Top 10 Best Dark Fantasy Books To Read if You Love The Fantasy Genre
Fantasy is a genre that excels at spooky tales. It’s no wonder, then, that many of the best dark fantasy books are eerie, creepy and downright terrifying. In the fantasy world, anything can happen, and while some of the books on this list are aimed at a younger audience, others are literary fiction for adults. Some of the most chilling fantasy books are also considered classics, so you may have read them in school.
The term “dark fantasy” refers to a subgenre of fantasy stories, which typically involve dark supernatural forces and characters with morally ambiguous qualities. In other words, it is fantasy with an “edge” – a kind of fantasy that depicts fantasy worlds which are more similar to those of modern-day Earth, in that they contain realistic elements, including societies with more “modern” beliefs and practices (i.e. religion, customs, technology and morals).
There are plenty of books out there that are dark and gritty, so if you’re looking to explore fresh territory for your fiction addiction, here are some of the best dark fantasy books available.
Table Of Contents
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
- Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
- The Axe and the Throne by M.D. Ireman
- Sabriel by Garth Nix
- The Vagrant by Peter Newman
- A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
- Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
- The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
1. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
If you’re a huge fan of fantasy books, you’ve probably already heard of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. The first book in the First Law trilogy, The Blade Itself was published back in 2006, and it’s a dark, gritty fantasy adventure with plenty of blood and guts. The novel’s hero is a washed-up, alcoholic former soldier named Logen Ninefingers, who’s an expert in the art of the sword (but has no other skills to speak of). He seeks redemption, but will he find it?
2. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence’s debut novel “Prince of Thorns”, the first of his Broken Empire trilogy, is a character-driven tale that pits an unlikely protagonist against a medieval world filled with political intrigue and brutal violence. While it’s not for the faint of heart, “Prince of Thorns” has a wealth of content that will appeal to a wide variety of readers, including fans of both fantasy and historical fiction.
3. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
If you’re a fan of fantasy books, then you have most likely read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, but have you read Gardens of the Moon by Steven? This is a dark fantasy novel that is set in a world that is similar to our own, but with dragons, magic, and other creatures that are not found in our world.
Gardens of the Moon is the first book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, an epic fantasy collection written by Steven Erikson. In this first volume, we meet many characters and get many different storylines that only come together at the very end. (In fact, the book takes place in the middle of a ten-book series, so there are several more storylines to follow in the later books.) It is a great read with many fascinating characters and a wide world, but you might find the first volume is overly long and confusing if you’re looking for a traditional beginning-to-end fantasy story.
4. The Axe and the Throne by M.D. Ireman
The Axe and the Throne by M.D. Ireman is a deeply compelling fantasy novel that follows a young man who is thrust into a world of magic and intrigue when he is named as the next heir to the throne of a kingdom by the dying king. This is a stand-alone novel, and it is told from three different points of view. This story is told in the first person, which is a good choice in this case since most of the novel’s key details are revealed through the main character’s eyes. Novels told from multiple perspectives are rare in the fantasy genre, and it is hard to pull them off well.
It is a time of political upheaval, with a new religion on the rise and dragons in the skies. The world is shifting toward a war that will need a champion. A new emperor is sitting on the throne that has been in his family for generations. He has a loyal axe by his side, determined to keep him from any harm. This book is about the two people who are given the responsibility of protecting their emperor and the empire from the turmoil of the times. It is a story of honor, loyalty, love, family, friendship, and sacrifice. But it is also a story of two people who are simply trying to do their duty for their emperor and their empire.
5. Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sabriel by Garth Nix is a great book to read if you enjoy books about magic and the supernatural. The book is the first in a series called “Old Kingdom” series, and it follows the story of the young and brave Sabriel. The story takes place in a world that is a bit of both ours, and fantasy. It is a bit of a mix of the past and the present, the classic and the new.
The great cataclysm has come and gone, killing almost all of the Old Kingdom’s inhabitants. The walls that kept the kingdom safe for centuries have crumbled, and now the survivors must learn to survive in a ruined land. One of these survivors is Sabriel, now the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, who must learn to wield the powers of a necromancer to save her father, who is trapped in the netherworld. Meanwhile, her mother investigates the mysterious forces behind the great cataclysm.
6. The Vagrant by Peter Newman
Debut author Peter Newman crafts a gritty, action-packed epic fantasy. Burdened with the name of a long-dead god, and hunted by a necromancer, a band of humans set on a journey to save themselves in this new land.
In a land ruled by three suns, a crumbling empire has been built on the backs of enslaved humans. The suns are worshipped, and those who control their rise and fall hold the power of life and death over the citizens of this land. No one is more aware of this than the Vagrant, a man who—under the heat of the most brutal sun—is determined to bring justice to those who have lived in darkness for far too long.
7. A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
One of the biggest themes in A Crown for Cold Silver is classism, which Alex Marshall executes in a way that feels realistic and relatable. The novel takes place in a medieval-esque fantasy world, yet the characters speak like modern people. This leads to some interesting conversations, as the characters struggle to reconcile their old-fashioned views with the world around them. Finally, Merrick is a great heroine, and the only one I’m aware of in the fantasy genre who identifies as asexual. This is a huge leap forward for the genre, and I hope we see a lot more characters like her in the future.
8. Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
This is the first book in a new trilogy which is officially a spin-off from the popular “Red Queen” trilogy. The series is written by bestselling author, Mark Lawrence. This is one of the most anticipated fantasy books of the year.
The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire fear her as they fear no other. Her grandson Jalan Kendeth is a coward, a cheat and a womaniser; and tenth in line to the throne. While his grandmother shapes the destiny of millions, he is content to laze about drinking with his two (actually quite devious) companions, the dwarf named Snorri and the shape-shifting Emissary of the gods, a woman called the Green Lady. However, he is about to be thrust into an adventure that will force him to face his fears.
9. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Weeks’ debut novel, The Way of Shadows, is the first book in the Night Angel trilogy, and tells the story of Kylar Stern, an orphaned teen who is adopted by an infamous gang of thieves known as the Black knives. The Black knives are led by Durzo Blint, a legendary wetboy—a cross between a bodyguard and an assassin—who takes Kylar as his apprentice. Kylar struggles to come to terms with his new life, and his struggle to accept the darker side of his nature is at the heart of the story’s drama.
10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Where do gods come from? Are they real or purely the product of human imagination? Why do we worship and love them? In American Gods, Neil Gaiman addresses these questions and more through the story of ex-con Shadow, who is hired as a bodyguard for a mysterious con man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. As Shadow travels across America with Wednesday, he encounters many old gods and discovers that they’re not only still worshipped, they’re alive and well.
