Bitter Apples by Eric Raglin

Bitter Apples Reviews

• 
  Stitching Ghost

  4.5 rounded up.
  
  The cover for this book immediately caught my attention there's just something about the juxtaposition of the flourishing greens and of the active decay of the human made structure that speaks to my soul. I know, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but in this instance it does capture the essence of the book very well.
  
  Overall, this collection does a very good job of conveying the anxiety, fear, and despair that comes with operating in a system which is actively falling apart and demanding ever more from you while offering you little to no hope of improving your lot.
  
  Each story is unique and polished enough that I didn't feel the stories were bleeding into one another, something I often find to be an issue in collections with such a narrow scope. While each piece can stand on its own, they also work very effectively together and I had a low buzz of anxiety pretty much the entire time I was reading, and it even has ZOMBIES, I didn't want it to end!
  It was my first encounter with Raglin's work and I feel almost cheated that I didn't hear about his work sooner!
  
  Disclosure: I received a digital review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through BookSirens.
  
• 
  Barbara Behring

  For the most part I enjoyed the stories in this anthology about teaching. I especially enjoyed the first two and the last two stories.
• 
  Elizabeth McConnon

  Many thanks to Book Sirens for allowing me to read this early and review it.
  
  I love horror, and anthologies are really something I've grown to adore the more I explore the genre. Bitter Apples is a series of seven stories told from the perspective of teachers. In theory this sounds like a perfect anthology of horror stories. The school system is filled with many different emotions, challenges and rumours - my own school even had a ghost story connected with an abandoned staircase that infamously was haunted by a nun who had tripped and unfortunately fell to her death, I live in Ireland, I think every Irish school has a specific haunting associated with it.
  
  That's why I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome of these short stories. They were missing that 'fear factor'. All seven were written very well and I could tell these were beloved tales and scenarios by each author and some I resonated with more than others but as a whole I feel the anthology failed to do what a horror essentially is meant to - I was not scared, at all. In fact, I'm more afraid that this will be a forgettable read for most horror fans because of how predictable the content was and a somewhat battering of issues that teachers are overworked, underpaid and stressed - all valid and valued complaints that I feel could have been addressed better and expanded if perhaps each author had and increased word count.
  
  What I loved about these stories was the difference in perspective from one teacher to the next and the variety of subgenres that were on offer if a little cliché. Ghosts, Eldritch-like beings and zombies are little worries when you know what teachers are really up against in society and in some countries in particular, or maybe I'm missing the point and these are the nightmares teachers wish they were up against.
  
  
• 
  Ange ⚕ angethology

  [thanks Cursed Morsels Press and BookSirens for the free ARC—all opinions are my own, and this review is voluntary.]
  
  "This world is a cracked pipeline, a tanker run aground, vomiting the dregs of our lives all over the wretched landscape of a soiled universe. And your students know it too." 
  
  This is a treat to explore, with such diverse storylines, the anthology delves into cults for the sake of the students, a post-apocalyptic zombie world, and inscrutable supernatural incidents that happen in the lives of teachers. 
  
  One of the reasons I love horror so much is it gets to explore societal issues in a way that pushes boundaries and draws on the darkest realm beyond our imaginations, without it casting judgement—and this does exactly just that. 
  
  Some stories personally connect with me more than others (and my personal favorite might be "There's a Reason They Collect the Pencils") but overall this collection does a good job in focusing on the hurdles that teachers face, in a more gothic dimension. I do wish that some of the stories were maybe slightly longer and more developed.
• 
  Mother Suspiria

  7 tales of teachers dealing with troubles, tribulations, and terrors: BITTER APPLES from Cursed Morsels is a unique anthology that provides an eerie education and perceptive perspective on an undervalued, overworked profession, filtered through a horror lens. Make sure you don't miss class!
• 
  Austrian Spencer

  I’ll cut to the chase here and say that Bitter Apples was, in this reader’s opinion, below average. Eric’s own story in the collection was the only highlight, the rest of the stories really didn’t do anything for me. One story I won’t single out, I actually DNF’d through lack of interest, which I think is a first for a “short story” for me.
  The collection of classroom horror, written by ex or actual teachers, bordered on dull. I struggled to maintain enthusiasm to finish the novel, hoping for a turnaround, but outside of Eric’s own story, this didn’t take me where I wanted to go.
  2 ⭐'s out of 5.
• 
  James

  Teachers. Beware!
  
  As a veteran of online and in the class settings, I found a story to enjoy about every nightmare I’ve had in the profession of instructor. There are also stories that concern the future of teaching. If it’s allowed to be conducted in the manner it seems to be going.
• 
  luckykarmatx

  This was a quick read made up of a nice collection of stories centered around a main theme. I didn't find them very scary, but this is a fun, creepy read that's perfect for back to school. I feel the material is not too extreme or over the top, making it suitable for a wider audience. This is honestly a book that I wouldn't think twice about sharing with someone who prefers creepy horror stories over the more extreme stuff. I'm looking forward to checking out what other works have been put out by the writers, particularly Emma Murray. Out of all of the stories, I enjoyed hers the most, but they were all really enjoyable.
  
  Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
• 
  Lucky Karma

  This was a quick read made up of a nice collection of stories centered around a main theme. I didn't find them very scary, but this is a fun, creepy read that's perfect for back to school. I feel the material is not too extreme or over the top, making it suitable for a wider audience. This is honestly a book that I wouldn't think twice about sharing with someone who prefers creepy horror stories over the more extreme stuff. I'm looking forward to checking out what other works have been put out by the writers, particularly Emma Murray. Out of all of the stories, I enjoyed hers the most, but they were all really enjoyable.
  
  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  Raghav

  A horror anthology themed around academia, albeit from the teacher’s perspective, is a brilliant idea. Bitter Apples captured my interest thanks to its evocative cover and blub wherein one discovers that the stories in the book are by teachers.
  
  Horror has several subgenres, and Bitter Apples is more literary in its character. Definitely morbid, thought-provoking at times, profound, and often a commentary on the depreciating state of the education system, the stories aren’t without a fair share of humour that adds to the entertainment value.
  
  There’s a Reason They Collect the Pencils starts the collection, setting a heartening tone to the book. It’s a melancholic read, one that focuses on mental illness and how changing nature of education can have a dramatic impact on all who are involved.
  
  Drop Drop is reminiscent of the movie Sixth Sense but takes a more grounded approach to the supernatural element. The ending could have gone either here or there, and I’m glad the author takes one that is somewhat unconventional.
  
  The Teachers’ Association, like The Consultant’s Hand, builds upon the tension and suspense slowly, leading to a possible tragic end. In both cases, I wished I was part of the story to stop the main characters from committing the grave mistakes that would lead them to their imminent doom.
  
  The Chalk Martyrs was another interesting read. While delving into the supernatural or maybe the behind-the-scenes monster genre, it comments on how teachers go beyond their call of duty just to benefit children.
  
  Make Sure You Fill Out Those Evaluations was a great way to end the book. A light-hearted satire on “guest presentations,” it’s a fast read and a laugh riot.
  
  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
• 
  Siobhan

  Bitter Apples is a collection of horror stories about teaching, written by teachers and exploring both realities and dark permutations of both school and university level teaching. There are seven stories in the book, each quite different and using different kinds of horror, from ghostly students to zombie apocalypse teaching, cult-like teachers' groups to offering morbid payment in return for a better classroom. All of them, however, consider the stresses of teaching in some way, particularly around education budgets and frustrations about what you can actually do as a teacher.
  
  My favourite story in the collection was 'The Chalk Martyrs' by the book's editor, Eric Raglin (who I've read other stories and a collection by), as it combined a wince-inducing body horror conceit with the harsh realities of wanting better for your students, and I loved the details in the story. I also liked 'Make Sure You Fill Out Those Evaluations' by Aurelius Raines II, which has a fun training session format whilst creating a picture of a zombie horror dystopia in which teachers still need to try and make school a safe space for students, and the different uses of hauntings in both 'Drip Drop' and 'There's a Reason They Collect the Pencils'. A couple of the stories didn't work so much for me as they were more low key, surreal horror that I didn't click with, but that's often the case with anthologies.
  
  Combining a variety of horror with the often horrifying reality of the conditions teachers have to work in, Bitter Apples is a clever anthology that would probably make a particularly good gift for teachers or ex-teachers who like horror, and a good read for fans of horror anthologies in general.
• 
  Cat Voleur

  I am always so happy to get ARCs from Eric Raglin, as I know he's going to offer something good.
  
  What I liked best about this collection in particular is the variety of stories offered. Even though they're all about teachers, there was a little something in here for fans of all subgenres. Abstract, ghostly metaphors? Check. Emotional tales of grief? Check. Stories about teachers paying a pound of flesh for their students in a broken system? Check.
  
  There's even a tale in here for the zombie lovers, like me. (And what a timely entry!)
  
  This was a very short collection, and while I didn't relate to all of the stories, I loved reading all the unique takes on classroom horror. I'd recommend this little anthology to any horror fan, but especially those of you who are teachers (or are brave enough to be considering the field.)
  
• 
  Simon

  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Many thanks to BookSirens for allowing me to read this and give an unbiased review. Seven short stories all based on the theme of education all from different authors hence this small book is an anthology of horror based on the theme mentioned. Like any book review it is my opinion and I am not attempting to review the author or his choices and neither pointing the finger of joy or wiggle a digit to cast despair over one or more story authors; so have given star ratings instead, 2 stories 2 stars, 2 stories 3 stars and 3 stories 4 stars with an average anthology score of 3. None particular horrifying or squeamish but well worth a read to lap up some twisty devious story lines; so glad I'm not a teacher.
• 
  Carla (There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast)

  I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
  
  I deeply enjoyed this collection of horror stories based around teaching—it made me uncomfortable in the most delightful way. It felt like an exploration of my own stress dreams about school: I have skipped an entire semester or year of a class, and I have to sneak in and take the exam without the teacher/professor ‘s noticing; it’s the end of the year, and I have to clean out my locker but I don’t remember where it is; the teacher/professor detests me and only me (this actually happened to me, but it replays in grotesquerie in dreams). This book perfectly captured that stress dream horror feeling, and now I need a brightly colored blanket and a cookie. Thanks! That was fun.
• 
  Erica Summers

  No shiny red apples for some of these molders of our youth. This Fun collection of horror shorts is all based around teachers and students and all stories are written BY actual teachers either presently or retired. Its got a good, creepy mix of several tropes and concepts and was overall pretty polished and enjoyable. Raglin always knows how to to compile pieces that seem to cohesively fit together and Bitter Apples is no exception. If you're wanting to revisit the horrors of school, this is a great anthology for you.
• 
  Joan Smith

  Thank You to BookSirens and the talented Authors
  
  This Anthology has 7 short stories written by authors that were once Teachers. The short stories are different aspects of the horror genre and some concerns about various types of students.
  
  Doppelganger, Ghosts, Stepford Teachers, Zombies and more fill this quick read. It is well written. It was more Suspenseful and Sad then Scary.
  
  School Horror
  Apocalyptic Horror
  Supernatural Horror
  Trigger Points involving children
• 
  S.J. Townend

  LOVED this collection of education themed horror. Being a teacher myself, the stories all resonated in one odd way or another.
  
  This book is worth 5 stars alone for Corey F's opening story, There's a Reason They Collect the Pencils, but I loved every tale in this book.
  
  My only complaint? Wish it was longer!
• 
  Lacey Losh

  A frightening collection of horror stories, told from the perspective of teachers. This talented group of authors offers up everything from supernatural happenings to the more realistic terrors facing instructors today.
• 
  Thesincouch

  This didn't hit as much as No Problem At All but I do have to give a shout out to Corey Farrenkopf's There's a Reason They Collect the Pencils - that was spooky, well written, and just sad. I think this story encapsulates what the collection was trying to do.
• 
  Anastacia

  A great collection of short stories about being a teacher. Horrifying budget cuts, indoctrination, and feeling useless!
• 
  Brian Mcclain

  Entertaining horror collection based on teaching, which is ripe for horror and done fantastically.
  
  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.