My next DnD character is going to be someone who helps souls cross over. Think Witcher/Supernatural type who investigates situations cheating death and fighting abominations.
What are some good books that are a dark and shadowy world following some death religion/philosophy to get in the atmosphere. I have her backstory, I’m just looking for inspiration on different shadowy world views on death and souls passing on. Doesn’t have to be exact, just looking for a vibe….
by Ok-Water-7973
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Sabriel by Garth Nix is about a necromancer who fights the unquiet dead.
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett is about what happens when Death takes time off.
Passage by Connie Willis. It’s completely not for character inspiration but it will give you the vibe. A psychologist who studies near death experiences has the opportunity to experience them.
You could also look up the Heaven’s Gate cult – there’s a documentary and you can find some of the writings of the leaders online.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s *The Farthest Shore*, the original conclusion of her Earthsea series, is a beautifully meditative work about the consequences of a dark mage distorting the barrier between life and death.
Sounds like maybe someone based on Phlegyas, the ferryman for souls crossing the river Styx in the classic poem/book: Inferno (by Dante Alighieri).
For visual reference, be sure to check out Rodin’s sculpture, The Gates of Hell.
If you want a lighter read you could try A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore.
Charlie Asher, a “beta-male” (as opposed to “alpha-male”) leads a satisfying life as the owner and proprietor of a second-hand store in San Francisco. At the moment when his wife Rachel unexpectedly dies in the hospital a short time after the birth of their first child (Sophie), Charlie is chosen to be a “death merchant” who retrieves souls of the dying and protecting them from the forces of the underworld, while he manages his store and raises his daughter. He realizes the ramifications of this business as clues and complications unfold.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. It’s not fantasy, more of a folklore/ mystery book.