It’s hard to find quality dark fantasy novels that aren’t filled with smut or written for young adults. The good news is, in this post I’m sharing 11 of the best dark fantasy books with plots that’ll hook you, worlds you’d never wanna live in, and characters greyer than London skies.
None of the dark fantasy novels on this list are secretly romantasy stories wearing a dark coat of paint. These are proper dark fantasy stories for proper adults. I’m a huge fan of the genre, and a dark fantasy author myself.
What I love about dark fantasy:
I love dark fantasy books because I enjoy losing myself in a fantastical world that mirrors the flaws in our own, reading stories about characters who are morally complex, and delving into dark themes. I especially love well-written political intrigue and reading about flawed people who pursue their goals by any means necessary.
If you can relate to the above, you’ll love many of the dark fantasy series listed below. The list is in no particular order or ranking.
This post won’t rehash the recommendations you’ll see on other lists. These are the best dark fantasy books I’ve personally read, loved, and thought you’d enjoy.
TLDR: My 11 Favourite Dark Fantasy Novels
(Click the titles to learn more)
- Kings Of Paradise by Richard Nell
- Death God’s Gambit by Jay Cartere
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown
- Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher
- Priest Of Bones by Peter McLean
- The Vagrant by Peter Newman
- The Deathless by Peter Newman
- Lord Of The Mysteries by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving
- The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
- Book Of The Dead: Awakening by RinoZ
Dark Fantasy Novel | Best For | What You'll Get |
|---|---|---|
A cunning villain protagonist | Norse-inspired setting, political scheming, and an underdog's rise to power | |
Dark progression fantasy | LitRPG progression, empire building, hard magic, and a ruthless protagonist | |
Character-driven fantasy | Morally grey characters, razor-sharp prose, and twisted fantasy tropes | |
Dystopian action | Roman-inspired society, caste warfare, political revolution, and brutal action | |
Twisted magic systems | Reprehensible characters, reality-bending magic, and a bleak world | |
Crime and political intrigue | Gang building, low fantasy, post-war trauma, and sparse but horrific magic | |
Post-apocalyptic fantasy | A mute hero, sentient weapon, demonic wasteland, and grotesque monsters | |
Murder mystery and immortal nobles | Political intrigue, horrific monsters, and the disturbing cost of immortality | |
Magic systems and mysteries | Eldritch horror, deep progression, Victorian-inspired worldbuilding, and compelling mysteries | |
Political intrigue and deep lore | Dense worldbuilding, competent villains, realistic war crimes, and terrible people | |
Necromancy and crafting LitRPG | Crafting, earned progression, skeleton armies, and a hero’s descent into vengeance |
Read on to discover what each story is about, why I liked it, what makes it dark fantasy, and which book suits your tastes the most.
You’ll also find out why I’ve included Red Rising on a list of my favourite dark fantasy books. I promise, it makes sense.
What’s this book about?
[Ash and Sand Trilogy: Book 1]
A deformed genius plots vengeance while struggling to survive. A wastrel prince comes of age, finding a power he never imagined. Two worlds will collide. Only one can be king.
Ruka, called a demon at birth, is a genius. Born malformed and ugly into the snow-covered wasteland of the Ascom, he was spared from death by his mother’s love.
Now he is an outcast, consumed with hate for those who’ve wronged him. But to take his vengeance, he must first survive.
Across a vast sea in the white-sand island paradise of Sri Kon, Kale is fourth and youngest son of the Sorcerer King. At sixteen, Kale is a disappointment. As the first prince ever forced to serve with low-born marines, Kale must prove himself and become a man, or else lose all chance of a worthy future, and any hope to win the love of his life.
Though they do not know it, both boys are on the cusp of discovery. Their worlds and lives are destined for greatness, or ruin. But in a changing world where ash meets paradise, only one man can be king...
What I liked the most
I love ruthless villain protagonists, and this series gives us one of the best I’ve ever read. Ruka schemes his way to power by manipulating his people’s customs, building his legend, and executing an impeccable propaganda campaign. When words don’t work, he’s got the brawn to back up his brains, along with one of the most interesting magic abilities I’ve seen. There are two other protagonists in the series, but they can’t hold a candle to my guy: the child-eating, nun-murdering, hard-shelled bastard with a soft heart, Ruka.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
Did you miss the child-eating, ruthless protagonist part? If that wasn’t enough: this is a cruel, unforgiving world that kills disabled children, forces incels to dig through ice at night while monsters hunt them, and uses religion to justify all sorts of oppression. Not a world I’d wanna live in, but a fun one to read about.
Who should read this book?
Readers who like Norse-inspired settings, villainous or anti-hero protagonists, political scheming, and watching an underdog rise to power will love this story.
What’s this book about?
They killed Death’s son. It didn’t stick. Now he’s back for revenge and everything they’ve built.
Kai was a low-level enforcer for the crime family that raised him. He had simple dreams, like eating real meat, gaining arcane powers, and executing a hostile takeover.
Then his boss betrayed him, sacrificing him to dark gods in a profane ritual.
But that turned out to be a lucky break.
Because Kai discovered he’s Death God’s son—and dying was a minor inconvenience. Even better, it made him stronger.
Now, as an undead demon in disguise, Kai must master the Darklands’ trials, claim his birthright, and gain the power to exact his revenge.
Eldritch abominations, calculating nobles, ruthless mobsters and scheming gods stand in his way.
But the gates connecting the Darklands to Earth threaten everything. Kai must decide: save a world that threw him away, or let it rot while he takes his throne.
What I liked the most
Cards on the table, I’m this novel’s author. I’ve taken what I love about dark fantasy and stuffed it into here, writing the book I wanna read.
Kai, the protagonist, is a ruthless, cunning, scheming son of a god who’s always looking for an angle to work. Women, children, priests, if they’ve got a pulse, he’s willing to flatline em—Tony Montana would be appalled. But Kai’s not a sadist, he’ll avoid leaving a trail of bodies if he can help it. In fact, he’d much rather use words and persuasion to get what he wants.
Apart from Kai, the deep, hard magic system, political intrigue and layered worldbuilding keep me excited to write this series.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
Morally grey characters, check. Selfish gods scheming for their own ends, got that. Gritty, visceral combat and twisted abominations, you bet.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy watching an underdog rise from street thug to god-slayer, and following a protagonist who schemes, manipulates, and builds an empire from the ground up won’t be able to stop turning the pages.
If you wanna take your first step into LitRPG and progression fantasy stories, this is a good novel to start with.
What’s this book about?
[The First Law Trilogy: Book 1]
Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.
Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain, shallow, selfish and self-obsessed, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.
And Logen Ninefingers, an infamous warrior with a bloody past, is about to wake up in a hole in the snow with plans to settle a blood feud with Bethod, the new King of the Northmen, once and for all - ideally by running away from it. But as he’s discovering, old habits die really, really hard indeed...
...especially when Bayaz gets involved. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he’s about to make the lives of Glotka, Jezal and Logen a whole lot more difficult...
What I liked the most
This series has a whole cast of flawed, grey characters who are a joy to follow. Joe Abercrombie is unmatched when it comes to writing internal monologue. His prose pulled me into the characters’ minds while coaxing a giggle or two out of me along the way—Glokta’s POV chapters are a particular standout.
The worst part? This series made me feel things.
The first trilogy ended on an anticlimactic downer, and I couldn’t stop reading there. The standalone books were fun, but the ending of the sequel trilogy made me shed a man-tear and had me depressed for two days. It’s not often a story affects me this deeply.
It was a terrible experience—10/10 would recommend.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
There are no good guys in this world, only grey guys of different shades. Even the people trying to do the right thing are messed up—but who gets to decide what the right thing is anyway? Familiar fantasy tropes are twisted into horrific shapes: the wise wizard, the secret heir to the throne, the warrior seeking redemption…they’re all bastards. No expectation is left uncorrupted.
Who should read this book?
Readers who love character-driven stories, razor-sharp prose, and morally dubious people trying to survive in a cruel world should read this now. Right now. Or better yet, grab the audiobook. Steven Pacey delivers one of the best performances I’ve ever heard.
What’s this book about?
[Red Rising Series: Book 1]
I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.
Darrow is a Red, a member of humanity’s lowest caste, toiling beneath the surface of Mars to make the planet liveable for future generations. Believing that his sweat and blood will create a better world for his children.
But everything Darrow has been told is a lie. Humanity reached the surface long ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet, while Reds like Darrow suffer in the dirt.
Driven by revenge - and the memory of lost love - Darrow will sacrifice everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power.
There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies. Even if it means becoming one of them . . .
What I liked the most
I love Roman-themed worlds and hierarchical dystopias, so Red Rising had the perfect world for me to get lost in. The colour-coded caste system was the exact flavour of grim world I was looking for. Watching Darrow infiltrate the ruling caste while hiding his identity kept me hooked. I’m also a sucker for tournament arcs, and the second half of the first book executes that trope well.
This is also one of the rare series that tackles the aftermath of a revolution, leading to a bunch of interesting political intrigue. The action is top-tier—Darrow carving through enemies with ruthless efficiency while barely breaking a sweat was immensely satisfying.
One of the most memorable moments comes from a panic-fuelled chapter told from another character’s POV. They describe Darrow as a whirlwind of death tearing through their elite forces. The very next chapter opens with Darrow saying, “We made our way through some light resistance.”
Beautiful stuff.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
You got me, I won’t lie—this is a sci-fi book. But hear me out…
Red Rising includes some of the things I love most about dark fantasy, and they fight with sci-fi swords!
There’s a totalitarian government ruling with an iron fist and misinformation, plus the story tackles dark themes like sexual abuse, genetically engineering people for slavery, and ruthless oppression. The conflict is pretty clear-cut: I doubt it’s controversial to say that genetically engineering people into a lower caste and forcing them into sexual slavery is evil. But the people on both sides of the conflict are more complex than they first appear. Not everyone in the ruling caste is a moustache-twirling villain, and not everyone in the lower castes is a virtuous paragon.
Give this one a chance, even if you’re not into sci-fi.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy Roman-themed worlds, futuristic dystopias, and totalitarian governments will love this. Even more so if you like underdog stories where the protagonist hides their identity while infiltrating the ruling class.
What’s this book about?
[Manifest Delusions Trilogy: Book 1]
Faith shapes the landscape, defines the laws of physics, and makes a mockery of truth. Common knowledge isn’t an axiom, it’s a force of nature. What the masses believe is. But insanity is a weapon, conviction a shield. Delusions give birth to foul new gods.
Violent and dark, the world is filled with the Geisteskranken--men and women whose delusions manifest, twisting reality. High Priest Konig seeks to create order from chaos. He defines the beliefs of his followers, leading their faith to one end: a young boy, Morgen, must Ascend to become a god. A god they can control.
But there are many who would see this would-be-god in their thrall, including the High Priest’s own Doppels, and a Slaver no one can resist. Three reprobates--The Greatest Swordsman in the World, a murderous Kleptic, and possibly the only sane man left--have their own nefarious plans for the young god.
As these forces converge on the boy, there’s one more obstacle: time is running out. When one’s delusions become more powerful, they become harder to control. The fate of the Geisteskranken is to inevitably find oneself in the Afterdeath.
The question, then, is: Who will rule there?
What I liked the most
The world being shaped by the strongest beliefs, thus the strongest delusions, was a fascinating concept. Narcissists mind control people, schizophrenics create clones of themselves, kleptomaniacs turn invisible, and there’s a host of other unstable characters with powerful abilities. Flawed characters and an interesting magic system? It’s like this series was made for me.
Wichtig, the narcissist who believes he’s the greatest swordsman in the world, was my favourite character. Convincing onlookers he’d win a duel was more important than actually practising his sword work—meaning that being the greatest swordsman was really about being the best orator. The guy was a self-centred bastard, but he was entertaining as hell.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
This series has a twisted magic system where abandoning your sanity and stacking multiple mental illnesses makes you more powerful, then you die. Flawed characters with severe personality disorders rule the world, leading to a very stable society—as you’d expect. The story also tackles themes like abandonment, manipulation and abuse. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s entertaining as hell for people in the market for all of the above.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy deeply flawed characters—and I don’t mean morally grey with good hearts; I mean absolute bastards with no redeeming qualities—twisted magic systems, and bleak worlds will get a lot out of this one.
6. Priest Of Bones by Peter McLean
What’s this book about?
[War For The Rose Throne Series: Book 1]
‘Sixty-five thousand battle-shocked, trained killers came home to no jobs, no food and the plague. What did Her Majesty think was going to happen?’
Tomas Piety takes his duties seriously: as a soldier, as a priest of Our Lady of Eternal Sorrows and as a leader of men. He has come home from the war to reclaim his family business, to provide for his men and to ensure the horrors of Abingon can never happen in Ellinburg.
But things have changed: his crime empire has been stolen and the people of Ellinburg - his people - have run out of food and hope and places to hide. With his best friend Bloody Anne, his war-damaged brother Jochan and his new gang, the Pious Men, Tomas sets out to reclaim what was his.
And as Tomas is dragged into a web of political intrigue by the sinister Queen’s Men, forced to work against the foreign infiltrators lurking in the backstreet taverns, brothels and gambling dens of the Stink, one thing becomes clear.
The war has just begun.
What I liked the most
I’m a sucker for stories revolving around criminal organisations and political intrigue—Priest of Bones delivered on both fronts. Tomas grows his crew, seizes territory and businesses from rivals, and works with secret organisations in the government. It’s a rags-to-riches story where a thug rises to the top through cunning, violence, and pushing his traumatised comrades into more bloodshed. That’s my cup of tea.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
Though magic is rare, it’s horrific and creepy when used. The world is cruel, unforgiving, and everyone’s out for themselves. The series also explores topics like child abuse and post-war trauma, so this isn’t for everyone.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy watching criminals rise to power, political intrigue, and low fantasy with sparse but devastating magic will devour these books. They’re also fast, easy reads, making them perfect palate cleansers.
7. The Vagrant by Peter Newman
What’s this book about?
[The Vagrant Trilogy: Book 1]
The Vagrant is his name. He has no other.
Years have passed since humanity’s destruction emerged from the Breach.
Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape.
As each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde.
His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.
What little hope remains is dying. Abandoned by its leader, The Seven, and its heroes, The Seraph Knights, the last defences of a once great civilisation are crumbling into dust.
But the Shining City is far away and the world is a very dangerous place.
What I liked the most
Before reading The Vagrant, I doubted I could enjoy a story with a mute protagonist—I was wrong. Being unable to speak made the Vagrant all the more interesting, and the author handled his internal thoughts and communication with others well. The protagonist’s sentient sword was another highlight, although I’m biased because I love sentient weapons. Who doesn’t? Raise your hand, I’m making a list. The mysterious post-apocalyptic world kept me hooked too.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
The world is a dark wasteland corrupted by demons, and populated with desperate, selfish people. Some survivors saw the writing on the wall and, knowing they couldn’t beat the demons, joined them. And the demons aren’t your traditional horned guys from hell. They’re grotesque, twisted abominations that come in various weird and wonderful forms.
Who should read this book?
Readers who like sentient weapons, stories spanning multiple generations, post-apocalyptic worlds, and heroic characters doing their best in a terrible world should check this one out.
8. The Deathless by Peter Newman
What’s this book about?
[The Deathless Trilogy: Book 1]
THE DEMONS
Creatures lurk in the endless forests of the Wild, plucking victims from those who scratch a living by the sides of the great Godroads, paths of crystal which provide refuge from the infernal tide.
THE DEATHLESS
Humanity’s protectors reign within crystal castles held aloft on magical currents – seven timeless royal families, born and reborn into flawless bodies. As immortal as the precious stones from which they take their names, they fight to hold the Wild at bay. For generations a fragile balance has held.
AND THE DAMNED…
House Sapphire, one of the ancient Deathless families, is riven by suspicion and grief. Their hunting expeditions against the Wild are failing and entire villages have begun to disappear.
Then, when assassins strike, House Sapphire shatters.
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
What I liked the most
The monster designs were unique and interesting—Newman is the king of this stuff. This series was also full of mystery and political intrigue, which are two of my favourite things. Though the actual magic was a bit underwhelming—I’ve never been a fan of magical suits or gundams—the mechanics behind the Deathless raised interesting questions regarding morality, service, and sacrifice. Stealing the bodies of your descendants so you can live forever is a cool concept. Like the Michael Jordan meme says: fuck them kids. Wait, not like that. You know what I mean.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
The Deathless use their descendants as vessels, stealing their bodies and snuffing out their souls. Pretty dark. And the strange, horrific monsters are some of the best I’ve read. They didn’t scare me, but a diet of horror movies as a kid inoculated me to that sorta thing—thanks, mum. Readers who aren’t as numb to disturbing imagery might get a fright.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy mysteries, political intrigue, scheming nobles, and stories focused on the costs of immortality will love this one.
9. Lord Of The Mysteries by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving
What’s this book about?
With the rising tide of steam power and machinery, who can come close to being a Beyonder? Shrouded in the fog of history and darkness, who or what is the lurking evil that murmurs into our ears?
Waking up to be faced with a string of mysteries, Zhou Mingrui finds himself reincarnated as Klein Moretti in an alternate Victorian era world where he sees a world filled with machinery, cannons, dreadnoughts, airships, difference machines, as well as Potions, Divination, Hexes, Tarot Cards, Sealed Artifacts…
The Light continues to shine but mystery has never gone far. Follow Klein as he finds himself entangled with the Churches of the world—both orthodox and unorthodox—while he slowly develops newfound powers thanks to the Beyonder potions.
Like the corresponding tarot card, The Fool, which is numbered 0—a number of unlimited potential—this is the legend of “The Fool.”
What I liked the most
LOTM’s deep magic system kept me turning pages, wanting to know what the next stage of power held and how Klein would use his cunning to take advantage of the new abilities. The side characters provided some much-needed levity from all the dark stuff. And the worldbuilding, lore, and mysteries had me reading past my bedtime, devouring chapters while the sun came up.
I don’t recommend reading this if you wanna maintain a reasonable sleeping schedule.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
The world of Lord Of The Mysteries is dark as hell. Beyonders (magic users) are at constant risk of going insane and becoming abominations. Strange artifacts and random occurrences can kill or corrupt you through no fault of your own. And looking at the moon for too long can make you pregnant with an evil god’s baby—regardless of your gender. Yikes.
Who should read this book?
Readers who love webnovels—or wanna try their first one—should check this out. If you enjoy long series you can binge, intricate magic systems, and slowly unravelling massive mysteries, this story’s a perfect match for you.
Looking for something similar?
Click here to discover 5 dark progression fantasy novels like Lord of the Mysteries.
10. The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
What’s this book about?
[The Prince Of Nothing Trilogy: Book 1]
A score of centuries has passed since the First Apocalypse and the thoughts of men have turned, inevitably, to more worldly concerns...
A veteran sorcerer and spy seeks news of an ancient enemy. A military genius plots to conquer the known world for his Emperor but dreams of the throne for himself. The spiritual leader of the Thousand Temples seeks a Holy War to cleanse the land of the infidel. An exiled barbarian chieftain seeks vengeance against the man who disgraced him. And into this world steps a man like no other, seeking to bind all - man and woman, emperor and slave - to his own mysterious ends.
But the fate of men - even great men - means little when the world itself may soon be torn asunder. Behind the politics, beneath the religious fervour, a dark and ancient evil is reawakening. After two thousand years, the No-God is returning. The Second Apocalypse is nigh. And one cannot raise walls against what has been forgotten...
What I liked the most
Kellhus was one of the best villain protagonists I’ve had the pleasure of following. He was a true scumbag—remorseless and selfish. Plus, he had a terrifying power that was fun to see in action. The only downside was that Kellhus wasn’t the most prominent protagonist of this series, and he had to share page space with less interesting characters.
Also, the political intrigue was some of the best I’ve read in fantasy. The bad guys had a political scheme that was both clever and believable. It’s hard to find villains with smart plans, so I've gotta give this story its props.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
This story doesn’t shy away from the grim realities and horror of war. There’s slavery, war crimes, sexual assault, and a whole host of terrible people. This is a cruel world filled with cruel people doing cruel things. And the only guy I thought of as ‘good’ is a self-pitying simp. With good guys like that, how could I not root for the competent villains?
Who should read this book?
Readers who wanna get thrown into a fully realised world, love well-written political intrigue, and enjoy dense prose and lengthy descriptions should add this to their reading list. If you’re like me and prefer simple prose and light descriptions, I still recommend this book because it makes up for the bloat with its worldbuilding, politics, and scheming.
But keep in mind the prose can get flowery and long in the tooth.
11. Book Of The Dead: Awakening by RinoZ
What’s this book about?
[Book Of The Dead Series: Book 1]
A forbidden Class. A dark power. Can Tyron prove he can still be a hero?
With one touch of the Awakening Stone, Tyron receives an outlawed Class and his life changes forever.
His bright and promising future as the scion of two famous, monster-hunting Slayers is promptly torn apart and he must make a decision.
He can allow his Class to be purged from his soul as is required by his society, or can cling to it, abandon all that he knows, and rise from the shadow of his influential parents to prove the world that shunned him wrong.
It’s time to show that even with an “evil” Class like Necromancer, Tyron can still do good.
What I liked the most
Tyron’s journey from aspiring hero to vengeance-obsessed mass-murderer is as satisfying as it is heartbreaking. His progression from a weak grave-robbing kid to a necromancer with a formidable skeleton army was less heartbreaking, but just as satisfying. The progression felt earned, significant, and kept me looking forward to the next power level.
What makes this a dark fantasy novel?
Book Of The Dead’s world is ruled by an authoritarian empire and cruel gods. Monsters invade the realm through rifts, and peace is a fantasy. Heroes have skeletons in their closets—literally, in Tyron’s case.
Who should read this book?
Readers who wanna try their first LitRPG, love necromancers and crafting-focused stories, and enjoy watching a protagonist grow from weakling to powerful menace will love this.
What is Dark Fantasy?
Dark fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy that blends fantasy elements with horror, gothic, or noir themes.
It differs from traditional fantasy by exploring complex morality instead of straightforward good vs evil narratives.
Key Features of Dark Fantasy Literature
- Darker atmosphere and tone: Dark fantasy literature often features brooding, gothic, or eerie atmospheres. A tone of dread or unease permeates the narrative. Settings are often decaying, corrupt, or include an undercurrent of supernatural menace.
- Horror elements: Dark fantasy includes horror tropes like supernatural threats, body horror, psychological terror, or disturbing imagery.
- Moral complexity: Characters face morally ambiguous situations, and the line between good and evil is often blurred. Heroes may be flawed antiheroes, and villains may have sympathetic motivations.
- Darker themes: Common themes include corruption, loss of innocence, the price of power, existential dread, and the darker aspects of human nature. Stories often explore death, decay, and transformation.
- Twisted fantasy elements: Traditional fantasy elements like magic, monsters, and quests are present but often corrupted, dangerous, or come with terrible costs.
Want more dark fantasy recommendations?
Click here to discover 26 must-read dark fantasy series for adults.
Are your favourite dark fantasy books on this list?
If not, recommend your faves in the comments below.
