Camp Damascus

by Chuck Tingle

First published 2024

Rose lives in Neverton, a devout mountain community where faith guides every decision. When local teens struggle with their sexuality, their families send them to Camp Damascus, the nation's most successful gay conversion facility. Rose has always been the perfect Christian daughter, but strange visions begin plaguing her. She sees demons with burning eyes and feels an inexplicable terror whenever she passes the camp's gates. As Rose digs deeper into Camp Damascus's methods, she discovers the facility's remarkable success rate comes from literal demonic possession. The staff uses actual demons to terrorize and traumatize campers into submission. Rose must confront not only the camp's horrific practices but also her own suppressed identity. She faces an impossible choice: stay silent and safe in her closeted life, or risk everything to expose the truth and save other queer teens from supernatural torture.

Genres: horror, thriller, paranormal

Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: Camp Damascus, Neverton

Period: 21st-century

272 pages · Paperback · Tor Nightfire

Content warnings: abuse, homophobia, torture

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