A review by nyfrea
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories by Eric LaRocca

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was my first book by this author and I overall enjoyed my experience with it. Not every single story worked for me, but the ones which did work, impressed me by their ...rawness and depiction of highly complicated human emotions. Sometimes it was very subtle, other times ... not so much. Definitely interesting, but it might be a miss for people who are looking for more well known and loved horror elements (Idk, creepy haunted houses woth ghosts, monsters/chainsaw action, gore and so forth😂).
No, these stories here are much closer to everyday life and deal mostly with topics such as grief and loss.

My list of each story + rating, starting with the highest rating:
  • The strange things we become 5/5 --> I've got goosebumps at the end, strongest physical and emotional response
  • Bodies are for burning 4,25/5
  • The trees grew because I bled there 4/5
  • You're not supposed to be here 4/5
  • Where flames burned emerald as grass 3,5/5
  • You follow wherever they go 3/5
  • I'll be gone by then 3/5
  • Please leave or I'm going to hurt you 2/5