Rai

Review to come.

"The town of Burnt Sparrow... is a cursed place that doesn’t let go. Much like the townsfolk stuck there, you’ll find yourself returning to Burnt Sparrow long after you’ve put down the book."

Read my full review over on Grimdark Magazine: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-we-are-always-tender-with-our-dead-by-eric-larocca/

"In a tribute to grief, loss, self-loathing, identity and desire, LaRocca has written a darkly emotive story that looks to bring out some harsh realities of the human experience around these themes."

Read my full review on Grimdark Magazine: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-at-dark-i-become-loathsome-by-eric-larocca/

The next time someone says autism didn't exist in The Past, have them read this.

An undiagnosed 53yo autistic man in The Past has his routine interrupted by something trivial. He proceeds to spend the day catastrophising and having a prolonged meltdown. Then he has a long walk, listens to some heavy rain and is OK again.

It's literally just regular day in the life stuff for neurodivergent people and yet apparently it's a deep and thought provoking exposé on the anarchy of trivialities or some other high-brow literary wank.

I hate to break it to the quoted reviewers on the cover but, uh, this isn't some enlightened visionary tale. Stop patronising and othering nd people, thanks.

2022 Awards for BooksJust a few award categories I thought up to make this a bit more interesting than just a “Top 10 of 2022” type post. Best Debut: [b:A Touch of Light 60154484 A Touch of Light (The Ashes of Avarin, #1) Thiago Abdalla https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642527564l/60154484.SY75.jpg 94676600] Best Bookclub/readalong: [b:We Are the Dead 42602296 We Are the Dead (The Last War, #1) Mike Shackle https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553351197l/42602296.SY75.jpg 66304228] Best Creature: [b:Of Blood and Fire 56750401 Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken, #1) Ryan Cahill https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611043983l/56750401.SY75.jpg 88695878] Best Cover: [b:The Seep 45448133 The Seep Chana Porter https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556928267l/45448133.SY75.jpg 70212127] Book that came closest to making me cry: [b:A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell 61624249 A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, an Account of Catastrophe by Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) Luke Tarzian https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1658289412l/61624249.SX50.jpg 97195341] Book that made me laugh: [b:The Kaiju Preservation Society 57693406 The Kaiju Preservation Society John Scalzi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624897234l/57693406.SY75.jpg 90049719] Most impulsive buy (read): [b:Dinosaur Therapy 57652959 Dinosaur Therapy James Stewart https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618849951l/57652959.SX50.jpg 90303078] Biggest Heart: [b:The Last Gifts of the Universe 60103317 The Last Gifts of the Universe Rory August https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642529071l/60103317.SY75.jpg 94769767] Most effort to get through: [b:Crossings 25743715 Crossings Ashley Capes https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526030291l/25743715.SY75.jpg 45584254] Darkest of Grim Scenes: [b:Gunmetal Gods 55777447 Gunmetal Gods (Gunmetal Gods #1) Zamil Akhtar https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624243972l/55777447.SX50.jpg 85052502] Don't Judge a Book by its Cover: [b:Pallas Lost 60758000 Pallas Lost Jake Morrison https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649212477l/60758000.SY75.jpg 95801205]For the more traditional ‘Top Books of the Year' list, see: [post incoming]For my top anticipated releases of 2023, check out my post here: https://aspectsof.me/2022/12/30/top-anticipated-releases-2023/