Dark Fantasy

At its most basic, dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element. A stricter definition is difficult to pin down, as authors, publishers, and readers have used "dark fantasy" in various contexts throughout the years.

Dark fantasy is often used as a synonym for supernatural horror. Some authors and critics also apply the term to high fantasy stories that feature anti-heroic or morally ambiguous protagonists. Fantasy works by writers typically associated with the horror genre are sometimes described as "dark fantasy." Conversely, the term is also used t
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Dawn of Chaos and Fury (Legacy, #4)
Hollow (Crown of Hearts and Chaos, #1)
Seven Deadly Thorns
Empire of the Dawn (Empire of the Vampire, #3)
Blackthorn
Snake-Eater
The Sacred Space Between
As Many Souls as Stars
Eternal Ruin (Immortal Dark, #2)
The Burning Queen (The Ravence Trilogy, #2)
Turns of Fate (Isle of Wyrd, #1)
The Blackfire Blade (The Last Legacy, #2)
Lies Weeping (The Chronicles of The Black Company, #10)
The Tower of the Tyrant
Threads of Fate
Alchemised
One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1)
Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2)
Hollow (Crown of Hearts and Chaos, #1)
The Ascended (Aesymarean Duet, #1)
Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, #1)
Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)
Blood Over Bright Haven
The Bond That Burns (Bloodwing Academy, #2)
Rain of Shadows and Endings (Legacy, #1)
Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy, #2)
Dawn of Chaos and Fury (Legacy, #4)
Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy, #3)
The Devils (The Devils, #1)
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonThe Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins GilmanHer Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria MachadoFrankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft ShelleyWe Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Female-Authored Weird Fiction
464 books — 179 voters
The Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinThe Wise Man's Fear by Patrick RothfussThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienMistborn by Brandon Sanderson
My Favorite Fantasy Books
944 books — 640 voters

American Gods by Neil GaimanGood Omens by Terry PratchettDracula by Bram StokerFrankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft ShelleyThe Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Theological Weird Fiction
464 books — 283 voters
Moon Called by Patricia BriggsHalfway to the Grave by Jeaniene FrostMagic Bites by Ilona AndrewsDead Until Dark by Charlaine HarrisDark Lover by J.R. Ward
Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Books
1,897 books — 4,342 voters

Neverwhere by Neil GaimanAmerican Gods by Neil GaimanThe Graveyard Book by Neil GaimanStardust by Neil GaimanCoraline by Neil Gaiman
Best of Neil Gaiman
114 books — 507 voters
Interview with the Vampire by Anne RiceVesper Glen by Coryn NobleDracula by Bram StokerThe Vampire Lestat by Anne RiceThe Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
Fantastic Vampire Fiction
121 books — 73 voters

The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)
Prince of Thorns (Broken Empire, #1)
Last Argument of Kings (The First Law, #3)
Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)
One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1)
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)
The Black Company (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #1)
Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire, #1)
Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1)
King of Thorns (Broken Empire, #2)
The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5)
Coraline
Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1)
Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1)

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Marjorie M. Liu
Maxine,” Grant said, but I barely heard him. I was lost in that vision, in those emotions—the pain, and hunger for pain, forming the root of so much agonized rage. “ ‘Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate,’” I muttered. “Yoda, from Star Wars?” “ ‘Hate leads to suffering.’” I met his gaze. “Yoda knows his shit, man.” Grant’s mouth crooked in a gentle smile.
Marjorie M. Liu, The Mortal Bone

Mark  Lawrence
In the end it seems we're just toys, easy to break and hard to mend. ...more
Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns

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