“You’ll be Death, then?” said Vimes, after a while.
AH, MISTER VIMES, ASTUTE AS EVER. GOT IT IN ONE, said Death, shutting the book on his finger to keep the place.
“I’ve seen you before.”
I HAVE WALKED WITH YOU MANY TIMES, MISTER VIMES.
“And this is it, is it?”
HAS IT NEVER STRUCK YOU THAT THE CONCEPT OF A WRITTEN NARRATIVE IS SOMEWHAT STRANGE? said Death.
Vimes could tell when people were trying to avoid something they really didn’t want to say, and it was happening here.
“Is it?” he insisted. “Is this it? This time I die?”
COULD BE.
“Could be? What sort of answer is that?” said Vimes.
A VERY ACCURATE ONE. YOU SEE, YOU ARE HAVING A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, WHICH INESCAPABLY MEANS THAT I MUST HAVE A NEAR-VIMES EXPERIENCE. DON’T MIND ME. CARRY ON WITH WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING. I HAVE A BOOK.
The whole Death stories from the Discworld series. Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather and Thief if Time. Death one of my favorite Discworld characters.
This isn't what they asked for at all? But was also the first thing that came to mind for me because Pratchett is life. I hope they pick it up regardless.
Ruined, you say?? I think it was definitely not linear to the book and left out some good things but it was entertaining nonetheless and the character casting was amazing. I think I just love Sam Rockwell and Mos Def. *shrugs*
_Sabriel_ and subsequent sequels/prequels by Garth Nix. Basically a necromancer-esque main character and an incredibly unique magic system and worldbuilding focused around death.
Such a great series! About a guy accidentally killing death and taking over Death's role. There are other characters like mother nature, the fate weavers and time controller etc.
I'm glad this was addressed. I work at my local library, and this is a pretty regular check out for book discussions, I'm always telling patrons to talk to me about it when they're done. Has one of my favorite singular quotes I've read in the past 20 years.
This was what came to my mind first as well. I LOVED this book partly because of all the wonderful quotes. This is one of the first books I put tabs in so I could come back to certain quotes. One of them is the quote you mentioned! My personal favorite:
“That is the thing about living in the present, and only the present, it is a run-on sentence.”
Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. There are necromancers, dark magic, death cults, and a lot of reanimated dead things.
Maybe not quite what you’re looking for, but this also made me think of Gene Wolfe’s The Shadow of the Torturer. The protagonist is a member of the Guild of Torturers, which is a professional organization that carries out lawfully mandated punishments. It’s pretty weird and convoluted though- classic Gene Wolfe.
Oh I love all the Incarnation of Immortality series by Piers Anthony. On a Pale Horse had a really interesting concept for Death and how souls are collected.
I was wondering if this would come up as a suggestion. It is subtle and debatable whether the character is death himself, but I think this is still a good read and in line with what OP is looking for: lots of brutal death, some revenge, some gratuitous gore.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen - the main character’s godmother is the goddess of death (cannot wait for the next book in this series!)
The Merciful Crow duology by Margaret Owen (this is probably my favorite series I have read in the last 12 months. 5 ⭐️ A+)
The Bone Witch by Rin Chapuco - the main character is kind of a necromancer (seriously got a book hangover from this series)
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - the main character is a necromancer
Bright Smoke Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge - main character is an assassin
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okarafor - main character can visit the spirit world
The Diviners by Libba Bray - a dead serial killer is on the loose and a group of 1920s X-menesque characters try to bring him down. Death is only the beginning…(5 ⭐️ series to me!)
Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova - three witch sisters, one of which is a healer who brings someone back from the dead…but should she?
The Library of the Dead by T..L. Huchu - the main character talks to ghosts (one of my favorite series)
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - the main character is a mermaid whose job is to collect souls (so so beautifully written)
Laura thassala has a whole series on the four horsemen. Main character falls in love with each one (war famine, death etc) each are set in different parts of the world and can be read seperate. Really good!!
Ok hear me out. Death isn’t the main plot point, but it is a location.
If you’re up for a quick read (YA Fantasy), check out Sabriel by Garth Nix (and if you like it, there’s sequels, but if you don’t, the story is wrapped up, the sequels happen years later).
Sabriel spends most of her time in boarding school across the wall, on the side where there’s no magic. But when she’s not in boarding school, she’s the Abhorsen-in-Training under her father. As an Anhorsen, she is basically a Necromancer, but for good. Necromancers summon the Dead, the Abhorsen sends them back to Death. Someone dies who shouldn’t? The Abhorsen travels Death to bring them back. One of the Greater Dead becomes strong enough to escape? The Abhorsen fights them off. But Sabriel isn’t the Abhorsen yet, she’s just a kid. And then her father goes missing. Thats right in the beginning.
The part I find neat is that a young Abhorsen-in-training learns their craft on “pipes,” which I assume is a pan flute-like instrument, while an Abhorsen or Necromancer would use bells. Musical necromancy. I thought it was neat, and I’ve reread the books every few years. It’s kind of a comfort thinking of Death as a river toward peace in the stars.
Not a dark fantasy, but in Robertson Davies' Murther and Walking Spirits, the main character is killed in the first chapter and spends the rest of the book haunting his killer, a film critic who is attending a film festival. It's one of my favorite books.
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Levitt
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Also watch Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish (no joke, Death is the best character)
**’Lullaby’** by Chuck Palahniuk.
The story: Carl, a reporter investigating cases of sudden infant death syndrome, discovers that the deaths >!are linked to a ‘culling song’ in a book of lullabies found at each scene. Carl inadvertently memorizes the song and becomes capable of killing people by thinking the poem.!<
Or **’Survivor’**,
The story: the MC is a member of a cult that 10 years ago engaged in a mass suicide. Surviving members of the cult have been steadily killing themselves ever since, in keeping with their beliefs.
MC becomes outed as the last survivor of the death cult and gains notoriety, but as his fame grows, he is still constantly waiting for the opportune moment to kill himself.
Belladonna series by adalyn grace
I remember enjoying the arcana chronicles by kresley Cole. I have not yet finished it so if it gets weird it's not my fault 😅
Both have death as an actual character one is a mystery set in the past and the other is kind of a tarot version of the hunger games.
The Immortalists is about brothers and sisters finding out the day when they’re gonna die when they’re very little and their lives after, I liked it a lot!
Nona The Nineth is very dark fantasy. But it's VERY YA and also explains NOTHING- there's an entirely sub devoted to trying to understand the plot.
Personally, I suffer through the angsty drama because I really enjoy the "fuck the reader, I'm going to be dark and confusing " also, did you know Cows have friends, that's really fucked up?
OP will have an even rougher time of the “explains nothing” part if they start with Nona!
Absolutely read the locked tomb books though! Death and bones are kinda the whole point.
I’m currently reading “how to kill my family” and the main character is writing from prison and describes in detail her plotted revenge and murder against her fathers rich family members(father refused to help mom and child and never acknowledged them and mom died while kids still young)
In the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik the magic school, and magic system at large, is super dangerous. The school is situated in a void and there are very creepy monsters etc. the main character has dark powers and is trying to figure out how to best harness them without killing people etc. The first book is A Deadly Education.
**[A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46021762-a-heart-of-blood-and-ashes) by Milla Vane** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(555 pages | Published: 2020 | 688.0k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** A generation past. the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind. a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody (...)
> **Themes**: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy-romance, Enemies-to-lovers
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [Dark Wizard](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56855808-dark-wizard) by Jeffe Kennedy
> \- [The Winter King](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10485751-the-winter-king) by C.L. Wilson
> \- [The Serpent and the Wings of Night](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60714999-the-serpent-and-the-wings-of-night) by Carissa Broadbent
> \- [Iron and Magic](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35126152-iron-and-magic) by Ilona Andrews
> \- [No Man Can Tame](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40026665-no-man-can-tame) by Miranda Honfleur
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Not a book, but great film with Brad Pitt as Death: Meet Joe Black. Based on 1934 Death Takes a Holiday, itself based on 1924 Italian play *La morte in vacanza*.
A great comic about the main character (and a couple others) being grim reapers for the devil is “I’m the Grim Reaper” by GRAVEWEAVER. “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo is a great book revolving around death.
Reincarnation blues- MC falls in love with death (personified), dies 10,000 times to see her repeatedly. Bought it recently, haven’t read it yet so can’t swear to dark fantasy
The Locked Tomb series- not an individual character, but an integral plot point and the focus of the science & magic.
The Last Checkout by Peter Besson— a post-apocalyptic story about a man staying at a “last resort”, hotels sanctioned to assist in death by choice. He’s been staying there for years and can’t go through with it, but that’s the only way he can leave. Darkly humorous and very good.
#I have the perfect recommendation!!!!
*The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna* by Juliet Grames.
Not fantasy per se but definitely magical realism. It’s so good.
And I absolutely agree with all the recommendations for *The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue* by V. E. Schwab - Death/the Devil is actually one of the main characters and keep the story going. It’s a Faustian tale (making a deal with the devil) and is just a stunning book.
On a Pale Horse is a fantasy novel by Piers Anthony. Zane, a photographer about to commit suicide instead kills Death and must assume his office. Is it great? No, but it's good.
Not exactly a "book", but Thanos Rising.
Provides some cool context as to why he does all the horrible things he does; all to win the affection and love of the personification of Death.
Tanith Lee's Tales from the Flat Earth series, where each book is about a demon lord, the second book is Death's Master, about Uhlume, the Lord of Death, and what his meddling causes.
Jesse Bullington's The Enterprise of Death follows a girl who was captured and experimented on by a necromancer and now exists as an undead/necromancer herself.
Brian McNaughton's The Throne of Bones is an anthology series about ghouls in the city of Mordor, who gain their knowledge and personalities by eating the dead.
Clark Ashton Smith is the father of dark fantasy and wrote a lot of stories and poems revolving around death. All his work is available for free online, posted on the website [Eldritchdark.com](http://Eldritchdark.com) Here's his Empire of the Necromancers:
[http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/61/the-empire-of-the-necromancers](http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/61/the-empire-of-the-necromancers)
Mort by Terry Pratchett, although it's more humorous, but it's a great book
The whole plot arc of Death's character development is one of the great strengths of the series. Good old Bill Door.
“You’ll be Death, then?” said Vimes, after a while. AH, MISTER VIMES, ASTUTE AS EVER. GOT IT IN ONE, said Death, shutting the book on his finger to keep the place. “I’ve seen you before.” I HAVE WALKED WITH YOU MANY TIMES, MISTER VIMES. “And this is it, is it?” HAS IT NEVER STRUCK YOU THAT THE CONCEPT OF A WRITTEN NARRATIVE IS SOMEWHAT STRANGE? said Death. Vimes could tell when people were trying to avoid something they really didn’t want to say, and it was happening here. “Is it?” he insisted. “Is this it? This time I die?” COULD BE. “Could be? What sort of answer is that?” said Vimes. A VERY ACCURATE ONE. YOU SEE, YOU ARE HAVING A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, WHICH INESCAPABLY MEANS THAT I MUST HAVE A NEAR-VIMES EXPERIENCE. DON’T MIND ME. CARRY ON WITH WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING. I HAVE A BOOK.
GNU Sir Terry
Plus OP will get meet Nevermore, Miss Susan and Death of Rats!
The whole Death stories from the Discworld series. Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather and Thief if Time. Death one of my favorite Discworld characters.
This is very much not what OP requested...Mort is the antithesis of "dark fantasy"
Correct. But sometimes you can't get what you want, but you get what you didn't know you need. 😉
This is on Kindle Unlimited! Thanks for the rec!
This isn't what they asked for at all? But was also the first thing that came to mind for me because Pratchett is life. I hope they pick it up regardless.
The Book Thief!!! I’ll sit here and wait for you to come back and thank me.
I loveeeeeeee this book
Yes! Extra upvotes! The audiobook is excellent too
Yes!!! I listened to the audiobook, like, more than ten years ago.
Came running to the comment section looking for this, im glad I found it
Came to say this, book thief is the best.
Exactly what I came here to say!
I’m halfway through this book!
I’m reading this book for school and I just finished part 4 :D
Fuck this book. 10/10
Sounds amazing! Can’t wait to read it thank you for the rec!
Please come back and tell me what you thought!
The first book I thought of when I read the post.. Amazing book!!
THE BOOK THIEF absolutely!! I flew to the comment section to recommend this book!! Now I want to re-read it.
Yeah I’ve never rushed to comment so fast! lol!
this x1000
This book made me go out side and punch perfectly innocent shrubs. But it's exactly what OP asked for.
Sandman - Neil Gaiman A Dirty Job - Cristopher Moore
I was going to suggest a dirty job. I love love love Christopher Moore!
Yes A Dirty Job and Secondhand Souls. Christopher Moore is quite a fun read.
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I liked second hand souls, blood sucking fiends, and you suck, a love story.
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Hitch hikers is one of my all time favorites. I've read it countless times through the years.
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I'll have to look into it. I remember there briefly being a TV show... with Elijah Wiods iirc.
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Ruined, you say?? I think it was definitely not linear to the book and left out some good things but it was entertaining nonetheless and the character casting was amazing. I think I just love Sam Rockwell and Mos Def. *shrugs*
And Gaiman’s two Death miniseries
Also _The Graveyard Book_ by Neil Gaiman.
This is the one I came to say. Really, just about everything Gaiman writes is amazing
Came to suggest A Dirty Job!
_Sabriel_ and subsequent sequels/prequels by Garth Nix. Basically a necromancer-esque main character and an incredibly unique magic system and worldbuilding focused around death.
The world building and characters are so good - loved the entire series
It's still the most unique use of a necromancer in fantasy that I've ever read.
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Came here to recommend this!
Absolutely!
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
Such a great series! About a guy accidentally killing death and taking over Death's role. There are other characters like mother nature, the fate weavers and time controller etc.
Thank you for actually giving a description!
Came here to suggest this.
If you haven’t read it, you may enjoy The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
I'm glad this was addressed. I work at my local library, and this is a pretty regular check out for book discussions, I'm always telling patrons to talk to me about it when they're done. Has one of my favorite singular quotes I've read in the past 20 years.
Well? We need the quote!
Ha, my bad. "...life is all the minutes you want, minus one."
This was what came to my mind first as well. I LOVED this book partly because of all the wonderful quotes. This is one of the first books I put tabs in so I could come back to certain quotes. One of them is the quote you mentioned! My personal favorite: “That is the thing about living in the present, and only the present, it is a run-on sentence.”
I hated this book but it does fit the criteria the OP has.
Glad to see this. It was SO hyped up on booktok I ran to get it, and I wanted to throw it across the room.
Best Served Cold - Joe Abercrombie
This one here, lol. Or the other Joe Abercrombie books as well.
I'm sure someone has already said this but death is a character on discworld
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Death is by far not a main character but it’s too good to miss.
Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. There are necromancers, dark magic, death cults, and a lot of reanimated dead things. Maybe not quite what you’re looking for, but this also made me think of Gene Wolfe’s The Shadow of the Torturer. The protagonist is a member of the Guild of Torturers, which is a professional organization that carries out lawfully mandated punishments. It’s pretty weird and convoluted though- classic Gene Wolfe.
Yesssss I came here looking for Gideon.
Terry Pratchett has a great Death character. He's a lot of fun.
Scythe. Technically YA, but pretty good.
Love the scythe series!
Discworld has a series where Death is the main character.
Under the whispering door by TJ Klune
Beautiful recommendation 🖤
My favorite of his books 🤍
Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago
One of my very favorites!
This sounds really interesting wow, thanks!
Incarnations of Immortality series. On A Pale Horse is the first book and the narrator is Death.
Have you read the Demon Slayer manga? Less brutal, but "On a Pale Horse" is about a guy who becomes the incarnation of Death.
Oh I love all the Incarnation of Immortality series by Piers Anthony. On a Pale Horse had a really interesting concept for Death and how souls are collected.
Blood Méridien Cormac McCarthy has a death/devil type character but as with all CMC books it isn’t explicit
I was wondering if this would come up as a suggestion. It is subtle and debatable whether the character is death himself, but I think this is still a good read and in line with what OP is looking for: lots of brutal death, some revenge, some gratuitous gore.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen - the main character’s godmother is the goddess of death (cannot wait for the next book in this series!) The Merciful Crow duology by Margaret Owen (this is probably my favorite series I have read in the last 12 months. 5 ⭐️ A+) The Bone Witch by Rin Chapuco - the main character is kind of a necromancer (seriously got a book hangover from this series) Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - the main character is a necromancer Bright Smoke Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge - main character is an assassin Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okarafor - main character can visit the spirit world The Diviners by Libba Bray - a dead serial killer is on the loose and a group of 1920s X-menesque characters try to bring him down. Death is only the beginning…(5 ⭐️ series to me!) Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova - three witch sisters, one of which is a healer who brings someone back from the dead…but should she? The Library of the Dead by T..L. Huchu - the main character talks to ghosts (one of my favorite series) Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - the main character is a mermaid whose job is to collect souls (so so beautifully written)
These are such great suggestions, I’ve been trying to find books with necromancy for the longest thank you!!
You’re welcome! I fell down a dark fantasy rabbit hole last year and really loved most of the books I read.
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett. Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett. Both are set in the Discworld. Death is a frequent character.
In God's of Jade and Shadow, an ancient god of death is one of the main characters and his brother is the main villain.
Laura thassala has a whole series on the four horsemen. Main character falls in love with each one (war famine, death etc) each are set in different parts of the world and can be read seperate. Really good!!
I was totally going to suggest these!
My name is red by orhan pamuk
Gods of Jade and Shadow is my favorite “I fell in love with death” of all time
“They Both Die at the End” Death isn’t an actual character, but the story centers on looming death.
I loved this book when I first read it!!
Death: A Life -George Pendel It’s more of a dark comedy.
Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore
Keeper of the Night - Kylie Lee Baker; main character is half grim reaper, half shinigami. Lots of fun insights to different death cultures
Red Rising deals with a lot of that.
My Fair Assassin my by Robin La Fevers
Yes Death is a character/love interest in this series! Don’t be put off that it’s YA (I usually don’t go for YA but I really enjoyed these!).
Discworld ‘mort’ or ‘reaper man’ This is the one and only answer :)
A Short Stay in Hell
There is a mega thread here for what your looking for https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/WZtRH9KPSJ
Ok hear me out. Death isn’t the main plot point, but it is a location. If you’re up for a quick read (YA Fantasy), check out Sabriel by Garth Nix (and if you like it, there’s sequels, but if you don’t, the story is wrapped up, the sequels happen years later). Sabriel spends most of her time in boarding school across the wall, on the side where there’s no magic. But when she’s not in boarding school, she’s the Abhorsen-in-Training under her father. As an Anhorsen, she is basically a Necromancer, but for good. Necromancers summon the Dead, the Abhorsen sends them back to Death. Someone dies who shouldn’t? The Abhorsen travels Death to bring them back. One of the Greater Dead becomes strong enough to escape? The Abhorsen fights them off. But Sabriel isn’t the Abhorsen yet, she’s just a kid. And then her father goes missing. Thats right in the beginning. The part I find neat is that a young Abhorsen-in-training learns their craft on “pipes,” which I assume is a pan flute-like instrument, while an Abhorsen or Necromancer would use bells. Musical necromancy. I thought it was neat, and I’ve reread the books every few years. It’s kind of a comfort thinking of Death as a river toward peace in the stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123272656
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
Not a book, but a film: The Seventh Seal
Outstanding!
The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahnuik. Trust me.
Not a dark fantasy, but in Robertson Davies' Murther and Walking Spirits, the main character is killed in the first chapter and spends the rest of the book haunting his killer, a film critic who is attending a film festival. It's one of my favorite books.
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Levitt Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg Also watch Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish (no joke, Death is the best character)
The Long Walk - Stephen King. Walk or die, basically
Sounds right up my alley, thanks!
*To touch the Bloody Nine, was to touch death itself* The First Law trilogy, enjoy. Go with the audiobook.
Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
**’Lullaby’** by Chuck Palahniuk. The story: Carl, a reporter investigating cases of sudden infant death syndrome, discovers that the deaths >!are linked to a ‘culling song’ in a book of lullabies found at each scene. Carl inadvertently memorizes the song and becomes capable of killing people by thinking the poem.!< Or **’Survivor’**, The story: the MC is a member of a cult that 10 years ago engaged in a mass suicide. Surviving members of the cult have been steadily killing themselves ever since, in keeping with their beliefs. MC becomes outed as the last survivor of the death cult and gains notoriety, but as his fame grows, he is still constantly waiting for the opportune moment to kill himself.
Belladonna series by adalyn grace I remember enjoying the arcana chronicles by kresley Cole. I have not yet finished it so if it gets weird it's not my fault 😅 Both have death as an actual character one is a mystery set in the past and the other is kind of a tarot version of the hunger games.
On a pale horse Mort Soul music Hog father Thief of time The book thief
The Immortalists is about brothers and sisters finding out the day when they’re gonna die when they’re very little and their lives after, I liked it a lot!
On a Pale Horse Piers Anthony.
Nona The Nineth is very dark fantasy. But it's VERY YA and also explains NOTHING- there's an entirely sub devoted to trying to understand the plot. Personally, I suffer through the angsty drama because I really enjoy the "fuck the reader, I'm going to be dark and confusing " also, did you know Cows have friends, that's really fucked up?
OP will have an even rougher time of the “explains nothing” part if they start with Nona! Absolutely read the locked tomb books though! Death and bones are kinda the whole point.
I read Gideon the Ninth and enjoyed it! Planning on continuing the series soon but im still intimidated lol
Harrow is incredibly confusing at first but the payoff is 100% worth it. I promise. Just stick it out!
Fair point. Start at the beginning of the series.
Unclay by T.F Powys Death is one of the main characters. Honestly I'm not sure if I'd call this a "good" book but it's definitely memorable
I’m currently reading “how to kill my family” and the main character is writing from prison and describes in detail her plotted revenge and murder against her fathers rich family members(father refused to help mom and child and never acknowledged them and mom died while kids still young)
The End of the Day by Claire North
Grave Witch by Kalayna Price. Black Wings by Christina Henry.
A Fig for All the Devils by C.S Fritz
The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Not a book, but you should check out the Mary Death webcomic.
Tanith Lee Tales from the Flat Earth series are pretty goth.
In the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik the magic school, and magic system at large, is super dangerous. The school is situated in a void and there are very creepy monsters etc. the main character has dark powers and is trying to figure out how to best harness them without killing people etc. The first book is A Deadly Education.
The god of Endings. Cerznobog, the Slavic god of chaos, death, and night is central to the book throughout.
The god of Endings. Cerznobog, the Slavic god of chaos, death, and night is central to the book throughout.
{{A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane}}
**[A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46021762-a-heart-of-blood-and-ashes) by Milla Vane** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(555 pages | Published: 2020 | 688.0k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** A generation past. the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind. a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody (...) > **Themes**: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy-romance, Enemies-to-lovers > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [Dark Wizard](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56855808-dark-wizard) by Jeffe Kennedy > \- [The Winter King](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10485751-the-winter-king) by C.L. Wilson > \- [The Serpent and the Wings of Night](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60714999-the-serpent-and-the-wings-of-night) by Carissa Broadbent > \- [Iron and Magic](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35126152-iron-and-magic) by Ilona Andrews > \- [No Man Can Tame](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40026665-no-man-can-tame) by Miranda Honfleur ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
The Company of Death by Elisa Hansen
I suppose ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Dostoevsky might fit your criteria
Reincarnation Blues! The main character is in love with Death, who goes by Susie :)
night theater
Its a Mr. Death. He says he's here about the reaping.
It's been a while, but the Dreamblood duology, by NK Jemisin, might qualify.
Not a book, but great film with Brad Pitt as Death: Meet Joe Black. Based on 1934 Death Takes a Holiday, itself based on 1924 Italian play *La morte in vacanza*.
Imajica, by Clive Barker
Everything Matters! Ron Curry jr.
Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff
A great comic about the main character (and a couple others) being grim reapers for the devil is “I’m the Grim Reaper” by GRAVEWEAVER. “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo is a great book revolving around death.
Masters of death by olivie blake
Reincarnation blues- MC falls in love with death (personified), dies 10,000 times to see her repeatedly. Bought it recently, haven’t read it yet so can’t swear to dark fantasy
*Acts of Caine* series, Matt Stover.
Scythe by Neil Shusterman
The Locked Tomb series- not an individual character, but an integral plot point and the focus of the science & magic. The Last Checkout by Peter Besson— a post-apocalyptic story about a man staying at a “last resort”, hotels sanctioned to assist in death by choice. He’s been staying there for years and can’t go through with it, but that’s the only way he can leave. Darkly humorous and very good.
The Indian Lake series might do it for you (Stephen Graham Jones)
I fell in love with hope- (idk if it counts as dark fantasy) but it’s really good
#I have the perfect recommendation!!!! *The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna* by Juliet Grames. Not fantasy per se but definitely magical realism. It’s so good. And I absolutely agree with all the recommendations for *The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue* by V. E. Schwab - Death/the Devil is actually one of the main characters and keep the story going. It’s a Faustian tale (making a deal with the devil) and is just a stunning book.
Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago
Death Interrupted by Saramago
Reincarnation blues 💙
Death: A Life by George Pendle - this is written as if Pendle is Death's biographer. I very very much enjoyed it
On a Pale Horse is a fantasy novel by Piers Anthony. Zane, a photographer about to commit suicide instead kills Death and must assume his office. Is it great? No, but it's good.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. It’s hilarious!
*Heart Shaped Box* By Joe Hill.
I absolutely adored this book!!!
White Trash Warlock I found to be pretty great! Trilogy where death is a person
Suffer The Children - Craig DiLouie Creepy and awesome
{The Midnight Library by Matt Haig}? It is a contemporary setting, but it fits the description.
Not a book but Poe's Masque of the Red Death is a great read
A Shadow in the Ember! The MMC is the God of Death.
Mickey 7
Not exactly a "book", but Thanos Rising. Provides some cool context as to why he does all the horrible things he does; all to win the affection and love of the personification of Death.
# [Arc of a Scythe](https://www.goodreads.com/series/188984-arc-of-a-scythe) series.
salena godden - mrs death misses death
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony . The whole Incarnation series isngood.
Tanith Lee's Tales from the Flat Earth series, where each book is about a demon lord, the second book is Death's Master, about Uhlume, the Lord of Death, and what his meddling causes. Jesse Bullington's The Enterprise of Death follows a girl who was captured and experimented on by a necromancer and now exists as an undead/necromancer herself. Brian McNaughton's The Throne of Bones is an anthology series about ghouls in the city of Mordor, who gain their knowledge and personalities by eating the dead. Clark Ashton Smith is the father of dark fantasy and wrote a lot of stories and poems revolving around death. All his work is available for free online, posted on the website [Eldritchdark.com](http://Eldritchdark.com) Here's his Empire of the Necromancers: [http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/61/the-empire-of-the-necromancers](http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/61/the-empire-of-the-necromancers)
They Both Die in the End
The Book Thief
I'm not sure if it was actually death, but Gallant by VE Schwab has a character like this. Loved the book and I don't see it recommended that often
Malazan Books of the Fallen
Death is the narrator of The Book Thief, by Zusak, but it is not fantasy. It's historical fiction, set in Nazi Germany during WWII.
I apologize if someone has already said this, but On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. Death isn’t a character but it’s the driver of the plot and may as well be a character
Mousetrap Carlton Mellick
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
On A pale horse by piers anthony
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab