The Roots Grow Into the Earth: A Collection of Short Horror Stories

by Bert S. Lechner

Bert S. Lechner's unique spin on cosmic horror comes to life in this collection of short horror stories. From archaeologists drawn to their doom by hungry nightmares, to a woman wielding the power of her possessor through her enchanted tattoos, The Roots Grow Into the Earth explores a version of our universe drenched in magic and prowled by things that lurk in the darkness between the stars.

This collection contains nine stories, including three stories previously published as Interstate, The Wall, and Joanne's Vault.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2023

About the author

Bert S. Lechner is a cosmic horror author on the autism spectrum.

Reviews

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Roots Grow Into the Earth: A Collection of Short Horror Stories by Bert Lechner was a treat! Let's see how well I can describe my reading experience and do it justice! Have you ever woken from a dream and you feel like you're still swimming through the dream to come back to reality? The stories in this collection all have that feeling. These aren't horror stories written for shock value. These are stories that draw upon the deepest darkest places where our fears live. They aren't stories about the monsters in our nightmares. They're stories about the places where those monsters live and thrive. Do you have the nerve to open the pages of this book and let these stories roam free in your imagination?

The stories found in The Roots Grow Into the Earth throw a nod to some of the classic horror authors such as Poe and Lovecraft. They paint a picture of a world full of dark magic and Powers. I enjoyed all of the stories. I didn't find a weak one in the bunch. But I also had a few favorites including The Orchestra, The Wall, and Joanne's Vault. There are also stories that make you feel deeply (Mourning, and His Castle Crumbles).

I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's writing. This collection gets five stars from me. I received a free ebook in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts and opinions reflected here are completely my own.

[Frank Atlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review. Thank you Bert for sending me an ARC!

This book had me feeling unsettled from the very beginning. “The Roots Grow Into The Earth” is so nicely written, descriptive, creepy, unsettling. A fantastic collection of short stories, but all connected. I cannot wait for more from Bert, he truly has the craft of writing down and is a fantastic story teller!! Disturbing body horror(without being too over the top for those who are not a fan of graphic content) and such chilling cosmic horror. Definitely pick this one up if you have a chance!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So creepy and awesome!! I would definitely recommend this!!

[hannahlovesliteracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review ✨

The Roots Grow Into The Earth: A Collection of Short Horror Stories by Bert S. Lechner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date: October 7th, 2023. Mark your calendars!

This book full of short stories and novelettes is perfect for spooky season and to me…spooky season is all the time! 😜

I enjoyed them from start to finish because they each had a great storyline and Bert sure has a great way of putting the fear in you with each one! It is definitely one of those books that is dark and bone-chilling enough to have you looking around your shoulder when flipping the lights off or asking people “did you hear that?” When the ice maker goes off or the AC flips on and I love that! 🤣🤷🏼‍♀️🖤👻 I highly recommend this book if you love Darkness, Evil, and Horror 😈

Thank you so much @bertwriteshorror for the physical copy and opportunity 👻

#arcreview #arcreviewer #honest #spookyseason #horror #scary #shortstories #novelette #goodreads #evil #bertlechner #thedevilini #slipknotfamily #therootsgrowintotheearth

[Amber Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Roots Grow into the Earth by Bert Lechner is a collection of nine dark tales of otherworldly mayhem. I haven't read much cosmic horror, so I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I'm glad I picked this one up.

The stories take place within what Lechner calls the "Universe of Roots," but that's where most of the similarities end. Each story has a different cast of characters (with one exception) and a new entity that the protagonist must face (or work with). The collection as a whole is fairly short, so it was the perfect book for me to get back into reading after a hiatus.

While there are horrifying otherworldly beasts aplenty, much of the horror is psychological. Whether battling anxiety or fighting against the mental intrusions of an external entity, the main character's internal struggle was a key component of each story. This is something I really appreciated about the collection.

My favorite tales included Mourning, The Orchestra, and Joanne's Vault. However, the final story, His Castle Crumbles, is the collection's crowning glory. It is raw, visceral, and haunting. I felt a little ill reading those last couple of pages, that's how much of an impact it had on me. Although I enjoyed the other stories, this is the one that will stick with me.

A caution with this one, though: even with the fantastical trappings, the domestic violence undertones were pretty clear to me. I think Lechner handled the subject matter incredibly well and I think there are elements of the story that could resonate with a lot of survivors, but if that is something that you struggle to read about, proceed with caution.

I would have liked to see more connection between the various facets of the universe. There's so much to the entities and the magic, and I felt like we were just scratching the surface. Which is not uncommon for short stories, but I need to know more.

But Lechner has plans to write more books within the universe, so hopefully, future releases will expand on the entities and shore up the connections. I look forward to seeing subsequent books in this universe, and if you enjoy cosmic horror, I definitely recommend giving this book a read.

Also, if you're in the Orono area, I did leave a copy in the Little Free Library along the Stillwater River Trail. I imagine it's been picked up by now, but you can always take a peek if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

[Jeremy Crews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free download! I really enjoyed reading this.

Publication date October 7, 2023

Lovecraftian in its style and language, which I DEEPLY respect, though at times it felt overwritten, more like poetry, which isn’t a bad thing; it’s just not my preference overall.
What I liked about these stories is that Burt throws you into the middle of a situation and builds from there, leaving the reader trying to figure out what the hell’s happening. My advice—don’t try and guess. Just go with it. I’d also like to say that atmosphere is a key component here, and it’s dark and it’s gloomy, like winter. Everything’s dead and the sun isn’t shining. I think a lot of people will enjoy this one.
My favorites were Their Eyes Were Dust, The Orchestra, & The Wall.

[Julie Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, beautifully written collection of stories filled with love, pain, and grief.

I am honored to have been able to read this collection and share my thoughts leading up to the exciting debut launch.

Each story is its own unique gem, a pouring of emotion into words that drip humanity onto the page. The writing is brave and authentic as the author opens his soul and shared pieces of himself.

The prose is outstanding, a weaving of words into vivid imagery and gripping emotion.

The Wall had a particularly strong grip on my heart. It is a story that reflects the all too common struggle of a human with the dark thoughts consuming his or her mind. The concept of something looking at him literally from a wall and pulling him deep into his turmoil is imaginative and powerful.

The Orchestra had a close hold on me. The concept of a musical performance so powerful that succumbing to its hold is the only way unfolds in a fascinating and terrifying tale.

This collection is a must for the reader who loves an honest, raw, emotional ride wrapped in the beauty of imagination.

[Benjamin Kardos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, macabre, and surreal, The Roots Grow into the Earth is a must-read for fans of independant cosmic horror short stories.
Bert is clearly influenced by gothic horror literature, and is able to take the classic feel of Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe and masterfully mixes it with a very modern vibe. His prose is excellent.
These stories are bizarre and open for interpretation, so take your time with them. It's great reading for a contemplative rainy evening.
A comparison can easily be made between Bert's work and modern weird fiction authors Thomas Ligotti and Attila Veres. I believe fans of both of these latter writers would find themselves fully absorbed in Bert's stories.
Overall, well worth the read and very affordable on Kindle.
My personal favorites in this 9 story collection are Their Eyes Were Dust, The Orchestra, and White Noise.

[Willie Heredia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started this one on a whim! The title of the collection got my attention first and foremost but I was in a cosmic horror kind of mood (since it’s still a fairly new genre for me) so I jumped right in. And I’m glad I did! If you’re looking for some unique stories with a Lovecraftian style then look no further! I won’t say much but I will say that my favorite has to be “The Orchestra,” one of the best short stories I’ve read in the horror genre, such a well-crafted story! I highly recommend this collection!

[Soren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I read this just in time for spooky season! As someone who’s still relatively new to the horror genre, I’m especially excited when I get to read something new and not mainstream. This collection of short horror stories was such a fun read and I enjoyed each one of them. While I felt like some of the stories would have benefitted from being cut a bit, I appreciated the detail the author put into them. They were all atmospheric and creepy, rather than terrifying, allowing me to read them at any time of day (very helpful when you’re busy a lot of the time). I recommend this collection if you’re looking for something quick and spooky to read, rather than something that dives deeper into the horror genre.

I got an eARC of this from Hidden Gems and am choosing to share my honest thoughts on it.

[Julia-Paz Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are very detailed and each one had an ending that felt complete. You can tell who he’s writing from, meaning who his inspirations are but in a good way. The gore and descriptions were made for animations and I would love to one day see at least one of them animated.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the stories in this collection a lot, the wall was very weird and a great story Thanks to Bert S. Lechner for the free copy to read and review.

[Zan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories, The Roots Grow Into The Earth, blew me away. Horror isn't typically my go-to genre, but I am so glad that I gave this a read. The well-crafted stories were imaginative, dark, and raw. Bert is a natural storyteller and his collection of short stories kept my attention, similar to the gothic horror writings of Edgar Allan Poe. I highly recommend his book!

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. Although there are some problems with pacing and dialogue (everyone sounds pretty much the same), and the stories need some cutting down, there are some good, imaginative, and enjoyable stories in this collection. I'll recommend three: "The Orchestra," a wonderful horror tale about the effects of magical tunes played live on an unspecting audience, very well-written; "The Wall," too wordy but still a good story, combining effectively psychological and cosmic horror; and "White Noise," something of a ghost story with nasty imagery. Many thanks to the author for the ARC!

[Mateo Castrejon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing tales. Though my favorite would be the final, each story keeps you drawn for more.

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories tools are fabulous. Some of them even grossed me out which tends to be hard to do. Sometimes it seemed like it was a little overwritten, but not enough for it to be a huge problem. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I would definitely recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kajsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a total hit! I loved every short story in this book. They are classical at the same time as they are modern. They don’t describe monsters and counting on cheap thrills. No, they are more and almost every short story stayed within my mind for a long time. I look forward to reading more books from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this ARC from Hidden Gems Books and this review is, of course, voluntary.

A nice collection of horror stories that's very well-written. The writing is very descriptive, so it paints clear pictures and provides a lot of insight into what the characters are experiencing.

Not all of them were particularly horror-inducing to me personally, but a few of them were very off-putting. My favorite one would be "The Wall."

Also, I'd like to note that the influences the author mentions (Stephen King among them) are clear in his work, but he has his own style. Overall, I recommend this if you like cosmic horror!

[Nicole Luttrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark story well told.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting, unique collection of horror short stories with a great twist at the end of each of them.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unnerving short story collection leans heavily into the cosmic and the weird. Lechner's writing is poetic and emotional. His storytelling style can be ambiguous and meandering, which works in places, although I found some of the narratives confusing. However, this approach makes sense with the author's intent of creating melancholy and macabre moments of unreality and the unknown.

Favorite stories for me were Interstate, about a woman battling a cosmic evil on the side of a highway, His Castle Crumbles, about a man trying to hold together his reality through the worship of an otherworldly Patron, and the absolute stand out, The Orchestra, a beautifully violent tale of a transcendent piece of music that has a maddening effect on its listeners.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in these stories was very well done, but I guess they just weren't for me. I mean I've read some weird stuff like the Area X books, but this was even beyond that lol. Most of it made no sense. Seems like most had to do with possession of some kind

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
These short horror stories are spooky, dark, and
bone chilling.
Darkness, evil and horror bring a sense of dread.
Wow, so entertaining. Don't miss.

[Nadine Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮.
‌
I don’t know how I do it and it’s never planned but often times I end up with similarly themed books back to back. Having just finished The Dead Take the A Train which was also cosmic occult horror this was a perfect pairing that I couldn’t have timed better myself.
‌
“𝙸𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚜, 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚌 𝚐𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑: 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚎𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜, 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚢, 𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚞𝚗𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜.”
‌
This is the first I’ve read from Lechner and I didn’t know what to expect but I’m blown away. His writing style just flows, his prose is visual and rhythmic without being flowery or wordy. And it makes the psychological and body horror
that much more haunting and visceral. I loved how the author took the roots theme and really interweaved it subtly throughout each story as if the book itself had laid its roots in the pages.
‌
The pacing 🙌! The stories are of various lengths and I loved that there a few really short ones in between the longer ones. Very well thought out.
‌
Some standout stories for me:
‌
Interstate - so many subtle awesome references to some of my favorite books.
‌
The Orchestra: what a unique story!
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The Wall: this one will mess with your head. What’s real what isn’t. That ending 😮 I have so many questions 😂
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Joanne’s Vault: connected to an earlier story. Very unsettling and uneasy.
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I highly recommend picking up a copy coming Oct.7th everywhere or ebook on Godless Sept 28th!

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from BookSirens, and this review is voluntary

This piece of literature is a compilation of ten individual stories, of the cosmic horror variety. One of those stories combines elements of fantasy, in the sense of magic, spell casting, etc... The writer did well with harnessing the atmosphere of the situation for each plot, which in turn provided an existential pathway for the end, or the big reveal in cosmic horror.

In speaking of the story I enjoyed the most - The Wall, we have Sam, who has walked past a particular portion of a wall in his house at least a hundred times, never having given it much thought, until one day he pauses to take notice. Something caught his attention, but he doesn't know what, just yet. It's that something is off about the wall, and he can't quite put his finger on it. As the days go by, Sam's life is disrupted. His routine is met with obstruction, and a deviation from what he's known for so long. The reasons for such are unknown during this time, but when we get close to the end, we finally understand what's been trying to capture Sam's attention.

Overall, I think it's a strong showing, with fresh ideas for a subgenre that has a lot of untapped potential.

[Billy Loper · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW COPY PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

An excellent collection of short horror and dark fantasy fiction, including two novellas that run on the shorter side. Most of the stories build on themes of body horror, physical abuse, self-mutilation, and cosmic horror, all with excellent effects. Even the stories closer to the fantasy side of things are reminiscent of some of King's dark fantasy works and sure to still hold value for the most die-hard of horror fans.

Bert has crafted an interesting interconnected world here, akin to that of a Lovecraftian mythos, but unique in its painful, visceral language. At times, the language and tone come off as purposefully grotesque, but that only helps drive home the near-constant feeling that there is something, something at the same time natural and unnatural, just beneath your skin.


A hard recommend from me for anybody or cosmic horror fan, and those who like their dark fantasy bloody and psychological.

[Joey Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a weird, dreamlike experience this was!

Though the inspiration from the granddaddy of cosmic horror H.P. Lovecraft is apparent, I found myself most reminded of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The prose incorporates a classic gothic style, displaying Bert Lechner's true love of language.

The stories themselves are appropriately weird and macabre. As is the case with most cosmic horror, the protagonists of each story quickly barrel toward dark fates at the whims of beings and objects of unknown origin.

The stories contain enough variety that I could see anyone coming away from this with a different favorite. "The Wall" was a real standout for me, and if there's one story you read in this collection, that would be the one I recommend. With the whole collection being around novella length, though, you could easily shoot through it in one sitting. Could you do so and keep your sanity? Debatable...

[John Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and filled with a sense of impending dread, The Roots Grow Into the Earth is a collection of cosmic horror shorts that you can tear through rather quickly.

The writing here is superbly descriptive and helps add to the overall creepy atmosphere of the book, although there were times when I felt the descriptions went on just a little too long, but that is a rather minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.

There is something to like in each of the 9 stories, but for me "The Orchestra" is the pick of the bunch. It's music and madness melding together in a grotesque piece of art that is all the more stunning considering how short the piece is.

[Mike Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good. These stories were well woven and very enjoyable. The way they… rhymed with one another was excellent. Cosmic horror fans take note: this is another shining example of what can be done by a person with a great imagination and knack for storytelling. I will say one story didn't gel with me as much, however this collection is very well rounded and varied, which I love seeing! Bravooooooooo Bert, bravo.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[A.P. Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Roots Grow Into The Earth
Author: Bert S. Lechner

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This compilation of short stories is devourable.

Each story has its own length, its own pacing, and its own heavy dose of horror. I found myself turning through the pages, ready and excited for my next scary surprise.

If you were a 90s kid and loved the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark series, but you now want that for an older audience (maybe even mixed in with some eldritch horror vibes?), then this one is 100% made for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️