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A review by bittennailbooks
This Skin Was Once Mine by Eric LaRocca
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.5
"The worst thing a person can do to you, after they've hurt you, is let you live. That's how you truly and unmistakingly destroy another human being."
Eric LaRocca returns with another mixed collection of body horror, gore, and gloomy prose. I received a free audiobook version from the publisher, which will not alter my review. This novel is narrated by: Natalie Naudus, André Santana, Michael Crouch, Steven Crossley. A star-studded voice cast for another book that I can confirm with most certainty, will divide readers as LaRocca tends to do.
Listening to all 4 stories, the obvious standout is its namesake "This Skin Was Once Mine" narrated by the incredulous Natalie Naudus. I am fine with body horror as long as there is something giving the story structure and I found this was a delightfully terrifying listen. Protagonist Jillian must return home after the death of her beloved father to the estate that her mother banned her from over 20 years ago. Having felt like a monster since being sent away, she plans to confront her mother and find out what truly happened to her father once and for all. Her father's monthly letters however, fail to mention the true state of her childhood home and the going ons of the past two decades.
The psychological thriller components are strong in both "This Skin Was Once Mine" and "All the Parts of You That Won't Easily Burn." I find LaRocca's writing more enjoyable via audiobooks as it adds a certain layer to the horror elements when you find a strong of cast as they have for this novel. I may be burned for saying this but I enjoyed the audiobook and would continue to request LaRocca's novels for future review. "This Skin Was Once Mine" receives 4.5/5 stars, the full novel 3/5, and the audiobook narration 4.5/5 stars.
Eric LaRocca returns with another mixed collection of body horror, gore, and gloomy prose. I received a free audiobook version from the publisher, which will not alter my review. This novel is narrated by: Natalie Naudus, André Santana, Michael Crouch, Steven Crossley. A star-studded voice cast for another book that I can confirm with most certainty, will divide readers as LaRocca tends to do.
Listening to all 4 stories, the obvious standout is its namesake "This Skin Was Once Mine" narrated by the incredulous Natalie Naudus. I am fine with body horror as long as there is something giving the story structure and I found this was a delightfully terrifying listen. Protagonist Jillian must return home after the death of her beloved father to the estate that her mother banned her from over 20 years ago. Having felt like a monster since being sent away, she plans to confront her mother and find out what truly happened to her father once and for all. Her father's monthly letters however, fail to mention the true state of her childhood home and the going ons of the past two decades.
The psychological thriller components are strong in both "This Skin Was Once Mine" and "All the Parts of You That Won't Easily Burn." I find LaRocca's writing more enjoyable via audiobooks as it adds a certain layer to the horror elements when you find a strong of cast as they have for this novel. I may be burned for saying this but I enjoyed the audiobook and would continue to request LaRocca's novels for future review. "This Skin Was Once Mine" receives 4.5/5 stars, the full novel 3/5, and the audiobook narration 4.5/5 stars.