Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

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The official release date is 11/15 and we’re hoping to have our copies a little earlier than that so we can get them to everyone a bit early. We read the couple’s meet-cute on Queerlist.org where Agnes is selling an antique apple peeler. From there, we read as the couple fall in love, we read their fetishistic contract wherein Agnes agrees to relinquish all control over her finances and decision-making faculties to Zoe, and, slowly but surely, we read as Zoe manipulates, gaslights, and abuses Agnes until the story climaxes into one of the best conceived works of body horror fiction of recent years. Unsettling. Unusual. Ultimately satisfying. These are the words that come to mind when I think about this collection. De Schutter’s remarks follow Alston’s damning report into poverty in the UK, which he published after a two-week research visit in 2018. Alston, an internationally respected human rights lawyer, said “much of the glue that has held British society together since the second world war has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos”. 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.

In the final story, A man has trouble standing up for himself due to a longtime habit of politeness that has been deeply ingrained in his psyche since childhood.Content warnings include mention of child abuse, death by suicide, death of animals, homophobia, miscarriage, racism and suicidal ideation. Readers with emetophobia may have trouble with some scenes. Samantha Kolesnik’s return from her retirement from writing is here! And it’s quite different from her other books but incredible in its own way. Plus holy shit look at the cover art from Evangeline Gallagher!

The Enchantment has a very powerful opening (reminds me of the suffocating dread of a Ari Aster film), and some beautifully depicted imagery, but it also meanders aimlessly (particularly during the middle), and never fully explores the intriguing spirituality inquiry it puts forward at the start. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, in 2022 3.8 million people experienced destitution (struggling to afford to meet their most basic physical needs to stay warm, dry, clean and fed). This included about 1 million children. It was almost two and a half times the number of people in 2017. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and currently resides in Boston, MA with his partner. I shouted to the world how much I loved the titular story when I first read it. You can read my review of it here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...The ferryman and the steward arrive at the small cottage, Olive trailing close behind. They cover their mouths , coughing, the stench of gas greeting them as soon as they enter. “Gas. The stove,” the ferryman says. The steward dashes into the kitchen. He turns off the gas stovetop. Then, flings open a window. Without giving anything away I will say that all three stories have a reoccurring theme but each story is unique in its own style which shows the author has a lot of range. This is my first read by the author and I am very impressed by his writing. I loved how each story evoked a strong emotion in me and I loved how each story was vastly different. The author managed to keep my interest piqued and had me dying to learn what would happen next. Olive rushes out of the kitchen and up the stairs. What she doesn’t seem to notice is how the gas dial for the stovetop has been left on, gas hissing as it leaks into the air. 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.

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,

You'll Find Its Like That All Over - This story wasn't terrible but it felt like a filler. For a moment it reminded me of a Goosebumps book. Very tame & lame. Forgettable. Eric LaRocca’s unflinching Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke will crawl inside you, move stuff around, and make you see the world differently, like all great stories do.”– Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Pallbearers Club.