AT DARK, I BECOME LOATHSOME by Eric LaRocca (to be released 1/28/25 by Blackstone Publishing / 175 pages)

After losing his wife to cancer and having his young son kidnapped, Ashley becomes a sort of underground grief counselor, creating a ritual the daring pay good money to participate in. Said ritual involves being buried alive for 30 minutes in a “fake death” exercise where people’s lives are guaranteed to change.

But things take a wicked turn when Ashley’s purpose comes into question, and his own world is challenged by an unusual client.

LaRocca’s latest is as dark as it gets, and will surely not be for the faint of heart. But as disturbing as it is, I saw the twist coming early on and felt things may have been more effective had the third act gone in another direction.

AT DARK is well worth the reader’s time, and most readers of stronger horror won’t be disappointed despite the obvious twist. Can easily be enjoyed in one sitting.

 

 

THE UNWORTHY by Agustina Bazterrica (to be released 3/4/25 by Scribner / 192 pages)

After escaping from 4 men who nearly kill her, a woman finds her way to a convent and joins the ranks of the sisterhood. THE UNWORTHY tells this woman’s story through diary entries (some written in her own blood), and we are given glimpses of the convent’s hierarchy as we learn the outside world has come to an end due to environmental disaster and mankind literally turning from God and worshipping artificial intelligence.

Bazterrica’s second English-translated novel might not be for everyone, but those looking for a different type of end times story may enjoy it, and don’t let the cover art fool you: this story deals with nuns, but it’s not “Nunsploitation.” This is a dark, strange, and unusual literary horror novel that will leave you contemplating where we may be headed.

Book Launch Party for ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER in Brooklyn!

 

On Thursday, September 5th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., meet my wife Shannon Barracato as we launch her new novel ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER at the legendary Duff's, Brooklyn NY's coolest heavy metal bar! There will be copies of the novel available, plus swag for everyone, not to mention Duff's kick ass juke box where you can play all the metal/punk you can handle. Read more about the bar here: DUFF'S Brooklyn

Check out some of the amazing reviews that have been coming in:

"ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a powerful book, so original, filled with both wonder and horror, hope and fear. It's a funny, moving, scathing commentary - shades of Maus and Jojo Rabbit, the bastard love child of Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh."
- Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist

"Funny, scary, and at moments painfully relevant to modern times, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a dark, dystopia, punk-pop classic. A road trip from Hell that's a joy to travel."
- Brendan Deneen, bestselling author of ALIEN: UNCIVIL WAR and THE CHRYSALIS

"The most original post-apocalyptic novel I've read in years. Shannon Barracato delivers an all-too-believable dystopia with gallows humor and vivid imagination in this genre-defying tale of magic, mayhem, and brotherly love. True horrors abound, but the darkness has a beating heart."
- Douglas Wynne, author of RED EQUINOX

"In a climate where wholly unoriginal fiction is often celebrated as genius, Shannon Barracato's ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a deep breath of fresh dystopian air. I've honestly never read anything quite like it. Barracato is an exciting and unique voice, and her latest novel is a testament not only to her talent, but to a fully realized artistic vision. Deeply unsettling, darkly funny, smart and thought-provoking, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER will leave you reeling and questioning all the so-called 'rules' in the best possible way."
- Greg F. Gifune, bestselling author of THE BLEEDING SEASON and SAVAGES

If you can't make the event, grab a copy right here: ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER