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Starving Ghosts in Every Thread
Teddy has a secret....
She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.
Once an aspiring songwriter, Teddy now merely alternates between shifts at the local market and visits to the house of her eccentric neighbor, Mr. Ridley, for fresh scorpions to bring to her mother. It’s during one of her routine visits to Mr. Ridley’s subterranean grotto of exotic animals that Teddy meets an unusual young girl named Kiiara. Immediately enamored with one another, Teddy soon discovers that Kiiara is hiding a gruesome secret, too – a secret that will threaten to undo everything Teddy has ever known and loved, and violently touch all those who cross their path with disaster.
She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.
Once an aspiring songwriter, Teddy now merely alternates between shifts at the local market and visits to the house of her eccentric neighbor, Mr. Ridley, for fresh scorpions to bring to her mother. It’s during one of her routine visits to Mr. Ridley’s subterranean grotto of exotic animals that Teddy meets an unusual young girl named Kiiara. Immediately enamored with one another, Teddy soon discovers that Kiiara is hiding a gruesome secret, too – a secret that will threaten to undo everything Teddy has ever known and loved, and violently touch all those who cross their path with disaster.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2020
6 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
About the author
Eric LaRocca
53 books3,347 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 29, 2021
Oooh, this was so delightfully weird and unique and, at times, a little gross (in a good way).
January 10, 2021
Updated as now live on STORGY.
There is nothing out there quite like this book.
LaRocca has exploded onto the scene with his debut novella Starving Ghosts In Every Thread and for me I couldn’t be happier for him and the reading / horror community because there is so much more this guy has to offer and I understand more coming soon for us to dig our teeth into.
I have to say that when I started this book it took me a while to really get it, to find myself enraptured with what was playing out on the page – because I wasn’t expecting anything like what I found awaiting me – it is utterly stunning. LaRocca’s prose is mesmerising and beguiling and I think I was just taken aback because I never knew horror could be like this – this is something really, really special and I’m struggling to sum up exactly what that is!
The lyricism that LaRocca adds to his prose is nothing short of brilliant, each line seems to have been shaped by a master wordsmith, each sentence is a bountiful feast of poetic prose that sings from the page and each paragraph flows with an intrinsic beauty that smothers the reader in a blanket of shimmering brilliance. I can’t speak highly enough of the writing on offer here, it warms the soul whilst also stirring the mind into visualising the wonderful and eerie work from LaRocca’s pen.
I’ve not seen horror written this beautifully before and it shows that horror and the beauty of all things horrific can sit side by side with one another, it’s a cold embrace that seems matched perfectly. Every subtle thread (pardon the pun) of horror that creeps into this story lands with elegance and prowess – which showcases the skill of a seasoned professional and not something you’d think to find in a debut novella.
This book moved me in ways I wasn’t expecting, it has many moving parts and many allegories that are deftly handled by LaRocca, things such as sexuality, LGBTQ+, belonging, survival, grief and how guilt can chew you up and spit you out.
Our main protagonist Teddy lives in a small town in America, she’s working at a store and we soon discover that things are not quite what they seem, that Teddy is not what the world sees, there is something more about her, to her, and we soon discover that her very being is at war with itself.
As I said previous guilt is something that when it gets inside you, it can rot you from your very core, and that’s kind of what’s happening to Teddy. In an opening that had me wondering what the very hell I was reading we witness Teddy unravel, quite literally, her skin unfurls and these tendrils move off in search of something to appease this ache, this desire and constant hunger of her guilt, something to keep it sated and full. You see Teddy’s threads feast on emotions, not her’s but those of individuals that surround her, but her unwilling victims know nothing of the ghosts in her every thread that are ravenous and need to be fed.
Teddy is a wonderfully rendered character, there are so many layers to her that she’s just fully formed on the page, I really enjoyed taking this journey with her, residing in her life for the brief length of this novella. She’s got a deepness to her too, and this deepness caused my heart to ache, I read into this story a bit, let my mind wander with LaRocca’s fabulous prose / story and for me it seemed that the key to this story was more about the unsaid than it was the words that I was consuming.
There is an allegory here about acceptance, about being the person you were born to be and not the person the world screams and beats you into conforming to. There’s also that whole small town vibe, where being different is frowned upon, and the suffocation of oppression, with everyone knowing your business – and with Teddy they do, many of those in the story know of her guilt and of the thing that she did and how she’s tormented by it.
There is also the sexuality side of things, Teddy is almost hiding this from the world until a chance encounter with Kiiara – changes not only her outlook but the life she once knew. There is a scene with a rare beetle that enraptured me with its hidden meanings, LaRocca describes for this beetle to emerge from its previous form to the stunning specimen beneath this shell of a body it is going to be painful, it could kill it. This scene just spoke to me so much about LGBTQ+ issues, those of the community coming out, revealing to the world, family and friends the person that they’ve been hiding or scared to show – but it’s never going to be an easy ride, such is the bigoted view of people. I might be completely wrong, but that’s the allegory I took from this, that people can be mean and punishing sonofabitches to anything that dares to be different from their deluded world view.
It’s a fabulous story, one that is full of beauty and written with a lyricism that feels like you’re listening to classical music, something that is good for the soul.
There is horror here, there is pain here but it’s not like anything you’ve ever read before. I wouldn’t even class this as a horror story; the lyricism, the poetic language, the literary feel of it just propels this to a whole different level, I’d say even creating a genre of its own – what that genre would be called I have no idea, but it’s where tragedy and beauty reside and LaRocca is its bright shining light.
Starving Ghosts In Every Thread is a story of life, a story about struggle and of breaking free of the bonds that strangle, ripping off the clawing hands of guilt and relinquishing the grip of those hands, of shunning the voices that continue to scream that you’re no good. It’s about owning your guilt and shedding light on its darkness so the ghosts of guilt and grief have nothing to feast on.
LaRocca is a stunningly talented writer (and this is just his debut) and I honestly can’t wait to dive into more of his work – if you like your horror beautifully rendered, if you want your heart torn in two, if you want to see a beautiful and unique physical representation of guilt and grief and turmoil then look no further than this unique and damn right masterful offering.
Starving Ghosts In Every Thread will change you, if you let it!
There is nothing out there quite like this book.
LaRocca has exploded onto the scene with his debut novella Starving Ghosts In Every Thread and for me I couldn’t be happier for him and the reading / horror community because there is so much more this guy has to offer and I understand more coming soon for us to dig our teeth into.
I have to say that when I started this book it took me a while to really get it, to find myself enraptured with what was playing out on the page – because I wasn’t expecting anything like what I found awaiting me – it is utterly stunning. LaRocca’s prose is mesmerising and beguiling and I think I was just taken aback because I never knew horror could be like this – this is something really, really special and I’m struggling to sum up exactly what that is!
The lyricism that LaRocca adds to his prose is nothing short of brilliant, each line seems to have been shaped by a master wordsmith, each sentence is a bountiful feast of poetic prose that sings from the page and each paragraph flows with an intrinsic beauty that smothers the reader in a blanket of shimmering brilliance. I can’t speak highly enough of the writing on offer here, it warms the soul whilst also stirring the mind into visualising the wonderful and eerie work from LaRocca’s pen.
I’ve not seen horror written this beautifully before and it shows that horror and the beauty of all things horrific can sit side by side with one another, it’s a cold embrace that seems matched perfectly. Every subtle thread (pardon the pun) of horror that creeps into this story lands with elegance and prowess – which showcases the skill of a seasoned professional and not something you’d think to find in a debut novella.
This book moved me in ways I wasn’t expecting, it has many moving parts and many allegories that are deftly handled by LaRocca, things such as sexuality, LGBTQ+, belonging, survival, grief and how guilt can chew you up and spit you out.
Our main protagonist Teddy lives in a small town in America, she’s working at a store and we soon discover that things are not quite what they seem, that Teddy is not what the world sees, there is something more about her, to her, and we soon discover that her very being is at war with itself.
As I said previous guilt is something that when it gets inside you, it can rot you from your very core, and that’s kind of what’s happening to Teddy. In an opening that had me wondering what the very hell I was reading we witness Teddy unravel, quite literally, her skin unfurls and these tendrils move off in search of something to appease this ache, this desire and constant hunger of her guilt, something to keep it sated and full. You see Teddy’s threads feast on emotions, not her’s but those of individuals that surround her, but her unwilling victims know nothing of the ghosts in her every thread that are ravenous and need to be fed.
Teddy is a wonderfully rendered character, there are so many layers to her that she’s just fully formed on the page, I really enjoyed taking this journey with her, residing in her life for the brief length of this novella. She’s got a deepness to her too, and this deepness caused my heart to ache, I read into this story a bit, let my mind wander with LaRocca’s fabulous prose / story and for me it seemed that the key to this story was more about the unsaid than it was the words that I was consuming.
There is an allegory here about acceptance, about being the person you were born to be and not the person the world screams and beats you into conforming to. There’s also that whole small town vibe, where being different is frowned upon, and the suffocation of oppression, with everyone knowing your business – and with Teddy they do, many of those in the story know of her guilt and of the thing that she did and how she’s tormented by it.
There is also the sexuality side of things, Teddy is almost hiding this from the world until a chance encounter with Kiiara – changes not only her outlook but the life she once knew. There is a scene with a rare beetle that enraptured me with its hidden meanings, LaRocca describes for this beetle to emerge from its previous form to the stunning specimen beneath this shell of a body it is going to be painful, it could kill it. This scene just spoke to me so much about LGBTQ+ issues, those of the community coming out, revealing to the world, family and friends the person that they’ve been hiding or scared to show – but it’s never going to be an easy ride, such is the bigoted view of people. I might be completely wrong, but that’s the allegory I took from this, that people can be mean and punishing sonofabitches to anything that dares to be different from their deluded world view.
It’s a fabulous story, one that is full of beauty and written with a lyricism that feels like you’re listening to classical music, something that is good for the soul.
There is horror here, there is pain here but it’s not like anything you’ve ever read before. I wouldn’t even class this as a horror story; the lyricism, the poetic language, the literary feel of it just propels this to a whole different level, I’d say even creating a genre of its own – what that genre would be called I have no idea, but it’s where tragedy and beauty reside and LaRocca is its bright shining light.
Starving Ghosts In Every Thread is a story of life, a story about struggle and of breaking free of the bonds that strangle, ripping off the clawing hands of guilt and relinquishing the grip of those hands, of shunning the voices that continue to scream that you’re no good. It’s about owning your guilt and shedding light on its darkness so the ghosts of guilt and grief have nothing to feast on.
LaRocca is a stunningly talented writer (and this is just his debut) and I honestly can’t wait to dive into more of his work – if you like your horror beautifully rendered, if you want your heart torn in two, if you want to see a beautiful and unique physical representation of guilt and grief and turmoil then look no further than this unique and damn right masterful offering.
Starving Ghosts In Every Thread will change you, if you let it!
July 11, 2021
Well, this was quite unlike anything I've ever read. Unique. Tragic. Disturbing. All words that fit but somehow don't come close to describing the whole.
This beautifully crafted novella tells the story of Teddy, a young woman burdened by guilt, stuck in a small town and working a dead end job. Sounds pretty normal, yes? But Teddy's guilt causes her skin to unravel, and these tendrils search out human emotion to feed upon. I won't say any more but know that this whole story is so wonderfully twisted and raw in its exploration, and LaRocca leads you along this pathway with such precision it's easy to get lost in the narrative.
There are a lot of themes at play here; guilt, acceptance, kinship, compassion. This last for the creatures Teddy feels empathy for (there's a wonderful scene with a rare beetle which is so much more than it appears).
If you want something genuinely different with haunting prose, pick this one up now!
This beautifully crafted novella tells the story of Teddy, a young woman burdened by guilt, stuck in a small town and working a dead end job. Sounds pretty normal, yes? But Teddy's guilt causes her skin to unravel, and these tendrils search out human emotion to feed upon. I won't say any more but know that this whole story is so wonderfully twisted and raw in its exploration, and LaRocca leads you along this pathway with such precision it's easy to get lost in the narrative.
There are a lot of themes at play here; guilt, acceptance, kinship, compassion. This last for the creatures Teddy feels empathy for (there's a wonderful scene with a rare beetle which is so much more than it appears).
If you want something genuinely different with haunting prose, pick this one up now!
October 6, 2020
Title:
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread
Author: Eric LaRocca
Synopsis: Teddy has a secret.
She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.
Once an aspiring songwriter, Teddy now merely alternates between shifts at the local market and visits to the house of her eccentric neighbor, Mr. Ridley, for fresh scorpions to bring to her mother. It’s during one of her routine visits to Mr. Ridley’s subterranean grotto of exotic animals that Teddy meets an unusual young girl named Kiiara. Immediately enamored with one another, Teddy soon discovers that Kiiara is hiding a gruesome secret, too – a secret that will threaten to undo everything Teddy has ever known and loved, and violently touch all those who cross their path with disaster.
She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.
Once an aspiring songwriter, Teddy now merely alternates between shifts at the local market and visits to the house of her eccentric neighbor, Mr. Ridley, for fresh scorpions to bring to her mother. It’s during one of her routine visits to Mr. Ridley’s subterranean grotto of exotic animals that Teddy meets an unusual young girl named Kiiara. Immediately enamored with one another, Teddy soon discovers that Kiiara is hiding a gruesome secret, too – a secret that will threaten to undo everything Teddy has ever known and loved, and violently touch all those who cross their path with disaster.
Publisher: Self published
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publishing Date: April 27, 2020
This is the body horror novella I didn't know I needed in my life. Before I even opened the book (which is signed! Thank you Eric!) I had this imagery in my head of a fine bone thin hand with wisps of paper thin ribbons unraveling at the fingertips. I started searching the book and online to find out where I found this picture because I wanted to draw it myself. Matter of fact, I will next to this little scorpion sketch I did.
There is no picture, that was just the image I came up with by reading the synopsis. Yes I will draw it soon.
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread takes a Romeo and Juliet style romance, grief and body horror tropes and twists them into a lyrically beautiful painted picture of pain, beauty and the tragedy of it all. Teddy is the most perfect character and I hope she is someone you all can grow to love too. Her grief, her guilt, I felt that. I am impressed this is LaRocca's first trek into horror fiction and I can't wait to read some full length prose from him!
Oh! I almost forgot and its probably the most important note: the LGBT+ rep in this story is AMAZING! I want more representation in the stories/genres I already read.
Thank you to Eric LaRocca for a gifted copy of "Starving Ghosts in Every Thread" in exchange for a honest review.
January 13, 2021
This is a horror novella that has the most unique story I have ever read. The element surrounding the main character is absolutely nothing like I have ever read in a book before. Combined with the hauntingly beautiful prose of the author, this story was the most beautiful tragedy that left me with a wide range of emotions afterwards.
Even though Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is Eric LaRocca's debut novel, he is not new to the writing scene: he holds an MFA in Writing for Film and TV from Emerson College and has had multiple works published in both the United States and abroad.
This story focuses on a young adult woman, Teddy and her struggle with immense guilt that she carries for past actions. She is stuck in a small town where everyone is aware of what's she done, why she's still stuck there...and why she'll likely never leave.
Teddy has a chance encounter where she meets another young woman, Kiiara and the story is about the two and their resulting relationship and what transpires from secrets revealed from both characters.
It is so difficult not to write spoilers for this because it is such a beautiful and compelling story. I don't typically react to stories that I don't relate to personally, but the author just sucks you in with the beauty of his writing and just makes the feelings and emotions of the characters YOURS.
This is an author that I will be definitely keeping my eye on for future work! I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the is story and cannot wait to read more!
Even though Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is Eric LaRocca's debut novel, he is not new to the writing scene: he holds an MFA in Writing for Film and TV from Emerson College and has had multiple works published in both the United States and abroad.
This story focuses on a young adult woman, Teddy and her struggle with immense guilt that she carries for past actions. She is stuck in a small town where everyone is aware of what's she done, why she's still stuck there...and why she'll likely never leave.
Teddy has a chance encounter where she meets another young woman, Kiiara and the story is about the two and their resulting relationship and what transpires from secrets revealed from both characters.
It is so difficult not to write spoilers for this because it is such a beautiful and compelling story. I don't typically react to stories that I don't relate to personally, but the author just sucks you in with the beauty of his writing and just makes the feelings and emotions of the characters YOURS.
This is an author that I will be definitely keeping my eye on for future work! I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the is story and cannot wait to read more!
December 22, 2020
Review of “Starving Ghost in Every Thread by Eric LaRocca”
I finally read this amazing queer horror story and loved it! It touches on grief and bizarro horror. If grief could be fed on then my hunger has been satiated for now. I think this author has more grief up his sleeves to dish out and I’m ready for it!
Teddy has a secret. She is so overwhelmed with guilt for her father’s death that her body starts to unravel and feed. Her tendrils of flesh feed on other’s emotions but that hunger is growing.
“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞? 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭.”
This book threw me for a loop when I first started it. The writing is so beautiful and detailed that I became so absorbed by the imagery that I forgot what was going on in the story. While the writing is beautiful in its details, it hindered my enjoyment of the story a little. After the images were built in my mind, the story progressed quickly and I couldn’t stop reading it. I even wanted to have an emotional breakdown over a bug! That’s right. A BUG! *how in the hell* I think that is some brilliant talent right there. I gave this book 4 ⭐️. I honestly can’t wait to read what this author comes out with next!
I finally read this amazing queer horror story and loved it! It touches on grief and bizarro horror. If grief could be fed on then my hunger has been satiated for now. I think this author has more grief up his sleeves to dish out and I’m ready for it!
Teddy has a secret. She is so overwhelmed with guilt for her father’s death that her body starts to unravel and feed. Her tendrils of flesh feed on other’s emotions but that hunger is growing.
“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞? 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭.”
This book threw me for a loop when I first started it. The writing is so beautiful and detailed that I became so absorbed by the imagery that I forgot what was going on in the story. While the writing is beautiful in its details, it hindered my enjoyment of the story a little. After the images were built in my mind, the story progressed quickly and I couldn’t stop reading it. I even wanted to have an emotional breakdown over a bug! That’s right. A BUG! *how in the hell* I think that is some brilliant talent right there. I gave this book 4 ⭐️. I honestly can’t wait to read what this author comes out with next!
October 28, 2020
I have a problem. I really do not know how to articulate into words this review! I know, I know it sounds super dramatic, BUT Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is a compact work of art! The opening chapter had my mind running wild. The beautiful narrative, in its almost poetic monologue had me captured like a fish on a hook! Eric LaRocca has pushed the limits between horror and symbolism. I had the distinct feeling that I was reading one thing but LaRocca was inviting you to look further, to peel each disturbing layer back until you had the full story.
Our protagonist, Teddy is a girl that is dealing with so much. Her father, who seemed to be her rock has died, her mother is all kind of levels neurotic. A lot to deal with, right? That’s before we even examine her special gifts. Teddy feeds off the emotions of other people, be that anger, happiness, or depression…if she doesn’t her skin will unravel…Starving Ghosts in Every Thread teases an epic and quite intense plot. The title is starting to make a lot of sense, and LaRocca is going to leave nothing to chance.
With tropes of body horror, guilt and remorse and trauma. The characterisation is deep and dark, and it sets the tone perfectly for the tale ahead.
Eric LaRocca’s writing although dark feels so undeniably right and you know that no matter the trajectory of the plot, the author has your back. I think it’s a special thing to trust a new author so implicitly, especially within a few chapters. Let’s face it – we are flooded with so many amazing horror novels that it is extremely hard to stand out, but Starving Ghosts in Every Thread has done it, tenfold.
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread took me to my happy place. The characterisation is sharp, the plot is tighter than two coats of paint. This book was everything and more. Not only do we have an intriguing premise but the meaning behind it all (or at least what I perceived it to mean). The loosening threads reminded me of that disconnected feeling we get when we are depressed or sad. That darkness that we drown in, leading us to a place where we feel numb and would do anything to just feel, something. Teddy clings to human emotion to keep herself whole, to feel like she once did. It was clever and ingenious.
I just wanted more. More about her condition, more about the why behind her mothers’ state. The violence was perfect for the length of this novella, but I expect amazing things from Mr LaRocca in the future.
Our protagonist, Teddy is a girl that is dealing with so much. Her father, who seemed to be her rock has died, her mother is all kind of levels neurotic. A lot to deal with, right? That’s before we even examine her special gifts. Teddy feeds off the emotions of other people, be that anger, happiness, or depression…if she doesn’t her skin will unravel…Starving Ghosts in Every Thread teases an epic and quite intense plot. The title is starting to make a lot of sense, and LaRocca is going to leave nothing to chance.
With tropes of body horror, guilt and remorse and trauma. The characterisation is deep and dark, and it sets the tone perfectly for the tale ahead.
Eric LaRocca’s writing although dark feels so undeniably right and you know that no matter the trajectory of the plot, the author has your back. I think it’s a special thing to trust a new author so implicitly, especially within a few chapters. Let’s face it – we are flooded with so many amazing horror novels that it is extremely hard to stand out, but Starving Ghosts in Every Thread has done it, tenfold.
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread took me to my happy place. The characterisation is sharp, the plot is tighter than two coats of paint. This book was everything and more. Not only do we have an intriguing premise but the meaning behind it all (or at least what I perceived it to mean). The loosening threads reminded me of that disconnected feeling we get when we are depressed or sad. That darkness that we drown in, leading us to a place where we feel numb and would do anything to just feel, something. Teddy clings to human emotion to keep herself whole, to feel like she once did. It was clever and ingenious.
I just wanted more. More about her condition, more about the why behind her mothers’ state. The violence was perfect for the length of this novella, but I expect amazing things from Mr LaRocca in the future.
November 30, 2020
What The Flippity Heck!? JUST WHOA! Trippier than an Acid Trip.
I just really don't know how to rate this. Or even if I really liked it... I honestly don't think I even understood it, to be perfectly frank.
The writing is on point, you can absolutely sense the bizarre nature of the protagonists and their feelings. Plus it's an entirely unique premise.
About an hour and a half and currently free on amazon right now - so if you're into mind-bending horror, you might want to give it a go. Just let me know if you ever figure out what happened. lol.
I just really don't know how to rate this. Or even if I really liked it... I honestly don't think I even understood it, to be perfectly frank.
The writing is on point, you can absolutely sense the bizarre nature of the protagonists and their feelings. Plus it's an entirely unique premise.
About an hour and a half and currently free on amazon right now - so if you're into mind-bending horror, you might want to give it a go. Just let me know if you ever figure out what happened. lol.
March 27, 2021
Review to come!
November 11, 2020
Genre: Adult | Fiction | Dark | Horror | Novella
5 out of 5 stars!
Perfect blend of eerie and emotional…disturbing yet poetic!
An absolute beautiful piece!
Eric shows his raw talents within these pages. Each and every one of your senses will be at an all time high with his impeccable writing. I thoroughly enjoy a read where it’s almost as if I can smell, touch, feel everything around me but I have never come across something quite like this.
The whole concept of this novella is insane, unlike anything I have read before. You can feel Eric’s emotions seeping through the pages!
Teddy is such an adored and powerful character! Mourning the passing of her father, suffering with her unique ability and fighting her own inner demons. Yet no matter how scarred her life is or how traumatized her family is nothing can alter her unconditional love for her Mother and her Mother’s love for her.
In comes Kiiara to stir up the story, honestly Eric went a complete different direction with this character than I expected. Keeping me completely obsessed!
It has taken me days to mull over this read and yet I still don’t know if I have all my thoughts together. I am wowed yet confused all at the same time, in the best way possible. I want more!…I need more!
I can’t believe Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is Eric’s debut novel.
Thank you so much Eric for sending me a copy to read and review. I am absolutely a dedicated fan and can’t wait to read more of your spellbinding work.
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: April 27, 2020
And of course thank you all for reading
Your UNRAVELLED Book Worm
-Nichole
You can check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/JOwEO3hW-9o
5 out of 5 stars!
Perfect blend of eerie and emotional…disturbing yet poetic!
An absolute beautiful piece!
Eric shows his raw talents within these pages. Each and every one of your senses will be at an all time high with his impeccable writing. I thoroughly enjoy a read where it’s almost as if I can smell, touch, feel everything around me but I have never come across something quite like this.
The whole concept of this novella is insane, unlike anything I have read before. You can feel Eric’s emotions seeping through the pages!
Teddy is such an adored and powerful character! Mourning the passing of her father, suffering with her unique ability and fighting her own inner demons. Yet no matter how scarred her life is or how traumatized her family is nothing can alter her unconditional love for her Mother and her Mother’s love for her.
In comes Kiiara to stir up the story, honestly Eric went a complete different direction with this character than I expected. Keeping me completely obsessed!
It has taken me days to mull over this read and yet I still don’t know if I have all my thoughts together. I am wowed yet confused all at the same time, in the best way possible. I want more!…I need more!
I can’t believe Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is Eric’s debut novel.
Thank you so much Eric for sending me a copy to read and review. I am absolutely a dedicated fan and can’t wait to read more of your spellbinding work.
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: April 27, 2020
And of course thank you all for reading
Your UNRAVELLED Book Worm
-Nichole
You can check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/JOwEO3hW-9o
July 9, 2020
Coming in at only 92 pages, this tale is perfect to read it one setting. And while it may be on the short side, don't worry because it sure packs a punch.
Teddy is our MC and she suffers from a condition where she must feed on emotions or risk of her skin unraveling from her body leaving her extremely vulnerable. She lives with her mother is an odd individual herself who is in constant need of scorpion venom to wash a place on her arm. Is it wrong that I felt badly for the little scorpions? Anyway, one day Teddy meets Kiiara dn while she things she may have found a true soulmate, she soon discovers some individuals harbor secrets much worse than her's.
I immediately liked Teddy. I could feel her daily struggle to do what she knows is wrong, but what she has to do in order to survive. Teddy truly has a haunted soul. She misses her father, who died several years back, and misses the opportunities which she once had but which due to her condition and some other extenuating circumstances, also faded away. Despite Teddy's condition, in my opinion, Teddy has heart. She feels a connection to Mr. Ridley's exotic pets and worries about their treatment.
I don't want to give too much away but I if you are a fan of body horror, then look no further. I really enjoyed Starving Ghosts in Every Thread and I will be keeping an eye on this author in the future.
I received a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts were no influenced by that whatsoever.
Teddy is our MC and she suffers from a condition where she must feed on emotions or risk of her skin unraveling from her body leaving her extremely vulnerable. She lives with her mother is an odd individual herself who is in constant need of scorpion venom to wash a place on her arm. Is it wrong that I felt badly for the little scorpions? Anyway, one day Teddy meets Kiiara dn while she things she may have found a true soulmate, she soon discovers some individuals harbor secrets much worse than her's.
I immediately liked Teddy. I could feel her daily struggle to do what she knows is wrong, but what she has to do in order to survive. Teddy truly has a haunted soul. She misses her father, who died several years back, and misses the opportunities which she once had but which due to her condition and some other extenuating circumstances, also faded away. Despite Teddy's condition, in my opinion, Teddy has heart. She feels a connection to Mr. Ridley's exotic pets and worries about their treatment.
I don't want to give too much away but I if you are a fan of body horror, then look no further. I really enjoyed Starving Ghosts in Every Thread and I will be keeping an eye on this author in the future.
I received a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts were no influenced by that whatsoever.
October 1, 2020
I read this novella a couple of weeks ago and am still not exactly sure how to explain it.
It was a very very different type of horror story and really didn't have anything to do with ghosts. It was more like a paranormal...characters that have abilities type of story.
I don't want to say that I didn't like the book. It was well written and unique. I think it was just really different and I don't know what to make of that. I can almost see this story as being one that is later praised for being cutting edge, so I will definitely reserve any harsh judgement.
I received this novella in exchange for an honest review. I would say that if you are looking for something completely outside the box and unique, definitely give this book a try.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
It was a very very different type of horror story and really didn't have anything to do with ghosts. It was more like a paranormal...characters that have abilities type of story.
I don't want to say that I didn't like the book. It was well written and unique. I think it was just really different and I don't know what to make of that. I can almost see this story as being one that is later praised for being cutting edge, so I will definitely reserve any harsh judgement.
I received this novella in exchange for an honest review. I would say that if you are looking for something completely outside the box and unique, definitely give this book a try.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
October 17, 2021
I came to this book having first encountered Eric's fantastic "Things have gotten worse...", and also his latest short in the "Weretales, a shapeshifter anthology". Given that those two stories were great, I snatched "Starving ghosts..." up, and it took a while before I could fit it in, but I was really looking forward to it.
After reading it, I had to take time out before writing my review, because this book created a dilemma for me. Eric’s debut novella, the book that launched his fantastically unique voice onto the horror scene – didn’t quite work for me. Eric’s voice, his prose, his storytelling style – all of the core elements to the book, worked – absolutely. You can see the wonderful voice already, it is totally readable. But the story didn’t work for me.
To explain that a little more succinctly: The plot of this book and its paranormal/supernatural elements, did not live up to their own logic. The world-building that Eric has invested in, does not follow its own rules. Abilities and “gifts” the characters have been given, are used arbitrarily and are then not used in crucial moments in the story.
Teddy, a character overwhelmed with guilt from an event that happened previously in her life, has a metaphorical shedding of her guilt happen as a real physical event. Her skin (what she thinks of as threads) peels off her like rope, leaving bone and tissue, and blood freely open to the world. This phenomenon is not visible to most people (hinting it is a psychological psychosis/ Internal hallucination), unless the onlooker has also been a victim of Teddy having “fed” on their emotions – another paranormal “ability” of Teddy. For whatever reason, she can see the emotions of people as a physical cloud that is dispensed from people’s heads, from which her threads “eat” (One assumes that the victims of this are also “unaware” of this feeding – they do not see her do it). Once a person has had Teddy eat their emotions, however, they can then see the physical manifestation of her skin threads unraveling.
Now, this may all be a metaphorical example of guilt and its long-reaching effects on other people’s lives, and how a person destroyed by guilt is hypersensitive to other people’s unspoken thoughts and opinions. It might also be an allegory of psychological abuse, mob mentality, and guilt shaming. I don’t know, I’m not going to try to psychoanalyze something as an uneducated (in that field) commentator. I liked the visual imagery here, but couldn’t come to accept the basis behind it. If guilt can manifest as a physical trait (skin sloughing off your body) then the reasoning is that other emotions must also manifest, in other people. Unless Teddy is the chosen one, which we find out, she is not.
Teddy meets another girl, Kiiara (who has no visible emotions, so Teddy could not feed off her, even if she wanted to), whilst obtaining a rare animal, to help treat Teddy’s mother. Her mother, overcome with her own guilt for inciting the incident Teddy feels so much guilt over, has decided that the only way to cure that guilt is through scorpion venom (ok?). As luck would have it, their next-door neighbor is a rare animal and insect handler. Whilst at the neighbor’s “shop”, the two girls meet and connect, and Teddy goes to Kiarra’s house and emotions rise and the two sleep together, and Kiiara “gifts” Teddy her own ability (she can gift her own ability to others) – which is that she can manipulate physical mass. She can look at someone and change the way their skin and muscles and everything fit together, like play-do.
The aforementioned ability took me right back to Neil Gaiman's Sandman, the one episode with Ra the sun god, reforming a follower into a lump of clay. The difference is that Ra reached down and grabbed her. Kiiara (and now Teddy) can re-mold people at will. All well and good – but then Kiiara decides that she wants to rob the animal handler and grab some expensive animals/insects. And they do this by breaking into the house, where they are discovered, and both of the MCs abstain from using their powers at all. Instead of incapacitating him by, say, removing his arms and legs and making him a potato man, or a brick, or in fact, anything, Kiiara (who has had her ability for much longer) attacks the man, beating him senseless, which is a lot riskier, I think than just using her power. At which point, Teddy attacks Kiiara with her threads, and both of them do not use Kiiara’s ability, Kiiara instead succumbing to Teddy’s threads, which are visible to Kiiara even though Teddy has not fed off her, as clarified earlier.
There are, for me, issues. Read as a straight-up “physical manifestation”, and not reading anything into it (that the threads are guilt, the mass manipulation “wishes”), the rules are ignored when it suits the story. Elements such as the handler being the neighbor, seem to be too convenient. The whole story thread of needing scorpion blood is bizarre, and seems to be there purely as a way to bring the two girls together, and give them something to covert (the animals). Teddy has an affinity to all animals – the scorpions do not bite her – another ability that is never explained.
For me, there’s too much here that didn’t gel. Eric’s writing saves the day. Absolutely. His voice, his flare, his eminently readable prose, you can’t ignore it. It turns this into something you want to work. The ideas behind this story are fantastic, the imagination limitless, the visuals outstanding. But the logic… There are too many things to look back on and wonder – why?
This is a three ⭐ read for me. I liked it, but I have no idea what I just read.
After reading it, I had to take time out before writing my review, because this book created a dilemma for me. Eric’s debut novella, the book that launched his fantastically unique voice onto the horror scene – didn’t quite work for me. Eric’s voice, his prose, his storytelling style – all of the core elements to the book, worked – absolutely. You can see the wonderful voice already, it is totally readable. But the story didn’t work for me.
To explain that a little more succinctly: The plot of this book and its paranormal/supernatural elements, did not live up to their own logic. The world-building that Eric has invested in, does not follow its own rules. Abilities and “gifts” the characters have been given, are used arbitrarily and are then not used in crucial moments in the story.
Teddy, a character overwhelmed with guilt from an event that happened previously in her life, has a metaphorical shedding of her guilt happen as a real physical event. Her skin (what she thinks of as threads) peels off her like rope, leaving bone and tissue, and blood freely open to the world. This phenomenon is not visible to most people (hinting it is a psychological psychosis/ Internal hallucination), unless the onlooker has also been a victim of Teddy having “fed” on their emotions – another paranormal “ability” of Teddy. For whatever reason, she can see the emotions of people as a physical cloud that is dispensed from people’s heads, from which her threads “eat” (One assumes that the victims of this are also “unaware” of this feeding – they do not see her do it). Once a person has had Teddy eat their emotions, however, they can then see the physical manifestation of her skin threads unraveling.
Now, this may all be a metaphorical example of guilt and its long-reaching effects on other people’s lives, and how a person destroyed by guilt is hypersensitive to other people’s unspoken thoughts and opinions. It might also be an allegory of psychological abuse, mob mentality, and guilt shaming. I don’t know, I’m not going to try to psychoanalyze something as an uneducated (in that field) commentator. I liked the visual imagery here, but couldn’t come to accept the basis behind it. If guilt can manifest as a physical trait (skin sloughing off your body) then the reasoning is that other emotions must also manifest, in other people. Unless Teddy is the chosen one, which we find out, she is not.
Teddy meets another girl, Kiiara (who has no visible emotions, so Teddy could not feed off her, even if she wanted to), whilst obtaining a rare animal, to help treat Teddy’s mother. Her mother, overcome with her own guilt for inciting the incident Teddy feels so much guilt over, has decided that the only way to cure that guilt is through scorpion venom (ok?). As luck would have it, their next-door neighbor is a rare animal and insect handler. Whilst at the neighbor’s “shop”, the two girls meet and connect, and Teddy goes to Kiarra’s house and emotions rise and the two sleep together, and Kiiara “gifts” Teddy her own ability (she can gift her own ability to others) – which is that she can manipulate physical mass. She can look at someone and change the way their skin and muscles and everything fit together, like play-do.
The aforementioned ability took me right back to Neil Gaiman's Sandman, the one episode with Ra the sun god, reforming a follower into a lump of clay. The difference is that Ra reached down and grabbed her. Kiiara (and now Teddy) can re-mold people at will. All well and good – but then Kiiara decides that she wants to rob the animal handler and grab some expensive animals/insects. And they do this by breaking into the house, where they are discovered, and both of the MCs abstain from using their powers at all. Instead of incapacitating him by, say, removing his arms and legs and making him a potato man, or a brick, or in fact, anything, Kiiara (who has had her ability for much longer) attacks the man, beating him senseless, which is a lot riskier, I think than just using her power. At which point, Teddy attacks Kiiara with her threads, and both of them do not use Kiiara’s ability, Kiiara instead succumbing to Teddy’s threads, which are visible to Kiiara even though Teddy has not fed off her, as clarified earlier.
There are, for me, issues. Read as a straight-up “physical manifestation”, and not reading anything into it (that the threads are guilt, the mass manipulation “wishes”), the rules are ignored when it suits the story. Elements such as the handler being the neighbor, seem to be too convenient. The whole story thread of needing scorpion blood is bizarre, and seems to be there purely as a way to bring the two girls together, and give them something to covert (the animals). Teddy has an affinity to all animals – the scorpions do not bite her – another ability that is never explained.
For me, there’s too much here that didn’t gel. Eric’s writing saves the day. Absolutely. His voice, his flare, his eminently readable prose, you can’t ignore it. It turns this into something you want to work. The ideas behind this story are fantastic, the imagination limitless, the visuals outstanding. But the logic… There are too many things to look back on and wonder – why?
This is a three ⭐ read for me. I liked it, but I have no idea what I just read.
November 10, 2020
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is a haunting and beautiful debut novella from Eric LaRocca. When the story begins, I will admit I was slightly confused. But as we read more we inevitably learn what is happening. Teddy is our main character and has a secret... and she is so full of guilt that she develops this parasitic condition where her body unravels, and continues doing so, until she feeds off the emotions of others. Her father is dead. Teddy's mother is definitely not in a great state mentally... and Teddy feeds from her emotions most frequently causing her mother to develop this belief that scorpion venom will cure the "wounds" / skin condition that Teddy has caused. Her neighbor just happens to be a scorpion and exotic bug/creature dealer (possibly part-time con man but I still liked him a whole lot). While going to purchase a new scorpion, Teddy meets another interesting girl, Kiiara, and she has her own secret, too. How the rest of the story unfolds and all the details and scenes between, however, you are going to have to find out on your own! And trust me--- you definitely want to find out!
This novella is only ~90 pages but packs SUCH a punch not to soon be forgotten. Fans of body horror, grief, identity, and trauma will absolutely add this to a favorites list. To see a character's emotional pain and turmoil physically manifest into this parasitic condition is such a brilliant and unique plot that I'll be thinking about it for quite some time. And for any newbie to this subgenre of horror this will make a great introduction. LaRocca's style of writing and word choice is dark and beautiful. I cannot wait for more haunting works from this author!
This novella is only ~90 pages but packs SUCH a punch not to soon be forgotten. Fans of body horror, grief, identity, and trauma will absolutely add this to a favorites list. To see a character's emotional pain and turmoil physically manifest into this parasitic condition is such a brilliant and unique plot that I'll be thinking about it for quite some time. And for any newbie to this subgenre of horror this will make a great introduction. LaRocca's style of writing and word choice is dark and beautiful. I cannot wait for more haunting works from this author!
November 20, 2020
There's always a decision you wish you hadn't made. One there's no coming back from. Your life’s course altered forever, but what if that wasn't all? What if your body physiology changed too? That's the situation Teddy finds herself in.
Eric LaRocca paints a portrait of guilt that asks the questions- what is Teddy willing to do to survive? What is she willing to do to live? Is she willing to recognize the difference? There's a profound sadness throughout the story, which I realize sounds like a downer, but this elegantly written tale was a joy to read. Chances are if you've ever regretted anything in your life, you'll find a way to relate to Teddy in some way. I still live in the town I grew up in and was able to see a little of myself in her.
The way Teddy's condition is described is body horror of the highest order, yet the way it's handled also bestows a certain beauty to it. It's not something I expected, but was a welcome surprise as everything unfolded. There are some truly horrifying things that take place, but they're described so poetically that while I was picturing these terrible things happening in my head, I was also left with a sense of wonder.
This isn't really a complaint because I loved the speed this story moved along, but it felt like there was little more here originally, like there were some scenes that got left on the cutting room floor. More about some of the other characters besides Teddy perhaps...then again, that may have have changed the pace too much and bogged things down too.
With this debut running a brisk 89 pages, I don't want to say too much more about it other than you should this. I'd also suggest not reading the back of the book (it says a lot) or too much about it elsewhere before diving in. I went in almost blind, and as the questions I had were answered, they felt like discoveries as opposed to things I was waiting to happen.
This was a fantastic read I highly recommend and I can't wait for Eric's next collection when it comes out next year.
* I was sent a physical copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Eric LaRocca paints a portrait of guilt that asks the questions- what is Teddy willing to do to survive? What is she willing to do to live? Is she willing to recognize the difference? There's a profound sadness throughout the story, which I realize sounds like a downer, but this elegantly written tale was a joy to read. Chances are if you've ever regretted anything in your life, you'll find a way to relate to Teddy in some way. I still live in the town I grew up in and was able to see a little of myself in her.
The way Teddy's condition is described is body horror of the highest order, yet the way it's handled also bestows a certain beauty to it. It's not something I expected, but was a welcome surprise as everything unfolded. There are some truly horrifying things that take place, but they're described so poetically that while I was picturing these terrible things happening in my head, I was also left with a sense of wonder.
This isn't really a complaint because I loved the speed this story moved along, but it felt like there was little more here originally, like there were some scenes that got left on the cutting room floor. More about some of the other characters besides Teddy perhaps...then again, that may have have changed the pace too much and bogged things down too.
With this debut running a brisk 89 pages, I don't want to say too much more about it other than you should this. I'd also suggest not reading the back of the book (it says a lot) or too much about it elsewhere before diving in. I went in almost blind, and as the questions I had were answered, they felt like discoveries as opposed to things I was waiting to happen.
This was a fantastic read I highly recommend and I can't wait for Eric's next collection when it comes out next year.
* I was sent a physical copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2023
I’ve already read and enjoyed a couple of Eric La Rocca’s novels before I came to this novella, which I believe is his debut. I don’t think I need to outline the plot as there is already an extensive précis of the story on Goodreads.
This a wholly engrossing story which truly grabbed me from the start but which I’m finding difficult to review without giving too much away. Although I questioned the validity of Teddy and her mother’s ‘conditions’ they obviously feel very real to both of the characters but despite that, Teddy and Kiiara’s actions are very real and have potentially fatal consequences. The ‘horror’ contained in the story is both psychological as well as physical, due to the violence involved. This story may not be as innovative as La Rocca’s subsequent stories but as a debut it is still highly original and doesn’t have to rely on the well worn tropes of the genre.
I’m still catching up with the rest of La Rocca’s work and I’m also looking forward to his short story collection which is due for publication soon.
This a wholly engrossing story which truly grabbed me from the start but which I’m finding difficult to review without giving too much away. Although I questioned the validity of Teddy and her mother’s ‘conditions’ they obviously feel very real to both of the characters but despite that, Teddy and Kiiara’s actions are very real and have potentially fatal consequences. The ‘horror’ contained in the story is both psychological as well as physical, due to the violence involved. This story may not be as innovative as La Rocca’s subsequent stories but as a debut it is still highly original and doesn’t have to rely on the well worn tropes of the genre.
I’m still catching up with the rest of La Rocca’s work and I’m also looking forward to his short story collection which is due for publication soon.
December 10, 2020
This is body horror story with a unique premise! I was immediately intrigued by Teddy. Her condition looks just as horrifying as it sounds, and it made for some arresting images. Teddy is someone special and I wanted for her to find her own place in a world that makes her feel like an outsider. The writing is intricate and woven with hidden meanings. I liked how grief, shame and guilt just shimmer under the surface of every interaction. I also liked all the descriptions of the animals and insects Teddy meets.
My only issue is that I wanted more of the story! I would love to know more about Teddy's condition and if the world is filled with people like her. I also wish there's a clearer conclusion. But I enjoyed this novella. It's a great little gem of a debut.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
My only issue is that I wanted more of the story! I would love to know more about Teddy's condition and if the world is filled with people like her. I also wish there's a clearer conclusion. But I enjoyed this novella. It's a great little gem of a debut.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
December 31, 2020
The writing alone makes this a five star read. Even when the story got a little lost on me it didn't matter.
This is one of those books that I could easily return to and read again.
It's in a class of it's own.
Buy it now.
This is one of those books that I could easily return to and read again.
It's in a class of it's own.
Buy it now.
October 13, 2020
Wow, what a story! Beautifully written with disturbing imagery and a protagonist I really sympathized with. It has tropes of body horror, guilt, and trauma but they are presented in a very interesting and unique way. Like I can’t stop thinking about this girl whose sentient slivers of skin are constantly trying to escape off her body. It’s horrifying yet captivating at the same time.
Our protagonist Teddy is dealing with a lot. Her father is dead, her mother is neurotic, and she has a guilty secret that is literally causing her body to unravel. Oh and she has a parasitic condition where she feeds off the emotions of others (also literally).
It’s such an engaging premise, but beyond that it’s also interesting story of identity, secrecy, and human connection with twists and turns I did not expect. My only real complaint is that I wanted more! More about these characters, more insight into Teddy’s condition, and more about what’s going on with her mother. But at 86 pages it’s a debut that is certainly worth your time, and I’m very excited to see what comes next from this author!
Thank you to author @ejlarocca for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Our protagonist Teddy is dealing with a lot. Her father is dead, her mother is neurotic, and she has a guilty secret that is literally causing her body to unravel. Oh and she has a parasitic condition where she feeds off the emotions of others (also literally).
It’s such an engaging premise, but beyond that it’s also interesting story of identity, secrecy, and human connection with twists and turns I did not expect. My only real complaint is that I wanted more! More about these characters, more insight into Teddy’s condition, and more about what’s going on with her mother. But at 86 pages it’s a debut that is certainly worth your time, and I’m very excited to see what comes next from this author!
Thank you to author @ejlarocca for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 5, 2020
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this debut horror novella. It grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very end. I did not expect the ending at all! The author did a great job of keeping the pages turning the whole time. While short, 89 pages, it gets everything onto its pages very neatly. I’m very impressed by the debut and look forward to what else he has to offer in the future.
*I received a copy of the book for an honest review.*
I really enjoyed this debut horror novella. It grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very end. I did not expect the ending at all! The author did a great job of keeping the pages turning the whole time. While short, 89 pages, it gets everything onto its pages very neatly. I’m very impressed by the debut and look forward to what else he has to offer in the future.
*I received a copy of the book for an honest review.*
August 25, 2020
Starving Ghosts In Every Thread is a stunning debut horror novella by Eric LaRocca. Filled with a deep sense of guilt and various secrets, sprinkled with violence and heartbreak, this tale will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When I saw the cover of this one, I was immediately intrigued. I mean, how amazing is that cover?! I love the trees and how they fade out toward the top of the cover while the two trees in the foreground and black of the ground really draw the eye to the center where the girl is standing. Then of course the bright red title text that has bits of darkness splattered or blurred onto it gives it even more of an eerie vibe!
Eric and I connected on Twitter and when Eric reached out to ask if I would like a review copy, I was thrilled! I dove into the book just as soon as I had finished up the book I had been reading when this one arrived in the mail.
My goodness. In just the first couple of pages, I was totally hooked! I was so curious to learn more about the main character, Teddy, but I also found myself feeling very protective of her right from the first chapter.
As the story continued, I couldn’t help but feel more and more protective of Teddy. It was clear that she was suffering through the guilt of something as well as the loss of her father, and that the affects of these two strong emotions were holding her back. But not only were these things weighing her down, they were also causing her to have physical reactions.
And what was that physical reaction? Well, Teddy’s Teddy’s skin would randomly begin to unravel from her body, a fact that I was equally horrified and enthralled by.
I loved that this physical element wasn’t fully explained to the reader as it left a wonderfully mysterious element up to us to dwell on long after the book ends.
The situations that Teddy found herself in the middle of in a span of just 89 pages was wicked intense! One particular scene that was set in a basement had me reading as fast as I could to see what would happen next.
This one is going to stick with me for a very long time! It’s definitely one I will be returning to time and time again.
My Favorite Passages
The skin tightens about me so terribly that I wonder if my bones might leap out of my human suit.
The thought abandons me as suddenly as it arrives, her kiss draining my mouth of all words.
Darkness has its fingers about me, dragging me with it. But, the thought does not upset me as I thought it might.
My Final Thoughts
An all around wonderful novella. I cannot wait to see what Eric writes next!
If you’re a fan of light body horror and tales with wonderful characters, then I highly recommend picking this one up when you have time to read it cover to cover. It was spooky and bizarre, and it had intense action scenes, all of which are right up my alley! It also also totally broke me.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When I saw the cover of this one, I was immediately intrigued. I mean, how amazing is that cover?! I love the trees and how they fade out toward the top of the cover while the two trees in the foreground and black of the ground really draw the eye to the center where the girl is standing. Then of course the bright red title text that has bits of darkness splattered or blurred onto it gives it even more of an eerie vibe!
Eric and I connected on Twitter and when Eric reached out to ask if I would like a review copy, I was thrilled! I dove into the book just as soon as I had finished up the book I had been reading when this one arrived in the mail.
My goodness. In just the first couple of pages, I was totally hooked! I was so curious to learn more about the main character, Teddy, but I also found myself feeling very protective of her right from the first chapter.
As the story continued, I couldn’t help but feel more and more protective of Teddy. It was clear that she was suffering through the guilt of something as well as the loss of her father, and that the affects of these two strong emotions were holding her back. But not only were these things weighing her down, they were also causing her to have physical reactions.
And what was that physical reaction? Well, Teddy’s Teddy’s skin would randomly begin to unravel from her body, a fact that I was equally horrified and enthralled by.
I loved that this physical element wasn’t fully explained to the reader as it left a wonderfully mysterious element up to us to dwell on long after the book ends.
The situations that Teddy found herself in the middle of in a span of just 89 pages was wicked intense! One particular scene that was set in a basement had me reading as fast as I could to see what would happen next.
This one is going to stick with me for a very long time! It’s definitely one I will be returning to time and time again.
My Favorite Passages
The skin tightens about me so terribly that I wonder if my bones might leap out of my human suit.
The thought abandons me as suddenly as it arrives, her kiss draining my mouth of all words.
Darkness has its fingers about me, dragging me with it. But, the thought does not upset me as I thought it might.
My Final Thoughts
An all around wonderful novella. I cannot wait to see what Eric writes next!
If you’re a fan of light body horror and tales with wonderful characters, then I highly recommend picking this one up when you have time to read it cover to cover. It was spooky and bizarre, and it had intense action scenes, all of which are right up my alley! It also also totally broke me.
December 5, 2020
I've had my eye on this book for a while because I really like the cover and the synopsis sounded interesting.
Teddy has a shitty job and even shittier life. She's stuck in a small town and also has a strange condition that demands a bizarre price. Her mother also has her own set of problems. But after meeting Kiiara, everything changes...
Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me. It took me a while to get the imagery right in my mind, and when I did I found the concept dark enough to intrigue me. But the more I read, the less I enjoyed what was going on. Especially when Teddy meets Kiiara and gets caught up in a bunch of situations I couldn't get into.
Actually, I almost DNFd this novella a few times. I only stuck around because I was hoping it would get better, but for me it didn't.
The writing style was nice, though.
Teddy has a shitty job and even shittier life. She's stuck in a small town and also has a strange condition that demands a bizarre price. Her mother also has her own set of problems. But after meeting Kiiara, everything changes...
Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me. It took me a while to get the imagery right in my mind, and when I did I found the concept dark enough to intrigue me. But the more I read, the less I enjoyed what was going on. Especially when Teddy meets Kiiara and gets caught up in a bunch of situations I couldn't get into.
Actually, I almost DNFd this novella a few times. I only stuck around because I was hoping it would get better, but for me it didn't.
The writing style was nice, though.
January 22, 2021
I saw this novella everywhere in 2020, it seemed. I’d also heard LaRocca was a writer to watch, this being an impressive debut. Now that I’ve read Starving Ghosts in Every Thread, I can see why.
LaRocca has a darkly poetic way to his writing. Think Sara Tantlinger crossing Kealan Patrick Burke. This particular story has a unique concept behind it; one that is strange, yet delivered in a casual way.
“Teddy has a secret....She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.”
Honestly, it confused me a little - I really wasn’t sure what to make of Teddy’s “woes” or how they worked through her or the where/when/how of the condition - but it was intriguing and compelling, nevertheless. I also was a little hung up on Kiiara’s gift, which felt a little forced and pointless in the grand scheme of things. Otherwise, the story presented here had me hooked. I just wanted there to be more; more explanation, more depth, more to the story.
LaRocca has easily cemented himself on my to-watch list with Starving Ghosts in Every Thread, so you can bet I’ll follow up with his new book when it releases soon.
***
Highlights: Excellent writing, poetic and dark … interesting concept, unique … exciting finale
Shadows: Teddy’s “condition” is a little underdeveloped, leaving questions to be asked … Kiiara’s own gift doesn’t feel like it should have ever been revealed or used in the story
FFO: Ghostly quick bites of fiction … unique horror stories … poetic writing styles
Takeaway: Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is just as compelling as it is unique and disquieting. LaRocca has a skillful writing style that is difficult to match.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
LaRocca has a darkly poetic way to his writing. Think Sara Tantlinger crossing Kealan Patrick Burke. This particular story has a unique concept behind it; one that is strange, yet delivered in a casual way.
“Teddy has a secret....She's so consumed with guilt that it compels her body to literally unravel unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Teddy’s parasitic condition is usually tempered easily and is invisible to most, unless she feeds from them. However, her insatiable hunger has already begun to threaten her safety. Trapped in her tiny Connecticut hometown thanks to a careless mistake which cost her a prestigious scholarship, Teddy grieves her father’s death and cares for her neurotic mother, Mercy, who is convinced scorpion venom is the only remedy for her own peculiar skin ailment linked to her daughter’s sadness.”
Honestly, it confused me a little - I really wasn’t sure what to make of Teddy’s “woes” or how they worked through her or the where/when/how of the condition - but it was intriguing and compelling, nevertheless. I also was a little hung up on Kiiara’s gift, which felt a little forced and pointless in the grand scheme of things. Otherwise, the story presented here had me hooked. I just wanted there to be more; more explanation, more depth, more to the story.
LaRocca has easily cemented himself on my to-watch list with Starving Ghosts in Every Thread, so you can bet I’ll follow up with his new book when it releases soon.
***
Highlights: Excellent writing, poetic and dark … interesting concept, unique … exciting finale
Shadows: Teddy’s “condition” is a little underdeveloped, leaving questions to be asked … Kiiara’s own gift doesn’t feel like it should have ever been revealed or used in the story
FFO: Ghostly quick bites of fiction … unique horror stories … poetic writing styles
Takeaway: Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is just as compelling as it is unique and disquieting. LaRocca has a skillful writing style that is difficult to match.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
September 21, 2020
I was lucky enough to see the author, Eric LaRocca, looking for reviewers for his novella, Starving Ghosts In Every Thread, on Twitter. I snagged a physical copy in return for my honest review, which follows below. I thank him for this opportunity.
I rated this novella 4 stars.
I found the story interesting, I enjoyed the author’s voice; many of the scenes were written so artfully, I could see this looking awesome being fully illustrated. There were some questions that I ended up having after the I finished; I don’t know if a slightly longer tale would have given me what I feel I was missing, I’ll see if I can explain without spoilers.
Teddy introduces us to her condition, what makes her monstrous (her words), in the first chapter; unless she feeds on the vaporous emotions rising from people, her body unwinds from itself, like bark from a eucalyptus tree. She is able to feed the shame and guilt from a small boy that dropped a pickle jar an aisle over at the store she works at; snatching up the puffs of emotion calms her shedding skin, but also appears to leave the child reset. It is noted that now the boy is able to see her condition, and that her feeding did not keep her satisfied for long; at checkout the boy points out a piece curling free at her forehead. So what I gathered from that is, she is always low key ‘hungry’, if that’s the right word; her body ranges from a strand of flesh to Mumm-Ra’s transformation scene level of peeling going on as a way to gauge the intensity of that hunger.
She lives with her mother, who has a spot on her arm that has to be cleaned with scorpion venom, causing them to keep purchasing live ones from a neighbor to milk fairly often; gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about it. She meets a young woman, Kiiara, during her next purchasing jaunt. Teddy has a way with creatures and animals, Kiiara has a pet scorpion that is poorly and asks for advice. Her neighbor seems to be running a black market level pet shop from his house, it’s not just birds and scorpions, he has rare and expensive living things in the lower levels of his house. The author makes them all sound engagingly colourful, as if being in the room with them would be riotous but beautiful. Some of my favorite scenes were in the neighbors house, just because of the surrounding animals and insects being so happily described.
Kiiara also seems to have a unique otherness about her, and can share it, which is where I start having questions. It’s never explained how the things that happen to Teddy’s body came about, just when. I found myself trying to find something to connect it to, especially since her mother, and then Kiiara, each have something different. Are they the only three that have these abilities in the world, or is it connected to an event in a persons life that opens up some odd emotional response? In some ways I do not know if a long explanation would have made it better for me, I can tell that what the reader knows parallels what Teddy knows; it’s not like someone handed her an instruction manual when she changed. But maybe even a throwaway sentence giving some tether to what the author intended might have scratched the itch I’m left with, wondering about it. But that is how I am about things like that, and I know that should not take away from the beauty of the book.
I rated this novella 4 stars.
I found the story interesting, I enjoyed the author’s voice; many of the scenes were written so artfully, I could see this looking awesome being fully illustrated. There were some questions that I ended up having after the I finished; I don’t know if a slightly longer tale would have given me what I feel I was missing, I’ll see if I can explain without spoilers.
Teddy introduces us to her condition, what makes her monstrous (her words), in the first chapter; unless she feeds on the vaporous emotions rising from people, her body unwinds from itself, like bark from a eucalyptus tree. She is able to feed the shame and guilt from a small boy that dropped a pickle jar an aisle over at the store she works at; snatching up the puffs of emotion calms her shedding skin, but also appears to leave the child reset. It is noted that now the boy is able to see her condition, and that her feeding did not keep her satisfied for long; at checkout the boy points out a piece curling free at her forehead. So what I gathered from that is, she is always low key ‘hungry’, if that’s the right word; her body ranges from a strand of flesh to Mumm-Ra’s transformation scene level of peeling going on as a way to gauge the intensity of that hunger.
She lives with her mother, who has a spot on her arm that has to be cleaned with scorpion venom, causing them to keep purchasing live ones from a neighbor to milk fairly often; gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about it. She meets a young woman, Kiiara, during her next purchasing jaunt. Teddy has a way with creatures and animals, Kiiara has a pet scorpion that is poorly and asks for advice. Her neighbor seems to be running a black market level pet shop from his house, it’s not just birds and scorpions, he has rare and expensive living things in the lower levels of his house. The author makes them all sound engagingly colourful, as if being in the room with them would be riotous but beautiful. Some of my favorite scenes were in the neighbors house, just because of the surrounding animals and insects being so happily described.
Kiiara also seems to have a unique otherness about her, and can share it, which is where I start having questions. It’s never explained how the things that happen to Teddy’s body came about, just when. I found myself trying to find something to connect it to, especially since her mother, and then Kiiara, each have something different. Are they the only three that have these abilities in the world, or is it connected to an event in a persons life that opens up some odd emotional response? In some ways I do not know if a long explanation would have made it better for me, I can tell that what the reader knows parallels what Teddy knows; it’s not like someone handed her an instruction manual when she changed. But maybe even a throwaway sentence giving some tether to what the author intended might have scratched the itch I’m left with, wondering about it. But that is how I am about things like that, and I know that should not take away from the beauty of the book.
October 31, 2020
While I finished this book a few days ago, I had to let it sink in. This is Eric’s debut novella (at a short 92 pages) and there is nothing about this book that is ordinary. It is sad, ethereal, poetic and so artistic! I can’t say I have every read a horror novel that caused me to have an emotional response after reading it.
This story is about Teddy and she suffers from a condition where she must feed on emotions or risk of her skin unraveling from her body leaving her extremely vulnerable. She is a beautiful character, fraught with guilt and sadness. Her father has died, who she misses dreadfully and she lives with her mother who also has her own oddities. While on an errand for her mother, she meets Kiiara, who she immediately takes to, but Kiiara may have her own secrets darker than her own.
I am at a loss at how to explain the writing. How do you write about body horror and make it sound so lyrical and haunting? This author has managed to do just that. Can’t wait to read what he writes next.
Just a few of my favorite quotes… like wow! (couldn’t put too many for fear of spoiling)
“It’s then that my nose twitches at the familiar perfume of guilt I smell flowering all about him—the aroma as sour as urine, but somehow still as pleasant to me as honeysuckle.”
“He hasn’t time to make even a semblance of a noise as I jump to my tiptoes in front of him and open my mouth to catch the claret-colored wisps now thickening as dense as wool. I bite at the air, clenching some between my teeth like snowflakes. They’re as exquisite as I remember, their impossible delicacy thickening with saliva and gluing to my teeth as if they were bits of cotton candy.”
“Never before have the countless lines of skin that have already come undone stirred all at once in their beds and lifted so furiously like a headdress of cobras, hissing and pulling at me.”
This story is about Teddy and she suffers from a condition where she must feed on emotions or risk of her skin unraveling from her body leaving her extremely vulnerable. She is a beautiful character, fraught with guilt and sadness. Her father has died, who she misses dreadfully and she lives with her mother who also has her own oddities. While on an errand for her mother, she meets Kiiara, who she immediately takes to, but Kiiara may have her own secrets darker than her own.
I am at a loss at how to explain the writing. How do you write about body horror and make it sound so lyrical and haunting? This author has managed to do just that. Can’t wait to read what he writes next.
Just a few of my favorite quotes… like wow! (couldn’t put too many for fear of spoiling)
“It’s then that my nose twitches at the familiar perfume of guilt I smell flowering all about him—the aroma as sour as urine, but somehow still as pleasant to me as honeysuckle.”
“He hasn’t time to make even a semblance of a noise as I jump to my tiptoes in front of him and open my mouth to catch the claret-colored wisps now thickening as dense as wool. I bite at the air, clenching some between my teeth like snowflakes. They’re as exquisite as I remember, their impossible delicacy thickening with saliva and gluing to my teeth as if they were bits of cotton candy.”
“Never before have the countless lines of skin that have already come undone stirred all at once in their beds and lifted so furiously like a headdress of cobras, hissing and pulling at me.”
November 3, 2020
***Received free copy in exchange for an honest review***
I enjoyed this fast-paced novella. The author was great with setting details. The book was character-driven focusing on Teddy and Kiiara. The drama was interesting. Since there was no horror (for me as a reader) until the very end of the story, I couldn’t tell if this story was literary, horror, or fantasy. Whenever Teddy could read a person, part of her skin would coil. Was this just in her head? Was she the only one this happened to? Was this a fantasy world? A normal world? I couldn’t tell, but those questions not being answered didn’t stop me from liking the story.
My favorite lines: 1) “I often feel lost, even to myself.” 2) “Everything I’ve lived, I’ve lived through other people. I’ve convinced myself that their stories, their troubles, their passions were mine.” 3) “The thing I’ve so desperately tried to convince myself otherwise is true–people know.”
The ending was pretty intense. The very last scene I felt for Teddy. It was a lasting impression of what she did after making her mom go to the neighbor’s house. I thought about it long after finishing the novella, which I gave props to the author for writing a compelling drama.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I enjoyed this fast-paced novella. The author was great with setting details. The book was character-driven focusing on Teddy and Kiiara. The drama was interesting. Since there was no horror (for me as a reader) until the very end of the story, I couldn’t tell if this story was literary, horror, or fantasy. Whenever Teddy could read a person, part of her skin would coil. Was this just in her head? Was she the only one this happened to? Was this a fantasy world? A normal world? I couldn’t tell, but those questions not being answered didn’t stop me from liking the story.
My favorite lines: 1) “I often feel lost, even to myself.” 2) “Everything I’ve lived, I’ve lived through other people. I’ve convinced myself that their stories, their troubles, their passions were mine.” 3) “The thing I’ve so desperately tried to convince myself otherwise is true–people know.”
The ending was pretty intense. The very last scene I felt for Teddy. It was a lasting impression of what she did after making her mom go to the neighbor’s house. I thought about it long after finishing the novella, which I gave props to the author for writing a compelling drama.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
September 15, 2020
So all I need to know is where has Eric LaRocca been hiding? ... better yet why has he not been on my radar before now?
I received a copy of this novella directly from the author, and let me tell you I must have been hiding under a rock to never have read anything by him before.
I was hooked from the first paragraph, trying to wrap my brain around Teddy and her story and continued to stay hooked until the very last word.
I don’t want to give out spoilers but I will say this... the way LaRocca writes hooks you from the first lines and weaves an intricate story that will leave you feeling like you just rode a roller coaster and that will leave you breathless at the end.
Worth the read... worth the recommendation.
I received a copy of this novella directly from the author, and let me tell you I must have been hiding under a rock to never have read anything by him before.
I was hooked from the first paragraph, trying to wrap my brain around Teddy and her story and continued to stay hooked until the very last word.
I don’t want to give out spoilers but I will say this... the way LaRocca writes hooks you from the first lines and weaves an intricate story that will leave you feeling like you just rode a roller coaster and that will leave you breathless at the end.
Worth the read... worth the recommendation.
October 22, 2020
Starving Ghosts in Every Thread follows Teddy, a once promising vocalist, with a very peculiar skin condition: it unravels.
Following the death of her father, Teddy feeds from others’ emotions. Once she feeds from them, they are able to see her skin unraveling. For the longest time, she only fed from her mother to keep her secret. One day, she feeds from the guilt of a boy in the supermarket she works for, which starts the journey of this novella.
We meet Teddy’s mother, who is in her own sphere of grief, using scorpion venom to deal with her own skin condition, caused by Teddy. Eventually we meet Kiiara, who promises Teddy a life outside of her small town, and her grief.
I loved the premise of this. Absolutely loved it. It’s one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. Unfortunately, as with most novellas, I just wanted MORE! It wraps up perfectly, but there’s a lot of extra background I would love to have had. But otherwise, I find no fault. I can’t wait to see what else Eric has in store for us!
Thank you Eric for the review copy for my honest review!
Following the death of her father, Teddy feeds from others’ emotions. Once she feeds from them, they are able to see her skin unraveling. For the longest time, she only fed from her mother to keep her secret. One day, she feeds from the guilt of a boy in the supermarket she works for, which starts the journey of this novella.
We meet Teddy’s mother, who is in her own sphere of grief, using scorpion venom to deal with her own skin condition, caused by Teddy. Eventually we meet Kiiara, who promises Teddy a life outside of her small town, and her grief.
I loved the premise of this. Absolutely loved it. It’s one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. Unfortunately, as with most novellas, I just wanted MORE! It wraps up perfectly, but there’s a lot of extra background I would love to have had. But otherwise, I find no fault. I can’t wait to see what else Eric has in store for us!
Thank you Eric for the review copy for my honest review!
October 8, 2020
This was an incredibly beautifully written horror novel, on the right side of weird and creepy. It was very descriptive and atmospheric and though coming in at less than 100 pages I found it very well developed. I very much looking forward to seeing what LaRocca writes in future.
In depth review on my blog!
https://booksandchocaholic.wordpress....
In depth review on my blog!
https://booksandchocaholic.wordpress....
June 30, 2022
Read in one sitting! Finally got my hands on a copy of Eric LaRocca’s out of print debut novella, and it did not disappoint. Such great writing with the strangest most wonderful content material.
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