One of my favorite elements of horror from queer voices (and other marginalized identities) is the examination of monstrosity and what makes for horror. I think Mandelo comes at it from an interesting angle in this novella, and I really did enjoy the final arc with Stevie. I also enjoyed Stevie and Les’ dynamic over the course of the story, seeing that call of like to like but also hesitancy given the locale. In many ways, though, I don’t overall know how I feel about this book. It was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases (always here for more queer and trans stories and horror!) but I think in some ways the middle felt…disjointed? Off kilter? I think The Woods All Black did some really interesting things with terror and ramping up tension and revelations regarding the monster in the woods. I don’t know, it’s in that weird category of it’s giving me thinky-thoughts and I would reread it because I can tell it’s a story where you catch new elements with new eyes, but I don’t know if I would say I *enjoyed* the book, if that makes sense. Definitely interesting and I did like the execution of themes. Some of the themes it delved into were bodily autonomy and access to care, especially against a backdrop of 1920s Appalachia. I did also really like that Les and Stevie experienced their identities in different ways and how access to resources and community can really have an impact on one’s understanding of self. I think an element of that I especially enjoyed? appreciated? was how Les had kind of put himself in a particular role and box because that was the expectations in the queer communities he participated in, while Stevie was making his own identity on his own terms because he never had access to that community before Les showed up in Spar Creek. All in all, definitely an interesting book and one I would recommend checking out if you’re a fan of examinations of monstrosity and otherness, as well as historical queer (trans) stories.
i received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
THE WOODS ALL BLACK releases March 19, 2024