---- 10 Fictional Deaths I Will Never Get Over ----

One of the worst things about reading is becoming emotionally attached to characters, following them through page after page of their journey, and then seeing them killed off. I've always found deaths in books are so much more emotional than in movies - you are literally inside the characters head, feeling what they're feeling, seeing what they're seeing - so whenever my much-loved characters die, it's safe to say I become emotionally unstable. 

Some fictional deaths have touched me in such a way that years later I still feel that pang of hurt every time I remember. But I'm not saying I don't agree with killing off characters - it certainly makes the book stay with you long after you put it down, and so I compiled a list of all the fictional deaths I am still recovering from.

Spoilers. Obviously. So if you haven't read these books, don't read this list!

. The Mortal Instruments series

. Harry Potter series

. The Hunger Games trilogy

. The Divergent trilogy

. The Book Thief

. The Fault in our Stars

. A Game of Thrones

If you have read the above, then carry on!.....

10. Max Lightwood (City of Glass)

Max was such a sweet, innocent, intelligent boy. His death was cruel and cold (screw you, Sebastian) and I think he'd be higher on the list if we had actually experienced his death - we aren't 'there' when he dies, we just see through Clary's eyes as the Lightwoods mourn over his body. It still made me well up though - I loved Max!

9. Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince)

This one doesn't need much explaining. It'd be higher on my list if it weren't for the fact that Dumbledore had lived a long, full life before his time came, and he chose his ending for himself. Still, though, it was hard to deal with, and the reactions of the characters (particularly Harry) are what really made me emotional.

8. Primrose Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Prim's whole journey was very emotional for me. She was forced to go through things that no twelve year old should go through, yet stayed sweet and honest right to the end, putting her faith in others despite being in a world when your life depends on trusting nobody. She was strong and brave in ways that most aren't, saw the world in a beautiful way, and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

7. Ned Stark (A Game of Thrones)

I was not expecting Ned to die. Throughout the book he'd been that 'hero' character; I was sure he'd defeat the Lannister control and take the throne as a noble and respected king... but hey, that would be too boring, right? So dickface Joffrey had him beheaded! I was surprised in the worst way possible. Worse still was seeing it through Arya, and feeling so utterly helpless as he's killed. Poor Ned only ever wanted his family to be happy, and he payed for that with his life.

6. Fred Weasley (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

The thing that shakes me so much about Fred's death is how quick it was. By that I mean that there was no buildup, no foreshadowing, it just happened. Sure, they went into battle knowing they could die, but I don't think any of them really considered it would happen. The thought of George and the rest of the Weasley's living without him is a hard one to picture. Deaths in battles are always shocking, because they feel so pointless - especially when it happens to people like Fred who were never really meant for war. He was meant for a family, for smiling and for happiness, which he will never be able to get.

5. Finnick Odair (Mockingjay)

The worst part about Finnick's death was that it was so unnecessary. I will always believe that the book would been much better if he had lived - if he had been happy with Annie for the rest of his life, and got to meet and see his son grow up. I think Annie needed him - she is emotionally unstable after all, so how could she look after their son all alone? I can never find suitable justification for his death, and combined with Prim's death makes the ending of the series very bleak for me, but at least he died helping his friends.

4. Dobby (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

It may be controversial to put Dobby's death higher on the list than Fred and Dumbledore's, but I'll be 100% honest and say Dobby's death affected me the most. The beach setting, his heartbreaking last words, his act of sacrifice for Harry (Dumbledore's was a sacrifice too, but we didn't know that until later - Dobby literally jumped into a knife for him) Everything about his death was so beautifully tragic and true to his character. Who knew it was possible to be so attached to a house elf.

3. Augustus Waters (The Fault in our Stars)

The Fault in Our Stars portrays a strong message. Cancer takes no notice of your age, your dreams or your beautiful personality. You can believe that you can beat it, you can think that you are getting better, but there are things beyond our control and don't always go the way we planned. But that doesn't mean they aren't beautiful; this book is more or less a tragedy, but it is still beautiful. Augustus makes Hazel grow and change, he changes things in the world before he dies, and proves that just because you're dying doesn't mean you have to stop living.

2. Rudy Steiner (The Book Thief)

I cried like a baby when Rudy died. And many times before that. Because the thing with the Book Thief is that you're told who will die and when, by Death himself (and he sure he knows his sh*t) When you know a character will die, it makes every moment with them so much more special; you notice the light and the goodness in them so much more, and with Rudy it is endless. The kiss he never got will forever make me tear up - rest in peace, the boy with hair the colour of lemons.

1. Tris Prior (Allegiant)

Never in my life have I been so distraught by a fictional death. When I first finished Allegiant I was in complete disbelief - I had never read a book where the heroine died before and I was so completely unprepared - I'd been expecting a 'happy family' epilogue. Nope, that didn't happen! I sobbed for hours and actually grieved for Tris for a few days, moaning about how unfair it was! It's awful to imagine Tobias living without her, but reflecting back I can see that death for Tris was her 'ultimate sacrifice'; she would've never be able to live her life truly happy in the shadow of all that had happened.

It was unexpected, tragic, selfless, brave, and downright beautiful. 

So there you have it, my list of ten fictional deaths that still get to me every time I think of them. It damaged me emotionally to reminisce about them all at once, I think I need some serious comfort food now. Sob.

Hope you enjoyed it,

- emssily