Trembling With Fear – More Tales From The Tree
Edited by Stuart Conover and Stephanie Ellis
Reviewed By Mark Anthony Smith
What I liked about this book
I really enjoy the weekly ‘Trembling With Fear’ which is published by ‘The Horror Tree’ each Sunday afternoon or evening. Conover and Ellis do an excellent job of selecting a short story and three drabbles every issue. It’s well subscribed too. It usually takes several months between getting a story accepted and seeing it in print. This collection brings together all the special calls from 2018 – Valentine’s, Halloween and Christmas. There’s a section on Serial Killers and the ‘Unholy Trinity’ features.
The Valentine’s section has vows renewed ‘guns to the head’ as fiancées have ulterior motives for letting out their flats for parties. Do you want blood? There’s certainly plenty of that to drink to here. Then perhaps you can round it off with the slow dance of verse and the rhyming couplets:
She drew him to the bed
Threw him on his back
When the knife plunged in
His body went slack […]
Whatever your poison – a dozen red roses, candles or errr…poison – you’ll find something to celebrate with Valentine’s.
Couvaras’ serialised ‘Serial Killers’ is well accomplished. This ‘coated tongue’ in cheek follows Clyde who knows how to walk. Especially at night, Clyde Atteridge finally returns in ‘Wet Ash’ to round up a feast of witty dialogues and improper rendezvous with things best whispered in the dark. These connected vignettes are really entertaining.
The Halloween section has plenty of treats and tricks in the mix of poetry and prose. You’ll find unusual pie ingredients and even less savoury creatures. If you find that the burrowing ant is unsettling just leaf back and re-read McSweeney’s ‘crawler’ story.
There are longer stories in the Christmas section. But stop by the ‘The Unholy Trinity’ before we conclude our festivities because W. E. Pearson really knows how to wake the senses – even in death. These three related pieces are tightly written and visceral.
The Christmas section is well represented with plenty of presents that you would not ask for, high spirits and some that stoop much lower, Santa and things that are definitely not Santa. If you like Christmas, check out these dark tales. Finally, Alison Faye ties it all up with a dark extended piece that will make you check upon your sleeping children ‘just one more time.’ A lovely dried out, sewage stenched tale.
What I didn’t like about this book
I really enjoyed the mix of themes and the many different voices. The writers are described as new and seasoned and the book reflects this diversity. You may think that the pieces would vary in quality. But the editors have definitely taken their time in selecting these handpicked tales. If I have one criticism, then it’s a personal one: I’m not a fan of Christmas, Valentine’s or Halloween. But that’s just me. I did enjoy the variance on a set theme though. So, I will wholly recommend this anthology – especially if you like any of the socially constructed holidays.
Why you should buy this book
The strength of writing are excellent and varied. There’s plenty to apple bob or unwrap; short flash and longer pieces. Also, it’s a nice mix of fictions and verse from a well-respected Horror publication that serves readers and authors well.
Trembling With Fear – More Tales From The Tree
Trembling With Fear: More Tales From The Tree features the stories published online at HorrorTree.com’s Trembling With Fear outside of the weekly zine. These tales were written in response to various ‘Specials’ calls (Valentine, Halloween, Christmas) for 2018, and also the newly introduced Serials and Unholy Trinity features. All works of speculative fiction, many darkly so, they are the product of writers both new and seasoned and from all corners of the globe. This collection is an ideal companion to Trembling With Fear: Year Two, which contains all stories published weekly in 2018.
HorrorTree.com is the free online resource for writers in the field of speculative fiction. As well as Trembling With Fear, you will find the latest industry submission calls, articles, and interviews. It is not to be missed!
You can buy More Tales From The Tree from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Mark Anthony Smith
Mark Anthony Smith was born in Hull, East Yorkshire. He is the author of three books. His latest short story appears in ‘A – Z of Horror: D is for Demons’ published by Red Cape publishing. Check out commissioned Horror art and free reads at www.markanthonysmith.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkAnthonySm16
Thanks for the review, Mr. Smith!