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Dirt You Shall Become
What terrors hide under the mulch of the compost? What if the weeds aren’t just stubborn - they’re fighting you back. And that garden gnome in the corner by the bush… He’s watching you.
Step into four gardens where beauty is deceiving, life becomes death, and the darkness under the dirt is just the beginning…
Step into four gardens where beauty is deceiving, life becomes death, and the darkness under the dirt is just the beginning…
86 pages, Unknown Binding
Published April 22, 2025
5 people want to read
About the author
Karen Lykkebo
8 books21 followersAuthor of The Palace of Winds trilogy (book 1 Winds of Destruction) and Heir to The Sun.
I write original fantasy with a twist of humor. I love broken families and found family, soft girls who kick ass, and tough guys who cry. I add love of all colors and shape, and touch on heavy subjects of depression, anxiety, and greif.
I write original fantasy with a twist of humor. I love broken families and found family, soft girls who kick ass, and tough guys who cry. I add love of all colors and shape, and touch on heavy subjects of depression, anxiety, and greif.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2025
This was a fun anthology-- I love the unique theme of garden horror. For me not all of the stories felt completely engaging, although Murder, She Grew was fantastic and a great example of how skillfully Karen Lykkebo can write. Worth checking out as a lighthearted and different read
June 24, 2025
This was a terrifying read! Gnomes, terrifying family, strange deer that are determined to get to the goodies, murder, and more. I read this one in one go, I just couldn't stop. Karen Lykkebo has done it again and I would highly recommend this one!
August 10, 2025
I loved the concept of this book, I breezed through it in a single sitting!
Dirt You Shall Become is a collection of gardening inspired horror stories, which for me at least was an entirely alien concept, so I knew I had to check it out. Creepy and eerie in equal measure, from flesh-eating compost to tulip coveting deer, and throw in some weird garden gnomes too!
Definitely check out this short story collection if you're looking for a fresh take on horror!
Dirt You Shall Become is a collection of gardening inspired horror stories, which for me at least was an entirely alien concept, so I knew I had to check it out. Creepy and eerie in equal measure, from flesh-eating compost to tulip coveting deer, and throw in some weird garden gnomes too!
Definitely check out this short story collection if you're looking for a fresh take on horror!
October 8, 2025
As someone who enjoyed Drowned Hearts immensely and who absolutely loves gardening, I couldn't resist this collection!
One of the many aspects of a Karen Lykkebo book that I always enjoy is the voice in the writing. It immediately draws you in.
The imagery and the turns of phrase used evokes a very creepy feeling. The writing really builds the horror atmosphere. There's always an added creepiness when the threat lives on, too.
The page breaks are very pretty and add to the garden vibes, as well.
Plus, there was the very fun experience of reading My Heart Is A Tulip in a doctor's office being stared at by a photo of two deer!
A really creative and fun collection! Highly recommend! And looking forward to more horror by this amazing author!
One of the many aspects of a Karen Lykkebo book that I always enjoy is the voice in the writing. It immediately draws you in.
The imagery and the turns of phrase used evokes a very creepy feeling. The writing really builds the horror atmosphere. There's always an added creepiness when the threat lives on, too.
The page breaks are very pretty and add to the garden vibes, as well.
Plus, there was the very fun experience of reading My Heart Is A Tulip in a doctor's office being stared at by a photo of two deer!
A really creative and fun collection! Highly recommend! And looking forward to more horror by this amazing author!
December 11, 2025
LOVED this little short story collection! It's perfect year round as there are winter gardens, spring gardens and even summer and autumnal vibes but it feels extra fitting in the dark and stormy winter months.
Karen does horror so well, it's creepy, dark and with just enough roots in reality and Scandinavian folklore, it's hard not to narrow your eyes at the creepy garden gnomes and sneaky deer that will quite literally eat and dig up anything you try to grow if you live in the countryside!
Put the new Florence + The Machine album on, settle with a hot cuppa and get ready to be dragged into the understory of some gardens that are fighting back.
Karen does horror so well, it's creepy, dark and with just enough roots in reality and Scandinavian folklore, it's hard not to narrow your eyes at the creepy garden gnomes and sneaky deer that will quite literally eat and dig up anything you try to grow if you live in the countryside!
Put the new Florence + The Machine album on, settle with a hot cuppa and get ready to be dragged into the understory of some gardens that are fighting back.
July 30, 2025
Dirt You Shall Become is a creepy collection of garden themed horror tales from Karen Lykkebo and it was perfect to dip into when I was in the mood for a dose of darkness. Usually in any collection of stories there is at least one that I find meh, but here every story worked, from disgusting toads to creepy gnomes and of course the odd human monster too , I found something delightfully disturbing in each one, and it made it hard for me to put the book down. Overall an excellent collection and I highly recommend!
July 5, 2025
Every one of these short stories explored different themes, but all linked back to fauna and flora being an uncontrollable force of nature. There is a reason so many monsters and aliens in media have been based on existing creatures - nature is weird and unpredictable. It can be gorgeous and awe inspiring, but also horrific and disturbing, which makes it the perfect subject for horror.
My favourite story was the titular one. There is something about a child’s overactive imagination paired with creepy dark corners that gets me every time.
Overall, I really loved these short stories and they made for the perfect early summer read! My goal was to use each short story as a break between full-length novels, but I accidentally read them all at once. I just couldn’t put it down! The imagery was so vivid and evocative that I could easily picture myself in each setting, smelling the flowers and feeling the heat on my skin.
My favourite story was the titular one. There is something about a child’s overactive imagination paired with creepy dark corners that gets me every time.
Overall, I really loved these short stories and they made for the perfect early summer read! My goal was to use each short story as a break between full-length novels, but I accidentally read them all at once. I just couldn’t put it down! The imagery was so vivid and evocative that I could easily picture myself in each setting, smelling the flowers and feeling the heat on my skin.
June 22, 2025
Honestly, I can't stop thinking about this one. Each story is so distinct, but each one left a sense of creeping dread. I just loved the one with the roses and the creepy deer!
December 31, 2025
Garden horror sounded so weird that I had to give it a try! These stories are told very well. Think of how a garden or back yard is a personal space. Privacy can turn into isolation, and personal spaces can be invaded. It might not always be clear who, exactly, is invading. We think our yards belong to us, but were the plants and nature spirits there first?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews