Dark Fantasy Books
The magic of fantasy, when combined with darkness, gives unforgettable stories. In these dark fantasy books, the line between good and bad is blurred, the heroes aren’t perfect, and the villains are tempting.
They are a blend of supernatural and dangerous. Ethics and morals are thrown out of the window as the battles are fought. Here are our top recommendations for dark fantasy books.
Dark Fantasy Books List
Books On The List
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
- The Black Company by Glen Cook
- The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
- The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
- Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
- The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
Dark Fantasy Books
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
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Short Summary
| Pages | 560 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | War, Moral Ambiguity, Political Games, Revenge, Cynicism, Quest For Power, Existential Dread |
| Collection | The First Law Trilogy |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Violence, Torture, Sexual Content, Injuries, PTSD, War, Misogny, Betrayals, Cruelty, Self-Harm |
The Blade Itself follows the lives of four complex characters. Logen Ninefingers; a notorious barbarian who is on the run to save his life and escape his violent past. Jezal dan Luthar; a selfish nobleman who cares more about his vain reputation than the kingdom. Sand dan Glokta; a torturer. He was a former war hero now turned bitter.
He is trying to navigate his life while solving conspiracies and dealing with political games. Bayaz; a wizard and the controller of the game. He gathers an unlikely team to tackle secrets, mysteries, and dangers. Four morally-gray people’s lives get tangled up as they manage through the dangerous world.
The Black Company by Glen Cook
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| Pages | 704 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | War, Wizard War, Moral Dilemmas, Dark Magic, Brotherhood, Loyalty |
| Collection | Chronicles of the Black Company Series |
| Readability | Medium |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, War Trauma, Sexual Content, Suicide, Manipulation, Torture |
The Black Company is a group of ruthless and skilled soldiers who fight for profit and not for morality. They get intertwined into the dark world of wizards as they are hired by a powerful sorceress, The Lady. The story is told through the narrative of the company’s physician, The Croaker.
Meanwhile, a prophecy about The White Rose is made. We see the story unfold as the company gets involved in dangerous battles for power where morality is thrown out of the window.
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
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Short Summary
| Pages | 304 |
| Age Rating | 16+ |
| Themes | Mysterious Dark Forces, Dark Magic, Alternate World, Obessission, Past Trauma, Existential Dread |
| Collection | The Dark Tower Series |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Violence, Child Endangerment, Suicide, Manipulation, Moral Ambiguity, Trauma |
The book follows the narrative of the last gunslinger, an ancient warrior named Roland Deschain. He has two missions: find the dark tower and eliminate ‘The Man in Black’. He is on a quest to find ‘The Man in Black’ in a post-apocalyptic world with barren lands.
‘The Man in Black’ is a sinister figure who is mysterious and holds many secrets. On his quest, Roland meets Jake Chambers, a boy from a normal world who is transported to the Mid-World. They travel together to find the man who ruined their lives and discover the dark tower.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
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Short Summary
| Pages | 512 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Oppression, Super Humans, Geological Cataclysms, Mystery, Survival, Environmental Destruction |
| Collection | The Broken Earth Series |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Child Abuse, Murder, Violence, Sexual Assault, Slavery, Opression |
The story takes place in a world called the ‘Stillness’ where earth-shattering geographical events like earthquakes are common. The period of constant destruction is known as ‘The Fifth Season’, which is constantly dreaded by the people.
In this world, certain people have the ability to control seismic movements. They are known as an orogene and are needed but feared by society. The story weaves together the narrative of three women in this world: Essun, a woman who is secretly an orogene; she is on a quest to find her daughter and avenge her son’s death; Damaya, a young woman who just discovered her orogene power and is sent to the academy for training; and Syenite, a powerful orogene sent on an unpleasant mission.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
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Short Summary
| Pages | 336 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Anti-Hero Protagonist, Moral Ambiguity, Loss Of Innocence, Guilt, Trauma, Quest For Revenge |
| Collection | The Broken Empire Series |
| Readability | Medium |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Murder, PTSD |
Jorg Ancrath’s mother and younger brother were killed right in front of him by Count Renar’s men. Jorg ran away from his father’s kingdom and joined a group of hardcore thugs.
By thirteen he became their leader, and by fifteen he had made it his mission to avenge the deaths of his loved ones. Driven by rage, he is fixated on killing the king, but he is not prepared for the betrayals, supernatural powers, and mind games.
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
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| Pages | 608 |
| Age Rating | 16+ |
| Themes | A World With Demons, A Life Of Fear, Threat To Humanity, Survival, Mysteries, Quest To Unravel Secrets |
| Collection | The Demon Cycle Series |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Endangerment, Trauma, Death, Gore, Betrayal, Abuse |
The Warden Man takes us to a world where demons emerge at night and threaten humanity. Humans live behind protected wards, which only offer partial protection. Three people’s lives get intertwined in the story as they set on a journey to unravel the secrets of the world.
Arlen is fed up of living a life of fear; after his mother is killed in an attack, he takes the decision to set foot outside the wards and uncover the mysteries behind the demons.
Leesha is a young woman who is a skilled healer and herb gatherer who is on a journey of learning and survival. Rojer is an orphan who is a traveling artist on a journey of discovery of art and music.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
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Short Summary
| Pages | 464 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Revenge, Rebellion, Survival, Ambition, Academy Of Assassins, Moral Ambiguity, Betrayals, Dark Magic |
| Collection | The Nevernight Chronicle Series |
| Readability | Medium |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Sexual Content, Death, Torture, Abuse, Childhood Trauma, Suicide |
Mia Corvere’s father was the leader of a failed rebellion, which led to his death. Mia’s family was torn apart after her father’s death, but she managed to escape. Now her only desire is to take revenge upon the republic.
She has a special ability to control the shadows—a deadly power. She joins a group of assassins to train well and become powerful. The Red Church is a deadly place full of dangerous assassins, but if Mia survives, she’ll be one step closer to her goal—revenge.
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Short Summary
| Pages | 496 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Epic Fantasy, Pre-Columbian America, Prophecy, Rituals, Cosmic Forces, Ancient Traditions, Rebellion, Moral Ambiguity, |
| Collection | Between Earth And Sky Series |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Death, Sexual Content, Trauma, Abuse, Cultural Erasure |
The story is set in pre-Columbian America in the city of Tova. The joyful period of the winter solstice has turned bitter as it has collided with a solar eclipse. The particular day will shake the world and cause imbalance.
Xiala is a teek, a member of seafaring people with magical abilities, who is assigned the task to transport one man to Tova on the day of the solstice. The said man is Serapio, a blind man who is destined to make a prophecy. As the winter solstice approaches, the chaos in Tova increases as they navigate their impending doom and the potential future.
The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
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| Pages | 560 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Dark Magic, Forbidden Practices, Ancient Secrets, Underworld, Wars, Ancient Gods, Mysteries, Rituals |
| Collection | The Black Iron Legacy Series |
| Readability | Medium |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Death, Crime, Trauma, Moral Ambiguity |
The city of Guerdon has become an escape from the war that is waging outside its borders. The years-long battle between the ancient beings and humanity has not yet touched the city of Guerdon, but now the threat is looming. A group of three unlikely thieves is formed to tackle the mysteries of the city.
Rat; a ghoul, an animalistic version of a human; Spar; a man suffering from plague; and Cari; a young woman with a troubled past. As the three set out on a journey to unravel the mysteries.
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
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| Pages | 528 |
| Age Rating | 18+ |
| Themes | Epic Fantasy, Norse Mythology, Ancient Gods, Ancient Magic, Remnants Of Power, Redemption, |
| Collection | The Bloodsworn Trilogy |
| Readability | Easy |
| Trigger Warnings | Graphic Violence, Trauma, PTSD, Torture, Abuse, Death |
The book is set in a Norse mythology-inspired world where gods exist. The story takes place in the land of Vigrid. A place where gods fought amongst themselves, which led to their destruction.
Now centuries later, the remnants of their power still exist, and it’s a constant battle to gain a piece of their power. The book combines three narratives set in this world: Orka, a fierce mother on a quest to find her son; Varg, a former slave turned warrior seeking glory; and Elvar, the member of a group of mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
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Conclusion
These were our top recommendations for dark fantasy books. From mythology to ancient magic to dark powers, these books have it all. They have gripping tales with anti-heroes, dark creatures, and half-humans; they’ll take you on a journey to the highlands to the shadowy corners. Make sure to add these dark fantasy books to your reading list.
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