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These Hellish Happenings
by
In 1707, hapless vampire Jack Bentley made a pact with the Devil in order to escape a vampire hunt. Dealing with Satan seemed better than your standard angry mob at the time. But three centuries later, Satan is ready to collect His dues, whether the vampire likes it or not. He's taking Jack down to Hell, and He's even got a job picked out for him down below: an eternal pos
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Kindle Edition, Second, 378 pages
Published
January 19th 2011
by Amazon Digital Services
(first published November 6th 2010)
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Start your review of These Hellish Happenings
If you think vampire literature is limited to gory stories of the ruthless undead and sweeping tales of sultry temptresses and their buff-but-sensitive and oh-so-mysterious male counterparts, then you’ve certainly never taken a gander at These Hellish Happenings.
As a fan of comedy, the supernatural, and anything that combines the two (which is a mix that is sadly difficult to come across), I approached the book with high hopes – and Satan knows I wasn’t disappointed! Jack Bentley’s story is not ...more
As a fan of comedy, the supernatural, and anything that combines the two (which is a mix that is sadly difficult to come across), I approached the book with high hopes – and Satan knows I wasn’t disappointed! Jack Bentley’s story is not ...more
Aug 15, 2011
Daniel Clausen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
indie-authors-goodreads
The book is an exciting and fresh take on your typical vampire, hell, demon shtick. Rainey has assembled an impressive cast of characters and has set about dilligently creating an interesting world for them to live in.
Where others would go for romance and bodice ripping, this book takes a lighter approach. Much of the book is slightly reminiscent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The hero fights through the spectacular world of hell only to find that it has all the mundane features of our own li ...more
Where others would go for romance and bodice ripping, this book takes a lighter approach. Much of the book is slightly reminiscent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The hero fights through the spectacular world of hell only to find that it has all the mundane features of our own li ...more
Jack is supposedly a 600 y/o vampire, but he acts more like a lazy 15 y/o teenager. He sold his soul to the devil in exchange for 300 years of not having to drink blood.
This story starts off very, very, very slowly, mostly because Jack is the most boring vampire on the face of the planet. I thought once he got dragged to hell that the story would pick up, but it doesn't. In this universe Hell is a Bureaucratic Nightmare. Which is just as boring as it sounds. Watch Jack as he goes to work from 9- ...more
This story starts off very, very, very slowly, mostly because Jack is the most boring vampire on the face of the planet. I thought once he got dragged to hell that the story would pick up, but it doesn't. In this universe Hell is a Bureaucratic Nightmare. Which is just as boring as it sounds. Watch Jack as he goes to work from 9- ...more
I have honestly not been so pleasantly surprised by a book in quite some time. I expected a funny vampire story and that's really about all. What I got was an intensely amusing, quirky story that I had a very difficult time putting down. This isn't your typical vampire story, not by a long shot.
Jack is an unlikely hero, and that somehow just makes me love him more. He has a delightfully dry sense of humor and the voice he brings to this story is wonderful. He's just a guy, trying to make his wa ...more
Jack is an unlikely hero, and that somehow just makes me love him more. He has a delightfully dry sense of humor and the voice he brings to this story is wonderful. He's just a guy, trying to make his wa ...more
Take one dismal, music-loving vampire with a contract to sell his soul to the devil and what do you have?
Funny, unique, and a jolly good read.
Don't worry. Jack the vampire isn't sparkly, and can be downright annoying. When he's hauled off to hell when his contract expires, he doesn't find pools of lava or other annoyingly trite hellish happenings. Instead, he just might find true love.
Very enjoyable read. ...more
Funny, unique, and a jolly good read.
Don't worry. Jack the vampire isn't sparkly, and can be downright annoying. When he's hauled off to hell when his contract expires, he doesn't find pools of lava or other annoyingly trite hellish happenings. Instead, he just might find true love.
Very enjoyable read. ...more
Very original, clever, and all around a fun read.
Read review on my website.
In These Hellish Happenings, we follow vampire slash music collector Jack Bentley, as he is reminded of a bargain he striked with the Devil himself about three centuries ago. Although three centuries is a long time, even for a practically-immortal vampire, the Devil never forgets anything. Jack is brought down to hell, where he begins his new job as registrar at The Registration Office of The Damned. There, he is forced to write down the names of the recently-deceased, ...more
In These Hellish Happenings, we follow vampire slash music collector Jack Bentley, as he is reminded of a bargain he striked with the Devil himself about three centuries ago. Although three centuries is a long time, even for a practically-immortal vampire, the Devil never forgets anything. Jack is brought down to hell, where he begins his new job as registrar at The Registration Office of The Damned. There, he is forced to write down the names of the recently-deceased, ...more
Dec 21, 2012
Nic Echo
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Nic by:
Jennifer Rainey
About the Book:
In 1707, Jack Bently made a pact with the devil so that he could survive a vampire hunt. Three hundred years later, the devil has come to collect his due. So what is in store for Mr. Bently in Hell? An eternity of working at the Registration Office of the Damned. Now, not only does Jack have to deal with such tedious repetition for an eternity, but there is also a discrimination against supernatural types in Hell (such as werewolves and vampires). So Jack tries to survive Hell as ...more
In 1707, Jack Bently made a pact with the devil so that he could survive a vampire hunt. Three hundred years later, the devil has come to collect his due. So what is in store for Mr. Bently in Hell? An eternity of working at the Registration Office of the Damned. Now, not only does Jack have to deal with such tedious repetition for an eternity, but there is also a discrimination against supernatural types in Hell (such as werewolves and vampires). So Jack tries to survive Hell as ...more
So when you're a vampire you would think that Hell needs to make a deal with you to get you on their team, apparently they do. That's where Jack has found himself. On the verge of death - the real, final final death, Mr. Vampire is offered up a deal - we'll save you, give you 300 years of guaranteed life, but then you're coming with us. With nothing to lose and plenty to gain - like those 300 more years, he says sure.
Thing is, for a vampire, 300 years just fly by. Yes, even when you're the kind ...more
Thing is, for a vampire, 300 years just fly by. Yes, even when you're the kind ...more
A clever, funny, sarcastic view of modern society and politics set against the backdrop of Hell. Many laugh-out-loud funny parts, many pop culture references.
Then why didn't I love this book? I think the author never went far enough with Hell and the supernatural characters. There was obviously a political statement trying to be made. Equality versus segregation. Immigration rights. Hell was quite the boring place. Paperwork, political lobbying, door to door campaigning, company picnics, slante ...more
Then why didn't I love this book? I think the author never went far enough with Hell and the supernatural characters. There was obviously a political statement trying to be made. Equality versus segregation. Immigration rights. Hell was quite the boring place. Paperwork, political lobbying, door to door campaigning, company picnics, slante ...more
Before I even read this book I knew I was going to like it., and I was right. The cover is engaging and suits the tone of the novel perfectly, and the synopsis was tight and piqued my intrest right away. The novel was all I'd expected and then some. Concise, evocative writing made this novel read like a movie- I could picture it in my mind, and I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't made into a movie at some point. The Hellish Happenings is a mostly one of Dark Humor, mixed with a little light par
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Jack is not your usual vampire - he's not rich, extremely handsome, and he definitely doesn't sparkle. In fact, he's just kinda shlumping through his undead life, moving from one crappy job to another. His main concern is preventing bad music from happening to good people, and making it to the local blood bar before the human vampire wannabes come out to play. But, 300 hundred years ago, during your typical vampire hunt, he sold his soul to the devil, a niggling little detail he has chosen to fo
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There are books about vampires. Then there are books about Hell. Combine these two and throw in some wonderful snarky and wry dialogues in a job-from-hell setting (literally), and you've got this book. Jennifer Rainey certainly presents one of the most unique views on vampires that I ever came across, though it's probably not the kind of vampire books that fans will crave, as this is more of a detail in the whole story and not its sole focus.
The narrative is dabbling along, living mostly of the ...more
The narrative is dabbling along, living mostly of the ...more
A fun, if slightly uneven novel about a vampire getting sent to hell which- it turns out- is a lot like working at a government desk job. Good characters, snappy writing, an(intentional?) homage to Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity" and some inspired moments of comedy are highlights. As it lagged a bit, the middle section could have used some editorial tightening and a little more snappiness and romantic/ sexual tension. I am interested to see the author's next work!
If this book were an animal, it wo ...more
If this book were an animal, it wo ...more
I really tried to like this book. I was looking for a light, amusing, and entertaining read. What I got was...boring. Oh, the author is a talented writer, but fifty pages into the book I'm still reading about someone who could be a neighbor or a friend if you overlook the fact he drinks blood and not beer. The main character is apparently the most boring vampire on the face of the planet.
I feel bad giving it so few stars because the writing really is excellent. The hints of the story-to-come are ...more
I feel bad giving it so few stars because the writing really is excellent. The hints of the story-to-come are ...more
i was intrigued by the description of the book and it was chosen as our book club's book of the month. the idea of someone being forced to be a receptionist in hell sounded funny. i thought the author did a wonderful job in the beginning keep my attention and throwing in the humor. i loved how jack thought he could hide from the devil!! but once jack gets to hell the story takes a weird and unexpected turn. i would have liked to see the story focus more on the crazy happenings at the receptionis
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These Hellish Happenings is one of the most unique, and brave, books I've ever read. I've read books that have given us an alternate view of Hell before, but Jennifer has created a very entertaining version. Hellish is a very funny novel, and it dared to go in a direction I didn't think it would. I won't say to spoil anyone, but let me say I did not see the romance in the story coming at me at all :) Everything about Hellish is different, from the version of Hell it presents all the way down to
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A fun, quick read. Jack Bentley isn't your typical literary hero - he's a smug slacker who can't hold down a job, as well as being a bit of a narcissist. Yet you can't help liking him somehow, and I think it's because despite being a vampire, he's just a regular guy getting beaten down by life, just like the rest of us. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There were a few false moments where the author left Jack to visit some minor characters' points of view - distractions that didn't really add an
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I can honestly say that this was one of the most original, captivating and unusual books I have ever read.
I was lucky enough to win the book on this site and having read that it was vampire-based, I honestly expected it to be a gory horror, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a very, very funny and also a touching novel.
Jennifer Rainey in my opinion is one of the most enthralling authors I have ever read and this is one of the best books I have ever read. The only reason it has taken me so lo ...more
I was lucky enough to win the book on this site and having read that it was vampire-based, I honestly expected it to be a gory horror, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a very, very funny and also a touching novel.
Jennifer Rainey in my opinion is one of the most enthralling authors I have ever read and this is one of the best books I have ever read. The only reason it has taken me so lo ...more
I almost didn't finish this one -- I got about halfway through and was just tired of it. The writing was like something out of a high school creative writing project. That being said, by the end, I did sort of like the characters, and the story was kind of unique. Long story short, it's set in hell, if hell were a high rise office building, and all the demons were totally hot.
Full disclosure, I got this book free from Amazon.com, and it was totally worth the price. I would have been disappointed ...more
Full disclosure, I got this book free from Amazon.com, and it was totally worth the price. I would have been disappointed ...more
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I assumed it was a different take on the whole "going to Hell" story but I found myself laughing throughout, mostly at how intricate Hell is created here. I was a bit sad that there was no big government conspiracy, and the emphasis on a relationship between the two characters, but overall a funny book and an interesting change of pace for the genre.
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A very original and different book! I enjoyed it much more than I had thought I would, and would definitely read a second in the series. There were some parts that were slow, and it rambled a bit and really some parts were very odd, but overall good and I got it free for my kindle, which is even better!
I loved this book! I read over some of the reviews and bits that people complained about we're what made the story to be honest. Don't get me wrong the humor was great and it was a fun idea but the grim mundane side of it is what made it such a great read! I could talk about it for forever... my first draft of this review was embarrassingly long so I'll end it by saying thanks for the great read
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This book was really good. I loved that the main character has had enough customer service jobs to wallpaper his apartment in name tags. The author is an alumni of the local high school where I live. A job well done I feel, looking forward to the second book in the series.
FINALLY finished this book. It was good enough to keep reading, but not enough to keep me readinging it consistently. Took me a long time to get through it. Amusing enough at times, but just kind of mediocre. The end happened pretty fast, too.
I picked this up on an amazon sale for free, and I thought I would never read it. But I ended up doing it, and I was not disappointed. The book is all sorts of funny, and everything about it was unexpected. Definitely worth the read.
My goodreads activity is pitiful lately. Review to come.
A very fun book to read involving hell, vampires, demons and politics
This is very unusual paranormal book funny and just strange.
I really enjoyed this book! It was humorous and unexpected. The ending seems to leave the door open for a sequel..
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supernatural Fict...: These Hellish Happenings, by Jennifer Rainey (the office comedy from Hell --with vampires). | 1 | 7 | Dec 11, 2011 05:55AM |
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Jennifer Rainey is a sometimes-writer, sometimes-folk singer from beautiful central Ohio. When she's not busy writing, you can probably find her perusing antique malls or watching classic horror films.
To keep an eye on what she's up to, please check out http://jenniferraineyauthor.blogspot.com. ...more
To keep an eye on what she's up to, please check out http://jenniferraineyauthor.blogspot.com. ...more
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“The office itself was windowless and lined with shelves stuffed to the brim with books each sporting titles more Hellish than the last. Chicken Soup for the Damned Mephistopheles Money and You: Finances in Hell One Born Every Minute: A Novice Demon's Guide to Tempting Humans ...The Complete Works of Jane Austen.”
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