Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

 

Two women. An online queer community board. And an antique apple peeler that starts a three month rollercoaster of chaos and obsession.

WARNING

This review may contain spoilers. Skip to conclusion if only opinions are wanted.

TRIGGER WARNING: Animal Abuse and Body Horror

    Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a short novella written in the format of email and instant messenger that takes place in 2000, showing the brief but intense interaction between Agnes Petrella and Zoe Cross.

    The book starts in the view of showing evidence, as compiled by the police, saying there is an open case as to the death of Agnes following the online relationship. Some things are redacted (per police request).

    Things start off relatively normal, with Agnes selling an antique apple peeler originally from her grandmother, in order to afford rent. In comes Zoe. Opening up to Zoe about her troubles, Zoe ends up sending Agnes $1,000 and tells her to keep the peeler. Extremely grateful, Agnes expresses her gratitude multiple times , exchanging IM handles, the duo quickly become close, and Zoe expresses that she would like to be more with Agnes, a BDSM relationship where Zoe controls the wellbeing of Agnes in every way. 

    "What have you done to deserve your eyes today?"

    The relationship starts normal enough. Zoe asks Agnes to find the brightest red dress she could find, and wear it to work. And she does, leading to her being sent home early. Zoe agrees that she deserved her eyes for the day.

    In comes the contract. Not much is known about the contract, as quite a bit has been redacted, but the basics are known. Zoe (Sponsor) has full control of Agnes' (Drudge) wellbeing. The next day Zoe requests for Agnes to go a step further, asking her next to leave her underwear in an open place in the bathroom, which results in Agnes being fired.

    When Agnes voices her desire to carry life, Zoe suggests her to find a salamander, keep it in her pocket for a whole day, then that night smash it with a rock. She does this, however it disturbs her enough to end the relationship.

    Over a month passes and Agnes reaches out to beg to reinstate the relationship, and Zoe accepts. Agnes still wishes to carry 'their' baby, even more so than before, but Zoe has reservations, mostly being that it is not possible, but has a solution... tapeworms.

    In comes the most disgusting description of rotting meat being consumed, but in the end, success. The last thirteen pages consists of Agnes becoming deeply obsessed with the tapeworm being their child. When confronted with the fact that it will pass, Agnes goes overboard, and in the end, Zoe terminates the relationship. Agnes continues to email Zoe, and it ends with Agnes passing the tapeworm, and implying she cuts out her eyes with the same apple peeler that started it all.

CONCLUSION

    A quick read. Personally I finished it in a couple hours. I find the format very interesting, but kind of written too much like a book to make the emails believable.

    Not a book for the faint of heart. Severe animal abuse and body horror is rampant and extremely detailed, so if that's not for you, then stay far away. It is horror in the fact that it delves into the very real issues of mental illness and terrible BDSM etiquette. 112 pages of pure shock horror. Loneliness is a big theme in this book, and the lengths some will go out of selfishness and loneliness. 

    Would I recommend this book? If you can get it for cheap, at a discount store or online, sure. But for those who like fleshed out horror, not really. 3 out of 5 stars.