13 Dark Fantasy Books to Discover
Looking for a new dark fantasy book to discover? Check out our favorite dark fantasy books that are perfect for readers that love horror, action, and suspense within their fantasy reads! Whether you’ve read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, we’re sure you’ll love these 13 dark fantasy books.
What are Dark Fantasy Books?
Dark Fantasy is an increasingly popular fantasy subgenre that is purposefully grim in atmosphere, tone, and/or mood. Sometimes dark fantasy books can have themes commonly found in horror and gothic literature. While it may seem to be a new genre, dark fantasy is actually a very old genre. Classic stories like Beowulf and The Odyssey are actually dark fantasy books like Game of Thrones! They include action, adventure, are set in a fictional world, or have fantasy elements, while also having prominent ominous themes throughout their stories. Check out these 13 dark fantasy books to get more familiar with the genre!
1. The Blade Itself
by Joe Abercrombie
The iconic first book in The First Law Trilogy by New York Times bestselling author, Joe Abercrombie! Follow along with Logen Ninefingers, the infamous barbarian, and his group, Captain Jezal dan Luthan, Glokta, and Bayaz in this bestselling noir fantasy!
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2. Blood Ex Libris (Blood & Ancient Scrolls)
by Raven Belasco
A dark urban fantasy with horror and history, perfect for readers who don’t mind violence mixed in with their romances. Raven Belasco brings us a dark new world of vampires that will leave you thirsty for the next books in the series! Read it on Kindle Unlimited for Free.
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3. Fortune Favors the Cruel
by Kel Carpenter
Quinn Darkova is a former slave out for revenge. But her retribution has to be put aside for her to survive long enough to get it, that’s when she meets Lazarus Fierté, a nobleman without equal, who is looking for his perfect match. Jump into this romantic dark fantasy today!
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4. Three Dark Crowns
by Kendare Blake
On the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplet princesses are born. All three are equal heiresses to the crown and each possess magic. The night the sisters turn sixteen, their fight to the death begins. The last one alive will be queen. Read this New York Times bestseller and Kirkus Best Book of the Year today!
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5. Black Annis: Demon Hunter (Revenge of the Witch)
by Aubrey Law
Annis is a powerful black witch, the only daughter of the immortal Witch Queen Amelia. Follow along with Annis on her journey full of necromancers, archdemons, and vampires, and her goal to kill her immortal mother and avenge her dead father!
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6. The Pariah (The Covenant of Steel)
by Anthony Ryan
A brand new release that has climbed the charts since August 2021! Like many of the other books on this list, this epic fantasy is perfect for readers looking for action, intrigue, and magic from a master storyteller. Bonus: Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review: “This makes a rich treat for George R.R. Martin fans.”
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7. The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn)
by Tad Williams
A critically-acclaimed fantasy must-read by a New York Times bestselling author! This epic dark fantasy is perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, after all, this is the book that inspired those books! What are you waiting for, enter into the world of Osten Ard today!
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8. Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
If you want to start reading one of the best up-and-coming gothic paranormal fantasy writers of the 2020s, this is the novel to start with! Named one of The Best Books of the Year by The New Yorker, NPR, Library Journal, Book Riot, and more! Don’t miss out on this gothic horror that was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and will be developed into a Hulu Original Series!
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9. Assassin (Darkblade)
by Andy Peloquin
Everyone in Voramis knows of the legend of the Hunter. Everyone knows that the Hunter will carry out any and every contract, no matter how impossible. So when the Bloody Hand syndicate makes an unforgiving mistake, the Hunter is out for vengeance. Read this thrilling dark fantasy on Kindle Unlimited for Free!
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10. Witches Steeped in Gold
by Ciannon Smart
A Jamaican-inspired dark fantasy about two witches who must work together, no matter how much they despise each other, to kill a common enemy! Perfect for fans of Furyborn or Ember in the Ashes.
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11. The Red Knight (The Traitor Son Cycle)
by Miles Cameron
The start to the bestselling The Traitor Son Cycle series that is perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence, John Gwynne, or Brian McClella. Filled with magic and mercenaries, war and depravity, politics and intrigue, this book is definitely worth the read!
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12. Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen)
by Steven Erikson
This epic dark fantasy has it all: gods, mages, humans, dragons and more! Start the first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by bestselling author Steven Erikson, which is perfect for fans of the Lord Of The Rings!
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13. The Risen Shard (The Chain Breaker)
by D.K. Holmberg
Gavin Lorren was trained to be a killer at a young age and hoped to leave that life behind. Now, he’s stumbled into a conspiracy in the city of Yoran, and he will have to dive into his own past to uncover the truth. Read it for Free on Kindle Unlimited!
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We hope you enjoy all of these well-written dark fantasy books! Looking for more fantasy books? Sign up to receive daily newsletters from us that are full of free dark fantasy book recommendations!