Masters of Death Summary, Characters and Themes
Olivie Blake’s Masters of Death (2018) is an inventive urban fantasy novel that blends supernatural elements with deeply emotional character dynamics. Set in a world where vampires, ghosts, gods, and demons coexist, the story follows a real estate agent who also happens to be a vampire, a haunted house, and a medium who’s entangled with Death itself.
With a fast-paced plot revolving around an enigmatic immortals’ game, the novel explores themes of love, mortality, redemption, and the consequences of past decisions. Blake weaves humor, heartache, and adventure into a story about accepting life’s fragility and finding strength in vulnerability.
Summary
Viola Marek, a vampire who moonlights as a real estate agent, has a tricky client: Tom Parker, a ghost haunting his old mansion.
Tom doesn’t just linger out of nostalgia—he’s stuck in limbo, believing he needs to solve his own murder before moving on. Viola decides to enlist her friend Fox D’Mora, a medium with a curious pedigree—he’s the godson of Death.
But when Fox tries to summon Death for answers, Death doesn’t show. It turns out, something’s wrong in the realm of the afterlife.
Complicating things further, Brandt Solberg, a former lover of Fox’s and a demi-god, interrupts them while robbing the house.
His appearance is no coincidence. Brandt reveals that the fact he’s found Fox means Death is in serious danger. Death had placed a curse forbidding Brandt from locating Fox, meaning only something catastrophic could have broken that barrier.
Soon, archangels Raphael and Gabriel arrive, shedding more light: Death has been kidnapped by Volos, a powerful demon king who has disguised himself as Tom Parker’s great-grandfather, Tom Parker I.
Volos is holding Death captive in an illegal and dangerous immortals’ game, a high-stakes contest where immortals gamble for power and sometimes wager their very existence.
Fox soon realizes that his involvement in these games runs deeper than he’d like to remember. In the past, Brandt had once gambled with Death—and lost Fox’s freedom. Death then forbade Brandt from playing again and severed their relationship.
Now, Fox, Tom, and Viola must face the challenge of this twisted tournament to rescue Death. With Brandt’s help, they travel to Death’s home to search for clues.
They find a ledger detailing the participants of the game, which includes Tom Parker I, revealing the dark legacy that has haunted Tom’s family for generations.
The group reaches the immortals’ game, where they find Death, bound and helpless. The rules of the tournament are harsh: each player must confront their own past regrets, or risk losing everything.
Fox realizes that if he beats Volos, he must face Death in the final round.
Volos wants to control Death to bend the world to his will, wiping out all mortal life. Meanwhile, Tom learns that Brandt, in his obsession to win Fox back, was the one who murdered him.
As the game progresses, Fox faces Brandt, and in a moment of revelation, Brandt admits he has always struggled to express his love for Fox. Death’s games had stolen his truth.
Despite this, Fox holds firm, rejecting the idea that love can be risked in a gamble, and wins the round.
In the showdown against Volos, Fox uses his insight into Tom Parker I’s guilt for murdering his family in exchange for immortality. By confronting the original Parker’s buried remorse, Fox weakens Volos, winning the tournament.
Finally, Fox faces Death, who confesses his own regrets, acknowledging his love for Fox. Fox embraces his mortality as a source of strength and defeats Death.
Fox’s victory restores Tom and Viola’s humanity, while he and Brandt reject immortality, choosing to live out their lives together. Death, narrating, reminds readers that life’s true reward lies in living well.
Characters
Viola Marek
Viola Marek is introduced as a vampire real estate agent, which is a unique and striking combination of roles. Her immortality provides her with a detached perspective on life, but her profession highlights her connection to the mortal world.
Viola’s key motivation throughout the story is to sell the Parker mansion, but her deeper involvement in Tom Parker’s plight reveals her capacity for empathy, even for mortals and ghosts. Despite her vampiric nature, which implies a disconnect from humanity, Viola forms meaningful relationships.
She is drawn into the larger plot when she enlists Fox D’Mora’s help, showing her resourcefulness and willingness to seek help when necessary. Throughout the novel, Viola grows closer to Tom, leading to her final transformation into a mortal, emphasizing her desire for genuine, human experiences.
Her arc illustrates the importance of love, mortality, and human connection, even for an immortal being like a vampire.
Tom Parker
Tom Parker begins the novel as a ghost, tethered to the mansion and convinced that solving his murder will allow him to move on. He initially represents a tragic figure, bound by his past and his untimely death.
However, Tom’s character undergoes a significant transformation as he learns the truth behind his murder—that he was killed by Brandt for a chance to win Fox back in the immortals’ game. This revelation forces Tom to face not only his death but also his place in a much larger, cosmic game.
His evolving relationship with Viola further humanizes him, as he transitions from a ghost haunted by the past to a figure capable of love and renewal. By the end, when Tom is returned to his mortal form and can live out his life with Viola, his journey reflects themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the possibility of a second chance at life.
Fox D’Mora
Fox D’Mora is a medium and the godson of Death, making him both a bridge between the mortal and immortal realms and a key player in the conflict surrounding Death’s abduction. His role as a mediator reflects his complex relationship with both life and death, as he must navigate between worlds and individuals.
Fox’s history with Brandt—particularly Brandt’s betrayal by gambling him away in a game against Death—haunts him and drives much of his emotional conflict. Fox’s inherent mortality, despite his connections to powerful immortal beings, becomes a central theme in his development.
His refusal to allow Brandt’s actions to define him, combined with his realization that his own mortality is a source of strength rather than weakness, allows him to confront both Brandt and Death on his own terms. His victory in the immortals’ game, and his eventual decision to reject immortality and grow old with Brandt, reflects his acceptance of life’s finite nature and the value of lived experiences.
Fox’s arc revolves around themes of love, betrayal, self-worth, and the power of mortality.
Brandt Solberg
Brandt Solberg is a demi-god and Fox’s ex-boyfriend, whose actions are largely driven by his desire to win back Fox. His character is marked by a deep sense of regret and a desire for redemption.
In the past, Brandt gambled Fox in an immortals’ game and lost, which led to Death forbidding him from seeing Fox again. Brandt’s inability to express his true feelings to Fox is central to his character, as Death took his truth away during the game.
This lack of communication is both a literal and figurative barrier between them, highlighting the theme of unspoken love and missed opportunities. Brandt’s revelation that his motive for playing the game again was to regain his truth and tell Fox how much he loves him is poignant.
His arc is one of guilt, longing, and ultimately, redemption. In the end, Brandt’s confession of love to Fox leads to their reconciliation, and both characters reject immortality to grow old together, underscoring the novel’s theme that true love and happiness come from shared experiences in life, not from living forever.
Death
Death is a central but enigmatic figure in the novel, both as a literal being and as a concept that looms over all the characters. As Fox’s godfather, Death has a personal connection to the protagonist, which humanizes him to some extent.
However, Death is also shown to be a force that is beyond any one individual, even for immortals. Death’s capture by Volos sets off the novel’s main conflict, as it destabilizes the balance between life and death.
Throughout the novel, Death is portrayed as a figure of wisdom but also regret, especially when it comes to his treatment of Fox. He acknowledges that his actions made Fox feel inferior due to his mortality, which highlights the emotional complexity of his character.
Death’s confession of love for Fox is both surprising and touching, as it reveals that even Death can experience feelings of affection and remorse. Ultimately, Death’s defeat by Fox symbolizes the triumph of life and mortality over the fear of death, reinforcing the novel’s message that living well is the true reward of life.
Volos
Volos, the demon king, serves as the primary antagonist in the novel, representing the dark side of immortality and the dangers of unchecked power. His desire to control Death and gain mastery over mortal souls illustrates his lust for domination and destruction.
Volos’s manipulation of the immortals’ game and his possession of Tom Parker I’s body showcase his ruthlessness and willingness to exploit others for his gain. His role in the story is a stark contrast to the protagonists, who value love, life, and mortality.
Volos’s defeat at the hands of Fox is not just a physical victory but a symbolic one, representing the triumph of human values over demonic greed and the abuse of power. By the end of the novel, Volos is revealed as a tragic figure, bound by his own guilt and the destructive choices he has made, which ultimately lead to his downfall.
His arc serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and immortality.
Tom Parker I
Tom Parker I, the great-grandfather of the ghost Tom Parker, plays a crucial role in the immortals’ game, as it is revealed that Volos possessed his body. Tom Parker I made a deal with Volos, trading the lives of his entire family for immortality.
His guilt over this decision is significant, as it eventually becomes the key to Fox’s victory in the game. Through Fox’s appeal to his guilt and remorse, Tom Parker I’s body rebels against Volos, weakening the demon king and allowing Fox to win.
Tom Parker I’s story serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of greed and the desire for immortality. His arc emphasizes the novel’s recurring theme of guilt and redemption, showing that even those who have committed heinous acts can experience remorse and contribute to the defeat of evil.
Themes
The Complexity of Mortality as a Source of Power and Vulnerability
One of the central themes in Masters of Death is the exploration of mortality not as a weakness but as a unique source of power. Throughout the novel, Fox D’Mora, a demi-god living in the shadow of immortality, grapples with feelings of inferiority due to his transient existence.
In contrast to the immortal beings around him—Brandt, the angels, and Death itself—Fox’s life seems insignificant. However, it is precisely this mortal condition that gives Fox his strength.
By the end of the story, Fox’s understanding that his mortality makes him appreciate life and love in ways the immortals cannot is pivotal. His eventual defeat of Death hinges on his acceptance of this fragility and the realization that the brevity of life gives it value.
This theme adds layers of philosophical weight to the plot. It suggests that immortality, far from being an advantage, strips one of the emotional richness that mortality provides.
The novel treats mortality as a paradox—something that weakens and yet, when embraced, becomes an unmatched source of power and fulfillment.
The Ethical Ambiguities of Immortality and the Corruption of Eternal Life
The novel presents immortality not as a gift but as a curse that corrupts those who possess it. This theme is epitomized in the character of Volos, who manipulates and exploits others in his quest to control Death and, by extension, immortality itself.
Volos’s demonic influence is tied directly to the dangers of seeking eternal life. His actions demonstrate that those who chase immortality are often led down morally bankrupt paths.
Similarly, Tom Parker I, who murders his entire family for the promise of immortality, shows how the desire for eternal life can degrade one’s humanity. The corruption of the self for the sake of cheating death underlines a moral critique of immortality.
The novel suggests that the pursuit of eternal life requires one to sacrifice one’s soul—both metaphorically and literally. In Masters of Death, immortality is more than just a state of being; it is a profound ethical dilemma that challenges the very fabric of moral integrity.
The Intersection of Free Will, Determinism, and Cosmic Gamesmanship
The novel explores the tension between free will and determinism, particularly through the lens of the immortals’ game. The immortals, including Death and the archangels, participate in a cosmic competition where outcomes seem predestined by the players’ past actions and mistakes.
This theme raises deep questions about agency and control, especially in the context of Fox’s efforts to rescue Death. Is Fox truly free to alter the course of events, or is he merely playing his part in a preordained plan?
The immortals’ game serves as a metaphor for larger existential concerns—whether life is a series of predetermined outcomes or a realm where individuals can exercise free will. Brandt’s history with the game complicates this theme, as his inability to express his feelings for Fox is presented as a result of his loss in a previous game.
This suggests that while free will exists, it can be eroded or taken away by higher powers. The game, as a representation of the contest between fate and choice, adds a layer of cosmic irony to the narrative, where even the gods must abide by rules beyond their control.
The Burden of Truth, Love, and Sacrifice in Relationships
The novel explores the emotional and psychological weight that truth and sacrifice carry within intimate relationships. Fox and Brandt’s complicated romance is marked by the tension between love and the inability to fully express that love due to the interference of divine forces.
Brandt’s confession—that he gambled Fox’s relationship and ultimately his own ability to tell the truth—highlights how deeply external forces can impact personal connections. Brandt’s inability to tell Fox the truth is a metaphor for the emotional repression that often accompanies love.
Fears, past mistakes, and insecurities prevent one from being fully vulnerable. Fox’s victory in the game hinges on his understanding that love, when tainted by sacrifice and lies, cannot flourish.
However, the theme does not merely dwell on the dark side of love. It also celebrates love’s redemptive qualities.
When Brandt finally regains his truth and tells Fox how much he loves him, their relationship transforms into something more authentic. By choosing to reject their immortality and grow old together, Fox and Brandt’s love becomes a symbol of the sacrifices necessary for genuine intimacy.
Love, in this novel, is portrayed as something that requires not just emotional commitment but also an acceptance of vulnerability and sacrifice.
Guilt, Redemption, and the Consequences of One’s Past
The theme of guilt runs through multiple storylines in Masters of Death, particularly in how it relates to redemption. Both Tom Parker and Brandt are characters driven by guilt for their past actions—Tom for the murder of his family and Brandt for betraying Fox.
This guilt manifests as a burden that they must confront directly in the immortals’ game. Fox’s ability to appeal to Tom Parker I’s guilt and use it to defeat Volos reinforces the idea that guilt, when acknowledged, can be a path to redemption.
However, the novel does not suggest that redemption is easy. It is a painful process that involves confronting one’s deepest regrets and taking responsibility for past actions.
Brandt’s journey of redemption is especially poignant, as his confession to Fox signals the moment where he can finally begin to atone for his mistakes. The novel treats guilt as a double-edged sword—it can either imprison individuals in their past or provide them with the impetus to seek forgiveness and change.
Redemption, in this context, is not a given but something that must be earned through reflection, honesty, and the willingness to change.
The Fragility of Divine and Mortal Power
Another profound theme in the novel is the fragility of both divine and mortal power. While the characters include gods, angels, and immortals, their power is shown to be anything but absolute.
Volos, despite his demonic might, is ultimately defeated by Fox’s mortal insight. Even Death—seemingly the most powerful force in the universe—is vulnerable to being captured and controlled.
The novel plays with the idea that power, whether divine or mortal, is never unassailable. This theme is intricately tied to the concept of vulnerability, where even beings who seem omnipotent are revealed to have weaknesses.
Divine power, in the novel, is subject to rules and limits, much like mortal power. This subversion of traditional hierarchies adds to the novel’s richness, suggesting that power is not only transient but also deeply dependent on how it is wielded and understood.