-35% 🔥 Bestseller Camp Damascus — Gothic

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🏚️ Gothic −35%

Camp Damascus

Name: Camp Damascus
Price: 17.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781250874634

✍️ Chuck Tingle

Reader Score

4.4

(7 reviews)

$17.99 ~~$28.00~~ Save $10.01 (35%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A horror novel about a gay conversion camp in Montana hiding demonic secrets.

This work functions as a critique of conversion therapy through the lens of horror fiction. It positions Camp Damascus as a place where religious fervor masks demonic activity. The plot focuses on the exposure of these secrets and the subsequent destruction of the camp. Readers will find a narrative that prioritizes emotional truth over traditional scare tactics. The story challenges the notion of salvation offered by such institutions.

Key Themes

queer community fears gay conversion camp demonic secrets

Literary Context

Published in 2024 by Tor Nightfire, this book sits within the contemporary horror genre. It addresses current American social issues regarding the queer community and religious institutions. The setting in Montana reflects rural American dynamics.

Chuck Tingle

📚 all books by this author (115) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · Tananarive Due · Lauren Oliver · The Haunting of Hill House

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Tor Nightfire 📅 2024 📖 256 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781250874634

📝 Description: Camp Damascus

This horror debut examines queer fears in America through the dark secrets of a Montana gay conversion camp. The narrative centers on Camp Damascus, located in Neverton, Montana, which claims to be the most effective facility for converting homosexuality. This establishment operates within a God-fearing community known for its golden heart, yet the methods used to achieve their results are far from holy. The story reveals the dark price of keeping secrets and the courage required to destroy such institutions. The book draws on traditions of gothic horror and supernatural fiction to explore themes of sin and redemption. Tingle qualifies as an author through this searing debut that addresses serious social issues through a genre lens. The text is organized to build tension around the camp's true nature, moving from the surface-level piety of Neverton to the hellish reality beneath. It suits readers who enjoy horror with social commentary and those interested in queer literature. It may not appeal to readers seeking light entertainment or those uncomfortable with themes of religious trauma and demonic possession. The narrative does not shy away from the harsh realities of conversion therapy while incorporating elements of the supernatural. The setting of Montana provides a stark backdrop for the unfolding horror. Tingle uses the camp as a microcosm for broader societal pressures. The story concludes with a focus on burning down the corrupt system rather than simple escape.

💎 Our verdict on Camp Damascus

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Tingle delivers a supernatural critique of conversion therapy, blending gothic horror with queer themes in Montana’s Neverton. While effective for those interested in social commentary within horror, it may alienate readers seeking light entertainment or those uncomfortable with religious trauma. The focus on emotional truth over scare tactics means it lacks conventional thrills. It is not suitable for anyone avoiding themes of demonic possession or institutional critique. However, fans of dark fantasy and psychological horror will find the microcosm of the camp a powerful lens for examining broader societal sins and the cost of keeping secrets.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking horror with substantive social commentary will find this debut compelling. It offers a searing examination of religious trauma and demonic possession through the lens of queer literature. Those interested in how genre fiction can address serious issues like conversion therapy will appreciate the emotional truth prioritized over traditional scares. The narrative challenges notions of salvation, making it valuable for those who enjoy dark fantasy that critiques societal norms. It suits readers who do not shy away from harsh realities and want to see institutions destroyed through courage and exposure of hidden secrets.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

This volume is ideal for horror enthusiasts who crave social commentary woven into supernatural narratives, particularly those interested in queer literature and critiques of religious extremism. Readers seeking lighthearted escapism or those sensitive to depictions of religious trauma and demonic…

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 7 reviews

Rosa B.

July 14, 2026

Needed a good scare and got one. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Recommended with reservations.

Peter S.

July 25, 2026

Slow start

This has been on my wishlist for months. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Happy enough with the purchase.

Ethan C.

May 28, 2026

A modern classic

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Shipping was quick too.

Eric J.

April 11, 2026

Good addition to the shelf

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Recommended with reservations.

Diana R.

February 17, 2026

Good addition to the shelf

This has been on my wishlist for months. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Happy enough with the purchase.

Maya M.

January 26, 2026

A new favorite

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. Definitely recommend.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While it contains unique stylistic elements, the core narrative treats the trauma and horror of conversion therapy with significant gravity, using supernatural metaphors to explore real-world fears.

The book delves deeply into psychological and spiritual abuse within a religious context. If you have existing sensitivities regarding institutional power or demonic imagery, please proceed with caution.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Chuck Tingle’s debut emerges from the rich lineage of gothic horror, channeling the genre’s historic fascination with hidden sins and institutional corruption. By situating a conversion camp within the deceptive piety of Montana, the narrative evokes classic tales where sanctuaries mask hellish truths. This work revitalizes supernatural fiction as a vehicle for examining queer identity and the violent cost of enforcing normative standards.