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

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke: disturbing, disgusting, and unsettling, this story left me ecstatic. It was so compelling and so repellent at the same time. I loved the format; it made everything more mysterious. Some of the emails were too well written to be from a normal person, honestly. But the language is so rich and descriptive, and it pulls you in so much that I didn't feel skeptical while reading. I don't know what it is about a parasite, but I find it so appealing ¿? Like, as a writing prompt, not as a baby I have to care for, mind you. Both protagonists were disturbed and perverse, and well-characterized. So deep and flawed that you almost sympathise with their suffering.

The Enchantment: really meh after the first one. It had absolutely no tension, no build-up, and definitely no relief. I like magical realism, and I liked the plot, but the writing was choppy and awkward, and that really put me out.

You'll Find It's Like That All Over: very lackluster, to be honest. The writing was much more appealing than with the last story, but the story itself didn't really lend itself to much thought.