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The Lonely Motel #2
Gross Out
A Brand-New Extreme Horror Novel From the Twisted Mind That Brought You Woom.
"Switches effortlessly from pitch-perfect satire and South Park-style skewering of everything in sight to tense, bloody, and incredibly painful horror." - BRIAN ASMAN, author of Man, Fuck This House.
Revenge is on the program at this year's Splatterfest convention!
Horror authors, critics and fans from all over the world have gathered to share stories, enjoy each other's company, and to take part in the yearly Gross Out contest, a fan favorite.
But some attendees have arrived with ulterior motives. Clay Kayden, whose story at the last in-person Gross Out contest got him "canceled," wants to tear down the convention from the inside. Moira Mead is desperate to impress her favorite horror director, who's promised to option a story based on the weekend's readings. And Clay's former mentor, Guest of Honor David Ennis, just wants to find his muse again… no matter the cost.
In a weekend filled with violence and horror, no one will be spared from trauma, and only one author can reign supreme.
(Gross Out features characters and situations from the novella, Woom. While this not a direct sequel, it does continue Shyla and Angel's story from that fateful night in Room 6 of the Lonely Motel.)
Do not buy this book if you have a weak stomach, if you're easily disturbed, or if you're looking for a light horror read. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK. Seriously. You've been warned.
"Switches effortlessly from pitch-perfect satire and South Park-style skewering of everything in sight to tense, bloody, and incredibly painful horror." - BRIAN ASMAN, author of Man, Fuck This House.
Revenge is on the program at this year's Splatterfest convention!
Horror authors, critics and fans from all over the world have gathered to share stories, enjoy each other's company, and to take part in the yearly Gross Out contest, a fan favorite.
But some attendees have arrived with ulterior motives. Clay Kayden, whose story at the last in-person Gross Out contest got him "canceled," wants to tear down the convention from the inside. Moira Mead is desperate to impress her favorite horror director, who's promised to option a story based on the weekend's readings. And Clay's former mentor, Guest of Honor David Ennis, just wants to find his muse again… no matter the cost.
In a weekend filled with violence and horror, no one will be spared from trauma, and only one author can reign supreme.
(Gross Out features characters and situations from the novella, Woom. While this not a direct sequel, it does continue Shyla and Angel's story from that fateful night in Room 6 of the Lonely Motel.)
Do not buy this book if you have a weak stomach, if you're easily disturbed, or if you're looking for a light horror read. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK. Seriously. You've been warned.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2022
574 people are currently reading
1410 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Ralston
82 books2,053 followers**CVLT: Lonely Motel Book 3 out now!!!**
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
June 19, 2022
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
How do you follow up something like WOOM, which has become a cult classic as of late?
Well, you don’t try to rewrite it, for one, and you don’t try to out-gross or out-sick it, because the people will expect that. Any copy can never be as good as the original – if it exceeded expectations – and quality should outsell quantity.
In the writing business, which is damn hard anyway, there is nothing more valuable than a good reputation. Once you lose readers, the chances of getting them back is small to none. And for indie authors, word of mouth is worth more than gold.
Well, Duncan Ralston has navigated the minefield of possible mistakes with a new entry in the WOOM universe, and GROSS OUT is my favorite book of the year so far. While he actually toned down on the ‘gross’ factor (there’s still some things that might disgust you, don’t worry, you sicko!), the story is entertaining and hilarious.
The setting is an author convention called Splatterfest, for obvious reasons, and it builds to a climax during the Gross Out Contest at the end of the weekend. And you get all kinds of different characters – if any author sees themselves in these characters, it’s on you, not Ralston – who attends: Some are famous, some are struggling, most are insecure about SOMETHING, and nearly all of them have an agenda…revenge being one of the most prominent.
Which means only one thing: During the Gross Out Contest, the shit will hit the fan.
I absolutely LOVED this story. There is not a single thing that didn’t work for me – style, pace, humor, gore, emotion and even the romantic part. In fact, I think this story might be better than WOOM because it is so hugely entertaining.
I recommend this to ALL horror fans!
5 STARS!!!
Join the Woomies group on Facebook for your fellow weirdos!
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
How do you follow up something like WOOM, which has become a cult classic as of late?
Well, you don’t try to rewrite it, for one, and you don’t try to out-gross or out-sick it, because the people will expect that. Any copy can never be as good as the original – if it exceeded expectations – and quality should outsell quantity.
In the writing business, which is damn hard anyway, there is nothing more valuable than a good reputation. Once you lose readers, the chances of getting them back is small to none. And for indie authors, word of mouth is worth more than gold.
Well, Duncan Ralston has navigated the minefield of possible mistakes with a new entry in the WOOM universe, and GROSS OUT is my favorite book of the year so far. While he actually toned down on the ‘gross’ factor (there’s still some things that might disgust you, don’t worry, you sicko!), the story is entertaining and hilarious.
The setting is an author convention called Splatterfest, for obvious reasons, and it builds to a climax during the Gross Out Contest at the end of the weekend. And you get all kinds of different characters – if any author sees themselves in these characters, it’s on you, not Ralston – who attends: Some are famous, some are struggling, most are insecure about SOMETHING, and nearly all of them have an agenda…revenge being one of the most prominent.
Which means only one thing: During the Gross Out Contest, the shit will hit the fan.
I absolutely LOVED this story. There is not a single thing that didn’t work for me – style, pace, humor, gore, emotion and even the romantic part. In fact, I think this story might be better than WOOM because it is so hugely entertaining.
I recommend this to ALL horror fans!
5 STARS!!!
Join the Woomies group on Facebook for your fellow weirdos!
October 16, 2022
“Gross Out” by Duncan Ralston is definitely another wild and disgusting novel by an author who is already making quite a name for himself. There are many disclaimers and warnings about how crazy this novel can get and rightfully so. I’m not all that into this whole “splatterpunk” genre in horror but every now and then, anything written by Ralston so far has gotten good reviews for readers that are into it.
This is the second novel I’m reading by him as I finished “Woom” not too long ago and had to read this as some of the characters in that one are also in this. I was pleasantly surprised to see how they made their appearance here and well, it added another layer of immersion to a pretty interesting storyline arc. It’s not truly a sequel or anything but was great to see their story continue in this novel.
As I kept reading, this gave me all sorts of vibes from “Misery” as well as the several ComicCon events I’ve attended over the years here in New York. It has a mix of both and delivers a pretty intense novel that checks all the boxes if you do love this splatterpunk genre that is heavy into gore, horror, and some very graphic situations.
I know the warnings give readers a heads up as I enjoyed it for the most part. LoL yes, they’ll be a few scenes that’ll make your jaw fall to the floor and probably look away from pages in pure disgust as it’s that detailed.
I enjoyed all the characters, events, and even though I might not read a ton of novels in this splatterpunk space, Ralston is carving a nice legacy in this genre. I’m very much interested in what he does in the future as he’s a fantastic writer and will only get better over time.
The only thing is there are several parts of this novel that I felt dragged on a bit. I did enjoy how he had some crazy stories inside this novel to break it up a bit but overall, it was decent. The ending also took a bit longer to get to as I was expecting more. It was alright but didn’t have that drop-the-mic moment I got from Woom’s ending which I felt was better.
Overall, I give “Gross Out” by Duncan Ralston a 3/5 and will continue enjoying his content as he’s an author on the rise. I’ve had plenty of my fellow readers say they had to DNF his content due to how extreme things can get, some even did that with this one. This was a good read but with parts that dragged on and an okay ending, it wasn’t as good as Woom was for me. Either way, I’m still a huge fan of Ralston’s work and look forward to what else he has in the pipeline.
This is the second novel I’m reading by him as I finished “Woom” not too long ago and had to read this as some of the characters in that one are also in this. I was pleasantly surprised to see how they made their appearance here and well, it added another layer of immersion to a pretty interesting storyline arc. It’s not truly a sequel or anything but was great to see their story continue in this novel.
As I kept reading, this gave me all sorts of vibes from “Misery” as well as the several ComicCon events I’ve attended over the years here in New York. It has a mix of both and delivers a pretty intense novel that checks all the boxes if you do love this splatterpunk genre that is heavy into gore, horror, and some very graphic situations.
I know the warnings give readers a heads up as I enjoyed it for the most part. LoL yes, they’ll be a few scenes that’ll make your jaw fall to the floor and probably look away from pages in pure disgust as it’s that detailed.
I enjoyed all the characters, events, and even though I might not read a ton of novels in this splatterpunk space, Ralston is carving a nice legacy in this genre. I’m very much interested in what he does in the future as he’s a fantastic writer and will only get better over time.
The only thing is there are several parts of this novel that I felt dragged on a bit. I did enjoy how he had some crazy stories inside this novel to break it up a bit but overall, it was decent. The ending also took a bit longer to get to as I was expecting more. It was alright but didn’t have that drop-the-mic moment I got from Woom’s ending which I felt was better.
Overall, I give “Gross Out” by Duncan Ralston a 3/5 and will continue enjoying his content as he’s an author on the rise. I’ve had plenty of my fellow readers say they had to DNF his content due to how extreme things can get, some even did that with this one. This was a good read but with parts that dragged on and an okay ending, it wasn’t as good as Woom was for me. Either way, I’m still a huge fan of Ralston’s work and look forward to what else he has in the pipeline.
April 1, 2022
Twisted With a Splash of Craziness!
Backstory:
The Splatterfest convention has come to town pulling horror authors from all over the world along with fans as everyone gathers and to also check out the Gross Out contest. The only problem is everyone wants to be seen and everyone wants to be heard along with some author gouging.
Some of the authors have it in for each other and want to showcase against each other so what better place to do it than this convention. Though things might get a little messy and one eager beaver fan has some unsavory plans for one of his author idols which could turn this show into some bloodletting.
The convention is turned on its ear when the authors go into a crazed mode with all kind of antics to show that their books are the best and they will do whatever it takes to be seen and heard!
That is about all I can give on a backstory without giving away spoilers so you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
HEED THIS WARNING!
There are warnings on this book of having iron stomachs and this book is not for the weak stomachs! This book is a no holds barred kind of book where if it is in the twisted mind of this author you can better believe that it will be on the page of this book!
There are tons of "gross out" situations in this book and there are some blood laced throughout the book as well. Make sure you do not eat while reading this book or you will get sick and trust me when I say this because this book has major situations for what I would say that only "hardcore" horror fans could handle.
Now onto the story itself - there were some cool things in this book as author Duncan Ralston dropped real horror author names in this book and even gave one of them a cameo appearance, but no spoilers here as you will have to read the book to see who that horror author is in the story!
The concept of having all the horror authors in one place is just like those real conventions that they have and the author goes deep into this story with how it all plays out. The beginning of the book up to the 30% mark is a little bit of a slow burn but only because of world building and setting up characters, but the last 70% of the book takes off into the "gross and nasty" unknown!
The author also brought back a couple of characters from his book Woom and the Lonely Motel makes an appearance in this book as well.
It might be best to have a barf bag next to your chair for this book and oh I would also recommend a "Gross" suit. You all thought I was going to say "Gore" suit didn't you?! LOL Not this time around as the Gore suit has been turned inside out for the Gross stuff! Also it is best to be covered head to toe with the Gross Suit as it will definitely be getting icky, gooey, slimey, and just downright nasty the more you delve into this book! Giving this book four "Gross Greatness" stars!
My thanks to author, Duncan Ralston for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Backstory:
The Splatterfest convention has come to town pulling horror authors from all over the world along with fans as everyone gathers and to also check out the Gross Out contest. The only problem is everyone wants to be seen and everyone wants to be heard along with some author gouging.
Some of the authors have it in for each other and want to showcase against each other so what better place to do it than this convention. Though things might get a little messy and one eager beaver fan has some unsavory plans for one of his author idols which could turn this show into some bloodletting.
The convention is turned on its ear when the authors go into a crazed mode with all kind of antics to show that their books are the best and they will do whatever it takes to be seen and heard!
That is about all I can give on a backstory without giving away spoilers so you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
HEED THIS WARNING!
There are warnings on this book of having iron stomachs and this book is not for the weak stomachs! This book is a no holds barred kind of book where if it is in the twisted mind of this author you can better believe that it will be on the page of this book!
There are tons of "gross out" situations in this book and there are some blood laced throughout the book as well. Make sure you do not eat while reading this book or you will get sick and trust me when I say this because this book has major situations for what I would say that only "hardcore" horror fans could handle.
Now onto the story itself - there were some cool things in this book as author Duncan Ralston dropped real horror author names in this book and even gave one of them a cameo appearance, but no spoilers here as you will have to read the book to see who that horror author is in the story!
The concept of having all the horror authors in one place is just like those real conventions that they have and the author goes deep into this story with how it all plays out. The beginning of the book up to the 30% mark is a little bit of a slow burn but only because of world building and setting up characters, but the last 70% of the book takes off into the "gross and nasty" unknown!
The author also brought back a couple of characters from his book Woom and the Lonely Motel makes an appearance in this book as well.
It might be best to have a barf bag next to your chair for this book and oh I would also recommend a "Gross" suit. You all thought I was going to say "Gore" suit didn't you?! LOL Not this time around as the Gore suit has been turned inside out for the Gross stuff! Also it is best to be covered head to toe with the Gross Suit as it will definitely be getting icky, gooey, slimey, and just downright nasty the more you delve into this book! Giving this book four "Gross Greatness" stars!
My thanks to author, Duncan Ralston for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2023
This was exactly what I would expect from Duncan Ralston. It is a very funny, sick, and depraved novel.
'"—extreme horror sells, Archie. It's probably the fastest growing niche in the horror scene right now. People gobbled up your toilet peeper story, no pun intended. But they are absolutely slobbering for that Schneider scheisse!"'
This novel didn't quite reach the heights of Woom, but I never expected it to eclipse its amazing predecessor.
Although this didn't quite reach the same levels as Woom, it was still an outstanding piece of work. As always, Ralston's writing was on point and as extreme as I have come to expect from him.
It does, at times, have a few pacing issues, but that is all the negatives I can throw at this publication.
There were a few standout moments for me, all of these being the shorter stories told by various characters within the main body of the story. These made me laugh so much! I'm not sure that's the desired effect of the writing, but it's what it did to me. Maybe I'm just messed up?
'They'd find themselves thinking about That Scene in the shower, or on the toilet, or making love. It would disrupt their lives. Spoil their holidays. The moment would fester within their minds like trauma, to be relived and analyzed. A mind virus.'
Overall, it was a disgustingly fun read.
'"—extreme horror sells, Archie. It's probably the fastest growing niche in the horror scene right now. People gobbled up your toilet peeper story, no pun intended. But they are absolutely slobbering for that Schneider scheisse!"'
This novel didn't quite reach the heights of Woom, but I never expected it to eclipse its amazing predecessor.
Although this didn't quite reach the same levels as Woom, it was still an outstanding piece of work. As always, Ralston's writing was on point and as extreme as I have come to expect from him.
It does, at times, have a few pacing issues, but that is all the negatives I can throw at this publication.
There were a few standout moments for me, all of these being the shorter stories told by various characters within the main body of the story. These made me laugh so much! I'm not sure that's the desired effect of the writing, but it's what it did to me. Maybe I'm just messed up?
'They'd find themselves thinking about That Scene in the shower, or on the toilet, or making love. It would disrupt their lives. Spoil their holidays. The moment would fester within their minds like trauma, to be relived and analyzed. A mind virus.'
Overall, it was a disgustingly fun read.
December 2, 2022
Sequels most often don't live up to their predecessors. The process of trying to make this a direct sequel was stifling. How could I get grosser, more shocking, than Woom?
That's where the idea for Gross Out came from. Woom was a story about two people telling stories. I decided Gross Out would be that times ten. It's all about stories. The people who tell them, the ins and outs of them, the stories themselves and how they affect us.
That's where the idea for Gross Out came from. Woom was a story about two people telling stories. I decided Gross Out would be that times ten. It's all about stories. The people who tell them, the ins and outs of them, the stories themselves and how they affect us.
October 17, 2022
Although this isn't supposed to be a direct sequel to Woom, it is set in the same universe (Woomiverse).
I have to admit that I read this solely to see what happened to the characters from Woom. I came for Woom updates and stayed for the wild ride.
This wasn't as screwed up as Woom. The tone was more "lighthearted". A lot of the stories came off as silly instead of disturbing. If you like your horror extreme, disgusting, and mixed with humor then this one's for you.
I have to admit that I read this solely to see what happened to the characters from Woom. I came for Woom updates and stayed for the wild ride.
This wasn't as screwed up as Woom. The tone was more "lighthearted". A lot of the stories came off as silly instead of disturbing. If you like your horror extreme, disgusting, and mixed with humor then this one's for you.
May 6, 2022
This book really made me want a Mr. Pibb. I think I liked “Woom” more, both for atmosphere and shock value. This one had so many characters that I struggled a bit to keep track of everyone, and while there were definitely a couple of disgusting moments, the overall impact wasn’t as effective for me. Plus, there was so much buildup to the end that it didn’t wind up being as crazy as I was expecting. However, Ralston is a good writer and it’s clear that he puts thought into his books; he’s not just writing this stuff to raise eyebrows. And both novels were like a good sticky junk food that I couldn’t stop eating even though I knew it was bad for me.
October 7, 2022
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Gross Out by Duncan Ralston is a fun read.
What could go wrong at a Splatterpunk convention? Everything, even things you won’t imagine.
Read Gross Out and you’ll found out.
Narration 5/5
Gross Out by Duncan Ralston is a fun read.
What could go wrong at a Splatterpunk convention? Everything, even things you won’t imagine.
Read Gross Out and you’ll found out.
July 28, 2025
Reading Duncan Ralston stories are my happy place!
This was incredibly well written book and was not at all what I was expecting. I loved Woom and was excited to find out there was a book two. But I was less excited when I found out that it wasn’t really a sequel, but a shared universe. Not only that but it wasn’t in the same type of story that would feature the same kind of extreme horror. The more I read about this book the last should I became, and this book was put on the back burner.
But eventually, I put this book up (I plan on reading all his books and it was just this books) and within 50pg I was completely hooked. This might be the best character work that Duncan has done, (although Helloween was also exceptional for this) alongside that the environment was extremely vivid, and the drama outside the horror was enough to hook me, as I sure it would most readers.
I think this book would satisfy horror readers than Woom did. Everything in this book felt so real. Which made it all the more intention on the gory horror stuff started picking up. This is a book that I will be recommended often and reread constantly.
I hope to go to a writers convention at some point in my life. And as much as I love this book, I hope when I can finally go to such a convention that it is nothing like this book.
This was incredibly well written book and was not at all what I was expecting. I loved Woom and was excited to find out there was a book two. But I was less excited when I found out that it wasn’t really a sequel, but a shared universe. Not only that but it wasn’t in the same type of story that would feature the same kind of extreme horror. The more I read about this book the last should I became, and this book was put on the back burner.
But eventually, I put this book up (I plan on reading all his books and it was just this books) and within 50pg I was completely hooked. This might be the best character work that Duncan has done, (although Helloween was also exceptional for this) alongside that the environment was extremely vivid, and the drama outside the horror was enough to hook me, as I sure it would most readers.
I think this book would satisfy horror readers than Woom did. Everything in this book felt so real. Which made it all the more intention on the gory horror stuff started picking up. This is a book that I will be recommended often and reread constantly.
I hope to go to a writers convention at some point in my life. And as much as I love this book, I hope when I can finally go to such a convention that it is nothing like this book.
January 9, 2023
More of a workplace comedy about people who think up gross stuff for a living than a horror novel. Which is not to say it’s unenjoyable, there are some funny lines and the characters are well-realized, but I didn’t find it all that gross. This is a soft sequel to Woom, an unexpected hit for Ralston, and we briefly meet the prostitute from the first book who describes the ending the first book and it’s aftermath. But we never really get anything as shocking as even the first tale in the previous book. There are a couple that almost got me, the one about the bathroom drain was good, and the period one works well enough. But the only thing that really bothered me was the bullying way Moira initially treats Clay, her friend and potential romantic partner. The book does a good job of portraying writers trying to make a living, discussing ethical boundaries and the potential for backlash in an increasingly sensitive society. So while it doesn’t reach the shocking heights of the previous book, it makes for a decent horror comedy.
April 11, 2022
Fun and entertaining. I especially enjoyed revisiting Woomiverse with Shyla and Angel at The Lonely Motel.
April 4, 2022
Duncan Ralston.
I’ll say upfront, that Duncan and myself are friends. I’m a huge fan of his writing and he’s been a big supporter of a lot of authors (myself included).
BUT. (And this is a big but (You’re all welcome for that joke by the way!)). BUT – Duncan can sometimes be, let’s say… controversial. Maybe – maybe sometimes he posts or tweets something and it can make a large section of the online community a bit upset. Maybe, sometimes, he’ll post something and have a blog post written about him and then be blocked.
Whether you love the guy or not, one thing can’t be denied – he has a solid, feverish fan base, and recently his novel ‘Woom’ has exploded in popularity. I for one have absolutely loved seeing it. ‘Woom’ is an extreme-horror story, but one that explores a deeply broken character and the great lengths he goes to try and connect with someone, to find what has been missing his entire life.
When Ralston mentioned that ‘Gross Out’ would continue some of ‘Woom’s’ storyline, I was a bit worried. I didn’t want him to sully those characters (and I’ll discuss that a bit later), but he assured me it would work and people would be happy.
I have to say – having now read ‘Gross Out,’ Duncan has done something that not only is incredibly topical, but I think will grow to become a timeless piece of ‘Horror Community’ fiction. Not only is this story completely Meta, the reality will be that as you read this you’ll be wondering which character is based off of which real life author/reviewer, but also one that showcases the ebbs and flows that occur almost monthly within the dark fiction community.
The irony wasn’t lost on me that I read this story while both Scares That Cares AuthorCon was happening AND the Silver Shamrock Publishing implosion occurred (both on the same weekend).
What I liked: Now, ‘Gross Out’ is based around the idea of the Gross Out Contests that will happen at many conventions. In the past these have usually caused some mild ‘fallout’ where somebody goes too far or insults somebody to a level that they can’t laugh it off. As well, there’s been a few instances where somebody has had a routine SOOOOOO over the top that formal apologies are made and some publishers cease working with that individual.
That is the schtick or the reason that this book exists. It is the annual convention and a large group of authors are attending, for panel readings, book signings, marketing and at the very end – the Gross Out Contest.
There are essentially two main plot points within ‘Gross Out’ but numerous side characters. The first main plot follows Clay, disgraced author whose previous Gross Out Contest entry went sideways and had him banned, unpublished and losing friends left and right. One person who stays by him is Moira, a British author and over the last few years, they’ve made an emotional connection.
The second main plot point is several people (Clay included) who want to get revenge on best-seller David Ennis.
Within these two plots we get a lot of side angles and storylines, but fear not, Duncan handles each and within them we get a beginning, middle and ending. We get to see how each “side quest” plays out over the course of the three day weekend and for that, Ralston shows his ability in crafting both believable characters but also incredibly engaging storylines. It’s funny, as when each chapter switches to different characters you’ll be annoyed that we’re now following somebody else, but also excited to dive back into what is now happening with that character.
The ending is horrific, kind of expected based on the lead up, but also incredibly entertaining. The final event, the Gross Out Contest, finishes everything off and we get to see how all of the other plot lines get wrapped up and even gives us a bit of an allusion to what the fall out will be. Seeing Clay and Moira’s weekend come full circle was really great and those two were easily my favorite characters.
Lastly – I’ll just touch on the ‘Woom’ continuation. Those who can’t afford the hotel at the convention itself, all stay in the hotel featured in ‘Woom,’ which was a nice touch. Secondly, Clay has an encounter with the two main characters from ‘Woom’ (I want to keep this spoiler free) and learns about how they connected and what came next. It is really well done and Ralston handles it with the delicacy it deserves and I was hoping for.
What I didn’t like: As I said in the intro to this review, you either enjoy Ralston or don’t. If you’re a person who doesn’t, I think you’d still enjoy this book, love the commentary on the horror community in general and have a fun convention based story.
BUT (hey, another big but!) I can see this getting some people in a tizzy and offended, especially if they see themselves in any of these characters. While reading this, I actually messaged Duncan to ask if I was a particular Canadian author, and he assured me that I was not and that all of the characters are based on aspects of himself. Believe it if you will. Or not!
Why you should buy this: First – you don’t have to have read ‘Woom’ to read this. That book is summed up nicely within that part, so don’t let that deter you. Secondly, as I mentioned, Duncan has really crafted a well constructed book, one that feels both like a documentary but also a really well done satirical piece. For fans of his books, you’ll really love this one and for those who’ve not read him before, I think this is a really great spot to dive in. It shows how great of a writer Duncan is while also showcasing his humor and love of grossing people out.
Really, really great job.
I’ll say upfront, that Duncan and myself are friends. I’m a huge fan of his writing and he’s been a big supporter of a lot of authors (myself included).
BUT. (And this is a big but (You’re all welcome for that joke by the way!)). BUT – Duncan can sometimes be, let’s say… controversial. Maybe – maybe sometimes he posts or tweets something and it can make a large section of the online community a bit upset. Maybe, sometimes, he’ll post something and have a blog post written about him and then be blocked.
Whether you love the guy or not, one thing can’t be denied – he has a solid, feverish fan base, and recently his novel ‘Woom’ has exploded in popularity. I for one have absolutely loved seeing it. ‘Woom’ is an extreme-horror story, but one that explores a deeply broken character and the great lengths he goes to try and connect with someone, to find what has been missing his entire life.
When Ralston mentioned that ‘Gross Out’ would continue some of ‘Woom’s’ storyline, I was a bit worried. I didn’t want him to sully those characters (and I’ll discuss that a bit later), but he assured me it would work and people would be happy.
I have to say – having now read ‘Gross Out,’ Duncan has done something that not only is incredibly topical, but I think will grow to become a timeless piece of ‘Horror Community’ fiction. Not only is this story completely Meta, the reality will be that as you read this you’ll be wondering which character is based off of which real life author/reviewer, but also one that showcases the ebbs and flows that occur almost monthly within the dark fiction community.
The irony wasn’t lost on me that I read this story while both Scares That Cares AuthorCon was happening AND the Silver Shamrock Publishing implosion occurred (both on the same weekend).
What I liked: Now, ‘Gross Out’ is based around the idea of the Gross Out Contests that will happen at many conventions. In the past these have usually caused some mild ‘fallout’ where somebody goes too far or insults somebody to a level that they can’t laugh it off. As well, there’s been a few instances where somebody has had a routine SOOOOOO over the top that formal apologies are made and some publishers cease working with that individual.
That is the schtick or the reason that this book exists. It is the annual convention and a large group of authors are attending, for panel readings, book signings, marketing and at the very end – the Gross Out Contest.
There are essentially two main plot points within ‘Gross Out’ but numerous side characters. The first main plot follows Clay, disgraced author whose previous Gross Out Contest entry went sideways and had him banned, unpublished and losing friends left and right. One person who stays by him is Moira, a British author and over the last few years, they’ve made an emotional connection.
The second main plot point is several people (Clay included) who want to get revenge on best-seller David Ennis.
Within these two plots we get a lot of side angles and storylines, but fear not, Duncan handles each and within them we get a beginning, middle and ending. We get to see how each “side quest” plays out over the course of the three day weekend and for that, Ralston shows his ability in crafting both believable characters but also incredibly engaging storylines. It’s funny, as when each chapter switches to different characters you’ll be annoyed that we’re now following somebody else, but also excited to dive back into what is now happening with that character.
The ending is horrific, kind of expected based on the lead up, but also incredibly entertaining. The final event, the Gross Out Contest, finishes everything off and we get to see how all of the other plot lines get wrapped up and even gives us a bit of an allusion to what the fall out will be. Seeing Clay and Moira’s weekend come full circle was really great and those two were easily my favorite characters.
Lastly – I’ll just touch on the ‘Woom’ continuation. Those who can’t afford the hotel at the convention itself, all stay in the hotel featured in ‘Woom,’ which was a nice touch. Secondly, Clay has an encounter with the two main characters from ‘Woom’ (I want to keep this spoiler free) and learns about how they connected and what came next. It is really well done and Ralston handles it with the delicacy it deserves and I was hoping for.
What I didn’t like: As I said in the intro to this review, you either enjoy Ralston or don’t. If you’re a person who doesn’t, I think you’d still enjoy this book, love the commentary on the horror community in general and have a fun convention based story.
BUT (hey, another big but!) I can see this getting some people in a tizzy and offended, especially if they see themselves in any of these characters. While reading this, I actually messaged Duncan to ask if I was a particular Canadian author, and he assured me that I was not and that all of the characters are based on aspects of himself. Believe it if you will. Or not!
Why you should buy this: First – you don’t have to have read ‘Woom’ to read this. That book is summed up nicely within that part, so don’t let that deter you. Secondly, as I mentioned, Duncan has really crafted a well constructed book, one that feels both like a documentary but also a really well done satirical piece. For fans of his books, you’ll really love this one and for those who’ve not read him before, I think this is a really great spot to dive in. It shows how great of a writer Duncan is while also showcasing his humor and love of grossing people out.
Really, really great job.
June 21, 2023
A character in this book has a pug, so instant five stars obviously.
Ralston deftly weaves multiple threads of characters and storylines, finally bringing them all together for the outrageous climax, and proves himself one of the finest horror authors writing today.
Ralston deftly weaves multiple threads of characters and storylines, finally bringing them all together for the outrageous climax, and proves himself one of the finest horror authors writing today.
March 26, 2022
Like a love letter written with a poison pen to the horror community Gross Out takes it's readers inside a splatterfest convention and explores what happens when revenge, power dynamics, cancel culture, sex, drugs and slobbypoopoo all mix together for a 3 day event.
I had a blast reading this book and once again Duncan weaves the lives of numerous characters keeping you guessing as to how and if they are connected.
Underneath the violence, the sex, and the vomit inducing gross outs is a well crafted story about social media stealing our ability to see each other's humanity, the dangers of cancel culture, and the hypocrisy that surrounds the communities we love #hashtagking
But don't worry, for those of you who are looking for a disgusting, bloody, stomach churning time Gross Out has it in spades!!
#thanksgivingspecial
Woomies (fans of Woom) will be pleasantly surprised to return to the lonely motel and revisit some old friends, the light is on in room 6 come up and stay awhile.
#motherknowsbest
Gross Out delivers on its promise to churn out gag reflex inducing paragraphs #scenesyoucsansmell and also turns out to be one hell of a story!
I had a blast reading this book and once again Duncan weaves the lives of numerous characters keeping you guessing as to how and if they are connected.
Underneath the violence, the sex, and the vomit inducing gross outs is a well crafted story about social media stealing our ability to see each other's humanity, the dangers of cancel culture, and the hypocrisy that surrounds the communities we love #hashtagking
But don't worry, for those of you who are looking for a disgusting, bloody, stomach churning time Gross Out has it in spades!!
#thanksgivingspecial
Woomies (fans of Woom) will be pleasantly surprised to return to the lonely motel and revisit some old friends, the light is on in room 6 come up and stay awhile.
#motherknowsbest
Gross Out delivers on its promise to churn out gag reflex inducing paragraphs #scenesyoucsansmell and also turns out to be one hell of a story!
May 10, 2022
This is a brilliant piece of writing that would have been enjoyable even if it weren't filled with the most disgusting and brutal things you can think of. I flew through this book, flinching and grimacing and loving every minute of it. Very unsettling and probably not a good fit for most, but if you're a fan of extreme horror, you're going to love this book.
April 16, 2022
What an absolute blast. I really enjoyed this one. Very cool story with some Easter eggs connecting it to Woom.
May 9, 2022
One of my favorite things about Ralston is his ability to write in different styles. I haven't loved all the books I have read but I have loved most of them and respected those I didn't love. Woom was one of my favorites. (Thank you for the author's note that lead me to Woomies.) I listened to Woom at work and had to stop and finish at home. There are visuals that I will never be able to forget. Gross Out also has created visuals that I'll remember for quite some time. I also enjoyed seeing Shyla and Angel again. There were a lot of fun characters. Misti with an I and Aimee with Two Es made me laugh. I loved Jackson Rawlins too. Those characters were created with such clarity that they made me laugh constantly.
I love short stories but I didn't really like all the little stories in Gross Out. I do understand that in the context of the book, they did make sense. Overall, I found the book to be fun and disgusting. Some days you just need a bit of slobby poo poo in your life.
I love short stories but I didn't really like all the little stories in Gross Out. I do understand that in the context of the book, they did make sense. Overall, I found the book to be fun and disgusting. Some days you just need a bit of slobby poo poo in your life.
May 10, 2022
This book is a Barrell of fun. Not only do we get introduced to a (fictional) horror community of writers, we get brief reads of their fiction stories. Its like tales inside of a book. If that makes sense. Pretty cool if you ask me
.
The writers in this story are mostly dysfunctional. Which makes for good entertainment. Especially in today's world where anything and everything can get you cancelled, the writers in this story are having to come to terms with who they really are. Some are evil. Some are gross. Others are out of touch with reality. A good read
.
The writers in this story are mostly dysfunctional. Which makes for good entertainment. Especially in today's world where anything and everything can get you cancelled, the writers in this story are having to come to terms with who they really are. Some are evil. Some are gross. Others are out of touch with reality. A good read
June 14, 2022
Not as disturbing as Woom but still entertaining!
December 2, 2024
That was a fun and hilarious ride. Being part of the writing community for a short time, I caught much more humor in the book than non-writers would’ve caught. There were a lot of inside jokes that made me laugh my ass off. I seriously recommend writers of all genres read this book. Some YA and younger genre writers might get a little freaked by it, but it’s good for you. Do it! A little masturbation, vomit, and poop never hurt anyone.
I loved most of the book, especially the last third of the book. I had trouble focusing during the first third. It was such a large cast, and the scenes jumped from this group to the next group, then back to the same scene four scenes ago but from a different character’s perspective. It made me a little seasick, but my advice is to roll with it. All the characters are important, and I don’t think there would’ve been a better way to pull this off than how it was done. Once you get through all that, the story starts to unfold, and it shows a writer's life. This is whether you are a traditionally published author or self-published. The writer's drama was true to life. This shit really happens! There were even a few appearances by our friend Matt Shaw (fictional version, of course).
For Woom fans, I would say that this is an entirely different type of book. Ralston explains why he did this in the afterword (don’t you dare jump to it first!). However, our helmeting heroes do appear in the book for you Woomies. Fans of Woom will not be disappointed.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It entertained me. I didn’t forget about the seasickness, but again, I don’t know how else Ralston could’ve pulled all of this off without seriously cutting parts and changing the gross out contest at the end. That would’ve sucked. I’m glad the editor didn’t go crazy and kept it as-is. It worked out well in the end.
I loved most of the book, especially the last third of the book. I had trouble focusing during the first third. It was such a large cast, and the scenes jumped from this group to the next group, then back to the same scene four scenes ago but from a different character’s perspective. It made me a little seasick, but my advice is to roll with it. All the characters are important, and I don’t think there would’ve been a better way to pull this off than how it was done. Once you get through all that, the story starts to unfold, and it shows a writer's life. This is whether you are a traditionally published author or self-published. The writer's drama was true to life. This shit really happens! There were even a few appearances by our friend Matt Shaw (fictional version, of course).
For Woom fans, I would say that this is an entirely different type of book. Ralston explains why he did this in the afterword (don’t you dare jump to it first!). However, our helmeting heroes do appear in the book for you Woomies. Fans of Woom will not be disappointed.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It entertained me. I didn’t forget about the seasickness, but again, I don’t know how else Ralston could’ve pulled all of this off without seriously cutting parts and changing the gross out contest at the end. That would’ve sucked. I’m glad the editor didn’t go crazy and kept it as-is. It worked out well in the end.
November 14, 2022
For an extreme horror book, this story was a lot of fun. In a way, it felt like catching up with old friends, and it sort of was when taken into the account that some of Ralston’s characters from another book, Woom, had a role in this story.
I loved the shenanigans that each character got themselves into. This book was almost like listening to someone’s real convention experience. Loved every minute, especially the gross out shorts sprinkled throughout. They were creative and cringy and the perfect amount of gross.
Outstanding!
I loved the shenanigans that each character got themselves into. This book was almost like listening to someone’s real convention experience. Loved every minute, especially the gross out shorts sprinkled throughout. They were creative and cringy and the perfect amount of gross.
Outstanding!
April 25, 2022
Super comical, super disgusting. Exactly what I expected from a Duncan Ralston book. Please check ALL the trigger warnings before picking this one up! I will never look at turkey the same again, and I’m really glad I showered before I finished this book 😂. None of the characters were likeable, but the throwback to Woom was amazing! Loved this one.
April 11, 2022
What a follow up. Wasn't sure how 'Woom' would work its way in. Great read (not for the timid).
August 6, 2022
Loved it! The perfect second book into the 'woomiverse'. I was sufficiently icked in parts and loved all the stories embedded in stories. Keep doing your thing Duncan!!!
September 2, 2025
Woom was my first introduction to the genre and I love that book dearly. It will always hold a special place in my little bookworm heart 🙏❤️
Sooo reading the sequel was only the natural thing to do and I must say it's a brilliant Read! I loved the theme great idea btw ! But what I love most about both books is that it's story after story , story's intertwined with other story's and I love that element you get to follow so many different characters all at the same time and there was lots of it! In my opinion it's my favorite type of read and it was done so well chef's kiss !
Obviously I loved the little follow up of Angel and Shyla very much appreciated thankyou ❤️🙏
Book 3 straight in my basket 🧺 🥴
Sooo reading the sequel was only the natural thing to do and I must say it's a brilliant Read! I loved the theme great idea btw ! But what I love most about both books is that it's story after story , story's intertwined with other story's and I love that element you get to follow so many different characters all at the same time and there was lots of it! In my opinion it's my favorite type of read and it was done so well chef's kiss !
Obviously I loved the little follow up of Angel and Shyla very much appreciated thankyou ❤️🙏
Book 3 straight in my basket 🧺 🥴
May 11, 2022
Knowing this book was written by Duncan Ralston, I figured I would enjoy it. As I have all of his work that I have read. I just didn't know how much I would enjoy it! It took me a minute to really get a grasp on all the different characters he introduced. ( There were quite a few of them.) But when I did, I absolutely loved the way that it just had a nice flow between each of their stories. Woom was the 1st book of his that I had read, And I have to say that Gross out, ( Which touches on several things that happen in woom) really helped to add to the legacy of that book. I can't wait to read future novels that intertwine with these 2.
April 24, 2022
I finished Gross Out by Duncan Ralston, at midnight last night. Must be some kind of omen 😂. This book is about a horror convention. There’s authors, publishers, reviewers and the like. The only problem here is, some of the aforementioned have a bone to pick. Add in some unfortunate circumstances all in trying to help and someone with a stuffing fetish, and you have Gross Out. If you have read Woom by Duncan, then it also takes you back to some familiar characters, Angel and Shyla. It was dirty, nasty, disgusting…..everything I hoped it would be. 5 🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀 from me!
April 4, 2024
Hashtag yikes.
I was not a fan of this book at all. There were way too many things going on at once, the characters were too hard to follow and honestly, there just wasn’t enough “gross out” stuff happening. The things in the book were gross, sure, but from the cover of this book, I expected so much more.
However, I do appreciate the authors note at the end. This book definitely isn’t for everyone and he mentions that he wrote this book for himself.
I was not a fan of this book at all. There were way too many things going on at once, the characters were too hard to follow and honestly, there just wasn’t enough “gross out” stuff happening. The things in the book were gross, sure, but from the cover of this book, I expected so much more.
However, I do appreciate the authors note at the end. This book definitely isn’t for everyone and he mentions that he wrote this book for himself.
April 11, 2022
I read Woom again for the 2nd time before I moved onto Gross out. This is very different than Woom. This story rocks. I don't wanna give too much away. There is a lot of character development, and we learn some backstory to the motel from Woom. This is gonna make it on my list of best books of 2022.
April 12, 2022
SLOBBYPOOPOO FOR LIFE!
We're his poopy groupies!!!
#ForEvaEva
We're his poopy groupies!!!
#ForEvaEva
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