The Devil's Guide to Managing Hell

by Diana R. Bascarau

When Alfie died and went to Hell, he really didn't picture it this way. Instead, he met a devil who looks…almost human.

Now, Alfie is stuck for eternity working as the devil's personal assistant.
But as he works with the devil - who prefers the name Jack to Satan for some reason - he doesn't just discover the various horrors of Hell, but also why the devil fell from Heaven thousands of years ago.

As Alfie unfolds more of Jack's history, the devil is now left with an important decision to will he stay in Hell and continue do nothing about it, or will he finally take action to undo the mistakes he'd done many years ago?


The Devil's Guide to Managing Hell is book one in the After Life Duology.

292 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Diana is a Romanian author living in Ireland, where she’s spent the past decade writing stories that balance dark humor with the unsettling. She discovered her passion for writing during lockdown, when time was plentiful, and escapism felt essential.

Her work blends dark comedy and psychological horror, exploring the morbid and the absurd while keeping a strong sense of heart and humor. Diana enjoys twisting uncomfortable ideas into stories that are as entertaining as they are unsettling; proof that laughter and dread can coexist.

When she’s not writing, Diana can usually be found at the gym, reading, or at home with her partner and their three cats: Cali, Rocky, and Luna.

She is the author of The Devil’s Guide to Managing Hell, The Devil’s Guide to Hunting, and the psychological horror novella Wonderhill. Her upcoming novel, Nightmare Town, releases on March 3rd.

Reviews

[Corina Deiters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice easy read. The plot was pretty fun! Can not wait to see the second book!

[Faith Bruce · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like The Devil’s Guide to Managing Hell,the title and premise sounded so promising. Unfortunately, the execution was a complete letdown. The plot felt disjointed, the pacing was all over the place, and the characters lacked depth or consistency. I kept waiting for it to find its footing or offer some meaningful commentary, but it never happened.
The writing style tried to be edgy and clever but came off as forced and confusing. It read more like a draft than a polished novel, with moments that felt cringey instead of witty. Whatever the author was trying to say got buried under too much chaos and not enough clarity.
If you’re looking for a smart, sharp take on Hell or a dark comedy with substance, I’d look elsewhere. This one just didn’t deliver.

[Happy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Devil’s Guide to Managing Hell, Alfie dies and he ends up working as the personal assistant to the Devil himself. As Alfie navigates Hell’s strange administrative systems, undead interns, and endless paperwork, he uncovers the Devil's past.
The Devil’s Guide to Managing Hell is a clever, darkly comedic fantasy that reimagines Hell not as pure torture, but as a dysfunctional workplace.
Bascarau gives us a sarcastic Devil, a human assistant, and a hellscape full of bureaucracy. It’s not just a laugh-out-loud satire, it also carries emotional weight and asks questions about redemption, leadership, and what happens when power becomes too much to manage.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This turned out really well. Jack got on my nerves BUT considering who he is lol. He could have been much worse. Not going to lie, my heart went to Alfie. Considering what he did to get there....eh. could have been worse. But something about him makes you want to see him succeed....as much as he can where he is. And now with Kasi...I feel a little better about Alfie. He's the one I really want to see what happens to. It's a good one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invested in what was happening and thought it was a unique afterlife idea. The characters were what I was looking for and they worked well in this universe. It uses the demon element perfectly and was glad I read this. It left me wanting to read more in the After Life Duology series and from Diana R. Bascarau.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark book with a lot of humor sprinkled in, so read the trigger warning before reading it.
The book follows Jack the devil and Alfie the elf after his death as Jack's assistant as he tries to get used to life in Hell and all the things that this entails.

This was a fun, short read that left me wanting the next book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ralu Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, loved the episodic nature of the plot. It really took out the "fluff" of the in-between and focused on important points, while also delivering plenty of humor!

Jack is exactly how I imagined the devil to be: a sarcastic prankster.
Alfie is a great character too, I love his transformation and even his "feral mode"

[Anete Štelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The banter in this book was definitely a highlight — sharp, darkly funny, and it kept me entertained throughout. Jack quickly became my favorite; the way he planned to deal with Alfie had me laughing out loud. The story also leaves me curious about where things are headed next. I have my suspicions about which character might turn out to be the real villain (though I could be completely wrong). The tone leans heavily into dark humor, and it worked for me. And yes — I’d absolutely download the InstaSin app if it existed.

[Jennifer Markowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book and funny in a way. I enjoyed the way Lucifer was presented in this book. Took awhile to read because life kept getting in the way. But every time I picked it up I was quickly sucked in and by the time I looked up for a second hours had passed. Very enjoyable read.

[Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't rate books but I had to make an exception here. Diana's debut novel was fantastic.

I absolutely loved this book so much! Funny and hard to put down. 5/5

Can't wait for book 2 :)

[Meli F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review soon

[Meli F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its cover. Unless is this one :)

I'm a character driven reader and the cast here is so vibrant and alive (which yeah, totally ironic for a book set in the afterlife) + their dynamics are so realistic and fun, I got hooked from the very first page.

Why you should read it?

- Refreshing take on the afterlife
- Dashing, morally grey, constantly annoying/ed devil with a sarcastic streak and surprising depth
- Alfie. No, I won't expand, you gotta read it to understand.
- Interesting take on morality and the good vs. evil question

[Colm Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book that shows you what life in Hell would look like, while also telling you Lucifer's origin story.
It was funny, dark, and even had a few wholesome moments sprinkled here and there.
Would highly recommend!