The time has finally come. I’m expanding my horror book reviews to include horror manwha and webtoons as well, and we’re starting off with a bang! Pigpen is a horrific little story about a man with amnesia, an isolated island, and a family that wants to kill him. You ready? Let’s dig in!
What is Pigpen about?
A young man awakens on a seemingly deserted island with no memory of who he is. The only other people he can find (a family who runs a B&B) aren’t who they claim to be. Something is not right about them, and while Jinhyeok is trying to figure it out, visitors are going missing. When reality starts to blur, Jinhyeok knows that there’s only one answer left: kill or be killed. And (as it turns out) Jinhyeok is very good at killing.
Pigpen is available on Webtoon, is written by the iconic Carnby Kim, and is pretty much guaranteed to keep you begging for more.
What I loved…
As I’ve mentioned before, I think horror webtoons are pretty much the perfect reading slump buster. The phone format is built for scrolling, and when everything is constantly ending of a cliffhanger, you can’t help but want to keep going. Pigpen is really no exception. This book had me locked in from episode one, and even though I spent half the time looking at the page going, “What the fuck is happening!?”, I found it incredibly fun to read.
… And what I didn’t
I will say I struggled with the twists in this one. It doesn’t necessarily means it’s a good or a bad thing. I just struggled. Essentially, there’s 4+ major twists in the book that completely change the direction of the story. And while this is all wrapped up really well (which I think is rare), it still feels a little neck-breaky for me. On the other hand, I will say that these twists (and the placements of them) are part of what makes this book so incredibly addictive.
One other thing I struggled with is the fact that there aren’t really any heroes in this book. Even when the lead arrives on the island with no memory of himself or his past, I found him unsettling and difficult to root for. Once we found out more about him, I just full on disliked him, but with a cast of characters like The Family on the other side, who the hell else do you side with? Pigpen is not really a story with a hero and a villain. Everyone is trying to kill everyone, and you’re just along for the slaughterfest. And while I always struggle with that, I wouldn’t say it’s a fault in the story. It works amazing here. I just think it’s something people should be aware of if they’re looking for a type of horror that’s a little more hopeful.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely devoured this book! I’ve already finished one other book by the same author since I picked up Pigpen and I absolutely am having the time of my life. If you’re looking to try out horror manwha and don’t know where to start, I think this is a wonderful spot. Give a few chapters a read on the app and see if you like it!