How to Survive Your Own Death

The Reaper's Mate #1

by Nancey Cummings

Geri died. A little. She was feeling better.

Turns out being sort-of-dead is complicated. The complication?

She’s being stalked by a guy in robes with a hood and a scythe… Yeah, that guy. He claims she owes him a debt for saving her life and intends to collect.

Nope. Not going to happen. Doesn’t matter if the reaper is awkwardly charming and is sweet to his dog.

Over her dead body.

How to Survive Your Own Death is book one of a three book series, The Reaper's Mate. This is a slow burn! There will be a Happily Ever After but not until book 3. We take our slow burns seriously around here.

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Nancey writes fun, fast and flirty scifi romances featuring feisty heroines and out-of-this-world heros. Nancey lives in an old house with her husband and two cats who have complaints with management. When she’s not writing, she enjoys video games, horror movies and anything involving time travel.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancey...
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nanceycumm/

Reviews

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

👀Tropes: Dual POV Paranormal Novella between a human and a reaper. HtSYOD has an age gap, forced proximity, magic, plus size, and slowwww burn (I think, it hints at it), and ends in a cliffhanger.

☠️CW: Blood, Chronic Illness (hemophilia), Cursing, Death (Yes, of the main character, detailed and described), Injury, Medical Content, Mental Illness (MC believes she is hallucinating, read the author note in the beginning), Toxic Relationship

📚Read Method: I received an advance eBook review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

✨My Thoughts: I've written the author, I've asked for the second book, it's coming. I need it. This is going to be a three book series of novellas, and it does end in a cliffhanger.

Geri dies. Not a spoiler. It happens very quick in and I mean... the title. We find out a lot very quick. The plot is frustrating, sad, and nerve wracking. I need to know what happens next and I don't wanna wait! There's banter between the MC's that makes me smile and I need to know more information about a reaper's life!

💖Quotes: "Nothing said hooray the hallucinations are gone like caffeine delivered with sugar."
"You are being silly rather than confronting uncomfortable truths."

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This novella is dual POV, well written, and the first part of a fast-paced, super slow burn, forced proximity, dark romantic comedy serial between Geri, the female haemophiliac lead who was dead but isn’t currently, and Bazel, the non-binary psychopomp lead presenting in the form that Geri identifies as a male grim reaper. I empathised with Geri’s initial disbelief at her situation. I enjoyed her willingness to confront the “facts” that she was presented with, and to assert her perspective to Bazel. I feel like we didn’t get much of Bazel’s history in this story. I don’t feel like I know more than that he is uptight about the rules and trying to not to disclose information to Geri. I appreciated Geri’s acknowledgment of her unwilling growing feelings for Bazel, and his mystification over any feelings at all. I laughed at the animal companion antics. This section of the story ended on a cliffhanger but not a deadly one. I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes this serial.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geri's luck with men is bad. Her latest boyfriend is a prankster who causes her death... almost. It seems that she is a bridge, but a dead bridge is useless. So, her death is reversed before her soul can leave her body. Now, she owes a debt that she never agreed to, to an entity that has bound her to him, to temporarily perform a function that she detests, but his dog is nice. Bazel needs her as a bridge between the two sides of the veil because someone took his scythe and he can't open portals for souls without it. But there are some things she will not do.

This book ends on a cliffhanger. We have no idea who has taken Bazel's scythe or why. We don't know how Geri is supposed to get it back. We do know that she is a reluctant reaper who doesn't always follow the rules and that Bazel is starting to grow on her. She might keep the dog. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Nancy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure how I would feel about this book…I read it with an open mind. I was glad I did. What an unexpected and creative way to deal with the subject of death then romance. It does end in a cliffhanger but the plot is so good I didn’t mind. The dynamics between these two characters is a delicious slow burn. I loved Bones the dog…nice touch. Enjoy readers! Waiting for part 2.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ARC of this one and was warned it was a slow burn. It was and I loved every minute of it. It was so flipping cute- I love Geri's character and how she holds her own with Death. Geri is a baddy. This first book also ended on a cliffhanger but for whatever reason I wasn't upset about it- just more excited to read the next book in the series.

Definitely worth checking out 😁

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this story that pulled me in from the beginning. Despite the content I found it quirky and fun at times. I loved the interactions between all the characters. I can't wait to read more. *I recieved an Arc for my honest opinion. *

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual and interesting, witty and somehow compelling..