So excited to be part of the book tour for this creepy little gem!
Thank you Titan Books for the gifted copy and for having me on the tour
WE ARE ALWAYS TENDER WITH OUR DEAD – Eric LaRocca (Releasing September 9th, 2025)
You can see my thoughts on their other books here!
Book Description:
Michael McDowell’s Blackwater meets Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show in the disturbing first installment of a new trilogy of intense, visceral, beautifully written queer horror set in a small New England town.
A chilling supernatural tale of transgressive literary horror from the Bram Stoker Award® finalist and Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke.
The lives of those residing in the isolated town of Burnt Sparrow, New Hampshire, are forever altered after three faceless entities arrive on Christmas morning to perform a brutal act of violence—a senseless tragedy that can never be undone. While the townspeople grieve their losses and grapple with the aftermath of the attack, a young teenage boy named Rupert Cromwell is forced to confront the painful realities of his family situation. Once relationships become intertwined and more carnage ensues as a result of the massacre, the town residents quickly learn that true retribution is futile, cruelty is earned, and certain thresholds must never be crossed no matter what.
Engrossing, atmospheric, and unsettling, this is a devastating story of a small New England community rocked by an unforgivable act of violence. Writing with visceral intensity and profound eloquence, LaRocca journeys deep into the dark heart of Burnt Sparrow, leaving you chilled to the bone and wanting more.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
When I tell you this title is a liar. Oh boy. What I’ve learned about reading an Eric LaRocca book is that you never truly know what you’re getting into. Horror? Yes, but the overall theme/vibe, good luck guessing! The most consistent thing about their books is that you know to expect something truly visceral, unique, unsettling, dark, heartbreaking, and sometimes, there’s a small glimmer of hope for some of the characters involved.
Burnt Sparrow is a dark and bleak small town in New Hampshire. A senseless act of violence on Christmas day is just the beginning. Three of the townspeople are in charge of keeping an eye on the crime scene and the bodies – two of those being Rupert and his father. To say they have a complicated relationship is a massive understatement and things only get tested further. It is very hard to dive into the plot because I don’t want to risk spoiling anything. I have many questions – the elders? Who are they and why are they taking over this tragedy? I got major cultish vibes. Many ‘whys’ as to what happened with the victims.
This is book one in a trilogy, and I will be anxiously waiting for the next book. There are so many loose ends and I know book one is laying the groundwork for more to come. That’s something about a series, there will always be a book (or multiple depending on how big the series is) that may not have all of the answers or will feel incomplete for some readers. I think here we have just enough information to pique that interest and I am basically demanding more at this point. For those who are not familiar with LaRocca’s books, PLEASE read the trigger warnings. I know some people don’t like to do that for fear of ‘spoilers’ but if you’re newer to this author or flavor of horror, then I highly recommend it. For the fans of the genre and this author – prepare for the depravity, violence, and to be completely disturbed in the best way possible.
Jessicamap Reviews 