Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke (2021)

Author Eric LaRocca excels at creating truly disturbing short pieces of fiction. Clocking in at 120 pages, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is one of the most profound and disturbing entries into the queer horror genre in recent years. It also awakens the early 2000s nostalgia of the chat room era and how it connected so many lonely souls during the time. Two women meet in a chat room when one of them is trying to sell a piece of family memorabilia because of a tough financial situation. As the two talk, they discover their desire for a deeper and darker connection. They begin an online relationship in which one is financially supported by the other in exchange for obeying their every demand. As the relationship reveals more about the people behind the usernames and they become more comfortable expressing their deepest desires, it is clear that one of them is on a self-destructive path. LaRocca is one of the most unique voices in modern horror and, luckily for fans, puts books out with some frequency. If you are looking for a quick and shocking read, look no further. 4.5 out of 5 sacs of blood.

—Victoria Potenza