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Comfortable in Hell: The Beginning
It's happened to all of us, or has it? We see a photo of someone and become instantly obsessed. We can't eat, can't sleep-- we can barely function. We realize that the only thing that can even come close to calming our desires is to track down the object of our dreams and make him fall madly in love with us. But just how far would we go towards turning our fanatical dreams into reality? Meet Patsy Reilly. The feisty redhead from Brooklyn. She will stop at absolutely nothing to be with the man of her dreams. She may think she's about to track down that man, but she just might be about to uncover something evil instead.
178 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 11
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 6, 2019
This novella was an interesting read about a young woman tracking down her friend's boyfriend. But all is not as it seems. The writing and world-building were okay, but I wasn't keen on the characters, especially the main character who seemed very shallow to me.
I believe this is the first book in a series, and overall, it was entertaining, so if erotica is a genre you are interested in, then this might fit the bill.
I give 3.5 starts, rounded up to 4
I believe this is the first book in a series, and overall, it was entertaining, so if erotica is a genre you are interested in, then this might fit the bill.
I give 3.5 starts, rounded up to 4
May 21, 2019
This is a short novella which leads you into the series.
*Could contain spoilers
It follows the journey of Patsy from NY, trying to find her best friend's boyfriend, Hans Muff. While we learn Petra, Pasty's roommate, is depressed and missing Hans Muff, we also find out that Patsy has ulterior motives on finding him--she wants him for herself. After seeing a photo of him, Patsy slept with it against her breast, having sexual fantasies about him.
When she finds the old Tudor style house and meets Hans (with the help of his grandfather?), his grandfather (chained, with a six-foot tongue), and a dog named Raklaus the weirdness (and horror?) begins--cloven hooves, long tongues, whips, confessions, children trapped in bags, eleven-year old voyeurs...
While the story is smoothly written, I must confess, some of the above made uncomfortable reading for me. I didn't warm to the main character, Patsy, as from the beginning as she always intended to have her friend's boyfriend for herself, even knowing how Petra felt about him. Perhaps I might have though differently about her if she was genuinely looking for her friend's boyfriend and then the 'house' and its occupants changed her personality? I felt her character could have been more three-dimensional and therefore, when she sat on the grandfather's knee, wanting to know if she'd been naughty or nice, there would have been more suspense? (Perhaps this happens in the next books?)
Although the cover of my copy shows a girl in a Mexican mask, this story is modelled on the Austrian Krumpus festival. He is the fearsome character, Krampus, a half-man, half-goat demon, who is more or less Santa’s evil twin. He accompanies Santa on his merry sleigh-borne rounds, with Santa giving gifts to the nice children, and Krampus punished the naughty ones.
So, if you get your kicks from the strange, this story might be for you.
*Could contain spoilers
It follows the journey of Patsy from NY, trying to find her best friend's boyfriend, Hans Muff. While we learn Petra, Pasty's roommate, is depressed and missing Hans Muff, we also find out that Patsy has ulterior motives on finding him--she wants him for herself. After seeing a photo of him, Patsy slept with it against her breast, having sexual fantasies about him.
When she finds the old Tudor style house and meets Hans (with the help of his grandfather?), his grandfather (chained, with a six-foot tongue), and a dog named Raklaus the weirdness (and horror?) begins--cloven hooves, long tongues, whips, confessions, children trapped in bags, eleven-year old voyeurs...
While the story is smoothly written, I must confess, some of the above made uncomfortable reading for me. I didn't warm to the main character, Patsy, as from the beginning as she always intended to have her friend's boyfriend for herself, even knowing how Petra felt about him. Perhaps I might have though differently about her if she was genuinely looking for her friend's boyfriend and then the 'house' and its occupants changed her personality? I felt her character could have been more three-dimensional and therefore, when she sat on the grandfather's knee, wanting to know if she'd been naughty or nice, there would have been more suspense? (Perhaps this happens in the next books?)
Although the cover of my copy shows a girl in a Mexican mask, this story is modelled on the Austrian Krumpus festival. He is the fearsome character, Krampus, a half-man, half-goat demon, who is more or less Santa’s evil twin. He accompanies Santa on his merry sleigh-borne rounds, with Santa giving gifts to the nice children, and Krampus punished the naughty ones.
So, if you get your kicks from the strange, this story might be for you.
May 20, 2019
The author describes her novella as "Sensual, Scary and Bizarre." That it is, as well as fluent and persuasive. But it is not, therefore, true that "This book has it all!" What we have a is a fine word-painting of a young woman's feelings - hankerings, lusts.
Patsy, who has recently turned twenty-one, drives through upstate NY in search of a girl friend's boyfriend (?). She tracks Hans Muff to a lonely cabin identified by a devil's head knocker with a fiery swollen tongue, poised to lash out, just as the odometer in her car reads 6666.
During the evening that follows, she finds young Hans with woodsy, Christmassy "aftershave"- but who is the ancient that no hospital (or institution) could hold...this Knecht Ruprecht with his six-foot long tongue - who invites her to sit on his lap and confess if she'd been naughty or nice? And what's with the huge guard dog Raklaus that seemed to "open the door to another realm for Patsy."
The author intends this book to be a trailer (perhaps) for her novel series. I am not familiar with that genre, though movie and TV trailers have somewhat informed my expectations. These tell me that maybe there should be more than wolflike blue eyes on the one hand or killer tits on the other.
But readers looking for a carnal romp - it is hard to imagine this a romance - with the atmosphere of an Austrian Krampus festival will like the series this book introduces.
Patsy, who has recently turned twenty-one, drives through upstate NY in search of a girl friend's boyfriend (?). She tracks Hans Muff to a lonely cabin identified by a devil's head knocker with a fiery swollen tongue, poised to lash out, just as the odometer in her car reads 6666.
During the evening that follows, she finds young Hans with woodsy, Christmassy "aftershave"- but who is the ancient that no hospital (or institution) could hold...this Knecht Ruprecht with his six-foot long tongue - who invites her to sit on his lap and confess if she'd been naughty or nice? And what's with the huge guard dog Raklaus that seemed to "open the door to another realm for Patsy."
The author intends this book to be a trailer (perhaps) for her novel series. I am not familiar with that genre, though movie and TV trailers have somewhat informed my expectations. These tell me that maybe there should be more than wolflike blue eyes on the one hand or killer tits on the other.
But readers looking for a carnal romp - it is hard to imagine this a romance - with the atmosphere of an Austrian Krampus festival will like the series this book introduces.
May 19, 2019
The opening scenes in this short read are gleefully suspenseful. There’s the ‘what’s going to jump out from behind one of those big nasty pine trees’ vibe as heroine Patsy Reilly/O’Reilly (the name varies) drives through a dense, endless forest under a darkening sky:
“But it was the overall noiselessness, the desolate silence that dominated the landscape.”
There’s the ‘who’s going to answer the door?’ as Patsy reaches her destination– a spooky, ramshackle cottage with a revolting tongue-shaped door knocker, guarded by a wolf-like white dog with eerie blue eyes. As footsteps are heard inside, our imaginations rev up obediently: Red Riding Hood and the Wolf? Hansel and Gretel? Alice’s adventures in a distinctly weird wonderland? The author, describing the book as ‘a fairy tale for adults’, introduces the adult theme through the character who lives in the cottage, Hans Muff, Austrian ex-boyfriend of Patsy’s room-mate Petra, and the guy whose photo has been fuelling Patsy’s erotic fantasies for the past weeks.
But the door is opened not by the buff Muff with his blond locks, his ‘chiselled features…his luscious lips’, but by an unseen, ‘ancient-sounding eccentric’ who eventually disappears to the sound of clanking chains, leaving Patsy face to face with the man of her dreams.
Carpenter handles the expectations of the genre well, perhaps with a nod and a wink to “The Rocky Horror Show” where much of the humour arises from similarly incongruous situations and disconnects. Naïve, ‘plain old never-do-anything-special Patsy’ with her college girl vernacular and romantic notions suppresses an inward goggle as she sees the interior décor of the cottage- gruesome masks, bodiless heads, tongues, animal horns, and instruments of torture. ‘I see you brought quite a collection of souvenirs from Austria,’ she comments; then, later, as Hans gives a lame description of his ‘work’ : ‘That would explain why this young man, hidden in the deepest of woods, might possess so many unconventional artefacts.’
The titillating flutters of the beginning, when Patsy, dressed to kill in stilettos and black leather skirt, fondly remembers slipping Hans’ photo under her nightgown, begin to change, becoming more overtly erotic as she finds herself embroiled in an ancient Austrian legend. No spoilers, except to say there’s a close encounter with a hairy beast with the world’s nastiest tongue. As the plot complications grew, with Patsy finding herself undergoing startling changes, I began to wonder just how the author was going to resolve the heroine’s dilemma and tie the various strands together. Finally the significance of the title became clear: ‘Comfortable in Hell: The Beginning.’ This was indeed ‘the beginning’. Patsy is left in her dilemma and the author tells us in an afterword that her adventures will continue ‘when she wakes up’…
This may or may not disappoint, depending on whether readers thought they were getting the first book in a series or the first instalment of a serial. For me it was a drawback, but apart from this, plus a quibble about a couple of editing problems (there are mistakes in the German, too, I think), this is a promising beginning with all the necessary ingredients for the enjoyment of the ‘avid horror fantasy lovers’ to whom it is addressed.
“But it was the overall noiselessness, the desolate silence that dominated the landscape.”
There’s the ‘who’s going to answer the door?’ as Patsy reaches her destination– a spooky, ramshackle cottage with a revolting tongue-shaped door knocker, guarded by a wolf-like white dog with eerie blue eyes. As footsteps are heard inside, our imaginations rev up obediently: Red Riding Hood and the Wolf? Hansel and Gretel? Alice’s adventures in a distinctly weird wonderland? The author, describing the book as ‘a fairy tale for adults’, introduces the adult theme through the character who lives in the cottage, Hans Muff, Austrian ex-boyfriend of Patsy’s room-mate Petra, and the guy whose photo has been fuelling Patsy’s erotic fantasies for the past weeks.
But the door is opened not by the buff Muff with his blond locks, his ‘chiselled features…his luscious lips’, but by an unseen, ‘ancient-sounding eccentric’ who eventually disappears to the sound of clanking chains, leaving Patsy face to face with the man of her dreams.
Carpenter handles the expectations of the genre well, perhaps with a nod and a wink to “The Rocky Horror Show” where much of the humour arises from similarly incongruous situations and disconnects. Naïve, ‘plain old never-do-anything-special Patsy’ with her college girl vernacular and romantic notions suppresses an inward goggle as she sees the interior décor of the cottage- gruesome masks, bodiless heads, tongues, animal horns, and instruments of torture. ‘I see you brought quite a collection of souvenirs from Austria,’ she comments; then, later, as Hans gives a lame description of his ‘work’ : ‘That would explain why this young man, hidden in the deepest of woods, might possess so many unconventional artefacts.’
The titillating flutters of the beginning, when Patsy, dressed to kill in stilettos and black leather skirt, fondly remembers slipping Hans’ photo under her nightgown, begin to change, becoming more overtly erotic as she finds herself embroiled in an ancient Austrian legend. No spoilers, except to say there’s a close encounter with a hairy beast with the world’s nastiest tongue. As the plot complications grew, with Patsy finding herself undergoing startling changes, I began to wonder just how the author was going to resolve the heroine’s dilemma and tie the various strands together. Finally the significance of the title became clear: ‘Comfortable in Hell: The Beginning.’ This was indeed ‘the beginning’. Patsy is left in her dilemma and the author tells us in an afterword that her adventures will continue ‘when she wakes up’…
This may or may not disappoint, depending on whether readers thought they were getting the first book in a series or the first instalment of a serial. For me it was a drawback, but apart from this, plus a quibble about a couple of editing problems (there are mistakes in the German, too, I think), this is a promising beginning with all the necessary ingredients for the enjoyment of the ‘avid horror fantasy lovers’ to whom it is addressed.
June 24, 2019
Ancient European folklore mixes with the bizarre in this fast-paced horror novel. Comfortable in Hell takes readers on a wild and unsettling ride, set in a small hidden cottage where no one can hear will hear your screams.
Enter Patsy Reilly, our protagonist. She’s a love-stricken young woman on a journey to meet the man of her dreams, despite never having met him in person. The premise revolves around her addiction to this man, who is her roomate’s ex-boyfriend, and Patsy’s obsession to make him love her.
Except nothing is as it appears.
When she gets to the mysterious cottage, she meet her love obsession Hans, but we also meet Grandpapa, a creepy gross creature lurking in the shadows. This is when shit gets crazy and the story becomes a version of the Krampus folklore on steroids. There’s vomit, slurping, a whipping tongue and erect nipples. Not necessarily in that order.
Despite it’s delicious tension, the story lacks a strong plot foundation. Every story needs a set of ground rules so the reader understands the magic and fantasy. For example, we are introduced to Krampus as a powerful creature that can lure his prey from miles away. Yet, Krampus is chained to a chair and can’t figure out a way to get himself unlocked. That doesn’t seem like a very powerful creature. Yes, it’s explained why he can’t simply ask for the key, but the explanation seems to be one of convenience for the story, rather than believability. And that’s how it seems with several scenes in the story. The problems the characters face are solved by magic, more than any sort of preconceived ground rules.
But even with this issue, the Comfortable In Hell entertains. The beginning is a bit heavy in exposition, but the dialogue keeps the plot moving straight until the final scene. The ending of this book really shined. I love a brave ending, one that goes against the normal preconceived perception and that’s exactly what happens here.
*Also, I just wanted to note that the sexual assault scene is between Krampus and Patsy as he’s trying to seduce her. She is resisting, but he’s taking pleasure in it. It’s unsettling and left a queasy feeling in my stomach, which I imagine was the intended effect.
Overall, this book perplexed and delighted me. It’s a fast read so check it out and let me know what you think!
Enter Patsy Reilly, our protagonist. She’s a love-stricken young woman on a journey to meet the man of her dreams, despite never having met him in person. The premise revolves around her addiction to this man, who is her roomate’s ex-boyfriend, and Patsy’s obsession to make him love her.
Except nothing is as it appears.
When she gets to the mysterious cottage, she meet her love obsession Hans, but we also meet Grandpapa, a creepy gross creature lurking in the shadows. This is when shit gets crazy and the story becomes a version of the Krampus folklore on steroids. There’s vomit, slurping, a whipping tongue and erect nipples. Not necessarily in that order.
Despite it’s delicious tension, the story lacks a strong plot foundation. Every story needs a set of ground rules so the reader understands the magic and fantasy. For example, we are introduced to Krampus as a powerful creature that can lure his prey from miles away. Yet, Krampus is chained to a chair and can’t figure out a way to get himself unlocked. That doesn’t seem like a very powerful creature. Yes, it’s explained why he can’t simply ask for the key, but the explanation seems to be one of convenience for the story, rather than believability. And that’s how it seems with several scenes in the story. The problems the characters face are solved by magic, more than any sort of preconceived ground rules.
But even with this issue, the Comfortable In Hell entertains. The beginning is a bit heavy in exposition, but the dialogue keeps the plot moving straight until the final scene. The ending of this book really shined. I love a brave ending, one that goes against the normal preconceived perception and that’s exactly what happens here.
*Also, I just wanted to note that the sexual assault scene is between Krampus and Patsy as he’s trying to seduce her. She is resisting, but he’s taking pleasure in it. It’s unsettling and left a queasy feeling in my stomach, which I imagine was the intended effect.
Overall, this book perplexed and delighted me. It’s a fast read so check it out and let me know what you think!
June 15, 2019
Carpenter has kept her promise of a sensual, scary and bizarre novella!
This tale is first in a collection of a woman called Patsy Reilly. Her friend Petra, who is Austrian, has told her about the Austrian Folklore, in particular Krampustreiben, the Krumpus Parade.
We all have that one person that we have fantasied about, right? Well Patsy, has become obsessed with Hans Muff after seeing a picture of him and is determined to find her one true love. After miraculously finding the exact location of where Hans will be, she sets off to meet him with a plan to bring him back home with her, however, not all plans tend to go to plan do they…
The bizarre behaviors of Hans and ‘Grandpa’ are depicted very well, even Raklaus, the blue-eyed dog has a part to play, which was more than expected. The folklore that Patsy has been told is seen through the descriptions of the costumes/props that are used for the parades, laying about the dark and cold cottage. But it does not end there once Raklaus brings her to the basement, her world literally turns upside down.
This novella shows how a fantasy can take hold of a person with determination and an obsessive need, to have the thing they want the most and giving up everything for them or what they think they are…
This tale is first in a collection of a woman called Patsy Reilly. Her friend Petra, who is Austrian, has told her about the Austrian Folklore, in particular Krampustreiben, the Krumpus Parade.
We all have that one person that we have fantasied about, right? Well Patsy, has become obsessed with Hans Muff after seeing a picture of him and is determined to find her one true love. After miraculously finding the exact location of where Hans will be, she sets off to meet him with a plan to bring him back home with her, however, not all plans tend to go to plan do they…
The bizarre behaviors of Hans and ‘Grandpa’ are depicted very well, even Raklaus, the blue-eyed dog has a part to play, which was more than expected. The folklore that Patsy has been told is seen through the descriptions of the costumes/props that are used for the parades, laying about the dark and cold cottage. But it does not end there once Raklaus brings her to the basement, her world literally turns upside down.
This novella shows how a fantasy can take hold of a person with determination and an obsessive need, to have the thing they want the most and giving up everything for them or what they think they are…
July 21, 2019
The story opens with a bit of suspense as young Patsy comes to find her friend, Petra's, boyfriend, Hans. As this is a horror story that is described as sensual, scary and bizarre, we expect her to still enter the home even though the door opened, no one answers her questions and she can't see inside or see anyone although they are urging her to enter. Upon entry is when the bizarre ensues. She discovers Krampus, the half-man/half-goat evil counterpart to Santa Claus. I have to say most of the story was confusing and left me with a few questions that I'm assuming will be answered in the stories that follow in the series. I found nothing sensual about Patsy's interactions with "Grandpa" or Hans. Gross? yes. Disgusting. yes? Odd? Definitely. "You have been unreel" was stated on multiple occasions. Was this a typo or was "unreal" misspelled on purpose? Why was Patsy so drawn to Hans?
Ouf of the words used to describe this novella, bizarre is the one that fits best. The horror nor the sensuality were displayed in this edition and this reader was left feeling largely confused.
Ouf of the words used to describe this novella, bizarre is the one that fits best. The horror nor the sensuality were displayed in this edition and this reader was left feeling largely confused.
March 10, 2019
Sensual, Scary and Bizarre. This book has it all!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews