Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

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Two stories feature here. Chapters of each intersperse the other and I anticipated them to conjoin at the book's close. They did not and this, initially, left me feeling a little perplexed. I don't usually gravitate or enjoy abstract pieces of fiction, preferring a hard and firm truth to be revealed in what I read, but here no closure or meaning was provided and it left me feeling initially bereft. It honestly was the most exciting thing about this book, but then he explains it super fast (not to mention that the reason behind it was boring as hell) and immediately killed the tiny bit of suspense he actually managed to create. I literally shit you not when I tell you that I almost stopped my audiobook right there. I don't know what granted me the will to finish it, it certainly was not God because I am definitely sure (s)he does not exist after having inflicted this to myself.) This was probably one of the dumbest books i have ever had the chance to read. I was very eager to try this book and really thought it would be a favorite or at the very least, entertaining. Unfortunately, it was neither and maybe that's why I wanted to rant about it. The second is about Tamsen and her brother Presley who move to a big dark mansion to complete a half-made game and some weird and dark stuff starts occurring. (Can't say much)

The final tale, You’ll Find It’s Like That All Over, is again a story of morals verus morality, and the societal pressure to be polite having consequences which are extremely far reaching, In the attempt to do the right thing, oftentimes, more damage can be wreaked and the cumulative nature of what happens after finding a fragment of bone in his garden, will haunt both him and the reader alike. YOU'LL FIND IT'S LIKE THAT ALL OVER is the weird tale of a man who finds a bone in his yard. The bone leads him down a strange path, involving the man's racist spouse and his foreign neighbor. It also involves a lot of betting. Sounds weird, right? This tale is so off beat, yet completely satisfying. Therein the problem lies with me and weird fiction. I like weird, but I also want a conclusion to the story. For me a lot of supposedly great weird fiction stories have fallen flat..sometimes it's like there's no story at all. It drives me crazy. That is not the case with Eric LaRocca. I liked the Oedipus element, the implication that Agnes will stab her eyes out after her girlfriend leaves her like her mother did. However, it was both underutilised and over-explained. Until he finds the book. One that calls forth a shadowy horned figure. She comes with unexpected gifts and the comfort of a dependable presence. And she asks for very little in return, really. The more Ben offers her, the easier it gets. Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader's copy (ARC) of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.

What a trip this was! I had so much fun reading this novella, gawking at some of the insanity as things started to get weird. Eric LaRocca (he/they) is the author of several works of horror and dark fiction, including the viral sensation Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. The ending redeemed this book quite a lot for me, it explained the dismembered feel of the whole book. But it’s just not good enough to justify how bad the book feels (except the novella, a full star goes to it). I suffered through this book, and not in a good way.

TW: Animal deaths, animal murders, pregnancy issues, suicide, manipulation, relationship abuse, disturbing food scenes, toxic workplace, toxic family, bdsm, depression, divorce, loss of child, miscarriage, racism,But the story isn’t just parroting genre conventions. The form is familiar, but its narrative is ground-breaking in its exploration of the darker side of online queer ‘safe’ spaces. It is a skillful interplay between the intense psychological trauma of its characters, the sexual simulacrum of online dating, and the unfeeling bureaucracy of legal paperwork – a juxtaposition similarly explored by Nat Ogle’s 2021 novel In the Seeing Hands of Others. Misfortunes is a subtle understatement when delving into the horror and ramifications of identity, loss and wanting to belong which thread these stories together. The author has noticeably marked these redacted elements with [omitted.] The absent contents remain in the archives of the Henley’s Edge Police Department and are strictly forbidden from being removed from their records." This collection also includes two other short stories: THE ENCHANTMENT and YOU’LL FIND IT’S LIKE THAT ALL OVER. While I didn’t love the former (3⭐️), I did really enjoy the latter (5⭐️) and thought it was another extremely effective short story. The author’s strong prose does an impressive job anchoring everything on solid ground even as the stories spiral into surrealist grotesquerie. LaRocca is a writer to watch.”– Publishers Weekly

LaRocca's point about queer representation is important for Richard and Weirdpunk, too: "Representation in horror—that's a whole big thing for me. I'm bi, Emma is trans, and though she's no longer a part of the press, the spirit has always been queer due to who she is." He adds that their novellas are mostly written by LGBTQ+ writers. The awfulness of said relationship is juvenile and edgelordy in nature and it goes from 0 to 100 way too fast. After the death of his father and his mother taking off, it becomes clear to Ben that the only thing he can count on, is no one to count on. There's something Godlike about holding something so small - something that solely depends on your kindness, your generosity. I had never thought about hurting something before. Until now. I imagined what it might be like. I imagined closing my hand to make a fist until its tiny body was squished, its innards squeezed out like toothpaste from its mouth open in a muted scream."There is no happily ever after to be found here. These stories are bleak, powerful, and ugly, showcasing the darkest side of human nature. The writing seems inexperienced at best, amateruish at worst. To the point that I have reservations about reading other books from this same publisher (knowing that that is unfair.) Repetitive and unimaginative in its language. I have developed new pet peeves against the words/phrases "merely," "he/she/they sensed [bodily sensation]", and "what he/she/they didn't seem to notice was ..."

Arc Words: The question "what have you done today to deserve your eyes?" first shows up as part of a story Zoe tells, and is referenced a few times afterwards, usually in reference to Zoe's psychological hold over Agnes. I guess that’s what makes people do horrible things – they think whatever they’re doing isn’t nearly as bad as what somebody else will do. My Final Thoughts on Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke Each story pulsates with Vidito's characteristic dark humor, atmospheric tension, and visceral prose. This is pornography for the devotee of horror, the morbidly curious—pornography for the end of the world. I did and I absolutely do not regret it, his is one of the most exciting new voices in horror for a very long time.Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.