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Judgment Day
Thea and her father live in a small southern town where she was raised in the church. Forever being known as “The Preacher’s Daughter.”
On the outside, her life seems perfect; a doting, loving father, a smile always on her face, but behind closed doors sinister things are taking place.
When her father finds out a secret she’s tried so desperately to hide, he begins trying to cure her of her disease.
One traumatic event after another descends Thea into madness. As she begins to break, she enacts her revenge, one person at a time.
On the outside, her life seems perfect; a doting, loving father, a smile always on her face, but behind closed doors sinister things are taking place.
When her father finds out a secret she’s tried so desperately to hide, he begins trying to cure her of her disease.
One traumatic event after another descends Thea into madness. As she begins to break, she enacts her revenge, one person at a time.
106 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2024
7 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
River Gardner
11 books24 followersRiver Gardner (she/they) is an author from Central Alabama. She lives with her two children and husband, along with an army of cats. In her spare time, she likes to draw, read, and play video games.
She enjoys writing dark romance, horror romance, and horror. Her debut novella, Good-Bye, Valentine came out in February of 2024, and she’s since published two other novellas and two anthologies.
You can find her on Instagram to keep up to date on upcoming works!
She enjoys writing dark romance, horror romance, and horror. Her debut novella, Good-Bye, Valentine came out in February of 2024, and she’s since published two other novellas and two anthologies.
You can find her on Instagram to keep up to date on upcoming works!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 11, 2024
I bought this book because the profits from its sale are currently going to the Trevor Project and I needed a little queer rage so it seemed like it was my match.
It's not a plot heavy book but it's a violence heavy one in a way that does not seem to revel in the creativity of its violence, actually as brutal as it is the violence is quite banal. It was a quick read I would have liked more from, more of the revenge arc, more about the girls' relationship.
It's not a plot heavy book but it's a violence heavy one in a way that does not seem to revel in the creativity of its violence, actually as brutal as it is the violence is quite banal. It was a quick read I would have liked more from, more of the revenge arc, more about the girls' relationship.
July 21, 2024
If you're looking for a feel good, happy go lucky read... this is not it! But if you want something gory, brutal, extremely dark, and feels like it wants to break you on the inside, this book is it.
A lesbian story about betrayal, religious zealotry taken to the extreme, and revenge. Thea is raped, tortured, and physically and mentally assaulted by her father, a pastor, and his deacon friends. They believe that her lesbianism can be "cured" by forcing her to have sex (unwillingly) with men. The things she suffers are hard to read at times. It's truly a deeply brutalising novella. But for people who have suffered simply because they're born queer, it will be especially cruel and maybe even ring true.
But Thea has a breaking point and when she reaches it, her revenge is unparalleled in its violence. It's a bloody rampage of justice which is just as painful as the acts inflicted upon her.
This is a disturbing novella meant to show how people are affected just because they're born "different" in some way and the horrifying lengths some will go to in order to make them "normal". A truly hideous truth unfortunately which many in the queer community have suffered.
You won't get any feel good vibes here but I highly recommend it just the same.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A lesbian story about betrayal, religious zealotry taken to the extreme, and revenge. Thea is raped, tortured, and physically and mentally assaulted by her father, a pastor, and his deacon friends. They believe that her lesbianism can be "cured" by forcing her to have sex (unwillingly) with men. The things she suffers are hard to read at times. It's truly a deeply brutalising novella. But for people who have suffered simply because they're born queer, it will be especially cruel and maybe even ring true.
But Thea has a breaking point and when she reaches it, her revenge is unparalleled in its violence. It's a bloody rampage of justice which is just as painful as the acts inflicted upon her.
This is a disturbing novella meant to show how people are affected just because they're born "different" in some way and the horrifying lengths some will go to in order to make them "normal". A truly hideous truth unfortunately which many in the queer community have suffered.
You won't get any feel good vibes here but I highly recommend it just the same.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
July 20, 2024
This book was a hard read for me. Seeing what our main character goes through made me disgusted and turned my stomach. I loved the revenge she was able to get on those who had wronged her. The fact that some religious people actually act this way Makes me ashamed. I promise you though not all religious people are like this. I’m religious, but I accept and love everyone. I really enjoyed this book and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
August 24, 2024
This was my first read by River Gardner and I absolutely loved it!
We follow a young woman trapped by her very disturbed father, who happens to be a strict priest. He is willing to do anything to cure her of this "disease", how much will she endure?
This was a very depressing and brutal story! I loved our main character and felt so bad for all of the events she had to go through. The father is truly a piece of shit, and it really isn't fair what he puts his daughter through.
This is an amazing revenge story and I was cheering our lead woman the whole way! This is disturbing, violent, bleak, and awesome tale! The story and dialogue was written very well and the details of the gore was nasty!
4/5
We follow a young woman trapped by her very disturbed father, who happens to be a strict priest. He is willing to do anything to cure her of this "disease", how much will she endure?
This was a very depressing and brutal story! I loved our main character and felt so bad for all of the events she had to go through. The father is truly a piece of shit, and it really isn't fair what he puts his daughter through.
This is an amazing revenge story and I was cheering our lead woman the whole way! This is disturbing, violent, bleak, and awesome tale! The story and dialogue was written very well and the details of the gore was nasty!
4/5
July 19, 2024
It is a brutal story that gives you a glimpse into what people in the lgbtq+ community sometimes face with hardcore religious groups. It was a quick read but very powerful.
July 25, 2024
I received an Advanced Reader Copy. Edit to update! The author spent their time and effort in the final week before update to polish this piece, and it shows! They really closed the gap and deserve 5 stars, so I’ve updated my score accordingly.
Judgement Day is a novella by queer author River Gardner clocking in at just under 100 pages that I devoured over the course of about two and a half hours. I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, while still diving into and lightly discussing some content.
The story is deeply disturbing and captivating, with a satisfying ending. To read the acknowledgment that this story comes from someone’s real experiences deeply tugs at my heartstrings, as the concept of this story isn’t entirely foreign to me. I grew up Southern Baptist in Texas, and am now a happily queer person seeking their best life elsewhere, and getting to that point certainly did feel like clawing my way to salvation.
A young woman named Thea is caught simply trying to live her life by her father, Pastor Morgan, who then proceeds to attempt to “cure” her in his own twisted ways. This story explores themes of how men in power often exert and maintain that power over others around them, pushing their own beliefs as militant law. Disgusting, heart-wrenching, and stomach churning, probably don’t do as I did and read this over lunch while drinking a milkshake.
Assault is persistent throughout, illustrating how, for some, the pleasure of men is derived at the detriment of the women around them, or perhaps even from said detriment. Rage is often tempered by the persistent feelings of being trapped and helpless, lending to a hopeless, depressing air. The critical approach of this work to the harshness of Christianity, or perhaps more broadly, fundamentalism, is a reality for many who grow up under these iron fists of control, being told that it is love.
The violence is graphic, but not so far as to call it gratuitous. In fact, I may have preferred a bit more gore in the long run, but that’s merely my own tastes.
The real horror of this novella comes from the crushing depictions of ongoing, worsening sexual assault from the perspective of the victim just trying to get from one day to the next. My heart broke for her as simultaneously as my skin crawled. I can imagine many will see this story and consider it to be outrageous, but I and many other queer people know these kinds of situations are more common than one might like to think.
I recommend this novella if you’d like to feel multiple emotions in quick succession, my face journey as I sat in a restaurant reading this over lunch certainly had to have people questioning my sanity haha
Judgement Day is a novella by queer author River Gardner clocking in at just under 100 pages that I devoured over the course of about two and a half hours. I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, while still diving into and lightly discussing some content.
The story is deeply disturbing and captivating, with a satisfying ending. To read the acknowledgment that this story comes from someone’s real experiences deeply tugs at my heartstrings, as the concept of this story isn’t entirely foreign to me. I grew up Southern Baptist in Texas, and am now a happily queer person seeking their best life elsewhere, and getting to that point certainly did feel like clawing my way to salvation.
A young woman named Thea is caught simply trying to live her life by her father, Pastor Morgan, who then proceeds to attempt to “cure” her in his own twisted ways. This story explores themes of how men in power often exert and maintain that power over others around them, pushing their own beliefs as militant law. Disgusting, heart-wrenching, and stomach churning, probably don’t do as I did and read this over lunch while drinking a milkshake.
Assault is persistent throughout, illustrating how, for some, the pleasure of men is derived at the detriment of the women around them, or perhaps even from said detriment. Rage is often tempered by the persistent feelings of being trapped and helpless, lending to a hopeless, depressing air. The critical approach of this work to the harshness of Christianity, or perhaps more broadly, fundamentalism, is a reality for many who grow up under these iron fists of control, being told that it is love.
The violence is graphic, but not so far as to call it gratuitous. In fact, I may have preferred a bit more gore in the long run, but that’s merely my own tastes.
The real horror of this novella comes from the crushing depictions of ongoing, worsening sexual assault from the perspective of the victim just trying to get from one day to the next. My heart broke for her as simultaneously as my skin crawled. I can imagine many will see this story and consider it to be outrageous, but I and many other queer people know these kinds of situations are more common than one might like to think.
I recommend this novella if you’d like to feel multiple emotions in quick succession, my face journey as I sat in a restaurant reading this over lunch certainly had to have people questioning my sanity haha
September 1, 2024
Read For:
✓ Sapphic
✓ Feminine Rage
✓ Religious Bigotry
✓ Happy Revenge Ending
˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗
Holy shit. This book was so messed up and the revenge was served exactly what the dad was cun—and the epilogue was so good. This book had lots of dark topics and severe religious bigotry and the trauma linked to it. Thea taking on the rage of making those who harmed her hurt just like she did, the scene with the broom really WAS fully appropriate for what all she endured.
I highly suggest reading the acknowledgments for this book.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Angst Level:💧💧💧💧💧
POV: Third Person (First Person Flashbacks)
Release Date: 27, July 2024
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic:Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
January 14, 2025
This short read packs a punch. Im not usually one for woman rage but this was a great and powerful read.
Many trigger warnings should be reviewed before reading this book.
This book is a great reminder of the darkness and cruelty that lies in humanity. Extreme religious communities that live this way are a sad reality in this world. The irony. This book is graphic in an appropriate way, well written and forces the reader to not look away.
This book makes my heart grieve for the pain that others have suffered. Suffering that I believe was never meant to be.
Thea is a strong 19 year old female who is abused by her dad and community. Horrors that I won’t repeat. Hey strong will and desire to stay strong is encouraging. She knows in her soul that what is happening is not for her. That the men who victimize her will have their judgement day.
Religion and family beliefs are to be questioned and discovered for herself and she is not afraid to vocalize that in this story.
Many trigger warnings should be reviewed before reading this book.
This book is a great reminder of the darkness and cruelty that lies in humanity. Extreme religious communities that live this way are a sad reality in this world. The irony. This book is graphic in an appropriate way, well written and forces the reader to not look away.
This book makes my heart grieve for the pain that others have suffered. Suffering that I believe was never meant to be.
Thea is a strong 19 year old female who is abused by her dad and community. Horrors that I won’t repeat. Hey strong will and desire to stay strong is encouraging. She knows in her soul that what is happening is not for her. That the men who victimize her will have their judgement day.
Religion and family beliefs are to be questioned and discovered for herself and she is not afraid to vocalize that in this story.
January 9, 2025
*2.5
so maybe I just got the wrong impression from the synopsis, but I thought this would be more about the revenge instead of me reading this poor girl's repeated assault for a majority of the book. I understand the purpose of this novella and the assault, but that does not mean I needed to read about it in such detail for so long. we barely got any revenge and microscopic crumbs for the relationship (not that I wanted a romance, but damn)
I'm also disappointed by the content warnings being at the end of the book. this is self-published, so that was a choice.
with all that being said, this is inspired by a horrible true story of someone close to the author and honestly the writing was great, but there were just too many graphic rape scenes for this to be good in my opinion. the point could have been gotten across without them.
so maybe I just got the wrong impression from the synopsis, but I thought this would be more about the revenge instead of me reading this poor girl's repeated assault for a majority of the book. I understand the purpose of this novella and the assault, but that does not mean I needed to read about it in such detail for so long. we barely got any revenge and microscopic crumbs for the relationship (not that I wanted a romance, but damn)
I'm also disappointed by the content warnings being at the end of the book. this is self-published, so that was a choice.
with all that being said, this is inspired by a horrible true story of someone close to the author and honestly the writing was great, but there were just too many graphic rape scenes for this to be good in my opinion. the point could have been gotten across without them.
June 17, 2025
♱ 𝔧𝔲𝔡𝔤𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔟𝔶 𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔫𝔢𝔯 ♱
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
i don’t have many words to explain this book other than, it’s pure religious trauma.
thea is the preachers daughter, her father found out her secret and made it his Godly mission to cure her of the “disease” she contained.
it’s an incredibly hard story to read as theas father and the deacons put her through unimaginable torture and punishments as they claimed it to be “God’s Will”.
while this is a very quick read, it packs a load of trauma and triggers. it’s a very forthcoming story as thea bears through to get her revenge.
this story contains a lot of traumatic episodes, a sapphic romance, religious trauma and feminine rage. please check your triggers before reading.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
i don’t have many words to explain this book other than, it’s pure religious trauma.
thea is the preachers daughter, her father found out her secret and made it his Godly mission to cure her of the “disease” she contained.
it’s an incredibly hard story to read as theas father and the deacons put her through unimaginable torture and punishments as they claimed it to be “God’s Will”.
while this is a very quick read, it packs a load of trauma and triggers. it’s a very forthcoming story as thea bears through to get her revenge.
this story contains a lot of traumatic episodes, a sapphic romance, religious trauma and feminine rage. please check your triggers before reading.
November 10, 2024
⛪️😶 Latest Read 😶⛪️
The quote on the cover says it! This is traumatic.
Trauma, LGBTQIA+ and feminine rage gone wild! This was an emotional roller-coaster, but it was a necessary read. I feel so much pain and horror for anyone who has gone through even a fraction of what Thea did in this story. :( please seek help if needed. ❤️
I am so glad that River wrote this story for their friend who suffered a similar trauma. The end of the book has some information about the friend and let's us know they are safe and happy. 🫶
I highly recommend it, but do check warnings at the end of the book.
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Rape/Sexual Assault
Blood
Gore
Incest
Homophobia
The quote on the cover says it! This is traumatic.
Trauma, LGBTQIA+ and feminine rage gone wild! This was an emotional roller-coaster, but it was a necessary read. I feel so much pain and horror for anyone who has gone through even a fraction of what Thea did in this story. :( please seek help if needed. ❤️
I am so glad that River wrote this story for their friend who suffered a similar trauma. The end of the book has some information about the friend and let's us know they are safe and happy. 🫶
I highly recommend it, but do check warnings at the end of the book.
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Rape/Sexual Assault
Blood
Gore
Incest
Homophobia
September 13, 2024
"I have so much blood on my hands, there was so much death that day. But I don't regret it. I don't regret what I did. It was them, or me. And I chose me. I'll choose me every single time."
Okayyy. This was such a therapeutic read for me as a survivor of religion trauma. My trauma is not even remotely close to this story in any way what-so-ever but I totally feel for Thea in this story. In the end, this was such a satisfying read! Thea got her revenge and for that I am happy.
I can't wait to read River's other stories! Check your triggers and give this one a read! I highly recommend.
Okayyy. This was such a therapeutic read for me as a survivor of religion trauma. My trauma is not even remotely close to this story in any way what-so-ever but I totally feel for Thea in this story. In the end, this was such a satisfying read! Thea got her revenge and for that I am happy.
I can't wait to read River's other stories! Check your triggers and give this one a read! I highly recommend.
July 19, 2024
Judgement Day by River Gardner
I received book as an ARC from author. To go into any details of the story would be spoilers.
With that said it shows the all to true vileness of ALL religions toward anyone they deem wrong, damaged, evil.
This novella is not for the faint of heart of brutal acts of sexual violence in the name of god for spiritual healing. As well as extreme gore
Escape, revenge, and true love drive Thea to survive.
I received book as an ARC from author. To go into any details of the story would be spoilers.
With that said it shows the all to true vileness of ALL religions toward anyone they deem wrong, damaged, evil.
This novella is not for the faint of heart of brutal acts of sexual violence in the name of god for spiritual healing. As well as extreme gore
Escape, revenge, and true love drive Thea to survive.
February 20, 2025
This is the first piece of longer fiction I've read from River Gardner. I've been very impressed with their short stories, so I decided to give Judgment Day a try. I'm always down for a "good for her" read and, although this definitely fits that, I'm really tired of reading graphic sexual violence. This is totally a personal preference, and something that's happened pretty recently. This is otherwise a very enjoyable revenge tale. 3.25 stars
October 16, 2025
While I understand what the author was trying to do, the first 70% of the book was pretty much just rape. Yes, it was partly necessary to give the impact for the ending of the book but when the book is so short having most of it be rape and in such detail was unnecessary. I feel like the impact couldve been just as good if not better with a bit more storyline and less descriptions of rape. Ultimately I was disappointed
July 19, 2024
Thea is a young woman in love. Her father frowns upon her choice he sets out to change her. He is going to learn you can't change who you love. Heartbreaking tale of lost innocence and revenge. Beautifully written amazing character you love several you hate.
July 22, 2024
What a brutal read. Not even in the traditional sense, but to know that so many people endure such pain so often. Even if it’s not to this extent. This is the ultimate rage ending. A plus for a bitter sweet revenge ending 🖤
August 2, 2024
This was a fantastic short story. It was horrific and gory and heartbreaking. I felt some of it was a little predictable, but it was well done so I don’t mind at all. Make sure you read the acknowledgements, it makes it so much more impactful. Thank you for sharing your story with me!
August 2, 2024
The story about Thea and her pastor's father, who finds out about her secret and decides to cure her through punishment from him and his fellow pastors. When Thea decides she has had enough, she delivers her own punishment-a gore-filled revenge story an enjoyable and well written novel.
January 31, 2025
This was a solid quick read. Thea is amazing, and strong through everything, and her revenge? Brutal in the best way. If you’re into stories with strong female rage and payback, this one is a good one.
July 19, 2024
This was fucked. That’s it.
That’s my review.
That’s my review.
December 5, 2024
Feminine rage is the best and I can't ever get enough of it. This was a perfect piece of men getting what they got coming, and I wish it lasted longer.
December 28, 2024
Ummm…. Please check trigger warnings BEFORE READING!!!!!
Very short story packed with VERY triggering content. I’m kinda speechless after this one. Idk what else to say other than WTF.
Very short story packed with VERY triggering content. I’m kinda speechless after this one. Idk what else to say other than WTF.
January 4, 2025
I should have checked the trigger warnings.
This was poorly written and just vile to me, and I enjoy lots of disturbing content..
This was poorly written and just vile to me, and I enjoy lots of disturbing content..
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews