Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca

9 reviews

jasper_wildlife's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Blood, Gore, Miscarriage, Vomit, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Animal death, Homophobia, and Infertility

thebechdelbitch's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Some cool and creepy ideas in here but I kept being pulled out of the stories by how little these characters behaved like real people (obviously there is only so realistic you can get when someone

agrees to voluntarily contract a tapeworm for their Dom

but even in everyday interactions everyone seemed to be totally lacking in motivation or realistic drives). The middle story was especially lacking, but the final story turned things around somewhat as it seemed to live in a more "magical realism" world from the off. 

Also Finneas. It's kind of worth reading for Finneas.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Child death

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Grief, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

jalecd's review

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke - 4/5
An unsettling depiction of obsession, kink, and how human nature often makes us seek out the very things that destroy us. A visceral and uncomfortable read.

The Enchantment - 2/5
With key themes of religiosity, grief, and what grief can do to the human psyche, I expected a bit more from the plot. Ultimately, I was left with more questions than answers, and honestly a bit confused by the plot. 

You’ll Find It’s Like That Over - 3/5
An enjoyable read commenting on people pleasing and the human desire to maintain social etiquette no matter the cost. It was a bit anti-climactic but I enjoyed the build up 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Child death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Self harm, Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Minor: Lesbophobia and Racism

stardustdreamer's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Mental illness, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism

Minor: Lesbophobia

soft_plush's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was way more intense than I thought if I’m honest. Especially the first story but I do recommend reading it if you’re up for some gross detailed parts as well as big twists and turns and stuff that will genuinely make you question what you just read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Grief, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, and Vomit

Moderate: Grief, Lesbophobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Lesbophobia and Pregnancy

laurenvoice's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

 Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes is a collection of short stories centred around human connection and faith. This collection of short stories is dark and not for the faint of heart.

The titular story Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke was grotesque and disturbing. Eric LaRocca telling the story through emails and instant messenger was genius; they kept us guessing about Zoe's true identity and intentions towards Agnes and the truth behind Agnes's end. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke was a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read; with a nice true-crime vibe.

The second story in this collection, The Enchantment, was dark and mysterious. The beginning of this story was quite horrific and a tad confusing;

I was wondering how Milo managed to crucify himself

. After the main event that started the two main characters' story on an isolated island, it felt like the story dragged a bit, and it was hard to stay interested. Nonetheless, the message gained from the themes centred around faith and religion, to the point our main characters seem paranoid about it, was well worth the read. Overall, The Enchantment was a ⭐⭐⭐.5 read.

The final story You'll Find It's Like That All Over was weird and tense. It made absolutely no sense why Mr Fowler kept going with the bets, which caused a very stressful scene involving a guillotine. But LaRocca had me hooked from the start with this story. You'll Find It's Like That All Over was a ⭐⭐⭐.75 read; it would have earned an extra 0.25 stars if it was a tad longer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, and Suicide

Moderate: Torture, Self harm, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Minor: Lesbophobia and Racism

themeadowlibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

What have you done today to deserve your eyes?

An interesting concept with some really badly done writing. 

I wish I could give this a higher rating because it was viscerally disturbing and unique. However, the writing fell extremely flat for me, and the overall story seemed rushed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Self harm, Gaslighting, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Death, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt

barrybj's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, and Vomit

Minor: Child abuse, Racism, and Lesbophobia

i know a horror book is good when it makes me say "oh my fucking god" out loud while reading it

boglord's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, and Body horror

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Infertility, and Vomit