What do you think?
Brute
Not yet published
Expected 23 Mar 27The Shining meets The Truman Show filtered through a tech lens in this splatterpunk horror novel from the award-winning author of Wretch, following a queer wedding planner whose past comes back to haunt him when he's forced to arrange his first gay marriage.
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner unlike any other. It’s not just the all-black outfits or the strange, wide-brimmed hat he loves wearing. In the privacy of his cottage, Ephraim dreams of planning a different kind of event: an execution.
When Nicholas and Sebastian decide to hire Ephraim for their special day, it becomes harder for Ephraim to leave his “at home” thoughts where they belong. With a mysterious man hovering around town, seemingly everywhere Ephraim goes, everything threatens to come apart at the seams.
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner unlike any other. It’s not just the all-black outfits or the strange, wide-brimmed hat he loves wearing. In the privacy of his cottage, Ephraim dreams of planning a different kind of event: an execution.
When Nicholas and Sebastian decide to hire Ephraim for their special day, it becomes harder for Ephraim to leave his “at home” thoughts where they belong. With a mysterious man hovering around town, seemingly everywhere Ephraim goes, everything threatens to come apart at the seams.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 23, 2027
About the author
Eric LaRocca
56 books3,735 followersEric LaRocca (he/they) is a 3x Bram Stoker Award® finalist, a Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and a 2x Splatterpunk Award winner. He was named by Esquire as one of the “Writers Shaping Horror’s Next Golden Age” and praised by Locus as “one of the strongest and most unique voices in contemporary horror fiction.” LaRocca’s notable works include Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, Everything the Darkness Eats, and At Dark, I Become Loathsome. He currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts with his partner.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The novel follows Ephraim Mayerling, an unusual wedding planner whose outwardly professional life hides a disturbing fascination with human executions. When Nicholas and Sebastian hire him to organize their wedding, Ephraim finds it increasingly difficult to keep his private thoughts separate from his work.
At the same time, a mysterious man begins appearing around Ephraim, seemingly wherever he goes. This causes Ephraim’s carefully controlled life to start unraveling and suggests that his past may be catching up with him.
The premise sounded promising, but I had a hard time enjoying this novel. I found portions of the book to be just rambling repetitive thoughts within the mind of the main character. The novel jumps back and forth in time which can be a bit confusing. Could use chapter titles to help navigate through the story.
Overall I was not a huge fan of Brute, giving it 2 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC which will be published March 23 2007.
At the same time, a mysterious man begins appearing around Ephraim, seemingly wherever he goes. This causes Ephraim’s carefully controlled life to start unraveling and suggests that his past may be catching up with him.
The premise sounded promising, but I had a hard time enjoying this novel. I found portions of the book to be just rambling repetitive thoughts within the mind of the main character. The novel jumps back and forth in time which can be a bit confusing. Could use chapter titles to help navigate through the story.
Overall I was not a huge fan of Brute, giving it 2 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC which will be published March 23 2007.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Larocca is the master when it comes to the raw and twisted. Each page leaves you filthy and wondering if cruelty like this can possibly exist in our world. The emotions he explores in Brute are visceral and do not shy away from taboos. In fact, he opens the door to darkness and invites all things unclean into your soul. Beware reader, you never know who's actually hiding behind the mask society forces us to wear.
I inhaled this. It was twisted, raw, and beyond addicting. By the time the twist hit, I was completely blind-sided because of how engrossed I was with the story. The ending was a chefs kiss.
Extreme horror enthusiasts are in for a treat.
I inhaled this. It was twisted, raw, and beyond addicting. By the time the twist hit, I was completely blind-sided because of how engrossed I was with the story. The ending was a chefs kiss.
Extreme horror enthusiasts are in for a treat.
August 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Wow! What an amazing read. I just now finished, and am a bit short of breath. Eric LaRocca has written his most compelling and accessible book yet. Ephraim is such a fantastic protagonist. I was immediately hooked and wanted to know what he’d do next. Love how the story goes back and forth between Ephraim’s past and present. The ending is totally bonkers and owes a lot to one of my very favorite writers of American fiction. What an insane way of bringing the past into the present. Ain’t too many people doing it like LaRocca’s doing it these days. He’s truly a master of his craft, and again I thank NetGalley for allowing me to get an early look at this.
September 25, 2026
This book is a disturbing, twisted horror read, and I was flying through it!!
Ephraim is a wedding planner who has a pretty dark side. He secretly fantasizes about planning something MUCH more sinister than a wedding, so when Nicholas and Sebastian hire him to plan their wedding, things start getting verrrryy weird. Especially when someone starts following him.
This was so uncomfortable and unpredictable. I kept wondering just how far things were going to go… and let’s just say, they GO. If you like your horror on the darker and more unsettling side definitely pick this one up.
Ephraim is a wedding planner who has a pretty dark side. He secretly fantasizes about planning something MUCH more sinister than a wedding, so when Nicholas and Sebastian hire him to plan their wedding, things start getting verrrryy weird. Especially when someone starts following him.
This was so uncomfortable and unpredictable. I kept wondering just how far things were going to go… and let’s just say, they GO. If you like your horror on the darker and more unsettling side definitely pick this one up.
August 11, 2026
4 ⭐️, thank you to NetGalley & Saga Press for the ARC!!!
Gosh this premise was perfect. It’s so unique, while still providing the gore and hatred that LaRocca’s characters have. I read this shortly after Aron Beauregards’ Modern Hysteria, and there’s a lot of parallels between the two. I unfortunately grew up during the unregulated internet age where you did see beheadings and rapes casually on Facebook, and it does alter a young mind into being indifferent to everything.
I also liked seeing Ephraim’s constant struggle over him being gay and how he expected gay relationships to be, and how his obsession with trauma and gore coming into that. Really dark stuff but it was interesting!!
Gosh this premise was perfect. It’s so unique, while still providing the gore and hatred that LaRocca’s characters have. I read this shortly after Aron Beauregards’ Modern Hysteria, and there’s a lot of parallels between the two. I unfortunately grew up during the unregulated internet age where you did see beheadings and rapes casually on Facebook, and it does alter a young mind into being indifferent to everything.
I also liked seeing Ephraim’s constant struggle over him being gay and how he expected gay relationships to be, and how his obsession with trauma and gore coming into that. Really dark stuff but it was interesting!!
September 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Saga Press and Eric LaRocca for the ARC of Brute! So excited to have this opportunity. All opinions expressed herein are my own!
Described as The Shining meets The Truman Show, Brute revolves around eccentric wedding planner, Ephraim, who is about to plan his first gay wedding. Ephraim’s enthusiasm for weddings hides a darker, more sinister side of him; one that may come out at Nicholas and Sebastian’s special day. While the grooms are expecting a lavish day filled with love and happiness, Ephraim has other plans in mind.
LaRocca’s writing is so sharp and engaging. The dark prose and unsettling subject matter seem to flow so easily that you forget you’re reading depraved and horrific imaginings. The darkest side of the human psyche is explored in this with little to no apology and I love the way that this darkness was so unabashedly described throughout.
Told on a dual timeline, from present day to Ephraim’s teen years, we understand Ephraim more as a person, and why he has become who he is today. The jump from present to past is so pertinent to the story, and flows so well, adding a lot of depth to the narrative. I love that this is also told with mixed media interspersed throughout. I think that adds so much fun and adds an extra layer of suspense and darkness.
Overall, this is a depiction of psychological horror and coming of age, as well as deep depravity and madness. It is well written, horrifying at times and one of those stories that you can’t look away from because it’s so tragic, vile and unique. Be prepared to grimace and feel uncomfortable (in the best way possible) throughout this whole journey. The ending was excellently performed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, but especially thank you to Eric LaRocca, who after I whined on social media about not getting an ARC, sent me a link. Very much appreciated!
I will start this review off by confessing that I am a huge fan of LaRocca and his work. I devour every book he releases, and am always astounded by his attention to detail, to characters, and his commitment to presenting what is not comfortable. Within the myriad subgenres of horror, he stands out for his transgressive works.
However, it's not transgressive for the sake of being so, or shocking for the sake of shock. There is so much more, and Brute displays that perfectly. Ephraim is monstrous at times. His desires, his thoughts, his actions are not "normal" but are such an intrinsic part of who he is, who he was made to become. He laments being unable to have relationships, but gains happiness, however one wants to define it, from the things that please him, arouse him, and push him forward in life. He is a deep thinker, and we spend a great deal of time in his head.
The magic of LaRocca is that he does not treat his characters like monsters, and Ephraim is no exception. He is real, and human, and written with so much empathy. Thus, one can understand why he behaves the way he does and understand why he becomes who he is.
Without giving away too much, the ending is a bit of a gut punch, and a surprise in many ways.
Now that I have gushed on, I encourage you to pick this up when it comes out in March. It's horror that challenges you, that doesn't present the standard tropes, but shows the horror in the everyday, the alienation, sadness, and obsession that drives humans to become the brutes they really are, and it's a gorgeous ride.
I will start this review off by confessing that I am a huge fan of LaRocca and his work. I devour every book he releases, and am always astounded by his attention to detail, to characters, and his commitment to presenting what is not comfortable. Within the myriad subgenres of horror, he stands out for his transgressive works.
However, it's not transgressive for the sake of being so, or shocking for the sake of shock. There is so much more, and Brute displays that perfectly. Ephraim is monstrous at times. His desires, his thoughts, his actions are not "normal" but are such an intrinsic part of who he is, who he was made to become. He laments being unable to have relationships, but gains happiness, however one wants to define it, from the things that please him, arouse him, and push him forward in life. He is a deep thinker, and we spend a great deal of time in his head.
The magic of LaRocca is that he does not treat his characters like monsters, and Ephraim is no exception. He is real, and human, and written with so much empathy. Thus, one can understand why he behaves the way he does and understand why he becomes who he is.
Without giving away too much, the ending is a bit of a gut punch, and a surprise in many ways.
Now that I have gushed on, I encourage you to pick this up when it comes out in March. It's horror that challenges you, that doesn't present the standard tropes, but shows the horror in the everyday, the alienation, sadness, and obsession that drives humans to become the brutes they really are, and it's a gorgeous ride.
August 4, 2026
Review courtesy of an ARC provided by NetGalley
Devoured this in two sittings.
Ephraim, a wedding planner who lives in a picture-perfect cottage on the grounds of a beautiful garden estate, spends his time creating perfect ceremonies for those who seek him out to plan their big day. I found myself addicted to this character, from the description of his physical androgyny to the way his inner monologue contrasted so delightfully with his clients’ perceptions of his disposition. Early in the story, he explains his peculiar preference for dressing entirely in black by likening weddings to funerals, a test he utilizes to judge his compatibility with a couple from the jump.
Quickly, you’re made aware that Ephraim’s morbid proclivities are more than an aesthetic choice - he is plagued by a fetishistic obsession with public executions and secretly yearns to orchestrate one himself.
What unfolds throughout Brute is a bizarre roller coaster of sinister paranoia, trauma, and the feeling of displacement that so many queer people struggle to navigate within polite society. I found it evocative of Poppy Z. Brite’s Exquisite Corpse at many points, in a way I’ve never encountered elsewhere.
I had the immense pleasure of meeting LaRocca at an event celebrating the launch of their previous novel, Wretch, and I was thrilled to learn that the planned Saga Press trilogy would share connections with the character Porcelain Khaw. There are certainly whispers of Wretch within Brute that made me think, “Oh, oh!” in the moment, but I want more!! I can’t wait for the third installment. 🤞
Devoured this in two sittings.
Ephraim, a wedding planner who lives in a picture-perfect cottage on the grounds of a beautiful garden estate, spends his time creating perfect ceremonies for those who seek him out to plan their big day. I found myself addicted to this character, from the description of his physical androgyny to the way his inner monologue contrasted so delightfully with his clients’ perceptions of his disposition. Early in the story, he explains his peculiar preference for dressing entirely in black by likening weddings to funerals, a test he utilizes to judge his compatibility with a couple from the jump.
Quickly, you’re made aware that Ephraim’s morbid proclivities are more than an aesthetic choice - he is plagued by a fetishistic obsession with public executions and secretly yearns to orchestrate one himself.
What unfolds throughout Brute is a bizarre roller coaster of sinister paranoia, trauma, and the feeling of displacement that so many queer people struggle to navigate within polite society. I found it evocative of Poppy Z. Brite’s Exquisite Corpse at many points, in a way I’ve never encountered elsewhere.
I had the immense pleasure of meeting LaRocca at an event celebrating the launch of their previous novel, Wretch, and I was thrilled to learn that the planned Saga Press trilogy would share connections with the character Porcelain Khaw. There are certainly whispers of Wretch within Brute that made me think, “Oh, oh!” in the moment, but I want more!! I can’t wait for the third installment. 🤞
September 12, 2026
3.5/5
As with all LaRocca novels, heavy trigger warnings, for the following: child abuse, death, gore, religious trauma, murder, torture, and violence.
I definitely see The Truman Show aspects from the comparisons but don’t see anything related to The Shining so not clear on where that comparison comes from. This is such a dark look into someone’s brain that some of the more shocking points are when the main character holds himself back from doing something even crazier. As with LaRocca’s other novels enjoy isn’t quite the term I would use but this was truly unique.
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner, even though his all-black attire and large wide-brimmed hat would fit more comfortably into a mortuary. Ephraim himself would be more comfortable there, he has a strong interest in the macabre, specifically executions. He collects weapons used in executions throughout history, both the famous and the unknown.
When Ephraim has to help plan his first queer wedding, he is forced to face his own long ignored queer identity, and his desire to take action on his darker interests increase. As he begins to notice a man following him everywhere he goes and gets threatening messages on the chat sites he frequents, Ephraim wonders who could he watching him. As his suspicions turn to the grooms whose wedding he is planning, memories from his past come back to haunt him as Ephraim must decide if it is time to finally enact his darkest desires.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
As with all LaRocca novels, heavy trigger warnings, for the following: child abuse, death, gore, religious trauma, murder, torture, and violence.
I definitely see The Truman Show aspects from the comparisons but don’t see anything related to The Shining so not clear on where that comparison comes from. This is such a dark look into someone’s brain that some of the more shocking points are when the main character holds himself back from doing something even crazier. As with LaRocca’s other novels enjoy isn’t quite the term I would use but this was truly unique.
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner, even though his all-black attire and large wide-brimmed hat would fit more comfortably into a mortuary. Ephraim himself would be more comfortable there, he has a strong interest in the macabre, specifically executions. He collects weapons used in executions throughout history, both the famous and the unknown.
When Ephraim has to help plan his first queer wedding, he is forced to face his own long ignored queer identity, and his desire to take action on his darker interests increase. As he begins to notice a man following him everywhere he goes and gets threatening messages on the chat sites he frequents, Ephraim wonders who could he watching him. As his suspicions turn to the grooms whose wedding he is planning, memories from his past come back to haunt him as Ephraim must decide if it is time to finally enact his darkest desires.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The latest form Eric LaRocca proves that even when he’s not exceptional, he’s still interesting.
This story follows a fastidious wedding planner, the delightfully named Ephriam Mayerling, who leads a dark double life as a fan of human executions and collector of murder memorabilia in his spare time. When he’s tasked with planning the wedding of an idyllic gay couple, the barrier between these two sides of himself begins to thin and shred with harrowing consequences.
I liked some aspects of Brute, but I felt it lacked the cohesion of LaRocca’s other works. Without giving away spoilers, the story too felt a little disjointed and rambling. LaRocca’s books usually have a unified and simple, if often disturbing, cohesion to them that was absent in this title.
I wish the author had leaned more into Ephriam’s identity as a wedding planner as a morbid outgrowth of his severe mental issues and dark tastes. There’s some work in that direction towards the beginning of the book but it’s never really used to its full potential. A tremendous shame since it’s one of the most interesting aspects of the story.
While I don’t regret my reading by any means, this book didn’t exactly grip or shock me in quite the way I've come to expect from this author.
The latest form Eric LaRocca proves that even when he’s not exceptional, he’s still interesting.
This story follows a fastidious wedding planner, the delightfully named Ephriam Mayerling, who leads a dark double life as a fan of human executions and collector of murder memorabilia in his spare time. When he’s tasked with planning the wedding of an idyllic gay couple, the barrier between these two sides of himself begins to thin and shred with harrowing consequences.
I liked some aspects of Brute, but I felt it lacked the cohesion of LaRocca’s other works. Without giving away spoilers, the story too felt a little disjointed and rambling. LaRocca’s books usually have a unified and simple, if often disturbing, cohesion to them that was absent in this title.
I wish the author had leaned more into Ephriam’s identity as a wedding planner as a morbid outgrowth of his severe mental issues and dark tastes. There’s some work in that direction towards the beginning of the book but it’s never really used to its full potential. A tremendous shame since it’s one of the most interesting aspects of the story.
While I don’t regret my reading by any means, this book didn’t exactly grip or shock me in quite the way I've come to expect from this author.
August 9, 2026
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner with dark fantasies. When he begins to plan his first gay wedding things begin to take a turn and he may not be able to leave his fantasies inside his head…
This was a very intriguing read! Ephraim was a character with a darkness living inside of him, he relished the suffering of others and craved being the one to cause it himself.
I enjoyed the mixture the story presented, there was a blend of past and present pieces along with online correspondence and media, it all painted an excellent picture of the type of character Ephraim was and set the reveal up very nicely.
Despite his darkness, Ephraim carried a lot of shame inside him too. His inner turmoil is painted well with the past sections referencing the short friendships he made, and how disconnected he was from his parents. In adulthood, Ephraim found a way to express his desires but when he learned his privacy was no longer safe, he slowly began to unravel.
The reveal at the end was predictable but satisfying, I don’t think there would have been a way to keep the mystery without the plot suffering. This was definitely on par with the style and material of LaRocca’s other books. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to arc read this!
This was a very intriguing read! Ephraim was a character with a darkness living inside of him, he relished the suffering of others and craved being the one to cause it himself.
I enjoyed the mixture the story presented, there was a blend of past and present pieces along with online correspondence and media, it all painted an excellent picture of the type of character Ephraim was and set the reveal up very nicely.
Despite his darkness, Ephraim carried a lot of shame inside him too. His inner turmoil is painted well with the past sections referencing the short friendships he made, and how disconnected he was from his parents. In adulthood, Ephraim found a way to express his desires but when he learned his privacy was no longer safe, he slowly began to unravel.
The reveal at the end was predictable but satisfying, I don’t think there would have been a way to keep the mystery without the plot suffering. This was definitely on par with the style and material of LaRocca’s other books. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to arc read this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Brute* is one of those books that I can appreciate, even if I don't think I was the ideal reader for every aspect of it. Eric LaRocca delivers a relentlessly dark, transgressive horror novel that never shies away from discomfort.
The pacing kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I flew through it because I genuinely needed to know where the story was headed. The horror is visceral, unsettling, and psychologically driven, creating an atmosphere that feels oppressive in the best way.
That said, I think the extremity of some of the content pushed the novel just beyond my personal comfort zone. That's less a criticism of the book than an acknowledgment of my own tastes.
If you're a fan of splatterpunk or horror that fully commits to exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche, I can absolutely see this being a standout read.
Even though it wasn't a perfect fit for me, I admire how uncompromising it is. *Brute* knows exactly what it wants to be and never pulls its punches. I suspect readers who gravitate toward transgressive horror will have a much stronger reaction than I did, and I'm excited to see what others think once it's released.
The pacing kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I flew through it because I genuinely needed to know where the story was headed. The horror is visceral, unsettling, and psychologically driven, creating an atmosphere that feels oppressive in the best way.
That said, I think the extremity of some of the content pushed the novel just beyond my personal comfort zone. That's less a criticism of the book than an acknowledgment of my own tastes.
If you're a fan of splatterpunk or horror that fully commits to exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche, I can absolutely see this being a standout read.
Even though it wasn't a perfect fit for me, I admire how uncompromising it is. *Brute* knows exactly what it wants to be and never pulls its punches. I suspect readers who gravitate toward transgressive horror will have a much stronger reaction than I did, and I'm excited to see what others think once it's released.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ephraim Mayerling is a wedding planner with a double life- he has an online following for his livestreams where he showcases dark artifacts. He has always had a fascination with dark and disturbed history and dreams of planning an execution. The book alternates between his past and present; from a budding attraction to violence and how it grew to his current wedding he’s planning for a gay couple. Many events between the past and present intertwine leading up to the big day that create a lot of twists and turns. I will say this book won’t be for everyone because it is dark. I found it completely different than anything else I’ve read and that’s why I found the story captivating. I had an idea of where it was all going and had to keep reading. I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Two words: Holy. Shit.
This one had me absolutely enraptured from page one. I know a lot of people find LaRocca's work to be too perverse or too violent but this one, for me, had the exaxt right amount of both, along with the perfect amout of emotion. It was so easy to both synpathize with and feel repulsed by the main character at the same time. His internal struggle comes across so completely. Each little piece of evidence, each chat conversation and each walk down the lane of Ephraim's memory clearly pulls you towards the explosive ending. I was absolutely speechless when I finished this book, except to message Eric and tell him it was one of the most brilliantly written things I have ever written. Wretch will always be my favorite, I think, but this one was barely behind. Completely perfect, no notes.
This one had me absolutely enraptured from page one. I know a lot of people find LaRocca's work to be too perverse or too violent but this one, for me, had the exaxt right amount of both, along with the perfect amout of emotion. It was so easy to both synpathize with and feel repulsed by the main character at the same time. His internal struggle comes across so completely. Each little piece of evidence, each chat conversation and each walk down the lane of Ephraim's memory clearly pulls you towards the explosive ending. I was absolutely speechless when I finished this book, except to message Eric and tell him it was one of the most brilliantly written things I have ever written. Wretch will always be my favorite, I think, but this one was barely behind. Completely perfect, no notes.
September 5, 2026
Brute is a suffocating horror novel that delves into the mind of Ephraim, a wedding planner with deranged ideologies and a sinister past. As he plans the wedding for a gay couple, he devises a separate menacing scheme to satiate his lust for blood.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It explores the disgusting and gruesome character that is Ephraim, and how he came to be the way that he is. The author does an excellent job conveying the thoughts of a very disturbed individual while balancing a plot that is able to both draw readers in and repel them simultaneously.
My thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It explores the disgusting and gruesome character that is Ephraim, and how he came to be the way that he is. The author does an excellent job conveying the thoughts of a very disturbed individual while balancing a plot that is able to both draw readers in and repel them simultaneously.
My thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have got to stop reading LaRocca's so early, because I always love them, then have to wait so long for the next one! I know I know what a problem to have.
But yall this was so good and well brutal..
Ephraim is a wedding planner and the best but odd..grest at planning weddings but a bidding underlying desire that is always there whispering, begging to come true, for him to plan a execution, what a grand party that would be.
I felt like as I read this and the book slowly cracked and spiraled, it was the same way Ephraim was feeling as he slowly lost control of his mind, it was jarring but added amazing layers to the story and a vibe I loved.
This was a roller coaster of chaos, gore, and things you might need to bleach from your brain, but in the best way possible.
Loved this, hate parties, I get it.
But yall this was so good and well brutal..
Ephraim is a wedding planner and the best but odd..grest at planning weddings but a bidding underlying desire that is always there whispering, begging to come true, for him to plan a execution, what a grand party that would be.
I felt like as I read this and the book slowly cracked and spiraled, it was the same way Ephraim was feeling as he slowly lost control of his mind, it was jarring but added amazing layers to the story and a vibe I loved.
This was a roller coaster of chaos, gore, and things you might need to bleach from your brain, but in the best way possible.
Loved this, hate parties, I get it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is Eric LaRocca’s best work so far. You can really see them maturing as a writer with every book they put out. Eric is very good at writing characters that are fleshed out, that you truly feel sympathy for, before utterly destroying them. That is where the horror comes from. This is splatterpunk for sure, but LaRocca doesn’t have to rely on intricate, grotesque descriptions of blood and gore like other splatterpunk authors do. He can conjure up a sense of dread just by pushing the level of depravity that the characters in the book have, to the absolute recesses of humanity. It’s a very effective book, with a twist you won’t see coming. Gives you deep-seated fear that will make you want to hug your kids.
September 14, 2026
I've enjoyed LaRocca's stand alones more than I have his connected stories to this point, and frankly, this knocks them all out of the park. We get the specific, private cruelty of our main character, a wedding planner, the voyeuristic/exhibitionist thrills of sharing weird, dark things with an audience online, a mysterious group that our main is dying to find out more about and enjoy, and the darkness and fascination of finding someone that might be just as fucked up as you online. Oh, and the ending twist is absolutely exquisite. This is a special one, and comes out next March. I highly recommend going and preordering this now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25/5
This cover really caught my eye (I do think there needs to be a bit more contrast within the suit because it took me a while to see it, but it looks so cool).
I liked this book better that Wretch (the other book I've read from this author). But I still wanted a bit more to it, more oomph.
This is such an interesting and unique kind of main character, but I wanted that dug into a bit more. I think that was something that had so much to it and had so much potential for opening up the story and motivations more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This cover really caught my eye (I do think there needs to be a bit more contrast within the suit because it took me a while to see it, but it looks so cool).
I liked this book better that Wretch (the other book I've read from this author). But I still wanted a bit more to it, more oomph.
This is such an interesting and unique kind of main character, but I wanted that dug into a bit more. I think that was something that had so much to it and had so much potential for opening up the story and motivations more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free e-copy of Brute by Eric LaRocca for review. Brute was a fantastic addition to the extreme horror LaRocca has been turning out lately. The novel almost feels like a slow descent into madness based on the rendering of main character Ephraim as he tries to straddle his overwhelming private obsessions with his day-to-day life and job. I was completely transfixed the entire time as I kept reading ahead to see how Ephraim would continue trying to balance all the desperate sides of his life.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was a great read and yet another example of why I keep coming back to LaRocca’s work! While the book was categorized as splatterpunk, I’m not entirely sure that’s where I’d personally place it. There are definitely disturbing and dark moments, but it doesn’t lean as heavily into the constant extreme depravity that I typically see and expect from the splatterpunk genre. I really enjoyed how the different timelines, storylines, and characters gradually connect by the end. The book introduces a lot of questions along the way, particularly surrounding the dark corners of the internet, the chat rooms, and the livestreams. I loved watching those pieces slowly fall into place, and I was especially satisfied that the story actually answered all the questions it raised. Overall, this was another great horror story by LaRocca!
Longer review on https://disturbinglywellread.tumblr.com/ <3
Longer review on https://disturbinglywellread.tumblr.com/ <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You’ve been cordially invited to the most… interesting wedding of the year🔪
Ephraim Mayerling is a queer wedding planner who gets to plan his first gay wedding! Behind closed doors, Ephraim is a different type of planner, and he is planning an execution. He notices his at home thoughts are starting to mesh with his wedding planning. His past comes back to haunt him and now a man is following him around town that knows about his secrets…
I got an early look at Brute and I demolished it in one sitting. Eric Larocca is one of my favorite authors and Brute did not disappoint. Another deep grief, messed up story of a queer man who fights between living a normal life and the disgusting world he lives behind his closed doors which includes the love of human execution. I loved watching the main character become more paranoid about who knows his secrets throughout the novel- even the ones from his childhood that made him who he is🖤 This is told between narration from the main character, instant messaging, and newspaper articles/investigative interviews.
Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for letting me read Brute early!
Ephraim Mayerling is a queer wedding planner who gets to plan his first gay wedding! Behind closed doors, Ephraim is a different type of planner, and he is planning an execution. He notices his at home thoughts are starting to mesh with his wedding planning. His past comes back to haunt him and now a man is following him around town that knows about his secrets…
I got an early look at Brute and I demolished it in one sitting. Eric Larocca is one of my favorite authors and Brute did not disappoint. Another deep grief, messed up story of a queer man who fights between living a normal life and the disgusting world he lives behind his closed doors which includes the love of human execution. I loved watching the main character become more paranoid about who knows his secrets throughout the novel- even the ones from his childhood that made him who he is🖤 This is told between narration from the main character, instant messaging, and newspaper articles/investigative interviews.
Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for letting me read Brute early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thanks to netgalley and saga press for a free arc of this title! deliciously dark and full of depravity, larocca continuously shows that he is a staple of the contemporary transgressive horror movement. the twists and turns in this one kept me on edge and the violence was done so artfully. however, there were a few moments where i felt like we were just a little too in ephraim's head and it got a little muddy. i did enjoy though!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Eric LaRocca, SagaPressBooks and Netgalley for this ARC of Brute. This book was hard to put down once it got going. The main character is a good mix of feeling sorry for him and hating him. This is really disturbing at parts but really interesting! Be prepared before going in that its very dark.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be “YIKES!” Even though the main character was a sociopath and loathsome (I feel that is one of the Authors favorite words)…somehow he made me feel sad and sorry for him! 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brutal. Visceral. Morbid and transgressive. More review to come! Wow what a book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews