Dark Requiem: Sometimes death is a mercy

by Tyler Edwards

From the depths of the Dark Realm, the Shadow King rises.

A dark wizard unleashes horrors unlike anything the world has ever seen. A waking nightmare devours the land. Smoke and screams choke the sky. Abominations born from the twisted flesh of friends, neighbors, and loved ones stalk the streets.

In the ruins, a handful of survivors take refuge in a tavern sealed by a failing magical barrier. But safety is an illusion. Each night, the corruption creeps closer. Every shadow conceals a new nightmare. Every heartbeat borrowed time.
As fear turns to desperation, the survivors must set aside their grudges and face the dark wizard. If they fail, the nightmare that devoured their home will consume the realm.

Lord of the Rings meets the Walking Dead in this stand-alone horror fantasy.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2025

About the author

Tyler has loved writing and storytelling since he was old enough to scribble ideas down on a notepad in class. Whether it is crafting ideas on the world, sharing beliefs, or imagining other worlds entirely, Tyler is passionate about the power of words and stories to change lives. He writes both fiction and non-fiction and has published books in both.

Fiction:
https://authortyleredwards.wordpress....

Non-Fiction:
Zombie Church:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069W0IOG/...

Reviews

[Cinthya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. This book was absolutely crazy in the best way possible 😱 As someone who loves TV shows and movies with an end-of-the-world/survival vibe, this one captured it perfectly. It’s like a mix of The Walking Dead/Dawn of the Dead (people trapped somewhere while something terrifying lurks outside) with a bit of Lord of the Rings-style magic. The descriptions were a 10/10 throughout. It was so easy to completely submerge myself in the story and visualize everything the characters were seeing and experiencing. It genuinely felt like watching a movie.

All the characters (both the good ones and the ones who did questionable things) were fantastic, and things only got more insane when their storylines started to connect. When the characters finally discovered what the “things” terrorizing them outside really were, I gasped. That reveal absolutely got me. It added an entirely new layer of danger and intensity to everything they were doing to survive.

Also, I loved Dean 😂 Besides Reve, he was my favorite. His sarcasm and dry humor had me laughing so many times 🤣

This book was sooooo good. I knew I loved this genre in shows and movies, but this was my first time reading a book like it, and it was more than I could’ve asked for. I seriously can’t wait to see what the author does next!

[Trish Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in love with the Lord of Rings or The Walking Dead, this book is definitely for you! I cannot wait to get a physical copy and would definitely read twice. The descriptiveness is so in depth it’s almost like you’re in the middle of the story. It places you there and wraps you up in all its glory. Sometimes it’s almost poetic in ways. The story and secrets each character hold are unique and interesting. Twist and turns around all corners and just when you thought you had it you realize you don’t. The characters, You come to love some and hate others. I laughed and cried more times than I can count and really hope for another addition to this!!!!!!!

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off look how amazing the cover is!! Tyler proves once again what a masterful storyteller he is. His writing in Dark Requiem blends atmosphere and urgency so seamlessly that the pages practically turn themselves. I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this one given the storyline, but I took a chance since Tyler wrote it and I ended up loving it. The story plunges into a world on the brink, where shadows creep closer and survival feels fragile, yet Tyler balances the darkness with characters you can’t help but root for. And seeing my favorite character from Reapers of the Dark Realm make an appearance here was such a thrill (no spoilers). It made the whole experience even more rewarding. Keep up the fantastic storytelling, Tyler!

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was honestly wild, in a good way. A dark wizard wrecks the whole world, everything goes to hell, and somehow I was still sitting there fully hooked like, “yep… keep ruining my life, I’m invested.”

The vibes reminded me of The Walking Dead mixed with a bit of magic. People trapped inside, horrible things outside, nobody coping well, including me. The descriptions were so good I could picture everything, which was great until I realised how disgusting some of it actually was.

And the characters… wow. Some I adored. Some I wanted to shake. Some I hated and then ended up liking anyway (annoying, but fine). Dean was my favourite just because his dry humour carried me through the chaos.

The moment they figured out what the creatures outside really were? I literally sat there staring at the page like, “excuse me?? you did NOT just do that.”

This was my first time reading a book with this end-of-the-world, survival fantasy mix, and it absolutely worked for me. I flew through it. I already want more.

Dark, twisty, emotional, and weirdly addictive. Loved it.

Tyler Edwards thank you again for the ARC!!

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts off very secular. A small group of people surviving an unknown but deadly adversary. The abominations have taken over their town and they are surviving on a mages ward and a prayer.
Secrets start to arise, and unknown connections start to show themselves with dire consequences. The world building opens up, and as a reader we realize how dire their situation is. How deep this devastation is running. And how little hope there is of getting out alive.
An intensely descriptive story, rife with regret, anxiety and acts of honour. Dystopian, horror, and gore in abundance - this was way outside my usual reading comfort genres! When I encountered the words “throbbing” and “slit” it was NOT sexy in any kind of way. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. Deeply creepy, utterly devastating, and left me with a crawling feeling under my skin during most chapters.
Bravo! I am now hooked to read the rest of this series! (And go back and read the first few books!)

[Nichole Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beings I have read some of Tyler's books before, I thought I knew what I was in for. Boy was I wrong! This book completely blew me away. It is absolutely phenomenal. His writing style is unlike anything I have ever read. I am not a huge fan of fantasy, but I am when it comes to books written by him. His writing in this book was so descriptive that it vividly painted a picture in my head. It was like watching a movie, rather than reading a book. The monsters in this book were so creepy, that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't put it down because I just had to know what happened next. All the main characters were complex, they each had a story of their own, and many had secrets. You easily fall in love with most of them. Their main similarity is their will to survive. Be prepared for plot twists and shocking moments that leave you stunned and a bit angry! Definitely a brilliantly written story that I highly recommend.

[Ali (bookishalireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite intense, persistent, and utterly captivating. It's a terrifying journey where the only thing more dangerous than the evil is the person standing next to you. The twist was the cherry on top of a perfectly horrifying cake. I absolutely loved the magic system; everything in this story flowed flawlessly.

[Beth DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this author after she finished a book she absolutely raved about. And I'm glad she did because CRAP this was good! It was my first book by Tyler, but definitely won't be my last.

This is a slow-burn suspense of a horror book. A survival story about how far humans will go to survive and what haunts their psyche when trying to live. These characters demonstrate both the best and the noble qualities, as well as the despicable aspects of the human mind in survival mode.

Reve is the quiet hero we all need in times of trouble!

And there were so many good lines about life's struggles, and the endurance to survive.

This novel also demonstrated how each person can have a story, and that history can make it harder to judge who is actually the villain...

Truly, this book had some of the best imagery I've ever read. And this is one reason the horror works so well. It's not horror and gratuitous gore for the sake of it. The descriptions let the reader truly feel the terror behind what their world had become. So even if horror isn't your typical genre, I would still encourage fantasy readers to give this book a chance!

⚠️ No cursing
🫑 One sweet kiss

Thank you so much to Tyler for the chance to ARC read this book!

[Alyssa Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shadow king is hidden behind the veil, unable to enter the mortal world. He sends his lackies to do his bidding, trying to buy time to seek what will set him free. For a group of people, their world is turned upside down when the town they called home is attacked by creatures that live in the shadows. Stuck at a tavern/inn, their lives are put to a halt as they must work together or let fear control the outcome of their destiny. The Dark Realm shows no mercy to anyone, and they know one touch is all it takes.

Dark Requiem is a novel that takes place in The Dark Realm - it can be read as a standalone or as a spinoff of the main story with different characters and heroes. The author Tyler Edwards has created an immersive world filled with darkness, raw emotion, and passion. The Characters are written for battle, and each of their stories intertwines to create a narrative so intricate it's hard to put the book down. I love this book with a passion and the Dark Realm series as a whole. Tyler Edwards is THE author, and he has become one of my favorites. I seek out his books and know without a shadow of a doubt that any book he writes is well worth the read.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect while reading this book. I went in with no expectations and came out traumatized. Imagine your favorite zombie flick: Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, even Shaun of the Dead with survivors trapped in close proximity and add in the fantasy element of dark magic and sorcery and you have one heck of a story.

While reading this story I kept telling myself “Things could be worse” then turn the page and things were worse!!! OMG; this book had my nerves on edge from beginning to end. I found myself engaged with each character, good and bad. Here we have survivors from various walks of life, and anyone could turn coat in the blink of an eye. You literally couldn’t trust anyone, and I found myself side eyeing everybody; kids included.

This would have been a great story for spooky season because the horror, the gore, the deaths, the grief and every other emotion imaginable leapt off the page and kept me in a chokehold. Especially when the characters realize who and what made up the terrifying monsters staking them. Umm excuse me; rude. LOL

I’ll definitely add this book to my personal library.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where has this author been all of my life?? Dark Requiem truly blew me away! I honestly read this entire 350 page novel in just 1 day. The horror vibe of this story was skin crawlingly good! The characters were unique, memorable, and realistic. The plot twists were utterly shocking and had my attention in an absolute chokehold! The pacing flowed perfectly, and the magic system was to die for! My only complaint is that a few of my favorite characters were unalived and now I have emotional trauma because of it lol. I wish that I could give Dark Requiem a 10 star rating, but for now I’ll settle for 5.

*P.s. this book does contain detailed gore, so if you have a weak stomach be prepared*