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Amanda Feral #1
Happy Hour of the Damned
Seattle. One minute you're drinking a vanilla breve, the next, some creepy old dude is breathing on you, turning you into a zombie. And that's just for starters.
Now, the recently deceased Amanda Feral is trying to make her way through Seattle's undead scene with style (mortuary-grade makeup, six-inch stilettos, Balenciaga handbag on sale) while satisfying her craving for human flesh (Don't judge. And no, not like chicken.) and decent vodkatinis.
Making her way through a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, werewolves, celebrities, and PR-obsessed shapeshifters - not to mention an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo - isn't easy. And the minute one of Amanda's undead friends disappears after texting the word, "help" (The undead - so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly.
Something sinister is at hand. Someone or something is hell-bent on turning Seattle's undead underworld into a place of true terror.
And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death...
291 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
12 people are currently reading
1763 people want to read
About the author
Mark Henry
77 books372 followersMARK HENRY traded a career as a counselor to scar minds with his fiction. In stories clogged with sentient zombies, impotent sex demons, transsexual werewolves and ghostly goth girls, he irreverently processes traumatic issues brought on by premature exposure to horror movies, an unwholesome fetish for polyester and/or witnessing adult cocktail parties in the swingin' 70s. A developmental history further muddied by surviving earthquakes, typhoons, and two volcanic eruptions. He somehow continues to live and breathe in the oft maligned, yet not nearly as soggy as you’d think, Pacific Northwest, with his wife and four furry monsters that think they’re children and have a complete disregard for carpet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
July 5, 2008
Hey! It's my book. I love it.
March 10, 2010
This is the most foul-mouthed and outrageous book I've ever read. It goes from potty mouth to "pissy cooch" in less than 60 seconds and that's what makes it so fun. It's got an all-encompassing menagerie of freaks and monsters, including Starbucks baristas (with appropriately abusive commentary on their quality). Mary Henry quickly establishes the normalcy of horror and gore in his version of Seattle, and then makes light of it in exchange for fashion, cocktails, and dance clubs.
If you loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its snark and the way it never took itself too seriously, then this book will feel like it grew out of those teenage years into the same raunchy, drunk, and horny freak that you have.
If you loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its snark and the way it never took itself too seriously, then this book will feel like it grew out of those teenage years into the same raunchy, drunk, and horny freak that you have.
March 16, 2008
What a treat! Funnier than Mary Janice Davidson, and also more quirky, twisted and gory (all positives!). What happens to a beautiful advertising executive when she discovers she is now a zombie? Well, if it's Amanda, she mostly takes it in stride and becomes the toast of the undead club scene. Then her friend (who is a succubus) turns up missing, and with her friends Wendy (also a zombie) and Gil (a gay vampire), she sets out to find her. Unfortunately there's a lot more going on in Seattle's undead community, and they find themselves in the middle of it. Also unfortunately, zombies do NOT heal from injuries, which just sucks when you can't figure out how to patch together that gaping flesh wound. (Definite flavors of Jen Lancaster's memoirs, in the categories of bitchy and self-centered... in a fun way!) I'm trying to remember if I've ever read a book in which the zombies are the good guys, and I can't think of any. While horror-based chick-lit is everywhere, this has a unique angle and style, and is well worth the read. (Eagerly awaiting the next volume!!! Road trip of the Living Dead!) I asked the author if he minds people commenting on a guy writing such detailed, realistic chick-lit, and he's fine with it! :-) This is clearly a guy who has paid close attention to the women in his life!
February 2, 2010
Amanda Feral likes to eat. Now, since she was turned into a zombie five months ago, her diet has gone from food, to err…humans. She enjoys eating them too though. Her best friend, fellow zombie Wendy and pal, vampire Gil are quite the trio. A typical night out for them includes hanging at the hip paranormal spot, the Well of Souls, drinking alcohol (the one thing a zombie can digest besides human flesh) and snarking on everyone around them. They are bitchy, arrogant, and proud to be that way.
In pre-zombie days, Amanda was a successful ad executive, until the one fateful night some really gross dude breathed on her, and then seconds later Amanda tripped and cracked her skull. When she woke up, her body temperature was a cool 68 degrees and her skin took on a lovely translucent tone, highlighted with blue veins. Amanda has become an expert at applying makeup to appear “normal” and has come up with creative ways to keep her therapist, who is also her bed buddy (but hey she doesn’t have to pay him..in money) from noticing this change.
Amanda and gang now have another task besides drinking and gossiping, their friend Liesl has gone missing. Amanda takes it upon herself to do some investigative work and what she starts to uncover is a pretty scary plan corrupt Seattle and the world with zombies.
I was warned before reading Happy Hour of the Damned. Heck, I was warned by the author that the book has a certain type of humor that not everyone will enjoy. I had some bloggers tell me this is one of the funniest books they had ever read. Others warned me that the humor is gross and disgusting and they couldn’t see the appeal. Now those that know me well, know I have a somewhat immature sense of humor, and I live in a house full of men, so the conversation always ends up in the bathroom (sorry men, it’s true.) So I said bring it on. Plus, the title contains the words “Happy Hour” – Smexy’s favorite two words!
Even with the warnings, there were times my mouth hung open. I laughed until my stomach hurt, and just when I would tell myself, wow, this book can’t get more shocking, it would. What I loved most about this book is Amanda’s forthright demeanor. She is a zombie. Zombie’s eat people to live, hence Amanda eats people. There is no remorse, or morals in play. They go on “fun runs” where they rent a van and park at the welfare agency. They pretend to screen applicants and agree to get them to go in the van. I don’t need to tell you what happens inside the van. Well, she won’t eat a kid, and she normally eats those that are less fortunate, but they are still people. At first I was a little surprised there was no explanation for her actions. But I like that this is how she is. This is how a zombie in the – real world – would act. Plus Amanda is just a bitch. She is shallow, offensive, and conceded and it totally works.
Her friend Wendy is just as sarcastic and snarky, if not worse. Add in Gil, the gay vampire, and their observations of the paranormal world will have you giggling throughout. And getting back to the bathroom humor – let me just say, zombies can’t digest anything but humans or alcohol but that doesn’t mean Amanda and Wendy don’t crave a Starbucks every now and then. Instead of drinking and spending an unpleasant time in the bathroom their solution is to wear Depends. They carry them around in their purse and some of the funniest moments in the book come when they are discussing this problem.
What really made the book unique and notched up the humor level even more are the footnotes throughout the entire book. As Amanda is narrating the story, the footnotes provide further humorous observations and it got to the point where my eye would roam to see when we were getting the next one.
For a third of the book, Amanda takes us on a flashback telling us how she became a zombie and how she met Amanda and Gil. Amanda and her became bosom buddies after bonding over how to cover their blue veined skin with make-up:
“I have no intention of walking around looking like the underside of a hard-on.”
”No way! Wendy screamed, turning from the boxes and shoving my shoulder.
I jumped back, my eyes wide. “Jesus, what?”
”I can’t believe you call them that,” she said, turning back toward me, a second tub of foundation clutched to her chest, like an Emmy. “I call them scrotal veins.”
”Get the fuck out of here. You’re my new best friend.”
Although I liked seeing how the gang meets, this is where the story slows down. Once we get back to present day, and the plot develops around their missing friend and an evil scheme for a zombie world domination, the pace picks up and flows much more smoothly.
On top of all the funnies (and they are constant in this book), there is a mystery to be solved. Poor Liesl is missing, and as Amanda says, “Christ, how are we going to help. Not a caring nurturer in the bunch.” And that is true – they don’t freak out and run to the rescue. Wardrobe and hair must be considered, and you can never forget about dinner. At one point Amanda even admits, “I hadn’t been focused on finding Liesl with any sincerity. I’m embarrassed to admit, I was still a bit irritated that she had taken the entire focus away from me.”
Happy Hour of the Damned is probably not for everyone, but it definitely worked for me. So different than any paranormal or urban fantasy book I have read. I very much look forward to the next two in the series.
In pre-zombie days, Amanda was a successful ad executive, until the one fateful night some really gross dude breathed on her, and then seconds later Amanda tripped and cracked her skull. When she woke up, her body temperature was a cool 68 degrees and her skin took on a lovely translucent tone, highlighted with blue veins. Amanda has become an expert at applying makeup to appear “normal” and has come up with creative ways to keep her therapist, who is also her bed buddy (but hey she doesn’t have to pay him..in money) from noticing this change.
Amanda and gang now have another task besides drinking and gossiping, their friend Liesl has gone missing. Amanda takes it upon herself to do some investigative work and what she starts to uncover is a pretty scary plan corrupt Seattle and the world with zombies.
I was warned before reading Happy Hour of the Damned. Heck, I was warned by the author that the book has a certain type of humor that not everyone will enjoy. I had some bloggers tell me this is one of the funniest books they had ever read. Others warned me that the humor is gross and disgusting and they couldn’t see the appeal. Now those that know me well, know I have a somewhat immature sense of humor, and I live in a house full of men, so the conversation always ends up in the bathroom (sorry men, it’s true.) So I said bring it on. Plus, the title contains the words “Happy Hour” – Smexy’s favorite two words!
Even with the warnings, there were times my mouth hung open. I laughed until my stomach hurt, and just when I would tell myself, wow, this book can’t get more shocking, it would. What I loved most about this book is Amanda’s forthright demeanor. She is a zombie. Zombie’s eat people to live, hence Amanda eats people. There is no remorse, or morals in play. They go on “fun runs” where they rent a van and park at the welfare agency. They pretend to screen applicants and agree to get them to go in the van. I don’t need to tell you what happens inside the van. Well, she won’t eat a kid, and she normally eats those that are less fortunate, but they are still people. At first I was a little surprised there was no explanation for her actions. But I like that this is how she is. This is how a zombie in the – real world – would act. Plus Amanda is just a bitch. She is shallow, offensive, and conceded and it totally works.
Her friend Wendy is just as sarcastic and snarky, if not worse. Add in Gil, the gay vampire, and their observations of the paranormal world will have you giggling throughout. And getting back to the bathroom humor – let me just say, zombies can’t digest anything but humans or alcohol but that doesn’t mean Amanda and Wendy don’t crave a Starbucks every now and then. Instead of drinking and spending an unpleasant time in the bathroom their solution is to wear Depends. They carry them around in their purse and some of the funniest moments in the book come when they are discussing this problem.
What really made the book unique and notched up the humor level even more are the footnotes throughout the entire book. As Amanda is narrating the story, the footnotes provide further humorous observations and it got to the point where my eye would roam to see when we were getting the next one.
For a third of the book, Amanda takes us on a flashback telling us how she became a zombie and how she met Amanda and Gil. Amanda and her became bosom buddies after bonding over how to cover their blue veined skin with make-up:
“I have no intention of walking around looking like the underside of a hard-on.”
”No way! Wendy screamed, turning from the boxes and shoving my shoulder.
I jumped back, my eyes wide. “Jesus, what?”
”I can’t believe you call them that,” she said, turning back toward me, a second tub of foundation clutched to her chest, like an Emmy. “I call them scrotal veins.”
”Get the fuck out of here. You’re my new best friend.”
Although I liked seeing how the gang meets, this is where the story slows down. Once we get back to present day, and the plot develops around their missing friend and an evil scheme for a zombie world domination, the pace picks up and flows much more smoothly.
On top of all the funnies (and they are constant in this book), there is a mystery to be solved. Poor Liesl is missing, and as Amanda says, “Christ, how are we going to help. Not a caring nurturer in the bunch.” And that is true – they don’t freak out and run to the rescue. Wardrobe and hair must be considered, and you can never forget about dinner. At one point Amanda even admits, “I hadn’t been focused on finding Liesl with any sincerity. I’m embarrassed to admit, I was still a bit irritated that she had taken the entire focus away from me.”
Happy Hour of the Damned is probably not for everyone, but it definitely worked for me. So different than any paranormal or urban fantasy book I have read. I very much look forward to the next two in the series.
January 8, 2010
Confession Time: Zombies. Totally not my thing and not sexy. I think this could be the very first zombie book I have read, but it won’t be the last! Contrary to popular belief zombies do not always walk around chanting brains. If they are lucky enough to be “made” zombies, like Amanda Feral, they can continue to function as they did before death, mostly. The exception being the devastating (and totally gross) side effects of eating real food, pale skin even a spray tan won’t fix, and the desire for human flesh. Other than those minor things, they can carry on with their lives as usual. Amanda Feral is trying to do just that, refusing to give up her designer clothes, power career, or warm blooded boyfriend just because she is dead. Unfortunately the afterlife isn’t so easy for her when one of her friends seemingly goes missing and she finds herself in over her head in someone’s attempt to stage a world takeover, one Starbucks at a time.
Amanda Feral and friends are quite possibly the most foul mouthed, snarky, and sarcastic group of characters I have come across yet. They are dirty ~ and I don’t mean “spank me” dirty, I mean “depends” dirty. Their brand of humor is not for the easily offended or light of heart. Living with an experienced master of inappropriate jokes and sarcasm, aka my husband, I figured I was up for the challenge. A few times I found myself cringing because Mark Henry holds nothing back, gore and bowels are not off limits. However, most of the time I found myself silently snickering and snorting along at bad jokes and hilarious storytelling. Mark Henry seems to have the unique ability of making the gory act of zombies eating humans perfectly normal, if not funny.
I have only one itty bitty complaint…footnotes. Happy Hour of the Damned is filled with footnotes, giving you little tidbits of info sure to make you snort out loud. Because I didn’t want to miss any of the funny, I wasn’t about to ignore their existence, but I did find them a tad distracting when reading it on the Kindle. Obviously, this is not the fault of the author, but this may be one of those series that are better off read in paperback where you can flip back and forth easily (*gasp* yes, I did indeed say that… mark your calendars!). Being a diehard Kindle lover who avoids dead tree books if at all possible, I did come up with a method that was workable and figured I would share because I am a generous girl like that.
Step 1. Before you get reading, use the “go to location” function from the kindle menu of the book to go to the back of the book and find the start of the footnotes section. Hit Alt+B to bookmark it.
Step 2. Start reading. When you get to a foot note use the “go to bookmark” function to navigate to your bookmark. (On the K1 all you do is click on the progress bar and then hit the “next” button – I don’t know if this is true for the K2).
Step 3. Read the usually hilarious footnote, then hit the “back” button.
Step 4. Continue reading to next footnote and then repeat procedure. Since there are a lot of footnotes in this book and for some reason each one is on a seperate “page”, I did reset the bookmark location every 3-4 footnotes so I would have less to page through.
Because of Mark Henry’s foul mouthed crew of comediens I give Happy Hour of the Damned 4 stars. It was fun to read an urban fantasy with main characters who were not battling with moral dilemmas and ethical questions. I can’t wait to see what else Amanda Feral can get herself into. Next up, Road Trip of the Living Dead.
Amanda Feral and friends are quite possibly the most foul mouthed, snarky, and sarcastic group of characters I have come across yet. They are dirty ~ and I don’t mean “spank me” dirty, I mean “depends” dirty. Their brand of humor is not for the easily offended or light of heart. Living with an experienced master of inappropriate jokes and sarcasm, aka my husband, I figured I was up for the challenge. A few times I found myself cringing because Mark Henry holds nothing back, gore and bowels are not off limits. However, most of the time I found myself silently snickering and snorting along at bad jokes and hilarious storytelling. Mark Henry seems to have the unique ability of making the gory act of zombies eating humans perfectly normal, if not funny.
I have only one itty bitty complaint…footnotes. Happy Hour of the Damned is filled with footnotes, giving you little tidbits of info sure to make you snort out loud. Because I didn’t want to miss any of the funny, I wasn’t about to ignore their existence, but I did find them a tad distracting when reading it on the Kindle. Obviously, this is not the fault of the author, but this may be one of those series that are better off read in paperback where you can flip back and forth easily (*gasp* yes, I did indeed say that… mark your calendars!). Being a diehard Kindle lover who avoids dead tree books if at all possible, I did come up with a method that was workable and figured I would share because I am a generous girl like that.
Step 1. Before you get reading, use the “go to location” function from the kindle menu of the book to go to the back of the book and find the start of the footnotes section. Hit Alt+B to bookmark it.
Step 2. Start reading. When you get to a foot note use the “go to bookmark” function to navigate to your bookmark. (On the K1 all you do is click on the progress bar and then hit the “next” button – I don’t know if this is true for the K2).
Step 3. Read the usually hilarious footnote, then hit the “back” button.
Step 4. Continue reading to next footnote and then repeat procedure. Since there are a lot of footnotes in this book and for some reason each one is on a seperate “page”, I did reset the bookmark location every 3-4 footnotes so I would have less to page through.
Because of Mark Henry’s foul mouthed crew of comediens I give Happy Hour of the Damned 4 stars. It was fun to read an urban fantasy with main characters who were not battling with moral dilemmas and ethical questions. I can’t wait to see what else Amanda Feral can get herself into. Next up, Road Trip of the Living Dead.
March 17, 2010
Loved this book! It's gross, creepy, twisted, and so funny that my husband kept asking if I needed medical help. Seriously, this book is just...out there! I highly recommend if your humor runs toward the gallows type, and if you have a strong stomach. If you could handle Zombieland, you probably will dig this book.
I REALLY hope this series continues! Bring on book 2!
Oh, and the only reason I didn't give it five stars (actually, I'd give this 4 1/2 stars) is that I'm looking forward to liking Amanda even more in the next books. I have a feeling these books are only going to get better!
I REALLY hope this series continues! Bring on book 2!
Oh, and the only reason I didn't give it five stars (actually, I'd give this 4 1/2 stars) is that I'm looking forward to liking Amanda even more in the next books. I have a feeling these books are only going to get better!
April 28, 2009
I did my damndest to avoid reading this book.
Happy hour and zombies not really my thing. Okay well happy hour is, but not really into the zombie thing.
But there was that funny zombie thing thing that happened in downtown Austin in January and it seemed like a sign. Then you know I love Richelle Mead and Richelle Mead loves Mark Henry so I figure what the hell. It took me more than a few pages to decide I didn't hate the footnotes and before I knew it I was snarfing my vitamin/energy/water concotion all over the place.
I was wrong. I was so wrong. Mark Henry has got it going on! This book (and its followup) nearly did me in.
I spent the better part of a trip to costco stifling my laughter after passing the Depends (in bulk of course) and trying to explain to my kids the unexplainable fits of laughter as I read the afternoon away.
And the man knows his bags and shoes...well that or his wife does and damn she has good taste!
Happy hour and zombies not really my thing. Okay well happy hour is, but not really into the zombie thing.
But there was that funny zombie thing thing that happened in downtown Austin in January and it seemed like a sign. Then you know I love Richelle Mead and Richelle Mead loves Mark Henry so I figure what the hell. It took me more than a few pages to decide I didn't hate the footnotes and before I knew it I was snarfing my vitamin/energy/water concotion all over the place.
I was wrong. I was so wrong. Mark Henry has got it going on! This book (and its followup) nearly did me in.
I spent the better part of a trip to costco stifling my laughter after passing the Depends (in bulk of course) and trying to explain to my kids the unexplainable fits of laughter as I read the afternoon away.
And the man knows his bags and shoes...well that or his wife does and damn she has good taste!
August 22, 2011
It's a shame that this book was mis-covered and lumped in with a lot of the Urban Fantasy that flooded the market for a brief period. Don't get me wrong--it's a good read for anyone, UF fans included, and a lot of that other UF was good.
But this...this is comic horror. Black humor and raw humor and crudity wrapped in designer clothes. The book is laugh-out-loud funny, which is odd to me because most satirical looks at our current society tend to be of the droll and dry variety. But this is clearly satire, sending up our books, our television and the modern American worldview in the light of a status-obsessed woman with a newly developed taste for flesh.
Henry has a clear style, writing for Feral, that really embodies the SITC voice, but with a good eye for descriptive language and a literary ability to phrase and shape the story.
But this...this is comic horror. Black humor and raw humor and crudity wrapped in designer clothes. The book is laugh-out-loud funny, which is odd to me because most satirical looks at our current society tend to be of the droll and dry variety. But this is clearly satire, sending up our books, our television and the modern American worldview in the light of a status-obsessed woman with a newly developed taste for flesh.
Henry has a clear style, writing for Feral, that really embodies the SITC voice, but with a good eye for descriptive language and a literary ability to phrase and shape the story.
March 31, 2008
High-larious. Footnote 25 made me spray coffee out of my nose (luckily it wasn't that hot). Or maybe it was a martini. Yeah, I'm gonna go with a martini; it fits the book better.
Mark is undoubtedly funny and twisted, but I already knew that. If you like Christopher Moore, go buy a copy of HAPPY HOUR.
Mark is undoubtedly funny and twisted, but I already knew that. If you like Christopher Moore, go buy a copy of HAPPY HOUR.
February 6, 2009
A supernatural romance not about vampires, fey, or werewolves, but about zombies. Yes, human-flesh-eating socialite zombies.
This was really fun. I could have done without all the footnotes, but it was entertaining.
This was really fun. I could have done without all the footnotes, but it was entertaining.
September 19, 2020
DNF at ~20%. Not so much raunchy and rude as it was yucky and offensive. The only reason I read this much was because I wanted to finish the chapter I was on. :(
April 23, 2015
A woman joins the undead community of Seattle when she is turned into a zombie (also called a ghoul at times). She isn't one of those mindless mistakes that are basically walking hunger that will eat anything that gets in their way. She can think. When one of her new friends goes missing, she gets drawn into an ever deepening mystery which just might lead to a more permanent death.
I am pretty sure that I know what the author was aiming towards when he wrote this story. I think he figured that it would be fairly hard to make a truly sympathetic character that went around eating people. So he decided to make an over the top, sardonic character that was in no way apologetic for her actions. She would be an edgy, non-politically correct character that is more interested in fashion than in being a hero.
Before I go into how I felt about this story, you need to answer a question or two. Did you enjoy the TV show Sex in the City? How about South Park or Beavis and Butthead? Would you like to see these shows combined? If you answered yes to any or all of these, then skip this review and read this book as quick as you can because you will love it. If you answered no to all of them, then skip it because you will hate it. If you still aren't sure, read on but know that there will be mild spoilers.
First off, the characters are horrible. The main character is vain, not very bright, rude, crude, and vulgar. She is so inept at solving the mystery (which she even admits) that I doubt she could solve the mystery in a game of clue even if she cheated. She is cowardly. She suffers from low self-esteem which she tries to overcome by insulting anyone around her, including her so-called friends. Speaking of her friends, they are basically poor copies of her. The villains of the book are barely defined. Anyone else in the book is solely there to be ridiculed (and then killed) or to act as dues ex-machina for the lame main character.
The author does deserve credit for devising a way to make a thinking zombie. But there are some things that just don't work or make sense. She becomes a zombie because a zombie "breathed" on her. Since zombies don't breathe, I am sure the author thought this made perfect sense. I am also guessing that he totally forgot that you have to breathe when talking. So even if zombies don't need to breathe, air has to be going in and out for them to talk. The zombies also have the ability to unhinge their jaws letting them take much bigger bites. This would be fine except that they snap them shut with great force while they are unhinged. Creatures unhinge their jaws to be able to swallow more but it causes them to lose pressure required to snap their jaws at that time. The zombies are described as eating people in as few as five bites. Two zombies manage to eat 3 teenage boys in just a few minutes. I have no problem with them eating flesh, bones, and the rest of the human. But there is no way they could fit that much mass into their stomachs without some serious distortion. Also the zombies suffer explosive diarrhea if they eat anything besides human or drink alcohol. (For some reason, all of the different undead can drink alcohol. The only reason seems to be so they can all hang out in bars all of the time.) Finally, the solution of wearing adult diapers when they eat other things just wouldn't work. From his several descriptions, the reaction was explosive and highly fragrant which a diaper would not stop or prevent others from noticing.
Looking at the mystery, it is a joke. The initial mystery wasn't really a mystery. The mystery that develops while she is stumbling around is fairly convoluted and easily avoided if the bad guys had just left the main character alone.
Let's look at plotting, the humor, and finally those inserts and footnotes. The plotting was pitiful. You hear about the friend going missing in the first chapter. This is followed by a flashback that lasts for nearly a hundred pages and even has a another flashback inside of it. The reader is often given large lists of fashion or furniture setting (and their prices) in the middle of conversations. The main character will stop her "investigation" for days at a time to basically hang out in bars, Characters and events will be discussed only to be never talked about again. Finally the author contradicts himself on multiple occasions. The humor is best described as toilet humor, The main character says that she refuses to be politically correct but it is really an excuse to make jokes about a person heritage, accent, or sexual orientation. No matter which character (male, female, gay, straight) they end up sounding like a 12 or 13 year old boy making fart jokes. The inserts of playlists and drink recipes were wastes of space. One even had the recipe for a shot of alcohol. The footnotes just seemed to be an excuse to make more snide comments.
The last thing that brings this story down to one star is that the author tried to redeem the main character at the end. She says that while she would not have helped a certain individual at the beginning of the story, she would at the end. Now the entire book, the main character has refused to make apologies for anything. That was supposed to be part of the joke. There was no point of redemption for the character. It does not come across as believable or make her more sympathetic. It also seems as a sort of sell-out by the author in that he backs off from his vision of the character as he presented her for the rest of the book.
I wish I could have given this book a higher rating. It had a good premise with some nice potential. I also understand that some people really liked it. If you did, more power to you. But for me, it failed in almost every aspect. The nicest thing I can say about it is that it was a quick read and since I found it on a bargain rack, it was cheap. I liked one thing that the main character said. She gives the advice that if you get plastic surgery, try to keep it to small changes and to keep the look natural for the most part. Sounds like good advice so it is hard to believe that she would actually say that though.
I am pretty sure that I know what the author was aiming towards when he wrote this story. I think he figured that it would be fairly hard to make a truly sympathetic character that went around eating people. So he decided to make an over the top, sardonic character that was in no way apologetic for her actions. She would be an edgy, non-politically correct character that is more interested in fashion than in being a hero.
Before I go into how I felt about this story, you need to answer a question or two. Did you enjoy the TV show Sex in the City? How about South Park or Beavis and Butthead? Would you like to see these shows combined? If you answered yes to any or all of these, then skip this review and read this book as quick as you can because you will love it. If you answered no to all of them, then skip it because you will hate it. If you still aren't sure, read on but know that there will be mild spoilers.
First off, the characters are horrible. The main character is vain, not very bright, rude, crude, and vulgar. She is so inept at solving the mystery (which she even admits) that I doubt she could solve the mystery in a game of clue even if she cheated. She is cowardly. She suffers from low self-esteem which she tries to overcome by insulting anyone around her, including her so-called friends. Speaking of her friends, they are basically poor copies of her. The villains of the book are barely defined. Anyone else in the book is solely there to be ridiculed (and then killed) or to act as dues ex-machina for the lame main character.
The author does deserve credit for devising a way to make a thinking zombie. But there are some things that just don't work or make sense. She becomes a zombie because a zombie "breathed" on her. Since zombies don't breathe, I am sure the author thought this made perfect sense. I am also guessing that he totally forgot that you have to breathe when talking. So even if zombies don't need to breathe, air has to be going in and out for them to talk. The zombies also have the ability to unhinge their jaws letting them take much bigger bites. This would be fine except that they snap them shut with great force while they are unhinged. Creatures unhinge their jaws to be able to swallow more but it causes them to lose pressure required to snap their jaws at that time. The zombies are described as eating people in as few as five bites. Two zombies manage to eat 3 teenage boys in just a few minutes. I have no problem with them eating flesh, bones, and the rest of the human. But there is no way they could fit that much mass into their stomachs without some serious distortion. Also the zombies suffer explosive diarrhea if they eat anything besides human or drink alcohol. (For some reason, all of the different undead can drink alcohol. The only reason seems to be so they can all hang out in bars all of the time.) Finally, the solution of wearing adult diapers when they eat other things just wouldn't work. From his several descriptions, the reaction was explosive and highly fragrant which a diaper would not stop or prevent others from noticing.
Looking at the mystery, it is a joke. The initial mystery wasn't really a mystery. The mystery that develops while she is stumbling around is fairly convoluted and easily avoided if the bad guys had just left the main character alone.
Let's look at plotting, the humor, and finally those inserts and footnotes. The plotting was pitiful. You hear about the friend going missing in the first chapter. This is followed by a flashback that lasts for nearly a hundred pages and even has a another flashback inside of it. The reader is often given large lists of fashion or furniture setting (and their prices) in the middle of conversations. The main character will stop her "investigation" for days at a time to basically hang out in bars, Characters and events will be discussed only to be never talked about again. Finally the author contradicts himself on multiple occasions. The humor is best described as toilet humor, The main character says that she refuses to be politically correct but it is really an excuse to make jokes about a person heritage, accent, or sexual orientation. No matter which character (male, female, gay, straight) they end up sounding like a 12 or 13 year old boy making fart jokes. The inserts of playlists and drink recipes were wastes of space. One even had the recipe for a shot of alcohol. The footnotes just seemed to be an excuse to make more snide comments.
The last thing that brings this story down to one star is that the author tried to redeem the main character at the end. She says that while she would not have helped a certain individual at the beginning of the story, she would at the end. Now the entire book, the main character has refused to make apologies for anything. That was supposed to be part of the joke. There was no point of redemption for the character. It does not come across as believable or make her more sympathetic. It also seems as a sort of sell-out by the author in that he backs off from his vision of the character as he presented her for the rest of the book.
I wish I could have given this book a higher rating. It had a good premise with some nice potential. I also understand that some people really liked it. If you did, more power to you. But for me, it failed in almost every aspect. The nicest thing I can say about it is that it was a quick read and since I found it on a bargain rack, it was cheap. I liked one thing that the main character said. She gives the advice that if you get plastic surgery, try to keep it to small changes and to keep the look natural for the most part. Sounds like good advice so it is hard to believe that she would actually say that though.
September 21, 2008
This book is totally disgusting and I mean that in the most literal sense. I start out with that fact because if I recommend a book and you don't like it, well, taste is subjective, but if I recommend one and it gives you nightmares, then I'll feel bad. And the disgust comes not only from the gore factor, because the protagonist is a zombie who eats human flesh, but there is also a great deal of potty humor as well. I raced through those parts (because skimming would seem unfair) but would argue that they are there for a reason, and not simply to gross us out.
Amanda Feral is a Seattle-dwelling party girl, label conscious and successful, who has an encounter with a man in an elevator, feels his cold breath on her neck, and subsequently falls and cracks her head open. After a less than satisfying sexual encounter with her boyfriend, she is nearly attacked by a vampire, who abandons his plan to feed from her once he discovers she is an "above-grounder" otherwise known as a zombie. Zombiehood comes with a pasty complexion (which Amanda will take great pains to conceal) and nearly white eyes, the ability to survive but not necessarily heal from fatal injuries, the inability to digest regular solid food (though alcohol is somehow okay), and, oh yeah, the need to consume human flesh to survive. However, she is a deliberately created zombie, which means her cognitive functions remain relatively in tact; with the right make up and a bit of self control, Amanda can continue to pass as human.
Several reviewers have pointed out that Amanda is not a very sympathetic character, and to a point I would agree with them. She comes across as combination of Karen from Will & Grace, the Sex in the City girls at their cattiest, and Amanda from Ugly Betty. In other words, she is the socialite fashionista type we all love to hate, the kind of person who would sooner die than wear polyester, a scrunchy, or a top from Target. And Amanda never has to----she has to wear Depends, if she chooses to eat regular food----but she can keep her Prada into her afterlife and beyond. So I think that what Henry may be doing here is satirizing the sort of narcissistic label-conscious character we encounter in chick lit, depicting her hedonistic lifestyle as so superficial it is not even interrupted by (un) death. Are you afraid your fashionista boss might bite your head off if you shop at Sears? Maybe you should be more worried that she's just hungry!
I can't honestly say I relate to Amanda, but she is snarky and wicked as all get out, and when I wasn't wincing at her descriptions I was definitely laughing. Unfortunately, the plot here is a little thin; when Amanda receives a mysterious text message from her succubus friend Liesl, she discovers a plot to flood the population with the zombies. The story has potential; it just doesn't feel like Henry was as interested in telling this story as in introducing Amanda and her world. But that's an issue that may be resolved in later installments of the series, and I'll be waiting to see whether it is.
Amanda Feral is a Seattle-dwelling party girl, label conscious and successful, who has an encounter with a man in an elevator, feels his cold breath on her neck, and subsequently falls and cracks her head open. After a less than satisfying sexual encounter with her boyfriend, she is nearly attacked by a vampire, who abandons his plan to feed from her once he discovers she is an "above-grounder" otherwise known as a zombie. Zombiehood comes with a pasty complexion (which Amanda will take great pains to conceal) and nearly white eyes, the ability to survive but not necessarily heal from fatal injuries, the inability to digest regular solid food (though alcohol is somehow okay), and, oh yeah, the need to consume human flesh to survive. However, she is a deliberately created zombie, which means her cognitive functions remain relatively in tact; with the right make up and a bit of self control, Amanda can continue to pass as human.
Several reviewers have pointed out that Amanda is not a very sympathetic character, and to a point I would agree with them. She comes across as combination of Karen from Will & Grace, the Sex in the City girls at their cattiest, and Amanda from Ugly Betty. In other words, she is the socialite fashionista type we all love to hate, the kind of person who would sooner die than wear polyester, a scrunchy, or a top from Target. And Amanda never has to----she has to wear Depends, if she chooses to eat regular food----but she can keep her Prada into her afterlife and beyond. So I think that what Henry may be doing here is satirizing the sort of narcissistic label-conscious character we encounter in chick lit, depicting her hedonistic lifestyle as so superficial it is not even interrupted by (un) death. Are you afraid your fashionista boss might bite your head off if you shop at Sears? Maybe you should be more worried that she's just hungry!
I can't honestly say I relate to Amanda, but she is snarky and wicked as all get out, and when I wasn't wincing at her descriptions I was definitely laughing. Unfortunately, the plot here is a little thin; when Amanda receives a mysterious text message from her succubus friend Liesl, she discovers a plot to flood the population with the zombies. The story has potential; it just doesn't feel like Henry was as interested in telling this story as in introducing Amanda and her world. But that's an issue that may be resolved in later installments of the series, and I'll be waiting to see whether it is.
February 4, 2010
Ah-Mazing! Surprising and witty! Love Amanda! ^-^
Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry
As most of you guys know, I am a groupie when it comes to books/writers and I am trying to read all the books I have on my TBR list, which now I know is going to be impossible, considering the fact that I literally add more than 5 books a day to it… But that is far from the point. Mark Henry has been on my list since last summer and on December I decided to get the books. I even got them from University Bookstore and Mark Henry is so cool that he even signed them [cool much?:] I could not stop laughing for a while after getting them. And I pushed every book I am reading aside [even homeworks… but shh:] and started Happy Hour of the Damned. Now, it was slow because of school and also real life which is sometimes a hassle, but if you know me, then you know that in my world-> Books come first *wink wink*
I had read excerpts and some reviews. I do hate spoilers, but I could not help myself… Yes, I can fall into temptation when there are zombies involved and even unicorns [not that there are unicorns in the book, just saying:]. I have been following [or stalking if you prefer:] Mr. Henry over on FaceBook and Twitter, and let me just say that doing so was what convinced me to read the book. I mean, with those constant snarky and witty twit’s [hey, that can make a good insult, too:] he proved that he can write some good books. I thank sweetness I decided to read it because it was amazing!
I read on my way to school, at the office, on my way back home and then at home… And sweet, sweet zombies *insert smile* it kept me laughing at all times and wondering what the hell was going to happen. The characters are f*cking fantastic, they even reminded me of my friends at times. And their conversations? OMG!! That was me and my besties going out to the bar or to the restaurant… *geez* But for real now… Amanda is one helluva character! I just loved her, such a strong personality and sarcastic, which is a major win for me. And Gil… Well *insert heart* hehe…
What really got to me was the way the book was written. I loved the recipes, and the footnotes? Let me just say that I was looking forward to every page because of the footnotes. Those were completely amazing! Well… since I do not want to spoil any of yah I should shut up now before going into specifics about the story *tries to stop writing*. Just know that he creates this magnificent world in Seattle that I wish I could see in a movie and read more about with zombies, vamps, ghouls… [fascinating creatures if you ask me –wink:]… *Thankful of having the next book*
Seriously, it really was a zombified version of Sex and the City at times (loved it) ^-^ Amanda would have been a great character in it.
So guys… I leave you with this-> GO AND GET THE F*CKING BOOK… NOOOOW!!!! Thank you very much!
Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry
As most of you guys know, I am a groupie when it comes to books/writers and I am trying to read all the books I have on my TBR list, which now I know is going to be impossible, considering the fact that I literally add more than 5 books a day to it… But that is far from the point. Mark Henry has been on my list since last summer and on December I decided to get the books. I even got them from University Bookstore and Mark Henry is so cool that he even signed them [cool much?:] I could not stop laughing for a while after getting them. And I pushed every book I am reading aside [even homeworks… but shh:] and started Happy Hour of the Damned. Now, it was slow because of school and also real life which is sometimes a hassle, but if you know me, then you know that in my world-> Books come first *wink wink*
I had read excerpts and some reviews. I do hate spoilers, but I could not help myself… Yes, I can fall into temptation when there are zombies involved and even unicorns [not that there are unicorns in the book, just saying:]. I have been following [or stalking if you prefer:] Mr. Henry over on FaceBook and Twitter, and let me just say that doing so was what convinced me to read the book. I mean, with those constant snarky and witty twit’s [hey, that can make a good insult, too:] he proved that he can write some good books. I thank sweetness I decided to read it because it was amazing!
I read on my way to school, at the office, on my way back home and then at home… And sweet, sweet zombies *insert smile* it kept me laughing at all times and wondering what the hell was going to happen. The characters are f*cking fantastic, they even reminded me of my friends at times. And their conversations? OMG!! That was me and my besties going out to the bar or to the restaurant… *geez* But for real now… Amanda is one helluva character! I just loved her, such a strong personality and sarcastic, which is a major win for me. And Gil… Well *insert heart* hehe…
What really got to me was the way the book was written. I loved the recipes, and the footnotes? Let me just say that I was looking forward to every page because of the footnotes. Those were completely amazing! Well… since I do not want to spoil any of yah I should shut up now before going into specifics about the story *tries to stop writing*. Just know that he creates this magnificent world in Seattle that I wish I could see in a movie and read more about with zombies, vamps, ghouls… [fascinating creatures if you ask me –wink:]… *Thankful of having the next book*
Seriously, it really was a zombified version of Sex and the City at times (loved it) ^-^ Amanda would have been a great character in it.
So guys… I leave you with this-> GO AND GET THE F*CKING BOOK… NOOOOW!!!! Thank you very much!
July 26, 2015
I have heard a lot about this author, mainly from Natasha (Wicked Little Pixie) via Twitter, who rated this book 5/5. So, I thought I would read it myself and see what all the fuss was about - it sounded like a really fun book too. And it most certainly was!
How to describe Amanda Feral... bitchy, snarky, vulgar, foul-mouthed, smart (arse), sexy and totally zombelicious! And dare I say it after all that... likable. Although Amanda is a zombie, through no fault of her own, it doesn't stop her from being utterly fabulous and determined to keep strutting her stuff - makeup, designer clothes and a cocktail in hand are absolute must haves! Unsurprisingly, after getting to know her, Amanda takes the knowledge that she is one of the undead in her stride and isn't too concerned that she now has to eat people - well, a girls got to eat!
Some may find the humour in this book not to their tastes but I loved Amanda's character and although she can be a total bitch, she can also be a loyal friend, as her determination to find her missing friend showed, albeit reluctantly. She enjoys gossiping and sipping vodkatinis with her supernatural friends, Wendy (a sister zombie); Gil (a gay vamp) and Liesl (a succubus) in the trendiest night spots and all as bitchy and snarky as each other!
There is a plot to Happy Hour of the Damned - Amanda turns pseudo-detective and sets out to find her friend Leisl, who sends a 'Help!" txt message before disappearing. But what transpires is something completely innocent as well as more sinister. And although I did enjoy this part of the book, for me it was all about Amanda. Amanda is the reason I rushed out and bought book two! *I has me a 'Manda crush ;)*
Henry mixes urban fantasy with his obvious comedic talent as well as a smattering of visceral horror. Readers who read urban fantasy but not horror will find some scenes a little gruesome and gory (lots of braaaiinns and well, the rest of the body - waste not want not!). Personally I loved it, but I am a bit of a sicko ;)
Verdict:
Happy Hour of the Damned is a fun and entertaining read as well as being absolutely hilarious. Yes, it does get a little rushed at the end with maybe too much going on but Henry's timing is superb and Amanda's witty, snarky comments had me chuckling and giggling to myself and occasionally laughing-out-loud.
I can't get across enough how wickedly good this book is... so you will just have to read it for yourself - I can't wait to read the second book in this series, Road Trip of the Living Dead (look out for the review soon!).
I actually gave this 9/10 on my blog but Goodreads doesn't offer half stars!
How to describe Amanda Feral... bitchy, snarky, vulgar, foul-mouthed, smart (arse), sexy and totally zombelicious! And dare I say it after all that... likable. Although Amanda is a zombie, through no fault of her own, it doesn't stop her from being utterly fabulous and determined to keep strutting her stuff - makeup, designer clothes and a cocktail in hand are absolute must haves! Unsurprisingly, after getting to know her, Amanda takes the knowledge that she is one of the undead in her stride and isn't too concerned that she now has to eat people - well, a girls got to eat!
Some may find the humour in this book not to their tastes but I loved Amanda's character and although she can be a total bitch, she can also be a loyal friend, as her determination to find her missing friend showed, albeit reluctantly. She enjoys gossiping and sipping vodkatinis with her supernatural friends, Wendy (a sister zombie); Gil (a gay vamp) and Liesl (a succubus) in the trendiest night spots and all as bitchy and snarky as each other!
There is a plot to Happy Hour of the Damned - Amanda turns pseudo-detective and sets out to find her friend Leisl, who sends a 'Help!" txt message before disappearing. But what transpires is something completely innocent as well as more sinister. And although I did enjoy this part of the book, for me it was all about Amanda. Amanda is the reason I rushed out and bought book two! *I has me a 'Manda crush ;)*
Henry mixes urban fantasy with his obvious comedic talent as well as a smattering of visceral horror. Readers who read urban fantasy but not horror will find some scenes a little gruesome and gory (lots of braaaiinns and well, the rest of the body - waste not want not!). Personally I loved it, but I am a bit of a sicko ;)
Verdict:
Happy Hour of the Damned is a fun and entertaining read as well as being absolutely hilarious. Yes, it does get a little rushed at the end with maybe too much going on but Henry's timing is superb and Amanda's witty, snarky comments had me chuckling and giggling to myself and occasionally laughing-out-loud.
I can't get across enough how wickedly good this book is... so you will just have to read it for yourself - I can't wait to read the second book in this series, Road Trip of the Living Dead (look out for the review soon!).
I actually gave this 9/10 on my blog but Goodreads doesn't offer half stars!
April 24, 2010
Rude, crude, lewd, and disgusting, Amanda Feral and her cadre of companions came into my life like mold...or a venereal disease.
I typically have little patience with characters whose only thoughts concern the hottest hangout, the hippest drink, and the hardest hard-body to shag. However, when those kind of characters also happen to be zombies, vampires, shapechangers, and other assorted supernaturals, my interest is piqued. Throw in a story peppered with snarky footnotes (and who can resist a fiction novel which utilizes footnotes?) and it's amazing how palatable such shallowness can become. For bitchy, self-centered, frivolous fun, this book is the template.
However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Eventually the snark and selfishness began to grate on my nerves, which I had somewhat expected, but I believe my annoyance was compounded by the lack of a cohesive plot. A mystery is alluded to in the beginning, which is then put on hold as we explore Amanda's past life, zombification, and current uber-hip state of undeadness. When we get back to the mystery, it's treated by the characters in a very lackadaisical manner (which is typical of shallow people, but still frustrating), very much a case of "Ooh, a friend is in trouble? But the new club is opening tonight and everyone who is anyone will be there, which means we have to be there! Let's worry about it tomorrow, or whenever the hangover wears off." Eventually the mystery is solved, which turns out to not be so mysterious but which leads to a second, more dramatic situation. However, the impact of this second crisis is lessened by the limpness of the first, and the impetus of the book is let down by a meandering storyline. What really bugged me was the blatant hard-on the author had for commas. (And, yes, I realize with that statement I'm coming off like a picky bitch; I was born that way, so deal.) I know I can go a bit gaga for punctuation. If I can use a semi-colon and some hyphens, I'm happy; thrown in a colon and a few ellipses, I'm positively ecstatic. Mark Henry's single-minded punctuation obsession, though, gets in the way of his writing, as he uses commas in multiple locations where they're not needed (and throw off the pace of the sentence) and leaves them out where such clarification a comma would provide is necessary. I realize this is the more the fault of his editor, but since an author and editor are part and parcel of the whole writing procedure, it's still a valid quibble.
I can't say I'm excited to read the second book, but I am curious to see what other kinds of mischief Amanda and her pals can get into...and still keep their makeup intact.
I typically have little patience with characters whose only thoughts concern the hottest hangout, the hippest drink, and the hardest hard-body to shag. However, when those kind of characters also happen to be zombies, vampires, shapechangers, and other assorted supernaturals, my interest is piqued. Throw in a story peppered with snarky footnotes (and who can resist a fiction novel which utilizes footnotes?) and it's amazing how palatable such shallowness can become. For bitchy, self-centered, frivolous fun, this book is the template.
However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Eventually the snark and selfishness began to grate on my nerves, which I had somewhat expected, but I believe my annoyance was compounded by the lack of a cohesive plot. A mystery is alluded to in the beginning, which is then put on hold as we explore Amanda's past life, zombification, and current uber-hip state of undeadness. When we get back to the mystery, it's treated by the characters in a very lackadaisical manner (which is typical of shallow people, but still frustrating), very much a case of "Ooh, a friend is in trouble? But the new club is opening tonight and everyone who is anyone will be there, which means we have to be there! Let's worry about it tomorrow, or whenever the hangover wears off." Eventually the mystery is solved, which turns out to not be so mysterious but which leads to a second, more dramatic situation. However, the impact of this second crisis is lessened by the limpness of the first, and the impetus of the book is let down by a meandering storyline. What really bugged me was the blatant hard-on the author had for commas. (And, yes, I realize with that statement I'm coming off like a picky bitch; I was born that way, so deal.) I know I can go a bit gaga for punctuation. If I can use a semi-colon and some hyphens, I'm happy; thrown in a colon and a few ellipses, I'm positively ecstatic. Mark Henry's single-minded punctuation obsession, though, gets in the way of his writing, as he uses commas in multiple locations where they're not needed (and throw off the pace of the sentence) and leaves them out where such clarification a comma would provide is necessary. I realize this is the more the fault of his editor, but since an author and editor are part and parcel of the whole writing procedure, it's still a valid quibble.
I can't say I'm excited to read the second book, but I am curious to see what other kinds of mischief Amanda and her pals can get into...and still keep their makeup intact.
March 2, 2011
I’ve really gotten into reading zombie books lately. Thus far in my zombie reading adventures it has been the upmost importance to kill the zombies. They are evil vicious, carrying around a fatal disease that is easily spreadable. They must die. That is not this zombie book. The two main characters are zombies. Amanda and Wendy are (un)living it up diva style, complete with a gay male bestie and a succubus. These zombies biggest daily goal is to go clubbing, drink plenty of booze (it’s the only other thing they can consume) and try to out attire the whole club. This book is a snarkfest. It also houses the best and most one liners in any single book that I have ever read.
One night while out clubbing Amanda receives a text from their succubus friend Liesl, she simply requests help. In their attempt to find her they uncover so much more than they ever expected. Someone is attempting to unleash a zombie outbreak. The problem is that the villain is not unleashing made zombies. The villain is turning the mistakes out on to the caffeine addicted humans. The mistakes are mindless zombies that are having only one thought…. sweetbreads (bet you were thinking brains.) Neither Amanda nor any of her friends are private investigators. The adventure that ensues is full of bloopers and mistakes. They begin the task of finding their missing friend. During the course of this journey the readers are given a glimpse of how they came to be in their group and how they came to be the supernatural creatures they are.
What some may not like about this book: It is at times graphic in some of the zombie take out dining descriptions. This book has footnotes, have not seen these since my college years and they were never this humorous. The book is written memoir style. There are drink recipes scattered throughout the pages. (Do try the Well of Souls Green Demon p.245, tasty little vodka treat.) Amanda has also given the readers quite a few suggested musical playlists throughout the book. One also has to wonder if Amanda has a severe case of ADHD. The flow of the book skips around a bit and at times seems a bit bouncy. These are things some people may not like. I thought each of these quirks added to the uniqueness of this book. This book is very interesting. The world that has been created with the two different types of zombies and the different ways zombies are created is very different from all of the other zombie books out there.
One night while out clubbing Amanda receives a text from their succubus friend Liesl, she simply requests help. In their attempt to find her they uncover so much more than they ever expected. Someone is attempting to unleash a zombie outbreak. The problem is that the villain is not unleashing made zombies. The villain is turning the mistakes out on to the caffeine addicted humans. The mistakes are mindless zombies that are having only one thought…. sweetbreads (bet you were thinking brains.) Neither Amanda nor any of her friends are private investigators. The adventure that ensues is full of bloopers and mistakes. They begin the task of finding their missing friend. During the course of this journey the readers are given a glimpse of how they came to be in their group and how they came to be the supernatural creatures they are.
What some may not like about this book: It is at times graphic in some of the zombie take out dining descriptions. This book has footnotes, have not seen these since my college years and they were never this humorous. The book is written memoir style. There are drink recipes scattered throughout the pages. (Do try the Well of Souls Green Demon p.245, tasty little vodka treat.) Amanda has also given the readers quite a few suggested musical playlists throughout the book. One also has to wonder if Amanda has a severe case of ADHD. The flow of the book skips around a bit and at times seems a bit bouncy. These are things some people may not like. I thought each of these quirks added to the uniqueness of this book. This book is very interesting. The world that has been created with the two different types of zombies and the different ways zombies are created is very different from all of the other zombie books out there.
December 22, 2008
Okay, all you Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans on my Friends list, remember Cordelia? Now, think how she might have turned out if, instead of going down to L.A. and winding up joining the cast of Angel as a wannabe-actress-turned-mother-of-an-unholy-horror, she grew up to become an ad exec in Seattle. Keep her keen fashion sense and snarky bitchiness. And oh yes, turn her into a zombie.
Once you've done this, then you have Amanda Feral, heroine of Mark Henry's Happy Hour of the Damned, which is in a word HY-larious.
The zombie thing works on the grounds that in this universe, zombies come in two flavors: those who are "made", and who therefore retain higher brain functions and do not decompose as long as they regularly consume human flesh, and those who are "mistakes", the more traditionally Romero-esque shambling automatons with a hankering for tasty cerebellums. I can't attest to the accuracy of the snark directed at the club-hopping scene in Seattle, but it sure as hell reads well, and it should surprise no one the slightest bit familiar with this city that coffee--and our most famous purveyor of same--is a critical plot point. So are unrepentant depictions of several of the more disgusting bodily functions involved with being a zombie. 'Cause, well, you know, zombies. Don't say you weren't warned!
But do check this book out, and be sure to read the footnotes for additional little gems of snickerworthy bitchiness from our heroine and narrator. Four stars.
Once you've done this, then you have Amanda Feral, heroine of Mark Henry's Happy Hour of the Damned, which is in a word HY-larious.
The zombie thing works on the grounds that in this universe, zombies come in two flavors: those who are "made", and who therefore retain higher brain functions and do not decompose as long as they regularly consume human flesh, and those who are "mistakes", the more traditionally Romero-esque shambling automatons with a hankering for tasty cerebellums. I can't attest to the accuracy of the snark directed at the club-hopping scene in Seattle, but it sure as hell reads well, and it should surprise no one the slightest bit familiar with this city that coffee--and our most famous purveyor of same--is a critical plot point. So are unrepentant depictions of several of the more disgusting bodily functions involved with being a zombie. 'Cause, well, you know, zombies. Don't say you weren't warned!
But do check this book out, and be sure to read the footnotes for additional little gems of snickerworthy bitchiness from our heroine and narrator. Four stars.
June 7, 2012
This male writer seems to think that all women are catty bitches caught up in fashion. It's like Mean Zombies, except that was at least well-written, and the characters in Mean Girls at least had some redeemable qualities. Not so here. The characters here are all devoid of conscience and prejudiced, and act more like petulant children than women.
When I saw the plethora of footnotes, I was disheartened to start out, but then I hated the main character and her friends after about 2 pages. I spent the rest of what I was willing to stomach reading wishing them death. (It wasn't much.)
Instead of focusing on the plot or anything meaningful, far more attention is given to what the characters are wearing and what their genitalia look like. It could have been an interesting plot, if the characters (all of them) didn't suck, and if it hadn't been sidelined by the characters' trivial concerns.
Writer needs to stick with writing what he knows, and women aren't it.
When I saw the plethora of footnotes, I was disheartened to start out, but then I hated the main character and her friends after about 2 pages. I spent the rest of what I was willing to stomach reading wishing them death. (It wasn't much.)
Instead of focusing on the plot or anything meaningful, far more attention is given to what the characters are wearing and what their genitalia look like. It could have been an interesting plot, if the characters (all of them) didn't suck, and if it hadn't been sidelined by the characters' trivial concerns.
Writer needs to stick with writing what he knows, and women aren't it.
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February 11, 2009I'm having a rather difficult time getting into this book. Normally I'm a big fan of fiction with footnotes. It's useful when getting a little background information for an obscure reference. In that case the footnotes help the reader to get a better sense of the book, and it's "world." In this book the footnotes are the main character's thoughts. I find them to be rather annoying. The book is written in 1st person. I guess I don't really think that it's necessary to put the person whose talking thoughts into a footnote. I understand that the intent seems to be humorous, but I think some of it is lost with footnotes. Also the footnotes slow me down, and I'm not a big fan of that.
Having finished the book, I've come to the conclusion that it just wasn't for me. The main character annoyed me the entire time.
Having finished the book, I've come to the conclusion that it just wasn't for me. The main character annoyed me the entire time.
March 4, 2009
What did I learn from this book? Never go to Seattle if you're homeless. On the other hand, a visit there would probably be great. The nightlife sounds pretty lively...
Amanda Feral was breathed on by a zombie. Moments later she dies in a slip-and-fall. When she first rises, she doesn't even know she's dead. So begins the adventure. There are vampires, shifters, incubi & succubi, and a vast assortment of other supernaturals she meets and befriends along the way. There are also bad guys trying to take over the world. It's all very much a zombie version of Pinkie and the Brain. With better shoes.
Mark Henry has written a funny, witty, fast-paced story about a newbie zombie and her BFF. This series promises to be a hilarious romp through urban fantasyland.
Amanda Feral was breathed on by a zombie. Moments later she dies in a slip-and-fall. When she first rises, she doesn't even know she's dead. So begins the adventure. There are vampires, shifters, incubi & succubi, and a vast assortment of other supernaturals she meets and befriends along the way. There are also bad guys trying to take over the world. It's all very much a zombie version of Pinkie and the Brain. With better shoes.
Mark Henry has written a funny, witty, fast-paced story about a newbie zombie and her BFF. This series promises to be a hilarious romp through urban fantasyland.
April 27, 2010
No matter how bad the book I can usually finish it. That was not the case with Happy Hour of the Damned. It was painful just trying to get half way through. I'm usually forgiving with my zombie literature but couldn't get passed the annoying main character, constant unnecessary footnotes and snail like pace of the book.
March 19, 2010
Snarky, crude, smart, bitchy, strange, dirty (in more ways than one), superficial, gory and more-y, HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED is a hard book to describe in few words. Besides calling it zombie chick-lit urban fantasy, which is such a disservice. Amanda isn't the type of main character I usually enjoy reading about, I admit I'd rather read about someone more sympathetic than a label-conscious, cocktail swigging, loose, uppity, self-absorbed diva. But guess what, I actually liked her. Go figure. Now I wouldn't want to hang out with someone like her in real life, but in a book, it's all in good fun and I definitely will pick up the next two Amanda Feral books and hope there's more to come.
I loved the snarkiness, the footnotes (how many fiction authors actually do that?), the memoir-style writing, the cleverness of it all, it's a very good book. So why didn't I give it a higher rating, you may be thinking. Or maybe you're not. Whatever. Well, it did lose me a couple places and the plot meandered a bit in the beginning, and I'm still not sure what the master plot entailed (or is it entrailed? LMAO :D) exactly, as the plot did get a bit confusing towards the end. That could have just been me, I'm not the brightest at times. However, I think I did get the gist of the whole thing, so I wasn't left completely confused. In addition, I didn't find myself absorbed in the book, meaning I could put it down without withdrawal symptoms, so that brings my rating down slightly. I found the best thing to do with HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED was to just let the book take me for the bizarre and fun ride the author had in store for the readers.
I'm sorry to hear that the series is in trouble, as it's much better than a lot of urban fantasy out there. We snarks of the world need these brainy reads (the fun kind) to survive, so in a way, we're zombies too. You may be wondering, "What can I do to help a good author out?" Well, go buy it! But only if you don't mind foul language, queasy and disgustingly gory scenes and imagery, sex in all it's kinkiness (which is mostly mentioned in passing), brand name designers, in-the-gutter-humor and more! All for the low, low price of $6.99. Have your credit card handy, operators are standing by - okay, I'm done with my infomercial sales pitch now. But really, if you do mind the aforementioned descriptions of what's covered inside, why are you looking at a zombie book anyway?
3.75 stars - just because I can.
I loved the snarkiness, the footnotes (how many fiction authors actually do that?), the memoir-style writing, the cleverness of it all, it's a very good book. So why didn't I give it a higher rating, you may be thinking. Or maybe you're not. Whatever. Well, it did lose me a couple places and the plot meandered a bit in the beginning, and I'm still not sure what the master plot entailed (or is it entrailed? LMAO :D) exactly, as the plot did get a bit confusing towards the end. That could have just been me, I'm not the brightest at times. However, I think I did get the gist of the whole thing, so I wasn't left completely confused. In addition, I didn't find myself absorbed in the book, meaning I could put it down without withdrawal symptoms, so that brings my rating down slightly. I found the best thing to do with HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED was to just let the book take me for the bizarre and fun ride the author had in store for the readers.
I'm sorry to hear that the series is in trouble, as it's much better than a lot of urban fantasy out there. We snarks of the world need these brainy reads (the fun kind) to survive, so in a way, we're zombies too. You may be wondering, "What can I do to help a good author out?" Well, go buy it! But only if you don't mind foul language, queasy and disgustingly gory scenes and imagery, sex in all it's kinkiness (which is mostly mentioned in passing), brand name designers, in-the-gutter-humor and more! All for the low, low price of $6.99. Have your credit card handy, operators are standing by - okay, I'm done with my infomercial sales pitch now. But really, if you do mind the aforementioned descriptions of what's covered inside, why are you looking at a zombie book anyway?
3.75 stars - just because I can.
January 28, 2011
Amanda's had a rough life, and it's not held her back one bit. She's serious about life and a successful partner in an Advertising firm and is serious about life. Until she smells the stinky breathe of that man in the elevator and has a clumsy accident afterward. All to find out... she is now a zombie. So what is a beautiful, successful woman to do now that she is one of the undead? Why, enjoy life to the fullest! But first, to find make-up to take care of the pasty pale skin. But when a friend goes missing will Amanda go in search or try to save her drying skin? Amanda ends up on a mystery case looking into the incidents of what happened to her friends, just to stumble upon a bigger mystery with the pesky mistake zombies showing up in herds at Starbucks.
Amanda is a character I enjoyed. She is hard, bitchy, and self-centered. Amanda makes flying leaps at growth in her character in this book. She makes friends with others similar to her in her manor of thinking. We learn how Amanda meets each of these characters through their fun incidents in the first section of the book. Then after we get to know them we find somewhere along the way Amanda has started to worry about them. And starts to enjoy life. Amanda and her friends make comments and jokes of things that many might find mean, but it is said in fun with these characters. I had to chuckle many times with the jokes made and the priorities of the characters. Oh, and who would want to break into a funeral home? I loved that scene.
I enjoy the writing style in this book. Mark Henry uses a unique writing style as we are getting the story from Amanda's view. There are footnotes sporadically through the book in which Amanda makes comments to add her inner thoughts at the moment. For me this was fun and a humorous way to get to know Amanda's character a little better.
I will definitely be picking up the second book, Road Trip of the Living Dead.
Amanda is a character I enjoyed. She is hard, bitchy, and self-centered. Amanda makes flying leaps at growth in her character in this book. She makes friends with others similar to her in her manor of thinking. We learn how Amanda meets each of these characters through their fun incidents in the first section of the book. Then after we get to know them we find somewhere along the way Amanda has started to worry about them. And starts to enjoy life. Amanda and her friends make comments and jokes of things that many might find mean, but it is said in fun with these characters. I had to chuckle many times with the jokes made and the priorities of the characters. Oh, and who would want to break into a funeral home? I loved that scene.
I enjoy the writing style in this book. Mark Henry uses a unique writing style as we are getting the story from Amanda's view. There are footnotes sporadically through the book in which Amanda makes comments to add her inner thoughts at the moment. For me this was fun and a humorous way to get to know Amanda's character a little better.
I will definitely be picking up the second book, Road Trip of the Living Dead.
April 9, 2008
I loved this book! Loved it so much I finished it in one day then mailed it to a friend so she can bask in the narcissism of Amanda's glory. (I have another copy coming in the mail for me to keep and re-read). If this were made into a movie and I never heard of the book the movie would scare the crap out of me (I don't do horror movies and still have nightmares from watching Resident Evil) but reading the book was awesome. The writing was witty, humorous the characters were so self-absorbed with elitist attitudes. I can NOT wait for the second book to come out.
I haven't read a fictional book before where the story is told from the main character's point of view with footnotes to further explain her opinions. I have always believed that opinions are like bumholes..... everyone has one and they sometimes stink. But the main character, Amanda behaves as if her opinion is the only opinion worth anything and that just cracks me up. Well done Mr. Henry!
I haven't read a fictional book before where the story is told from the main character's point of view with footnotes to further explain her opinions. I have always believed that opinions are like bumholes..... everyone has one and they sometimes stink. But the main character, Amanda behaves as if her opinion is the only opinion worth anything and that just cracks me up. Well done Mr. Henry!
April 13, 2010
This book made me laugh aloud on the bus.
Yeah, as some of the negative reviews have pointed out, the protagonist is bitchy. Supremely bitchy. You know what? She's hilarious, too. If the two stars of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS were less caricatured, they'd be Amanda Feral, zombie or not.
There's a plot, but it was my least favorite part of the book. When Amanda and her friends were applying themselves to the mystery, their incompetence and squeamishness was funny. When the plot started to fulfill itself, the book lost steam. The characters, their relationships and their outrageous opinions are the main draw here, not some world-threatening scheme. I almost wish it had been more like an episode of DYNASTY or something.
Still. This book is a lot of fun. (But what a terrible cover!)
Yeah, as some of the negative reviews have pointed out, the protagonist is bitchy. Supremely bitchy. You know what? She's hilarious, too. If the two stars of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS were less caricatured, they'd be Amanda Feral, zombie or not.
There's a plot, but it was my least favorite part of the book. When Amanda and her friends were applying themselves to the mystery, their incompetence and squeamishness was funny. When the plot started to fulfill itself, the book lost steam. The characters, their relationships and their outrageous opinions are the main draw here, not some world-threatening scheme. I almost wish it had been more like an episode of DYNASTY or something.
Still. This book is a lot of fun. (But what a terrible cover!)
September 29, 2009
I hated this book. No I will not read the 2nd book in the series. This is pretty harsh for me. I almost always give a 2nd chance. Maybe, I just hate books where a zombie is the protaganist. They eat people. Amanda tells her about sex with her boyfriend. Then later says, "oh by the way, I ate him." My vampire books get their blood mostly from blood banks. I might have a zombie prejudice. I also think that a lot of times authors think that it is cute to use footnotes through out the book. It did not work well for Mark Henry. I have seen this work for other authors: Lisa Lutz and the Spellman books is one example. But even for her -- after 49 footnotes as amusing as they are in a work of fiction is too much. Getting back to Happy Hour....no sir.
March 25, 2014
This book was horrible. I am SO disappointed. I have currently started reading zombie books and enjoy them for the most part. But, the main character had no morals. She didn't really care who she ate. The first person she ate in the book she described as an a-hole because he had his feet on the dashboard. That's worth her killing him? Her friend disappears, but text the word 'help.' And, she and her other friends act like it is no huge deal. They aren't trying to hard to find her. They just don't seem to care. Jeez...Besides the lack of morals, the writing was horrible. It was disjointed and not easy to follow. I couldn't get past the 5th chapter.
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June 17, 2008GOOD STUFF: Fabulous underground undead/paranormal club scene. If Mark Henry ever gets tired of being a writer, he should design theme bars and clubs. Footnotes. Sexy undead bartender. Lonely vampire friend. Fresh take on zombies.
OBSERVATIONS: Humor, violence, female queen-of-the-snark first person p.o.v., gossip, fashion commentary, bathroom humor, mystery, paranormal creature culture, 12 step programs, bowling leagues, sex and other eating disorders, flashbacks, lost loves, betrayal, evil coffee, evil evil, guns, death and, of course, undeath.
OBSERVATIONS: Humor, violence, female queen-of-the-snark first person p.o.v., gossip, fashion commentary, bathroom humor, mystery, paranormal creature culture, 12 step programs, bowling leagues, sex and other eating disorders, flashbacks, lost loves, betrayal, evil coffee, evil evil, guns, death and, of course, undeath.
April 3, 2010
I think this would have been really good if I could have connected with the character. Unfortunately I have a seriously distaste for fashion and she is obsessed with it.
The writing is very clean and the story interesting I just couldn't get into it at all because of the constant fashion references. I guess I just don't like getting bombarded with things I don't know anything about.
I'd recommend checking it out if the fashion thing doesn't turn you off cause it is well written and interesting.
The writing is very clean and the story interesting I just couldn't get into it at all because of the constant fashion references. I guess I just don't like getting bombarded with things I don't know anything about.
I'd recommend checking it out if the fashion thing doesn't turn you off cause it is well written and interesting.
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