Welcome to Your Afterlife by Stephanie Rabig

Welcome to Your Afterlife Reviews

• 
  Pippa D

  Abigail Campos is confused and angry about such a short life, and cranky about the rules she has to follow post death. Only 22 years old, Abigail mostly wants to go back and let her family know she’s ok.
  
  Abigail’s guide in the afterlife is the banshee Renata. Her job is to make Abigail’s transition into the working dead a little easier. Abigail describes herself as asexual, and isn’t interested in a boyfriend, or a girlfriend. So when Abigail is selected to work as a succubus, they are both trying to change the rules. And when Renata starts to fall for Abigail, something has to give.
  
  This novella was a lot of fun. Creative and entertaining, the author has set the scene in the afterlife for lots of possibilities. I loved the idea of the currency of energy, and the different roles for different soles. It had a logic running through the book so that it made sense, and yet was really fun and very creative.
  
  This was a bit of a hoot to read. It was a novella, and while it did have an ending, I really wanted to know what happened next. Much more could have been made from continuing the story, so I wonder if that is what the author is planning. I gave it 3 stars because it felt like the first part of a longer novel, and an extra half star for creativity. There is room for this story to grow.
  
  Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
  
• 
  Lexxi Kitty

  Three reasons why I decided to do a reread of this short story: 1) I loved it the first time I read it but my reaction appears to be mostly unique among the readers of the story (who were at best ‘meh’ and at worst giving it half stars (as in only a half star) in rating; 2) I just read another short story which reminded me very much of this story and wanted to refresh this story in my mind (that would be Aidan Wayne’s ‘Making Love’; 3) it’s a short story of only 39 pages, it’s not like this would take me ages to read.
  
  Hmm. Story opens with ‘It was hard to foretell death when everyone around whom you spent time was already dead.’ Oddly put, that. Past that first line, though, and I feel like I’ve come back to a restful comfortable place. The world of Renata – in an office, processing dead people.
  
  Hey, I’d actually forgotten that Abigail was described as having tattoos and short hair with green tips. An oddball, to be sure. I like oddballs.
  
  It is a rather short story, I realize. Maybe that’s what’s the hold up with others liking/not liking? No matter, I’ve read again – again loved the characters, place, and story. Again give 5 stars.
  
  December 13 2016
  
• 
  IanWAA

  For such a short book it has a remarkable amount of information on how the "afterlife" society works while keeping it balanced with the plot. My only regret is there are no sequels. I will definitely revisit this at some point.
• 
  Lexxi Kitty

  *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 have 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
  
• 
  Elaine Ker

  It was really too short for my liking : I didn't get more than a glance at the characters.
  However, the universe is interesting and developped just enough for me to be able to imagine everything that isn't said.
  
  Regarding the story, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it's great to depict societal acephobia and no internalized acephobia (I'm really tired of internalized acephobia that the character has to 'overcome', as if it were their fault, or a character flaw). So on principle, great work !
  On the other hand, I could think of it as a fluffy romance when I was so hurt by the acephobia.
  Warning : the hierarchy of the 2 main characters is trying to "cure" Abby by forcing her to have sex.
  It was just impossible for me to relax and enjoy the book... but it's a romance, written to be a fun read, and that clashed a lot with what I was feeling.
  
  There is also at least 1 bisexual cliché : "it means I have more choice".
• 
  Caseyazalea

  I really enjoyed this. I like the whole "afterlife is a hideous bureaucracy" trope, and then this story gave that a few extra twists and turns. I really liked the main characters, and their relationship. I would be happy to read more about them and this world. there were a lot of hints of things not explained, like the Lost Souls, and I'd love to read a sequel that explains more about this particular Afterlife.
• 
  aspeccharactersoftheday

  
  https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
• 
  Martina Weiß

  CW: Acephobia, Death
  
  4 / 5 Stars
  
  I've read a book with a similar premise already and yet, this has a totally different vibe and - dare I say it - I liked this one more. (The book I was talking about was After Love )
  
  There's a lot of Acephobia in this one, especially Sex-Repulsed Ace Acephobia that hit me right in my sex-repulsed heart. I usually like to read other people's complaints about books before I pick them up, but this time around I was like "nope" and I'm glad I didn't, because what if I had let myself be talked out of reading this one.
  So what is this one acutally about? Well, it's very character-driven and if that's something that bother's you: well, sorry. The word is very intersting and I'm sure one could have made a way longer book out of this one, especially since the ending is open and leaves room for so much more. Oooooh, how I wished there were a sequel. I'd buy it this very instence.
  
  Anyways, our MC dies and gets to the afterlife, which is devided into different apparments depending on what you believed in and THAT was a really nice touch. Our MC's an atheist, so the death higher ups get to pick what she'll be doing for the rest of eternity and those *insert curse word of your choice here* decided to make our sex-repulsed ace a Succubus. Since the book is very short and since I don't want to spoil too much, I don't want to tell you much more. Just know, that the set-up alone made my heart ache.
  
  The romance isn't this books strongest aspect and I kind of wished it had gone the Zucchini(QPR) route instead, but sapphic romance was what we ended up with. Their friendship is nice but I didn't really feel a different kind of connection there - personally, that is. I think what could and would have fixed that, was more page time. The basis was there, so it's a shame.
  
  I've had a really great time with this one and I'm glad it excists. Maybe one day, the author will write a sequel. If they do, I can't wait to read it.
• 
  Notthatcatwoman

  0.5 out of 5 stars.
  
  For full review see
  http://catswhoread.blogspot.com.au/20...
• 
  Robyn

  Nice to see asexuality get some time in the sun, but this book has a really prosaic version of the afterlife.
• 
  Sankalpita (bookGeeks India)

  Read the full review here -
  http://bookgeeks.in/entries/foreign-a...