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nightoscphere's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
0.25
............ okay so, i get the low ratings!
im sorry but u cant put on the ryan murphy wig and be shocked when u r treated like ryan murphy! reading this book was giving me flashbacks to seeing my sister & mom watch ahs: asylum in the way that i witnessed a queer writer tortue their queer character bc of their queerness. except that character actually had a three dimensional personality and was vital to the plot. malik and his husband? are Not!
i get that (as ive gleamed from ppl who enjoyed the book/the writer) the violence isnt an endorsement, that it's kind of like a takedown of "what doesnt kill you makes a stronger" bc what doesnt kill you just.... irrevocably scars u physically and mentally for life. u arent stronger for living through the worst shit imaginable, ur just a person who now has to figure out how to keep on living. or maybe it's more about the place of god and humanity — how it's fellow humans who are the arbiters of good and evil, of devils and angels, of who gets deliverance and who gets cast to hell. but that all falls apart to me when it comes to the characterization of malik.
ive seen some ppl comment on how real the characters are, how complex both leads are allowed to be — but i object on the account of malik. i get why ghost is the way he is, i even get heart though we never read his pov, but malik? a muslim, queer, small town cop? is reduced to these factors and not even in any sort of interesting way.
i assume that malik is a person of colour, but that's solely bc of his name and background. bc race is not mentioned directly or inadvertently *at all* in this gook. and im not expecting a white author to unpack the nuances of racism, but to ham over the head how disability, faith, and queerness colour these leads lives.... but race is just? a nonfactor? to have a muslim character with a name like naseem malik that acknowledges his queerness, acknowledges his upbringing, (kind of) acknowledges his relationship to islam, but not race? ESPECIALLY in a small town? as a COP!!? in BIG TWENTY TWENTY THREE?!? like... even if he IS white, would he not have some sort of story about the preconceived notions his name holds?!? like?!? NOT EVEN ONCE?!!! im sorry but I CALL BULLSHIT'
it would be one thing if malik and his husband had gone through these horrors and we had been let into their interiority... but we dont. ghost is given so much. even HEART is given a layered backstory. but what do we know about malik beyond his identity? his parents died young? he was raised by his loving grandparents? hes... angry? okay... what else?
i can say heart had his suits, his way with words, his musings on creator vs creation. ghost had tangible grief, had a spiritual embodiment of his worst thoughts, had an unwanted solitude that coloured his every move. but malik? was just a gay, muslim, cop, who was a victim of the absolute worse of bigotry. and so was his husband. and then they just.... get a magic memory wipe from GOD (YES ACTUAL GOD) and live happily ever after?!?!
which yes, was granted SOLELY bc GHOST asked for it but. that's it. thats all. malik doesnt have a role in the mysterious disappearances, or connects with any of the named characters or has anything to do at all with the magic of the story beyond being a worthy but random benefactor of a miracle! which may have been the point but it's a stupid point!
i tried this out bc i like certain cosmic horror stories (im a nope (2022) and archive81 audio drama supremacist after all), but not in this fashion. especially not when meaningless violence is at the heart of it. even if the meaning in the meaningless violence is that this shit IS meaningless/overkill, that simply bores me. anyone can torture some gays!! but a the very LEAST explore the interiority of ALL your leads, ESPECIALLY your (assumed) leads of colour! dont reduce them to plot devices and get shocked when ppl r mad they're reduced to plot devices! esp when treated so violently like.... ur gonna have haters! embrace the girls n gays who got it and if u want a wider readership, then learn from the girls n gays who didnt!
bc again..... ur a muslim cop in a small city and that niche experience doesnt come up in his thoughts ONCE?!?! or, they bring up malik not wanting to be a father — okay then DEVELOP THAT HELLO?!? it wouldve been an interesting link with heart's whole creator/creation obsession!! and malik + his husband werent able to be useful in this plot beyond being saved by god?!? like they couldnt have been like... idk... really into solving the mystery? being like "no one cares to solve our case so the least we can do is solve theirs??" like im fine with never understanding god or what tf the wraith is/why its there or how heart even got his power — but to give malik so little?!?!? despite being the second pov?!? just sickens me like...... yeah okay whatever! whatever! im moving on!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Minor: Ableism, Mental illness, and Abandonment
whatwasmissing's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
was not expecting this to run the full gamut of content warnings but there you go.
i quite liked the slow build of the mystery in the first half, particularly the missing townsfolk and the charming devil.
the last 30% or so was so incredibly graphic that it was hard to get through. the resolution after that did feel pretty rushed.
i quite liked the slow build of the mystery in the first half, particularly the missing townsfolk and the charming devil.
the last 30% or so was so incredibly graphic that it was hard to get through. the resolution after that did feel pretty rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Excrement
There is an extended and extremely graphic homophobia-motivated gang rape scene that lasts through multiple chapters. This is revealed to be partly motivated byautumnrevisited's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
This is genuinely one of the worst books I have read from an "established," published author. The writing in the book was incredibly clunky with metaphors that not only didn't make sense, but felt like they were written solely for the sake of shock. There were also moments in the book where descriptions and explanations seemed to be entirely missing, with settings and situations coming out of nowhere. The story itself was lackluster, with the secondary main character only contributing the most minor presence in the following "climax." So much of Ghost's character and set up was shallow and unexplained, relying on supernatural nonsense to get the point across.
While I disliked the writing, what bothered me the most about this book was how LaRocca treated their characters. The book claims to be a queer horror novel, but the only part of it that seems genuinely queer is the secondary main character who services only as a conduit for violence. There is not a moment where Malik is happy, only witnessing his husband's hate crime, being kidnapped, sexually and brutally assaulted, and almost murdered. All for being gay. There is no other development to his character other than to have slurs thrown at him and have violence done unto him. Also, the "bad guys" in the story both are also queer or have experienced similar violence. I find it unacceptable and disgusting that LaRocca would take a character that does extreme sexual and physical violence to one of the only POC characters in the book and make their motivation be a past assault from another gay character. Furthermore, giving the main villain AIDS (at least hinting at it) for no reason other than to mention it adds to the image that people with AIDS are violent and dirty.
LaRocca also completely ignores his female characters. They are either stupid, pathetic, or fridged. There is not a moment with a female character where they have any real agency. They are dead to move the male main character's story forward or placed as a helpless damsel in distress in order to be protected.
I purchased and read this book because I heard many good things about LaRocca's other works and the horror they have created. However, after reading this book, I refuse to read anything else LaRocca has written or may write in the future.
While I disliked the writing, what bothered me the most about this book was how LaRocca treated their characters. The book claims to be a queer horror novel, but the only part of it that seems genuinely queer is the secondary main character who services only as a conduit for violence. There is not a moment where Malik is happy, only witnessing his husband's hate crime, being kidnapped, sexually and brutally assaulted, and almost murdered. All for being gay. There is no other development to his character other than to have slurs thrown at him and have violence done unto him. Also, the "bad guys" in the story both are also queer or have experienced similar violence. I find it unacceptable and disgusting that LaRocca would take a character that does extreme sexual and physical violence to one of the only POC characters in the book and make their motivation be a past assault from another gay character. Furthermore, giving the main villain AIDS (at least hinting at it) for no reason other than to mention it adds to the image that people with AIDS are violent and dirty.
LaRocca also completely ignores his female characters. They are either stupid, pathetic, or fridged. There is not a moment with a female character where they have any real agency. They are dead to move the male main character's story forward or placed as a helpless damsel in distress in order to be protected.
I purchased and read this book because I heard many good things about LaRocca's other works and the horror they have created. However, after reading this book, I refuse to read anything else LaRocca has written or may write in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Blood, Excrement, Grief, and Alcohol
theochick's review against another edition
challenging
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
This book had an interesting concept and incredibly poor execution. Definitely mind the content warnings (I probably missed some)! Prologue sets up a way more enjoyable/fun story than the book delivers which I think makes it even more disappointing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Pedophilia
neva383's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Pedophilia
avisnoctua's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness and Kidnapping
erebus53's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I picked up this one at random because the title seemed interesting.
The story is weird, mysterious, supernatural, and bleak. It felt like there were actually 2 stories stitched together.
People are going missing, and one of the police officers investigating is a Muslim man who is getting flack from his husband for pulling long hours. They are a sweet couple, but continually on guard due to micro-agressions from their neighbours.. which escalate to macro-agressions and ultimately extreme violence, as someone in the neighborhood is trying to pressure the men into leaving.
The other protagonist is a depressed young man who is grieving the loss of his wife and unborn child in a motor accident that permanently damaged his own leg. He has this niggling voice that continually disparages him. It belongs to an actual demon (is it real?) with whom he has an oddly codependent toxic relationship. (Nowhere near as friendly as Calcifer in Howl's Moving Castle). One day he meets a fancy old man with a swanky mansion who offers wishes.. this gives me real "Needful Things" vibes. The guy is about as suspect as you can get even before he introduces himself as Heart Crowley.
Mumble mumble, magic, cult, demon / God, zealots, creepy, blood and rituals etc. (step 4: profit!... or prophet?)
Meanwhile sadistic homophobic violence, rape, multilation, and all that bad stuff
but that's ok because we have God locked in our cellar and he can make it all miraculously better.
Kinda liked the whole Clockwork Orange feel of stumbling into the mansion in the middle of the night though. ("HOME")
I liked that most of the characters are gay or pan. Interesting to hear the widow character voicing experience of biphobia. I realize it's supposed to be gritty and horrific but the whole rape angle just felt awful rather than creepy. I kind of feel like the whole story might have had more going for it if it was either a supernatural horror with a paranoid anxiety sufferer OR the horrible side of be what can happen to a sweet gay couple just trying to live their best life, but trying to tangle the two together is just not quite doing either justice.
The story is weird, mysterious, supernatural, and bleak. It felt like there were actually 2 stories stitched together.
People are going missing, and one of the police officers investigating is a Muslim man who is getting flack from his husband for pulling long hours. They are a sweet couple, but continually on guard due to micro-agressions from their neighbours.. which escalate to macro-agressions and ultimately extreme violence, as someone in the neighborhood is trying to pressure the men into leaving.
The other protagonist is a depressed young man who is grieving the loss of his wife and unborn child in a motor accident that permanently damaged his own leg. He has this niggling voice that continually disparages him. It belongs to an actual demon (is it real?) with whom he has an oddly codependent toxic relationship. (Nowhere near as friendly as Calcifer in Howl's Moving Castle). One day he meets a fancy old man with a swanky mansion who offers wishes.. this gives me real "Needful Things" vibes. The guy is about as suspect as you can get even before he introduces himself as Heart Crowley.
Mumble mumble, magic, cult, demon / God, zealots, creepy, blood and rituals etc. (step 4: profit!... or prophet?)
Meanwhile sadistic homophobic violence, rape, multilation, and all that bad stuff
Kinda liked the whole Clockwork Orange feel of stumbling into the mansion in the middle of the night though. ("HOME")
I liked that most of the characters are gay or pan. Interesting to hear the widow character voicing experience of biphobia. I realize it's supposed to be gritty and horrific but the whole rape angle just felt awful rather than creepy. I kind of feel like the whole story might have had more going for it if it was either a supernatural horror with a paranoid anxiety sufferer OR the horrible side of be what can happen to a sweet gay couple just trying to live their best life, but trying to tangle the two together is just not quite doing either justice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
seagem's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
horrorandscience's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Her world was darkness, and that’s often where the monsters felt most at home.”
Eric LaRocca is quite famous for writing messy, sad, grief horror. Everything the Darkness Eats is no different. We follow a few different points of view, all handling grief their own ways. Some worse than others.
Ghost Everling was in a car accident with his wife, Hailey, and she did not survive. It’s been three years, and he’s trying to navigate his new life with a ghoul on his shoulder telling him the accident was his fault.
Heart Crowley is an eccentric elderly man who manages his grief by trying to control every situation around him.
Malik and husband Brett are grieving the marriage they could have had, had they not dealt with the homophobia from the neighborhood.
For most of the story, you have no idea how the three different stories connect, but in the end, boy do they connect. As always, LaRocca weaves a tale that takes you by surprise while hurting your feelings the entire way.
This story is not a fast story, unlike their other works. There’s a lot underneath the words, a lot of subtext. I actually would like to reread this story in the future to see if I can pick things out that I hadn’t seen originally.
There were a couple slow parts, which makes this not quite a five star read, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood
Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident