Everything the Darkness Eats

3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars | 185 ratings

Price: 23.54

Last update: 01-08-2025


About this item

After a recent string of disappearances in a small Connecticut town, a grieving widower with a grim secret is drawn into a dangerous ritual of dark magic by a powerful and mysterious older gentleman named Heart Crowley. Meanwhile, a member of local law enforcement tasked with uncovering the culprit responsible for the bizarre disappearances soon begins to learn of a current of unbridled hatred simmering beneath the guise of the town’s idyllic community—a hatred that will eventually burst and forever change the lives of those who once found peace in the quiet town of Henley’s Edge.

From the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of the viral sensation Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, Everything the Darkness Eats is a haunting supernatural thriller from a new and exciting voice in genre fiction.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael Shotter
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Cosmic Horror Read with a few Rough Edges
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
    This is a tricky one for me because, while I enjoyed several aspects of the book, I couldn't help feeling that it came up short in various regards.

    On one hand, there are some interesting, and reasonably well fleshed out, ideas in "Everything the Darkness Eats," with its explorations of grief, suffering, desires for power or other enhancements to life and its typical circumstances, or the struggles often faced by members of marginalized communities, especially those that make up the LGBTQ+ spectrum; however, I often felt that those explorations didn't manifest into much beyond surface-level, borderline-cliche scenarios that ultimately didn't bring much new to the table, and in some cases only seemed to serve to reinforce simplistic and (I'd argue) outdated stereotypes regarding those facets of the storytelling.

    I also took umbrage with the inconsistent and convenient behavior exhibited by several of the characters, who often came across as little more than puppets, saying and doing things required to advance the tale in a given moment in ways that to me frequently felt overly contrived and inauthentic. In some cases, those behaviors were retroactively justified via a core conceit of the story, which was fine, but I'm referring to characters outside that situation, who had little will or commitment to any of their established behaviors, schools of thought, or lines of reasoning when they might have become inconvenient to the progression of the plot as envisioned by the author.

    I'd also slightly ding the prose for being a bit overwrought and melodramatic in spots in ways that to me felt forced and misplaced given some of the more mundane scenarios being described. There were certainly times when those elements were completely appropriate and impactful but I'd contend that the excessive use of such techniques throughout the text somewhat undermined their effectiveness when they otherwise would have hit harder if used more sparingly.

    That said, I think the good parts of "Everything the Darkness Eats" ultimately outweigh the aspects I'm less enamored with and I would generally recommend it to cosmic horror fans in search of a quick read with a few tantalizing wrinkles. In particular, readers who are comfortable taking an intriguing, conceptual ball and running with it on their own will likely find a lot to ponder and enough loose ends to keep their minds pleasantly churning for a while after reaching "the end."
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cosmic horror done well
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024
    I love novels like this, horror of a cosmic nature. There are far too few of them in general and even fewer well written. This one was expertly done, gritty, and had me engaged and worried about the well-being of the characters.
    This is a quick read and well worth the time. It gave me that particular feeling of dread tinged with awe and hopeless melancholy that good cosmic horror induces. Although the novel was full of loss it did not end in a bleak place and was refreshing for the hopeful note it ended on.
  • allyson
    4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful writing… but left me wanting more
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2023
    this book was on its way to being perfect. the only complaint i have is that i wanted it to be longer. the writing: gorgeous. the story/stories: intense and compelling. i wanted to be in the world for a lot longer.
    looking forward to a 300+ page book from larocca someday.

    highly recommend this, though. i actually enjoyed it more than any other larocca books, which is saying a lot.
  • GiGi Ropp
    1.0 out of 5 stars Lacking in depth and cohesion
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
    I wanted to love this as I’ve recently really enjoyed horror, but it was just scattered and lacked depth. With its cast of creepy characters, it had great promise, but just completely missed the mark. I was left unsatisfied and uncomfortable.
  • Daniobsessivelyreads
    2.0 out of 5 stars This book wasn't for me.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
    I'm not sure I would qualify this as "horror". I would definitely qualify it as "misery corn." However, it did hold my attention.

    I wasn't invested in the characters. Everyone was mostly dark or evil. If they weren't dark or evil then terrible things were happening to them. (Check alllll the triggers.)

    I wasn't "horrified". I have see much worse, and unfortunately read much worse. Things that happened in this book happen in real life. If you're dealing with that sort of trauma this book might be for you.

    This book wasn't for me.
  • Nick Cato
    3.0 out of 5 stars Easily readable in one sitting
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023
    LaRocca, who I became a big fan of after reading three of his short story collections, delivers his debut novel, very handsomely presented by Clash Books.

    In a small town in Connecticut, elderly citizens are missing. A strange older man is responsible, and he offers a younger man named Ghost an unbelievable reward if he helps him complete an ancient ritual.

    A local cop named Malik, looking into the disappearances, has his investigation (and life) put on hold when his husband is brutally attacked, and he goes after the attackers vigilante style.

    Easily readable in one sitting, this brings some King and Barker to mind, but more so it reminded me of Tim Waggoner’s DARKNESS WAKES.

    Despite a couple of brutal scenes, this lacks the elements that made many of LaRocca’s short stories memorable and devastating, and the dual storylines come together so late in the book it almost makes one seem unnecessary.

    An okay if familiar first effort, I’m confident the author will be delivering the goods as his novel craft gets as strong as his shorter works.
  • Professor Comey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2023
    This book has a Steven King feel. Liked it so much got another one he wrote
  • sethbart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Silly thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
    A breezy read that should be less slow than it is. Not very scary but a decently fun read.

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    To Be Taught, If Fortunate

    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 5031
    14.17
     
     

    Saving Alex: When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 998
    22.04
     
     

    Pieces of Us

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1613
    21.83
     
     

    Insatiable Park Avenue Prince: Park Avenue Princes, Book 2

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2223
    17.46
     
     

    Liar City: Sugar & Vice, Book 1

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 296
    22.04
     
     

    I'm Not Broken: A Memoir

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 103
    15.75
     
     

    Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 23
    17.5
     
     

    Disorderly Men: A Novel

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 226
    13.62