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. 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. Squarely in both the crime and body horror traditions, Mutant Circuit reads like Elmore Leonard and David Cronenberg meeting at 3 AM in a run-down strip mall parking lot, and Mark Jaskowski is the conspirator who brought them there. He avoids this problem with the first story by making it entirely conversation, but the same can't be said for the last two. The second is about Tamsen and her brother Presley who move to a big dark mansion to complete a half-made game and some weird and dark stuff starts occurring. (Can't say much)

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. I also had an issue with the way the characters texted. As well as showing no personal information or personality to get to know each other, the way they spoke felt really forced and unconvincing. It felt like the author was trying to show off their writing skills, meaning the characters texted as it they were authors in awkward superfluous language rather than speaking as though they are actually human. This was a big disappointment, mostly because I had seen how many people loved the first and titular story of the three published in this collection. It's certainly the best story here, but sadly that isn't saying much. I liked the Oedipus element, the implication that Agnes will stab her eyes out after her girlfriend leaves her like her mother did. However, it was both underutilised and over-explained.The final tale, You’ll Find It’s Like That All Over, is again a story of morals verus morality, and the societal pressure to be polite having consequences which are extremely far reaching, In the attempt to do the right thing, oftentimes, more damage can be wreaked and the cumulative nature of what happens after finding a fragment of bone in his garden, will haunt both him and the reader alike. Fifth, level of gruesomeness/horror/disturbingness. The author in their note at the end says they wrote this in One things for certain, I will be keeping my eye on Eric Larocca but whether it be out of fear or admiration we'll never know. 😉 4 stars! 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,

Honestly, it has been a bumpy road with this book. Initially, it was intended to be our August release, but given some life stuff from a handful of the contributors (very much myself included), it got delayed until October. The 31st, so be precise.Characterisation across all three novels are extremely bland and flat and motivations and emotional states of the characters are inconsistent/erratic for no purpose. In an interview with the Guardian five years after his predecessor, Philip Alston, angered the Conservative government by accusing it of the “ systematic immiseration of a significant part of the British population”, the Belgian lawyer risked a fresh confrontation by saying: “Things have got worse.”

In the year 2000, two gay women - Agnes Petrella and Zoe Cross - meet online as Agnes attempts to sell a family heirloom. As their relationship develops, they find themselves succumbing to a spiral of depravity.Until he finds the book. One that calls forth a shadowy horned figure. She comes with unexpected gifts and the comfort of a dependable presence. And she asks for very little in return, really. The more Ben offers her, the easier it gets. Last year, with Richard at the helm, Weirdpunk started publishing horror novellas. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, released this June, was the indie publisher’s seventh short and spooky release.