May be one of the most significant BL works ever written. (I’m serious)

Ugh, this is just a masterpiece. Hard to touch upon it all, and I don’t know how much of the content was intended to be satire or merely a coincidence, but there’s just so much recognizable symbolism and representation in this, I can’t help but think that it was extremely intentional. This HAD to be written by someone with religious trauma. Everything is here. All the struggle. Without being too on the nose constantly, I love how it starts off a little subtle and slowly builds up and unravels a story that just blatantly displays the bleakness of cultish fanaticism/ brainwashing and the fatigue, confusion, trauma, and isolation that comes along with being caught up in such a life. The collective mindlessness it can create. The apathy of those who never question anything and enjoy how things are. The desperation and frustration of the few who don’t accept it, but don’t know what to do. The sharpness of those who believe doctrine is law. The relatability of a kid like our MC, Alto, who thinks “hey, this is weird. Why are things like this? Why do we do this? Why do we treat certain people like that?” And being constantly told “that’s just how things are.” Or “Stop asking questions.” Or “You’re weird for caring so much.” It’s something so many people who grew up in this kind of secretive cultish environment can relate to. The nun’s talk in chapter 6 immediately struck a nerve because it’s almost verbatim the stuff you are told by elders when you dare challenge the status quo or get too curious about things. Even trying to help others or wanting to make people’s lives better can be seen as a threat and “against the will of (insert relevant deity here) “Silly child, the good thing to do is to be quiet, and obedient, and pure, and let things just play out however because everyone has their part to play, and that’s just how it is. Your suffering is irrelevant. Your questions don’t need answers.” The pain of constantly feeling like things never quite add up, but not really understanding why. Feeling constantly unsatisfied and conflicted about the culture or belief in which you were raised, despite the people in your family or village being genuinely nice and good people. The secrecy and corruption that squirms beneath the surface of everything, begging to be let out….Even the obsession with children, “childlike purity” and the abuse that is able to go unrecognized because victims are intentionally kept sheltered and ignorant about sex and consent, and often don’t even recognize what even happened until they’re much older. The ones in charge turning their eye to such abuse…The use of superstition, doctrine, delusion, and fear by the rich and powerful to subject the poor and naive…this really has it all. Growing up deeply religious and still trying to find my way even as an adult, I relate to a lot here. This is brilliant.

(And the way some of the content collides with a current “island scandal” in particular….oh boy, don’t think I even have to even emphasize on that. )