The Woods All Black
ByPublisher Description
The Woods All Black is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia
Leslie Bruin is assigned to the backwoods township of Spar Creek by the Frontier Nursing Service, under its usual mandate: vaccinate the flock, birth babies, and weather the judgements of churchy locals who look at him and see a failed woman. Forged in the fires of the Western Front and reborn in the cafes of Paris, Leslie believes he can handle whatever is thrown at him—but Spar Creek holds a darkness beyond his nightmares.
Something ugly festers within the local congregation, and its malice has focused on a young person they insist is an unruly tomboy who must be brought to heel. Violence is bubbling when Leslie arrives, ready to spill over, and he'll have to act fast if he intends to be of use. But the hills enfolding Spar Creek have a mind of their own, and the woods are haunted in ways Leslie does not understand.
The Woods All Black is a story of passion, prejudice, and power — an Appalachian period piece that explores reproductive justice and bodily autonomy, the terrors of small-town religiosity, and the necessity of fighting tooth and claw to live as who you truly are.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities412 Reviews
Cathy C
Created 3 days ago
“Ummm okay… wow. That was not what I was expecting! I started this audiobook bc it was available now from QLL and I needed something to accompany me for some gardening. The premise was fascinating, and up to 65% I thought I knew what I was in for.
This story follows a trans masc travel nurse, Leslie, in 1920s Appalachia. The small town is extremely unwelcoming of Leslie because of his straying from feminine norms. Leslie gets misgendered constantly throughout the book, so trigger warning if that’s hard for you. Leslie likes going to these small towns because it gives him the opportunity to not only distribute life saving vaccines, but to help queer people and women who otherwise wouldn’t get gender affirming care, contraceptives, or abortion care.
I thought this book was going to be a critique Appalachian cultures in the 1920s and have something smart to say about how the most hated individual in town was the one who helped the most people. And the book served that purpose too.
BUT - the last 30% of the book turns R-rated with a local trans man/monster. And I can’t say too much without spoiling - but MY GOD!”Susa
Created 4 days agoSam Jean
Created 5 days agoEmelene Hadd
Created 6 days agoAbout Lee Mandelo
Other books by Lee Mandelo
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