, finding community through literal darkness. As the book comes to a close, I just needed a little more like an epilogue. The ending is satisfying, but it's abrupt. I'd love to know where Rose, Sal, and Willow are a year after the last scene.

This is my first Chuck Tingle book and I really enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading more of his work, particularly the ones with horror.

Chuck Tingle is one of the best people in existence and I want to support his books, but as much as this seemed totally my jam I wasn’t able to get more than a few pages in. I may try it in audio, but for now it just didn’t work for me and my focus.

Objectively this may not be a perfect book. It's got some pacing issues starting around the middle and is perhaps slightly too long. And arguably Rose comes to realize what's up far faster than is realistic.

In Camp Damascus, Chuck Tingle blends sharp wit with thought-provoking commentary in a horror novel like no other. With his trademark absurdity, Tingle explores deep themes of identity, love, and the complexities of human experience, all wrapped in an eerie, offbeat narrative. It’s a genre-defying tale that’s both darkly funny and unexpectedly moving, cementing Tingle’s reputation as a unique voice in modern literature. Fans of bold storytelling and unconventional horror will find Camp Damascus an unforgettable read.

Rose is a good girl who follows in the Lords work. But after seeing things and witnessing a gruesome death things are definitely not as they seem in her little God worshiping community that is best know for Camp Damascus, the best gay conversion camp in the country.

I’ve read Tingle’s more humorous books so, I jumped on the opportunity to read something a but more serious from him. This was a wild ride, thrilling with bits of gruesome depictions. This story really drew me in. I couldn’t put it down. ‘Detective’ Rose was interesting to follow as she regained gaps in her memory. And the ending was exactly as it ought to have been. This was an enjoyable horror novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, & publisher for an eARC.

I enjoyed this book, as a powerful depiction of conversion therapy which nevertheless remained hopeful about the potential for queer people to find solace in religion. I didn't feel that the book was quite as good as I wanted it to be (I found the prose a little weak), but I'd still highly recommend it to any teen or young adult grappling with religiously motivated homophobia.

I’ve always said the most effective horror stories are the ones that see the horrors of real life for exactly what they are and take them to a very literal place, take them to another level by subverting metaphor and abstraction, and quantifying them into very real, very tangible forces and experiences—and that’s exactly what “Camp Damascus” does. It’s intense, it’s surprising, it’s disarming, and ultimately I think it’s about how love is always going to be stronger than fear and hatred.

Structrually, the story can feel a bit disjointed at times, jumping between one scene and the next without much connective tissue. And there are also moments when the messaging is a bit too on the nose for my taste. But still really enjoyed this horror story and would love to read more from Chuck in the future!

‘Camp Damascus’
Dr. Chuck Tingle is beloved for many reasons, not the least of which is his unapologetic, boundless support for all types of people — especially those who go against the grain. While his self-published stories have become viral memes dozens of times over the years, now Dr. Tingle trots into traditional publishing with a masterpiece that is sure to prove love to thousands of new fans.

Rose is a small-town high school student and a member of a church that’s well known to host the most “successful” gay-conversion camp in the country. Her perfect life gets complicated, however, when Rose glimpses something in the woods. Soon a pervasive, chilling sense of dread starts to grow for both the reader and Rose until the explosive twist at the end upends everything.

This book feels like an out-of-control roller coaster in the best way. As I was flung through joy and nausea and fear, I simply could not stop reading; I was hooked. This is the best kind of horror story — very current in its themes yet also classically terrifying. I loved it so much. As Dr. Tingle taught me, love is real — even when it’s scary. ♦

Out of left field. Balls to the wall. Could not get enough of Chuck! I loved the representation. The struggle. and the Metal. A great tale of literally battling your demons and not letting anyone stand in the way of you being YOU

Read if you like: queer horror, zealots getting what's coming to them, religious horror

If you're familiar with the name Chuck Tingle and the kinds of things he writes, go into Camp Damascus knowing this is not those. You won't find anthropomorphic (insert any animal/object/thing you can think of) who likes to (insert sexual act, usually involving pounding) in this one. You will, however, find a queer horror story involving conversion camps and some opinions on the religions that still have these places and ideas active to force upon those who are part of the queer community. The subject is uncomfortable at times, but it is horror and that's what you should feel, and the payoff at the end was really well done. The main character also is someone who starts off just wanting to be a good person who is good for her family and friends, but gradually starts trying to figure out why there's moments where she seems almost 'other' in her life.

The she starts seeing the camp counselors...

I have never read his other stuff, so I'm not sure if this is just how he writes, but the way it was written was something that I had to get used to. I'm not even sure if I could explain it well or pinpoint what it was. I do think it's just how he is and wasn't done specifically for the book; if you need to know, I suggest listening to interviews he's done for this book tour. I think that's something that could turn readers off, but if you don't mind it, you're in for a really great ride.

Absolutely shows the breadth of talent and capability of polishing and honing by the ever fabulous Chuck Tingle. Definitely an eye-opening and memorable thriller that cannot be forgotten.

I love Chuck Tingle. Everyone loves Chuck Tingle (well, maybe not some conservatives), and I'm so happy he is writing beyond erotica. As someone who has read "The Haunted Vagina," this is a large leap away from the genre.

Rose, the protagonist, lives near a gay conversion camp with a 100% success rate. Rose is very Christian, but weird things are happening to her...supernatural things. And as a Christian, this is leading to doubts in her faith. She has to find out what's going on, and how/if it's connected to Camp Damascus.

I didn't LOVE this book. Something felt off - maybe the pacing? But overall, it's a good read, and I'm excited to read Bury Your Gays, Chuck's new book!

Camp Damascus is a horror novel set in a gay conversion camp run by a cult-y Christian sect that claims the camp has a 100% effectiveness rate. One of the main characters Rose is a deeply Christian and neurodivergent (autistic) young woman who begins to notice that she's having weird feelings for a female friend. This soon leads to her seeing a strange woman whom she suspects is a demon, as well as throwing up insects. As things continue to get stranger and stranger, her faith starts to crack under the pressure, and she begins to wonder about the true nature of this conversion camp.

There are definitely some pacing issues in this book, especially with Rose's revelations happening a little too soon in the narrative. The metaphors are also a little heavy-handed. However, the novel does include a great deal of nuance as well, and it's very successful in accomplishing its aims and in using the horror genre tropes to comment on religious fundamentalism, homophobia, and queer identity in our American society.

Overall, I do recommend this book for a great queer horror read - especially during spooky season!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor, and Chuck Tingle for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Camp Damascus: Curing your loved ones of all ungodly desires.

I am a sucker for religious trauma horror, and boy does this one deliver! Set in a small town within the state of Montana, Camp Damascus tells the tale of a young woman who has been raised within the strict confines of a religious community. Memorizing passages of the Bible and becoming versed on how to combat/cure any religious deviation in those around her, Rose begins to feel uneasy when she begins to see strange beings that seemingly show up at random times. These beings are frightening, and when Rose starts to feel that other aspects of her daily life are slightly off, she refuses to write them off and ignore them.

Soon she learns of Camp Damascus, a gay-conversion camp located nearby, that may be using some unorthodox methods to bring its campers back to the town’s idea of a Godly lifestyle. Through her journey of discovery, for herself and others, she finds out that love exists…and so do demons.

I found this book to be very entertaining with a tinge of heartbreak while maintaining a sense of hope. I absolutely adored the random bits of information that Rose would provide throughout the novel as a result of her coping mechanism! Is my enneagram 5 showing? My only complaint is the fact that Tingle would go back and forth between having Rose refer to her parents as “mother/mom” & “father/dad” and then their given names, Luke and Lisa”; it had me questioning if I missed something or was unaware of reasoning behind this back and forth (which is the only reason behind the void of a fifth star in my rating).

Overall, a story that had me hooked and definitely had the gears in my brain turning. I would 100% recommend this book to fans of religious horror.

Camp Damascus is about queer conversion and literal demons, but it's also about finding yourself, living with your inner demons, and stitching together a quirky family of misfits.

Chuck Tingle's narrative voice is both beautiful and approachable. Where many authors would get flowery, he strikes a welcome balance between descriptive and down-to-earth prose.

What I found most effective in Tingle's horror debut is the ingenuity he brought to the Christian mythos. His demonology and twist on the Bible's depictions of demons and Hell are wildly different, analytical, and thought-provoking.

I recommend this novel to anyone looking for an entry into queer horror.

I want to tell you that I loved this book. I want to tell you that I agree with whatever political statement it is trying to make.
But I can do neither of those things.
Where I wholeheartedly believe that conversion camps are horrible institutions that never should have existed, this book just wasn't for me in any way.