Short Book Review: Lonesome and Festering

Eric Raglin, Lonesome and Festering. Minneapolis, MN: Cursed Morsels Press, 2026.  (Link to publisher) 

Genre: horror, short fiction

Subgenre: queer, LGBTQ, bizarro, absurd

Format: e-book galley

Source: Book Sirens 

 

To be honest, I was not sure what to expect from the book. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. The book has a variety of short stories on topics such as dystopia, capitalism, queerness, and even some romance. If you are looking for horror that is a bit on the wild side and definitely not the usual, this book may be for you. 

The author offers stories that for the most part are on the short side. I appreciated that as it allowed me to do some fun reading without a long commitment. I could read one story, then another, and then another, put the book down, then come back. I found that the stories just draw you in. And very often the stories stay with you well after reading. There are also some intriguing plot ideas that are worth exploring for readers. 

Overall, I really liked the book. Horror readers will likely enjoy it as well, especially if you like your horror in small doses but packing a big punch. Fans of genres like bizarro fiction and queer fiction may enjoy this as well. 

On a side note, the stories do come with some trigger warnings, which are listed at the end of the book, so reader discretion is advised.