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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Amateur and heavy-handed. Shock value without much to say. If the prose wasn’t so distractingly bad I may have been swept up in the disturbing atmosphere/imagery, but the prose WAS distractingly bad so… yeah this was pretty bad.
Merged review:
Amateur and heavy-handed. Shock value without much to say. If the prose wasn’t so distractingly bad I may have been swept up in the disturbing atmosphere/imagery, but the prose WAS distractingly bad so… yeah this was pretty bad.
Merged review:
Amateur and heavy-handed. Shock value without much to say. If the prose wasn’t so distractingly bad I may have been swept up in the disturbing atmosphere/imagery, but the prose WAS distractingly bad so… yeah this was pretty bad.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just be warned though, this book certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. This book is messed up, in more ways than one- I’d recommend looking at the trigger warnings before reading if you’re triggered easily.
Despite being short, this book captivated all my attention, so much so that it was impossible to even put down for a second, let alone read in two seperate sittings. This was the first horror book I’ve everenjoyed - enjoyed is definitely the wrong word, ‘captivated by’ is probably closer to truth, you don’t enjoy reading this book. It was more like a trainwreck you couldn’t look away from. It is vile and horrible. from the descriptions to the subtle abuse, to the moments I just wanted to scream at the main character, to get out of there. Wtf was she doing, deciding to live in a house that so very much wanted her dead. I would’ve dipped with Naomi at the beginning lol.
This definitely is classified as horror. Though I feel just classifying it as horror mistakes the brilliance this book is. It is so much more than ‘just another horror book’ it’s reflective, tense, incredibly dark and that’s just what I think of it off the top of my head.
Needless to say, I think this book is definitely worth a read.
Despite being short, this book captivated all my attention, so much so that it was impossible to even put down for a second, let alone read in two seperate sittings. This was the first horror book I’ve ever
This definitely is classified as horror. Though I feel just classifying it as horror mistakes the brilliance this book is. It is so much more than ‘just another horror book’ it’s reflective, tense, incredibly dark and that’s just what I think of it off the top of my head.
Needless to say, I think this book is definitely worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Eric LaRocca is a wonderful author. His stomach-churning descriptions of the apocalyptic environment and predatory guests in this home is truly enthralling. I gave the last book I read of his, the viral "Things Have Gotten Worse..." a 3 because I found it far too visceral in its description of rot and violence. This one, however, I want to rate as a 4 because even tho it is just as rotted (and as my coworker mentioned, even more gross in certain aspects), it feels like there's more of a point to it at first reading.
"Things Have Gotten Worse..." is of course about predatory control dynamics within some kinds of queer relationships, but my first impression of it before sitting and thinking deeper about it was, it was a gross book for the sake of it. Like, you could tell they were making a point but they didn't have to make the point like that. "We can Never Leave..." feels much more clear at first glance and makes the violence feel more necessary. Perhaps this is just me becoming more accustomed to this genre, but in any case the metaphor felt clearer this time.
I cant call this book fun or enjoyable, lol, but it is definitely a very good, engrossing book.
Merged review:
Eric LaRocca is a wonderful author. His stomach-churning descriptions of the apocalyptic environment and predatory guests in this home is truly enthralling. I gave the last book I read of his, the viral "Things Have Gotten Worse..." a 3 because I found it far too visceral in its description of rot and violence. This one, however, I want to rate as a 4 because even tho it is just as rotted (and as my coworker mentioned, even more gross in certain aspects), it feels like there's more of a point to it at first reading.
"Things Have Gotten Worse..." is of course about predatory control dynamics within some kinds of queer relationships, but my first impression of it before sitting and thinking deeper about it was, it was a gross book for the sake of it. Like, you could tell they were making a point but they didn't have to make the point like that. "We can Never Leave..." feels much more clear at first glance and makes the violence feel more necessary. Perhaps this is just me becoming more accustomed to this genre, but in any case the metaphor felt clearer this time.
I cant call this book fun or enjoyable, lol, but it is definitely a very good, engrossing book.
"Things Have Gotten Worse..." is of course about predatory control dynamics within some kinds of queer relationships, but my first impression of it before sitting and thinking deeper about it was, it was a gross book for the sake of it. Like, you could tell they were making a point but they didn't have to make the point like that. "We can Never Leave..." feels much more clear at first glance and makes the violence feel more necessary. Perhaps this is just me becoming more accustomed to this genre, but in any case the metaphor felt clearer this time.
I cant call this book fun or enjoyable, lol, but it is definitely a very good, engrossing book.
Merged review:
Eric LaRocca is a wonderful author. His stomach-churning descriptions of the apocalyptic environment and predatory guests in this home is truly enthralling. I gave the last book I read of his, the viral "Things Have Gotten Worse..." a 3 because I found it far too visceral in its description of rot and violence. This one, however, I want to rate as a 4 because even tho it is just as rotted (and as my coworker mentioned, even more gross in certain aspects), it feels like there's more of a point to it at first reading.
"Things Have Gotten Worse..." is of course about predatory control dynamics within some kinds of queer relationships, but my first impression of it before sitting and thinking deeper about it was, it was a gross book for the sake of it. Like, you could tell they were making a point but they didn't have to make the point like that. "We can Never Leave..." feels much more clear at first glance and makes the violence feel more necessary. Perhaps this is just me becoming more accustomed to this genre, but in any case the metaphor felt clearer this time.
I cant call this book fun or enjoyable, lol, but it is definitely a very good, engrossing book.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a wild ride! I have read Erica LaRocca before and I am always equal parts disgusted and amazed with his stories. This one though, was a prolonged panic attack with each turn of the page. I thought myself prepared, but with all books by this great author, I am left with the “HEEBIE JEEBIES”
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
This book made me physically queasy and nauseated which was wild
Merged review:
This book made me physically queasy and nauseated which was wild
Merged review:
This book made me physically queasy and nauseated which was wild
An exceptional, strange splatterpunk fairy tale that kept me up all night.
Overview:
Merged review:
An exceptional, strange splatterpunk fairy tale that kept me up all night.
Overview:
Overview:
Merged review:
An exceptional, strange splatterpunk fairy tale that kept me up all night.
Overview: