Camp Damascus By Chuck Tingle — Review
Camp Damascus — Review Snapshot
What mood is this right for: You’re looking to fight some demons.
Length: 246 Pages (9 Hours & 29 Minutes
Genre: Horror | Lit Fic
Source: Purchased (Libro FM)
Where to Buy: Libro.FM | Amazon | KU | Kobo | Bookshop.org
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Vibes Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
1 Sentence Summary: Something’s off about all conversion camps, but especially the one at Kingdom of the Pine.
Synopsis:
Camp Damascus is Chuck Tingle’s debut, young-adult horror novel. In this satire of Evangelical Christianity and conversion therapy, Rose Darling is just like many hyper-religious 20 year olds. She goes to church, respects her parents, and follows every rule set before her. Despite her inquisitive nature, she knows better than to ask questions about faith or the church that essentially runs the town of Neverton, Kingdom of the Pine. Camp Damascus is a conversion therapy camp run by Kingdom of the Pine, boasting a 100% success rate, which is not questioned.
That is, until Rose runs into a classmate, Martina, and a series of bizarre events starts unfolding. The more she asks her parents about what is happening to her, the more they deny her answers, gaslight her, and even punish her for pushing the topic. How is Camp Damascus so successful? And how is it that no one remembers their time there?
“That’s the thing about Kingdom of the Pine,” he finally admits. “The stuff they believed, the messages they pounded into our heads … none of it was that weird. They’re just the thousandth little twist on the exact same book.”
My Thoughts:
Okay, if you have already read my Bury Your Gays review, you know that I am a massive Tingle fan. I’m attending a Chuck Tingle event later this year hosted by one of my local bookstores, and I literally cannot wait for Lucky Day. So take my love for Chuck Tingle, add in my adoration for meta horror in general, then sprinkle my religious trauma on top, and it’s not going to surprise anyone at all that I loved this book. I do think this probably gave me some rose-tinted glasses while writing this review.
“It’s almost as if the Bible can be twisted into supporting whatever point of view you want”
It’s not just my partiality that has given this book significant praise. Camp Damascus was nominated for A Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel, was a Hugo Award finalist for Best Young Adult Thriller, and was named the Best Horror Novel of 2023 by Vulture and Library Journal.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is young adult horror. Do not go into it expecting quite the same experience as Bury Your Gays. The characters will feel different because they are different. You can’t compare a middle-aged writer in LA to a sheltered young adult in Montana.
I did love the nods to Bury Your Gays — I seriously love when books exist in the same universe.
The CAWPILE of Camp Damascus
⚠️ Spoilers Below ⚠️
Characters – 9
Tingle is a Pen Name, and there isn’t anything about his history online, but I cannot imagine he did not grow up with religious parents after reading this book. If you grew up in that environment, then the characters feel authentic. If you didn’t, you may not have quite enough context clues to fill in the gaps in character development.
There is, obviously, great queer representation but also neurodivergence!
“My conscious mind was ignorant to the fact that I’m gay, but even I knew I was autistic.”
Atmosphere/Setting – 7
For me, the small town centered around a single church—where the majority of residents live and all the kids attend the same tiny school—wasn’t hard to imagine at all… pretty sure I lived right around the corner from there growing up.
That said, the book could have delved deeper into the setting, specifically the church and the camp. For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of places like this, it would have been beneficial to provide more context on why everyone behaved the way they did and offer a deeper understanding of their belief system.
The setting being limited feels intentional to me. We’re dropped into the middle of Rose’s story. We only have the basic information and resources she has. Growing up religious, in a small town where everyone believes and thinks the same thing, feels a lot like reading this book—surface level, and no one has any idea what’s going on.
Writing Style – 8
The writing itself isn’t perfect, but I love Chuck Tingle’s writing style. It’s a bit meta, unique, and it hits hard.
Plot – 7
The story overall was great. I liked the concept and the conclusion. However, it read like a novella slightly stretched into a novel. There were just a few jumps in time and some pacing that didn’t quite work.
Intrigue – 8
We are dropped in the middle of this story. When done well, it can give the story a unique style. Bury Your Gays is a bit stronger at this concept, though it is still well done here. We discover alongside Rose what the actual f is going on. As mentioned above, I think what would have helped this is just a slightly deeper dive into the setting, the beliefs, and the background of the church.
Logic/Relationships – 9
I have seen a lot of online criticism about people not being able to understand the parents' logic and motivations. As someone who grew up in these environments, I had no issue following their choices. If a door is a stumbling block for your daughter, remove the door and gaslight her into thinking the door was never there. This sounds and seems INSANE, because it is insane, but it is how a lot of parents in the evangelical church are. Deny, gaslight, ignore, and discipline – the four tenets. I know that is not every single Christian parent out there, but it is a reality for many. Please see House of My Mother by Shari Franke for numerous examples of this. It is hard to conceptualize if you didn’t grow up around it, and it’s hard to read it as people like this being just normal to the main character, but that is what it is like. Characters don’t always make sense because people don’t always make sense.
Enjoyment – 10
“I was a cog in a terrible machine for years, and now I’m honored to be the monkey wrench dismantling it.”
I have never loved a quote more in a book – when you grow up an Evangelical Christian and then come to see it for what it is, there’s nothing you want more than to break it.
Final Score: 58 / 7 = 8.28 = 4 Stars
Final Thoughts
While this book may not be technically perfect, the representation it brings, the real feelings it evokes, give a heavy weight to the rating curve. On vibes alone, this is a 7/5 for me, but there are a few technical aspects that bring the rating in slightly lower.
I love being able to start following Tingle so early in what will be a very successful traditional publishing career. Seeing the evolution in his writing just from Camp Damascus to Bury Your Gays, I cannot wait to see what is in store for us with Lucky Day. Not only is he an incredible talent, but he’s bringing unique representation to the publishing world that’s pushing the boundaries for queer artists. Even if we’re just a part of it by being fans, it’s an amazing thing to be a part of.
“Nobody who’s graduated the Camp Damascus program is ex-gay, they’re just even more tormented than before. They’ve been frightened and threatened into submission, a tactic that’s been used against queer people for centuries.”
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle FAQ
Is Camp Damascus Scary?
It’s unsettling more than outright terrifying. If you’ve been through any faith deconstruction or have religious trauma, this will hit you harder than a typical horror book, especially the demons. Why the F are demons so scary?!
Is this book appropriate for teens?
Maybe. While this is YA, I would call it New Adult vs. Young Adult. It deals with heavy themes like conversion therapy, gaslighting, and trauma. If your teen has read The Miseducation of Cameron Post or Boy Erased, then they will be able to handle this fine.
Do I need to read Bury Your Gays first?
Nope — although I do highly recommend it!
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle Trigger Warning
(Source: Story Graph)
Graphic
Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Body horror
Moderate
Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Minor
Gun violence, Drug use, Confinement
Book Club Discussion Questions: Camp Damascus
If you grew up in a similar environment, did this book resonate on a personal level? If not, did it shift your understanding or empathy toward those who did?
The town of Neverton operates like a closed system. How did the setting enhance or limit the story’s themes?
Let’s talk about the horror. What scene or image stuck with you the most, and why? Did the horror elements feel metaphorical, literal, or both?
There’s a constant tension between what Rose knows in her gut and what she’s being told is true. How did that tension play out in your reading experience? Have you ever been in a situation like that?
If you could sit down with Rose after the end of this book, what would you want to say to her?
