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Most days, Anwen regrets working at a funeral home despite the good pay. With the residents no longer inclined to stay in their coffins where they belong, she’s got her hands full making sure everyone follows the rules:

In the funeral home, there is no screaming, no murdering, no mutilation, no possessions, no kidnappings, no resurrections, and no cursing of any type. Be quiet and stay polite.

The day Old Man McGregor decides to take a walk and disturbs her peace, Anwen learns there’s a lot more to the basement in the funeral home than a vampire and a handsome gentleman on ice.

If she’s not careful, she’ll learn first-hand why ‘eternally yours’ is the most potent of threats.

Warning: this novel contains romance, humor, bodies, shenanigans, and mythological puppies. Proceed with caution.

9 pages, Audiobook

First published May 12, 2020

332 people are currently reading
710 people want to read

About the author

R.J. Blain

81 books1,318 followers
RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

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5 stars
953 (55%)
4 stars
430 (25%)
3 stars
251 (14%)
2 stars
66 (3%)
1 star
17 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
Profile Image for Jeanie.
120 reviews2 followers
May 13, 2020
Grave Humor

By: R. J. Blain

Rather a wild ride for me with this author. I loved the hook and was intrigued from the first couple chapters. Then it took a turn and I thought....What?! Was confused about the characters and even where this read was headed.

I almost thought of quitting but instead took a break and did a little investigation of R.J. Blain’s other publications and reviews (not really fair but oh well.). They were 90% glowing reviews on this series and most of her books. I thought to myself..”Self, you need to go back and read the rest”. I AM SO GLAD I gave myself that advice.

Now I understand that this author is a snarky whimsical paranormal fantasy guru for those that enjoy nonsensical and straightforward writing that seems like she’s making it up as she goes along! Ha.

I don’t find it a laugh out loud type of funny but there are bits that have you chuckling in your mind. Mainly it’s a story about a destitute 18 year old high school drop out with deadbeat parents. Trying to stay afloat and put food in her stomach, she finds her employer (funeral director) has masterminded a plot to use her as a sacrifice for an “ancient” being that is kept in the basement at the funeral home. She goes to the basement thinking she is to clean and finds herself locked in with a dangerous vampire and an “ancient” who knows what.

From there she decides she has nothing to loose so, holding her own, she tells them she might be better off dead anyway. (This is about the time I thought....WHAT?!). Instead she befriends both and enslaves herself to the “Ancient” and is tasked with educating him in the ways of the era they are now living in. That’s where the cuteness comes.

I am very glad I decided to persevere. It’s rife with cuteness and lighthearted romance. I think you should give it a try and see if it strikes your fancy. I for one will pick up another!

JeanieG

Getting 4 weirdly romantic sheep.
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,801 reviews30 followers
January 5, 2026
Jan 2026
Kindle edition

Re-read. There it is. No secret from the start.

Jan 2021

Re-read to find out about the dragon. Wasn’t sure if it was the same dragon from Whatever for hire or a different dragon but the meeting was interesting. Memory wise all I remembered was two guys in the freezer. I didn’t realise what the story was about until Azrael. I liked how Satin has now become a family man.


May 2020

I missed these. I skimmed the He and Him info dumps and went along for the ride. Some funny moments and a lot of entertaining characters. I liked the main character and her guy, although they did pretty much get gate crashed by Lucy and his wife. I really liked Gordon and the threats for new relationships. Enjoyable as always, I’m looking forward to more in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,145 reviews18 followers
December 18, 2023
A complex but satisfying read.

As with all R. J. Blains books this one is heavy on the dialogue, ----which I for one enjoy------, it does mean though that you have to pay attention while.reading or you may miss an important plot point. Arwen is the heroine in this story with Eoghan the hero. When we meet Arwen she is working in the local funeral parlour, a job not without it's dramas as not all the deceased stay put in their coffins but regularly get up and create problems. Arwen enjoys when the dead rise as this means a salary bonus ( if she can get them back in their coffin) something she really needs as her pay is not great. One day while dealing with a cantankerous old man who will not stay dead Arwen is sent to the basement of the funeral parlour where the facilities rarest guests are kept. There's a corpse who's been there forever kept frozen and a vampire who's neither dead or alive but is in pieces. No one likes going near these two but Arwwen has no choice she needs her pay check. This day things take a sinister turn, the iceman is awake and aware he keeps calling Arwen the Sacrifice --------'-which doesn't scare her at all------------ and wants her to help revive the vampire. This begins a fast ride towards one of the most complex but interesting story's in this series so far. If you are a fan of this series this is a fun ride if new to the series I suggest you start with the first book Playing With Fire and go from there. There is a starter pack of seven books in the series for the reduced price of £7.99 great value. While this book can be read as a stand alone it does refer to events from a previous book.
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,382 reviews84 followers
October 29, 2025
Another fantastic ride in the Magical Romantic Comedies with a Body Count universe!

Anwen Nash is a great leading lady, so calm in the face of Death. And Eoghan (Owen) Olin, Mr. Arrogant Asshole or the Antique, was very interesting, with all his secrets. This one was all about Death, hardly surprising with a title like Grave Humor.

Lucifer was as tricky as before, as were his angelic brothers.
1,936 reviews18 followers
May 13, 2020
Despite the author's signature snarky humour and twisted flawed characters, this turned out to be a surprisingly philosophical examination on the nature of death, death myths and the afterlife. The author has a true gift for analysing philosophical or social justice issues in a way that is accessible and understandable to the average reader. I quite enjoyed the varied depths of this novel and I want the next soon.
Profile Image for Rosanne Reeve.
50 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2020
Love it!

Another great story. Love Anwen. At the beginning I just wanted to hug and cuddle her and tell her everything would be alright. By the end I was cheering her sassiness and cheek. Awesome to see Satin and his brothers again and the introduction of Eoghan was excellent. Loved the chemistry between Anwen and Eoghan.
Profile Image for Cory Cravens.
182 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2020
This is a wild book!

Wow! What a fun ride this book took me on! I was hooked from the first sentence. I was not expecting how this story would go at all. I figured out some things, but others stayed in the dark until way late in the book. I love the main character, Anwen. She is headstrong and likable. It surprised me that Lucy and the archangels played such a large role in the story. But I sure enjoyed their presence! Another magnificent book by a beloved author. Good job miss Blain, good job.
Profile Image for Mary Petruska.
40 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2020
Fun! Laughs! Death!

Another side splitting, laugh out loud, pee on yourself, snort your drink through your nose book. Every Magical Romantic Comedy with a body book stands on its own and each and everyone is hilarious. If you want a book to make you laugh no matter what is going on around, grab one of these. It takes talent to make death humorous. RJ Blain has that in spades. One word: Enjoy!
Profile Image for Cindy.
939 reviews19 followers
May 14, 2020
Death, love, the Devil AND his wife - what more could you ask for? This takes place after the events of Whatever for Hire - but you don't have to have read WFH first. [Although I do recommend it - very funny book!]
Profile Image for Cryogenic Fire.
230 reviews3 followers
May 12, 2020
*Happy Sigh*

There is nothing better than waking to a new R.J. Blain book, and to wake to an new R.J. book with a guest appearance from Satin makes me even happier. I read this from start to finish in one sitting and loved everything about it. It's just so much fun from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Ann Mills.
275 reviews
May 13, 2020
These stories are wonderful.

This is the 4th book I’ve read and is a truly fascinating world that has been created. The stories keep you on your toes. You have to pay attention to the storyline or you will miss a connection.
Profile Image for Marianne.
1,315 reviews153 followers
November 22, 2020
3,5 stars

Not one of my favorite R.J. Blain novels, but I did enjoy revisiting Lucifer and his angelic brothers (even though his obsession with his wife’s spots was a little tiresome.)

Anwen and Owen were just... meh.
8 reviews
May 14, 2020
R. J. Blain is my favorite Rom Com and/or paranormal author, so it’s no surprise that I loved this book. Its start in a funeral home seems like it would be depressing, but it’s funny as heck! Anwen’s dialog with Mr. MacGregor is delightful, and things only get better from there. We meet some wonderful new characters, and catch up with some old favorites. [The devil rubbed his hands together. “I’m in a mood tonight, so call me Lucy...”] And of course we have a villain who adds to the expected body count with no regrets from anyone. There are several gems sprinkled around, such as the discussion of agnostic versus atheist versus heathen. And as always there is plenty of snark and sass to go around, plus a heroine who ends up taking no crap from anyone, including archangels or the devil. This book has several mentions of characters and events in Whatever For Hire, so your reading pleasure will be increased if you’ve already read that, but it’s absolutely not needed to enjoy this book. All I can say is, treat yourself and buy this. I rarely re-read books, but this is on a re-read list already!
Profile Image for Diane Lynch Lynch.
1,883 reviews52 followers
May 13, 2020
R. J. Blain’s Grave Humor (Magical Romantic Comedies #14) is a charming tale. In this story, funeral home employee Anwen Nash meets immortal Eoghan Olin. Her life will never be the same again. This novel takes place in Sunset, Alabama. It is a world full of magic.

Grave Humor was an amusing read. R. J. Blain’s writing style reminds me of Shelly Laurenston. I consider that a good thing. It was entertaining reading about an immortal who was in hibernation and now experiencing the modern world. I enjoyed the plot. It was full of conspiracy and interesting twists. I appreciated her use of religion and mythology.

This is the first book that I have read by R. J. Blain. I did not realize this book was part of a series when I started reading it. I could follow the book with no problem, but I am curious about the previous books in the series. I plan on checking out the other books in the series. I recommend this book to people who enjoy humorous paranormal romances. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Profile Image for Heidi Hagan.
296 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2020
Excellent

Another fun installment in the series. I look forward to seeing these characters in the future to see where their story is headed.
Profile Image for Hannah (Hannah, Fully).
706 reviews275 followers
December 27, 2020
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review. Grave Humor sounded like an entertaining book packed with humor, magic and dead bodies, but it went to the reading grave at 30% with a DNF marked on its tombstone.

The book tried too hard to be funny sometimes, with some humorous moments or lines. But unfortunately, a lot of them (at least what I read) were either almost funny or missed the mark completely. This, of course, might be a personal preference as I'm not a fan of Blain's writing style, where the story seems to be heavily built on telling through the characters' dialogue.

• In addition, the characters feel bland and flat rather than fully developed. But again, the development feels focused on what the characters are telling each other through conversations. I could be entirely wrong, though, because I didn't finish Grave Humor, and for all I know, there is more development later.

Honestly, Anwen is a jerk? We learn that she drops out of high school and currently works at a funeral home to make ends meet (but she's still scraping). She has an awful relationship with both her parents and, as a result, tries to put as much distance as she possibly can. Her parents still come by occasionally asking for her money, and it's not to use it for paying bills; it's used for drugs and sex workers, and Anwen is not about giving her parents money to be used freely when they could for it themselves. But what bothers me the most is the interaction Anwen has with her parents, and the thoughts she has.

She wonders, "Why couldn't I have been blessed with some form of fire magic? I would've torched the bastards." And when Eoghan (the handsome gentleman on ice? who she has lustful thoughts about) arrives and she tries to get them to leave, she says, "Fuck you and go away. Eoghan, in. The assholes, leave."

I don't know, y'all. I just feel thinking of torching parents is a bit extreme. But damn, I sure as hell wouldn't use the words "fuck" and "assholes" in front of my parents, much less describe them that way regardless of what they've done. At least, not without going to Hell burning in the hottest flames my ancestors can fire up and then skin me alive. Her anger of finding out her college fund has been used on drugs and sex workers is valid, though, but this just doesn't sit well with me.

I found myself frequently confused with what was going on in the book. It's almost as though the characters of Grave Humor know what's going on, but the readers have few clues. There are bits and pieces of information given that can be connected, but I felt what I got was what I could assume without actually having it confirmed. I don't know if Blain reveals this information later, but if it is, the execution backfired; I ended up more frustrated waiting for elaboration than the desire to be invested into reading more of the story when that energy can be used elsewhere.

This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
1 review3 followers
Want to read
April 18, 2020
I have already preordered this, i buy all R J Blains books day of release!
Profile Image for Sheri.
137 reviews
May 16, 2020
Another wonderful romp in this world that I've become addicted to. The LOL continues here AND Satin is back! One of my favorite characters in this world, always makes me stop and laugh, reread and laugh again. And oh - did I mention there are angels again? Ah the mystery there, continuously unfolding.

Anwen has had a hard life and circumstance has thrown her into a position where, if she takes a chance, her life will become way different and, mostly, better than anything she has had before. Her life will not be easy though as it's going to take time coming to terms with what she is and what the fates need her to be.

The only dragging point for me was the main villain. He's definitely short a few important crayons in the box, which did provide for some entertaining moments, but he was not much of a challenge to our newest family members.

When I need a laugh and feel good book, and an escape from the daily grind, this series is my go to place.
Profile Image for Ga Books LoverX.
2,411 reviews24 followers
May 11, 2020
This is my first book by RJ Blain and I saw the blurb and thought, this looks interesting and hilarious and I was definitely not wrong about that! I will say that there is a lot going on in the book and my head was spinning a bit in the beginning and was a bit confused. After I took a minute and wrapped my head over what was happening and everything clicked, I totally got into it!

This was funny and I totally loved the paranormal aspect of it once I got into it! Anwen was a great leading lady, she was funny and real in a totally weird way and I dug it completely. All in all if you are looking for a humorous paranormal romance, this will totally be up your alley! I give it 4 outta 5 stars and will definitely be checking out this author again!

PS: Thank you to RJ Blain and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
Profile Image for Paranormal Books R Us.
461 reviews31 followers
May 14, 2020
Grave Humor Review

Great addition to the MRC series! Full of chaos and odd but fun characters especially the Antique. I was also particularly pleased with how involved good old Satin was with this story. Because when he's around things are never boring. Add a vampire some angels, a lot of magic and a small cameo from a dragon and it kept me very amused. I definitely recommend it.
2,877 reviews12 followers
May 15, 2020
Loved this book

This book gets mighty close to being one of my favorites of the series (but it’s hard to beat a fire-breathing unicorn). You’ve got dead people, meddling angels, Death, and Lucy’s back! I heart Lucy so much, and throughly enjoyed his presence in this book. I much enjoyed reading about Eoghan and Anwen. Anwen can be so sweet but has a core of steel.
30 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2020
Take a wild ride through death and destruction in multiple pantheons: vampires, angels, archangels, the Fates, demons, devils, Satan and his wife. There was even a chase scene in a graveyard. I enjoyed reading it but I was up till the wee hours finishing it because I just couldn't put it down. RJ Blain's imagination is a fearsome thing, I am in awe.
145 reviews4 followers
May 16, 2020
This book was wonderful. It is funny and heartfelt and does a lovely job of looking at death. I liked Anwen’s development and her compassion for those that haven’t quite passed. Eoghan was a fascinating character to think about given his life and job. The insertion of the Heavenly (and not so Heavenly) Host was delicious. Another fantastic book by the author!
38 reviews
May 14, 2020
Another delight in this series.

I haven't had this much fun with a series and seeing how it all fits together, since Piers Anthony and his series starting with A Pale Horse, about Thanatos, Death. Can't wait for the next one...I'll just have to re-read them. Something to help keep me sane.
305 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2020
Absolutely brilliant

This series is so good I mark release dates on my calendar. This one is no exception.
Brilliant conversation, a plot that means you never expect the twists and turns, characters you really cheer for.

Anwen is perfect.
Profile Image for Deb Dionne.
314 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2020
Grave Humor

A wonderful humorous and snarky paranormal book. This series is hilarious. A fantastic story and I can’t wait for R J Blain’s next book!
411 reviews5 followers
May 14, 2020
Excellent!

I love this world, the unearthly inhabitants and of course, the snarky byplay! . Devils and angels, black dogs, and spotted cats. Abuse and revenge, victim to empowered. Did I mention the snark?
10 reviews
May 15, 2020
Laughed so hard I almost peed myself!

As always I loved this book! It made me laugh so hard my teenagers where looking at me like I was insane! I loved Eoghan and Anwen and I hope we get to read more of their story.
26 reviews
May 15, 2020
Loved it.

Grave Humor is definitely a keeper and to be read frequently.
5 reviews
May 15, 2020
Another winner

Loved meeting new characters while being reunited with well-loved characters. Waiting with bated breathe for the next one. Please hurry!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews

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