This is probably one of the best books that Piers Anthony ever wrote. I would say that even if it was only because the sexual aspect of the book, which is usually overwhelming in his writing, is merely a major aspect, secondary to the moral implications of the main character, Zane, having to be the grim reaper. However, that failure to be awful is not all that can be said for it! On a Pale Horse actually has character development and fairly realistic behavior, an intriguing sympathetic portrayal of Thanatos, and an elaborate if somewhat silly world (this still is Piers Anthony), which is further explored and explained across the series, Incarnations of Immortality.