Waste Ground

by Marc Ruvolo

“Fast paced and twisted, Waste Ground is a Venus flytrap that will inevitably capture you. Ruvolo’s clever prose will keep you turning the pages of this cosmic story of cults and revenge until you have devoured it whole.”

– J.V. Gachs, author of EPIPHANY

"Waste Ground is a cosmic nightmare of fraying relationships and dogged determination converging in the mouth of a bizarre cult and the otherworldly entity they worship. Ruvolo keeps the action nonstop as he viscerally displays Portland's underbelly and the unseen hunger beneath our feet."

– J.A.W. McCarthy, Bram Stoker Award and Shirley Jackson finalist, Author of SLEEP ALONE


Henry is pushing 40, single, and barely making ends meet delivering takeout, when disaster strikes. His car has been stolen. With the help of a well-placed AirTag, and his straight, stoned roommate, Digger, he’s hellbent on getting it back. Trouble is, the AirTag signal has pinged in a notorious homeless camp deep in the industrial wastelands outside of Portland.

Janelle drove to Portland from Florida, intent on telling her estranged, drug-addicted older sister their abusive mother has finally passed. Except Dorothea has vanished. Janelle’s search through the unforgiving streets in search of her sister, leads her down a dark path into the bloody, beating heart of an American capitalist hellscape.

And deep in the modern wilds of the waste ground, a doomsday cult petitions a strange cryptid, mesmerized by its newfound taste for human flesh…

And Henry, Janelle, and Digger are heading straight for it.

Genres: Horror

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2025

About the author

Marc Ruvolo (he/him) is a queer writer and musician living in Portland, Oregon who once considered himself a punk. He founded the seminal Bucket O’ Blood book store in Chicago, and his poetry and fiction have appeared in Cynthia Pelayo’s Gothic Blue Book Series, Slay and Slay Again: A Queer Horror Anthology, and Nocturne Magazine, to name a few. His debut horror novella, “SLOE,” was released in 2023 by Unnerving Books. A second queer horror novella, “Pieties,” in 2024 from Off Limits Press.
A third novella, "WASTE GROUND," is coming March 15th, from Slashic Horror Press. Find him on Bluesky at @marcruvolo.bsky.social.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like characters that are chronically down on their luck? Do you enjoy locales that are as derelict as most politicians' moral compass? What about horror that could be eco-horror or cosmic or maybe both? Yes? Ruvolo has you covered.

One of our leads just had his craptastic car stolen and isn't about to let that fly, the other is looking for her sister when their path collides with that of a cult that's more than your usual team of delulu things go from bad to worse with a quickness. What follows is a fast-paced uncomfortable and somewhat darkly funny tale of 2 losers I wouldn't mind reading a whole series about.

For the most part I really enjoyed my time with this book, it's a weird little tale featuring a particularly strange creature. My only problem with it was the dialogues that felt a little nonsensical at times.

Something about this book felt somehow familiar and when I got to the acknowledgement and saw David-Jack Fletcher's name, I was like yep that checks out, these 2 definitely have an affinity of themes and characters. If you enjoyed https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208876789-the-count you'll likely enjoy this one too and vice versa (one day I'll come up with comps that more people are familiar with but that day's not today apparently).

Review edited because I've just realised I had forgotten to put a star rating. 😅

I received an eARC of this book through Book Sirens, all opinions are my own.

[Matty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book description sounded promising and had good reviews but I couldn’t connect with the story or characters.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This supernatural cosmic horror novella keeps the chills coming and the goosebumps raised.

Two best friends are out looking for their stolen car via the air tag. Another woman is looking for her missing sister. These two searches will lead them to the same area, a decrepit homeless camp on the edges of Portland.

There's something in the ground there. Something evil, something eldritch, and something very hungry. As they both descend further into the woods, they're forced to survive a cult which worships this entity.

This is a fast paced and really horrific cosmic horror novella. You never know if any of the characters are going to live. They face dangers of the human variety along with this THING in the ground which wants it's sacrifices cooked...and the cult members who are more than willing to do that even as their addictions creep up on them.

The setting is awesome and the characters have secrets to reveal as well. Especially the "missing" sister, but no spoilers!

I highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this book through Booksirens. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a hidden trash heap in the outskirts of Portland lies a hungry entity, and the cult that worships it. Henry and Janelle are on different missions, but end up as captives in this waste land.

Marc’s story was a totally different kind of cosmic/cult horror. Taking place in a setting that most people would do everything to avoid, with homeless people kidnapping victims. Totally wild.

I would’ve liked to know more about Bailey Jean and the Kolchaks’ origins. Dorothea’s new plane of existence was a bit confusing as well, I’m not sure I understood why the spirals needed spirits.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for a copy!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Ruvolo's new horror novella, "Waste Ground," is a enjoyable blend of cosmic and cult horror, with several instances of subtle humor and insights on unrequited love. The "waste ground" of the title can be interpreted variously: as an allegory for the state Henry finds himself in, stuck on his straight friend Digger, pining for him since high school; or as the actual industrial wastelands outside Portland, where something very fishy seems to be going on. Unfortunately, the latter is precisely where Henry's stolen car has been tracked down, and Henry takes Digger straight into the area to get the car back. Big mistake! Fortunately, though, they're not alone: Janelle has tracked her missing big sister to the same area, and won't back down till she gets her back. Neither she nor the guys are prepared for what awaits them there, namely a weird eldritch horror hungry for flesh - and it prefers it roasted! And what about the cult grown around this entity? Calling themselves the Kolchaks, they've been promised heaven - as long as they create hell on earth.

The novella is non-stop action, fast-paced, with good characterization and some insightful introspective moments on feeling unable to get yourself out of a rut. People (junkies, cops, vagrants, not in that order and certainly not all of sound mind) come and go with Portland in the background. The atmosphere is bleak and sad, though there are a few occasions that made me smile, smirk, or snigger. The last third of the book provides closure to all outstanding issues developed in the book, except one - and if there's to be a sequel, count me in!

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Henry and Janelle are both in search of lost things. Janelle has traveled from Florida in search of her missing sister. She hits up Portland's homeless camps, trying to get ahead of the cops clearing out the tents, looking for someone who has seen Dorothea. Henry just needs his car back, man. He's barely scraping by as it and if he doesn't have wheels to pick up gig work, he'll never make rent, let alone eat. Henry and Janelle are thrown together in the woods, where a dangerous collection of people calling themselves Kolchaks prey on those who stray too far from society.

Waste Ground made me want to wash my hands. Ruvolo did such a great (repulsive) job of setting the scene: conjuring up the smell of unwashed bodies and accumulating garbage, the miasma of meth labs and cigarette smoke, the gritty feel of dirt and oil and blood so caked on your skin, it's going to stain. I loved Waste Ground's take on cosmic horror, too. Rather than an unknowable other, through Dorothea, we see firsthand exactly what the Spiral intends for us. That was horrifying in its own way. Even moreso because there's no indication the Spiral needed meat. The Kolchaks escalated to throwing people down there and the ritual mutilations of their own free will. Shudder.

Thanks to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Shrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruvolo keeps this story short and less-than-sweet while still weaving interesting character backgrounds and motivations. I especially liked the visual language and alliterations. This setting is downright grimy and I could practically feel it on my skin. Without giving anything away, I loved the eco-horror elements with a splash of something a tad cosmic-horror-flavored.

I'm grateful I got to check this novella out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Phrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how movies have those freeze frames in the middle of some chaotic scene? Where everything gets quiet & we are introduced to our main character doing the classic, “I bet you’re wondering how I got in this situation.” Marc Ruvolo gives us a good amount of backstory & a warmup, but if that scene existed for Waste Ground… it would be his main characters in the middle of an insane battlefield with crazed amputee cult members, eldritch shellfish, and whatever is lurking below the cursed wasteland.

Quick Synopsis:
Janelle lost her beloved sister. Henry lost his beloved car. Digger is taking up space, but he’s integral to the story so he has to be included. ( I DO NOT LIKE HIM.) They all end up on opposite sides of the barren wastelands, wishing they weren’t, on their quest to find what they’re looking for. Little do they know they’re going to receive some unwanted answers to their questions along with a lot more than they bargained for.

Marc Ruvolo hits us with another doozie of a story that goes from 0 to 100 really quick. Marc is very good at pitching us satisfyingly relatable characters that you root for, then he throws them into insane scenarios to see how they do. If he had a God complex, he would be the mean Old Testament one for sure. Yet he does so responsibly with effective storytelling. Waste Ground is no different. The story opens up like Portlandia and ends very Mad Max…just in…Portland still. The meat in the middle of this enviro-cryptid-dystopyish-bizarro sandwich is something to truly be marveled at. He really did wrap everything up into a gross little, human-skinned package with a neat little eyeball & optic nerve bow.

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful story from this author! I've really come to enjoy his writing style, the interesting concepts in his books and his complex characters that you can feel empathy for.
Cult and cosmic horror mix together perfectly in this story. It's a sad and gruesome (but not overly gruesome) slow burn that will draw you into the world the author built. It's hope and hopelessness. It's love and loss.
While reading I decided to look up Kolchak because I had never heard of that before and I'm fascinated with what I found. Now I'm on a quest to read and watch everything I can! So I guess I should thank the author for a new obsession!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waste Ground by Marc Ruvolo
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
What an amazing and intriguing dark story! I definitely did not want to put this book down!
This story is a cosmic horror, with lots of thrills, suspense and creepiness!
Henry has his car stolen and he enlists the help from his friend Digger, to try and retrieve his car.
Janelle has been all over searching for her big sister Dorothea. These random people end up in the same crazy situation out in the woods with a cult, who call themselves the Kolchaks. They believe human sacrifices to the “cavity” will land those people, as well as themselves into heaven. They are desperate to follow rituals for feeding the evil that lives underground and are therefore kidnapping and killing innocent people for these offerings.
This book is intense and doesn’t let down the entire time. It also has great descriptions and imagery.
I found this story entertaining and very well written. There’s lots of depth to the plot of this book.

Thank you to Marc Ruvolo for an arc of this amazing story!!
*This book comes out March 15th and is a definite must read!!*

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-
Labeling Marc Ruvolo's forthcoming novella Waste Ground a deranged Crust-Punk Junkie Nightmare" feels to me like an over simplification. To be fair, it's still a solid description, and maybe elaborating further on what that label leaves out would ruin some of the nasty little surprises in this tale. That sounds correct, yes, let's go with that, shall we?
Waste Ground occupies a filthy, sometimes ignored corner of weird fiction. It exists on the periphery of metropolitan stories. The scabbed over outer ring of Urban Decay, where the detritus of the industrialized accumulates. Here strange deeds are afoot, and everyone is having a bad time.
I have a fondness for Horror and Weird Fiction tales that take place on the outer edges of society. Ruvolo delivers a fast paced loaded with bizarre rituals, and even stranger tastes.

[Overlook Hotel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Ending felt a lil rushed. Wish we knew more about the ground.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry 's car is stolen, and Janelle is looking for someone. Both are heading to the same place. Something lurks there, and it is hungry . Pulse pounding creepy read.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, it was given to me to read in exchange for a review, and really thankful it was, otherwise, i might not know about this author .

I love some good cosmic horror, and this one had a little mystery too it, which i appreciate in any book, want to get me hooked?

Let me be a little Agatha Christie in your horror book, and I'm sold.

This starts out giving us some layers into our characters, which always gets the hair raised, because when you get me invested, i KNOW there is about a 50% chance im going to get my heart ripped out and stomped on, I know you authors lol .

How can I not love Henry, just quietly wishing for Digger, or Janelle, who is just trying to hunt down her older sister?

And then , when they become the underdog, ragtag team, be still my fucking heart.

Enter stage whatever, the "Cult" and you know that is never going to go well, because cultists are never reasonable, and do not accept the snacks guys lol

I really enjoyed this, and Marc is going on the list to watch out for, maybe we will even get more from this little world he's crafted.



.

[Hokunani Sorci · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fire blossoms, then darts like a living thing across Dorothea’s gasoline-soaked clothes. Smoke fills her agonized lungs. She howls with her last breath as the flames dance over cracking and peeling skin.”

Deliciously creepy with a decent chorus of gore, Waste Ground is a fast-paced, horrific story. The main characters each felt real and lived in, with their own particular fears and longings. Janelle was my favorite and, while I dislike ‘man-baby’ characters, Henry and Digger’s complicated relationship was poignant.

I dug the urban setting, which isn’t a theme I read often. The dirty, gritty, nasty locales were unsettling and well described. That, and the wide range of side characters, really helped this story come alive.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this and the book’s unpredictability was a lot of fun. Honestly, I had a hard time putting it down sometimes. I kept wondering, ‘What happens next?’ The ending was a surprise and makes me wonder if more tales will be told in this world.

Overall, it was an entertaining read, one I recommend if you enjoy weird, disturbing stories.

4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5)

[barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'd classify this novella as a horror, but definitely a supernatural thriller. The story sucked me in quickly, and kept me engaged to the end. It's actually quite impressive, because I don't normally enjoy supernatural themes. I picked up this book because the premise sounded intriguing and, living in Portland, I couldn't pass up a book that has my city as the backdrop. It did not disappoint!

While there's not a lot of character development (again, it's a novella, so there's not a lot of time), I found myself liking and rooting for the MC's nonetheless. I really enjoyed the story!

POV jumps between 3 perspectives, but keeps the story rolling. Besides a flashback or two, the timeline is present and linear.

TW: violence, death, murder, cults, drug use mentioned (nothing more than weed/alcohol on page)

**Thank you BookSirens and Mark Ruvolo for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

[Ryan Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Ruvolo’s Waste Ground is more than a scary, even gory, story about a cult, the enigmatic entity they revere and serve, and the ones, both foolish and brave, who find themselves entangled in this nightmare. It’s a gripping character-driven novella that immerses readers in a nightmarish realm of human-based and “cosmic horror.”

Ruvolo’s writing effectively captures the essence of urban decay, much like the novella’s cover, where the atmosphere is bleak, and crumbling buildings loom like forgotten giants, their facades marred by peeling paint and graffiti.

The characters’ fates continuously hang in a precarious balance as they grapple with sinister threats not only from their fellow humans (can’t ever trust those!) but also from a lurking, malevolent, HUNGRY entity concealed beneath the earth’s surface. It’s another excellent addition to the author’s growing body of work focussing on Queer Urban Horror.

Read my full review at www.ryanlawrenceauthor.ca

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cults are scary things anyway so when I get to read a horror novel involving them I want to read it. The story itself worked well as a book and had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed from the genre. It is a horror novel and has elements that usually involve cults. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of them in the story. Marc Ruvolo has a strong writing style and can't wait for more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.

There is a LOT going on in this short novella. The story opens with a bang, and rarely slows down as it rockets to the conclusion. We aren't given a lot of backstory on the cult, but I'm actually okay with that. As in movies, sometimes we just have to accept that crazy shit is happening and go with it. Ruvolo crafts incredible characters in a very short space, managing to make them both flawed and sympathetic. I kind of hope that this isn't the last that we hear of them. 5 stars

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cosmic horror mixed with urban reality was extremely well written, and the characters were believable. It takes place in a very shady part of fictional Portland, Oregon. It's action-packed from the very first chapter.

Henry and Digger are looking for Henry's missing car. Janelle is looking for her missing sister. As the story progresses, their paths cross. It did pull me right in from the beginning. The shady parts gave me goosebumps. I would recommend this book.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't like slow songs." Dorothea wakes up to...wtf? Where the hell was Errol? Wtf is going on? Waste Ground started out fast-paced with action. It slowed down some in the middle but was filled with a wonderful storyline. I enjoyed this book but wish there was more background into how certain things came about.

[Ashley Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I woud've loved to know more about the Kolchaks and how the Spiral works. Not knowing about that made it feel like it lacked a bit, and I had a hard time grasping what was going on, especially since it took a minute to get to the plot.
Either way, Ruvolo is a great writer and this still shows plenty. He has a very unique way of crafting these weird books and I can't wait for more.

[Georgia Metz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, suspenseful, and quick read; a good book for a dark and stormy night indoors. The author makes good use of the post-industrial homeless encampment setting. I wish the ultimate Big Bad had been more well defined and active, and the ending was a little rushed. Overall, a very enjoyable book.

[Jen Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella! It's a fast paced tale of good people ending up in bad situations, cults, gods and monsters. Quick read that packs a punch!

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little cosmic horror read. My first by Ruvolo, but definitely not my last. It’s a shorter read but the pacing ramps up immediately and between the visual and olfactory portrayals of griminess you can really immerse yourself into this one and then immediately go shower.

In Waste Ground we have Henry and Digger on one path to retrieve Henry’s stolen car and Janelle on another to find her semi estranged struggling sister. They meet in the homeless encampment run by the Kolchaks who throw some wild parties full of sacrificial rituals for their eldritch god.

I loved Henry and Janelle and Ruvolo exceeds at building the tension. There were elements that could have been enhanced with more detail, but the story is a solid read that fast paced horror readers will enjoy.

[Beatrix Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great cosmic horror novella, mixed in with some cult horror.
I loved how creepy the homeless camp was, and some of its characters. I felt like i never knew what's going to happen next. Reasonably slow burn but will keep you well interested throughout.

[Ian Gielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced novella that makes me hungry for for more just as much as the cryptid at the heart of the wasteland hungers for human flesh.

The story follows Henry and his friend Digger, both of which are stuck in the rut of their lives that have barely progressed since high school. Henry's car has been stolen and by location of the AirTag signal, is in an area of downtown Portland which is an industrial wasteland inhabited by the homeless.
Relying on his car for his only source of income, Henry persuades Digger to help him track it down.

Meanwhile Janelle arrives in Portland searching for her drug addicted sister who is living with her boyfriend to inform her about the death of their abusive mother to hopefully bring some closure.

Janelle's and Henry's journey take them both to the same location, a remote area in the wasteland where they discover a strange cult called the Kolchaks who worship a strange cryptid that lives beneath the depths of the earth which has developed a hunger for human flesh.

It's a well written novella with some great zany characters and interesting dynamics between each. The story switches between Janelle and Henry which helps to keep things fresh and gives the reader a different perspective of the story and what each of them go through in their journey. The ending is kept open in a way which could lead to another in the future which I for one am hoping for!

Grab this one if you're into cryptids or cults or both as may be the case here.

[Bridgett Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, gritty tale that plunges you into the underbelly of Portland’s industrial wastelands, where desperation and determination collide. Waste Grounds narrative builds masterfully, tying personal struggles to the broader chaos of a capitalist nightmare and a bizarre, bloodthirsty cult. You won't be able to put this masterpiece down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Some funny ass characters who, when entering an abandoned junkyard looking for a car, get far more than they bargained for. Love the whole moniker surrounding “radical” Portland. Agree with other reviewers that there could’ve been more development in the cult department.

[Robert Kluver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waste Ground is a highly satisfying novella centered around a dangerous cult that’s beholden to a cosmic menace. The well drawn characters, compounding horrors, and ratcheting tension make for an immersive and compelling read. Highly recommended.