Briar Ripley Page

A novella and short story from a favorite new micro press, tRaum Books. I'll mostly be talking about the novella which gives this book its name. River is a trans teen who has taken up with charismatic ash, in their early 20s and also trans, and they have drifted to a college town where they found an abandoned house to make into their temple. See, Ash believes they are the fire aspect of a new god the angels are attempting to construct, and has recognized River as the water aspect. Now they show more just have to wait for earth and air to show up to bring their own deity into fruition. Horror elements and you can feel the tragedy coming a mile away, but stays empathetic with all its characters. I could not put it down. show less

Linden’s death is horrifying. The dissociated, casual way River watches them die and the imagery of their body failing from the poison was disturbing. What bits we see of Ash’s manipulation of River also brought in some subtler horror, but could have been delved into more. Ash’s renaming of River along with controlling how he dresses had an extra layer of insidiousness from their trans identities. There’s the general cultishness of it, with the sense that Ash, who is also trans, must show more know on some level exactly what they’re doing co-opting and manipulating River’s trans self-discovery and defining of their identity to suit their vision.
While there was definitely some solid horror to be found, I was left feeling like there could have been more to the story. I don’t know what I would need for it to feel more complete, but it didn’t to me. More to Ash’s character? More moments between River and Linden before Linden died? Resolution with Linden’s friend? Just more time with these people and their world? show less

A bundle of trans main characters, a decaying house lost to the forest, a cult in the midst and dirty, messy and honest queer dialogue. Following the story of Ash, River and Linden was entrancing. Before your eyes you see manipulation of a blooming cult leader, Ash, as they guide and care for River, a young and impressionable boy, who wants nothing but to belong and believe. This story felt like smoke against wet leaves; tangible briefly and then disappearing leaving you wondering exactly if show more it was there in the first place. There are hard conversations in this book, self deprecation felt from a boy who has experienced so little but so much in life and lashes out with a limited capacity that is felt within youth, reminding us that he’s a young boy lost in this insane situation all while navigating feeling outside of his body.

The cultish aspects were so intriguing, catching a glimpse into how easy it is to fall into them if you just want to be loved and accepted. Linden was the barometer of normality in the story and I absolutely loved them and their honest conversations within the book. Again, the need to be loved and accepted comes into play as Linden falls prey to Ashs’ charm and androgynous beauty.

Messy, mystical, dirty, queer, difficult, cultish, beautiful and horrific… show less