Cute Mutants Vol 3: The Demon Queer Saga (Cute Mutants Vol 3) by SJ Whitby
- Publisher: Self-Published, December 8th 2020
- Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 424 pages
- My Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.
This review contains minor spoilers to Cute Mutants Vol 1: Mutant Pride and Cute Mutants Vol 2: Young, Gifted & Queer.
Content warnings: hate crime against LGBTQ+ people, homophobia/homomisia, trans/non-binary discrimination, misgendering, murder, death, gore, outing, religious extremism/cult, brainwash/mind control, gunshot wounds, bombing, fire, dismembering, mention of conversion therapy
If you haven’t heard me scream about how much joy the previous two books have brought me, please check out my reviews for Vol 1 (here) and Vol 2 (here).
This third installment of the series is way heavier than the first two. While the previous books were mostly happy and warm, Cute Mutants Vol 3: The Demon Queer Saga certainly took a darker turn and I am left worried, in shock, and wanting more upon finishing. I feel like a restless parent or older sibling concerned about these teens, and Cute Mutants Vol 4: The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants cannot come fast enough. As the powers of the Cute Mutants grow, their world becomes darker and more shady organizations are coming after them. Everything escalates quicker and turns more dangerous and deadly.
Even though there were always tough subjects in the series, The Demon Queer Saga is especially heavy because the focused theme is about fighting violent anti-LGBTQ+ groups and homophobia/homomisia in general. Centered around hate crimes, the Cute Mutants are dealing with more outside trouble than in-group dynamics. While a plot-driven story don’t usually go well with me, the first two books were already more focused on characters, so by the third one, I am so connected with the mutants that I truly cared for their adventures, missions, and callings.
I love that almost everything happened on-page. I felt myself tense as the mutants ward off attackers and breathed sighs of relief when they were safe again. The book was impossible to put down, and I finished it in two sittings, only paused because I needed a little breather from all the intensity.
The first-person character Dylan/Chatterbox has the biggest heart ever and I am so in awe. I love the whole no-judgement, everyone-is-redeemable belief. Apart from our gorgeous gang of Cute Mutants, most of the newly introduced characters are rather creepy mutants and I really like how their powers don’t make them automatically bad. If all characters were a bit morally gray in the past, this is the book where I can say they are definitely so, especially Dylan. I think throughout this book, Dylan has lost some playfulness and innocence. The narrative is still snarky and fun, but as serious events and confidence blows keep happening, not even Dylan, who is carrying so much emotionally, could joke around as much.
The dedication page for this book reads “For everyone who’s still becoming who they truly are.” It is so wonderful, both to the reader and for the reading experience of embarking on the journey with the Cute Mutants trying to find their place as a mostly queer, half people of color, non-human gang in a world where hate still exists. Their moralities are compromised, and I love them all so much I wish to trade all moral compasses for their safety and happiness. There is also a beautiful coming out scene that I am so happy to see. I especially love the response of the other character, and I wish everyone’s coming out were that wonderful.
There is a lot of pain for the mutants in The Demon Queer Saga. With hate crimes being driving forces of the plot, the weapons the Cute Mutants have to deal with are not only mutant powers and firearms, but also homophobic ideas and language. It hurts to see people being brainwashed into believing bigotry, and it still hurts to hear the hateful words no matter how out and proud a person is.
On a lighter note though, I love how Dylan and Dani/Marvellous randomly quote Sappho’s poems to each other. I also love that the Japanese treasure Oni the sword is still noble and fully sentient, taking his honor and loyalty very seriously. I absolutely adore Katie/Dragon, aka Kacchan, who is both a walking oven and blowtorch, and Maddy/Sourpatch, who spews acid, loving the most gory things is so on-brand of her I couldn’t feel grossed out. The size of the Cute Mutants has been growing throughout the series, and I love how they are all one big family now. Then there are also the parents. Please protect Pear (Dylan’s parent) and Mrs. Kim (Dani’s mother) at all costs. They are the most wonderful adult characters ever. When was the last time I had favorite adult characters in a young adult book? I am silently praying they would never become casualties in the future.
“Better off with a dead partner than a racist asshole.”
Katie
If you enjoy action-packed superpower YAs with a wonderful found family, the Cute Mutants series is for you; if you don’t, I’d still encourage you to give it a try. This is the kind of book queer kids could see themselves in and make a group of new fictional besties. It is fun, heavy, and everything in between, and I guarantee that the cast of mutants is so wonderful, you couldn’t not love them all.
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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