Are you looking for the best dark fantasy books? so this article is perfect for you!
what is a dark fantasy book? these tales often feature an antihero and face ethical ambiguity. a dark fantasy may stem from the perceived enemy or villain rather than the perfectly clean, ideal, noble protagonist.
You are reading: Dark fantasy books adults
people and mortals encounter supernatural powers, not as horror, but maybe not as foul blood, similar to some kind of sinister magic. the dark fantasy publication will use the narrative to manifest this protagonist’s internal struggles with depression.
The most important thing is that these tales are all atmospheric, with a real bad mood that you can feel throughout the web pages, which generally represents the mentality of the protagonist. It is not surprising that these novels fill us with feelings. Get started with light fantasy books with these two great reads.
what are dark fantasy books?
Dark fantasy is a popular subgenre of fantasy that has a deliberately dark tone, atmosphere, or mood. dark fantasy books can have similar themes to horror or gothic literature.
While it may seem like a new genre of literature, dark fantasy is actually an old genre. Dark fantasy books are similar to Game of Thrones, and classic stories like The Odyssey and Beowulf are examples.
These books include action and adventure and are set in a fantasy world or have fantasy elements. they also have prominent ominous themes throughout.
best dark fantasy novels to read
I don’t know about the others, but as the seasons get warmer, my reading tastes change. they get a little moodier, a little darker. I doubt I’m the only one, given the number of thrillers and horror books that line must-read lists and oodles of tbrs.
However, what if you don’t need to get a thriller? imagine if you are a dedicated fantasy reader who would like to walk the other side? that’s where dark fantasy books come in.
The definition of a dark fantasy can be hard to pin down. it is not synonymous with fear, but there could be overlap. horror writers who write fantasy books are often classified as dark fantasy.
for different folks, fantasy books that are a little grittier, a little bloodier, and a little more, dare i say, grim, belong in this class, which is why george r.r. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice occasionally gets that label. I’m afraid I have to disagree, but I know why readers do.
Niceties aside, there are a couple of shared attributes with dark stories. they can have a somber and moody tone. they could portray humans dealing with supernatural powers.
can also include an antihero as a main character; in other words, the villains of common fantasies can be protagonists of dark fantasy books. as ethical ambiguity in their personalities? dark fantasy is your subgenre for you.
here is a list of the best dark fantasy series books that penn book recommends reading:
the citadel of fear by gertrude barrows
Among the first major women science fiction and fantasy writers, Stevens initially published her work under the pseudonym Francis Stevens. credited as the girl who dreamed up a dark fantasy, this list might be remiss for not including her!
The Citadel of Fear tells the story of two adventurers who stumble upon a hidden Aztec village. sadly among those guys he allows a black god to join him in culture.
First published in 1918, Citadel of Fear is an extreme case of the pulpy fads that dominated science fiction and fantasy styles at the time.
elric of melnibone by michael moorcock
Moorcock’s drug-dependent albino sorcerer, elric of melnibone, has become one of the most recognizable anti-heroes in fantasy.
elric, the last emperor of a declining empire, faces external dangers, relatives who want his throne and a kind of existential malaise. And that doesn’t even mean that his soul-stealing stormbringer sword will necessarily bring unhappiness to all he loves.
blood daughter by anne bishop
Speaking of figures usually expected to play antagonistic roles, Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series introduces viewers to a shadowy world where the balance of power between women and men is lopsided.
A select group of chosen ones urgently awaits the one person who can eventually set things right. that seems reasonable, until you discover that your heroes are called saetan, lucivar, and daemon. this is one of the best dark fantasy series to read!
black sun rising by cs friedman
A mixture of science fiction and fantasy, the opening volume of Friedman’s Coldfire trilogy introduces us to a world imbued with natural powers that beckon an individual’s worst nightmares. As with other dark fantasy novels, the highlight of Black Sun Sunrise is not the book’s warrior protagonist, Damien Vryce.
However, his uneasy ally, the vampiric Gerald Tarrant, wages a centuries-old internal battle between living up to his humanity or being relegated to evil. this twist on the classic hero’s journey tests loyalty and ethics (and fails).
caitlin r.kiernan’s red tree
(modern dark fantasy)
can’t help but use a caitlin kiernan book for those who want a fantasy that’s virtually indistinguishable from dread. if you like ghost stories, if you prefer new england horror to h.p. lovecraft minus the negative connotations that lovecraft works continue, and if you prefer romance within narrative structures reminiscent of the house of leaves, this is for you.
miserere by teresa frohock
(best horror fantasy books)
conflict to open the gates of hell? Sounds more like a horror book. however, when you take that recognizable conflict and place it in a secondary fantasy world, it becomes a dark fantasy story.
miserere has all the best fantasy, betrayal, redemption and trust sections combined with supernatural elements that will make any horror lover jump for joy: exorcists, demons and ghosts.
shadow and bone by leigh bardugo
before six of crows, leigh bardugo burst onto the literary scene with shadow and bone, about a soldier named alina. she finds her mystical powers capable of forcing the monsters that threaten the nation from her. These forces attract the attention of a certain magic user named a darkling, and from there, Alina is plunged into a world of betrayal and intrigue.
neil gaiman coraline
The grass is always greener on the other side, so we believe it. neil gaiman’s coraline discovers otherwise when she reaches the threshold of finding a house and a home very similar to her own.
never think children’s books can’t be dark and scary. Coraline’s other mom and dad would be creepy personified.
While I wanted to compile a list of dark fantasy books, I couldn’t help it and included some bonus graphic book options. tons of intriguing dark fantasy stories have been told in that average time, so give them a try if you want something new.
yana toboso’s black butler
the house of ciel phantomhive has served the british monarch for centuries thanks to his hound. doing his dirty work. However, a catastrophe occurred in Ciel’s youth, leaving him as the only survivor of the family and jumped to a policeman who chooses the ideal type of butler named Sebastian.
Missing in the translation is the play on words that Sebastian is a grand butler (or even a butler from hell). however, the ethical ambiguity of the toboso characters is not.
monstress of marjorie liu and sana takeda
there’s a reason, takeda’s liu and monstress are an award-winning show. Matriarchal societies, a deliberate mix of European and Asian mythologies, dark magic, and not-so-dead religions permeate this collection of dark fantasy. do not be intimidated by the dense construction of the world. grab it, take a close look at the artwork and you’ll be on your way.
kendare blake’s three dark crowns
In Three Dark Crowns (2016), after creation, a pair of triplets will compete for the honor of becoming crowned queen of the island of Fennbirn. however, it is a beauty pageant.
the expense of losing is temporary. At this time, sisters Mirabella, Katharine, and Arsinoe are raised with exceptional abilities, such as immunity to poison and the ability to control components. after the contest begins on his sixteenth birthday, the budding fight erupts into something magical.
into the drowning depths by mira grant
do you really like the little mermaid? Mira Grant’s Downing Deep (2017) is based on mermaid legends with a dark twist.
In this horror fantasy using a queer slant, an ambitious team of people examine the almost mythical prehistoric creatures of the mystical Mariana Trench, the deepest aspect of the sea. what they don’t expect is how deep they’ll be pulled, too.
for marine biologist victoria stewart, this is much more than the usual regular scientific research. She hopes to locate the sister she left behind on a failed and missing trip to the trenches of the Marianas seven decades ago, but what she finds threatens the delicate divide between humanity and the mermaids.
practical magic alice hoffman
Among those books that made me fall in love with dark fantasy is Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic (1998). In this publication it has been thought that the owens sisters were murdered: any boy they love is destined to perish.
Gillian and Sally grew up thieves, augmented by their witch aunts in a New England town who reluctantly stopped them and sought out their magic potions. But as they develop, they also grow apart, until Gillian reveals that she enlists Sally’s help: the murdered lazy, abusive husband won’t blow up, literally.
however, sally is grieving the loss of her husband. Hoffman’s narrative reimagines the supernatural curse trope, making it feel psychological with high-stakes magic.
philip pullman’s golden compass
from the golden compass (1995), philip pullman opens the series his dark materials, a dark fantasy where they exist. This show follows Lyra, a teenage woman who is driven north to rescue her friend Will from gluttonous child kidnappers.
It’s bad enough that lyra’s friend was taken, but soon lyra will realize that she’s caught in a battle between good and the center of evil. if she fails, then you will find significant consequences.
Pullman’s program is grounded in doctrine, faith, and moral integrity, using vision to explore these notions in a fantasy world not unlike our own.
vicious by v.e. brat
See Also: C.J. Box – Book Series In Order
In vicious (2008), this twisted dark fantasy from v.e. Schwab investigates the bitter feud developing between Victor and Eli. both boys were college roommates who bonded over a shared enthusiasm for electricity. As elders, the frenemies investigate a tantalizing theory that, under ideal conditions, anyone can develop skills.
When their thoughts go beyond the theoretical, their competition spirals out of control, knocking victor and eli aside before they cross each other’s paths again. Schwab’s book and its sequel, Vengeful, investigate the dark side of magic and the bloodthirsty greed it awakens.
creatures of need & ruin by molly tanzer
A memorable and consistently surprising dark fantasy, the creatures of misery and the ruin of molly tanzer are set in an alternate history version of the island of the prohibition era.
ellie west is a fisherman for a smuggler overnight in her beloved amityville home. Ella Ellie understands that her forbidden side job is not without its dangers, from law enforcement and mobsters alike, but she is eager to help her brother pay for her education.
When Ellie’s desperation leads her to trade a liquor she won thrift to strangers for a decadent celebration, she finds herself caught up in a darker side of the rum career she might have expected.
The liqueurs he offered give people who drink it horrific, apocalyptic fantasies and powerful spirits that can be traced back to some cult of reckless worshippers. The power of the hose on the people of Long Island is spreading like wildfire.
the book of the damned of tanith reads
This selection of three sensuous and menacing fantasy stories reveals Tanith Lee’s ability to build immersive worlds that are haunting. In one, a writer follows the dangerous path of a boy who has promised her that he is destined to die.
In another, a middle-aged woman transforms into her fathomless, muscular male alter ego of the night and stalks the streets of paradys in search of prey. And in Crimson Stained, a poet falls under the thrall of a stunningly beautiful girl who seems to understand her secret and shameful fantasies.
borrowed souls by chelsea Mueller
This distinctive urban fantasy is set in gem city, a place where people can borrow someone else’s soul and commit sin without consequence.
Callie Delgado finds herself in an impossible position once the mob holds her responsible for her brother’s debts. what is a sister to perform? she can take on any unethical task of her criminal underworld or pay to get a closed casket funeral with money she doesn’t have.
Since Callie’s empty pockets won’t get her much to lease a soul, she strikes a deal with the local sleaze ball, the soul charmer. but this releases her deeper into danger as she is now right in the center of the dark universe of magic.
rodman philbrick coffins
Coffins cultivate thrilling supernatural terror in this pre-Civil War fantasy book, recounting a horrific series of tragedies plaguing the infamous abolitionist Coffin family. It started with the unexplained death of a baby.
Shortly after, the family left twin boys behind in a mysterious shipyard collision. As the patriarch’s money casket locks up in madness, his eldest son, the dwarf Jebediah, turns to his friend Davis Bentwood.
can davis accept that there is more to the misfortunes of these coffins than coincidences? Will the dark and otherworldly horrors that await the Underground Railroad stop claiming more residences?
vividly descriptive and incorporating a false true story, philbrick’s book is a chilling ride through one of the strangest sections of american history.
the path of shadows by brent weeks
The Path of Shadows follows the path of the young orphan Azoth to become the deadliest assassin the planet has ever seen. Set in a medieval-style world with kings, queens, guilds, apprentices, not to mention magic, this is the first book in a trilogy and contains all the components of an anti-hero’s fantastic journey.
There’s gender, political intrigue, violence, and a love story woven into the mix. queue them up on your kindle and scour the entire lot on a vacation break.
Just don’t start if you don’t have a lot of free time, as you’ll be neglecting your job, friends, spouse, and children in favor of immersing yourself in the narrative.
bound by alan baxter
bound is a significant wildcard in this list. Being a brand new name (sort of) from Australian master of dark fiction Alan Baxter, it won’t be on as many radars as the previous books. He has been called Lee Child’s jack reacher using a book of spells, which does the novel justice, but partially sells it for a short time.
for me, the main character, alex caine, is much more interesting than jack reacher. he has the same gruff exterior, but there’s a lot more charm and comedy along with extraordinary magical prowess to boot.
This post is ticking a mile an hour and will certainly take your breath away after you finally find a fantastic read from an extraordinary gift in this genre.
broken empire series: prince of thorns by mark lawrence
(adult dark fantasy books)
The Prince of Thorns, the first book in this broken empire trilogy, is as dark as drowning in an ink factory. The fantasy world is gradually being consumed by hordes of the ravenous undead, led by the dead king, and our hero, jorg, wanders around causing much more destruction and anguish.
While the medieval-style planet is in the grip of a zombie apocalypse of sorts, the protagonist is the most magnificent creature of all, which explains precisely why this book cannot be called horror.
jorg is one of the greatest protagonists of fantasies. ever. Prince of Thorns is a delightfully gruesome reaction to the brilliant, epic fantasy of the 1980s and 1990s, and watching Jorg make his way through this dreary universe is, paradoxically, exceptionally delightful.
jorg is a complete bastard, but he gets it, and his wry humor and perverted sense of justice lead you to meddle with him whether you want to or not. The characterization throughout the trilogy is top notch, and Lawrence’s writing is as fantastic as the material is horrible.
gardens of the moon by steven erikson
The empire of Malaz simmers with discontent, bled dry by endless wars, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations. the imperial legions, accustomed to bloodshed, yearn for a time. however, empress laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her fear of claw assassins.
For Sergeant Whiskyjack and his gang of bridge burners, as well as tattersail, living mage of the second legion, the wake of the siege of pale has to be a time to mourn the many dead.
However, darujhistan, the last of the genabacki-free cities, is holding out. it is to the ancient citadel that laseen directs his gaze.
but it might seem that the empire is not alone in this fantastic game. Sinister and shadowy forces are gathering as the gods prepare to strike their hands.
Conceived and composed on a panoramic scale, gardens of the moon is an epic fantasy of the highest order and a gripping adventure from an outstanding new voice.
the ballad of tom negro by victor lavalle
like most new yorkers, charles thomas tommy tester must struggle to make ends meet, a kind of magical power in itself. When Tommy provides an occult post to a witch girl in Queens, he unleashes supernatural powers that will change him forever.
From The Ballad of Tom Black, Lavalle invites viewers into the dark corners of the city within this lovecraft-inspired urban fantasy that will have you seeing the magic in the maintenance holes. believe ubereats, however, with witchcraft.
the young elites of marie lu
We have millions of stories about superheroes on their noble missions to rescue the planet from evil, but what about a group of fighters whose pursuit of justice isn’t outright?
That’s the delightfully dark assumption of Marie Lu’s Young Elites, the first book in a series already, which focuses on the Young Elites, who have been able to withstand the catastrophic outbreak of Blood Fever.
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This talented and rare team is believed to have special abilities, such as Adelina, whose scars indicate her as a junior elite. enzo valenciano, part of this team’s mysterious and exclusive dagger partnership, hopes to sponsor adelina. Meanwhile, Teren Santoro is tasked with tracking down and eliminating the young elites with his king.
girls of paper and fire by natasha ngan
Natasha Ngan’s magical intro is non-stop action, with personalities you’ll love to see succeed in a brutal world. In Paper and Fire Girls, eight women are chosen to represent the royalty of Ikehara as paper ladies.
However, every time a ninth woman, Lei, is willing to train alongside the newspaper ladies, a spark of change is ignited that could radically alter the kingdom. lei’s narrative is full of psychological complexity and the consequences of wounds in magic.
white is for witchcraft by helenoyeyemi
there is a great coincidence between the gothic fiction of darkness and literary fantasies. White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi is a delightful novel that combines elements of these two subgenres.
on the coast of dover, the silvers reside in a house full of menacing sounds and twisting corridors, trying to recover from a terrible loss. Young Miranda has become increasingly drawn to the home’s past, with its persistent parade of centuries-old resident girls.
If she disappears, the silvers will finally have to face the secrets they’ve kept hidden and face their despair after all.
the lost sisters of holly black
Sometimes the gap between a love story and a horror story is really where the end comes.
Although Jude fought for the electricity of Elfhame’s court from the barbarian Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall for all the cheaters, Locke. half apology and half explanation, in the end taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.
shea ernshaw’s deep evil
Welcome to the populous city of Sparrow, where two centuries ago, three sisters had been sentenced to death for witchcraft. They tied stones to their ankles and buried them in the waters that surrounded the town.
But for a short time each summer, the sisters reunite, hiding the bodies of three faint-hearted women so they can find their revenge, luring the children to the shrine and then sinking them.
Like most locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. However, this year, on the eve of his sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives, oblivious to the threat he’s only encountered.
mistrust and lies spread rapidly throughout the north, rain-soaked roads. the townspeople turn against each other. Penny Stocks and Bo suspect each other of keeping secrets. and death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of their sisters.
kill a kingdom by alexandra christo
The Lyre Princess is mermaid royalty and the deadliest of them all. Along with the hearts of seventeen princes within her collection, she is revered throughout the sea.
See Also: Mr. Amari Soul
until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the sea queen turns the lyre into the one thing they despise most about her as an individual.
Stripped of her melody, Lira has before the winter solstice to turn Prince Elian’s heart into the Queen of the Sea or remain human indefinitely.
The sea is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom on the planet. hunting mermaids has ended the unpleasant pastime that is his calling.
If you rescue a girl who is drowning in the sea, she is more than what she seeks. she promises to help him find the secret to ruining all kinds of mermaids, but can she trust her? And exactly how many deals will she likely need to trade elian to get rid of humanity’s greatest enemy?
the first law trilogy: joe abercrombie’s sword itself
The persuasive opening book of the First Law trilogy, The Sword Itself, calls for a gleefully anti-heroic approach to the genre. logan ninefingers is a hapless, overzealous barbarian who’s one false step from passing.
Captain Jezal Dan Luthar is a self-absorbed card shark whose thoughts are often too far away in the bloodshed of battle.
The disabled inquisitor glokta is a hateful torturer, determined to eliminate betrayal in marriage. Collectively, they make up the three protagonists who face betrayal from this short-fusion bayaz mage.
new york times bestselling writer joe abercrombie injects humor along with an avant-garde twist into the bleak tale of murder conspiracies and gray morality. His richly compelling characters behave like cynical manuals through courtly intrigue and large-scale threats.
the dark tower series: stephen king’s gunslinger
idris and matthew mcconaughey will star in a big motion movie. The Gunslinger, an epic Dark Tower series that could become Stephen King’s greatest literary achievement (The Atlanta Magazine-Constitution), introduces readers to Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger, one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations. king. is a mysterious figure who embarks on a lonely journey into the realms of good and evil.
roland follows the man in black through his desolate world that mirrors our own in terrifying ways. He meets Alice, an attractive woman, and befriends Jake, a guy from New York.
The Gunslinger, a captivating tale partially inspired by Robert Browning’s narrative poem Little Boy Roland Came to the Dark Tower (The Milwaukee Sentinel), is a fascinating whirlwind of stories that draws one hopelessly into its center. it’s bright and fresh and will make you want more.
black company chronicles by glen cook
glen cook said, fuck that mess, let’s get some moral pricks doing bad deeds, that’s so much cooler in a time when fantasy was all about noble farmers with magic swords and a noble destiny. did you know? maybe he was right, I think.
the black company is about the titular group of mercenaries who do their job and kill people for coins. the person providing the coin turns out to be the same dark lord as the arch-villain in other stories. the black company shouldn’t give a fuck.
heroes die by matthew woodring stoter
The Acts of Caine series is a 16-mile adventure story that drags a fantasy animal through the mud and tortures what’s left. humanity has found a way to travel between parallel dimensions in a dystopian future.
Caine, our protagonist, is sent to one of these worlds to engage in as many cool fights as possible. then all the entertainment is broadcast back to earth.
caine is an essential gladiator. In addition to being an adrenaline-fueled adventure filled with violence, testosterone, and fast-paced action, the book also questions why depictions of violence are so popular.
The book is both pulpy entertainment and a crash course in philosophy. It’s dark and Caine, an armored sword-wielding fighter, engages his opponents. he breaks their bones, rips their tendons, or sticks a knife in their eyes.
is a great anti-hero and will discuss the moral implications of violence while running through a group of guards. the “heroes” of the story, by and large, are completely careless in their selfless efforts to be heroes.
The fantasy world lacks the wonder and idealism that make lighter fantasy books so wonderful. Caine’s dystopian sci-fi world is even worse.
the darkness that comes before by r. scott baker
You’ll need to take a shower after reading this book, the Prince of Nothing trilogy, and all the books that follow. therapy. this bad boy was nominated for a locus award for best first novel.
This is a deep, philosophical book that requires your full attention and not a light and fast read like some of the young adult entries on this list.
The prose is rich and captivating, as thick as chocolate, but with mental and nutritional values comparable to kale. the content of the book is deeply philosophical and intellectual.
It’s not a “everyone sits down and discuss the meaning of life” kind of thing. instead, the plot and characters are based on Eastern and Western philosophy. the series has many plot lines and an epic story. the book is horrible in both human and monstrous ways, and it’s especially unsettling to see how magic users work.
sabriel from garth nix
Evil necromancers exist. Anyone who has read fantasy knows this to be true. garth nix decided to make that a reality and wrote the old kingdom series.
The Old Kingdom series features necromancers called Abhorsen, who keep the evil undead in check with magical bells. It was awarded the 1995 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel and Best Fantasy Novel.
sabriel, the title of necromancer, is a young woman who must accept the job to save the ancient kingdom. ancelstierre is the magical country where she lives to avoid being contacted by the evil entities of the old kingdom.
ancestierre inspired by early 20th century australia. the old kingdom is a more traditional fantasy setting. it’s fascinating to see these two very different countries juxtaposed.
There are many undead monsters in the book. death is even given a capital “d”, magic is dark, fills one with the taste and smell of metal, and causes more suffering than it saves. you know a book will be dark when the best buys are those that bind monsters and corpses to their will.
elric of melnibone by michael moorcock
elric, the famous albino sorcerer, is also known as the bearer of stormbringer. this sentient sword confers power on its owner. all this for the modest price of feeding souls. dark and twisted, the elric saga is a fantasy masterpiece.
Anyone familiar with fantasy lore will be familiar with elric. he is one of the most iconic characters from the age of swords and sorcery. In short stories, he first appeared in the sixties.
but, this novel is his full-length debut, where his origins are explained. moorcock is a staunch anti-tolkien, and this book is about as far as the lord of the rings fantasy can go. everything is darkness, pacts made with ancient gods and drug use, as well as death.
elric, the emperor of melnibon, is curiously one of the most “evil” melnibonenses who serves the forces of chaos. elric is a great antihero.
He is filled with warlike darkness, light, and is willing to sacrifice everything he loves for the power that will eventually bring him down. Dark fantasy fans should read Elric’s story as well as Sword and Sorcery.
the man protected by peter v. brett
The first installment of the demon cycle is about people who are afraid and locked in their homes. every night, the demons attack anyone caught outside. is a zombie apocalypse story with medieval technology and an enemy far more dangerous than stumbling corpses.
arlen is a young man who lives in a small town that the demons have decimated. he tries to discover the secrets of the rooms, magical symbols that protect homes. the problem is that the protections will fail for no reason, so everyone is screwed. the novel is filled with a sense of doom and despair.
While it diminishes as the protagonists become more powerful, the first book is still a great work of dark fantasy. There are many demons in the book, including flying monsters that snatch people from the dark skies, monstrosities that eat their loved ones, and mischievous fiery demons that light up barns full of horses.
a crown for alex marshall cold silver
One of the most important additions to dark fantasy is the Crimson Empire trilogy. There are currently two installments. This is the story of a pissed off old biddy who returns to her adventurer’s retreat to defeat the evil spirits that have wronged and abused her.
this is how the magic of the world works. demonic spirits are bound to the flesh of living creatures, then forced to obey your commands by the vague promise of freedom.
The first book is a fascinating deconstruction of fantasy. noble heroes are replaced by drug-addicted brawlers and old-fashioned fighters.
and that doesn’t even include old zosia. Zosia, a tough and witty protagonist, manages to evoke humor and pity at the same time. It’s a superb book.
The sequel is even better. many characters find themselves caught between demonic monstrosities and a possibly more monstrous church.
game of thrones george r.r. martin
this is obvious and needs no introduction. everyone who hasn’t lived under a rock in the last five years is familiar with a game of thrones and some television adaptations.
This first book, published in 1996, turned fantasy on its head and was an important precursor to the new generation of dark fantasy. it’s still a dark book full of undead, ice zombies and other evil characters.
the horrors of a game of thrones are psychologically more terrifying than any other. the unshakable and overwhelming knowledge that, while the little kings & queens squabble over the iron throne and white walkers march closer to the iron throne, it’s a constant reminder that all are doomed unless all parties are resolved to exclude and work together.
They won’t because they’re all a bunch of bastards. Martin’s series is full of magic, which is so mysterious and difficult to understand. Melisandre’s demon shadow baby is fucking terrifying.
there are no magic rules. as such, there is no way to predict what you will get next. That’s why A Game of Thrones and the entire A Song of Ice and Fire (or whatever part of it, George) is so captivating.
see more: best dark fantasy games (https://www.gamersdecide.com/articles/17-best-dark-fantasy-games-pc)
thanks for reading!
See Also: 51 Must Read Chapter Books for Kids (Not Your Typical Book List)