History KilledOffForReal / Literature

* [[spoiler:Valentine]] in ''[[Literature/TheMortalInstruments City of Glass]]'', [[spoiler:Thank you, Raziel]].

* ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'': In ''City of Glass'' [[spoiler:Valentine is killed off. Thank you, Raziel.]]

* ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'': [[spoiler: Erin]] in the ''Hidden'' epilogue. This is confirmed in ''Revealed''.

* In ''Literature/PrettyLittleLiars'', anyone who is important to the plot is gonna die soon. Toby committed suicide, Mona was pushed off a cliff, Ian, Jenna, and Courtney were all murdered by Ali. Played with with Ali (Oooh, is she ''really'' dead??)

* Likewise in ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', in which every student is killed, save for [[spoiler: Shuya and Noriko]].

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' loves this trope: notable characters who died include, but are not limited to, Viserys Targaryen, Eddard Stark, Robb Stark, Robert Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Balon Greyjoy, Khal Drogo, Oberyn Martell, Sir Rodrik Cassell, Maester Aemon, Maester Luwin, Lysa Tully, Beric Dondarrion (finally), and others, with several characters NotQuiteDead and a few cases of BackFromTheDead.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': *deep breath* [[spoiler:Cedric, Sirius, Amelia Bones, Emmeline Vance, Dumbledore, Hedwig, Mad-Eye, Ted Tonks, Wormtail, Dobby, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Colin, Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort, and Snape.]]

* Due to the very nature of its premise this happens to a ''lot'' of characters in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. After all, 24 tributes enter the arena and only one can come out alive. Not that characters who aren't tributes are safe. Outside-the-arena deaths include [[spoiler:Cinna, Primrose and Peeta's entire family.]]

* EVERY human from our world that had ever had the fortune to enter Narnia over the course of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' books died in a train accident at the end of ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', save for Susan, who was elsewhere at the time of the train accident and had grown up to the point of regarding Narnia as a fairy tale. The good news is that those who died were welcomed into the remade Aslan's Country.

* Originally the fate of [[spoiler:Pippin]] in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. CS Lewis made Tolkien change his mind. Boromir was not as lucky...

* The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse killed off Chewbacca in the first book of the NewJediOrder series. It took a ''[[ColonyDrop falling moon]]'' to take him out.
** The first movie character to be KOFR was General Maximilian Veers, an Imperial AscendedExtra from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' who was killed in action in the ''DarkEmpire'' comics.
** General Crix Madine (an AscendedExtra from ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'') was murdered by Durga the Hutt in ''[[Literature/TheCallistaTrilogy Darksaber]]''.
** ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce'' killed off [[spoiler:Mara Jade and Jacen Solo]].
** [[FanDumb Some people]] were annoyed that Luke Skywalker has been dead for several decades in ''StarWarsLegacy''. They seem to ignore the fact the series is set 137 years after ''Film/ANewHope'' and Luke ''died of old age''.

* EVERY human from our world that had ever had the fortune to enter Narnia over the course of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' books died in a train accident at the end of ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', save for Susan, who was elsewhere at the time of the train accident and had grown up to the point of regarding Narnia as a fairy tale. The good news is that those who died were welcomed into the remade Aslan's Country.

* Some ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fans hoped for Sirius Black to [[HesJustHiding come back after his death]] in the fifth novel, as evidenced by many fan fictions. He didn't.
** The same could also be said for Albus Dumbledore, despite much fan speculation to the contrary. Although he did contact Harry from beyond the grave.
** The final book also killed off Severus Snape and several other characters.

* ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'': [[spoiler: Erin]] in the ''Hidden'' epilogue.

* Some ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fans hoped for Sirius Black to [[HesJustHiding come back after his death]] in the fifth novel, as evidenced by many fan fictions. He didn't.
** The same could also be said for Albus Dumbledore, despite much fan speculation to the contrary. Although he did contact Harry from beyond the grave.
** The final book also killed off Severus Snape and several other characters.

* The first Visser One, Jara Hamee, Tom (and his Yeerk), ''all'' of the auxiliary Animorphs and Rachel from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}''. That last one is the impetus of many a FixFic. As is the very possible death of all the main group except Cassie.

* Everyone that dies in ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. Luke not dying even though Percy thought he did in ''Titan's Curse'' doesn't really count because Annabeth told him about thirty seconds later that Luke wasn't dead. The only aversion to this is Tyson. Everyone else thinks that Percy dies, too, but since the story is from his perspective so we know otherwise, it doesn't count.
* EVERY human from our world that had ever had the fortune to enter Narnia over the course of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' books died in a train accident at the end of ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', save for Susan, who was elsewhere at the time of the train accident and had grown up to the point of regarding Narnia as a fairy tale. The good news is that those who died were welcomed into the remade Aslan's Country.
* Sisters Grimm, which uses every fairy tale trope possible... Brier Rose, despite True Love's Kiss.
* Creator/GuyGavrielKay's ''Literature/TheLionsOfAlRassan'' builds up the hope that when Ammar ibn Khairan and Roderigo Belmonte duel, they will both survive. That is not what happens, and one of them dies (with the other receiving a permanent wound, but otherwise getting a pretty happy ending). Quite a few other characters are permanently killed as well.
* In ''Literature/PrettyLittleLiars'', anyone who is important to the plot is gonna die soon. Toby committed suicide, Mona was pushed off a cliff, Ian, Jenna, and Courtney were all murdered by Ali. Played with with Ali (Oooh, is she ''really'' dead??)
* In "The Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles," during the end of the first book, a boy named Robert gets killed, without any chance of coming back, after his spirit's host, a large war robot, is disassembled.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' loves this trope: notable characters who died include, but are not limited to, Viserys Targaryen, Eddard Stark, Robb Stark, Robert Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Balon Greyjoy, Khal Drogo, Oberyn Martell, Sir Rodrik Cassell, Maester Aemon, Maester Luwin, Lysa Tully, Beric Dondarrion (finally), and others, with several characters NotQuiteDead and a few cases of BackFromTheDead.

* In ''Literature/TheKingdomsOfEvil'' a whole bunch of characters die.
** Bloodbyrn's dad.
** Pon.
** The Paladin.
* Cilla in "IMissYouIMissYou".
* Most Americans are unaware that Geralt was Killed Off for Real at the end of ''TheWitcher'' novel series (mainly because only the first book has been translated from Polish). [[VideoGame/TheWitcher The game]] {{retcon}}ned this to an UnexplainedRecovery.

* A meta-example; defied and averted by Creator/TerryPratchett's editor for ''Discworld/MovingPictures''. At the end of the book, he wanted Gaspode and Laddie to stay dead, but his editor urged him to change his decision.
* Literature/TrappedOnDraconica: Kazem and Jenna were killed in the same arc they were introduced and both of them by {{mooks}}.
** In the sequel, ''Literature/LegacyOfTheDragokin'', All the Kthonian Knights, up to and including Kthonia herself, are dead by the end of the book.
* Originally the fate of [[spoiler:Pippin]] in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. CS Lewis made Tolkien change his mind. Boromir was not as lucky...
* Due to the very nature of its premise this happens to a ''lot'' of characters in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. After all, 24 tributes enter the arena and only one can come out alive. Not that characters who aren't tributes are safe. Outside-the-arena deaths include [[spoiler:Cinna, Primrose and Peeta's entire family.]]
* Likewise in ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', in which every student is killed, save for [[spoiler: Shuya and Noriko]].
* ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'': In ''City of Glass'' [[spoiler:Valentine is killed off. Thank you, Raziel.]]
* ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'': [[spoiler: Erin]] in the ''Hidden'' epilogue.
* [[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]]: [[spoiler:Liz Pennykettle]].
* Firewing [[spoiler: While the villain Goth returns from the dead, Shade ascends to the true afterlife.]]

* Firewings [[Spoiler: While the villain Goth returns from the dead, Shade ascends to the true afterlife.]]

* Firewings [Spoiler: While the villain Goth returns from the dead, Shade ascends to the true afterlife.]

** General Crix Madine (an AscendedExtra from ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'') was murdered by Durga the Hutt in ''[[TheCallistaTrilogy Darksaber]]''.

* ''LoneWolf'': Your life and your mission end here.

* EVERY human from our world that had ever had the fortune to enter Narnia over the course of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' books died in a train accident at the end of ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', save for Susan, who had grown up to the point of regarding Narnia as a fairy tale. The good news is that those who died were welcomed into the remade Aslan's Country.

** In the sequel, * ''Literature/LegacyOfTheDragokin'', All the Kthonian Knights, up to and including Kthonia herself, are dead by the end of the book.

* ''Literature/LegacyOfTheDragokin'': All the Kthonian Knights, up to and including Kthonia herself, are dead by the end of the book.

* [[LoneWolf Your life and your mission end here.]]

* Commander Root in ''Literature/ArtemisFowl''.
** Though he gets a TimeTravel cameo in The Time Paradox.

* A bit of a meta-example; defied and averted by Creator/TerryPratchett's editor for ''Discworld/MovingPictures''. At the end of the book, he wanted Gaspode and Laddie to stay dead, but his editor urged him to change his decision.

* Some ''HarryPotter'' fans hoped for Sirius Black to [[HesJustHiding come back after his death]] in the fifth novel, as evidenced by many fan fictions. He didn't.

** The first movie character to be KOFR was General Maximilian Veers, an Imperial AscendedExtra from ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'' who was killed in action in the ''DarkEmpire'' comics.
** General Crix Madine (an AscendedExtra from ''ReturnOfTheJedi'') was murdered by Durga the Hutt in ''[[TheCallistaTrilogy Darksaber]]''.

** [[FanDumb Some people]] were annoyed that Luke Skywalker has been dead for several decades in ''StarWarsLegacy''. They seem to ignore the fact the series is set 137 years after ''ANewHope'' and Luke ''died of old age''.
* Everyone that dies in ''PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. Luke not dying even though Percy thought he did in ''Titan's Curse'' doesn't really count because Annabeth told him about thirty seconds later that Luke wasn't dead. The only aversion to this is Tyson. Everyone else thinks that Percy dies, too, but since the story is from his perspective so we know otherwise, it doesn't count.
* EVERY human from our world that had ever had the fortune to enter Narnia over the course of TheChroniclesOfNarnia books died in a train accident at the end of The Last Battle, save for Susan, who had grown up to the point of regarding Narnia as a fairy tale. The good news is that those who died were welcomed into the remade Aslan's Country.

* In ''Pretty Little Liars'', anyone who is important to the plot is gonna die soon. Toby committed suicide, Mona was pushed off a cliff, Ian, Jenna, and Courtney were all murdered by Ali. Played with with Ali (Oooh, is she ''really'' dead??)

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' loves this trope: notable characters who died include, but are not limited to, Viserys Targaryen, Eddard Stark, Robb Stark, Robert Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Balon Greyjoy, Khal Drogo, Oberyn Martell, Sir Rodrik Cassell, Maester Aemon, Maester Luwin, Lysa Tully, Beric Dondarrion (finally), and others, with several characters NotQuiteDead and a few cases of BackFromTheDead.

** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with the leaders, who have nine lives. If they die once, they lose a life, and so on. However, when they lose their last life, [[PlayedStraight they still are killed off for real]].

* In TheKingdomsOfEvil a whole bunch of characters die.

* Balefire in the [[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]] combines this trope with short-term RetGone (the extent of its effects determined by how much power is used). Even the Dark One can't resurrect someone killed by Balefire. However, it can be destabilizing - too much retconning will ''literally'' unravel the "threads" of reality.
* A bit of a meta-example ;Defied and averted by Terry Pratchett's editor for Discworld/MovingPictures. At the end of the book, he wanted Gaspode and Laddie to stay dead, but his editor urged him to change his decision.
* Literature/TrappedOnDraconica: Kazem and Jenna were killed in the same arc they were introduced and both of them by {{mook}}s.
* Originally the fate of [[spoiler:Pippin]] in "''TheLordOfTheRings''". CS Lewis made Tolkien change his mind. Boromir was not as lucky...

* Likewise in Literature/BattleRoyale, in which every student is killed, save for [[spoiler: Shuya and Noriko]].

* Due to the very nature of its premise this happens to a ''lot'' of characters in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. After all, 24 tributes enter the arena and only one can come out alive. Not that characters who aren't tributes are safe. Outside-the-arena deaths include [[spoiler:Cinna, Primrose and Peeta's entire family.]]

* Due to the very nature of its premise this happens to a ''lot'' of characters in "''TheHungerGames''". After all, 24 tributes enter the arena and only one can come out alive. Not that characters who aren't tributes are safe. Outside-the-arena deaths include [[spoiler:Cinna, Primrose and Peeta's entire family.]]

** ''LegacyOfTheForce'' killed off [[spoiler:Mara Jade and Jacen Solo]].