Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World, Mark Waddell (Review by Mari Mendoza)

Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell is a campy dark fantasy. It’s a cross between “The Office” and the outlandish hijinx in “Dude, Where’s My Car” but make it take place in an organization that works for Hell. Power-hungry Colin lands a job as Class 4-A Executive Assistant (Probationary) at Dark Enterprises. He is eager to keep climbing the corporate ladder but also make the class 5 employees in HR suffer. Though he’s kind of a loner, a blind date with smoking-hot Eric goes really well. Things are looking up for Colin. But when he unintentionally sets loose a being so powerful it can and will destroy the world, things start to go sideways. Even though there’s plenty of death and dismemberment, I would classify this book as a cozy horror. Even though the stakes are the entire world, you never feel anything but calm knowing the main character and his sidekicks are going to sort it out. The LGBTQIA+ romances were a nice touch and while predictable, I enjoyed them. What stands out in the story is the world building. Here you get a typical corporate world with its office politics and power-hungry low level minions but also workplace hazards such as Blood Sacrifice Thursdays. Colin has to worry about the jerk who is trying to get him fired as well as being flung into the abyss or getting caught by the monster that lurks on the stairs near the 5th floor. Getting terminated is a one-way ticket to Hell with no chance of getting out. But it’s not all bad, there’s grilled cheese in the cafeteria on Thursdays! Some of the dialogue felt cheesy and unrealistic to me. However, that is a common theme I see in Cozies of all kinds. This story was silly and weird in the best way and I think if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted and funny horror, this book is going to be a great fit for you. Readers of A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore may enjoy this title. I gave it 3.75/5 stars.