Welcome to Your Afterlife
by Stephanie Rabig
Pages: Unknown
Date: August 10 2016
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Series: None

Review
Rating: 4.75 to 4.95
Read: August 1 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Less than Three Press in return for a fair review.*

This is the first story I’ve read by this author.

I am not sure why exactly, but books/movies/things with this type of theme end up being quite interesting to me. Two things, actually, though one of them is a newish realization. Put the two together and . . . well, I won’t say that it would be guaranteed to be liked by me, but there’s a good chance it would. The two things? Books focused on ‘another level’, on ‘the next life’ or the ‘life in between’. Like here, and in the film ‘Defending Your Life’, and in a few other works here and there that I’ve read (heck, even that somewhat cheesy ‘Heaven Can Wait’ film). That was one, what is/was the other? Works involving asexual. *shrugs, who knew, eh?*

The description on GoodReads is basically good enough to tell what the short story is about (and yes, it is a rather short story). Young woman, barely past legal drinking age at twenty-two, drops dead form a heart attack (which isn’t seen in this story here). That young woman being Abigail Campos, and the asexual of the story. The other point of view/main character would be Renata – who is also the first person presented to the reader.

Renata works in this ‘afterlife’ area. She processes the newly dead and helps them transition to the next stage. She is also, 1) a banshee, 2) dark skinned, 3) bisexual. She is described as being a quite nice woman with a somewhat strongish need to touch others (which is something that comes up for various reasons).

Abigail’s back story, as in her time alive, is touched on, mostly her family situation though. I do not wish to go to deep here as there should be some things left to the reader to find out, eh? Heh. One thing of importance, though, is that Abigail is asexual. ‘Ace’ as she likes to call herself, or her sexual orientation. Looking some things up, Abigail appears to fall into the . . . where was it, ah, ace of hearts – romantic asexual as opposed to spade, aromantic asexual. Oh and, she doesn’t like being touched.

So then, the plot line. Abigail has died prior to the start of this story. She winds up in a very plain room with a woman named Renata sitting on the other side of a desk (as I write this, I cannot actually recall if there is a desk in that room). The dark skinned woman notes that she is there to help Abigail’s transition. Apparently people transition from one existence to the next, though they remain ‘themselves’ until they either go through reincarnation and return to ‘the surface’, or fade away completely due to lack of energy. If and when they reincarnate, the person being reborn does not have memories of their past, but while they are in the ‘afterlife’, they are still ‘themselves’. Modified, though. Since they need to ‘feed’ and or ‘get energy’ to sustain themselves (or get books, and the like).

There are various ‘things’ that people can become during the afterlife, and I realize that saying that they ‘remain the same’ isn’t exactly correct. I meant that they retain their memories, mostly continue looking like themselves for the most part, the like. They just also become something in addition. Like ghosts, or vampires, or banshees, or fae, or reapers, or incubi, or succubus.

So, what has they decided to make this asexual who has come among them? Why a succubus, of course. Heh.

I rather liked the world that has been created here, and the people that inhabit it. Wish the story was just a tad bit longer, though it is fully formed. Just super short. Also wish to read more about the universe and people involved.

I would rate this one somewhere around 4.75 to 4.95.

August 1 2016