Hell Followed with Us

Sixteen-year-old Benji escapes from the religious cult responsible for unleashing an apocalyptic bioweapon on humanity. The virus now lives inside him, threatening to transform him into a monster capable of destroying what remains of civilization. A group of teen rebels operating from an LGBT center takes Benji in, offering him protection from the cult that hunts him. Their leader Nick strikes a deal: Benji can stay if he learns to control the virus and helps them fight back against the cultists who devastated their world. This horror novel features intense body horror and graphic violence as Benji struggles with his transformation while evading capture. The story combines elements of survival horror, monster narratives, and post-apocalyptic fiction. The book explores themes of identity, bodily autonomy, and resistance against religious extremism, while examining how marginalized communities band together in times of crisis. Through its horror elements, it addresses deeper questions about transformation, belonging, and what makes someone human.

Readers highlight the raw, visceral writing style and appreciate how the book handles themes of identity, religious trauma, and body horror. Many reviews note the strong LGBTQ+ representation, particularly the transgender main character Benji and the autistic representation. Positives: - Unique blend of horror and queer themes - Fast-paced action scenes - Complex character relationships - Authentic portrayal of trauma and anger Negatives: - Gore and violence level too intense for some readers - Religious themes may be triggering - Plot pacing issues in middle sections - Some found the ending rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,200+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.27/5 Reader quote: "This book is like if The Last of Us and Resident Evil had a baby and raised it to be violently queer." -Goodreads reviewer Common criticism: "The body horror elements, while thematic, might be too graphic for YA audiences." -Amazon reviewer

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🩸 The author wrote this debut novel while still an undergraduate student at Indiana University, where he studied biology and creative writing. 🌈 The book was one of the first YA horror novels to feature an openly transgender protagonist in a leading role. 🧬 The bioweapon storyline was influenced by White's background in biology, incorporating accurate scientific concepts into the horror elements. 🏆 The novel won the 2023 Alex Award from the American Library Association, which recognizes adult books with special appeal to young adults. 📚 White deliberately crafted the story's religious cult, the Angels, as a reflection of real-world conversion therapy practices and religious trauma experienced by LGBTQ+ youth.