Kill the Dead

Continuing my read-through of vintage fantasy by Tanith Lee, I’ve come to one of her books that I remember most clearly. Kill the Dead is a gothic fantasy of a ghost killer and those who haunt him.

Parl Dro is the main character, the grim ghost killer whose notoriety is at odds with his charismatic presence. He’s joined by Myal Lemyal, a brilliant but klutzy bard who plays an instrument no one else could ever handle. The two of them share an obsession: to banish a legendary haunted city.

Then Myal witnesses Dro’s tactics in banishing a young girl’s ghost. He becomes entangled with her sister, Ciddey Soban. Though disgusted by Myal’s confusion and vulnerability, Dro can’t quite turn his back. It’s a quirky and atmospheric adventure into the dark places of the world — and his own past.

Kill the Dead was first published in 1980. The ebook is still available, but if you want a physical copy, your best bet is to haunt some used book stores. Finding one may be a quest worthy of Parl Dro himself.

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