Cursed Bunny: Stories

A wildly original novel from a rising star of Korean literature--surreal, chilling fables that take on the patriarchy, capitalism, and the reign of big tech with absurdist humor and a (sometimes literal) bite.

From an author never before published in the United States, Cursed Bunny is unique and imaginative, blending horror, sci-fi, fairy tales, and speculative fiction into stories that defy categorization. By turns thought-provoking and stomach-turning, here monsters take the shapes of furry woodland creatures and danger lurks in unexpected corners of everyday apartment buildings. But in this unforgettable collection, translated by the acclaimed Anton Hur, Chung's absurd, haunting universe could be our own.

"The Head" follows a woman haunted by her own bodily waste. "The Embodiment" takes us into a dystopian gynecology office where a pregnant woman is told that she must find a father for her baby or face horrific consequences. Another story follows a young monster, forced into underground fight rings without knowing his own power. The titular fable centers on a cursed lamp in the shape of a rabbit, fit for a child's bedroom but for its sinister capabilities.

No two stories are alike, and readers will be torn whether to race through them or savor Chung's wit and frenetic energy on every page. Cursed Bunny is a book that screams to be read late into the night and passed on to the nearest set of hands the very next day.

"Like the work of Carmen Maria Machado and Aoko Matsuda, Chung's stories are so wonderfully, blisteringly strange and powerful that it's almost impossible to put Cursed Bunny down." ―Kelly Link, bestselling author of Get In Trouble

Finalist for the 2023 National Book Award in Translated Literature

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Published Dec 6, 2022

256 pages

Average rating: 6.31

58 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

juli1357
May 02, 2026
4/10 stars
I don’t normally rate books that I don’t finish, but this one is so horrible that I feel compelled to let others know so they don’t waste their time attempting to read it. I read 27% of it, which was the first three stories, including the title story “Cursed Bunny.” I love short stories, but these are awful. For example, the first story is about a woman who is tormented by a head made of fecal content, and sometimes menstrual blood, that keeps appearing in her toilet. I can’t believe that this book was a National Book Award Finalist and that it was nominated for a Booker Prize. The only thing this book has going for it is an eye-catching cover.
ktlyn426
Feb 04, 2026
2/10 stars
I wish they would add more detail to the stories at the end. There would be twist that were talked about for like 2 secs at the end of each story and I feel like the twists are the best part. I would not read this again
ediehas
Feb 28, 2025
8/10 stars
these stories were my favorite type of horror - gross, creepy, and extremely unsettling even when almost nothing is happening. i like scary tales where everyone else knows what's going on but the main character, and likewise the reader, are the only ones out of the loop. reminds me of how one feels in a nightmare. enjoyed pretty much each of these stories, highly recommend for a super bizarre, weird, nerve-racking read.
Dreamy_reader
Apr 29, 2023
8/10 stars
This book has me intrigued from the first page because it constitutes weird but unique short stories. Each story is different but yet it just connects to make an amazing read.

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