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I Live in Hell
The inferno comes calling in this genre-bending epic of urban horror. Visceral, surreal, and darkly funny, I Live in Hell balances damnation and dread with heart, humor, and a touch of absurdity.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, Hector Ghouseau wakes up soaked in piss. That’s normal. His dreams of ravenous flies and swinging corpses? Not so much.
Nightmares become reality when evil talking mice and giant sentient tongues show up to tell him that he's going to Hell—all thanks to a drunken bet between his dead father and a sadistic demon named "Bub." (Thanks, Dad.)
To make matters worse, Bub recruits a knife-happy maniac to help stain the Chicago snow red. And when Hector's roommate and ex-girlfriend both get caught in the fallout, his only shot at saving them might be his own death.
Between dive bars and work hangovers, Hector stumbles into a cosmic tug-of-war of absurd proportions and incomprehensible horror—where the rules don’t make sense, and God is hiding something big.
Praise from Goodreads
“I Live in Hell by Mike Salinas is wild, weird, and honestly kind of genius.”
“Fast-paced, character-driven horror that doesn’t pull its punches.”
“The humor hits, the darkness hits, and somehow, it still makes you feel something real.”
“For all its insanity, I Live in Hell is actually a pretty solid look at the impact of trauma.”
“What did I just read, and why do I want more?”
“For anyone who’s ever lived, wallowed, or loved in Chicago.”
“Mike Salinas has that dog in him—even if that dog is a little deranged.”
On his twenty-fifth birthday, Hector Ghouseau wakes up soaked in piss. That’s normal. His dreams of ravenous flies and swinging corpses? Not so much.
Nightmares become reality when evil talking mice and giant sentient tongues show up to tell him that he's going to Hell—all thanks to a drunken bet between his dead father and a sadistic demon named "Bub." (Thanks, Dad.)
To make matters worse, Bub recruits a knife-happy maniac to help stain the Chicago snow red. And when Hector's roommate and ex-girlfriend both get caught in the fallout, his only shot at saving them might be his own death.
Between dive bars and work hangovers, Hector stumbles into a cosmic tug-of-war of absurd proportions and incomprehensible horror—where the rules don’t make sense, and God is hiding something big.
Praise from Goodreads
“I Live in Hell by Mike Salinas is wild, weird, and honestly kind of genius.”
“Fast-paced, character-driven horror that doesn’t pull its punches.”
“The humor hits, the darkness hits, and somehow, it still makes you feel something real.”
“For all its insanity, I Live in Hell is actually a pretty solid look at the impact of trauma.”
“What did I just read, and why do I want more?”
“For anyone who’s ever lived, wallowed, or loved in Chicago.”
“Mike Salinas has that dog in him—even if that dog is a little deranged.”
- GenresHorror
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2025
9 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 24, 2025
If we were allowed to give fractions of stars, maybe I'd have given I Live in Hell a 4.75. But I rounded up, because you know what? While I realize it's a horror book, this debut novel from Mike Salinas feels like it was written for anyone who's spent any meaningful time living, wallowing and loving in Chicago. And I love me some Chicago.
I couldn't put it down. It felt like I was reading about my own friends in our doomed 20s, about our problems, in a humor especially tailored for the young and hopeless (again, I know this is horror, but I was cracking up through a good portion of the book. Even Salinas's humor seems explicitly Chicago-branded - I was almost waiting for a demon to yell CHIPS, NO FRIES). The number of Chicago Easter eggs, the references, the snippets of immigrant culture. It all made for a really enjoyable reading experience for me, as a guy who's not totally a big reader of horror.
I'm trying hard not to give spoilers, but I Live in Hell had so many elements of what I love in a novel, outside the Chicago-ness of it all. It was campy, a mix of high- and low-brow callbacks, taking itself almost too seriously at points, only to seemingly remember that nothing matters. It brought to mind Tom Bombadil (Tom Bombadillo!) and his forest, Shelob, Sam and that moody dude he was friends with, Pinky & the Brain, Anthony Bourdain (am I the only one, with those dang corn muffins?) and even maybe shadows of Behemoth from The Master and Margarita, one of my all-time favorites. Hector and Tommy's friendship was a high point for me, as was Gretchen and the elements of magical realism that extended beyond the demonic realm. The author is also very clearly an animal guy, and the little creatures bring a lightness to what's otherwise a dark ass story.
My critiques are minor: I too would have liked more Bandini (John Fante reference?). And I would've liked more background on Hector's mom and Sammie. We didn't get much on them, especially the mom, who was portrayed as a damaged foil to the redeemable dad. In spite of the talking animals and hell spawn, her arc was probably the least realistic part of the story to me.
Anyway, someone find me a buddy like Tommy. What a mensch.
Now I need a Mad Dog.
EDIT: I didn't really mention Hector, but I love that we get to see a juxtaposition between his actions and the negative view he has of himself, as well as his hard-won character development. Nothing like a literally hellish birthday to shake things up.
(This is an ARC review, lucky me :D)
I couldn't put it down. It felt like I was reading about my own friends in our doomed 20s, about our problems, in a humor especially tailored for the young and hopeless (again, I know this is horror, but I was cracking up through a good portion of the book. Even Salinas's humor seems explicitly Chicago-branded - I was almost waiting for a demon to yell CHIPS, NO FRIES). The number of Chicago Easter eggs, the references, the snippets of immigrant culture. It all made for a really enjoyable reading experience for me, as a guy who's not totally a big reader of horror.
I'm trying hard not to give spoilers, but I Live in Hell had so many elements of what I love in a novel, outside the Chicago-ness of it all. It was campy, a mix of high- and low-brow callbacks, taking itself almost too seriously at points, only to seemingly remember that nothing matters. It brought to mind Tom Bombadil (Tom Bombadillo!) and his forest, Shelob, Sam and that moody dude he was friends with, Pinky & the Brain, Anthony Bourdain (am I the only one, with those dang corn muffins?) and even maybe shadows of Behemoth from The Master and Margarita, one of my all-time favorites. Hector and Tommy's friendship was a high point for me, as was Gretchen and the elements of magical realism that extended beyond the demonic realm. The author is also very clearly an animal guy, and the little creatures bring a lightness to what's otherwise a dark ass story.
My critiques are minor: I too would have liked more Bandini (John Fante reference?). And I would've liked more background on Hector's mom and Sammie. We didn't get much on them, especially the mom, who was portrayed as a damaged foil to the redeemable dad. In spite of the talking animals and hell spawn, her arc was probably the least realistic part of the story to me.
Anyway, someone find me a buddy like Tommy. What a mensch.
Now I need a Mad Dog.
EDIT: I didn't really mention Hector, but I love that we get to see a juxtaposition between his actions and the negative view he has of himself, as well as his hard-won character development. Nothing like a literally hellish birthday to shake things up.
(This is an ARC review, lucky me :D)
November 2, 2025
This one is a lot of fun: high-stakes horror playing on Abrahamic religion. It's visceral, it's dark, it's gory, even scatological in places, and it's damn funny on top of it all.
The pace is tight - short chapters that advance the plot without sacrificing character development. I came to quite like Hector and, especially, Tommy and their very front-and-centre flaws.
Pretty easy recommend for folks looking for fast-paced, character-driven horror that doesn't pull its punches.
Side note: I think this will especially appeal to Chicagoans - I'm not American, I've never been to Chicago, but this book made me really like the city.
Disclaimer: Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The pace is tight - short chapters that advance the plot without sacrificing character development. I came to quite like Hector and, especially, Tommy and their very front-and-centre flaws.
Pretty easy recommend for folks looking for fast-paced, character-driven horror that doesn't pull its punches.
Side note: I think this will especially appeal to Chicagoans - I'm not American, I've never been to Chicago, but this book made me really like the city.
Disclaimer: Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 11, 2025
“Strange things are happening on Armitage Avenue.”
Stars: 3.5
Mike Salinas has that dog in him. Even if that dog is a little deranged.
Characters
I was a big fan of the motley cast of traumatized characters in I Live in Hell. The book made me want to call my mom but also drink a cold Hamm’s with Tommy & Hector. Amidst the chaos of Hell breaking loose, there was enough character development to keep me intrigued. I did want more from the cats (of course), Bandini, and a few others but that’s life. Big fan of Lucifer, too – am I allowed to say that out loud?
Worldbuilding
As someone from Chicago, I’ve never read anything – ever – about the city quite like this. I loved seeing the city through the lens of these characters, their favorite coke-riddled bars, and the talking, masturbating bugs that inhabit the Windy City. As others have mentioned, stick around if it starts off slightly confusing. It will get better. And more messed up. But the steady presence of the city added a calm layer to the madness that grounded the storyline.
Storyline
For all its insanity, I Live in Hell is actually a pretty solid look at the impact of trauma and what the possibility of fighting back against the heavy press of life looks like. I was rooting for the lads as they tried to unpack what everything meant, especially after the vegan restaurant and learning a lot of unpleasant things about the afterlife, as well as grappling with questions about what they deserve (even as self-proclaimed shitty people).
Off to touch dirt now – but also curious to see what else Mike will cook up.
### ARC review ###
Stars: 3.5
Mike Salinas has that dog in him. Even if that dog is a little deranged.
Characters
I was a big fan of the motley cast of traumatized characters in I Live in Hell. The book made me want to call my mom but also drink a cold Hamm’s with Tommy & Hector. Amidst the chaos of Hell breaking loose, there was enough character development to keep me intrigued. I did want more from the cats (of course), Bandini, and a few others but that’s life. Big fan of Lucifer, too – am I allowed to say that out loud?
Worldbuilding
As someone from Chicago, I’ve never read anything – ever – about the city quite like this. I loved seeing the city through the lens of these characters, their favorite coke-riddled bars, and the talking, masturbating bugs that inhabit the Windy City. As others have mentioned, stick around if it starts off slightly confusing. It will get better. And more messed up. But the steady presence of the city added a calm layer to the madness that grounded the storyline.
Storyline
For all its insanity, I Live in Hell is actually a pretty solid look at the impact of trauma and what the possibility of fighting back against the heavy press of life looks like. I was rooting for the lads as they tried to unpack what everything meant, especially after the vegan restaurant and learning a lot of unpleasant things about the afterlife, as well as grappling with questions about what they deserve (even as self-proclaimed shitty people).
Off to touch dirt now – but also curious to see what else Mike will cook up.
### ARC review ###
October 28, 2025
[4.5 stars rounded down]
Twenty years ago, a man’s last action before entering Hell was to make a deal with Beelzebub that his young son - Hector - wouldn’t kill himself by 25 the same way he did. Now, Hector needs to get through these last three days filled with hallucinations, trips to Hell, talking insects, and a knife-wielding murderer hired by Beelzebub himself.
I had a lot of fun with this one. All of the characters are great and we got the perfect amount of time with each of them. They are all utter messes and disasters, but you never want to root against them (of our main three, I mean). Bub and Austin work great as antagonists. They fill both the supernatural and human sides of the stories well and just work for this story. And Gretchen is there, my fave <3.
Like a lot of modern indie horror that I’ve seen in the last few years, it has that lean towards masturbation, boners, excrement, etc. throughout that I typically hate the execution of. However, Salinas manages to avoid the edginess and that sense of “woah, aren’t I just so bad for talking about these things” that those other books give off with these scenes. I’m not too sure what he did differently. A lot of this specific area lessened after the halfway point and there was never really an over-reliance on it, so maybe that. Either way, I just really enjoyed Salinas’ execution of the book. The grosser parts made me squeamish and the more humorous parts were genuinely funny.
While reading I found the first 40-ish percent quite slow in terms of establishing things/revealing information (though there were enough interspersed action/disgusting scenes to not feel slow to read, if that makes sense) but looking back now I think this approach worked well for this book. It was nice to get introduced one by one to Hector, then Tommy, then Austin, then Sammie as well as letting Hector more slowly ease into the supernatural elements. I also think that the balance of Hector having the information revealed to him at a slower pace than the reader, who is getting a whole slew of supernatural beings’ POVs alongside Hector’s own, worked well. A book playing fast and loose with POVs, not being concerned whether we’ll eventually go back to an earlier one, is a favorite style of mine when handled well. Salinas plays with these POVs and the reveal of information in such a smart way that I don’t see enough authors attempting (also, I don’t have anywhere else to mention this but Chapter 23 was such a great use of the swapping POVs used to speed up pacing. I enjoyed the book up to this point, but right here - about 40% in - had me realizing that wow, this is actually really well written beyond just having an interesting premise. The quality from this point on just kept getting better as well).
The climax was so good. Genuinely exciting. Tensions are high on all fronts and things fall into play so well. Funny, emotional, crazy. I don’t know what else to say other than to read it yourself because it’s so fun.
I love the dive into the belief systems and existential questions (without feeling too philosophical/out of tone with the rest of the novel). I have read so many indie works posted online and elsewhere that tackle the whole “God is dead/abandoned us” thing (whether for humor or horror) and this is genuinely one of the best I have seen. God, the chapter with Jesus and the door, everything about that final bar scene. Genuinely a fascinating series of scenes.
Just a few things hold this back for me. A touch more Sammy would have been great (I know I just said I liked her being properly introduced later than the others, but just a bit more of her would have been great). I also felt like Bandini kinda disappeared a bit too early. The dialogue was pretty good overall and never felt stilted, but I hated that scene early on with Jess with all the references etc. I know that the point was to have her be that type of person who you think to yourself “am I really going to hook up with them” before doing it anyways because they’re ultimately harmless - I’ve done that dance too many times - but the scene lasted so long and, honestly, anything mentioning Harry Potter in the big 25 rubs me the wrong way. These are ultimately small things that just push it down a bit too much for me personally.
Such a great debut novel by Salinas! Funny, tense, lots of action, lots of drinking and taking various substances, and Beelzebub trying to get someone to kill himself. What more can you want?
Twenty years ago, a man’s last action before entering Hell was to make a deal with Beelzebub that his young son - Hector - wouldn’t kill himself by 25 the same way he did. Now, Hector needs to get through these last three days filled with hallucinations, trips to Hell, talking insects, and a knife-wielding murderer hired by Beelzebub himself.
I had a lot of fun with this one. All of the characters are great and we got the perfect amount of time with each of them. They are all utter messes and disasters, but you never want to root against them (of our main three, I mean). Bub and Austin work great as antagonists. They fill both the supernatural and human sides of the stories well and just work for this story. And Gretchen is there, my fave <3.
Like a lot of modern indie horror that I’ve seen in the last few years, it has that lean towards masturbation, boners, excrement, etc. throughout that I typically hate the execution of. However, Salinas manages to avoid the edginess and that sense of “woah, aren’t I just so bad for talking about these things” that those other books give off with these scenes. I’m not too sure what he did differently. A lot of this specific area lessened after the halfway point and there was never really an over-reliance on it, so maybe that. Either way, I just really enjoyed Salinas’ execution of the book. The grosser parts made me squeamish and the more humorous parts were genuinely funny.
While reading I found the first 40-ish percent quite slow in terms of establishing things/revealing information (though there were enough interspersed action/disgusting scenes to not feel slow to read, if that makes sense) but looking back now I think this approach worked well for this book. It was nice to get introduced one by one to Hector, then Tommy, then Austin, then Sammie as well as letting Hector more slowly ease into the supernatural elements. I also think that the balance of Hector having the information revealed to him at a slower pace than the reader, who is getting a whole slew of supernatural beings’ POVs alongside Hector’s own, worked well. A book playing fast and loose with POVs, not being concerned whether we’ll eventually go back to an earlier one, is a favorite style of mine when handled well. Salinas plays with these POVs and the reveal of information in such a smart way that I don’t see enough authors attempting (also, I don’t have anywhere else to mention this but Chapter 23 was such a great use of the swapping POVs used to speed up pacing. I enjoyed the book up to this point, but right here - about 40% in - had me realizing that wow, this is actually really well written beyond just having an interesting premise. The quality from this point on just kept getting better as well).
The climax was so good. Genuinely exciting. Tensions are high on all fronts and things fall into play so well. Funny, emotional, crazy. I don’t know what else to say other than to read it yourself because it’s so fun.
I love the dive into the belief systems and existential questions (without feeling too philosophical/out of tone with the rest of the novel). I have read so many indie works posted online and elsewhere that tackle the whole “God is dead/abandoned us” thing (whether for humor or horror) and this is genuinely one of the best I have seen. God, the chapter with Jesus and the door, everything about that final bar scene. Genuinely a fascinating series of scenes.
Just a few things hold this back for me. A touch more Sammy would have been great (I know I just said I liked her being properly introduced later than the others, but just a bit more of her would have been great). I also felt like Bandini kinda disappeared a bit too early. The dialogue was pretty good overall and never felt stilted, but I hated that scene early on with Jess with all the references etc. I know that the point was to have her be that type of person who you think to yourself “am I really going to hook up with them” before doing it anyways because they’re ultimately harmless - I’ve done that dance too many times - but the scene lasted so long and, honestly, anything mentioning Harry Potter in the big 25 rubs me the wrong way. These are ultimately small things that just push it down a bit too much for me personally.
Such a great debut novel by Salinas! Funny, tense, lots of action, lots of drinking and taking various substances, and Beelzebub trying to get someone to kill himself. What more can you want?
November 18, 2025
Imagine if Clive Barker wrote Good Omens...you get Mike Salinas' I Live in Hell.
The characters are extremely transgressive. They truly are sad people; alcoholics and junkies at the very prime of their lives (mid-20s), right before they begin to really spiral and let the years take their toll on the human body. Now picture the setting in cold, dead of winter Chicago and finding out that not only has Lucifer disappeared from hell, but God has been MIA from heaven. What happens when the two most powerful beings in the Universe disappear from their posts? You get Hell on Earth.
Welcome to Bar Hell, I'll be your server, Bub. What's your poison? We take payments in the form of souls, thank you.
This was a fun story, but also, it had very witty dialogue. Which I appreciate because I hate when characters' dialogues feel forced and mechanical. The creatures and the occurrences in the book were absolutely absurd, everything from a Snow White-gone wrong scene of small city animals tearing someone to shreds to walking & talking giant tongues, it felt like I was tripping balls with them. But also, very liminal scenery like: a bar at the end of the world surrounded by nothing and characters speaking to a talking dog. Very well written and I like the genre bending in this book. I like entertaining stories that push the boundaries.
Looking forward to meeting Mike Salinas at the NYC Indie Horror Book Fair in Ridgewood NY on Nov 22nd!
Highly Recommend this book!
The characters are extremely transgressive. They truly are sad people; alcoholics and junkies at the very prime of their lives (mid-20s), right before they begin to really spiral and let the years take their toll on the human body. Now picture the setting in cold, dead of winter Chicago and finding out that not only has Lucifer disappeared from hell, but God has been MIA from heaven. What happens when the two most powerful beings in the Universe disappear from their posts? You get Hell on Earth.
Welcome to Bar Hell, I'll be your server, Bub. What's your poison? We take payments in the form of souls, thank you.
This was a fun story, but also, it had very witty dialogue. Which I appreciate because I hate when characters' dialogues feel forced and mechanical. The creatures and the occurrences in the book were absolutely absurd, everything from a Snow White-gone wrong scene of small city animals tearing someone to shreds to walking & talking giant tongues, it felt like I was tripping balls with them. But also, very liminal scenery like: a bar at the end of the world surrounded by nothing and characters speaking to a talking dog. Very well written and I like the genre bending in this book. I like entertaining stories that push the boundaries.
Looking forward to meeting Mike Salinas at the NYC Indie Horror Book Fair in Ridgewood NY on Nov 22nd!
Highly Recommend this book!
December 26, 2025
Full Review
I Live In Hell is Mike Salinas’s debut book, and it’s a strong one. He mixes creeping dread, intense violence, and horrifying trauma into a page-turning story with a unique take on Hell and the afterlife. I look forward to seeing what Salinas does next.
I Live In Hell is Mike Salinas’s debut book, and it’s a strong one. He mixes creeping dread, intense violence, and horrifying trauma into a page-turning story with a unique take on Hell and the afterlife. I look forward to seeing what Salinas does next.
October 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Live in Hell by Mike Salinas is wild, weird, and honestly kind of genius. It’s chaotic in the most entertaining way, full of messed-up characters you can’t help but root for even when they’re being absolute disasters. The humor hits, the darkness hits, and somehow it still makes you feel something real.
The characters are a total mess but that’s what makes them fun. They’re broken, loud, and so unapologetically human that you can’t look away. The world feels gritty and strange but also alive, like you’re walking through some twisted version of Chicago where trauma, chaos, and self-reflection all collide.
It’s a trip from start to finish, the kind of story that leaves you thinking, what did I just read and why do I want more?
I Live in Hell by Mike Salinas is wild, weird, and honestly kind of genius. It’s chaotic in the most entertaining way, full of messed-up characters you can’t help but root for even when they’re being absolute disasters. The humor hits, the darkness hits, and somehow it still makes you feel something real.
The characters are a total mess but that’s what makes them fun. They’re broken, loud, and so unapologetically human that you can’t look away. The world feels gritty and strange but also alive, like you’re walking through some twisted version of Chicago where trauma, chaos, and self-reflection all collide.
It’s a trip from start to finish, the kind of story that leaves you thinking, what did I just read and why do I want more?
November 21, 2025
Full transparency, I received this copy from @darkdeadthings in exchange for a review.
That out of the way, happy pub day to this weird, gnarly, gross, and surprisingly full of heart book! I typically shy away from requesting ARCs directly from authors because I'm going to be honest in my reviews and I'd feel bad if their book wasn't for me.
This is definitely not the case for I Live In Hell. In this book we follow Hector beginning on his 25th birthday. What happens from there is a very unexpected battle between good and evil, heaven and hell... quite literally. We meet characters such as Lucifer, Jesus, Beezlebub. Where this book caught me off guard is that while it is a very gritty urban horror story, it tackles some heavy topics. With strong themes of substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, religion, generational trauma, and even love. I can easily say that I recommend this book and started to do so before I even finished.
This one came out today! Get your copy to find out the fate of Hector, Sammie, Tommy, and even Austin 😒
Thank you to Mike for the physical copy. This will be one that I revisit in the future.
That out of the way, happy pub day to this weird, gnarly, gross, and surprisingly full of heart book! I typically shy away from requesting ARCs directly from authors because I'm going to be honest in my reviews and I'd feel bad if their book wasn't for me.
This is definitely not the case for I Live In Hell. In this book we follow Hector beginning on his 25th birthday. What happens from there is a very unexpected battle between good and evil, heaven and hell... quite literally. We meet characters such as Lucifer, Jesus, Beezlebub. Where this book caught me off guard is that while it is a very gritty urban horror story, it tackles some heavy topics. With strong themes of substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, religion, generational trauma, and even love. I can easily say that I recommend this book and started to do so before I even finished.
This one came out today! Get your copy to find out the fate of Hector, Sammie, Tommy, and even Austin 😒
Thank you to Mike for the physical copy. This will be one that I revisit in the future.
November 9, 2025
There’s SO much to unpack here 😭📚
The first thing I did after finishing this book was message the author, Mike, to tell him how much I loved it.
Easily a 6⭐️ read for me and honestly, probably my favorite book of the year.
When I read the blurb, I thought I was diving into a gory horror story about a drunken loser fighting the ruler of Hell to save his friends. Nope! It’s so much more than that, and it’s genuinely amazing.
I loved the biblical references and how Hector’s struggles tied into questions about Heaven, Hell, and faith. It added a lot of depth without ever feeling preachy.
The characters completely stole my heart. Hector and Tommy’s friendship was beautiful to watch grow, even with all the drama they experienced together. And Hector and Sammie’s relationship was heartbreaking but so well written. Mike really nailed the emotional side of this story.
The pacing was perfect too. The short chapters packed a punch and kept me hooked the entire time. I honestly couldn’t put it down.
This book was exactly what I’ve been looking for these past few months, and I’m so glad Mike asked me to ARC read it.
If you’re into dark, gory (and sometimes gross 👀) horror with heart, humor, and a few surprisingly deep moments, you need to read this one.
The first thing I did after finishing this book was message the author, Mike, to tell him how much I loved it.
Easily a 6⭐️ read for me and honestly, probably my favorite book of the year.
When I read the blurb, I thought I was diving into a gory horror story about a drunken loser fighting the ruler of Hell to save his friends. Nope! It’s so much more than that, and it’s genuinely amazing.
I loved the biblical references and how Hector’s struggles tied into questions about Heaven, Hell, and faith. It added a lot of depth without ever feeling preachy.
The characters completely stole my heart. Hector and Tommy’s friendship was beautiful to watch grow, even with all the drama they experienced together. And Hector and Sammie’s relationship was heartbreaking but so well written. Mike really nailed the emotional side of this story.
The pacing was perfect too. The short chapters packed a punch and kept me hooked the entire time. I honestly couldn’t put it down.
This book was exactly what I’ve been looking for these past few months, and I’m so glad Mike asked me to ARC read it.
If you’re into dark, gory (and sometimes gross 👀) horror with heart, humor, and a few surprisingly deep moments, you need to read this one.
November 16, 2025
Equal parts grotesque and soul searching.
One of the most compelling books I’ve ever picked up. On one layer it’s disturbing and nauseating. There are multiple scenes featuring every imaginable body fluid covering places they probably shouldn’t. I never considered the idea of a fly pleasuring itself, but now I have the image forever ingrained in my mind. To say there are moments of ultra violence is an understatement. Just about every form of mental and physical violence is covered in these pages with plenty of morbid detail.
For all of those moments there’s also a deep look inward. Self harm, addiction, religious beliefs, what it means to be a good person are all explored. I had quite a few moments where I’d pause and ask myself if I really am the decent person I like to believe I am. Some moments in particular hit so hard emotionally I felt compelled to reach out to people I care about.
This feels like Kafka mixed with Clive Barker, biblical stories, self help books gone wrong, and a fairy tale all combined into one giant contemplative experience. I am so happy to have stumbled onto this book and hope it catches as many eyeballs as possible for those who can handle the mix of extreme grotesque and violent imagery along with the heavy emotional content.
One of the most compelling books I’ve ever picked up. On one layer it’s disturbing and nauseating. There are multiple scenes featuring every imaginable body fluid covering places they probably shouldn’t. I never considered the idea of a fly pleasuring itself, but now I have the image forever ingrained in my mind. To say there are moments of ultra violence is an understatement. Just about every form of mental and physical violence is covered in these pages with plenty of morbid detail.
For all of those moments there’s also a deep look inward. Self harm, addiction, religious beliefs, what it means to be a good person are all explored. I had quite a few moments where I’d pause and ask myself if I really am the decent person I like to believe I am. Some moments in particular hit so hard emotionally I felt compelled to reach out to people I care about.
This feels like Kafka mixed with Clive Barker, biblical stories, self help books gone wrong, and a fairy tale all combined into one giant contemplative experience. I am so happy to have stumbled onto this book and hope it catches as many eyeballs as possible for those who can handle the mix of extreme grotesque and violent imagery along with the heavy emotional content.
November 9, 2025
Heaven and Hell, reimagined. God is gone, Lucifer has exited stage left, and Beelzebub has all the tact of a petulant child and wants to take the throne: Hector Ghouseau killing himself is his key to Hell on Earth.
And what do you do to try to get some poor guy to kill himself? Talking rats might to the trick, or becoming a murder suspect, OR almost being smothered by a monster that’s actually a giant penis. All in a days fun for Beelzebub!
This story is full of gruesome gore, freaky ass demonic entities, and how evil will use your friends against you to try to achieve its ultimate goal. This is the wildest ride I’ve EVER been on, and I can confidently say I’ve never read anything like it.
If you love weird, disgusting horror, this is for you! And if you want to get into weird, disgusting horror, consider this jumping into the deep end!!
And what do you do to try to get some poor guy to kill himself? Talking rats might to the trick, or becoming a murder suspect, OR almost being smothered by a monster that’s actually a giant penis. All in a days fun for Beelzebub!
This story is full of gruesome gore, freaky ass demonic entities, and how evil will use your friends against you to try to achieve its ultimate goal. This is the wildest ride I’ve EVER been on, and I can confidently say I’ve never read anything like it.
If you love weird, disgusting horror, this is for you! And if you want to get into weird, disgusting horror, consider this jumping into the deep end!!
November 11, 2025
I actually really enjoyed this book. it was unsettling in a way because it all seemed familiar to me even though it really wasn't. at points, it reminded me of something that could be written by Nick Tosches. I'd recommend it.
November 11, 2025
I liked this book. It’s was something different for sure. I would recommend reading. It has a lot of action.
November 21, 2025
[4.5 ⭐️] Gritty, unnerving, moving. Hell yeah!
I’ve had the pleasure of following along with Salinas’ Dark Dead Things Publishing a while now, so I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC of his debut novel. It’s safe to say it lived up to (if not exceeded) expectations.
If I had to describe the *vibe* of this book, I’d say it felt like if you took the movie Constantine, made it even scarier and gross, and melded it with a love letter to Chicago. Chefs kiss.
I saw people I’ve known and loved in these characters, some in a good way and some less so. I instantly clicked with Hector, Tommy, and Sammie and couldn’t read fast enough to see how their fates unfolded in the cold bleak streets of Chicago and the bleaker recesses of Hell. And the world building was greatly detailed— I felt like I knew my way around both Chicago and Hell.
There’s a lot of cynical humour injected throughout this novel which was always well timed and helped some of the harder stuff go down, like having a Hamms and a shot of old crow (or if you’re a torontonian- a PBR and a shot of jamo). But don’t be fooled, it’s a dark book.
I will warn others that there are a lot of bodily fluids mentioned in this and it is filled with descriptive gore so if that’s not your scene, you’ve been warned! But in my opinion, it was used as a tool and wasn’t overdone.
Overall, this was a highly ambitious debut novel and I loved it. It was well written, impeccably paced, and drew me into the world and the characters to the point that I was up far too late to “just read one more chapter”.
Thank you again to Mike Salinas for the ARC, congrats on creating such an interesting and compelling book.
I’ve had the pleasure of following along with Salinas’ Dark Dead Things Publishing a while now, so I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC of his debut novel. It’s safe to say it lived up to (if not exceeded) expectations.
If I had to describe the *vibe* of this book, I’d say it felt like if you took the movie Constantine, made it even scarier and gross, and melded it with a love letter to Chicago. Chefs kiss.
I saw people I’ve known and loved in these characters, some in a good way and some less so. I instantly clicked with Hector, Tommy, and Sammie and couldn’t read fast enough to see how their fates unfolded in the cold bleak streets of Chicago and the bleaker recesses of Hell. And the world building was greatly detailed— I felt like I knew my way around both Chicago and Hell.
There’s a lot of cynical humour injected throughout this novel which was always well timed and helped some of the harder stuff go down, like having a Hamms and a shot of old crow (or if you’re a torontonian- a PBR and a shot of jamo). But don’t be fooled, it’s a dark book.
I will warn others that there are a lot of bodily fluids mentioned in this and it is filled with descriptive gore so if that’s not your scene, you’ve been warned! But in my opinion, it was used as a tool and wasn’t overdone.
Overall, this was a highly ambitious debut novel and I loved it. It was well written, impeccably paced, and drew me into the world and the characters to the point that I was up far too late to “just read one more chapter”.
Thank you again to Mike Salinas for the ARC, congrats on creating such an interesting and compelling book.
November 12, 2025
It was very lucky to be selected for an ARC of this book.
The displaced Chicagoan in me felt a bit nostalgic for a lot of the references and deeply appreciated the accuracy.
To the more important points of plot and character- this was very much in my category of what I would call a "popcorn read". It was fast-paced and, although dealing with some dark subject matter, delivered enough levity so is not too demand too much mental or emotional heavy lifting.
All of the characters, with the exception of Gretchen, are fairly unlikable. They are all damaged and damaging (either through direct action or willful in action) but that does make you root all the harder for their redemption or survival. There are very few glimmers of hope for them making the ones that are there shine all the brighter. One can't help but be disappointed and a little betrayed the times they fail to take advantage of those glimmers.
The world building has a wonderful balance of fantasy and realism, both very gritty, and the jumps between Chicago and Hell are seamless. (Anyone who has lived through a Chicago winter knows just how hellish it can be.)
Is there anything truly groundbreaking or innovative? No. But that's fine. It lets you invest your energy and going on the adventure with Hector and Tommy instead of working to understand the rules of a new world.
The displaced Chicagoan in me felt a bit nostalgic for a lot of the references and deeply appreciated the accuracy.
To the more important points of plot and character- this was very much in my category of what I would call a "popcorn read". It was fast-paced and, although dealing with some dark subject matter, delivered enough levity so is not too demand too much mental or emotional heavy lifting.
All of the characters, with the exception of Gretchen, are fairly unlikable. They are all damaged and damaging (either through direct action or willful in action) but that does make you root all the harder for their redemption or survival. There are very few glimmers of hope for them making the ones that are there shine all the brighter. One can't help but be disappointed and a little betrayed the times they fail to take advantage of those glimmers.
The world building has a wonderful balance of fantasy and realism, both very gritty, and the jumps between Chicago and Hell are seamless. (Anyone who has lived through a Chicago winter knows just how hellish it can be.)
Is there anything truly groundbreaking or innovative? No. But that's fine. It lets you invest your energy and going on the adventure with Hector and Tommy instead of working to understand the rules of a new world.
November 20, 2025
I Live in Hell by Mike Salinas is the kind of unhinged, high-stakes horror ride that reminds you indie horror is where the real demons play. This book rips open Abrahamic terror, Chicago grit, and the absolute messiness of human trauma, and somehow makes it all hilarious, heartfelt, and disgusting in the best possible way.
Salinas throws you into Hector’s last three days on Earth, where the guy is basically speed-running doom: hallucinations, trips to Hell, a knife-happy hitman hired by Beelzebub, and talking insects who know way too much about masturbation. It should feel chaotic, but the tight pacing and short chapters keep everything firing like a possessed engine.
The characters are the heart of this book. Hector and Tommy are lovable disasters; you want to hug them, drink a cheap Hamm’s with them, and then maybe call your therapist. Even the antagonists, Bub and Austin, hit that sweet spot of supernatural menace and human ugliness.
But the real surprise? Chicago. Salinas paints the city with such filthy affection that it becomes a steady heartbeat under all the madness. The climax absolutely slaps: wild, emotional, and genuinely exciting.
Dark, gory, funny, and weirdly profound, I Live in Hell is an easy recommendation for anyone who likes their horror bold and unhinged.
Salinas throws you into Hector’s last three days on Earth, where the guy is basically speed-running doom: hallucinations, trips to Hell, a knife-happy hitman hired by Beelzebub, and talking insects who know way too much about masturbation. It should feel chaotic, but the tight pacing and short chapters keep everything firing like a possessed engine.
The characters are the heart of this book. Hector and Tommy are lovable disasters; you want to hug them, drink a cheap Hamm’s with them, and then maybe call your therapist. Even the antagonists, Bub and Austin, hit that sweet spot of supernatural menace and human ugliness.
But the real surprise? Chicago. Salinas paints the city with such filthy affection that it becomes a steady heartbeat under all the madness. The climax absolutely slaps: wild, emotional, and genuinely exciting.
Dark, gory, funny, and weirdly profound, I Live in Hell is an easy recommendation for anyone who likes their horror bold and unhinged.
November 20, 2025
I didn’t expect to love this book… but I Live in Hell floored me—in the best, weirdest way. This book gave me that same electric feeling I get from some of my all-time favorites: American Gods, Good Omens, and The Master and Margarita.
Salinas takes a dingy, grim, and wonderfully gritty version of Chicago and turns it into a fresh Hell that’s wild, clever, and full of sharp, unexpected emotion. One page had me laughing, the next had me thinking harder than I planned to, and the next just punched me in the feelings. And yes—there are plenty of gross-out moments along the way!
The characters are what hooked me hardest though —fleshed out, complicated, and alive in a way that made me fell like I will actually miss them now that I’m finished. (Gretchen is my favorite. She’ll probably be yours too.)
If you like supernatural chaos with meaning beneath the madness, this is absolutely worth the read.
It’s imaginative, weird, and surprisingly heartfelt.
A solid, easy 5 stars.
Salinas takes a dingy, grim, and wonderfully gritty version of Chicago and turns it into a fresh Hell that’s wild, clever, and full of sharp, unexpected emotion. One page had me laughing, the next had me thinking harder than I planned to, and the next just punched me in the feelings. And yes—there are plenty of gross-out moments along the way!
The characters are what hooked me hardest though —fleshed out, complicated, and alive in a way that made me fell like I will actually miss them now that I’m finished. (Gretchen is my favorite. She’ll probably be yours too.)
If you like supernatural chaos with meaning beneath the madness, this is absolutely worth the read.
It’s imaginative, weird, and surprisingly heartfelt.
A solid, easy 5 stars.
November 12, 2025
“You’re not all evil. No one is. You’re not all good. No one is. You’re just you. You exist. And as long as you exist, the possibility for change does too.”
What a chaotic ride. Freak a** book with its freak a** demonic creatures. I couldn’t put it down. The religious aspect was intriguing and the characters were full of trauma and Salinas’ writing style really had you feeling with the them. This was creepy, gory, hilarious and thought provoking all at the same time. It was like every intrusive thought you ever had come to life; there was no holding back💀 The chapters were short and the story was fast paced.
Thanks again for letting me be an ARC reader and for the horrifying moments that are seared into my brain💀
What a chaotic ride. Freak a** book with its freak a** demonic creatures. I couldn’t put it down. The religious aspect was intriguing and the characters were full of trauma and Salinas’ writing style really had you feeling with the them. This was creepy, gory, hilarious and thought provoking all at the same time. It was like every intrusive thought you ever had come to life; there was no holding back💀 The chapters were short and the story was fast paced.
Thanks again for letting me be an ARC reader and for the horrifying moments that are seared into my brain💀
November 20, 2025
This book was such a wild ride! The first 10 pages really set the tone of the book and let you know what you’re in for. The balance of horror and humour was really enjoyable; it gives off major Supernatural vibes with some Clive Barker gore thrown into the mix.
The characters are well-developed and the relationships between them feel genuine. You find yourself rooting for people who are actually quite flawed and not always their best selves!
This would have been an easy 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the Harry Potter conversation he had with Jess. I feel like this could have been replaced with a different fantasy world.
Overall, it’s a funny, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt ride!
(I was kindly gifted an ARC by the author.)
The characters are well-developed and the relationships between them feel genuine. You find yourself rooting for people who are actually quite flawed and not always their best selves!
This would have been an easy 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the Harry Potter conversation he had with Jess. I feel like this could have been replaced with a different fantasy world.
Overall, it’s a funny, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt ride!
(I was kindly gifted an ARC by the author.)
November 7, 2025
I love the characters in this bloody, creepy & twisted story. I still don't think Hector understands what a great friend Tommy is. There are some wild visuals, things I would have never imagined other wise. I read words I never thought I'd see in the same sentence. It's very weird horror with a dark & depressing plot. Absolute hell of a story!
I can't be any more thankful for this ARC from the author.
I can't be any more thankful for this ARC from the author.
November 21, 2025
it wasn’t bad
To me there are funny parts but then again my brain doesn’t work like everyone else. It’s somewhat classified as a horror. Wasn’t horror to me like it has the aspect to be closer to that genre than something else but I wouldn’t flat out say horror as in it scared me. It was more deranged comedy to me than anything else
Mike does have an interesting take on things and I would def say check it out!
To me there are funny parts but then again my brain doesn’t work like everyone else. It’s somewhat classified as a horror. Wasn’t horror to me like it has the aspect to be closer to that genre than something else but I wouldn’t flat out say horror as in it scared me. It was more deranged comedy to me than anything else
Mike does have an interesting take on things and I would def say check it out!
December 15, 2025
"The limbo felt safe. It was quiet in the betweenness of it all"
This book was... I don't really know what I was expecting but I enjoyed the shit out of it.
the book itself was weird, in a clever and fun and hopeless way and I couldn't have enjoyed it anymore than I did.
I've never read anything else by Mike Salinas but I'm jazzed to pick up some more. I'm a sucker for some dope weird shit. 10/10.
This book was... I don't really know what I was expecting but I enjoyed the shit out of it.
the book itself was weird, in a clever and fun and hopeless way and I couldn't have enjoyed it anymore than I did.
I've never read anything else by Mike Salinas but I'm jazzed to pick up some more. I'm a sucker for some dope weird shit. 10/10.
November 15, 2025
I always knew monsters were in Chicago! This book is a wild ride- it’s written well, it’s gory and visceral, lots of dark humor and uncomfortable moments that you can’t tear yourself away from!
Always be friendly to spiders and cats!!! Swat all the flies.
Always be friendly to spiders and cats!!! Swat all the flies.
November 20, 2025
He is about to be plunged into a nightmare which may end in his death. He has a nightmare which becomes more real as he tries to get through it all while trying to save his ex girlfriend and roommate. See where he will lead you
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and an interesting read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and an interesting read
November 16, 2025
This book is what you get when you blend Jason Pargin with Clive Barker. Any audience within that crossover will love this weird but strangely genuine and visceral reading experience. Get on it!
December 30, 2025
Just some minor erros with names and had some mixed - part in between names but the story was perfect. Even for horror and extremely bloody, it was great, Congrats Mike.
January 1, 2026
review to come, shout out to netgalley & the publisher for the advanced copy. a great way to finish 2025
November 24, 2025
Expertly crafted, full of imagination. Funny, gross, violent, and heartfelt. Amazing work. Check it out.
November 11, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I will give this, the plot was creative--Lucifer and Jesus were the most interesting parts of this book for me despite their minor appearances. My main complaint was that it dragged on too long, and certain aspects felt repetitive. Unfortunately this one, despite my excitement, I ended up having to push to the finish.
I will give this, the plot was creative--Lucifer and Jesus were the most interesting parts of this book for me despite their minor appearances. My main complaint was that it dragged on too long, and certain aspects felt repetitive. Unfortunately this one, despite my excitement, I ended up having to push to the finish.
January 9, 2026
I could NOT put this book down! It's weird, wild, scary, a little bit silly and SO MUCH FUN! It does tackle some heavy issues, and all of our characters are drenched in trauma, but still manages to keep a sense of humor about it all. Stories like this are what the horror genre has been missing lately, and I'm so glad Mike Salinas has delivered it for us! "Existence is weird. If it wasn't weird, it wouldn't be existence"
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