There are thousands of fantasy novels out there waiting to be discovered. Many fantasy stories lean into romance or the archetypal kind of high fantasy tropes that've been done repeatedly since The Lord of the Rings. That's not a bad thing, but for those craving something a little different and much darker, you might want to give one of these book series a try.
The following list highlights five brutal dark fantasy series, some of which blend in science fiction elements if you're into that sort of thing. Just make sure you're prepared for what you might encounter on these pages, as many of them deal with themes that are not for the faint of heart.
1. The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir
Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb series is a genre-bending narrative that combines elements of science fiction and fantasy. The series is set in a galactic empire divided into the Nine Houses System and ruled over by an immortal emperor. It's a gothic fantasy set in space with a queer love story at its center. Plus there's lots of dark magic, necromancy, and body horror. If all of those things appeal to you then Muir's series is the perfect pick, especially if you like dark humor.
The first book introduces readers to a swordswoman named Gideon Nav who is intent on escaping the Ninth House. To do so, she'll have to perform a service for long-time rival Harrowhark Nongesimus, a bone witch intent on competing in a deadly trial to become one of the Emperor's powerful and immortal servants. But to win, Harrowhark needs the aid of a skilled fighter. Enter Gideon.
2. The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang
Before R.F. Kuang became known for books like Babel and Yellowface, she released the grimdark fantasy trilogy The Poppy War. In the early days, The Poppy War was frequently mislabeled as a book for young adult audiences, but if you've actually read any of them, you'd know that could not be further from the truth. The story revolves around Rin, a war orphan desperate to be accepted into a prestigious military academy.
Elements of the story were heavily inspired by real events that unfolded during the Second Sino-Japanese War, namely the horrific Rape of Nanking. As such, prospective readers should know what they're getting into before picking up these novels, as they contain graphic and visceral depictions of genocide, murder, rape, torture, and the effects of war. Dragons and other mythical creatures and magic do exist in these fantasy books, but they're also bracingly realistic in a way that might be too much for some.
3. Hussite series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski is most famous for writing The Witcher saga, and those novels certainly qualify as dark fantasy. But because they're so popular and have received several different adaptations, it might be more beneficial to highlight one of Sapkowski's underrated works, namely his Hussite Trilogy. The Huissite books lean more into historical fantasy than dark fantasy, but if you enjoyed his other stories then you should give this one a chance. The English translations of the three books were released several years ago, yet the trilogy hasn't reached the same level of popularity as the world of The Witcher.
The first book in the series, The Tower of Fools, follows Reinmar of Bielwa, a doctor and magician who gets in trouble with a noble family and is forced to flee from his home. Outside the town borders, he winds up being placed inside an asylum known as the Tower of Fools, a place for anyone who tries to "challenge the prevailing order" (the books are set during the Hussite wars in Bohemia, Silesia, and Poland during the 15th century). Reinmar will have to figure out how to escape while trying to retain his sanity, a task easier said than done.
4. The Inheritance series by N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin has received signifiant praise for her Inheritance trilogy and The Broken Earth trilogy, but while the latter leans more sci-fi, the former is a captivating story set in a world where gods live among mortals. The first book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, chronicles the tale of a noblewoman named Yeine. After her mother dies, Yeine receives a sudden calling to the capital city, where she learns that she is actually an heiress to a king.
As you might guess, that reveal thrusts Yeine into a vicious world of power dynamics and a fight for the throne. Critics and fans praised the first book for its worldbuilding, as well as for doing a great job setting up everything that follows. If you ever had a mythology phase growing up (I definitely became obsessed with the Greek gods for a while), then this trilogy provides a new opportunity to think about relationships between Gods and the humans created in their image, perhaps even spurring you to look at real-world religions from a different perspective.
5. The Coldfire series by C.S. Friedman
The Coldfire trilogy is a comparatively obscure series that might not be for everyone. Like some of the other entires on this list, Coldfire is a hybrid series that blends elements of dark fantasy and science fiction. The worldbuilding is what really helps to set this series apart, as it takes place on a world where fears shape reality.
The first book, Black Sun Rising, introduces us to an unlikely duo comprised of a sorceress and a priest work together to fight a growing evil. The dynamic between them is one of the most richly rewarding aspects of the novel, as their relationship develops in unexpected ways.
Dark fantasy fans will appreciate how Friedman handles the book's heavy themes. She does not pull any punches when it comes to showcasing the bleakness of reality on the planet Erna.
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