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This Fresh Hell
A driver picks up a hitchhiker from the side of a road; a restorer develops an unusual bond with a cursed doll; a visit to the cabin in the woods goes terribly wrong...
We all know how these stories end - or do we?
In This Fresh Hell, every story begins with a well-known horror trope but ends with a twist, bringing new life and unexpected resolutions to old ideas. Fears are interrogated, ghosts re-examined, and monsters reconfigured.
From chilling to quirky, these stories will appeal to dedicated horror fans and those dipping into the genre for the first time.
A Slender Man offers help to a boy in trouble; a haunted house is reluctant to terrify its new residents; a heartbroken influencer is challenged on a luxury cruise from hell.
Curated by Katya de Becerra and Narrelle M. Harris, This Fresh Hell reignites and subverts horror tropes in stories by A.J. Vrana, Annie McCann, C. Vonzale Lewis, Candace Robinson, Chuck McKenzie, Claire L. Smith, Claire Low, Clare E. Rhoden, Elle Beaumont, Eugen Bacon, Gillian Polack, Greg Herren, Jason Franks, Katya de Becerra, L.J.M. Owen, Narrelle M. Harris, Raymond Gates, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Sarah Robinson-Hatch, Tansy Rayner Roberts.
We all know how these stories end - or do we?
In This Fresh Hell, every story begins with a well-known horror trope but ends with a twist, bringing new life and unexpected resolutions to old ideas. Fears are interrogated, ghosts re-examined, and monsters reconfigured.
From chilling to quirky, these stories will appeal to dedicated horror fans and those dipping into the genre for the first time.
A Slender Man offers help to a boy in trouble; a haunted house is reluctant to terrify its new residents; a heartbroken influencer is challenged on a luxury cruise from hell.
Curated by Katya de Becerra and Narrelle M. Harris, This Fresh Hell reignites and subverts horror tropes in stories by A.J. Vrana, Annie McCann, C. Vonzale Lewis, Candace Robinson, Chuck McKenzie, Claire L. Smith, Claire Low, Clare E. Rhoden, Elle Beaumont, Eugen Bacon, Gillian Polack, Greg Herren, Jason Franks, Katya de Becerra, L.J.M. Owen, Narrelle M. Harris, Raymond Gates, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Sarah Robinson-Hatch, Tansy Rayner Roberts.
362 pages, Hardcover
Published July 10, 2023
3 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Katya de Becerra
18 books286 followersKatya de Becerra was born in Russia, studied in California, lived in Peru, and then stayed in Australia long enough to become a local. She was going to be an Egyptologist when she grew up, but instead she earned a PhD in Anthropology. She is the critically acclaimed, Aurealis winning, Kirkus and Booklist-starred and Shadows nominated author of horror-thrillers When Ghosts Call Us Home, What The Woods Keep, Oasis, and the forthcoming They Watch From Below.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 1, 2023
A compilation so good i had to write to the publisher and tell them what an outstanding piece of work this is. I'm not saying every single story will be your taste yet you will find something for you. Great diversity of work and themes. Every story is a unique gift to the reader. Strong recommend.
May 8, 2024
As a co-editor of this fabulous anthology, I'm so proud of how it turned out. I love all of these stories! Narrelle (my co-editor) and I had such a fantastic time working with the authors and with our publisher to bring this book into the world. I hope you'll check it out. x
Cover art by Claire L. Smith.
Cover art by Claire L. Smith.
August 28, 2023
An honour to be a contributing author for this wonderful anthology - to be published among fantastic writers is truly a wildest dream come true. Such a great variety of short stories, no two stories are the same - each writer brings something unique to their story leaving you with chills or gobsmacked... definitely pick up your copy today!
Hope you enjoy my story: Twisted Elegance of the Deep Green Sea :)
With special thanks to editors Katya de Becerra and Narrelle M. Harris for this fantastic opportunity.
Hope you enjoy my story: Twisted Elegance of the Deep Green Sea :)
With special thanks to editors Katya de Becerra and Narrelle M. Harris for this fantastic opportunity.
August 10, 2024
I purchased the paperback copy of this book at a ComicCon and was very excited to read some horror from authors I was unfamiliar with, many of whom are Australian. It’s a mixed bag of stories, not all of them horror, but most are well written and interesting.
My favourites were ‘The Sapling’, by A.J. Vrana and ‘House, Meet Your Match’, by Katya de Becerra. There were only a couple of stories I didn’t enjoy. 3 3/4 stars.
My favourites were ‘The Sapling’, by A.J. Vrana and ‘House, Meet Your Match’, by Katya de Becerra. There were only a couple of stories I didn’t enjoy. 3 3/4 stars.
September 7, 2023
I only found out about this book's existence because one of the authors is in my Goth Facebook group and I'm so glad they did mention it because I never would have discovered either it or the extremely good authors otherwise.
There were a few formatting inconsistencies within a few of the stories which was a little puzzling but okay. Not all the stories worked for me but that was purely because of individual writing style rather than any overall flaw, and of course that's something to be expected from an anthology. Some of them were utterly excruciating, some garbled, some boring. But oh my god, the good ones made the whole thing worthwhile. They were thrilling, flawlessly written, grappled with deep issues, or just delicious.
Definitely gave me several names to check out for further reading and made me want so much more Strayan horror.
My faves:
Chuck McKenzie -- powerful stuff right out the gate, so well told, chilling and healing all at the time, entirely my kind of thing
Claire Low -- hair-raising on every level, incredibly complex, and written with such command and deftness. Pregnancy and new parent horror is one of my fave subgenres, and this went into all of that stuff in an absolutely glorious unflinching way. Definitely not for the fainthearted
Raymond Gates -- loved this from start to end, clever, well structured, playing on classic Australiana tropes and pop culture icons, subverting them to wonderful effect
Narrelle M Harris -- this combination of fairytales in a meta structure was bloody wonderful, I enjoyed every bit of it
Katya de Becerra -- I have a very dear friend who actually wrote a short story with the same premise but the reverse plot arc if I remember correctly so that was quite thrilling. And then I got such a shock to see half of my own name on the page -- which has happened like what, once before in my whole reading life? -- and in a story about queer love, queer family, and the healing to be found in horror? Bless my cold dead heart, it's like this story was written just for me and I cherish it deeply
Gillian Polack -- doubly chilling cos I actually went to high school in the area of this story so knew the names of the towns very well indeed, but also really loved the Jewish aspects woven in
LJM Owen -- really enjoyed all the Tasmanian elements of this and the resolution which was just what I was hoping
There were a few formatting inconsistencies within a few of the stories which was a little puzzling but okay. Not all the stories worked for me but that was purely because of individual writing style rather than any overall flaw, and of course that's something to be expected from an anthology. Some of them were utterly excruciating, some garbled, some boring. But oh my god, the good ones made the whole thing worthwhile. They were thrilling, flawlessly written, grappled with deep issues, or just delicious.
Definitely gave me several names to check out for further reading and made me want so much more Strayan horror.
My faves:
Chuck McKenzie -- powerful stuff right out the gate, so well told, chilling and healing all at the time, entirely my kind of thing
Claire Low -- hair-raising on every level, incredibly complex, and written with such command and deftness. Pregnancy and new parent horror is one of my fave subgenres, and this went into all of that stuff in an absolutely glorious unflinching way. Definitely not for the fainthearted
Raymond Gates -- loved this from start to end, clever, well structured, playing on classic Australiana tropes and pop culture icons, subverting them to wonderful effect
Narrelle M Harris -- this combination of fairytales in a meta structure was bloody wonderful, I enjoyed every bit of it
Katya de Becerra -- I have a very dear friend who actually wrote a short story with the same premise but the reverse plot arc if I remember correctly so that was quite thrilling. And then I got such a shock to see half of my own name on the page -- which has happened like what, once before in my whole reading life? -- and in a story about queer love, queer family, and the healing to be found in horror? Bless my cold dead heart, it's like this story was written just for me and I cherish it deeply
Gillian Polack -- doubly chilling cos I actually went to high school in the area of this story so knew the names of the towns very well indeed, but also really loved the Jewish aspects woven in
LJM Owen -- really enjoyed all the Tasmanian elements of this and the resolution which was just what I was hoping
August 21, 2023
I am so honoured to have been invited to participate in this incredible anthology! You can find my short supernatural horror story, Sapling, in this beautiful book alongside many other incredibly talented authors. Sapling is my feminist reimagining of authentic vampire and werewolf folklore from the Balkans. You can expect:
🖤South Slavic folklore
🖤Historically accurate vampire/werewolf lore (not that Bram Stoker BS!)
🖤Feminine rage and retribution
🖤Leaky, grotesque plants
🖤Isolated mountain village
🖤South Slavic folklore
🖤Historically accurate vampire/werewolf lore (not that Bram Stoker BS!)
🖤Feminine rage and retribution
🖤Leaky, grotesque plants
🖤Isolated mountain village
October 24, 2023
Full disclosure: I’m one of the writers. Highly recommend this to any horror fan. It’s like a big delicious spooky buffet that will surprise, delight - and creep you out. A buffet in the underworld, perhaps. Special mention to Chuck McKenzie's The Dark Man, By Referral which has strong Stephen King energy. Also Claire L Smith's The Last Runt which is cinematic and took a piece out of me. Tansy Rayner Roberts' The Haunting of Lift Three is hilarious - why would anyone keep entering an extremely haunted lift?! Put up an ‘out of order’ sign! It’s such a fun collection. Publishing debutante Annie McCann is one to watch, expect big things from her!
September 27, 2023
I was provided with a free copy of this work in exchange for an unbiased review.
Remember those bags of mixed lollies you used to get at milk bars and newsagents? Toothrot of every description all squished in together. If what you wanted were SWEETS, all well and good. But if you were after something specific, or candy bananas made you sick, not so good. Then again, this anthology promises fresh hells.
The authors were asked to pick a horror trope and then subvert it. This is a challenging brief : tropes exist for a reason and it is not enough to merely break them. Unless the break serves a valid narrative purpose, the story will fall flatter than one of those little strawberry & cream things. Although all the pieces herein make the attempt, in my opinion, not all succeed. Also, the tone varies wildly, with fantasy world-building bookended by satire and urban myth, and outright horror following paranormal romance.
One of my favourites is the opener, Chuck McKenzie’s “The Dark Man, by Referral”. In an irresistible blend of charm, cleverness and creeps, the boogieman used to terrify children turns out to be useful when combatting the real horrors of their lives. I especially like the characterisation of James and how, despite everything, he remains a child.
“After I Found Her” by Claire Low does truly subvert the haunted doll trope with elegance and wonderful effectiveness. One person’s dream may truly be another’s nightmare. Also, there’s the line, “He is judging me. With tea.” That line!
Don’t Mess With The Librarian is always a good moral for a story, but “Paperweight” by Eugen Bacon and Clare E. Rhoden goes a step further. In a colloquial cascade approaching stream of consciousness, it warns of the fate awaiting those who do NOT reach beyond mortal ken in search of forbidden knowledge.
For me, these are the choc-dipped honeycomb of the anthology – layered, crunchy and satisfying.
Then there are the tales you can suck on for a long time – the bullseyes and humbugs, if you will. “The Last Runt” by Claire L. Smith takes the time to immerse you in its abusive cult milieu before bringing the tale to an even grimmer end than might be usual. I especially like A. J. Vrana’s “Sapling“ in this regard: it reads like the antique form of a fairy-tale everyone knows, yet who could stomach the truth? And L. J. M. Owen’s “The Devil’s Bargain” manages to flip a trope I’m sure no one else would have even attempted. “That’s just his thing, I’m afraid.” Cheeky!
Pieces such as Annie McCann’s “Twisted Elegance of the Deep Green Sea” and Katya de Becerra’s “House, Meet Your Match” are perfectly acceptable lemon sherbets. McCann’s Indonesian setting is intriguing, and although the progress of “House” holds few surprises, it is so beautifully told as to be a delight.
Then there are the weird little things you just can’t help nibbling on, like licorice bullets and musk sticks. Like Tansy Rayner Roberts “The Haunting of Lift 3”, Gillian Polack’s “Ignore the Dead Bodies, Please”, and Narrelle M. Harris’s glorious “House Hunting”. I love that one, but I can’t say anything about it that won’t be a spoiler. Another chasing of fairy tale, perhaps?
Then there are the – not bananas, exactly. But I found some of the other entries underwhelming. It may have been the writing, but others did not develop their ideas to the extent I felt necessary. One was all stake and no character, and another, although well-written, was all character with no discernible stake.
In short, This Fresh Hell is exactly the kind of mixed bag you might expect to be compiled by a horror publisher such as Clan Destine Press. This was an interesting experiment in anthology-building, with not so much a theme as a modis operandi. The idea of subverting tropes may be provocative, but the scattershot results will not please everyone. Still, you can pick through to find your favourites or dare the sugar rush of the whole, at risk of cavities, stomach aches and eternal damnation.
Remember those bags of mixed lollies you used to get at milk bars and newsagents? Toothrot of every description all squished in together. If what you wanted were SWEETS, all well and good. But if you were after something specific, or candy bananas made you sick, not so good. Then again, this anthology promises fresh hells.
The authors were asked to pick a horror trope and then subvert it. This is a challenging brief : tropes exist for a reason and it is not enough to merely break them. Unless the break serves a valid narrative purpose, the story will fall flatter than one of those little strawberry & cream things. Although all the pieces herein make the attempt, in my opinion, not all succeed. Also, the tone varies wildly, with fantasy world-building bookended by satire and urban myth, and outright horror following paranormal romance.
One of my favourites is the opener, Chuck McKenzie’s “The Dark Man, by Referral”. In an irresistible blend of charm, cleverness and creeps, the boogieman used to terrify children turns out to be useful when combatting the real horrors of their lives. I especially like the characterisation of James and how, despite everything, he remains a child.
“After I Found Her” by Claire Low does truly subvert the haunted doll trope with elegance and wonderful effectiveness. One person’s dream may truly be another’s nightmare. Also, there’s the line, “He is judging me. With tea.” That line!
Don’t Mess With The Librarian is always a good moral for a story, but “Paperweight” by Eugen Bacon and Clare E. Rhoden goes a step further. In a colloquial cascade approaching stream of consciousness, it warns of the fate awaiting those who do NOT reach beyond mortal ken in search of forbidden knowledge.
For me, these are the choc-dipped honeycomb of the anthology – layered, crunchy and satisfying.
Then there are the tales you can suck on for a long time – the bullseyes and humbugs, if you will. “The Last Runt” by Claire L. Smith takes the time to immerse you in its abusive cult milieu before bringing the tale to an even grimmer end than might be usual. I especially like A. J. Vrana’s “Sapling“ in this regard: it reads like the antique form of a fairy-tale everyone knows, yet who could stomach the truth? And L. J. M. Owen’s “The Devil’s Bargain” manages to flip a trope I’m sure no one else would have even attempted. “That’s just his thing, I’m afraid.” Cheeky!
Pieces such as Annie McCann’s “Twisted Elegance of the Deep Green Sea” and Katya de Becerra’s “House, Meet Your Match” are perfectly acceptable lemon sherbets. McCann’s Indonesian setting is intriguing, and although the progress of “House” holds few surprises, it is so beautifully told as to be a delight.
Then there are the weird little things you just can’t help nibbling on, like licorice bullets and musk sticks. Like Tansy Rayner Roberts “The Haunting of Lift 3”, Gillian Polack’s “Ignore the Dead Bodies, Please”, and Narrelle M. Harris’s glorious “House Hunting”. I love that one, but I can’t say anything about it that won’t be a spoiler. Another chasing of fairy tale, perhaps?
Then there are the – not bananas, exactly. But I found some of the other entries underwhelming. It may have been the writing, but others did not develop their ideas to the extent I felt necessary. One was all stake and no character, and another, although well-written, was all character with no discernible stake.
In short, This Fresh Hell is exactly the kind of mixed bag you might expect to be compiled by a horror publisher such as Clan Destine Press. This was an interesting experiment in anthology-building, with not so much a theme as a modis operandi. The idea of subverting tropes may be provocative, but the scattershot results will not please everyone. Still, you can pick through to find your favourites or dare the sugar rush of the whole, at risk of cavities, stomach aches and eternal damnation.
September 7, 2023
Full disclosure: I have half-a-story in this collection (a collab with the amazing Eugen Bacon) so I'm only going to rate the rest of the collection of TERRIFYING, and quite clever, short stories. (Mind you, I think our story is fab too LOL)
Old cliches never die, right? Old spouse tales are always right, yeah? Everything your grandparents warned you about is real, uh-huh? You betcha!
This book takes old superstitions, stories, myths, legends, and turns them into terrifying new reads. This is a wonderful book for the lover of horror. I am definitely not picking favourites, but I reckon any reader will love:
The Last Runt by Claire L Smith
Ignore the Dead Bodies, Please by Gillian Polack BA MA PhD
House Hunting by Narelle M Harris
The Dark Man, by Referral by Chuck McKenzie
And so many others. I'm now putting my copy away to read at Christmas, when a dark twist helps even out the saccharine. Enjoy!
Old cliches never die, right? Old spouse tales are always right, yeah? Everything your grandparents warned you about is real, uh-huh? You betcha!
This book takes old superstitions, stories, myths, legends, and turns them into terrifying new reads. This is a wonderful book for the lover of horror. I am definitely not picking favourites, but I reckon any reader will love:
The Last Runt by Claire L Smith
Ignore the Dead Bodies, Please by Gillian Polack BA MA PhD
House Hunting by Narelle M Harris
The Dark Man, by Referral by Chuck McKenzie
And so many others. I'm now putting my copy away to read at Christmas, when a dark twist helps even out the saccharine. Enjoy!
July 13, 2023
So honoured to have my writing (and cover art) in this marvellous, spooky anthology!!
My short story THE LAST RUNT revives the classic 'isolated community' theme. The tale follows young Alice who was born into a strict, isolated cult that operates a milking farm. The farm is all she's ever known, but Alice cannot help but long for more. Yet, one faithful night, during a coming-of-age initiation ceremony, Alice gets blood on her hands for the first time and descends into a spiral of madness, consumed by the toxic ideologies that have been forced onto her.
Hope you enjoy!
My short story THE LAST RUNT revives the classic 'isolated community' theme. The tale follows young Alice who was born into a strict, isolated cult that operates a milking farm. The farm is all she's ever known, but Alice cannot help but long for more. Yet, one faithful night, during a coming-of-age initiation ceremony, Alice gets blood on her hands for the first time and descends into a spiral of madness, consumed by the toxic ideologies that have been forced onto her.
Hope you enjoy!
July 13, 2023
I had a blast writing my story DEEP IN THE MIST for this anthology.
Deep in the Mist retells one of the classic tropes of horror, eco-terrorism. Isla lives in a seaside village, where farming isn't as easy as it should be. Plagued by a beast from the shores, they must sacrifice a child from their village twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. When the next child is selected, Isla can't stand by idly, it's time to act, time to change, and maybe...time to live.
~*~Now Available~*~
Deep in the Mist retells one of the classic tropes of horror, eco-terrorism. Isla lives in a seaside village, where farming isn't as easy as it should be. Plagued by a beast from the shores, they must sacrifice a child from their village twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. When the next child is selected, Isla can't stand by idly, it's time to act, time to change, and maybe...time to live.
~*~Now Available~*~
July 18, 2023
I am delighted to have co-edited this anthology of horror stories with twists on the old tropes with Katya de Becerra.
April 3, 2025
Great read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews