2 stars
I want to preface this review by saying I enjoy horror, and I enjoy depraved fiction when done right. In my opinion this was not done right. The writing was trying to hard to be lyrical prose esg that it almost sounded A generated. I found the plot of this to be really uninteresting, and if it hadn't been so short so I could finish in a couple of hours I don't think I would've bothered finishing it. For a splatterpunk to be this forgettable is saying something. I do think the author has a lot of creativity though within this book, and I'm open to reading their other works as I think if it had a more engaging plot and characters, I could get past the writing style.
Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review..

I'm in 2 minds about this. The premise was very interesting and I was definitely drawn to the idea of redemption through burial. But the execution fell flat for me. There are 2 different stories within the story that just felt out of place.
At times, it just felt edgy for no real narrative reason. There was also no real closure in the end. Which is true of real-life I guess, but it's narratively unsatisfying.
I also needed more description of Ashley's piercings. LaRocca mentions them practically every time Ashley is outside but never says what they are. Just that people think of him as "monstrous". Are we talking full body modification with horns and stuff or a couple of eyebrow piercings??? Super jarring to read.
Loathsome seems a strong descriptor for someone with some piercings who buries people as a form of therapy. It could maybe have worked better as a longer work with more development.

Overall, it was fine. An interesting premise, characters that could have been more developed, but the themes of los and grief were strong.

At Dark, I Become Loathsome is a new short novel from LaRocca about a hopeless man who has invented an unusual ritual for people who want to die, but also want to live a better life. Ashley Lutin has lost his wife and his son has disappeared, he struggles with the knowledge of his queerness and the queerness he saw in his son, and he's positioned himself as an outsider who can be contacted by strangers for a strange ritual that, unbeknownst to them, involves being buried alive. However, one of these strangers tested Ashley's carefully planned ritual and his ideas of salvation.

I've read a lot of Eric LaRocca's books, and I tend to find his stories either work for me or they don't. This one is in the former category, with a good mix of some LaRocca trademarks (weird online forums, depraved actions, grim violence) and a self-aggrandising protagonist who believes he can really change people's lives. The writing style and layers to this book, with constant repetition of the title phrase and some stories-within-stories as internet posts, are likely to divide people, but I enjoyed how the book was almost self-obsessed with its own rituals and motifs, reflecting Ashley's ideas and how he uses these as a way to deal with his grief and regret. Ashley's own belief in his edginess and outsider reputation (particularly through his claiming that having face piercings makes him really weird) is also an interesting aspect and again reflects the title of the book and the certainty of the protagonist that he is loathsome.

As a fan of Dennis Cooper and books like Exquisite Corpse and Brainwyrms, I didn't find the content particularly shocking, and it all centres around our ideas of death and life so thematically makes sense. I did think that, though I liked the almost novella length (and think LaRocca writes that kind of length well), a few of the plot elements could've had more depth to them, particularly the backstory of Ashley's child, Bailey, and their relationship. Ashley's own queerness and his reaction to Bailey's felt like something that needed more space to really make the queer horror element of this book work. However, this is one of my favourite Eric LaRocca stories I've read, combining a good concept with a narrative written through a distinctive perspective, and I was glad to enjoy it after not being a big fan of Everything The Darkness Eats.

Utterly original, like a handbook on why not to become a serial killer though not humourously. The thoughts that may perforate your subconcious sometimes explored, othertimes best left be. This made me reel in disgust and horror and melt with the tenderness of some parts. A very sensory read.

At this point I don't think there's anything Eric LaRocca could write that I wouldn't like. This had me hooked from the first page and I couldn't put it down I went into this not really knowing anything about it and honestly I feel that's the best way. This not only had the main story but 2 little stories interwoven which I really enjoyed. Eric has a way of really making you feel for the main characters despite the depraved and strange things they do. I highly recommend.

I have read LaRocca before and actually don't mind his work so I was quite intrigued to give this one a go as I thought his writing is a bit quirky. This is not what I expected at all. This was just sick to be honest. I have read Splatterpunk and read some truly awful books, but for me this just went too far.
Ashley, I guess for his living, buries people for "fake deaths" and they come out as better people. His son has also gone missing. Now I know this is sad, but the whole book is just so depressing. Yea Ashley's life is shit, his wife also died of cancer, so yea he is going to be sad. There is almost no light and no hope for anyone or anybody and even though this is a short story, it feels like it just drones on in this big well of misery.
Ashley reads this blog by a guy who's husband has cancer and gets off on it. Then we divulge into the story from the husbands POV and honestly it is horrifying. For someone to have thoughts like that is just down right disgusting and this book really makes me question the author (Are you ok?) and has just changed my whole view point on him and his writing.
Then the ending just killed it for me. Just made me sigh and throw my hands up in the air. I feel my time and eyes were wasted on this.
I have read other reviews and I feel like people like to jump on certain books and be like this is amazing and oh my GAWD best thang I've ever read. For me, this is just not ok. Bin it

Another absolutely exquisite book from LaRocca. Shocking, dark, gruesome and twisted, this kept me on my toes and my stomach clenched. I cried. I was angry. I was overwhelmed with empathy. Eric is a lyrical genius.

I’m a huge fan of the author so At Dark I Become Loathsome was a must read for me. Like his other work, I found this beautiful and strange and disquieting. I didn’t want to stop reading wondering what would happen between Ashley and Jinx and if Ashley would ever find out what happened to his son. This is a scant book, more of a novella really but felt like something much longer. This is a gripping, engrossing read. I’d recommend it if you like books that are sinister, strange and beautiful.