This is the kind of horror that doesn’t just give you chills, no… it crawls under your skin, sits heavy in your chest, and dares you to look away. Every line feels intentional, teetering between lyrical beauty and full-body unease. It’s less about cheap scares and more about atmosphere, tension, and the kind of emotional weight that makes you question your own limits. There’s a quiet tenderness threaded through the darkness, the kind that makes the unsettling moments hit even harder.

The pacing is hypnotic; slow in a way that forces you to sink into it, to absorb every detail, every uncomfortable beat. By the end, you’re left with more questions than answers, but in the best possible way, the kind that keeps you thinking long after you’ve closed the book.

⚠️ TW: extreme violence, gore, sexual violence, necrophilia, child abuse, animal death, grief, queerphobia, and other deeply disturbing content. Take them seriously.

If you like your horror beautifully written, deeply unnerving, and completely unwilling to play it safe, this one will leave a mark you won’t forget.

oof. this hurts.

As a huge LaRocca fan, I was stoked to get this arc of book one in a new trilogy! I love LaRocca's writing and the nasty, grotesque things they produce out of their mind, but this was just ..disappointing.

I'll try my best to explain the plot, but honestly, I probably won't do a good job as the plot was pretty hard to locate throughout this novel. Welcome to Burnt Sparrow, a small town that has been plagued by many strange occurrences, and most recently a horrific massacre at the towns Christmas parade. When the group responsible for the brutal killings is apprehended, the story begins.

We start off the book reading from Rupert's perspective - a 17 year old boy who has a complicated relationship with his father. This was honestly kind of a drag to get through. I found it difficult to connect to Rupert or care about anything with his character. At times, it was very long winded and info-dumpy feeling getting introduced to Rupert and his inner conflict. I also can't pinpoint exactly what it was, but I did not enjoy the way the narrative was written in Rupert's parts. It just did not measure up to what I would expect from Larocca, knowing they can deliver way better. Partway through, the book switches to our second perspective, Gladys - the woman married to the most wealthy man who resides in Burnt Sparrow. I found the writing seemed to improve during Gladys' chapters and I enjoyed reading from her far more. I think her character had the depth that Rupert was lacking and also an intriguing life/storyline.

I feel so let down that all I can say about this is that 90% of the book felt pointless. I wanted more lore on Burnt Sparrow and background on the town. We know that it's an odd small town where tragedies have occurred, and clearly still do, but the concept is not explored to its full potential. Of course, being the first book in a trilogy, you can't expect everything to be revealed up front - yet you also can't leave the reader hanging and expect them to just pick up the next book without giving them something to look forward to. I think this could have been far better with a little more world building and more information on the town instead of so much focus on the characters' inner monologue and descriptions of mundane activities.

Overall, nothing like what I was hoping for and I will likely not read on in the series, but I still enthusiastically look forward to LaRocca's other upcoming releases.

3.5/5 rounding up.
The New England small town of Burnt Sparrow has seen it's share of horror. But when three faceless entities arrive on Christmas morning to preform a brutal act of violence the town is sent spiraling again. While the town is grappling with the aftermath of the attack, and demanding retribution, a teenage boy named Rupert is forced to face the painful reality of his own life and his difficult familial situation. As relationships in the town intertwine, the townspeople quickly realize that cruelty and justice don't come easy and that this won't be the last horrifying event that happens in Burnt Sparrow.

I'm happy to know that this isn't the only book and that this book is the first of a trilogy because it truly left me wanting more. This book was weird in all the right ways. Sure, at time I didn't really know what was happening or where the plot was going but there was never a time where I got bored and there was never a time where I was frustrated with the plot. The plot continuously left me wanting answers and kept me captivated throughout the entire book.
There are multiple parts of this story that seem to lag, but I think the reason why they seem to lag is because it's repetitive. There is a lot in this book that is repetitive which is annoying because though this is the first book in the series, there are a lot of questions that don't have answers. It's honestly giving nothing. I can see how some people would get upset while reading this because we are constantly getting more and more story with little to no answers about any of the events that have previously happened. I do also believe that since this book is the first in a trilogy we should have been left with a cliff hanger, the ending was lacking a bit for my liking.
While I would have at least like a couple things answered in this book, just to keep my interest peaked for the next in the series, I will say that I am excited to read more about the horrors of this small town. I think if we had at least a little bit more of a structured story line instead of a ore vague one I would be more excited for the next installment, but alas, I will still be picking up book two in hopes that some of my questions will be answered.

So much darker than I realised. Truly uncomfortable in many ways, gory and gross and made you feel weird to look too close. Exactly as the author intended. The creepy small town setting was perfect. I can't wait for the next in the series.

I’m familiar with LaRocca’s works and understand what they are capable of in terms of transgressive horror. I found this to be shocking for the sake of shock factor. Sometimes, that is okay, but not when dealing with the sensitive nature that is dealt with in this novel. I wasn’t aware of any deeper messaging or meaning which was trying to be conveyed through this story. If you are going to go to the places this story went, I expect something coming out the other side.

Despite the sensitive topics explored, the story itself didn’t feel cohesive in the slightest. We jump around from characters and media forms with seemingly no connection in a rushed fashion. I understand this is book one of three but, if I were to continue in the series, I need much much more to keep me interested in this world.

Overall, I was quite disappointed by this and left feeling that I will not be returning to the world of Burnt Sparrow upon the next two books releases.

This book genuinely fucked me up. I read a lot of fucked up stories and watched a lot of weird movies but this one topped all of them I think. The trigger warnings are definitely not there to fuck around, but what I still appreciate about the way Eric LaRocca writes is that they don’t glorify any of the things happening and they don’t humiliate victims. This is not just torture porn and romanticism of themes that are very difficult to stomach, this is genuine art.

I advise to put this book down whenever you need to, if you’re not feeling up to it emotionally, but when you pick it back up you’ll as yourself “What the fuck am I reading?” And you’ll love it! If you’re into Eric LaRoccas other Novels, in general weird horror books, fucked up topics and just genuine poetic writing you came to the right place!

I understood nothing that took place in this book and I need more please.

This story took awhile for me to get into it and I think by the end of it, I still was not sure I understood it fully. Yes, there is a horrible massacre and odd ”creature”-kind of family in the small town called Burnt Sparrow, and we follow up two very heavy, sad and unfortunate lives - but other than that it was just weird, gross, sad vibes. Which I like, don’t get me wrong!

I rated this first 3/5 but since it will be trilogy series, I am very curious to see how all pieces are put together. I’m ending my rating 4/5 because it did give me ”good” time eventhough story and characters seemed out of place at the times - but maybe that was the whole point? Looking forward to reading other parts.

This book is… uncomfortably real in the way only Eric LaRocca can deliver. It digs deep into grief, shame, and the things we try not to say out loud—and then makes you sit with them.

From the first chapter, the atmosphere is thick with dread. The inclusion of newspaper clippings and other ephemera gave it a unique, immersive structure I really enjoyed. The horror here is not meant to shock—it’s meant to fester. And it does.

That said, some plot threads remain intentionally unresolved, which worked for the tone but left me wanting just a little more closure. Still, the ending was disturbing enough to bump it from 3 to 3.5 stars.

If you like your horror emotional, brutal, and steeped in communal rot, this one will linger with you long after the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

that was one heavy book, i loved it as expected of larocca now. i am always fascinated with how is written the lowest of humanity. the novel calls for a lot of questions about the faceless and what they represent but i am so curious about them still. i think it was great book to deep dive into what the lowest of people can do in those circumstances

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for this ARC.

I have read and own everything released by Eric LaRocca. He does warn us that this a dark book and he was not wrong!

This was very different to his other books, as I would classify it as splatterpunk. The violence in this book was very severe and graphic and the human emotions were tangible.

This is a great splatterpunk and a good horror, worth a read.

this one wasn't really for me! i've liked some of his other stuff but this one was such a drag for only 200 pages that i just didnt even care.

Beautifully written book. LaRocca really exposes the horror of human nature in his work. Visceral, disturbing but completely compelling. I will definitely be recommending this book and excited to read the next instalment in the series.

WE ARE ALWAYS TENDER WITH OUR DEAD is a brutal work of transgressive horror. Once again, Eric LaRocca weaves a beautifully written, haunting story. There were points when I felt violated and sat there thinking, “He went there! He actually went there!” Burnt Sparrow, New Hampshire, will likely become a terror destination up there with Castle Rock, Maine, and I’m looking forward to the return trip.

We Are Always Tender With Our Dead is a grippingly dark novel full to the brim with hard lines that you wouldn’t be expected to cross but Eric LaRocca pushes you too. This book was very gripping and packed a punch, it’s one of the best Horror novels I’ve read in a long time!! Not all horror novels affect me quite like this one but I was cleaning up corpses in my dream two nights running after reading this one.
Eric LaRocca’s writing definitely leaves a disturbing impression, pushing you into such a dark landscape of misfortune, grief and unease so early on and it never lets go as the story develops so does the intensity so buckle up.
We follow the story through the lens of a young queer boy Rupert, who’s lost his loving mother and is living alone with his father who’s becoming more estranged and distant.
Rupert’s dream of running away from the isolated town of Burnt Sparrow becomes impossible when a town tragedy occurs, leaving the Elders to make a strange decision, one that lures people into making unexpectedly hideous choices that impact everyone around them.
Eric LaRocca’s genius characters and world building leaves you feeling immersed, yet trapped in a nightmare that you’re unable to look away from. Powerful, tense and uncomfortable yet it’s so good you won’t be able to put it down and I’m already waiting for the second instalment of the Burnt Sparrow series.

As a fan of LaRocca's previous works, I was genuinely excited to delve into "We Are Always Tender With Our Dead." But as someone who values the flow and texture of language—whether lush or spare—I found the narration here surprisingly mechanical. The prose leaned toward straightforward, emotionally pared-down sentences that felt more like placeholders in an early draft than deliberate minimalism. On top of that, the paragraphs often felt slow and meandering, with little sense of momentum or emotional payoff, which left me cold to the characters on the page. My attention kept drifting, and eventually I had to admit this story simply isn’t for me.

As someone who grew up in small town New Hampshire I was really excited for this book and loved the setting. The atmosphere of Burnt Sparrow was so well crafted — the perfect creepy small town vibes. The town felt like a character itself with a vivid history, personality, and intimidation. This book sort of felt like a Supernatural episode by way of Shirley Jackson. The book tackles some really heavy topics and included some stomach-turning moments so definitely one to read the content warnings for.

Well the author warned us the book would have dark points and it most certainly did. I wonder if at points the author was intentionally pushing the limits for the reader to see how far they would go in the book, and if they would keep reading at all. For me the violence went beyond what most people would normally see, but the human emotions behind it felt very real. Trying to connect with people but always struggling because other people are a sum of their own experiences and can only understand the world as they see it.

My favourite thing about the book is how it just steadily got stranger, sometimes the darkest and strangest parts being delivered so casually you almost have to go back and reread what just happened.

I liked all of the characters, who were damaged in their own ways, and without giving away any of the story, they displayed this in different ways. Overall a good horror and I will be looking forward to another in the series!

I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!!

Woof, this was a heavy read. As to be expected by any of LaRocca's works, this is filled with vile acts of the lows of the world. I can't even say the lows of humanity, as it's clear a lot of these characters don't have any left. However, I am very curious about a lot of this plot. Namely the faceless people. I am dying to know why they have no faces, what their whole deal is, and this novel does an excellent job of giving you just enough information to be satisfied, for now, but not enough to feel at peace. Not only am I curious about their looks, but of course, why they did what they did. And, really, how they did it at all. The novel opens up a lot of questions about society at large, small town governments, what happens when people take punishments into their own hands rather than abide by the law. So much happened in this book, and yet I have so many questions remaining. The atrocities the people in this book commit kept me horrified from the beginning, and yet kept me caught like seeing a car crash and being unable to look away. This isn't for the light of heart, but if you can stomach it, it is one hell of a read with dynamics rarely explored.

We Are Always Tender With Our Dead
By: Eric LaRocca
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

Trigger/ Content Warnings: Rape, Incest, Abuse of minors, death of infant, harm to animals/ death of animals, molestation, more rape (graphic depiction), body horror, cult, holding a minor captive, forced confinement, murder, defiling a corpse, necrophilia

Truly, "it's a tale about thresholds-- a legend about crossing a line and testing one's limits"

LaRocca fans may find this book tame compared to others of theirs, while those with sensitive dispositions are likely to be turned off by the graphic nature of the book and repeated depictions of rape.

This is a seriously complex work of art, and to be honest I haven't read anything that has made me think or pushed me to feel in a long time. First off I didn't realize this was going to be the first book in a series, this is probably my fault for not noticing this, so be prepared that nothing is really resolved at the end of this novel. There are also supernatural elements or magical realism, the call is yours to make.

Also this is an extremely dark novel, any form of depravity you can think of, probably exists. I have more to say on this, because it is more complicated than that.

Let's start with what I consider the main theme of the novel; Thresholds. Every character is on the verge of something, and there are some short stories woven into the main story that specifically mention the word "threshold." Just the idea that everyone can see their past, looking to the future, while being stuck waiting to put that first foot forward. One of our main characters Robert is on the verge of adulthood, 17 about to turn 18, and since I don't really get into spoilers in my reviews it's hard to go deeper into his story without explaining some of the other things he has to deal with. I personally found this to be extremely relatable and just a word I hadn't heard in a long time and just really made me think about my choices in life.

Some of the other conflicting feelings come from the fact that while reading about some of the worst things a person can do, some of it is so beautifully written, that you have to stop and remember that what is happening is horrific. There is also a family with no faces, so they are dehumanized, but they are tortured. We the reader know they killed people in the town, but only because we were told that, it happens "off screen," while every other brutality is shown. So there is room for doubt.

My one negative is that towards the end, I thought, there is very little story. A bunch of things happen, we take little detours, but if someone asked me to summarize the story really simply, I couldn't. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but just something I noticed while getting towards the end that just took me out of the Burnt Sparrow world.

This is a hard/beautiful book, but is certainly worth your time. This was my first LaRocca read, and I can't wait to check out his previous work.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Titan Books for letting me read an ARC of Eric LaRocca's Novel "We are Always Tender with Our Dead."