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The Festering Ones

S.H. Cooper (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 91 ratings · 51 reviews

A monster lurking in the mountain.

A mysterious cult seeking a doorway.

An otherworldly evil waiting to be unleashed.

Faith York was a young girl when she saw her father dragged into the ground by a spider-armed woman, never to be seen again. Twenty years later, the events of that day continue to haunt her, and her need for answers has only grown stronger with time. After her ...more

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Kindle Edition, 109 pages

Published October 4th 2019

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· 91 ratings · 51 reviews

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Feb 19, 2020 Sadie Hartmann rated it really liked it

Well hello there, S. H. Cooper. What an impressive debut novel.
THE FESTERING ONES, at first blush, sounded like it was going to have too many ideas and not enough pages.
Creature-Feature? Check.
A mysterious cult? Check.
Cosmic Horror? Check.
I was skeptical that such an ambitious plot could be squeezed into less than 200 pages and still manage to strike that necessary balance of character development and pacing.
About 30 pages in, I was hooked. The protagonist, Faith York, is an assured, determine ...more

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May 05, 2020 Bark | Ladies Of Horror Fiction rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, dark-fiction, ladiesofhorrorfiction

If you like your horror with creepy many armed lady monsters who jump out of a hidey-hole in the woods and grab a man and drag him down to their lair where he’s never seen or heard from again, you’re going to love this one! I might know a few folks I’d like to lead down that path myself, haha (I, eh, kid?).

Anyhow, if you’re looking to escape our dreadful reality for a little bit this book will help you out. It’s full of adventure and monsters and a main protagonist attempting to make sense of he ...more

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May 25, 2020 Graeme Rodaughan rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: anyone with an abiding love for cosmic horror with determined heroines.

Shelves: horror, lovecraftian-cosmic-horror

A Giant Spider Woman Ate My Daddy! "Well, I had to shoot her stone cold dead - anything else didn't make sense."

This ended a little abruptly, but was entertaining and gripping throughout. I'd love to see a sequel, or more (a series please) in the same universe.

Cosmic horror with strong heroines, what's not to love.

Strongly recommended. 5 'cosmic horror,' stars. ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Jen (LOHF/Book Den) rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror

I read The Festering Ones this month in celebration of Women in Horror Month (although every month is WiHM around here). It was such a perfect start to kick off the month.

The novella length is one of my favorite formats for a horror story. One of the complaints I often see regarding novellas is there's not enough time for development. The Festering Ones is a great example of how well a story can be developed in this format if it's done right.

I'm not even sure how to describe The Festering Ones, ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 Sjgomzi rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-list-2019

I’m ready for more!

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Oct 08, 2019 Steve Stred rated it really liked it

** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

The Festering Ones just came onto my radar and it absolutely was something I snagged because of that outstanding Elderlemon Design cover. Elderlemon continues to create stunning covers and this was another one that snagged my interest and I’m glad I did.

After reading the synopsis, I knew I was in for a fun ride.

If you’ve ever read anyone my reviews or even any of my own releases, you’ll know I have a large spot reserved in my soul for stories ** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

The Festering Ones just came onto my radar and it absolutely was something I snagged because of that outstanding Elderlemon Design cover. Elderlemon continues to create stunning covers and this was another one that snagged my interest and I’m glad I did.

After reading the synopsis, I knew I was in for a fun ride.

If you’ve ever read anyone my reviews or even any of my own releases, you’ll know I have a large spot reserved in my soul for stories set in the woods, with creepy creatures and monsters. I have an even bigger spot for those stories that involve elder gods, other worlds and redemption/revenge stories.

This one checked all of those boxes.

After witnessing her dad be killed by a creature she dubs ‘the spider-armed lady’ on a hunting trip, Faith has lived with the truth for years, while everyone around her declared it to be the ramblings of a PTSD suffering child.

After her mother dies, Faith finds out there is more going on and decides to investigate, which prompts a return visit to the small town she’d never thought she’d return to again.

Cooper writes creepy alongside the best out there and her deft prose sucked me in within chapter one and had me hooked. I would have read this in one sitting if I didn’t have two other books currently on the go.

Faith is a great character and the two others that join her in her quest work really well. I’m going to remain spoiler-free so I won’t name them, but when you read it, you’ll see how they aid in pushing the narrative nicely.

This would have easily been a five star read for me, except the ending.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a horrible ending at all, it just felt unresolved and minimized after what we’d just been put through. I’m hoping it was set up like that for another book in the series, which I would absolutely read, but I still think that could have been accomplished with a slightly longer, drawn-out conclusion. Just how I feel, friends! Some of you may love the ending!

Wrapping this up – well done S.H. This was a book I wasn’t expecting to grab me so hard and I couldn’t stop reading it. People are going to love this and that cover is bang on perfect for the creatures but also the atmosphere! ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Emily rated it really liked it

"Reality isn't quite so solid as most would believe."

The Festering Ones was my introduction to SH Cooper's work, and I loved it! This book opens really well, and it drew me in right away. The story is unsettling; I was completely captivated, and dying to know more. There are some great creepy moments, and the wordbuilding was good.

I was so interested in the story that I found myself wishing there was a more information. The ending felt a little incomplete, so I'm hoping that means there's anoth ...more

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Dec 24, 2019 Sci-Fi & Scary rated it really liked it

A quick, violent read with kick-ass female leads. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.

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Jan 08, 2020 Cassie Daley rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, death-as-subject, my-favorite-novellas, ladies-of-horror-fiction, monsters-cryptids-and-creatures, read-2020, best-of-2020, lohf-novellas, 2020-top-25

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: novellas are probably my favorite format for storytelling. There’s something about being given enough to want more, but not enough to leave you feeling totally sick of the world built by the writer, that really gets to me and keeps me coming back to these short gems for more.

When I saw the cover for The Festering Ones, I knew I wanted to own it – the cover is super cool, and I wasn’t surprised to find that it was made by Kealan Patrick Burke of Elderle I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: novellas are probably my favorite format for storytelling. There’s something about being given enough to want more, but not enough to leave you feeling totally sick of the world built by the writer, that really gets to me and keeps me coming back to these short gems for more.

When I saw the cover for The Festering Ones, I knew I wanted to own it – the cover is super cool, and I wasn’t surprised to find that it was made by Kealan Patrick Burke of Elderlemon Design, since he’s become a prominent book cover designer – and author – in the horror community as of late.

Since it was already on my radar, it’s no wonder that I jumped at the chance to receive a copy for review shortly after its October release last year. And the convenient size allowed me to push it up on my TBR, which made it one of the first few books I read this year! Talk about starting off with a bang – I loved it!

The Festering Ones is fast-paced enough to have pulled me in from the very first page, and held on so tightly that I didn’t put it down until I finished it an hour and a half later. The action and pacing are so well done that I found myself flipping through the pages quickly, eager to find out what Faith, the main character, was going to get into next.

I really enjoyed Faith’s character, and the amount of life-altering change that occurs for her in such a short book. While going through her recently deceased mother’s possessions, her entire world is turned upside down, and she’s fierce enough to charge head first into the unknown – a quality I really admire in my protagonists! Having your entire life and childhood based on lies is such a gripping theme, and the realistic nature of what Faith deals with in the book juxtaposed against the otherworldly horrors that await her later in the plot makes for some seriously compelling storytelling.

Along with strong women characters, I also really love creepy creatures, and there are plenty of them here. It’s almost wild how much happens in this novella, and I don’t want to say too much ’cause I’d hate to spoil something I went into nearly blind and ended up thoroughly enjoying. I’ll say that if you enjoy Lovecraftian creature horror, or scary un-god worshipping cults, stop reading this review right now and click this link to buy the book – you won’t be sorry!

This was the first thing I’ve read by the author, but it won’t be the last. Her ability to completely engross me in a fun, gory, entertaining read has put her on my radar for one to watch all new releases from, and I’ve added what I could find that she’d already published to my wishlist TBR already! The only single negative I could say is that I wish there were a little more to it – not necessarily that it were longer, but that a few things were more fleshed out, and that the world, creatures, and cult were expanded upon more. I love the world she created – I just want more, haha.

Overall, an excellent introduction to a new author, and one I’ll be recommending to fans of creepy creatures, quick & absorbing reads, and to Lovecraft-lovers seeking to expand their reading horizons a little bit! ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Aiden Merchant rated it really liked it

3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads. Review coming to KendallReviews.com soon ...

"I really hope Cooper decides to develop upon this world she’s introduced here, because a full epic could be extremely satisfying." ...more

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May 08, 2020 Yolanda Sfetsos rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, adult-contemporary, horror

Earlier this week, one of my Twitter friends was reading this book and it reminded me that I had it on my Paperwhite.

Today, I decided to get started and couldn't put it down!

When Faith York was a little girl, she watched a spider-armed woman drag her father into the ground. She hasn't been able to forget what happened, it's been haunting her most of her life but she's managed to stop talking about it because no one ever believed her.

Twenty years later, after her mother dies and she goes through ...more

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Oct 18, 2019 Will Blosser rated it it was amazing

In S. H. Cooper’s debut novella, The Festering Ones, we learn the tragic tale of Faith York. After years of begging, a young Faith is finally allowed to accompany her father on his annual hunting trip. What begins as a wonderful bonding experience quickly turns sour when her father is attacked by an impossible looking creature. He is never seen again. Years later, Faith returns to her home town in the wake of her mother’s death and stumbles upon a collection of research that her mother had been In S. H. Cooper’s debut novella, The Festering Ones, we learn the tragic tale of Faith York. After years of begging, a young Faith is finally allowed to accompany her father on his annual hunting trip. What begins as a wonderful bonding experience quickly turns sour when her father is attacked by an impossible looking creature. He is never seen again. Years later, Faith returns to her home town in the wake of her mother’s death and stumbles upon a collection of research that her mother had been conducting into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Faith’s father. She becomes determined to finish what her mother started and learn the complete truth behind the monsters that took her dad. Her search takes her down a rabbit hole of family secrets and cults; kidnappings and murders, all in the name of the terrible eldritch god Gorrorum.

My absolute favorite thing about Cooper’s world is the Gorrorum mythos. Cooper has crafted a well thought out and structured series of realms, creatures, and even competing gods. The Gathered, the cult who worship Gorrorum, are creative and terrifying and dark. I loved the way Cooper implements dream-visions of the Ibsilyth realm. Dreaming of the cosmic dimensions that the big bad monsters come from is a staple in the cosmic horror genre, but I’ve never seen it quite done like this. It’s Cooper’s ingenuity and originality that made this such a fun read. However, don’t be misled by my calling this a fun read. It is horror, through and through. The characters endure some seriously dark happenings. The Gathered does not shy away from brutality and bloodshed in the worship of their rotting god. The violence in this novella is not particularly graphicly or gorily described, but the viciousness is there. The scenes where we learn more about The Gathered and Gorrorum are like a twisted history lesson, and when the action gets going, it is absolutely gripping.

A particularly noteworthy aspect of Cooper’s writing is in that of the main character, Faith. Faith is a relatively normal girl at the beginning, despite her very troubled childhood. She isn’t shown to be amazingly strong or capable. She isn’t a hero type; she’s a classic everyman (everywoman?). That, in and of itself, isn’t unique or noteworthy. In most fiction where the hero is an everyman, they quickly step up and become a hero when destiny calls. Faith is a little different, and that’s where she shines. Faith never becomes the Perfect Hero. Throughout the entire story, she is terrified and confused. She practically spends the whole novella on the verge of a breakdown. She still does what she needs to do, and that indicates incredible strength and fortitude. But her real, human weakness and fear never go away. It’s so much more believable that this regular person, when thrust into incredible circumstances, still behaves like a regular person.

With such realistically crafted characters and inspired cosmic mythos, Cooper will certainly draw you in and make you hungry for more. My biggest complaint here is with the ending. It seemed to come rather abruptly, and left me wishing for the story to continue. When I looked down and saw that I had reached 96% completion, I wasn’t sure how there could be a satisfying conclusion in such a short space. As it turned out, there wasn’t enough room to fit a complete and satisfying ending, and we are left wanting. That wanting could have been satiated if this had been expanded to a full length novel. Hopefully, we are granted a continuation of the story by means of a sequel. To clear, the ending isn’t poorly crafted. There is no unsatisfying Deus Ex Machina, or blatant plot holes hastily covered. The ending, as it is, simply pumps you up for what is to come next, and then refuses to provide it. Of course, perhaps that is Cooper’s intention. If so, it definitely served to leave me hooked and awaiting the next course. If there is a next course, I’ll be first in line.
...more

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Oct 07, 2019 Elizabeth Kirkman rated it it was amazing

I enjoy Cooper’s writing. I’ve been reading and being creeped out by her tales of terror and woe for years. When I heard that she was releasing a new novella, I jumped at the chance to get an ARC. I received this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

In The Festering Ones, main character Faith, witnesses a monstrous tragedy in the woods. Her entire childhood she’s told that what she saw wasn’t possible, that she was crazy. Now an adult, her search for the truth will lead her down a rabbit hole ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Laurel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror, reviewer-rec, authors-to-follow

I absolutely loved this story. S.H. Cooper is one heck of a storyteller - The Festering Ones delivers on the promise of its title and blurb. We have a creepy, horrifying inciting incident, convincing fallout, then a catalyst for our protagonist to finally solve the mystery of what happened to her father. We've got so many fascinating horror elements here, woven together seamlessly into a tale that flies off the pages. I don't want to give anything away, because the world that's slowly revealed i ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Charlotte rated it really liked it

What to say about this novella....
While I was reading this, I was thinking that after the initial "happening" that it's pretty slow, BUT I wanted to turn the page. I think after the first encounter happens, there is a build up with each step until the big find. There is a "WTH" ending, but I find that happens often in horror. The daughters are descriptively creepy. The anticipation of what will happen next will keep you reading. The idea of the story is quite chilling. A story worthy of any horr ...more

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Oct 21, 2019 Scott Murray rated it really liked it

Totally loved the cosmic terror in this book! I really hope there are more on the way in this universe!!

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Dec 17, 2019 D.K. Hundt rated it it was amazing

‘A monster lurking in the mountain. A mysterious cult seeking a doorway. An otherworldly evil waiting to be unleashed...With reality becoming more blurred by the day and the thousand eyes of an alien deity fixed on her, Faith [York] must decide if the dark secrets of White Crow Mountain are really worth losing herself over.’

The Festering Ones is the first book that I have read by S.H. Cooper, and I had a blast reading it. I can’t wait to read more of her work. If you like Occult fiction, th ...more

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Feb 03, 2020 Melanie (TBR and Beyond) rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, kick-ass-females, adult-horror, e-books, read-in-2020

Really cool little horror novella. I would def like to check out some more of this author's work. I loved the cult aspect and there were some really creepy moments. The Daughters are amazing. I wish there was more from this world though, just seems like there is so much more to explore and I'd love to go for that ride. ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 John Lynch rated it really liked it

The festering ones by S.H Cooper is a damn fine novella.
Faith has spent her childhood being told that the disappearance of her father caused her to hallucinate the actual events of it. Eventually, she gives up on tell others her story and tries to move on, until the passing of her mother reveals that at least someone else believed her. She decides to find out what really happened.

I had a blast reading this book. I love creature features and I love cult stuff, and this blender elements of both. T ...more

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Dec 27, 2019 Well Read Beard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

Superbly entertaining monster/cult novella. For me, a lot of times, a novella doesn't have great character development and plot. Due to format, it would seem novellas sometimes lack in one of the other, but this one felt to be a great mix between backstory, characters and the main plot. It felt longer, deeper than it was. I am not normally a big fan of monster horror, I know, I know - How can you be a horror fan but not really dig monsters? Anyways, what I am trying to say is that the creature p ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 MisterDavis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This was such an incredible book! It had me gripped from beginning to end, invested in all the characters, and, honestly, it was hard to put down. I found myself reading 3-4 chapters a night just because I HAD to see what was going to happen next. The characters themselves are relatable, and have tons of personality; they don't fall flat as other characters would in such a dramatic and traumatic story. If you're a fan of horror, twists, and turns, or just a good ol' supernatural mystery, I canno ...more

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Nov 01, 2019 Horror DNA rated it really liked it

Shelves: tony-jones

If you are seeking a quick and fast-paced slice of cosmic horror, then S.H. Cooper’s The Festering Ones could be the novella to dip your nose into for a couple of hours. This tight story crams much into its 135 pages and gets off the ground running with an outstanding opening sentence:

The first time I saw it was the last time I saw my father.

You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here. ...more

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Oct 16, 2019 Priscilla J. rated it it was amazing

S.H. Cooper is one of my favorite authors of any genre. When The Festering Ones was announced, I was beyond excited. And it did not disappoint! From start to finish, this story was an adventure full of rich characters and creepy lore that drew me in from the first paragraph. Definitely pick this one up if you like adventure with your horror!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Oct 21, 2019 Pat Eroh rated it it was amazing

From the first few pages, I was captivated by this frightening idea of evil entering our world. I did want to clarify that evangelical and what is presented in this book are opposite ends of the spectrum of religion. Having said that, this story held me through to the end and it was a fantastic end, with room for more story! I am glad too because I will definitely read it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Oct 02, 2019 Christopher Aldridge rated it it was amazing

For me this has big Lovecraft vibes and I love it.
I couldn't stop turning the page.
Little known fact Originally titled The Ungodly Mountains. Which I think sets the sence better.

If you love horror, you'll love S.H.Cooper ...more

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Oct 28, 2019 Heather Bane rated it it was amazing

This story pulled me in from the very beginning and kept my attention throughout. The story is well written and creepy. I definitely recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Nov 30, 2019 H.G. Gravy rated it really liked it

The Festering Ones by S.H. Cooper begins with nine year old, Faith, accompanying her father to their family's cabin in the woods for a hunting trip. What is meant to be a bonding experience between father and daughter quickly becomes a traumatic, life-changing tragedy. Faith discovers a forearm and hand sticking out from underneath the ground on their trail. Concerned with what they'd found, Faith's father tells his daughter to stand back while he investigates. It's at this point, their worlds a The Festering Ones by S.H. Cooper begins with nine year old, Faith, accompanying her father to their family's cabin in the woods for a hunting trip. What is meant to be a bonding experience between father and daughter quickly becomes a traumatic, life-changing tragedy. Faith discovers a forearm and hand sticking out from underneath the ground on their trail. Concerned with what they'd found, Faith's father tells his daughter to stand back while he investigates. It's at this point, their worlds are completely shattered. A creature with the head and torso of a nude woman attacks Faith's father with a writing mass of spindly arms. It envelopes him in its grasp and drags him back into its hold, never to be seen again.

Two hikers find Faith, call the authorities, and reunite her with her family. Faith's story about the creature is dismissed as the ramblings of a traumatized child. Over the next few decades, Faith tries her best to cope with the loss of her father and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. She distances herself from her family until her mother dies of cancer. She returns to her hometown to discover her mother had been conducting her own investigation. All her paperwork and research points to a mysterious cult known as The Gathered. Faith uses her mother's research to continue searching for desperately needed answers, and it leads her down the path of unimaginably horrific cosmic proportions.

This is only a summary of the first chapter of the novella, and it only gets better from there!

S.H. Cooper's The Festering Ones is a novella, which has no business being a novella. There's so much Faith discovers in so few pages. The mythos surrounding Gorrorum. The realm of Ibsilyth. The Gathered. It all feels the introduction to a much larger body of work which I am desperately wanting to explore and learn more about. I feel/know The Festering Ones is only the tip of the iceberg, and hopefully, there is more to come in the future from S.H. Cooper.

Going beyond the mythos and back-cover plot summary, The Festering Ones is carried by the main character, Faith, who is meant to be the "everywoman" type of character getting wrapped up in circumstances beyond reality and comprehension. Faith is the vehicle through which the audience learns about the world. We follow her on her journey, get to understand her thoughts and feelings and watch her react to the revelations she uncovers. She's a believable character with flaws, fears, and weaknesses. She is also brave and courageous when the situation calls for it. She takes charge when needed and isn't afraid to make tough decisions. She expresses remorse and guilt, which makes her human. She's a well-balanced character which plays off well with the varied cast of side characters which I cannot mention much about due to spoilers. Needless to say, these other characters feel unique, have their own voice, wants, and desires, and push the story forward with each interaction.

While I clearly enjoyed the novella, it does, unfortunately, have flaws. Mainly, the beginning of the story felt rushed. Faith's life-changing event, the inciting incident for everything to come, happens within the first three pages of the novella. While I do understand this is only the introduction to the story, the beginning of something cosmic and all-encompassing on a level beyond comprehension, I do feel as if there was a missed opportunity to set an even darker tone for the story and flex more of the horror aspect onto the story. For example, details about Faith wandering around in the woods after her father's abduction would have added a little more flavor into the story. Hearing sounds in the woods. Footsteps. Feeling eyes upon her. Thinking the creature which took her father is hunting her down. Getting lost in the woods. Feeling hungry and thirsty. Fearing she's alone and won't be found.

Additionally, there's the ending. My initial reaction was feeling it was abrupt and left too much open with relation to the plotlines established. While writing this review, my opinion of the ending changed. I realized the end is only meant to close out one particular plotline of importance to Faith's story. It left the door wide open for more adventures into the mythos for which I am grateful. However, in comparison to the magnitude of the other revelations within the novella, I understand why I felt unsatisfied with the ending. We know there are much bigger fish to fry, yet I realize and understand Cooper's choice on the conclusion was the correct one. It made it more personal for Faith.

Overall, the strengths of The Festering Ones outweigh the minor flaws entirely. The meat and potatoes of the story are the juicy chapters between the beginning and the ending. S.H. Cooper established a universe, mythos, and cast of characters that has me hooked and wanting more. I can only hope Faith's journey is only beginning, and we're going to get more from this universe.

4.5 out of 5
...more

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Feb 09, 2020 Tony rated it really liked it

If you are seeking a quick and fast-paced slice of cosmic horror, then SH Cooper’s The Festering Ones is well worth a couple of hours of your time. The story is narrated by Faith York who is reflecting upon the final time she saw her father alive and the psychological impact this terrifying incident had upon her; shadowing her entire childhood and well into her twenties. Her life has been littered with a host of psychologists, therapists and a pile of medication to dull the pain. This ordeal occ ...more

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Feb 24, 2020 Heather rated it it was amazing

S.H. Cooper’s novella The Festering Ones is a short piece of cosmic horror that’s a lot of fun. Young Faith went on a hunting trip with her father, only to see him pulled beneath the ground by a monster. No one believed her of course, or so she thought–when she went through her dead mother’s things years later, she found research notes that indicated her mother did believe her. Those notes lead her to a mysterious cult called The Gathered, as well as two other women who are missing loved ones: J ...more

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Sep 06, 2020 Swamp Dweller rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

This was my introduction to the lovely author, S.H. Cooper. I have now read multiple of their books and have grown to look forward to their new releases. With that said, I very much enjoyed The Festering Ones.
The Festering Ones is a story that somehow has the ability to suck you into the scene being painted. The first thing I need to mention is how solid character development is. I can't harp enough on how poor character development really pulls me out of the story. If I can't sympathize with t ...more

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The NoSleep Podca...: January 2021 Book of the Month: The Festering Ones by S.H. Cooper	1	10	Dec 27, 2020 11:42AM

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About S.H. Cooper

S.H. Cooper

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S.H. Cooper is a Florida based author who has penned short stories, novel(la)s, co-wrote the podcast, Calling Darkness, and is a regular contributor to the award winning anthology series, The NoSleep Podcast. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, pets, and a cup of Earl Grey.