Challenge Corner discussion

Prepare to die. His kingdom is near.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

Ch 1-8 (view spoiler)[ So sad that Benji lost his dad, the only person who really accepted him and was trying to help. And he's been injected with a virus to turn into a monster. These people are crazy (hide spoiler)]

Ch 9-16 (view spoiler)[ Theo is up to no good. I don't believe that after abusing Benji, he suddenly changed his mind about everything. I think he's luring him into a trap.

With Benji finding out that Nick refers to him as an 'it', this is all terrible timing and driving Benji back to Theo. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 17-25 (view spoiler)[ It's pretty gross that Benji is losing his skin and teeth and insides. Sometimes I get a little queasy.

Fucking Theo, I knew he didn't come back because he loves Benji. Now they've lost 8 people and I do hope Benji burns the Angel encampment down.

This has to end with Benji dying right? I doubt he can turn back into a human (hide spoiler)]

Ch 26-End (view spoiler)[ that was a weird ending. I didn't understand the parts where Benji and Theo were human. Was it just in their heads? I am surprised that Benji lived. I'm glad, but it's an odd life he'll lead now. At least they stopped the Angel leaders. (hide spoiler)]

I'll be a little late to this one lol. Probably over the weekend :)

Jumping into this after my meeting!

Alaina wrote: "Jumping into this after my meeting!"

Sweet!

Ch 1-8: (view spoiler)[Wow. A lot happened in the beginning. First a death and I have no idea what I would do if I saw my dad being murdered. Then being injected with something? Hell no. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 9-16: (view spoiler)[Ugh, fucking Nick messing it up. Not a fan. Also, ugh, THEO? I feel like I'm just going to be annoyed with these two for a long ass time. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-8 [spoilers removed]"

Heck yes! They are so freaking crazy.

Aly wrote: "Ch 9-16 ..."

Terrible freaking timing.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 9-16: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, stupid boys ugh

Ugh. I was in a pointless meeting and then I realized I never added my comments lmao. Back to reading I go!

Ch 17-24: (view spoiler)[Yikes, that must have been hard to say to them, but it needed to happen. At least they are all on the same page now. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 25-32: (view spoiler)[YEAH, fuck you Theo. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 33-Finish: (view spoiler)[A little confused with the overall ending, but this was an interesting book. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 25-32: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! To hell with that guy

Alaina wrote: "Ch 33-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

Agree, not super clear