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No Trouble at All
Politeness is the glue that holds society together. We are all expected to do our part—a pressure ripe with horror. Rotten, even. Whether we adhere to this contract or defy it, there are consequences. These fifteen stories respond to promises made for us, promises of compliance that cost too much to keep.
Featuring Nadia Bulkin, Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, Ariel Marken Jack, Gwendolyn Kiste, Avra Margariti, J.A.W. McCarthy, R.L Meza, Marisca Pichette, J. Rohr, Simone le Roux, Angela Sylvaine, Nadine Aurora Tabing, Sara Tantlinger, D. Matthew Urban, and Gordon B. White.
Featuring Nadia Bulkin, Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, Ariel Marken Jack, Gwendolyn Kiste, Avra Margariti, J.A.W. McCarthy, R.L Meza, Marisca Pichette, J. Rohr, Simone le Roux, Angela Sylvaine, Nadine Aurora Tabing, Sara Tantlinger, D. Matthew Urban, and Gordon B. White.
184 pages, Paperback
Published June 6, 2023
14 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 26, 2023
"Mind your tongue."
"Where are your manners?"
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
As a Southerner, I've heard all the sayings, and I grew up witnessing firsthand the repercussions of impoliteness. "Southern hospitality" runs deep in the blood of most of the people I've spent my life around, and people even crack jokes about how we're courteous to a fault, turning niceties into passive-aggressive barbs.
But what happens when that politeness goes too far and gets us into situations we aren't safe in?
Ask any woman and she'll tell you that being "too nice" has landed her in hot water a time or two (what other choice does she have?). On the other hand, ask anyone from a marginalized group (especially people of color) and they'll have stories about the times they've been tone policed, told that people would listen to them "if you'd just word it nicer". So many of us live our lives constantly trying to straddle the line between politeness and not being a doormat, but No Trouble at All's stories show us what happens when courtesy is used against us.
While a couple of stories missed the mark for me in this anthology, for the most part, it was a slam dunk. I loved most of the stories in this collection and was blown away by how well these authors captured relatable (and painful) life experiences, especially those surrounding objectification of girls and women, and how far it can go when adults don't protect the children in our society from it, such as my favorite story in here, 'The Man Outside' by Simone le Roux.
A few other stand-out gems were 'An Inherited Taste' by Nadine Aurora Tabing (in which women literally eat their loved ones' sorrows), 'Acid Skin' by Marisca Pichette (a brilliant, angry commentary on rape culture), 'The Guest Room' by R.L. Meza (a harrowing look at how powerless children are when adults don't listen), and 'Welcome to the New You' by Gwendolyn Kiste (a delightfully fresh take on doppelgangers).
All in all, I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys horror short stories, and I'm so happy I had the chance to read it. There are so many new authors on my TBR and I can't wait to read more work by them, just like I can't wait for the next anthology I pick up from Cursed Morsels Press!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: BIPOC characters, queer characters, ace rep in 'Acid Skin'
✨ Content warnings for:
———
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"Where are your manners?"
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
As a Southerner, I've heard all the sayings, and I grew up witnessing firsthand the repercussions of impoliteness. "Southern hospitality" runs deep in the blood of most of the people I've spent my life around, and people even crack jokes about how we're courteous to a fault, turning niceties into passive-aggressive barbs.
But what happens when that politeness goes too far and gets us into situations we aren't safe in?
Ask any woman and she'll tell you that being "too nice" has landed her in hot water a time or two (what other choice does she have?). On the other hand, ask anyone from a marginalized group (especially people of color) and they'll have stories about the times they've been tone policed, told that people would listen to them "if you'd just word it nicer". So many of us live our lives constantly trying to straddle the line between politeness and not being a doormat, but No Trouble at All's stories show us what happens when courtesy is used against us.
While a couple of stories missed the mark for me in this anthology, for the most part, it was a slam dunk. I loved most of the stories in this collection and was blown away by how well these authors captured relatable (and painful) life experiences, especially those surrounding objectification of girls and women, and how far it can go when adults don't protect the children in our society from it, such as my favorite story in here, 'The Man Outside' by Simone le Roux.
A few other stand-out gems were 'An Inherited Taste' by Nadine Aurora Tabing (in which women literally eat their loved ones' sorrows), 'Acid Skin' by Marisca Pichette (a brilliant, angry commentary on rape culture), 'The Guest Room' by R.L. Meza (a harrowing look at how powerless children are when adults don't listen), and 'Welcome to the New You' by Gwendolyn Kiste (a delightfully fresh take on doppelgangers).
All in all, I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys horror short stories, and I'm so happy I had the chance to read it. There are so many new authors on my TBR and I can't wait to read more work by them, just like I can't wait for the next anthology I pick up from Cursed Morsels Press!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: BIPOC characters, queer characters, ace rep in 'Acid Skin'
✨ Content warnings for:
———
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June 5, 2023
No Trouble At All is an anthology of horror stories centred around politeness in various forms, from the hidden violence that comes with a polite veneer to strange promises you might be drawn into and forced to comply with. The fifteen stories within the collection are quite varied in terms of what ideas of politeness, polite society, or hospitality they engage with, far more than I expected when I came to the book with an image of unnervingly polite characters hiding terrible horrors in my head. There's a lot of engagement with how other people treat you and how you treat other people, again in a range of ways, and what is most notable across the stories is the kinds of relationships and what goes said and unsaid in the name of politeness.
The stories vary in terms of the forms of horror they involve, and I did prefer some of the more extreme ones, like 'Anger Management' about a family with a strange method of dealing with stresses in their life, as I found the concept really stood out and it really explored what might be required to stay ostensibly polite to others. The ideas of promises and contracts also plays out in stories that look at deals with demons—I really liked how 'Acid Skin' told the story of an unusual wish in a contract that goes in a very different way to how you might expect, twisting the typical narrative of wishing for something with obvious downsides. The closing story, 'Welcome to the New You', offers something that's more of a dystopian horror and it is interesting how the theme of the anthology, politeness, plays into it without being the main plot point.
Some of the other stories were less engaging for me personally, as the stories are quite varied and some didn't quite grip me with their concept or execution in the sharp way I tend to like from a short story, especially a horror story. Probably other people will like these more, as it is often true of anthologies that everyone likes different stories within them. The polite horror concept is definitely an interesting one, looking at the undercurrents running beneath politeness or societal expectations, and whilst I would've preferred it to have more dark stories in it, I appreciate how there's got to be a fair number of stories with more lingering horror that lurks underneath the veneer.
The stories vary in terms of the forms of horror they involve, and I did prefer some of the more extreme ones, like 'Anger Management' about a family with a strange method of dealing with stresses in their life, as I found the concept really stood out and it really explored what might be required to stay ostensibly polite to others. The ideas of promises and contracts also plays out in stories that look at deals with demons—I really liked how 'Acid Skin' told the story of an unusual wish in a contract that goes in a very different way to how you might expect, twisting the typical narrative of wishing for something with obvious downsides. The closing story, 'Welcome to the New You', offers something that's more of a dystopian horror and it is interesting how the theme of the anthology, politeness, plays into it without being the main plot point.
Some of the other stories were less engaging for me personally, as the stories are quite varied and some didn't quite grip me with their concept or execution in the sharp way I tend to like from a short story, especially a horror story. Probably other people will like these more, as it is often true of anthologies that everyone likes different stories within them. The polite horror concept is definitely an interesting one, looking at the undercurrents running beneath politeness or societal expectations, and whilst I would've preferred it to have more dark stories in it, I appreciate how there's got to be a fair number of stories with more lingering horror that lurks underneath the veneer.
October 4, 2023
"Whatever burns in my veins is all I am. I need it out. I need me out."
[3.5 stars] Absolutely love the concept of addressing trivial and harmful niceties through horror. This anthology paints a big picture about maintaining the status quo by utilizing a mask of civility, and what happens when that mask is taken off or you force yourself to continue wearing it.
I enjoy the multifaceted nature the different stories bring for the most part; some characters are at the receiving end of such passive aggressive politeness and some of them break free, whereas others enforce it because it personally benefits them — especially when it comes to silencing marginalized communities and ignoring systemic issues pervasive in society. Not every single story exemplifies the themes equally, some of them stick to me more than others. My favorite stories are "The Dust Collectors," "As the Silence Burns, " "An Inherited Taste," and "Acid Skin." Overall a solid anthology I'd recommend to kick off the spooky season.
Thank you BookSirens and Cursed Morsels Press for the advance copy, I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
[3.5 stars] Absolutely love the concept of addressing trivial and harmful niceties through horror. This anthology paints a big picture about maintaining the status quo by utilizing a mask of civility, and what happens when that mask is taken off or you force yourself to continue wearing it.
I enjoy the multifaceted nature the different stories bring for the most part; some characters are at the receiving end of such passive aggressive politeness and some of them break free, whereas others enforce it because it personally benefits them — especially when it comes to silencing marginalized communities and ignoring systemic issues pervasive in society. Not every single story exemplifies the themes equally, some of them stick to me more than others. My favorite stories are "The Dust Collectors," "As the Silence Burns, " "An Inherited Taste," and "Acid Skin." Overall a solid anthology I'd recommend to kick off the spooky season.
Thank you BookSirens and Cursed Morsels Press for the advance copy, I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
July 16, 2023
I enjoy anthologies immensely, and I really need more such as this one, with an original premise (polite horror!), great writing, chock-full of ideas and surprisingly good twists! Indeed, it was "No Trouble At All" to review this book (pun intended, of course!), since almost all the stories appealed to me and the review practically wrote itself. My particular standouts: "Anger Management" by J. Rohr, a truly uncanny feeling throughout this story, as we familiarize ourselves with a family's way out of stress; "The Guest Room" by R.L. Meza, my kind of story, creepy and suspenseful, little Eddy sharing a room with a stranger; "Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird" by Gordon B. White, there hasn't been a single story by this author I haven't liked, and this one was no exception; and the closing story, "Welcome to the New You" by Gwendolyn Kiste, worth the anthology alone!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2023
Fans of quiet horror, this book is for you. I love how the editors Alexis Dubon and Eric Raglin inhabit the theme of being polite and unobtrusive by not having their names impose on the cover art. This book wrestles with agency and erasure from cover to cover. The foreword by RJ Joseph is killer. I could quote nearly the whole thing to encourage you to pick this book up. I’ll just go with this thesis statement, “More often, the true goal is to use civility as a mask for ill treatment, exploitation, and cruelty.”
There are so many excellent stories within these covers, but I would like to point out two in particular. "Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird" starts out by wrong-footing the reader but drags you in as it progresses. It closes the circle and hits hard. "Welcome to the New You" transcends the metaphor that inhabits this story and closes on an excellent message of doing the right thing while watching the world burn.“Everything will fall apart. That’s what the world promised us unless we did what we were told. What nobody seemed to understand is that everything fell apart long ago.”
There are so many excellent stories within these covers, but I would like to point out two in particular. "Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird" starts out by wrong-footing the reader but drags you in as it progresses. It closes the circle and hits hard. "Welcome to the New You" transcends the metaphor that inhabits this story and closes on an excellent message of doing the right thing while watching the world burn.“Everything will fall apart. That’s what the world promised us unless we did what we were told. What nobody seemed to understand is that everything fell apart long ago.”
October 3, 2023
I really enjoyed the stories in this themed collection all about killing with kindness. If you dig horror from seemingly banal and courteous characters, No Trouble at All is for you! Not every story was a winner, but many lingered in my mind. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 30, 2023
Polite horror, it’s an interesting way to look at an anthology!
Horror living in polite society and just a touch out of view.
Anger Management was a stand out for me, it’s theme of dehumanization in the traditional family unit had a bit of a nod to Tender is the Flesh.
Welcome to the New You really wrapped these stories up nicely and was another great addition.
All of the stories have great themes that walk this polite horror line.
Horror living in polite society and just a touch out of view.
Anger Management was a stand out for me, it’s theme of dehumanization in the traditional family unit had a bit of a nod to Tender is the Flesh.
Welcome to the New You really wrapped these stories up nicely and was another great addition.
All of the stories have great themes that walk this polite horror line.
August 9, 2023
Growing up in the American Midwest, a staple of my childhood was being taught to be polite. So, I have alot of unlearning to do to be able to follow the hosts' of My Favorite Murder advice to F%*K politeness. Politeness, especially for women, can get you killed. But, we are still told to smile, and to play nice. No Trouble at All is an anthology full of stories that show why being polite is not always the answer, and sometimes is actually hiding truer horrors than could be conceivable, or we find that we are losing ourselves in the pursuit to keep others happy. Where we are told to look the other way, to not make a fuss, to not rock the boat. There are also stories here about when people stop being polite...and start getting real. Wait. No. That is the Real World. If politeness was part of your daily bread, this anthology will make you rethink politeness as an edict. I personally wish there was more emphasis on consideration rather than politeness, and maybe we wouldn't have to worry so much about the thin veneer cracking when the slightest amount of pressure is applied.
Every story is a treasure. I know that sometimes it is nice if a reviewer picks a couple stories as their favorites, but I refuse. Read them all, love them all, devour them all, just make sure you do it with a smile on your face.
P.S. Can we talk about how amazing the cover by Olivia Steen is????
Every story is a treasure. I know that sometimes it is nice if a reviewer picks a couple stories as their favorites, but I refuse. Read them all, love them all, devour them all, just make sure you do it with a smile on your face.
P.S. Can we talk about how amazing the cover by Olivia Steen is????
November 28, 2023
One of the most unsettling collections in recent memory. From the opening Cire Perdue by Ariel Marken Jack to the final page I was glued to the screen of my kindle, afraid of what torment would befall the characters next. I’m a huge fan of some of the authors already, including the aforementioned author, plus Gordon B. White and Nadia Bulkin, but I’ve discovered new authors now. The Guest Room by R.L. Meza was the standout for me. The episodes stuck with me and I’ll never look at a nutcracker the same way again.
I received a free review copy of this collection and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I received a free review copy of this collection and am leaving a review voluntarily.
July 4, 2023
This was a really nice surprise (I completely forgot that I requested it and thus wasn't expecting it in the mail). Overall I was impressed with the quality of the collection! As far as I'm aware, I had never read any of these authors previously, and there are quite a few I'd like to check out further. I enjoyed their varied takes on the "politeness" theme running through the anthology, and tbh I think there's room for No Trouble at All 2: Electric Boogaloo or w/e because this is such a rich topic. Thank you to Cursed Morsels for providing a review copy!
Standouts for me personally included: The Man Outside; See Something Say Something; When Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given; Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird; Welcome to the New You
Standouts for me personally included: The Man Outside; See Something Say Something; When Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given; Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird; Welcome to the New You
July 2, 2023
Polite horror seems like it might be a contradiction, but after reading this collection the reader is reminded that horror can be anywhere. The first story stuck with me the most throughout, though I think that had more to do with it just being first than it being elevated above the rest. But it was the story of someone's person being taken away, their agency being wholly subsumed. That was a common refrain throughout the collection, but it wasn't the only horror within. There was also classism, verbal and physical abuse, straight forward horror, and just bizarre. What I can say connects all of them is that they were all great and all "polite".
Heavily recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Heavily recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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June 27, 2023This was a great anthology and the stories were all unique and definitely not what I was expecting (but in a good way).
These stories cover a broad spectrum of weird horror, body horror, and straight up horror all with the underlying theme of politeness.
The authors did an amazing job at messing with my brain as their tales took a turn I wasn't expecting or gave me the creeps as the tension in some of these stories went off the charts!
This is an anthology where your favorite story is going to be the one you're currently reading as each one is simply a banger. I can't recommend it enough.
These stories cover a broad spectrum of weird horror, body horror, and straight up horror all with the underlying theme of politeness.
The authors did an amazing job at messing with my brain as their tales took a turn I wasn't expecting or gave me the creeps as the tension in some of these stories went off the charts!
This is an anthology where your favorite story is going to be the one you're currently reading as each one is simply a banger. I can't recommend it enough.
July 14, 2023
A very good collection of polite horror stories, I really enjoyed most of the stories here, there were a couple that didn't work for me, but overall I had a very good time reading this
Standout stories were
The Dust Collectors - Nancy's friend recommends a house cleaning firm, really quite unsettling
Anger Management - A Family have discovered a good way to release any anger and frustration
As The Silence Burns - A Historical tale of abuse and redemption
Acid Skin - A deal with a devil
The Guest Room - This was creepy, a young boy at a family reunion shares a room with something
When Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given - A Young woman finds some freedom from her oppressive family
Welcome to the new You - Doppelgangers meets the Stepford Wives. Absolutely brilliant
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Standout stories were
The Dust Collectors - Nancy's friend recommends a house cleaning firm, really quite unsettling
Anger Management - A Family have discovered a good way to release any anger and frustration
As The Silence Burns - A Historical tale of abuse and redemption
Acid Skin - A deal with a devil
The Guest Room - This was creepy, a young boy at a family reunion shares a room with something
When Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given - A Young woman finds some freedom from her oppressive family
Welcome to the new You - Doppelgangers meets the Stepford Wives. Absolutely brilliant
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 12, 2023
This anthology might be one of my favorite books of 2023 so far. The stories are all unique and often poignant and disturbing. All of the authors have done incredible work with the “polite horror” theme and I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I love this book.
The opening story “Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marcken Jack is a stand out for me. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it.
Cannot recommend this enough!
The opening story “Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marcken Jack is a stand out for me. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it.
Cannot recommend this enough!
July 12, 2023
I was delightfully terrified throughout the entirety of it. I made revelations about the stories when the twists came around, and to be honest, the authors did absolutely wonderful work. Excellent flow, I was reading story after story until the end and in the first few days I lost track of time reading, and that is something that is incredibly rare for me. It is hard for something to suck me in, but lord this was an interesting read. I would note that I received this advanced review copy for free and I am gladly reading a voluntary review.
July 10, 2023
Amazing short story collection! I liked all the stories and some of them were so so so Good!!! I loved the setting of so many I wish they were longer so I could read more (but they were great in short form). What I particularly liked was that a lot of them took a metaphor and made unsettling real in a very effective way, like the girl who is made of wax, shark teeth, acid skin, emotional labour and so on. I will definitely buy all Cursed Morsels collections!
July 8, 2023
I fully admit that there were 2 stories in here that I found too triggering to read, but the other stories are all *chef's kiss*. Highly recommend it to anyone who's ever had to do mental middle fingers to horrible people while wearing a smile on the outside.
December 20, 2023
All of these stories were great! I loved every single one, they all had such interesting concepts. Unique stories with twists you don’t see coming. Highly highly recommend if you love short horror stories that pack a punch
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 13, 2023
All of the stories in this anthology focus on the theme of politeness, specifically how it can be weaponized against marginalized people. For instance, the way women are expected to be polite when dealing with entitled men such as in The Man Outside by Simone le Roux and An Inherited Taste by Nadine Aurora Tabing, or how families can be the source of anger and frustration, like in Anger Management by J. Rohr and The Guest Room by R.L. Meza.
September 13, 2023
I went into this collection knowing that it was going to be great, with a promising premise, and cover art to die for. What I did not expect was to fall in love with so many of the stories.
This collection upended my expectations, showing how the ideas of how strict adherence to social expectations of politeness, silence, and conformity can act simultaneously as both a cage and a weapon, especially against marginalized groups and individuals, to either control or oppress, all while demanding a smile, a please and a thank you. This collection uses the strength of a diverse cast of writers to explore facets of horror in a place where it’s not usually found, in the daylight, in everyday society, in ways that are completely unexpected from the people closest to you. From the revolt of violation, to the suffocation of expectation, to the downright bloody and brutal outbursts of violence that society either represses or requires to fit in and move along, this book was a thrill with each story.
Some of the stories incite the spirit, and bolsters righteous rage and justice. Some of the stories break the heart, leaving a bottomless hole in the mirror meant to stare into, and ask “Why? Why does this happen?” Some are about taking control, or losing it, breaking or fading away. Regardless, each story is exemplary of beautiful and emotionally resonant prose, summing to a collection that is one of my favorites of the year.
Every story is strong and stand on their own in the collection, and it is incredibly difficult to select any that stand above the others in anyway except through a purely subjective lens of personal preference. I will say that among my personal favorites were “Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird” by Gordon B. White (one of my favorite short stories I’ve read this year), “Welcome to the New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste, “Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marken Jack, “An Inherited Taste” by Nadine Aurora Tabing, and “The Man Outside” by Simone le Roux.
This collection upended my expectations, showing how the ideas of how strict adherence to social expectations of politeness, silence, and conformity can act simultaneously as both a cage and a weapon, especially against marginalized groups and individuals, to either control or oppress, all while demanding a smile, a please and a thank you. This collection uses the strength of a diverse cast of writers to explore facets of horror in a place where it’s not usually found, in the daylight, in everyday society, in ways that are completely unexpected from the people closest to you. From the revolt of violation, to the suffocation of expectation, to the downright bloody and brutal outbursts of violence that society either represses or requires to fit in and move along, this book was a thrill with each story.
Some of the stories incite the spirit, and bolsters righteous rage and justice. Some of the stories break the heart, leaving a bottomless hole in the mirror meant to stare into, and ask “Why? Why does this happen?” Some are about taking control, or losing it, breaking or fading away. Regardless, each story is exemplary of beautiful and emotionally resonant prose, summing to a collection that is one of my favorites of the year.
Every story is strong and stand on their own in the collection, and it is incredibly difficult to select any that stand above the others in anyway except through a purely subjective lens of personal preference. I will say that among my personal favorites were “Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird” by Gordon B. White (one of my favorite short stories I’ve read this year), “Welcome to the New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste, “Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marken Jack, “An Inherited Taste” by Nadine Aurora Tabing, and “The Man Outside” by Simone le Roux.
August 15, 2023
I loved the concept of this anthology from the beginning, and even if I hadn't, the cover was incredible enough to reel me in!! And I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
As with all anthologies, rating is tough with such diverse stories. The beginning was a bit slow for me, not really connecting with some of the early stories. However, right around a third of the way in was a streak of fantastic stories, including the frequently mentioned 'Anger Management,' 'The Man Outside,' 'Acid Skin,' and 'The Guest Room.' All unique and disturbing and intriguing.
And then there was the strong double finish of 'Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird' and 'Welcome to the New You,' both of which left you wanting more, in the best way.
Overall, it was a fun and creepy read, showcasing some of the best in modern horror writing.
As with all anthologies, rating is tough with such diverse stories. The beginning was a bit slow for me, not really connecting with some of the early stories. However, right around a third of the way in was a streak of fantastic stories, including the frequently mentioned 'Anger Management,' 'The Man Outside,' 'Acid Skin,' and 'The Guest Room.' All unique and disturbing and intriguing.
And then there was the strong double finish of 'Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird' and 'Welcome to the New You,' both of which left you wanting more, in the best way.
Overall, it was a fun and creepy read, showcasing some of the best in modern horror writing.
August 14, 2023
Cool to see how each author tackled this awesome theme. My favorite stories are as follows:
“The Dust Collectors” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd: An unsettling story about a creepy cleaning service.
“See Something Say Something” by Nadia Bulkin: A wickedly wonderful possession tale.
“Welcome to the New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste: An awesome take on doppelgängers.
“As the Silence Burns” by Sara Tantlinger: Brilliant blend of fantasy and horror.
“Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marken Jack: Disturbing exploration of workplace sexual harassment.
For me, this anthology was a 4.5 star read, rounded up to five.
“The Dust Collectors” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd: An unsettling story about a creepy cleaning service.
“See Something Say Something” by Nadia Bulkin: A wickedly wonderful possession tale.
“Welcome to the New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste: An awesome take on doppelgängers.
“As the Silence Burns” by Sara Tantlinger: Brilliant blend of fantasy and horror.
“Cire Perdue” by Ariel Marken Jack: Disturbing exploration of workplace sexual harassment.
For me, this anthology was a 4.5 star read, rounded up to five.
June 14, 2023
This is an engaging collection of "polite horror" stories.
The idea of compiling polite horror is certainly unique. The definition of this subgenre varies, but at the heart are stories about horror lurking beneath the surface of etiquette and well-practiced manners. It's an intriguing concept and one that the authors within this anthology handle with great care and finesse. Trigger warnings are provided if readers desire.
Each story exemplifies expert writing and memorable characters. Some fall more toward the literary style of prose while others explore more classic genre styles and themes. Many will stick with readers long after the final sentence. For me, two in particular got under my skin in the best possible way:
The Man Outside by Simone Le Roux: A girl notices a man standing outside her house and when she tells her parents, they do nothing about it. This story is a slow steady burn with a climax that will dig deep onto the reader's chest and squeeze.
Acid Skin by Marisca Pichette: A twelve year old girl signs a contract with a demon for acid skin. Anyone who touches her will be in agony. Readers will find themselves invested in the girl's journey as she grows up with this unusual trait.
Themes are repeated throughout various stories, although each author adds a unique twist. For example, there are several that explore how women are mistreated by society and men so readers who are fans of feminist literature will enjoy diving into these thought-provoking stories. While certain themes were shared amongst a variety of stories, one plot that stood out for its uniqueness and sci-fi spin was The Dust Collectors by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, which is about a woman who hires an unusual cleaning service. This was a fun addition to the collection and offered a bit of variety to the overall polite horror concept.
Popular horror authors such as Gwendolyn Kiste and Gordon B. White shine with their contributions, but there are plenty of fresh writers to discover. Overall, this is a well-curated collection of compelling and dynamic stories certain to delight horror and dark literary fans.
The idea of compiling polite horror is certainly unique. The definition of this subgenre varies, but at the heart are stories about horror lurking beneath the surface of etiquette and well-practiced manners. It's an intriguing concept and one that the authors within this anthology handle with great care and finesse. Trigger warnings are provided if readers desire.
Each story exemplifies expert writing and memorable characters. Some fall more toward the literary style of prose while others explore more classic genre styles and themes. Many will stick with readers long after the final sentence. For me, two in particular got under my skin in the best possible way:
The Man Outside by Simone Le Roux: A girl notices a man standing outside her house and when she tells her parents, they do nothing about it. This story is a slow steady burn with a climax that will dig deep onto the reader's chest and squeeze.
Acid Skin by Marisca Pichette: A twelve year old girl signs a contract with a demon for acid skin. Anyone who touches her will be in agony. Readers will find themselves invested in the girl's journey as she grows up with this unusual trait.
Themes are repeated throughout various stories, although each author adds a unique twist. For example, there are several that explore how women are mistreated by society and men so readers who are fans of feminist literature will enjoy diving into these thought-provoking stories. While certain themes were shared amongst a variety of stories, one plot that stood out for its uniqueness and sci-fi spin was The Dust Collectors by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, which is about a woman who hires an unusual cleaning service. This was a fun addition to the collection and offered a bit of variety to the overall polite horror concept.
Popular horror authors such as Gwendolyn Kiste and Gordon B. White shine with their contributions, but there are plenty of fresh writers to discover. Overall, this is a well-curated collection of compelling and dynamic stories certain to delight horror and dark literary fans.
February 26, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a solidly-written collection, and made for a good quick read. I liked the creativity and diverse prose styles of each author, even though many of them chose to write about similar themes and ideas.
However, even though I liked most of the stories, I didn't really *love* any of them. Some of the best ones ended right when they started getting interesting, or before the "punchline" of the story had fully landed,. The horror aspect was also a little hard to square with some of these stories, and I didn't like when they tried ended in an uplifting/empowering way, as the short format often left that empowerment feeling unearned ("An Inherited Taste" was the worst offender in my opinion; so all of a sudden, performing emotional labor for an abusive husband/father is empowering instead of demeaning, because..?).
I think cutting some of the weaker/more derivative stories ("An Inherited Taste", "As the Silence Burns", "Echthroxenia") and expanding on the stronger ones ("Anger Management", See Something Say Something", "The World of Iniquity Among Our Members is the Tongue") would have made this collection feel much stronger. My favorite stories were "Anger Management", "Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird", and "Welcome to the New You".
This was a solidly-written collection, and made for a good quick read. I liked the creativity and diverse prose styles of each author, even though many of them chose to write about similar themes and ideas.
However, even though I liked most of the stories, I didn't really *love* any of them. Some of the best ones ended right when they started getting interesting, or before the "punchline" of the story had fully landed,. The horror aspect was also a little hard to square with some of these stories, and I didn't like when they tried ended in an uplifting/empowering way, as the short format often left that empowerment feeling unearned ("An Inherited Taste" was the worst offender in my opinion; so all of a sudden, performing emotional labor for an abusive husband/father is empowering instead of demeaning, because..?).
I think cutting some of the weaker/more derivative stories ("An Inherited Taste", "As the Silence Burns", "Echthroxenia") and expanding on the stronger ones ("Anger Management", See Something Say Something", "The World of Iniquity Among Our Members is the Tongue") would have made this collection feel much stronger. My favorite stories were "Anger Management", "Thirteen Ways of Not Looking at a Blackbird", and "Welcome to the New You".
June 28, 2023
The thing I've enjoyed the most about each of the three Cursed Morsels anthologies I've read is the variety of ideas on display.
Each anthology has had a theme (antifascism, sports/fitness-related body horror, and now, the horror hidden inside civility/politeness), and in each case, the reader is treated to a number of talented authors tackling those themes from a number of exciting approaches.
There are no weak spots, but a few standouts include:
- "The World of Iniquities Among Our Members is the Tongue," D. Matthew Urban's nightmarish meditation on how we deal with the bereaved.
- Shenoa Carroll Bradd's "The Dust Collectors," in which cleanliness is light-years away from godliness.
- "These Small Violences" by J.A.W. McCarthy, which involves a parent-child-child's friend dynamic that feels underexplored in fiction.
- "Welcome to the New You" by Gwendoline Kiste closes the collection with perhaps my favorite story, an eerie and sad tale about a global doppelganger epidemic.
Each anthology has had a theme (antifascism, sports/fitness-related body horror, and now, the horror hidden inside civility/politeness), and in each case, the reader is treated to a number of talented authors tackling those themes from a number of exciting approaches.
There are no weak spots, but a few standouts include:
- "The World of Iniquities Among Our Members is the Tongue," D. Matthew Urban's nightmarish meditation on how we deal with the bereaved.
- Shenoa Carroll Bradd's "The Dust Collectors," in which cleanliness is light-years away from godliness.
- "These Small Violences" by J.A.W. McCarthy, which involves a parent-child-child's friend dynamic that feels underexplored in fiction.
- "Welcome to the New You" by Gwendoline Kiste closes the collection with perhaps my favorite story, an eerie and sad tale about a global doppelganger epidemic.
June 14, 2023
“Polite” horror may seem an oxymoron in and of itself. Editors Alexis DuBon and Eric Raglin bring together 15 writers to explore how politeness and niceness are sometimes merely a fine coat of paint for the absolute rot underneath. The stories are nicely varied in terms of what they explore; tales of how society can crush down individuals, how people treat one another, and how politeness can go very wrong.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
October 31, 2023
Politeness or the polite society as a source of horror was a refreshing idea! I quite liked this anthology.
“The Dust Collectors” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd was very clever. The creepy sense of unease, and that disgusting “cleanliness.” Very well done!
I liked the bitterness and sweet revenge in “Echthroxenia” by Avra Margariti.
A young girl who was belittled and criticised all her life grew new, powerful teeth in “When Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given” by Angela Sylvaine.
The take on doppelgänger in “Welcome To The New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste was refreshing. I particularly liked this passage: “Everything will fall apart. That’s what the world promised us unless we did what we were told. What nobody seemed to understand is that everything fell apart long ago, way before we were here and could be blamed for it.”
Others that I also enjoyed were “These Small Violences,” “Anger Management” and “The Guest Room.”
(I received a free review copy from BookSirens.)
“The Dust Collectors” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd was very clever. The creepy sense of unease, and that disgusting “cleanliness.” Very well done!
I liked the bitterness and sweet revenge in “Echthroxenia” by Avra Margariti.
A young girl who was belittled and criticised all her life grew new, powerful teeth in “When Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given” by Angela Sylvaine.
The take on doppelgänger in “Welcome To The New You” by Gwendolyn Kiste was refreshing. I particularly liked this passage: “Everything will fall apart. That’s what the world promised us unless we did what we were told. What nobody seemed to understand is that everything fell apart long ago, way before we were here and could be blamed for it.”
Others that I also enjoyed were “These Small Violences,” “Anger Management” and “The Guest Room.”
(I received a free review copy from BookSirens.)
April 30, 2024
This is not a paid review
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No Trouble at All is a unique collection of stories from publisher Cursed Morsels. Politeness, and the many and unique forms it has taken in Human Society is given full focus. What form does that politeness take, what purpose does it hold? Whom does it benefit? I have mentioned in other reviews, that some of the best Horror fiction makes the reader uncomfortable. Each of the authors in this collection succeed in bringing that feeling to the reader. Each of us will find something in these stories that resonates with us personally. The forced pleasantries at social gatherings, the perception of what is acceptable behavior in public. These tales conjure forth feelings of, dread, anxiety, heart wrenching anger, and the white hot brilliance of revenge.
Great stories invite, sometimes even the demand, that the reader speak about what they have read with others. Take these 15 stories as an opportunity to broach those uncomfortable subjects, dig into these stories with others.
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No Trouble at All is a unique collection of stories from publisher Cursed Morsels. Politeness, and the many and unique forms it has taken in Human Society is given full focus. What form does that politeness take, what purpose does it hold? Whom does it benefit? I have mentioned in other reviews, that some of the best Horror fiction makes the reader uncomfortable. Each of the authors in this collection succeed in bringing that feeling to the reader. Each of us will find something in these stories that resonates with us personally. The forced pleasantries at social gatherings, the perception of what is acceptable behavior in public. These tales conjure forth feelings of, dread, anxiety, heart wrenching anger, and the white hot brilliance of revenge.
Great stories invite, sometimes even the demand, that the reader speak about what they have read with others. Take these 15 stories as an opportunity to broach those uncomfortable subjects, dig into these stories with others.
September 3, 2024
No Trouble at All is an amazing anthology about horror and cruelty disguised as politeness. The stories are incredibly well-written, and I'm grateful to have discovered many talented authors. This made me realize that there's so much room for "polite horror." To quote R.J. Joseph in the foreword, "Niceties can cut more deeply than outright slashes with a knife because of their subversive nature. We never see it coming."
And indeed, this anthology touches on the devastating consequences of "civility" when it's used as a tool to silence the oppressed and to normalize many forms of violence. Whenever a character tries to speak up against an injustice, they're met with the same kind of response: "It's not polite." "Nice girls don't do that." "That's not allowed."
5/5 stars
And indeed, this anthology touches on the devastating consequences of "civility" when it's used as a tool to silence the oppressed and to normalize many forms of violence. Whenever a character tries to speak up against an injustice, they're met with the same kind of response: "It's not polite." "Nice girls don't do that." "That's not allowed."
5/5 stars
July 22, 2023
Excellent collection of short stories that keep a good creepy atmosphere throughout. I loved the theme and was very interested in all the different ways the different authors chose to explore it. The variety between the stories was very welcomed. Some stories, of course, were more catered to my taste than others but that is to be expected from any anthology, and the collection overall left a good impression. As a person from the same culture, I particularly adored Margariti's Ehthroxenia and loved the inclusion of that POV.
Would love to read another anthology from the same editor. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Would love to read another anthology from the same editor. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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