The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories

Title: The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories
Author: Eric LaRocca
First Published: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 178
Genre: Horror, LGBTQ, Short Stories
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: NetGalley, Purchased
Rating:


Synopsis:

A beautifully crafted, devastating short fiction collection from the Bram-Stoker finalist and author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes. Includes an introduction from acclaimed bestselling author Chuck Wendig.

Eight stories of literary dark fiction from a master storyteller. Exploring the shadow side of love, these are tales of grief, obsession, control. Intricate examinations of trauma and tragedy in raw, poetic prose. In these narratives, a woman imagines horrific scenarios whilst caring for her infant niece; on-line posts chronicle a cancer diagnosis; a couple in the park with their small child encounter a stranger with horrific consequences; a toxic relationship reaches a terrifying resolution…

Originally published under the title The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales, this is a much-praised collection of deeply unsettling, painfully dark tales.

Buy the Book: Amazon

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Review

Eric LaRocca has shot to the top of my favorite author list in one year. I’ve been dazzled by the depth and breadth of his understanding of the human condition. His talents are on full display here. The Trees Grew Because I Bled There is a vicious collection of short stories with consistent themes about terminal illness and the ways that people hurt the ones they profess to love.

There is a lot to admire about this collection. There wasn’t a single story that I disliked, which is a miracle for any short story collection, even among my most trusted authors. It’s hard to pick favorites. More than one of these stories caused me to gasp, laugh, and curse; I didn’t want to put the book down.

I’m almost mad at myself for waiting so long to read this book because it is one of Eric LaRocca’s strongest works, bar none. I picked up an eARC of this book before I had read any of LaRocca’s books, and for some insane reason, I read five of his other books before finally coming back to this one. I regret holding off on some level, but at the same time, I don’t because it gave me a chance to fall in love with so many of his other books before becoming spoiled by this one.

Once I finished the second to last story, I put my Kindle down and immediately purchased the hardcover edition. I knew this was a book that I wanted to have on my shelves to read again and share with the people I love. My honest recommendation? If you love horror and haven’t read any of Eric LaRocca’s books, make this the one you read if you could only choose one. If you’ve read LaRocca’s Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke because it went viral and disliked it, as I had, you might find better luck with this one. I’m not kidding; this book is a gem.

Individual Story Notes:

♥ You Follow Wherever They Go: This story begins the collection on an emotionally somber note. The young narrator is afraid to join the children as his father gently coaxes him to go. The story invites readers to come to their own conclusions about the story.

♥ Bodies Are For Burning: I found this story to be stressful to read, and I felt genuinely afraid for the character in this story. The narrator is a pyromaniac with some startlingly horrifying intrusive thoughts.

♥ The Strange Thing We Become: This story was the original titular story for this collection, and for good reason. The story is told through a series of forum posts about a woman, her family, and her wife. Terminal illness is another major theme in this story and the narrative was emotionally heavy.

♥ The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: A gruesome delight. It perfectly captures the misery of being in a one-sided relationship with a selfish partner. This one made me laugh out loud with delicious satisfaction. An utterly vicious story.

♥ You’re Not Supposed to Be Here: This story was deceptively evil and deeply uncomfortable, the revelations about the lengths that people will go in the name of family is chilling. It was my worst nightmare, both as a parent and as someone that has serious social anxiety. I was exhilarated by the end despite the subject matter.

♥ Where Flames Burned Emerald As Grass: I think this story may be the one that comes the closest to the supernatural, but not in the way one might expect. A widowed father is on vacation abroad with his daughter and encounters a charming stranger. This story definitely makes me second-guess my desire to travel with my kids. I liked that the ending begs the question of if the supernatural aspects were real, or if everything was that carefully orchestrated, perhaps both?

♥ I’ll Be Gone By Then: I was blown away by this story about a woman who finds herself saddled with caring for a mother that she resents. The narrator’s emotions are like a torrent threatening to overflow, and those feelings hit way too close to home.

♥ Please Leave or I’m Going to Hurt You: Wow, what a stunner of a final story that beautifully wraps up this collection. It is a deeply uncomfortable story about a man selecting a final resting place for his father and the regret of not pursuing his deepest desires. Highly disturbing and delivered perfectly with LaRocca’s unflinching prose.

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