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The Roots Run Deep: Horror Short Story Collection
From the twisted imagination of C.M. Forest, the acclaimed author of Infested, comes a collection of 15 horror stories that will drag you into the abyss of fear and despair.
Brace yourself for an unrelenting journey through a world where evil knows no bounds, and darkness consumes all.
Praises for
the roots run deep
The Roots Run Deep is a hard-hitting collection of cosmic, weird, and fresh short horror fiction. CM Forest really brings it with this one—a welcome sucker-punch of a book I never saw coming.
Caleb Stephens - Award-winning author of The Girls in the Cabin and Feeders
“I’m not sure I’ve ever read a collection that taps into such a sheer variety of fears. He showed his talent with Infested, and it’s clear he’s taking his writing to the next level. Forest is one of the most imaginative writers in horror today.”
Drew Starling - bestselling author of Sentinel, Nothus and After
“The Roots Run Deep is a horror snack in all the best ways. Bite-sized, incredibly addictive short stories that’ll have you promising yourself that you’ll only indulge in one, only to find you’ve devoured the whole thing in a single sitting. Each tale was unique, engaging, and deliciously twisted. Not only that, they showed Christian’s evolution into the fantastic horror author he’s become. This collection was a treat.”
Shelly Campbell - author of Gulf and Breach
“This collection is an unsettling and evocative cornucopia of fears, some familiar, along with many brand new. Thanks to these stories, I have added quite a few items to my list of “hell no” places, creatures and occurrences. The most moths, donut glaze, disappearing from existence, black slime covering the earth, and McDonalds play land. If you’re looking for something refreshing in horror, just in time for spooky season, add this one to the TBR.”
Ben Young - author of Stuck
Brace yourself for an unrelenting journey through a world where evil knows no bounds, and darkness consumes all.
Praises for
the roots run deep
The Roots Run Deep is a hard-hitting collection of cosmic, weird, and fresh short horror fiction. CM Forest really brings it with this one—a welcome sucker-punch of a book I never saw coming.
Caleb Stephens - Award-winning author of The Girls in the Cabin and Feeders
“I’m not sure I’ve ever read a collection that taps into such a sheer variety of fears. He showed his talent with Infested, and it’s clear he’s taking his writing to the next level. Forest is one of the most imaginative writers in horror today.”
Drew Starling - bestselling author of Sentinel, Nothus and After
“The Roots Run Deep is a horror snack in all the best ways. Bite-sized, incredibly addictive short stories that’ll have you promising yourself that you’ll only indulge in one, only to find you’ve devoured the whole thing in a single sitting. Each tale was unique, engaging, and deliciously twisted. Not only that, they showed Christian’s evolution into the fantastic horror author he’s become. This collection was a treat.”
Shelly Campbell - author of Gulf and Breach
“This collection is an unsettling and evocative cornucopia of fears, some familiar, along with many brand new. Thanks to these stories, I have added quite a few items to my list of “hell no” places, creatures and occurrences. The most moths, donut glaze, disappearing from existence, black slime covering the earth, and McDonalds play land. If you’re looking for something refreshing in horror, just in time for spooky season, add this one to the TBR.”
Ben Young - author of Stuck
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Forest
18 books96 followersC.M. Forest, also known as Christian Laforet, is the author of the novel Infested, as well as the novella We All Fall Before the Harvest. A self-proclaimed horror movie expert, he spent an embarrassing amount of his youth watching scary movies. When not writing, he lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife, kids, three cats and a pandemic dog named Sully who has an ongoing love affair with a blanket. Find him online at ChristianLaforet.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2024
5/5 stars . A solid collection of horror short stories. C.M.Forest has a way of pulling the reader in on each story. There is a variety of horror told here; from sci-fi to poetry to vampires and primal fear. A great read from cover to cover.
October 19, 2024
The Roots Run Deep and Other Stories by C. M. Forest
C. M. Forest is one of my favorite authors I have found. His debut novel, Infested, turned this author into an auto-buy for all his magnificent books and stories. This collection, however, is a fantastic assortment of stories which shines his ability to pull you in and keep you devouring them all. I’m going to break down the stories to show you the range in which he writes.
Home - A quick, dark poem about what a home sees and feels. At just 21 lines, the poem gives the aura of a bleak, yet happy, home. The ups and downs of life, absorbed into the walls of the home.
What The Storm Brought In - When a storm washes up an unexpected guest onto a secluded beach, the effects of this guest are unexpected. This is a unique story with a completely unpredictable ending. This little doozy of a story has the same vibe as his novella We All Fall Before the Harvest (which I HIGHLY recommend).
Born Of Death - A cable guy is on a mission to find where some stolen service is coming from. Let me just say, this isn’t what you think. He ends up finding way more than he thought he would! The imagination to come up with all the different twists this story takes; I have to wonder what it is like living in Forest’s head.
On A Dark Road - A woman gives birth. I won’t say more than that. A very short and messed up story.
Glass Weavers - Cosmic horror. Jonah is on a ship and has a particular routine he follows, until one day, one little issue causes a massive wave of oh-shits.
Hunger - You start this story with Gordan visiting a location where Maddie disappeared. You’ll never guess where she ended up.
Playground - Have you ever been to one of fast-food restaurants that has those indoor playgrounds for the little kids? If you have… be prepared. If you have not… you will soon find out that perhaps you shouldn’t. A weird story.
Reggie VS. The Moths - The best line from this little short story, “fudge nuggets and fries!” Reggie is just a little ol’ man doing his simple little ol’ job. He doesn’t need all this extra stress and goes to great lengths to fix this issue.
Gone - Travis has a business meeting at a hotel, but he can’t find anyone. He starts looking around and the oddity of the surrounding silence is nerve-wracking. I really enjoyed this story.
The House In the Ground - The plot twist in this one will really throw you for a loop! William is running away and finds a house… in the ground.
Time To Make Donuts - Not gonna lie, I craved donuts when I read the title. After reading the story, I changed my mind so fast. A weird alternate-reality type of story.
We Called It Mother - Okay, WTH?? A group of teenagers are on a bus heading for summer camp when they get into an accident. You want to know how to turn a life-altering, teenager survival horror story into just a few pages? Read this one and find out. The connection of calling this thing ‘Mother’ is way out there.
Blood and Snow - A husband and wife are on the way to a cabin in the middle of winter when the husband stumbles upon a nasty creature. Revenge story… sweet and epic.
Transmissions - I absolutely gravitate towards epistolary stories and this one delivers. Another cosmic horror story. Bleak, lonely, devastatingly horrific.
The Roots Run Deep - I think this is a sad story. Julie is taking her sister's ashes to the ocean.
I am not at all surprised that I loved all of these stories. Forest’s ability to put together such an array of short stories that touch on just about every sub-genre in horror, is quite impressive. From eco-horror to cosmic-horror, there is something for everyone in this collection. Also, the way he writes with just fluid smoothness, makes him one of the best authors to read. Forest is certainly a writer to look for. He is definitely going to be writing some top-notch stories.
You can find many more stories in numerous anthologies. His website, ChristianLaforet.com, can direct you to those books.
C. M. Forest is one of my favorite authors I have found. His debut novel, Infested, turned this author into an auto-buy for all his magnificent books and stories. This collection, however, is a fantastic assortment of stories which shines his ability to pull you in and keep you devouring them all. I’m going to break down the stories to show you the range in which he writes.
Home - A quick, dark poem about what a home sees and feels. At just 21 lines, the poem gives the aura of a bleak, yet happy, home. The ups and downs of life, absorbed into the walls of the home.
What The Storm Brought In - When a storm washes up an unexpected guest onto a secluded beach, the effects of this guest are unexpected. This is a unique story with a completely unpredictable ending. This little doozy of a story has the same vibe as his novella We All Fall Before the Harvest (which I HIGHLY recommend).
Born Of Death - A cable guy is on a mission to find where some stolen service is coming from. Let me just say, this isn’t what you think. He ends up finding way more than he thought he would! The imagination to come up with all the different twists this story takes; I have to wonder what it is like living in Forest’s head.
On A Dark Road - A woman gives birth. I won’t say more than that. A very short and messed up story.
Glass Weavers - Cosmic horror. Jonah is on a ship and has a particular routine he follows, until one day, one little issue causes a massive wave of oh-shits.
Hunger - You start this story with Gordan visiting a location where Maddie disappeared. You’ll never guess where she ended up.
Playground - Have you ever been to one of fast-food restaurants that has those indoor playgrounds for the little kids? If you have… be prepared. If you have not… you will soon find out that perhaps you shouldn’t. A weird story.
Reggie VS. The Moths - The best line from this little short story, “fudge nuggets and fries!” Reggie is just a little ol’ man doing his simple little ol’ job. He doesn’t need all this extra stress and goes to great lengths to fix this issue.
Gone - Travis has a business meeting at a hotel, but he can’t find anyone. He starts looking around and the oddity of the surrounding silence is nerve-wracking. I really enjoyed this story.
The House In the Ground - The plot twist in this one will really throw you for a loop! William is running away and finds a house… in the ground.
Time To Make Donuts - Not gonna lie, I craved donuts when I read the title. After reading the story, I changed my mind so fast. A weird alternate-reality type of story.
We Called It Mother - Okay, WTH?? A group of teenagers are on a bus heading for summer camp when they get into an accident. You want to know how to turn a life-altering, teenager survival horror story into just a few pages? Read this one and find out. The connection of calling this thing ‘Mother’ is way out there.
Blood and Snow - A husband and wife are on the way to a cabin in the middle of winter when the husband stumbles upon a nasty creature. Revenge story… sweet and epic.
Transmissions - I absolutely gravitate towards epistolary stories and this one delivers. Another cosmic horror story. Bleak, lonely, devastatingly horrific.
The Roots Run Deep - I think this is a sad story. Julie is taking her sister's ashes to the ocean.
I am not at all surprised that I loved all of these stories. Forest’s ability to put together such an array of short stories that touch on just about every sub-genre in horror, is quite impressive. From eco-horror to cosmic-horror, there is something for everyone in this collection. Also, the way he writes with just fluid smoothness, makes him one of the best authors to read. Forest is certainly a writer to look for. He is definitely going to be writing some top-notch stories.
You can find many more stories in numerous anthologies. His website, ChristianLaforet.com, can direct you to those books.
December 31, 2024
An entertaining collection! Had me gagging and shivering! Had me cheering and goosebumping! Another stellar book by horror writer Christian Laforet - my friend and writing partner! Woohoo! Keep up the horrific work, my friend!
February 16, 2025
A thrilling and chilling collection of stories.
With a good mix of horror from realistic to fantastic, and some unexpected humour, the stories in The Roots Run Deep will keep you coming back for more.
Great looking cover on the shelf, too!
With a good mix of horror from realistic to fantastic, and some unexpected humour, the stories in The Roots Run Deep will keep you coming back for more.
Great looking cover on the shelf, too!
October 9, 2024
A wonderfully imaginative and terrifying collection of stories that takes you from outer space to the Wild West. Great to see the author continuing to hone his craft with every new release.
November 15, 2024
I very much enjoyed this book. It’s filled with terrifying stories I still think about, and the authors word choices and phrases are incredible.
November 25, 2024
Engaging and suspenseful, just how I like it. Great variety too
Loved the variety of stories and the suspense in each for very different reasons. Love this new author. Following :)
Loved the variety of stories and the suspense in each for very different reasons. Love this new author. Following :)
October 29, 2024
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is a collection of stories, billed as horror.
Now, pre-kindle days, I was a horror reader, and it's been some time since I delved into the genre. And while these are mind-provoking, I wouldn't quite class them as horror, as such.
That said, they are all short, sharp shocks into the mind of Foster and how they tell their tales. I've not read any of their work before, though, and I really enjoyed this little peek into their mind.
Some stories were grabbing, and didn't let go. Some were just good. I got lost in the space story, to be honest but I did read them all.
I will never look at a glazed doughnut in the same way, ever again! Moths are definitely on my nope list, and the beach after a storm will be a bit dicey!
So, scary? Yes. Make you think? Yes. But for me, not quite what I would call horror but still an extremely good set of shorts, that make me want to read something longer and more in depth by this author.
4 very good stars across the set, but stand out for the beach story, the doughnut one and the tree.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is a collection of stories, billed as horror.
Now, pre-kindle days, I was a horror reader, and it's been some time since I delved into the genre. And while these are mind-provoking, I wouldn't quite class them as horror, as such.
That said, they are all short, sharp shocks into the mind of Foster and how they tell their tales. I've not read any of their work before, though, and I really enjoyed this little peek into their mind.
Some stories were grabbing, and didn't let go. Some were just good. I got lost in the space story, to be honest but I did read them all.
I will never look at a glazed doughnut in the same way, ever again! Moths are definitely on my nope list, and the beach after a storm will be a bit dicey!
So, scary? Yes. Make you think? Yes. But for me, not quite what I would call horror but still an extremely good set of shorts, that make me want to read something longer and more in depth by this author.
4 very good stars across the set, but stand out for the beach story, the doughnut one and the tree.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
August 26, 2024
The Roots Run Deep is a horror snack in all the best ways. Bite-sized, incredibly addictive short stories that’ll have you promising yourself that you’ll only indulge in one, only to find you’ve devoured the whole thing in a single sitting. Each tale was unique, engaging, and deliciously twisted. Not only that, they showed Christian’s evolution into the fantastic horror author he’s become. This collection was a treat.
August 27, 2024
This collection is an unsettling and evocative cornucopia of fears, some familiar, along with many brand new. Thanks to these stories, I have added quite a few items to my list of “hell no” places, creatures and occurrences. The most noteworthy: moths, donut glaze, disappearing from existence, black slime covering the earth, and McDonalds play land. If you’re looking for something refreshing in horror, just in time for spooky season, add this one to the TBR.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews