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We All Fall Before the Harvest
In the guts of a nameless city, career criminal Owen fights for his sanity and his life. After stealing a morbid piece of artwork at the behest of his boss, Owen discovers the original owners of the grotesque painting are part of a twisted cult known as The Family—and they’ll stop at nothing to get it back.
The longer Owen possesses the painting, the more it warps his mind and alters the very world around him. Between those that want him dead, his own dark past, and his crumbling grip on reality, the walls are closing in. Unstable but determined, Owen is the only thing standing between our world and the coming Harvest.
The longer Owen possesses the painting, the more it warps his mind and alters the very world around him. Between those that want him dead, his own dark past, and his crumbling grip on reality, the walls are closing in. Unstable but determined, Owen is the only thing standing between our world and the coming Harvest.
- GenresHorrorHorror Thriller
106 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2022
7 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Forest
18 books100 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 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 15, 2024
This book had no business being so addictive. I just needed something to read during an impromptu hour-long bus ride and it was in my “quick reads for you” tab on Kindle, went in blind and I was HOOKED. I liked the main character and the gritty settings. The imagery was gruesome and oppressive, I loved it. There’s a touch of that noir urban fantasy vibe to it that I really enjoyed.
4.5 rounded up.
4.5 rounded up.
January 2, 2023
This book had some great atmosphere. It had this constant aura of uneasiness and impending doom. Great work there by the author. And the painting of the Harvest brought me back to one of my favorite books, being The Black Farm by Elias Witherow. Owen’s character here concluded in the same way he had existed all along. I can’t say that there was a surprising twist at the end, but it wasn’t needed. Owen completed his troubled journey and it was exactly what it needed to be. Ricky was just a scummy, unsavory person throughout, and was bound to drag his partner into some deep, reality-bending terror. Their dynamic together was functional, but that was it. There was no love lost or trust at any point. I also don’t want to spoil anything, but the creatures were all top notch, too. And there is plenty of gore and all that grossness we horror lovers crave. This was my first outing with CM Forest and I dug it.
July 4, 2022
This is exactly the kind of pulpy, nasty, violent, hard-boiled crime/horror smorgasbord I've been looking for lately!
Writer C.M. Forest has crafted a fast-paced, no-nonsense mashup of gangster noir and cosmic horror that is an absolute page-turner - think THE MALTESE FALCON meets FROM BEYOND and you're getting close to what Forest has in store for you within these blistering ninety-something pages of sheer pulp bliss.
The long and short of it is Owen is a low-level enforcer with a tragic past who's in thrall to bigwig gangster Ricky Dillon. Owen's latest task is to track down and swipe an old painting Ricky wants bad. Really, really bad. When Owen finds it, he senses something is amiss. From the creepy house its stashed in to the painting itself, something is not only amiss, but also completely off-kilter.
What follows is a bloody, breakneck spook show of phantasmagoric proportions with an ending that brings new meaning to the phrase "throwing yourself into your work."
If you like your novellas lean, mean, and full of all the good stuff (just the way I like it) then there's no way on this earth (or any other) that you'll be disappointed with WE ALL FALL BEFORE THE HARVEST.
Writer C.M. Forest has crafted a fast-paced, no-nonsense mashup of gangster noir and cosmic horror that is an absolute page-turner - think THE MALTESE FALCON meets FROM BEYOND and you're getting close to what Forest has in store for you within these blistering ninety-something pages of sheer pulp bliss.
The long and short of it is Owen is a low-level enforcer with a tragic past who's in thrall to bigwig gangster Ricky Dillon. Owen's latest task is to track down and swipe an old painting Ricky wants bad. Really, really bad. When Owen finds it, he senses something is amiss. From the creepy house its stashed in to the painting itself, something is not only amiss, but also completely off-kilter.
What follows is a bloody, breakneck spook show of phantasmagoric proportions with an ending that brings new meaning to the phrase "throwing yourself into your work."
If you like your novellas lean, mean, and full of all the good stuff (just the way I like it) then there's no way on this earth (or any other) that you'll be disappointed with WE ALL FALL BEFORE THE HARVEST.
March 23, 2022
This was my first time reading this author’s work and I’m glad that I did. This book was so good, I read it in one day. It had me hooked from the beginning and I was definitely not expecting that ending.
May 3, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
So, I will readily admit, I’m not always the sharpest tool in the shed. I’m educated, sure, and do a good job of staying up to date on most topics, yeah, but every once in a while something slips past me and we can all have a good laugh at Steve.
Case in point – recently I was contacted by Eerie River to see if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing an upcoming novel by C.M. Forest. So, before replying, I did what I normally do and went to social media to see what it was about and couldn’t find C.M. Forest. Ok, no biggie.
Then my buddy, Christian Laforet DM’d me to see if I’d be up to reviewing his upcoming novella, ‘We All Fall Before the Harvest.’ Released with his publishing name. C.M. Forest. Insert like a bazillion laughing emojis, I’m dead. Man alive, I’m such a knob.
So, yes, absolutely I’d be up to reviewing both and now I’ve read one of them and happy to say that C.M. Forest is an author worth reading!
What I liked: The story is a fast-paced action piece where we follow our main character, Owen. He’s a hired knock-around guy, the guy to get money owed, break some bones, do what it takes for his boss. This time, he gets hired to steal a painting from an out of the way farmhouse. Simples. But the painting is different and once it’s in his possession, things begin to happen and transform.
Forest does a great job of writing what I’d describe as the movie CRANK but if it was a cosmic horror story. Thugs keep coming, the painting keeps changing and things go from bad to worse.
I really enjoyed seeing how all things converged and we get this really great story about a painter and what they created. It was fascinating and had me glued to my Kindle.
What I didn’t like: We get a bit of backstory surrounding Owen, his wife and kid, and frankly, it offered nothing to the story. There’s a specific purpose for it and it occurs at a climactic moment, but for this reader it was meh and didn’t affect the story one way or the other for me.
Why you should buy this: I preordered this once it was announced, and now having read an early copy, I’ll say that if you’re looking for a fast-paced cosmic horror novella, this will be right up your alley. Think Alan Baxter’s Eli Carver series but with a portal painting and crazy things waiting on the other side.
Really had a blast with this one.
So, I will readily admit, I’m not always the sharpest tool in the shed. I’m educated, sure, and do a good job of staying up to date on most topics, yeah, but every once in a while something slips past me and we can all have a good laugh at Steve.
Case in point – recently I was contacted by Eerie River to see if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing an upcoming novel by C.M. Forest. So, before replying, I did what I normally do and went to social media to see what it was about and couldn’t find C.M. Forest. Ok, no biggie.
Then my buddy, Christian Laforet DM’d me to see if I’d be up to reviewing his upcoming novella, ‘We All Fall Before the Harvest.’ Released with his publishing name. C.M. Forest. Insert like a bazillion laughing emojis, I’m dead. Man alive, I’m such a knob.
So, yes, absolutely I’d be up to reviewing both and now I’ve read one of them and happy to say that C.M. Forest is an author worth reading!
What I liked: The story is a fast-paced action piece where we follow our main character, Owen. He’s a hired knock-around guy, the guy to get money owed, break some bones, do what it takes for his boss. This time, he gets hired to steal a painting from an out of the way farmhouse. Simples. But the painting is different and once it’s in his possession, things begin to happen and transform.
Forest does a great job of writing what I’d describe as the movie CRANK but if it was a cosmic horror story. Thugs keep coming, the painting keeps changing and things go from bad to worse.
I really enjoyed seeing how all things converged and we get this really great story about a painter and what they created. It was fascinating and had me glued to my Kindle.
What I didn’t like: We get a bit of backstory surrounding Owen, his wife and kid, and frankly, it offered nothing to the story. There’s a specific purpose for it and it occurs at a climactic moment, but for this reader it was meh and didn’t affect the story one way or the other for me.
Why you should buy this: I preordered this once it was announced, and now having read an early copy, I’ll say that if you’re looking for a fast-paced cosmic horror novella, this will be right up your alley. Think Alan Baxter’s Eli Carver series but with a portal painting and crazy things waiting on the other side.
Really had a blast with this one.
February 9, 2023
Horror Bookworm Reviews
We All Fall Before The Harvest by C.M. Forest
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A man and his accomplice are hired to steal a mysterious painting. The target, an old dilapidated mansion centered on a diseased countryside. The two seasoned criminals succeed in the burglary, however once in possession of the stolen property, extreme strange occurrences begin.
Author C.M. Forest renders a menacing portrait of horrific elements using his fictional colors of crimson and blood. The criminal underground world is unveiled as is peculiar varieties of pure evil. Blood, sweat and tears were the components used for We All Fall Before The Harvest…figuratively and literally. Forest offers a one way ticket to his museum of the macabre that features both The Family and The Homestead. Two malformed dimensions that await the reader with otherworldly open arms.
The pipeline to all things evil comes directly from the imaginary mind of C.M. Forest. Not only does he tell an intoxicating story, he dresses it with captivating characterization and alarming content. This in return builds a landscape of terror that slowly eats away at the readers reality. Images of bizarre and dark torments await in Forest’s twisted terrain of written fiction.
Beyond the oils, brushes and canvases there lies an artistic medium of morbid madness. Discover for yourself what awaits when autumn approaches and the harvest begins. In the tradition of Dorian Gray and Night Gallery’s The Cemetery, this book is a deserving five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation. “Some Things Are Worth More Than Money.”
We All Fall Before The Harvest by C.M. Forest
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A man and his accomplice are hired to steal a mysterious painting. The target, an old dilapidated mansion centered on a diseased countryside. The two seasoned criminals succeed in the burglary, however once in possession of the stolen property, extreme strange occurrences begin.
Author C.M. Forest renders a menacing portrait of horrific elements using his fictional colors of crimson and blood. The criminal underground world is unveiled as is peculiar varieties of pure evil. Blood, sweat and tears were the components used for We All Fall Before The Harvest…figuratively and literally. Forest offers a one way ticket to his museum of the macabre that features both The Family and The Homestead. Two malformed dimensions that await the reader with otherworldly open arms.
The pipeline to all things evil comes directly from the imaginary mind of C.M. Forest. Not only does he tell an intoxicating story, he dresses it with captivating characterization and alarming content. This in return builds a landscape of terror that slowly eats away at the readers reality. Images of bizarre and dark torments await in Forest’s twisted terrain of written fiction.
Beyond the oils, brushes and canvases there lies an artistic medium of morbid madness. Discover for yourself what awaits when autumn approaches and the harvest begins. In the tradition of Dorian Gray and Night Gallery’s The Cemetery, this book is a deserving five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation. “Some Things Are Worth More Than Money.”
August 24, 2025
This was the first book I've read in a while that left me wanting to revisit it. Despite its brevity, the narrative was engrossing. My initial experience with C.M. Forest's work has made me a fan. I highly recommend reading this book if the opportunity arises.
January 28, 2026
This book was a trip I loved it
July 24, 2023
“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥.”
And oh you’ll learn about them, alright. But don’t let the genial titles fool you. Horrors and grotesqueries await as we follow Owen, a thief as common as they come, as he steals a painting sought after his boss for profit and by a mysterious group of people for reasons unknown. But once he looks at the picture, depicting a strange and decaying farm, all he can hear is the rustling of crops. Once he hears tell of tales too bizarre to be true, it becomes clear that there is no going back.
I love cosmic horror and this was as fine an example as I’ve read recently. It really leaned into the shabby state of the main character’s life, personality, and surroundings all of which are rife with urban decay, filth, crime, rotting waterfronts, empty apartments, empty fridges, and broken homes. Also, I always appreciate when horror and dark fiction of a cosmic-eldritch nature treads outside of the slimy-tentacled-things-from-space approach and that’s exactly what this does. In the best way possible, too. Instead it feels as far away from the larger, enigmatic cosmos as possible by keeping things personal and earthbound, all while implying that this world, and any that may exist somewhere within it, are terrifying enough on their own.
WE ALL FALL BEFORE THE HARVEST was well-written, unique, fresh, and had a different motif than I’ve seen before in the genre. It’s a very short read at under 100 pages but like a thumbprint in wet paint, this makes one hell of an impression. Definitely one of my favorites I've read so far this year.
Read if you liked: Beyond Dimensional Veils, The Void, No One Gets Out Alive, Pickman’s Model.
And oh you’ll learn about them, alright. But don’t let the genial titles fool you. Horrors and grotesqueries await as we follow Owen, a thief as common as they come, as he steals a painting sought after his boss for profit and by a mysterious group of people for reasons unknown. But once he looks at the picture, depicting a strange and decaying farm, all he can hear is the rustling of crops. Once he hears tell of tales too bizarre to be true, it becomes clear that there is no going back.
I love cosmic horror and this was as fine an example as I’ve read recently. It really leaned into the shabby state of the main character’s life, personality, and surroundings all of which are rife with urban decay, filth, crime, rotting waterfronts, empty apartments, empty fridges, and broken homes. Also, I always appreciate when horror and dark fiction of a cosmic-eldritch nature treads outside of the slimy-tentacled-things-from-space approach and that’s exactly what this does. In the best way possible, too. Instead it feels as far away from the larger, enigmatic cosmos as possible by keeping things personal and earthbound, all while implying that this world, and any that may exist somewhere within it, are terrifying enough on their own.
WE ALL FALL BEFORE THE HARVEST was well-written, unique, fresh, and had a different motif than I’ve seen before in the genre. It’s a very short read at under 100 pages but like a thumbprint in wet paint, this makes one hell of an impression. Definitely one of my favorites I've read so far this year.
Read if you liked: Beyond Dimensional Veils, The Void, No One Gets Out Alive, Pickman’s Model.
June 27, 2022
Every sensation the reader experiences within C. M. Forest's 'We All Fall Before The Harvest' is a visceral gut punch to the senses. The creaking of the floorboards, the pungent smells wafting through the dilapidated buildings, the taste of salty sweat escaping ones flesh, and the sight of ones own soul being ripped from their body, are nothing compared to the atmosphere and terror the reader will experience reading this novella. Highest Recommendation.
April 24, 2023
Reading WE ALL FALL BEFORE THE HARVEST had me constantly feeling slightly uneasy. And I never could place my finger on the reason why, specifically. The story just had me cautiously reading to see what would come next, almost as if I was expecting something to come out of the actual book and attack me. There's a pulpy true crime + horror vibe going on, and I was never sure which one was going to come out and get me first. So I really loved navigating this hybrid story, never knowing what to expect and always on the lookout. It all works together so well, and the author does a great job at maintaining that full engagement from the opening chapter all the way to the end. The ending was bonkers awesome to me and I just really can't say too much without going into total spoiler territory. I hope everyone can have the unsettling and cautiously nervous reading experience that I did!
March 14, 2023
took me exactly one week to read! fun, fast paced and an engaging lead character. Owen goes through the ringer and you’re with him every step of the way. can’t wait to read Infested!
May 31, 2023
5/5 Star. what a great quick read. C.M. Forest really captures visuals in his writing style. This short novel was quick paced and ran like an episode or Twilight Zone or CreepShow. I really enjoyed Infested so wanted to read more from this rising author. I was not disappointed at all.
June 1, 2023
This book grabbed me right from the very start. I could see this made into a movie of some sort, like in a creep show type series!!!
February 2, 2023
This was my second read of C.M. Forest - the first being 'Infested,' his wonderfully creepy novel. The cover alone made me want to rip through the book! Again, I enjoyed Forest's novella a lot: I read it in one sitting and really cared about Owen and his story. It started as a pretty decent myster/noir type of tale, with some odd happenings tossed in here and there. It soon became apparent that there was a good story brewing here. When it changed into Lovecraftian cosmic horror, I was delighted. Gore, brutality, cults; yes, sir! Recommended!
January 6, 2023
This book mesmerized me in the most brutal way. The author is an artist at creating visuals, even if you'd prefer not to see them. I was thoroughly impressed by this book. It had me absolutely hooked for the better half of 2 and a half hours. The ending was such a surprise to me, although thinking back, I couldn't imagine a better way to end such a gruesome story. I'm happy to add to my little horror library!
June 27, 2022
It is fascinating what can inspire a writer. A little thought grubworm can drill itself into their head and the only peace to be found is to write the thing out. I don't know what C. M. Forest's inspiration for this novel was, but surely he must be raving mad to invent the haunted things that seep out of this book.
This mind-bending cosmic horror follows a criminal named Owen as he sets out steal a grotesque painting from an abandoned house. There is something thrilling about having an untrustworthy protagonist at the center of your novel as the reader can never really trust what they are seeing. Owen is untrustworthy for many reasons, but the longer he spends with the painting the more his reality begins to bend, the more we begin to see Owen for who he really is, and the more we begin realizing why he is so messed up.
This book also has a deranged mystery element to it as the reader (and Owen) gets closer to the truth. However, there are enough twists and turns to keep us guessing to the very last page.
This mind-bending cosmic horror follows a criminal named Owen as he sets out steal a grotesque painting from an abandoned house. There is something thrilling about having an untrustworthy protagonist at the center of your novel as the reader can never really trust what they are seeing. Owen is untrustworthy for many reasons, but the longer he spends with the painting the more his reality begins to bend, the more we begin to see Owen for who he really is, and the more we begin realizing why he is so messed up.
This book also has a deranged mystery element to it as the reader (and Owen) gets closer to the truth. However, there are enough twists and turns to keep us guessing to the very last page.
March 15, 2022
Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
We All Fall Before the Harvest is a relatively quick read at just 106 pages that still manages to tell an intricate story about an evil cult and a man on the wrong side of their wrath.
After Owen gets tasked by his boss to steal a painting things start to get weird. First, his colleague and the painting go missing, and later Owen finds himself questioning his own sanity when finally in possession of the piece of art. Delivering the painting to his boss turns out to be not quite as easy as he thought either.
I really enjoyed the premise of C.M. Forest’s novella, and his flawed protagonist. There is a lot of horror within the book, as well as some crime and supernatural elements that will surely leave you grossed out and shocked! Some scenes in the novella are surely not for the faint of heart, and the gore packs a punch!
Thanks to the author for the arc.
We All Fall Before the Harvest is a relatively quick read at just 106 pages that still manages to tell an intricate story about an evil cult and a man on the wrong side of their wrath.
After Owen gets tasked by his boss to steal a painting things start to get weird. First, his colleague and the painting go missing, and later Owen finds himself questioning his own sanity when finally in possession of the piece of art. Delivering the painting to his boss turns out to be not quite as easy as he thought either.
I really enjoyed the premise of C.M. Forest’s novella, and his flawed protagonist. There is a lot of horror within the book, as well as some crime and supernatural elements that will surely leave you grossed out and shocked! Some scenes in the novella are surely not for the faint of heart, and the gore packs a punch!
Thanks to the author for the arc.
March 7, 2022
A fast paced read that gets into your head and will make you avoid dark places and eerily beautiful paintings.
C.M. Forest puts you in the head of an less than perfect protagonist who gets pushed to his limits. His perspective of the world is shattered as he's haunted by threats physical and supernatural.
There is a little bit of crime, some solid mystery, a dash of thriller, and a lot of grab-you-by-the-throat horror in this book!
I love stories that stay with you, and this book had me thinking long after I put it down!
C.M. Forest puts you in the head of an less than perfect protagonist who gets pushed to his limits. His perspective of the world is shattered as he's haunted by threats physical and supernatural.
There is a little bit of crime, some solid mystery, a dash of thriller, and a lot of grab-you-by-the-throat horror in this book!
I love stories that stay with you, and this book had me thinking long after I put it down!
June 10, 2022
The cover of the book drew me in right away. I mean who doesn’t love a painting that is dripping blood. Gory images flowed swiftly on page two as my mind thought about the horrific events. I like the foreshadowing in the book, it’s clever and not quite easy to figure out until something happens. I enjoyed the fight scene early in the book. I was able to visualize everything that was happening thanks to C.M. Forest’s descriptive style. He takes us on an adventure of a man who may or may not be going insane.
June 30, 2023
Gritty Noir Horror
A solid 4 from me. This is a quick read that spits grit and feels like if Sin City had a baby with Cosmic Horror. There were some minor continuity issues in the second half that made me read parts over, but if you can look past those, Harvest does few things wrong. This is another novella that I'd love to see a film adaptation of - but at the same time, it's so visual that you can really play it inside your mind. I'll be looking at more C.M. Forest in the future.
A solid 4 from me. This is a quick read that spits grit and feels like if Sin City had a baby with Cosmic Horror. There were some minor continuity issues in the second half that made me read parts over, but if you can look past those, Harvest does few things wrong. This is another novella that I'd love to see a film adaptation of - but at the same time, it's so visual that you can really play it inside your mind. I'll be looking at more C.M. Forest in the future.
August 8, 2023
I devoured this with reckless abandon. Forest delivers a terrifying tale filled with gritty noir grime, gore and otherworldliness. The concise descriptions created an amazing experience that made me smell, feel and hear all the disgusting details. My love of cosmic horror and fear of rustling corn husks made this feel like it was written with me specifically in mind but the overall story is unique and fast paced that kept me wanting more. The violence hits hard, the body horror hits harder and I’m always a fan of a main character that is just unlikable and morally black. Highly recommend!
June 18, 2022
Different kind of cult
This is a story about a thief that stills a painting from a cult named The Family. This is no ordinary cult, this one much more sinister.
Owen stills The Homestead, a painting of a farm and it’s land. But when Owen sees movement inside the painting and a light from the barn, all he wants to do is get the painting to his boss.
Then he starts getting followed by a hooded man, or is it a man. This heist is one that Owen may never forget.
This is a story about a thief that stills a painting from a cult named The Family. This is no ordinary cult, this one much more sinister.
Owen stills The Homestead, a painting of a farm and it’s land. But when Owen sees movement inside the painting and a light from the barn, all he wants to do is get the painting to his boss.
Then he starts getting followed by a hooded man, or is it a man. This heist is one that Owen may never forget.
July 7, 2022
The first I've read by C. M. Forest. I definitely need to read more by him. Had a noir feel throughout, almost reading like a hard boiled detective novel at the beginning but then taking you through some great / terrifying twists of horror throughout. A fun read (for you creepy horror people out there ;) )
October 7, 2022
CM builds a dark, horrific peak at another world that leaves the reader satisfied with this storyline but eager for more. The story follows a tough guy narrator who quickly grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go. The painting (and this book) will pull you in and leave you unsettled. Fantastic read.
March 24, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has such a unique premise and it kept me engrossed. This is my first read by this author and I will definitely be reading more.
July 18, 2022
I loved this one! Fast paced and a quick one to fly through! It’s nasty af BUT not nasty just for the sake of being gross ya know? It’s got me nervous about all the vintage paintings I own though 😅🫠
July 19, 2022
Great gruesome little novella. Quick and hard hitting, but leaves a lot of mystery. Very well written
October 26, 2022
This was an outstanding short horror read. The writing was imaginative and the story was intriguing. Definitely worth the time for anyone’s spooky TBR!
January 8, 2026
I enjoyed this book. I think some parts could have been a little more descriptive (like describing the family. Overall though, I found it to be engaging and I was excited to find out what was so important about the painting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews