Larocca writes horror in a very distinctive manner. His writing is lyrical and incredibly sinister. His tales creep up on you and make you feel uneasy. He transforms even the most routine situations into nightmares.

Some of the stories in this collection are what I would call family horror, and they are the genre at its finest, approach with caution if you have trauma on that side.

With LaRocca's signature highly stylized writing the horror takes on a deeply evocative nature rather than a graphic one, although the stories are often also graphic.
Here horror is both from the outside and from deep inside in a blend that could have only been achieved by LaRocca. Hell is not always others, sometimes hell is what swirls behind our eyes and it takes guts the write that side of horror in such an unflinching way. Because of the themes a certain discomfort is guaranteed while reading. LaRocca also captures the horror of cancer and perhaps of sickness in general on a deep level, a theme that seems to be recurrent for them.

not particularly scary or enjoyable to read. author relies on surprising us with shocking or violent information to provide atmosphere which largely doesn't work (and a lazy reliance on the threat of danger to children - in multiple stories!); none of the plots or twists are all that inventive, and the prose isn't really captivating enough to make up for it. at times the writing/characterization feels very... "we are the daughters of the witches..." etc. iykyk. sorry! i wanted to like it!

It’s more of a 4.5! I jumped into this book not knowing what to expect since this was my first LaRocca book but I’ve only heard good things so I was ready. Wow. Did not disappoint. The stories were so visceral and unsettling. I couldn’t help but put myself in these characters’ positions and wonder how in the world I would react. I think so far this is what LaRocca does masterfully, it doesn’t matter the situation or character, he immediately puts you in their place and makes you feel what they’re feeling. So many times throughout this book I genuinely felt like my heart was being ripped out because of the impossible decisions the characters had to make. I will say, however, the only thing missing for me was that a couple of the stories were missing a little bit of context to really connect the reader to it. It didn’t take away from the emotional impact, but context would make it feel less like I was floating in limbo.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

This book is wow. The stories will leave you sitting and staring into space or shivering. The imagery provokes deep feelings, mixed with a little terror. I can so see this becoming a film of short vignettes.

An interesting story full of twists, turns, fun characters and overall a book I would consider reading time and time again.

Thank you so much to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.

This is a reprint of a book from a few years back called The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales. It seems like a lot of LaRocca's books are getting reprints lately. I know some of his stories are harder to find, so this is definitely making them more accessible. Be aware going into this collection that most of the stories will at least mention the topic of cancer.

This is quite a cohesive collection of stories. There aren't a lot of characters in most of them, so it's a really personal and intimate exploration on the bonds of those closest to us. We have a huge range of emotions that are expressed from love, grief, hate, and everything inbetween. Nothing is straightforward, and humans are very complicated.

The following are the titles included in this collection, and my individual rating.

You Follow Wherever They Go - A father with cancer urges his child to introduce himself to the other children. 5 Stars

Bodies are for Burning - A woman struggles with intrusive thoughts about setting people on fire. 4 Stars

The Strange Thing We Become - A woman's wife is diagnosed with cancer, but that's about all I understand. It's told in the format of forum posts. 2.5 Stars

The Trees Grew Because I Bled There - A woman physically gives up pieces of herself to her lover, but he is not appreciative of what she’s sacrificed. 4 Stars

You’re Not Supposed to Be Here - Similar to the description of the book The Chain. 4 Stars

Where Flames Burned Emerald as Grass - A father on vacation with his daughter encounters a strange man who claims to be clairvoyant. 4 Stars

I’ll Be Gone By Then - A woman who has run away from her past in Italy must take in her elderly mother that she hasn't seen in years. 3 Stars

Please Leave or I’m Going to Hurt You - A son develops inappropriate feelings towards his elderly father. 2 Stars

Averaged together my rating comes out to 3.56 stars. As you can see there were hits and misses for me here, which is always the case in a short story collection. Some endings, like the last story, were just a bit too abrupt, and I feel like the meaning was a little lost on me. Overall though I think this is a very successful collection that horror lovers will continue to pick up for years to come.

- Each thing we love takes a little piece of us whether we give it willingly or not.

Beautifully written and haunting in its descriptions, The Trees Grew Because I Bled There is the newest collection from much lauded author Eric LaRocca. I'll admit this was my first time reading anything of his but I totally understand why he has such a cult following. His subject matter is dark, twisted and many times quite uncomfortable to read but his prose are so stunning it's impossible to look away. I tried to choose a favourite among the collection of short stories but I honestly can't because they all have their merits and all made me a little uncomfortable at times.

The collection is being released in early March, and whether you're a seasoned LaRocca fan or a newbie like myself, you need to read this. Kudos to Eric LaRocca for pushing the boundaries that he does, and to do it so damn poetically is such an achievement. Thanks to Netgalley and Titan books for an advanced copy of this book.

Deliciously disturbing. Every story lingered on as my brain tried to make sense of what I had read. Each story a gem that will leave you feeling puzzles, uncomfortable and slightly disturbed. There were at least two stories that I feel would have done well as episodes of Criminal Minds.

It was a very interesting read that I would recommend to lovers of the uncomfortable type of horror.

I want to start by thanking Netgalley for an ARC of this title to review. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #NetGalley #TheTreesGrewBecauseIBledThere #EricLaRocca #BookReview #ARCReview

I will start by saying that I enjoy horror and dark fiction but this collection will not be for everyone. There are very dark themes here that deal with trauma, tragedy and forms of mental health as well as mental and physical abuse. It is not for the faint hearted.

That said I enjoyed the collection because it superbly demonstrates the fragility of humans and their humanity. It deals with fears and worries that many of us may have and looks at the ultimate extremes to see just what could cause a person to break. One of the reasons I love the genre of horror so much is the ability to do just this. To question what it means to be human, what makes someone or something a monster and what makes something an hero? Is it black and white and clear cut? The answer often in horror as real life is no.

On top of this exploration by LaRocca the prose is perfectly set in tone and style to the genre and the stories being told throughout. It’s dark, often gritty but it works. I was unable to put this one down when I started and while not every story was an instant five star they all stuck with me long after reading which for me is the sign of a good story.

A definite must read if you love horror, but this isn’t at all afraid of being dark and going to places some authors may fear to tread and for me that made this collection even better.

Eric LaRocca’s latest collection of eight stories spans the gamut from deeply tender, meditative tales, visceral and provocative body horror, through to frenzied thrill raisers; each one delivering its own particular meditation on the human psyche. It’s a compelling read overall, offering fascinating ruminations on love, infatuation, failed connections with our nearest and dearest, parenting, grief and mortality, and sheds a powerful light on perspectives of individuals who feel alienated and misunderstood.

All of the stories here have their own distinctive way of creeping under the reader’s skin, but only two here are what I would call pure horror stories, in the sense that they evoke harrowing body horror images that are impossible to shake. The first of these is “Bodies are for Burning”, which paints a truly terrifying and terrifyingly relatable picture of a woman’s constant battle with repulsive automatic thoughts, only made worse by the fact that she has to look after her one-year-old niece for a day all the while wrestling with her evasive thoughts. This short yarn is the most chilling of the collection, reminding us just how influential our imaginations are on our identities and choices, despite the fact that, as the protagonists’ psychiatrist says, there is a big difference between mere thoughts and actual actions.

The other body-horror-centric story is the titular ‘The Trees Grew Because I Bled There’. By far the most Cronenbergian of the bunch, this delivers a chilling but vital meditation on the toxic nature of gaslighting, reminding readers just how much people are willing to give (and take) to make their relationships work.

Fans of LaRocca’s previous viral sensation, “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke”, will enjoy returning to familiar territory with ‘The Strange Thing We Become’. Written as a series of epistolary online posts, the story chronicles one woman’s efforts to come to terms with her girlfriend’s cancer diagnosis. The way she responds to the news is particularly startling, as her thought process and revelations are anything but predictable.

At this point, ‘You’re not Supposed to be Here’ and ‘Where Flames Burned Emerald Grass’ takes things to much faster-paced thriller tropes, whilst presenting some fascinating meditations on parenthood and nuclear assumptions about family. The former is more of a high-concept thriller, following a same-sex couple forced to confront and reveal their self-doubts and secrets if they want to save their abducted son. Similarly, the latter story follows a widower who questions his ability to parent his daughter when he receives a mysterious offer to have her taken off his hands. Both of these two tales play out akin to “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” or “The Twilight Zone” episodes and would make for fascinating small (or big) screen adaptations.

Finally, as we near the end of the book, the final two stories, ‘I’ll be Gone by Then’ and ‘Please Leave or I’m Going to Hurt You’, explore themes related to mortality, and how it dawns on us when our parents reach a certain age. Both stories revolve around two protagonists who realise how much distance has always remained between them and their parents, having spent their lives failing to express their true feelings for them. The relationships shared in both stories couldn’t be more different, but the sense of regret both share after having not made use of the precious time they could have had together and the impending loss of their family members permeates throughout, leaving the reader feeling distraught, but at the same time feeling compelled to pick up the phone and speak to a loved as soon as they put the book down.

As a whole, LaRocca’s latest is one of the most cohesive and complete short story collections this reviewer has read in a long time; covering all aspects of the human condition, from childhood right through to death. No matter which genre each story inhabits, your heartstrings are in for a right royal tug. LaRocca has an amazing knack for weaving haunting narratives that take readers through the intense motions the protagonists endure, whilst leaving us with a strong sense of optimism at the end. Perhaps the best way to describe reading this collection of short stories is to quote a line from the titular tale which says: “Anything worth doing always hurts,” and I assure you that it is so worth experiencing the pain endured within these pages so as to come out stiffly shaken but also transformed and invigorated as a result.

You Follow Wherever They Go
- Call me a sucker for a pied piper (as I imagine many are) but this story illustrates some of my favorite Eric LaRocca-isms. It's a little tongue in cheek, it's ominous, and my imagination is in overdrive after reading the last sentence!
Bodies Are for Burning
- Bodies are indeed for burning. One of favorite things about LaRoccas writing style is how deep you become entrenched in the mind of the main character. This is something that I think is hard to do but LaRocca does it time and time again with ease. I'm immediately pulled into the mind of our main character (as twisted as it is). I found myself experiencing all the intrusive thoughts and the ending felt in some ways cathartic! Great story!
The Strange Thing We Become
- This was my second time reading this story and it hits with a whallop. I will say this story is perhaps not for the faint of heart because it is dark. But it's so good!
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There
- Oh. My. Oh. My... this story is definitely one of my favorite stories of all time. It's dark it's twisted. It's manipulative and showcasing gaslighting in disgusting way. But that's why I love this writing style and author! Beware those that only take and take in a relationship.
You're Not Supposed to Be Here
- This story is the perfect thought exercise as to what exactly you would give up information wise in order to reunite your family.
Where Flames Burned Emerald as Grass
- This story in someways feels like a remixed indecent proposal. No nothing sexual perhaps, but instead familial. This story showcases to me that LaRocca truly is a master of creating (or translating) some of the most terrifying monsters that could (or can) exist.
I'll Be Gone by Then
- Family is hard. Ugh my heart - this story was good. You're going to love it!
Please Leave or I'm going to Hurt You
- What a twisted story and what a finale to an excellent collection. I'm being intentionally vague, but I loved this as the last story.



This collection was just as great as everything I've gotten the chance to read by Eric LaRocca. It goes (hopefully) without saying that Eric LaRocca is an auto-buy author for me. I rush to get my hands on their new stories and I am so excited about their upcoming novel. I would recommend LaRocca (and do recommend them) as Wendig does in the Introduction.

My words cannot express how fantastic I find the writing style to be. Not only is it experimental and creative but it WORKS! I find myself just sucker punched by some of the emotions, I feel them so deeply and I know other readers do too!

All in all, this is an excellent collection with both new stories and some familiar (for those long term LaRocca fans). Check this out, because you won't be disappointed!

3 ⭐️

Thankyou to Netgalley and publishers for allowing me access to read this title early.

I've been a fan of LaRocca's since Things Have Gotten Worse but afterwards I haven't been loving his newer works. I think short stories works so well in the horror genre but I didn't love these ones, unfortunately.

I kept hearing things about this author and I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about.

I think having this short story collection being my introduction to LaRocca is perfect. I was able to dabble a little in his writing style without putting too much into one particular novel/novella.

LaRocca is certainly gifted. The writing his meant to stun you and it worked. There were a couple stories in this collection that were a little too much for me, but ultimately I really enjoyed this one. I was able to read a story here and there and not feel overwhelmed by body horror which seems to be a key factor in the writing.

I definitely will be reading more from this author because this was really good.

The Trees Grew Because I Bled There is a collection of dark short stories by Eric LaRocca, exploring some of the more sinister side of human nature as well as trauma, body horror, and twisted relationships. From people having to make horrifying decisions about what to do with family members to blog posts detailing a cancer diagnosis, the stories delve into very human moments in weird and unexpected ways.

Having read LaRocca's Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes and You've Lost A Lot of Blood, I wanted to read this collection, and it has a fair amount in common with the former book, in the way the stories have an ominous tone and generally explore strange dynamics between people, but also weave in queerness without it being the focus of the stories. As with any short story collection, there's going to be stories some people prefer and others don't, and for me I think my favourite was 'You're Not Supposed To Be Here', a tale of two men in a park with their young son who suddenly meet some very odd strangers, as it felt like a classic horror film concept distilled into a short story. I also enjoyed the lingering body horror of 'The Trees Grew Because I Bled There' and the gradually unfolding darkness of the final story, 'Please Leave or I'm Going To Hurt You'.

As with other LaRocca stories, these have some truly stand-out titles, and though I didn't enjoy some stories as much as others, there's a lot of gripping premises, weird goings-on, and protagonists making horrible choices to make this collection an enjoyable and occasionally uncomfortable (in a good way) read.

Advanced praise of "The Tree Grew Because I Bled There" hailed this collection of eight short stories as "deeply-unsettling, painfully-dark." Fortunately for true horror aficionados and unfortunately for readers like me who only think we truly love horror, that description is correct.

While it's an indisputable fact that Eric LaRocca's writing is gripping, vivid, and the marker of a great storyteller, many--if not most--of these stories were too harrowing for my taste. In picking this up in the early morning, I genuinely cried because one of these stories unsettled me so deeply. So for readers of a fainter heart like mine, proceed with caution, because this collection is specifically body horror of the most grotesque and the most haunting form. For readers who already know and love LaRocca, I suspect they'll be thrilled that he has a seemingly depthless reservoir of inspiration from which to spin short stories that will keep you glued to the page.

While I may not have enjoyed this collection of literary horror, I can't deny its sheer originality and superb execution.

“the trees grew because i bled there” is a collection of eight literary tales that range from pure horror to unsettling. eric larocca really shows his range here, and only one of the short stories takes place in an online forum.

i feel the short story form is more forgiving for larocca as i enjoyed these vignettes more than his novellas. his mind is capable of creating very interesting narratives and despicable characters; i am in awe of his capability to do so. the length varies from story to story, with some too long, and some too short. i do wish larocca would stop being vague when it comes to body horror and give us the full picture of carnage and violence. a little work towards creating more vivid imagery would make all the difference.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan books for the opportunity to read The Trees Grew Because I Bled There for an honest review.

This book comprises of 8 dark literary stories that are meant to explore the dark side of love, tales of grief, obsession and control. The stories range from online posts that chronicle a cancer diagnosis to a toxic relationship with a terrifying consequence.

What can I say about this book other than it did what it was meant to do. I felt all of the emotions while reading this collection of stories from grief to disgust or horror.

Eric LaRocca exceeds at writing painful, uncomfortable and unsettling stories of horror and darkness.

A great collection of short stories for an horror or indie horror fan. The stories certainly left me with a lot to think about and a lot of different emotions which I believe was the intention so bravo to Eric LaRocca these short stories had the right impact.

I picked up a copy of Eric LaRocca’s ‘Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke’ at the end of last year partly because a) I’ve seen it being mentioned everywhere on social media, b) it has a beautiful cover (I know, never judge etc) and c) it has some excellent back cover quotes, Paul Tremblay among them.

Despite not having read this yet I jumped at the chance when this new short story collection ‘The Trees Grew Because I Bled There’ appeared on Net Galley and was lucky enough to be approved.

With an introduction by horror writer Chuck Wendig which drags you in and whets your appetite for what’s to follow. So, is Eric LaRocca living up to the praises of their peers? Based on this set of eight stories, absolutely they are.

From the incredibly strange to the downright horrific, if you like your horror then this should definitely be on your list. Whilst there are out and out bloody visceral nightmarish scenes held within this volume, LaRocca also uses imaginary horror. This is brilliantly portrayed in the tale, ‘Bodies are for Burning’ as protagonist Hailey has a fixation, a desire, to burn things. Which causes problems when her sister brings her one-year old niece over to babysit.

The other stand out for me is ‘You’re not Supposed to be Here’ – a mash up, in my eyes, of Tremblay’s stylistic ‘The Cabin At The End of The World’ and Adrian McKinty’s ‘The Chain’ but much more instant and intense from the get go. Paths cross in a public park and straight away you get the feeling something is not quite right – and a chain of events is slowly set in motion. Terrifying.

The majority of the remaining stories are each frightening in their own unique way. There’s a constant theme running throughout based around family and loss – which is even more horrifying when you find out what your closest relation could be capable of.

All in all a pretty sound collection to savour – or be disgusted in. Or both. You choose.

Huge thank you to Titan Books for this e-arc of The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories by Eric LaRocca. This is the second short story collection I have read by LaRocca and just wow.

Although they may have been short in length, each packed a punch and left me with chills. I'm not usually a fan of shorts, definitely struggled getting into them in the past but these were great. Throughout the collection, there's just such feeling of suspense and eeriness which has the reader wondering what story is coming next. They're very dark, twisted and yet also human. The while collection is eloquently written with each tale being the exact length it needed to be.

If you're a fan of dark, psychological horror or creepy short stories, this will be for you! Highly recommend and can't wait to see more from LaRocca!

* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *