4.5 ⭐️

The reason I applied for this book was because the description instantly captivated me. The black farm is one of my favourite ever books, and this really reminded me of it and I loved it! The whole concept of the afterlife and what awaits us, makes this book feel even more scary. Oscar rises from the dead, only to find out he’s in hell.

The main character went through so many challenges. He did annoy me a little at times but I think if I was in his situation, I’d react the same way as he did at times!

I loved Nathaniel. He was definitely my favourite.

I do wish we got a bit more history on the characters. Different character perspectives would have been cool too. But this was the authors debut novel and I must say, it was fantastic and I highly recommend this one!!

Thank you for allowing me to arc read.

Hell Pulp by Matias Ylikangas

3.5/5 stars

"The afterlife--this realm-- is just a natural part of existence. But all the horrors out here, the stuff of Hell, that's on us."

What a crazy ride! Hell Pulp follows Oscar, a recently deceased man who rises from his grave only to be met with the horrors of Hell. He meets Nathaniel, who takes Oscar on a fascinating and terrifying mission. His goal is to meet Dean Theodore, to relay a secret that could change their world forever.

My favorite part of this book by far was the world building. This version of Hell isn't fire and brimstones--it's something entirely more sinister. As I read, I found myself wondering about the origins of this alternate reality, and I think that more stories from this world would be incredibly interesting to read about.

The characters of this book were well written, but I feel like we didn't get to spend enough time with some of them to truly understand their motives. Part of that is because being thrown in this world is incredibly disorienting, so the main character is just as confused as we are at the beginning. It takes time for Oscar to come to terms with his fate, so we don't really get to learn about him in detail until a good chunk of the way through. This also just backs up the idea that more stories in this world and with these characters would be exciting!

My only complaint is that the information about the world and the characters' mission was a little info-dumpy at times, but overall this book was very well written and fast-paced.

This is the perfect book for fans of horror and adventure novels (with a good amount of gore thrown in!). I would highly recommend it for fans of action-leaning horror, like the 28 Days Later series. I can't wait to see what Matias Ylikangas writes next!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with an ARC of this novel. This review is completely honest and voluntary.

Hell Pulp by Matias Ylikangas

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dear reader, I pose this question to you: Can you kill someone that’s already dead?

Matias Ylikangas is an author who orchestrates an evocative tale, reminiscent of Amy Lee’s most haunting voice transcribed onto paper. Our protagonist, Oscar, wakes up devoid of memory. His soiled clothes carry the burden of a life unremembered.

Where am I? No time to think. My hands bound by rope, I followed the grim procession. We were being sold? At least I believe that to be true. Our abductors, simply known as Grave Looters, paraded us into a vast world of bartering. What is known is that this predicament simply can’t end well.

Through a sheer miracle, the line of captives has broken. Nathaniel, our savior, has momentarily incapacitated the thugs, and Oscar and I make our escape under the tutelage of Nathaniel.

As we wandered through a town of misery and disease, it became abundantly clear we were just trying to survive. Nathaniel had said as much; we needed him to navigate the complexities of this place, wherever that was. We agreed to help Nathaniel find a man named Dean Theodore in exchange for protection.

Oscar’s memories slowly reappear through small flashes of intel involving a life full of pain, living with a passive-aggressive mother, and endless regrets. As conversations commenced our worst fears were confirmed; Nathaniel reiterated that we were indeed deceased. How had we perished? "This feels like Hell," I lamented. However, this place was not teeming with demons and fiery pits. The story presents a new realm of consciousness, or rather, an eerie alternative plane of existence.

The reading material picked at me, like a week-old scab, tormenting me with its hideous nature. I kept thinking of my Mad Max or Bone Tomahawk cinematic experiences. Ylikangas successfully breathes life into a story about the undead, resuscitating those in need, and then subsequently extinguishes our hopes by imposing a reality of an endless nightmare.

Imagine a world where cannibal tribes collide. The visceral feeling of being ushered through the front door of a shack decorated with human skin masquerading as wallpaper hit its mark. Put simply, it isn’t pretty! The shading between light and dark, good and evil, made my time in this existence wondrous in its shocking approach. The very nature of the world questions the religious beliefs of the standard heaven and hell concept. While often pushing the boundaries, I never felt Ylikangas took the gore too far, just for the sake of eye candy. The novel took its time, allowing it to breathe like a fine wine, allowing me room for my interpretations.

Escaping the valley unharmed became paramount in our quest. With an Indiana Jones-like vibe, we sprinted through tunnels. Underneath the crypts, followed closely by the flesh-eaters, we looked ahead toward a light marking freedom. Unfortunately, we had no insights to what Dean Theodore might provide us regarding Nathaniel’s discovery, and that, my friends, is where our assumptions get turned upside down.

Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

This book puts a whole new meaning to grave robbers.

Hell Pulp throws you into a brutal, surreal world where death is only the beginning. The main character wakes up in a grave with no memory of who he was or how he died. What follows is a dark journey through a decaying landscape filled with sickness, scavengers, and a creeping sense of something much bigger at play.

The atmosphere is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Every setting is vivid, disgusting, and unforgettable. The author’s worldbuilding pulls no punches, painting a vision of the afterlife that feels raw, chaotic, and entirely original.

The story blends horror, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic grit while slowly building a mystery about what it really means to be dead. There is action, tension, and the constant feeling that nothing is safe or sacred here.

While the ending left me wanting a little more clarity, the ride there was wild, imaginative, and deeply unsettling.

If you’re looking for something dark, bizarre, and unlike anything you have read before, Hell Pulp delivers.