Interview with Death

by V.K. Pasanen

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The exploration of death from a perspective that is both terrifying and tender is unforgettable. It's more than just a book; it's an experience that leaves imprints on your soul.” Amazon Review.


A man on the edge. A message from Death. A chance to change his life forever.

Nathan Miller is haunted by loss and obsessed with a vision of Death who passed him for someone else. A nightmare of his own demise follows and inspires an essay about an interview with the Grim Reaper who appears as a Man in Black.

Years pass and Nathan is living the dream. He is a war correspondent and a bestselling author at the pinnacle of success with the perfect wife and family. And thanks to the Man in Black, he’s indestructible (or so it seems).

But Nathan’s world is built on lies and regret.

Consumed by guilt, Nathan seeks solace in a devilish guardian angel, only to spiral down a rabbit hole of addiction. At rock bottom, he’s faced with a choice and a job offer from the Man in Black.

Will Nathan survive his Interview with Death? And if so, will he accept what Death has to offer knowing the Burden that comes with the job?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Throughout the storyline, wisps of philosophy find their place within the horror, the magic, the fantasy, and the characters that will stick with you long after you've read the last page.” Lex Allen, Readers’ Favorite.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “… more than just a story about life and death—it's a profound exploration of redemption, regret, and the human condition.” Amazon Review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Profound and captivating… an absolutely thought-provoking book which everyone should read.” Amazon Review.

Genres: Fantasy

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

V. K. lives in the Seattle area with his wife of over 30 years. He has 2 grown children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and 2 dogs―a lab-mix from Corsicana, Texas and a peach poodle from Cheng Du, China. Outside writing, he works as a relief veterinarian. His hobbies include snowboarding, hiking, music, traveling, and reading/listening to variety of genres that vary as much as his eclectic taste in music.

His inspirations included Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Tony Hillerman, Dan Brown, Erik Larson, David Grann and numerous other fiction and non-fiction authors. He loves origin stories and has long been a history buff. Additional inspirations include a history professor whose name has been forgotten and a one-semester professor at Texas A&M University, Pulitzer Prize finalist, H.W. Brands. Concerning writing, his style is a mix of supernatural fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, and polymythology. While he dislikes comparisons, those that like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Neal Shusterman might also enjoy his novels.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interview with Death was just what you'd expect it to be.

An interview with death, but this is not of a script of one guy interviewing death, this is the story of a man who lived and breathed death around him. Who was gifted and promised to succeed only to find destruction and death followed up. A chance encounter with fate and suddenly Death knocks on his door and says "hey, you wanna be my PA?" (paraphrased).

So what would you do if Death did that?

Story of recovery, overcoming trauma and working for one of the most important people in the cosmos. This story is recommended and couldn't be recommended.

I received a copy complementary via voracious readers only from the Author and all views and expressions are my own.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

His life is better than he had expected it to be and he will do an interview with death. He has many regrets and guilt from the past. This is such a wonderful read

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Interview with Death by V. K. Pasanen, readers are introduced to Nathan Miller, a man whose personal tragedies have inadvertently set him on a path of eerie inspiration, guided by Death itself. As a successful war correspondent and writer, Nathan seems to lead a charmed life, shielded by a perceived invincibility linked to his supernatural muse. Yet beneath his professional triumphs, he grapples with overpowering guilt that spirals into addiction.

This supernatural fantasy novel, tinged with magical realism, delves into a rich tapestry of themes, including politics, addiction, love, fate, and the omnipresence of death. The narrative strength lies in the intricate character development and exploring deep existential themes. Nathan's authentic portrayal of internal conflicts and moral quandaries not only enhances the realism of his character but also pulls the reader into the depths of his tumultuous life. Death is personified in a complex yet intriguing manner, reminiscent of the whimsical yet profound portrayal found in Terry Pratchett’s works. This character adds a layer of suspense and philosophical musing to the plot, enriching the narrative. The presence of Kaisa, another pivotal character, introduces necessary emotional layers and acts as a mirror reflecting Nathan's inner turmoil and growth. The novel does not shy away from the grim realities of historical atrocities such as ethnic cleansing, embedding these within its fabric to challenge the reader further. Despite these strengths, the novel occasionally stumbles in pacing and development. Certain plot points, particularly those detailing Nathan's descent into addiction and his consequential decisions influenced by Death, seem hurried and underexplored.

Interview with Death is a compelling exploration of the darker sides of human nature and supernatural intervention. Its rich thematic base and complex characters offer an in-depth, if occasionally dense, narrative experience.

[BAM xo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks for an ARC of this book for review.

This book was very different to my usual reads, but in a great way.
I found it very thought provoking and intense, I loved the thorough details throughout the book, and the use of each chapter as what I perceived as a sort of journal entry/inner monologue/diary.

The characters were beautifully written and had their own flaws and strengths. I found that the depth of the characters ran deeper than just basic mundane parts of a play. They were all integral to the story and all had a purpose to the story as a whole.

I enjoyed the reflections the MMC depended on to move forward with his life. He overcame a lot to become someone better. His journey was harrowing and bittersweet.

The subjects in this book are not for the weak of heart, it broaches on several sensitive topics such as war, genocide, murder, death, massacres, betrayal, cheating, drug abuse, suicide etc

Now I love a dark and twisty book and this book hit all those notes I favour, a little steam, historical notes, a lot of wit, violence, a little magic and of course gods.

So what are you waiting for? Go and have yourself a little interview with death. 💀

I believe there are several books set in the same universe with overlapping characters/tales. So I will look into getting hold of those.

I will recommend it to all darker fantasy fans, fans of dark fiction, and people just generally seeking something different to their Fae/Shifter world regular reads.

4 well deserved stars from me⭐⭐⭐⭐

I look forward to getting my hands on the rest of the collection!

[Rhonda Almodovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interviewing THE Reaper

This is my first novel by this author. Upfront, it’s most def NOT a horror story. It’s about a guy named Nathan & how he evolves from an above average writer to a writer on par with Hemingway. He then transforms further into a ginormous jackhole of epic proportions & the consequences of said jackholedness (yeah, I just made that word up ppl🙃). I’d NEVER have done what his wife did! It took me 2 weeks to read this 304 page novel. That should tell you all that you need to know about this book. The story was written well but there was TONS of superfluous info that lent to it being hard to finish. I gave him 4 stars due to his thoroughness of research of backstory & premise of the story. On the flip side, he had minimal errors. Now, someone plz cue “Don’t Fear the Reaper”!

[Björn Pellkvist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly fascinating book, keeping you captivated from the beginning until the very end. The storytelling is brilliant and the characters have depth. Places mentioned are described in such a way that you feel like you are almost there. This is why I believe that this book would also be fitting to be turned into a movie later on. Death becomes throughout the book a more likeable character than you'd expect. His relationship to a mortal man has many twists. Make sure that when you pick up the book to start reading that you are prepared, because you may not want to put it down again until you read it all. Looking forward to further books in the series!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange trip...

The first 30% of the book is the autobiography of a war correspondent. 30-45% is one big drug trip, and from 45% onward, when he finally speaks with death, it gets into the fantasy past of the book, which is weird. The world gets down, but somehow everything works out fine for him.

The writing is good - this was a book unlike any I've read before. However, it was too weird for me, even though I love to read fantasy.

[Denise Felce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. It literally had me running the gamut of emotions, at some point I loved it and then I hated it. It made me cry and it made me want to throw it across the room. I want to really love it but I can't five stars love it. I do recommend reading it, because it is well written and the author definitely knows how to paint a picture.

[Deb Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different

This has been the strangest book I have ever read. It did hook me from the very beginning. I can actually picture this being a true story. It isn't sifi but has aspects of it throughout. Jimmy Moreland did an excellent narration on this book. Highly recommend!

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So entertaining!!

I really love these characters and I can't wait to find out what is in store. This book is such a unique take on the Afterlife.

[rob]

Poor writing style.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining - the story drags at point but worth reading.

[Jacque KEEGAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Political journalist and author Nathan has always been able to see ‘Death’ and ‘Death’ has taken an interest in his life.
Fantasy thriller set in a war torn era.
Excellent book.

[Lisa Lundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got stared I couldn't put it down! Interesting concept and engaging characters. Now I have to go back and reread the rest of the books in this series to tie it all together!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story reads like a memoir, starting from 1960 and ending with Nathan's role as Reaper of Souls by the 2010s. The writing style speaks to the readers as if answering interview questions and contains onomatopoeia, making for an engaging read. The structure changes, starting with a general year and recounting events that are important to Nathan before listing specific dates. Nathan refers to his time in the military and marriage, exploring his diary entries and experiencing time changes. There are plenty of characters who come and go in Nathan's life and lots of events that take place, resulting in Nathan becoming the Reaper of Souls.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily
Thank you to Booksprout, Hidden Gems Books, and author.

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an action packed fast pace read. The man in black needs a break once in a while and Nathan is whom he has decided could do so. Will Nathan or won't he and can he overcome all of his mistakes?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong start to the Tales from the Afterworld series. It does a great job in introducing this world and characters to the reader. It had a interesting premise and I enjoyed reading this. V. K. Pasanen has a great writing style and left me wanting more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal Wrongerahippie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. It follows Nathan Miller as her meets Death and yes interviews him but also learns he will be training to be his helper.