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Littlest Death: A Labyrinth of Souls Novel
Fantasy Silver Medalist 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
One human soul and a little respect isn't too much to ask for, but both are hard to get if you've only been a death for a thousand years.
Littlest Death yearns for the respect given to grim reapers who bring human souls from Overworld into Underworld. She works hard at the jobs she's given. Really hard! No other death gathers in MILLIONS of souls at time like she does. Okay, they are just the souls of fungi, bacteria, and single-celled critters like amoebas, but—MILLIONS! If she could bring in just one human soul, the other deaths would stop looking down on her. Desperate to become a real death, frustrated by humans, and hounded by a Hell Puppy, she sets out to spy on the most accomplished death in the history of dying, Oldest Death. Her actions threaten the eternal flow of souls between life and death, and by the time she understands the damage she's done, it may be too late to save herself and the souls she has hurt.
An Afterlife Fantasy
by award winning author Eric Witchey.
One human soul and a little respect isn't too much to ask for, but both are hard to get if you've only been a death for a thousand years.
Littlest Death yearns for the respect given to grim reapers who bring human souls from Overworld into Underworld. She works hard at the jobs she's given. Really hard! No other death gathers in MILLIONS of souls at time like she does. Okay, they are just the souls of fungi, bacteria, and single-celled critters like amoebas, but—MILLIONS! If she could bring in just one human soul, the other deaths would stop looking down on her. Desperate to become a real death, frustrated by humans, and hounded by a Hell Puppy, she sets out to spy on the most accomplished death in the history of dying, Oldest Death. Her actions threaten the eternal flow of souls between life and death, and by the time she understands the damage she's done, it may be too late to save herself and the souls she has hurt.
An Afterlife Fantasy
by award winning author Eric Witchey.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2017
About the author
Eric Witchey
23 books50 followersEric Witchey's fiction has appeared nationally and internationally in magazines and anthologies. He has published in multiple genres under several names. His how-to articles have appeared in The Writer Magazine, Writer's Digest Magazine, Writer's Northwest Magazine, Northwest Ink, and in a number of on-line publications. His fiction has won recognition from The International Book Award, The Independent Publisher Book Award, Writers of The Future, New Century Writers, Writer's Digest, the Eric Hoffer Prose Award program, Short Story America, and www.ralan.com. When not teaching or writing, he restores antique HO locomotives or tosses bits of feather and pointy wire at laughing trout.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 22, 2022
I wrote it, so I might be biased. Maybe. A little.
October 8, 2017
This is a very unusual book -- the main character, Littlest Death, gathers the souls of tiny creatures like plankton, algae, fungi, and bacteria. However, she longs to gather a human soul like the older deaths do. The characters around her include the cat-like Baast, the hawk-like Ereshkigal, the crocodile-like Ammit, and an extremely enjoyable interpretation of Kerberus. So, while this is not a furry book, there's a lot here for furry readers to enjoy.
Littlest Death's journey in this book is both compelling and thought-provoking. I'm extremely glad to have read this book.
Littlest Death's journey in this book is both compelling and thought-provoking. I'm extremely glad to have read this book.
October 7, 2017
I SO loved this book! One of my favorite reads of the year. Witchey has given us a story that is both universal and intimately personal. I loved every minute of reading this book and was exceedingly sad when it ended and there wasn't another page to turn. The Labrinth of Souls novels and novellas is based on the universe created by the solitaire game written by Matthew Lowes.
July 12, 2018
A beautiful reminder of a message one could never hear too many times...Littlest Death is a heroine worth following.
February 27, 2018
This was simultaneously cute and gut-wrenching. I’m not totally sold on it’s target audience, but then again it’s an interesting mashup of genres; makes sense the target audience would be equally mixed.
I liked: the dog, the Jesus-like kid, and the ending.
I didn’t like: the beginning, which sorta dragged for me.
I hated to like: all the times the author almost made me cry, and then insisted it was the characters’ fault and not his. (Still not believing it.)
I liked: the dog, the Jesus-like kid, and the ending.
I didn’t like: the beginning, which sorta dragged for me.
I hated to like: all the times the author almost made me cry, and then insisted it was the characters’ fault and not his. (Still not believing it.)
October 25, 2017
I was hooked after the first couple paragraphs. Eric Witchey spins a wonderful tale of death, life, connections, and choices. This seems to be just a simple story about a young grim reaper learning the ways of the (Under)world. At only a thousand or so years young, this littlest death is still naive about what it means to be a harvester of souls. Littlest death goes on a journey full of twists and turns and unexpected revelations through each masterfully penned page in an attempt to prove herself a worthy death. The book kept me guessing throughout, and I couldn't have been more pleased with how it ended. I will have my 7th grade daughter devour this book next, and I can't wait to talk about all the ways this "Littlest Death" relates to life.
November 1, 2017
I think this is a cute story about Littlest Death, a grim reaper of sorts, coming into her own. I love Littlest Death and her playful sidekick. I love the concept of the underworld and souls and an amphitheater of deaths.
On the other hand, I spent a lot of time being frustrated at Oldest Death and his method of mentoring the novice reaper. I was angry at the disdain of the older deaths and their treatment of her.
I felt like I needed more underworld. There was a lot of empty time. It seems like beings who live for eons would have habits and hobbies and pastimes for the hours of empty time between assignments. In general, they don't seem to have cats or a fondness for curry. It feels like the world should be more robust or more clear as to why it's devoid of existence.
Overall, it's a fun read and the perfect length for a rainy afternoon. It pairs well with mango black tea or hot chocolate and fuzzy socks.
On the other hand, I spent a lot of time being frustrated at Oldest Death and his method of mentoring the novice reaper. I was angry at the disdain of the older deaths and their treatment of her.
I felt like I needed more underworld. There was a lot of empty time. It seems like beings who live for eons would have habits and hobbies and pastimes for the hours of empty time between assignments. In general, they don't seem to have cats or a fondness for curry. It feels like the world should be more robust or more clear as to why it's devoid of existence.
Overall, it's a fun read and the perfect length for a rainy afternoon. It pairs well with mango black tea or hot chocolate and fuzzy socks.
October 30, 2017
Let the Littlest Death lead you on a big journey to explore souls’ connections between life and death across cultures and times. As a curious reader you can leave this story with more questions than you knew existed about the relationships among life, death, consciousness, the journey of souls, and your own humanity. I will enjoy reading this several times to unveil new lessons and insights as my own soul grows.
Our children enjoy reading mythology stories.I think the middle schoolers and avid readers around age ten may be mature enough to enjoy this journey. They too could come back as older readers to experience this story in a new way.
Our children enjoy reading mythology stories.I think the middle schoolers and avid readers around age ten may be mature enough to enjoy this journey. They too could come back as older readers to experience this story in a new way.
October 24, 2020
I don’t normally read fantasy, but I was hooked on the very first page and couldn’t put this book down. The struggles of Littlest Death mirror what most of us do as we try to find our way. We experience frustration, dissatisfaction, and despair. We identify a problem and tackle a solution that we think will bring us what we think we need, but when we achieve our goal, we still find ourselves lacking. We try again and again to fix things, but fall short, and by the time we figure it out, we may have missed our opportunity.
Littlest Death finally gets it, and after finally bowing to her fate, finds her true place.
Littlest Death finally gets it, and after finally bowing to her fate, finds her true place.
April 10, 2018
The thing I liked the most about The Littlest Death was the build-up toward the end. Witchey manages the emotional tempo of the story with amazing grace and subtly.
The plot seems simple - the littlest grim reaper, tired of being looked down on, tries to change her fate by learning from Oldest Death. Along the way, the reader is treated to laughter and tears before a well-earned ending.
If you like coming-of-age stories set in the afterlife, The Littlest Death is the book for you!
The plot seems simple - the littlest grim reaper, tired of being looked down on, tries to change her fate by learning from Oldest Death. Along the way, the reader is treated to laughter and tears before a well-earned ending.
If you like coming-of-age stories set in the afterlife, The Littlest Death is the book for you!
December 18, 2018
Eric Witchey's novel Littlest Death is a wonderful example of using myths about death to create a new mythos. In this novel, Littlest Death has been collecting the souls of small organisms for a thousand years and she pines to be allowed to guide a human soul from death to a lake of souls before it is reborn.
But when she gets her chance, she takes away a soul that wasn't ready to die.
Wonderful novel with insights about how different cultures think about death.
But when she gets her chance, she takes away a soul that wasn't ready to die.
Wonderful novel with insights about how different cultures think about death.
September 8, 2019
This is a brilliant tale of innocence and growth. Some one important to me once said, "Life will teach you right from wrong if you're paying attention." Having read this novel, I know that death cannot be omitted from the curriculum. Littlest Death is a wonderful, touching story, not to be missed.
December 27, 2017
Charming book about the personification of death. Made me cry at the end.
August 4, 2018
When I first cracked the cover of Littlest Death, by Eric Witchey, I was not yet ready to read it. I had some health problems and had some recent up-close arguments with the Grim Reaper. A book that is not shy about depicting death upon death upon death (a quote), ideally, should be read by those not shy of reading about death upon death upon death depiction. Consequently, this is a book that will be enjoyed most by folks who are in the “I am going to live forever,” crowd.
That said, once my health problem was resolved and I got over myself, so to speak, I found a most enjoyable and unexpectantly charming story that totally dispelled any of my initial fears. The matter-of-factness of the prose about the business of collecting souls immediately sets the reader at ease about the subject matter. There is something odd yet comforting to know that death ‘workers’ have the same problems with status, self-worth and respect that we struggling humans have; only on a slightly expanded time scale—say thousands of years.
I immediately sympathized with the protagonist Littlest Death in her personal journey to better herself. And, to paraphrase my favorite enlightened leader, “Who knew death could be just as complicated and messy as life?”. In fact, in this book, death is life, and life is death (a tricky overworld/underworld juxtaposition and Witchey pulls you in before you realize you are in some kind of incarnation loop. Speaking of incarnation, if you have strictly a Judeo-Christian outlook on life you’re probably not going to buy the life/death conceit of Littlest Death. However if you like your religion eclectic, there is a marvelous mix, or should I say blending, of religion and mythology. Who was it that said: “Religion is the mythology we believe, and mythology is the religion that we disbelieve?” Mythology also gives you some wonderfully exotic names such as Ereshkigal, Baast and Ammit, with which to pepper a manuscript.
I gotta say, Littlest Death has one of the best magical helpers in recent literature. The Three-headed Hydra Hound, or should I say The Pointless Pooch, or The Trihound or Dead Head Dog or any of dozens—and never a repetition—0f delightful names the mutt(s) go(s) by. Each successive ‘different’ dog name brought a smile to my lips as if I was privy, along with the author, to some secret coded language society. And, the Hydra Hound makes us more sympathetic to Littlest Death, because we have all survived the overbearing apocalypse of a three dog night (no matter how well-intended).
I loved the ending. Reluctant, initially, to begin reading a story with death as the protagonist, I was transposed into tears of joy, acceptance, and yes, surrender by the ending.
And, I have no idea where I got this notion from reading The Littlest Death, but I have the joyful feeling that when I die, all my past dogs (well okay cats, too) will be waiting to greet me at the Pearly Gates.
That said, once my health problem was resolved and I got over myself, so to speak, I found a most enjoyable and unexpectantly charming story that totally dispelled any of my initial fears. The matter-of-factness of the prose about the business of collecting souls immediately sets the reader at ease about the subject matter. There is something odd yet comforting to know that death ‘workers’ have the same problems with status, self-worth and respect that we struggling humans have; only on a slightly expanded time scale—say thousands of years.
I immediately sympathized with the protagonist Littlest Death in her personal journey to better herself. And, to paraphrase my favorite enlightened leader, “Who knew death could be just as complicated and messy as life?”. In fact, in this book, death is life, and life is death (a tricky overworld/underworld juxtaposition and Witchey pulls you in before you realize you are in some kind of incarnation loop. Speaking of incarnation, if you have strictly a Judeo-Christian outlook on life you’re probably not going to buy the life/death conceit of Littlest Death. However if you like your religion eclectic, there is a marvelous mix, or should I say blending, of religion and mythology. Who was it that said: “Religion is the mythology we believe, and mythology is the religion that we disbelieve?” Mythology also gives you some wonderfully exotic names such as Ereshkigal, Baast and Ammit, with which to pepper a manuscript.
I gotta say, Littlest Death has one of the best magical helpers in recent literature. The Three-headed Hydra Hound, or should I say The Pointless Pooch, or The Trihound or Dead Head Dog or any of dozens—and never a repetition—0f delightful names the mutt(s) go(s) by. Each successive ‘different’ dog name brought a smile to my lips as if I was privy, along with the author, to some secret coded language society. And, the Hydra Hound makes us more sympathetic to Littlest Death, because we have all survived the overbearing apocalypse of a three dog night (no matter how well-intended).
I loved the ending. Reluctant, initially, to begin reading a story with death as the protagonist, I was transposed into tears of joy, acceptance, and yes, surrender by the ending.
And, I have no idea where I got this notion from reading The Littlest Death, but I have the joyful feeling that when I die, all my past dogs (well okay cats, too) will be waiting to greet me at the Pearly Gates.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews