Black Flame is a story taking place in 1980s American that explores the consequences of repression of sexuality and gender plus the oppression of both queer and Jewish people. This is explored though raw emotional storytelling and body horror as you follow a closeted Jewish lesbian who is working on restoring an infamous film that was thought to be destroyed in the Holocaust.

The story deals with a lot of heavy topics and was honestly sad and hard to read at times. But I did find the cursed film and body horror aspects fun. The writing itself was great. I thought you really felt like you were in the main character's head and could feel their emotions. Ellen was complex and intriguing to be in the mind of. The descriptions were gross and vivid in a way that I know the author was going for so I think that successfully made me uncomfortable.

This book said a lot in so little time and made me really think, but I feel like some things went over my head. I would love to watch a good video essay on this to really take in some things I might have missed.

I had to ruminate on this one a lot, but I think I am landing somewhere between a 3 star and a 4 star for this so 3.5 to split the difference.

I would definitely pay attention to triggers with this book. Mainly rape, mentions of past conversion therapy, internalized homophobia, toxic relationships, homosexual characters in straight relationships, homophobia, antisemitism, gore, murder, violence, suicide, body horror, and detailed descriptions of a character having a psychotic break, seeing things, and not knowing what is real.

The pining Aiden is doing after Harvard? I'm obsessed with them. Also the look at Aiden's backstory 😭 I just want good things for him. If they don't get their shit together istg

The found family vibes in this addition hit extra hard.