Rachel Schommer Reviews: 10.27.25
- Rachel Schommer
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
It's Halloween week; I hope you've been reading whatever it is that terrifies you most!
THEY COME FROM WITHIN by Jason Nickey
1. I love when a collection really encapsulates the range of an author, and I’d say They Come From Within does that for Nickey. This one really spans everything: quiet to extreme, real-life to monster/paranormal, situations that makes you think to straight in your face scares. I wasn’t sure what each story would bring which made each beginning doubly exciting!
2. I had read a couple of the stories in this collection previously, but each was so good I didn’t mind reading it again. ‘Prank’ for example; it’s deep and relatable and so unsettling because the first half of the story is something that could really, unintentionally, happen. Having previously worked in Customer Service, I’ve had intrusive thoughts about what I’d like to say or actions that could really stick it to a customer who is being an absolute prick. Of course, I’d never actually entertain most of those thoughts, and this story really drives home an important point while also being super entertaining. Bonus is that the characters are very relatable, even in such a short span.
3. Honestly, I think what I liked most about this collection is that every story (except maybe one) has a much deeper meaning. Most of Nickey’s work does, so it’s unsurprising, however I enjoy when my horror makes me think or comes with a moral. I tend to be someone who easily forgets what I’ve just read unless it has evoked a deep emotion or was a situation that I can’t get out of my head. This collection was full of situations I couldn’t shake, most especially ‘Late-Term’ and ‘Polly’s Cracker’.
Very highly recommend!
THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE AND OTHER MISFORTUNES by Eric LaRocca
1. Another collection! I’d say this one is comprised of 2 novellas and one short story, but it’s a super quick read due to how captivating each story is.
2. The title story is written uniquely, as a series of emails and instant messages between two strangers who don’t remain strangers for long. It’s a weird dive into loneliness and mental illness that is very unsettling and simultaneously super entertaining. It feels voyeuristic, like you’re reading a conversation not meant for you. Oh, I should mention it’s also pretty gross at times.
3. The second story: ‘The Enchantment’ also deals with mental illness, but this time we get to experience the trauma along with our MC and we walk slowly into the depths of despair alongside her. Anyone who has ever lost someone unexpectedly and has dealt with the bargaining stage of that particular sudden grief will likely sympathize. You want to ask what she’s thinking at every single turn, but deep down, you know you’d likely be in the same spot.
I feel like this one gets a lot of hate, but I recommend checking it out for yourself.
These are on my TBR. LaRocca has become one of my favorites, and I think he’s misunderstood at times. Thanks for the review!