Satan and the Adventure of the Blue-Eyed Freak

by Ray Bendici

Satan and the Adventure of the Blue-Eyed Freak

Sportswriter Nick Brooks is covering yet another boring baseball game when he inadvertently encounters Sarah Rypien, an extraordinary young woman who immediately spins his existence downside up and cattywampus. Before he knows it, the prerequisite chaos/hilarity ensues, dragging him into one of those absurd irregular-Joe-meets-possible-psycho-and-saves-the-world brand of adventures, replete with action, intrigue, mysterious men in Volvos, a very special FBI special agent, 1.5 romances, and a healthy dash of the LOLs. (You know, like Mom used to make.)

Oh, and on a semi-unrelated Nick just happens to be sharing his life with an incarnation of the entity commonly beloved as "Satan."

In this fun, satiric sci-fi romp—packed with enough pop culture references to give the intrawebz a nosebleed—Ray Bendici vaults readers through an entertaining jaunt that bends brains, time, reality, and genres. On the plus side, no one gets turned into a newt.

Genres: Humor

319 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2022

About the author

Ray Bendici writes and edits stuff, both for fun and for a living. He is the author/editor of multiple books, including Speaking Ill of the Dead: Connecticut Jerks, Connecticut Curiosities: 3rd Edition, and Stones and Bones of New England: A Guide to Unusual, Historic, and Otherwise Notable Cemeteries. Satan and The Adventure of the (Other) Other God is the sequel to his debut novel, Satan and The Adventure of The Blue-Eyed Freak.

He has been a writer/editor at multiple print and digital publications, including Tech & Learning, District Administration, and Connecticut Magazine, at which his work earned multiple awards from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists. He also founded Damned Connecticut, a website dedicated to everything unusual, weird, and extraordinary in his home state of Connecticut.

If all this isn’t enough (and really it should be), take a deeper dive into ‘rayality’ at raybendici.com.

Reviews

[Ashley Ottesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of my favorite reads of the year. A master work in writing. Sarcastically funny, witty, and chock full of more pop culture references than I previously thought possible. It was like reading an entry in the diary of the Lord of Darkness with the asides, random tangents and the occasional bad dad joke. There were many moments of quite literally laughing out loud.

I loved it!

As a side note: if you are someone of faith who is uncomfortable with that faith being called into question, don’t read it. If not, then I recommend the heck out of this book!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the improbable adventures a trio of improbable beings, suffering through improbable dangers and bad jokes. Laughing out loud at the devilish humor is right out of an Aeschylus performance, improbably.
Why not a five? As entertaining as Ray is, the novel might suffer the ravages of time, with so many references to some not-up-to-date bad TV sitcoms. Some younger folks might miss that humor. I didn’t, by Al, so maybe I’ll up my rating to a 4.5.
Read it…you won’t regret it!

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well... That was different.
I bought this on some whacky Instagram poster's recommendation, and, boy! Was it a mistake? No. Not a mistake, but not the best book ever either.
A very interesting story line with good characters! It runs at a good pace and there are only a few plot holes.
The writer is sometimes a bit precious, using too many $10 words where one $2 word would do. I guess it makes the characters quirky, but I could have done with a bit less of it.
I *think* I got most of the obscure references to things from popular culture of the past, but I'm not sure. Some were funny.
Go ahead & read it! You likely won't be disappointed.

[Julia Mikes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not the right reader for this book. Which is weird, as a supernatural comedy should be right up my alley. But I hated almost everything about it. Satan was incredibly… boring. The most bland vanilla sport reporter(??!) you can possibly imagine and absolutely no help whatsoever with the whole effing plot aside from getting his ass kicked in an epic way. Several times. For what exactly? By whom exactly? Generic conspiracy dudes plotting an epically moronic plan capturing Sarah, the majorly annoying super villain. If the characters and plot wasn’t enough to give me a belly ache, the inane dialogue might do the trick. I mean, grown men should not make kissy noises at each other just because one of them happens to interact with a woman… they should also refrain from phrases like “cross my heart and hope to die”. I’d think this was written by a precocious high school girl if it wasn’t for the two lifetimes’ worth of pop culture references that puts the age of the writer generously over 50. I got through the whole lot out of sheer stubbornness. I gave 2 stars because it was mildly amusing at times and because it said God is a woman named Al.

[david lavine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great story/adventure!

This tale will take the reader along a very unexpected adventure. I absolutely loved the two main characters, the Devil and Sarah. As I read this in public places I often was looked at rather suspiciously as I would laugh out loud, not 'lol' laughing, but deal laughing out loud.you

I am not sure how Mr Bendici could follow this up with a sequel or two, but certainly would appreciate it if he does. I will look forward to reading his next novels.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! So witty, engaging and original. Really really recommend!

[Rubin Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Devilishly Good Read

This book was recommended by a semi famous Instagram person and I was at a loss for what to read.
I very much enjoyed the book, the characters are engaging and the Devil is quite funny.
There is quite a lot of pop culture references, a lot from Monty Python.

My only grip, is that some times other languages are used with no definition of the words and even context doesn't help. I spent a good half an hour trying to get words translated.

[TJ Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why I have no respect and/or use of Big Publishing. A novel this good, the funny, this well-written should have been snapped up by any publisher with a half a brain cell. Bendici is on par with Christoper Moore in writing talent and story telling. Read this and enjoyed the Hell out of it.

[Andrew Imms · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
Bought this based on a recommendation from Tik Tok
I’ll never do that again
Grammar errors, long sentences, 4th wall breaks, tiny font - very much a self published book
IMHO - needed a professional edit

[STEPHEN TORNIO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the premise of the book and the story. I am one who prefers less detail so I admit I did skip over some of his comedic repartee, but, overall I would recommend to others.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐. This book is very sarcastic and the three main characters are great. I felt at times it got a little long winded but oddly enough even saying that I think it would have made a great audio.

[Daniel Aegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooooo good. I love the characters, writing style, and lore behind it. It’s fun, fast paced, and brutal. Don’t sleep on this one. All hail our dark lord!