What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood For The Trees
Emily’s son, Struan, is dead. But the trees still whisper his name—Blood for the trees, they chant, thick with hunger. Desperate, drowning in grief, Emily follows the whispers deep into Black Hollow, where the earth is slick with rot and the dead don’t stay buried. Visions of the burned witch Susannah Bell promise a way to bring Struan back, but resurrection has a price—flesh, bone, blood.
As Emily spills sacrifice into the soil, Struan’s voice grows wrong, twisted with something ancient and starving. By the time she realizes the truth, the trees are already reaching. Black Hollow doesn’t resurrect the dead. It feeds on them. And now, it wants her too.
As Emily spills sacrifice into the soil, Struan’s voice grows wrong, twisted with something ancient and starving. By the time she realizes the truth, the trees are already reaching. Black Hollow doesn’t resurrect the dead. It feeds on them. And now, it wants her too.
- GenresHorror
ebook
Published March 10, 2025
5 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 2, 2025
Goodness me, that was a wild ride. And the thing that really made this so enjoyable was how focused YM Miller kept the story. Not deviating from Emily and Struan, keeping them in the spotlight, but rather just slowly building on top of what was established, step by step. It was a great strategy here, especially with the very rich lore that was put forth. Witch stories aren't my favorite horror subgenre, but I did enjoy this. Good pace, nice flow, plenty of gore and supernatural elements, not too long of an adventure to sift through, and it all just fit together nicely. A very enjoyable tale of the macabre by YM Miller.
May 3, 2025
"The search ended when they found only her teeth in the woods, scattered like breadcrumbs leading nowhere, a grotesque mockery of a trail."
Grief horror - each chapter contains or mentions dark, grotesque and visceral imagery. Expect no less from a splatterpunk author though they say this one is on the tamer side pa 💃
Read if you like witchcraft, generational curses, ancient evil tropes..this reminds me of 'Multo in the City' and 'It Feeds'. Well-written though the plot doesn't really offer anything new and the script and scene sometimes gets a bit repetitive but still interesting enough to continue reading to find out how the characters survive the situation.
This is my first book by the author and I am still interested to check out her other works as well .
Big thanks to the publisher, Booksirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grief horror - each chapter contains or mentions dark, grotesque and visceral imagery. Expect no less from a splatterpunk author though they say this one is on the tamer side pa 💃
Read if you like witchcraft, generational curses, ancient evil tropes..this reminds me of 'Multo in the City' and 'It Feeds'. Well-written though the plot doesn't really offer anything new and the script and scene sometimes gets a bit repetitive but still interesting enough to continue reading to find out how the characters survive the situation.
This is my first book by the author and I am still interested to check out her other works as well .
Big thanks to the publisher, Booksirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2025
Grief Horror with some truly fucked and grotesque imagery. This isn’t for the weak of heart by a long shot. Y.M. Miller did a beautiful job crafting this heartbreakingly gruesome story.
Blood For The Trees follows Emily. Emily has just tragically lost her son, Struan to a horrific motor vehicle accident. The scene was absolutely terrible. I can’t even begin to imagine. Emily is now left alone as she has no family left. Desperate for answers after having experienced some strange encounters since the accident, Emily finds herself at the property of the town witch. This town has been cursed for many centuries and now Emily is at the brink of it.
Blood For The Trees releases in March 10th, 2025. Highly recommend checking this one out!
Blood For The Trees follows Emily. Emily has just tragically lost her son, Struan to a horrific motor vehicle accident. The scene was absolutely terrible. I can’t even begin to imagine. Emily is now left alone as she has no family left. Desperate for answers after having experienced some strange encounters since the accident, Emily finds herself at the property of the town witch. This town has been cursed for many centuries and now Emily is at the brink of it.
Blood For The Trees releases in March 10th, 2025. Highly recommend checking this one out!
March 28, 2025
A big thank you to the author for providing me with an uncorrected ARC copy, to review, prior to release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
-
Within the skull of author Y.M. Miller there is a Dark Dark House, In that Dark Dark House, there is a Dark Dark Attic, in that Dark Dark Attic there is a Dark Dark Chest. This is Dark Dark Chest is where the author draws a Myriad of different stories. Every time it seems as if Y.M. Miller has shown readers what she is able to deliver, back into the chest she dives and out comes more stories! I cannot verify whether or not there is a dark house, nor a dark chest somewhere in Y.M. Miller's head, but this seems most logical idea from where I sit.
Fans of Miller's work will understand what I mean when I say "Reading a Y.M. Miller book guarantees you're in for a good time, reading a story where people have a bad time." Whether it's a tale woven with equal parts chilled gallows humor and bloody chunks, or Gothic Horror that sends you to the absolute depths of despair and grief, the reader is guaranteed a satisfying read.
Blood For The Trees is a reminder that Miller is much more to reveal in regard to her talents, and the scope of stories that she can tell. A Tale of Grief, Curses, a Town with a Blood soaked past AND a seemingly never ending buffet of Blood and Gore? Yes please!
Make no mistake, this is an Extreme Horror story. Miller has this almost mutant ability to write scenes filled with grisly detail, awash in torment and carnage. She delivers imagery most would assume would revealed only in the Album Art and Lyrics of underground metal bands.
Miller's flair with the grotque is utilized quickly and with maximum effect in Blood For The Trees. It bears reminding that the splatter and gore are only part of this tale. The beating, oozing Heart of this novel is a tale of a person struggling with crippling loss, and transformation brought on by grief. Miller is no stranger to Grief Fiction, her Gothic Horror novella Marked For Sorrow is a chilling, soul crushing example. Although it seems that it was just a warm up. Remember, that Dark Chest in Miller's brain is still quite full .
Blood For The Trees, like a horrid patchwork quilt made with care and detail, delivers the SplatterPunk meat, chilling grief of Gothic Horror and sews them tight together with witchcraft, blood soaked secrets, and a level of Righteous Rage and Violence that could only be manifest in the iron core of a Mother. Readers are at equal points dragged along in a icy death grip, and following along with frantic hunger to see how the story will play out. Miller's visuals in the climax of this book convinced me that this book deserves to be adapted into a comic book. The over arching story, the action, the scenes of pure horror, all would lend themselves superbly to the comic book format.
I look forward to seeing what tales Miller brings forth in her next book.
-
Within the skull of author Y.M. Miller there is a Dark Dark House, In that Dark Dark House, there is a Dark Dark Attic, in that Dark Dark Attic there is a Dark Dark Chest. This is Dark Dark Chest is where the author draws a Myriad of different stories. Every time it seems as if Y.M. Miller has shown readers what she is able to deliver, back into the chest she dives and out comes more stories! I cannot verify whether or not there is a dark house, nor a dark chest somewhere in Y.M. Miller's head, but this seems most logical idea from where I sit.
Fans of Miller's work will understand what I mean when I say "Reading a Y.M. Miller book guarantees you're in for a good time, reading a story where people have a bad time." Whether it's a tale woven with equal parts chilled gallows humor and bloody chunks, or Gothic Horror that sends you to the absolute depths of despair and grief, the reader is guaranteed a satisfying read.
Blood For The Trees is a reminder that Miller is much more to reveal in regard to her talents, and the scope of stories that she can tell. A Tale of Grief, Curses, a Town with a Blood soaked past AND a seemingly never ending buffet of Blood and Gore? Yes please!
Make no mistake, this is an Extreme Horror story. Miller has this almost mutant ability to write scenes filled with grisly detail, awash in torment and carnage. She delivers imagery most would assume would revealed only in the Album Art and Lyrics of underground metal bands.
Miller's flair with the grotque is utilized quickly and with maximum effect in Blood For The Trees. It bears reminding that the splatter and gore are only part of this tale. The beating, oozing Heart of this novel is a tale of a person struggling with crippling loss, and transformation brought on by grief. Miller is no stranger to Grief Fiction, her Gothic Horror novella Marked For Sorrow is a chilling, soul crushing example. Although it seems that it was just a warm up. Remember, that Dark Chest in Miller's brain is still quite full .
Blood For The Trees, like a horrid patchwork quilt made with care and detail, delivers the SplatterPunk meat, chilling grief of Gothic Horror and sews them tight together with witchcraft, blood soaked secrets, and a level of Righteous Rage and Violence that could only be manifest in the iron core of a Mother. Readers are at equal points dragged along in a icy death grip, and following along with frantic hunger to see how the story will play out. Miller's visuals in the climax of this book convinced me that this book deserves to be adapted into a comic book. The over arching story, the action, the scenes of pure horror, all would lend themselves superbly to the comic book format.
I look forward to seeing what tales Miller brings forth in her next book.
April 2, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
The detail in this book is phenomenal. It's gutwretching and absolutely beyond tearing my heart out of how it started. There is a lot of grief, and if you're not ok with the loss of a child, this book isn't for you. There are so many emotions that make up this book as well as death and blood. There is some gore and an entity you will never want to meet in real life. This book deals with grief and what a mother is willing to do to get back the one thing she wants most. The details are so vivid I can see it play out like a movie in my mind, and it's a bloody monstrosity. I can even hear things happening. It's just unreal what details and how things are written that they can seem real in a way.
A mother who is willing to do anything to bring her son back to life can be rather dangerous. The pain, agony, and just the will to do anything seems to leave once that light is gone, but if given the chance, wouldn't you do the same? Emily certainly did going to the darkest of ways to get what she wanted and doing so awakening a darkness that hungers for everything, even her. Can she stop what she has brought upon herself and others, or will it cost more than she can give?
This book truly goes deep into the pain of a mother losing her child and the darkness that she would put herself through to get her child back. I just can't believe the amount of details that was put into this. All I wanted was for her to be happy again and to get out of the hole she was in.
The detail in this book is phenomenal. It's gutwretching and absolutely beyond tearing my heart out of how it started. There is a lot of grief, and if you're not ok with the loss of a child, this book isn't for you. There are so many emotions that make up this book as well as death and blood. There is some gore and an entity you will never want to meet in real life. This book deals with grief and what a mother is willing to do to get back the one thing she wants most. The details are so vivid I can see it play out like a movie in my mind, and it's a bloody monstrosity. I can even hear things happening. It's just unreal what details and how things are written that they can seem real in a way.
A mother who is willing to do anything to bring her son back to life can be rather dangerous. The pain, agony, and just the will to do anything seems to leave once that light is gone, but if given the chance, wouldn't you do the same? Emily certainly did going to the darkest of ways to get what she wanted and doing so awakening a darkness that hungers for everything, even her. Can she stop what she has brought upon herself and others, or will it cost more than she can give?
This book truly goes deep into the pain of a mother losing her child and the darkness that she would put herself through to get her child back. I just can't believe the amount of details that was put into this. All I wanted was for her to be happy again and to get out of the hole she was in.
April 30, 2025
This was my first book by Y.M. Miller and I absolutely loved it!
We follow a woman who loses her son in a tragic accident, and willing to do anything to get him back, even if that means delving into the dark history of her town and family.
This is such a brutal and heartbreaking story of grief. A mother losing her child is one of the most horrible things she can go through, as a father myself, I can relate. The way this author describes the main character's desperate need to bring her son back is flawless! I felt every single tear she shed, I felt her anger in my blood, I felt her sobs and screams in my heart. Regardless to say, this is a deep, caring, and strong mother!
This is a witch themed novel, so without going into spoilers, she goes through a ton of trauma all throughout the story, with lots of gore, blood, violence, visions, emotional and physical torture, and dealing with the demons from her past.
Once the supernatural element kicks in, it does not hold up. Almost every passage has an eerie, creepy, and unnatural feel to them. That's another aspect that the author did so well with the writing, just making you feel uneasy, like you are not safe like our main character.
I haven't read many splatter books that are based on witches, so this was a nice breath of fresh air for me! There is plenty of blood to keep you satisfied, an amazing character to root for, a very deep and interesting plot, lots of tear-inducing scenes, and just overall a phenomenal book!
4/5
I received this book from BookSirens and I am more than happy to review this for them and Y.M. Miller!!
We follow a woman who loses her son in a tragic accident, and willing to do anything to get him back, even if that means delving into the dark history of her town and family.
This is such a brutal and heartbreaking story of grief. A mother losing her child is one of the most horrible things she can go through, as a father myself, I can relate. The way this author describes the main character's desperate need to bring her son back is flawless! I felt every single tear she shed, I felt her anger in my blood, I felt her sobs and screams in my heart. Regardless to say, this is a deep, caring, and strong mother!
This is a witch themed novel, so without going into spoilers, she goes through a ton of trauma all throughout the story, with lots of gore, blood, violence, visions, emotional and physical torture, and dealing with the demons from her past.
Once the supernatural element kicks in, it does not hold up. Almost every passage has an eerie, creepy, and unnatural feel to them. That's another aspect that the author did so well with the writing, just making you feel uneasy, like you are not safe like our main character.
I haven't read many splatter books that are based on witches, so this was a nice breath of fresh air for me! There is plenty of blood to keep you satisfied, an amazing character to root for, a very deep and interesting plot, lots of tear-inducing scenes, and just overall a phenomenal book!
4/5
I received this book from BookSirens and I am more than happy to review this for them and Y.M. Miller!!
March 21, 2025
These trees are hungry and Emily will find this the hard way.
After Emily loses her son in an accident she starts hearing voices and finds out that the town of Black Hollow hides a secret but she will do whatever it takes to bring her son back to life.
Including witchcraft.
We get to see the past and the present of this town and the battles against a supernatural being, with some added gore and a real dark setting.
This isn’t just another witchy story. This book it’s about loss and grief. A mother willing to fight for her child, and you feel it through YM Miller’s writing.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
After Emily loses her son in an accident she starts hearing voices and finds out that the town of Black Hollow hides a secret but she will do whatever it takes to bring her son back to life.
Including witchcraft.
We get to see the past and the present of this town and the battles against a supernatural being, with some added gore and a real dark setting.
This isn’t just another witchy story. This book it’s about loss and grief. A mother willing to fight for her child, and you feel it through YM Miller’s writing.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
March 5, 2025
Oh wow. WOW. I haven't read witch horror in a long time that captivated me like Blood for the Trees. Saying it's good is doing the book an injustice, especially when it's phenomenal.
Emily's son Struan has just died a horrible death, and the truth of his death has unraveled a secret far more sinister than reality. The town of Black Hollow isn't just a quaint little town, it's a breeding ground of a terror okder than humanity itself.
This is female rage personified. But a female's sacrifice is never enough, even when she has given all of herself up.
This is so much more than what I expected it to be, surpassing everything I wanted it to be. This is brilliant.
Emily's son Struan has just died a horrible death, and the truth of his death has unraveled a secret far more sinister than reality. The town of Black Hollow isn't just a quaint little town, it's a breeding ground of a terror okder than humanity itself.
This is female rage personified. But a female's sacrifice is never enough, even when she has given all of herself up.
This is so much more than what I expected it to be, surpassing everything I wanted it to be. This is brilliant.
April 8, 2025
I loved this book
Grief Horror with some grotesque imagery that was so vivid and detailed it brought me right into the story. Emily’s son is dead but the trees still whisper his name. She is desperate for her son and answers after his gruesome car wreck she follows the whispers she finds her self in black hollow. She will try anything just to hear his voice and reach him even witchcraft.
This book goes deep into the pain of a mother grief for her child in such a way you can feel her pain. It shows the darkness and anguish that a mother would put herself through to get her child back.
Grief Horror with some grotesque imagery that was so vivid and detailed it brought me right into the story. Emily’s son is dead but the trees still whisper his name. She is desperate for her son and answers after his gruesome car wreck she follows the whispers she finds her self in black hollow. She will try anything just to hear his voice and reach him even witchcraft.
This book goes deep into the pain of a mother grief for her child in such a way you can feel her pain. It shows the darkness and anguish that a mother would put herself through to get her child back.
March 30, 2025
This is my first read of Y.M Miller and omg why am I so late to this party?!
This had me in a chokehold from the first chapter, it dives straight in, the description of a mother’s loss and what she would do for her child is so brilliantly done. Every last page is just heart in your mouth acceleration pulling you every which way. The gory description was enough to enable you to bring the story to life without being sick to your tummy like the usual gore I read 😂
It was just Fantastic 🤎
This had me in a chokehold from the first chapter, it dives straight in, the description of a mother’s loss and what she would do for her child is so brilliantly done. Every last page is just heart in your mouth acceleration pulling you every which way. The gory description was enough to enable you to bring the story to life without being sick to your tummy like the usual gore I read 😂
It was just Fantastic 🤎
April 26, 2025
How far would you go to bring back a loved one? That’s the question Emily is met with after the tragic loss of her son. The details of her grief and depression were so heartbreaking to read. I wondered if I’d be able to get through it just because of how real it felt. Along with how tragic this story is, it’s so incredibly gory and brutal. Miller does not hold back on the details. Such a great story, check this one out!
April 10, 2025
The trees are hungry and they demand payment… in blood.
A captivating tale of grief and finding inner strength. Blood for the Trees depicts how far a mother can be pushed and she would be willing to do anything to be reunited with her son.
Witches aren't just in Salem.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A captivating tale of grief and finding inner strength. Blood for the Trees depicts how far a mother can be pushed and she would be willing to do anything to be reunited with her son.
Witches aren't just in Salem.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 30, 2025
I loved how different this book was and I have not read a witchy horror book in a while. I loved the gore , how good it was written. I had a great time reading this one , and loved every second of it.
April 5, 2025
Dark grief horror, with some disturbing imagery.
How far would you be willing to go for your loved ones?
Witchy, gothic, cursed land. Some of my favourite troupes.
Black hollow the place that demands its payment in blood.
How far would you be willing to go for your loved ones?
Witchy, gothic, cursed land. Some of my favourite troupes.
Black hollow the place that demands its payment in blood.
May 1, 2025
A must read for Horror fans.
This one cuts deep, especially those who are parents.
First time I’m reading this author, but definitely not the last.
This one cuts deep, especially those who are parents.
First time I’m reading this author, but definitely not the last.
May 13, 2025
This book was intense. A lot of creepy and gore. Just the way I like it! Definitly recommend
Read
August 2, 2025I read it.
March 28, 2025
How far would you go for your loved one?
I Loved it, do not read in the dark 😉 definitely a must read, you will not be disappointed 😀
I Loved it, do not read in the dark 😉 definitely a must read, you will not be disappointed 😀
July 18, 2025
A horrifying gory tale of grief, loss and strength.
Emily's son Struan is killed in a car accident, but this isn't the only loss Emily has suffered at the hands of Black Hollow and the woodland within it.
This is a horrifying tale of grief, loss and strength with feminine rage at its centre. A witchy tale with all the extra blood and gore you could ever ask for.
Sleepy hollow/evil dead vibes.
As always I adored YM's writing but this book is so different to her usual novellas and I ADORED IT!
Give me more.
Thank you as always YM for allowing me to be an ARC Reader for you.
Emily's son Struan is killed in a car accident, but this isn't the only loss Emily has suffered at the hands of Black Hollow and the woodland within it.
This is a horrifying tale of grief, loss and strength with feminine rage at its centre. A witchy tale with all the extra blood and gore you could ever ask for.
Sleepy hollow/evil dead vibes.
As always I adored YM's writing but this book is so different to her usual novellas and I ADORED IT!
Give me more.
Thank you as always YM for allowing me to be an ARC Reader for you.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews