Some of the biggest fantasy book series on the market are associated with themes of hope and unity, from The Lord of the Rings to The Wheel of Time. Yet there are darker takes on the genre that are just as compelling. Such stories ring true to real life, and they’re better able to capture the harsher truths of the human experience. They don’t always allow their heroes to win, and they demonstrate that good doesn’t always prevail, both on a personal and societal level.
Darker fantasy stories can be more unpredictable in that regard, doing away with the formula that fuels so many classics. For readers looking for shocking turns or a more cynical approach to subjects like power and choice, these novels are often better options to reach for. That’s, in part, what makes A Song of Ice and Fire so beloved. It’s one of the more obvious recommendations for adults searching for dark fantasy fare. However, these 10 book series are just as worthwhile. They’ll leave you side-eyeing adulthood and the world at large, but sometimes, that’s the best way to cope.
‘The Magicians’ by Lev Grossman
A Bleak but Honest Take on Magic and Adulthood
Read This If: The Magicians trilogy has world-building and lore that’s reminiscent of classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, but Lev Grossman uses that to deliver a bleaker message: that, even if we had magic, it wouldn’t solve all our problems. The books follow Quentin Coldwater as he’s whisked off to a magic university, just like he’s always dreamed. He’s then forced to contend with the fact that he’s still sad, lonely, and struggling despite it. For readers grappling with the loss of magic as they move into adulthood, Grossman’s story will resonate. It’s also a great choice for anyone who wants to unravel common fantasy tropes.
Skip This If: The Magicians might be another fantasy story with a magic school setting, but Brakebills lacks the whimsy of a backdrop like Hogwarts (and all the Hogwarts copycats). On top of that, the characters aren’t always a pleasure to read about. It’s an intentional choice to make them unlikable, and it feeds into the books’ realism, but it may not appeal to every reader.
‘The First Law’ by Joe Abercrombie
Character-Driven Fantasy That Sticks the Landing
Read This If: The First Law trilogy is one of the most highly recommended grimdark fantasy series, and it earns every ounce of that praise. For those who enjoy character-centric storytelling, you can’t go wrong with Joe Abercrombie’s books (and if you enjoy them, there’s a next-generation sequel series, as well as several standalone spin-offs). The trilogy follows an ensemble of deeply flawed and often traumatized characters as they navigate political upheaval. Abercrombie doesn’t get into the meat of that until book two, allowing the characters’ personal journeys to direct us there. That’s the highlight, alongside his sharp and biting prose. Plot takes a backseat to both, though Last Argument of Kings wraps up the series with one of fantasy’s most unforgettable endings.
Skip This If: You’re much more interested in great plotting than character writing. The First Law is a character-first fantasy series, and it takes a while to properly take off. Abercrombie’s writing style, and the distinct nature of his cast, make that easy to ignore. I’m doubtful true plot people will be able to look past it, though. (If you do like plot and action, The Devils is another great Abercrombie book to try.)
‘The Broken Empire’ by Mark Lawrence
A Revenge Story With an Unlikable & Unreliable Lead
Read This If: These days, Mark Lawrence is getting more attention for The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and Daughter of Crows, and to be fair, any of his novels are perfect for adult audiences seeking dark fantasy. His first trilogy still fits that prompt best, however. The Broken Empire tells a revenge story, and it follows a violent main character who often feels beyond redemption. The series does an impressive job of highlighting what makes Jorg that way, offering an intriguing character study with an emphasis on trauma. Combined with Lawrence’s masterful prose, pacing, and world-building, it makes The Broken Empire a must-read grimdark offering.
Skip This If: Jorg is intentionally written as an unlikable and untrustworthy narrator, and that’s part of The Broken Empire‘s appeal. Yet it probably won’t work for everyone, as such characters tend to be divisive. Also, while it’s par for the course with dark fantasy, it’s worth noting that The Broken Empire is more explicitly violent than a few other offerings on this list, especially during Prince of Thorns.
‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Kuang
A Grim Reflection on War Inspired by Real History
Read This If: The Poppy War trilogy starts out the way many fantasy stories do: an orphan sets out to prove herself at a prestigious academy, thus avoiding an unwanted fate (in this case, an arranged marriage). Yet Rin’s tale is darker than your average young adult story even at the beginning — and it fully earns its adult categorization after a truly grim halfway point in book one. R.F. Kuang doesn’t pull her punches when showcasing the devastating cruelty of war, and there’s one chapter, in particular, that will haunt even the most seasoned dark fantasy readers. The follow-ups continue to tackle mature themes like trauma, addiction, imperialism, and violence, so be prepared for all the emotions that come with that.
Skip This If: The Poppy War is heavily inspired by Chinese history, with an emphasis on the Second Sino-Japanese War. It doesn’t attempt to hide that, often pulling straight from real-world accounts. If you find that exploitative, it’s possible this is a series to steer clear of. Additionally, anyone with knowledge of that history may find parts of the series predictable.
‘Gentleman Bastard Series’ by Scott Lynch
When the Conning & Plotting Backfire Dramatically
Read This If: Criminal underworlds are great spots to kick off dark fantasy series, and Scott Lynch uses that to his advantage in the Gentleman Bastard series. Although he expands the setting in later books, The Lies of Locke Lamora unfolds in a city-state inspired by Venice. The main characters survive its underbelly by conning and stealing, but that dramatically backfires on them — and leads to a few scenes that put the depravity humans are capable of on full display. The characters are lovable, making the tragedies hit harder.
Skip This If: You read fantasy for intricately built magic systems and extraordinary worlds. Those things can absolutely coexist with darker stories, but they’re not as prominent in Lynch’s series. Although magic shows up later on, this series is largely categorized as low fantasy. Readers who want finished stories should also wait to pick this one up; it’s been 13 years since The Republic of Thieves came out, and we still have no release date for the fourth installment.
‘The Green Bone Saga’ by Fonda Lee
If ‘The Godfather’ Was a Fantasy Series
Read This If: Anyone who has ever wondered what The Godfather or Goodfellas would look like with a fantastical backdrop needs to pick up The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee. The fantasy trilogy meshes the drama that comes with being part of a crime family with a martial arts-based magic system. It’s as enthralling as those concepts suggest — and as appropriately dark, too. The series tracks a feud that erupts between two main clans, and it gets more ambitious as it goes. If you like when fantasy series expand in scale, you’ll be seriously impressed by the time you reach Jade Legacy.
Skip This If: High fantasy settings appeal to you more than urban ones. While The Green Bone Saga technically unfolds in a fictional world, it’s one that resembles a real urban setting with its mass transit and technology, not Middle-earth or Westeros. If sprawling, intergenerational family dramas are boring to you, you should also skip the series. That’s what the books are at their core.
‘The Black Company’ by Glen Cook
A Morally Complicated Story That Spans Decades
Read This If: Glen Cook is hailed as one of the most important grimdark fantasy authors, and The Black Company truly does offer a solid foundation to approach the subgenre from. The series follows the titular mercenary unit over the course of decades, starting with them working for an oppressive empire, then having things spin out from there. It’s a perfect example of a story that doesn’t subscribe to proper heroes and villains, and it’s refreshing in its perspective, which prioritizes ordinary soldiers and grunts over royals and chosen ones.
Skip This If: The Black Company follows characters willing to harm and kill for money, regardless of who’s paying them. If that sort of moral complexity is a no-go for you, this series will probably be difficult to get through. Readers who require a tight and consistent overarching plot may also struggle with the episodic nature of the storytelling. On top of that, expect to be thrown straight into the world. Cook doesn’t bother with a ton of exposition to start, which could cause some readers to give up on this series early.
‘The Second Apocalypse’ by R. Scott Bakker
Dark Fantasy for Those Who Want to Be Left Thinking
Read This If: Technically two series rolled up into one, The Second Apocalypse centers on a holy war, with The Prince of Nothing trilogy chronicling that conflict and The Aspect-Emperor series showcasing the terrible aftermath. Both are gritty and lacking the hope that underlies so many epics. And things get darker as the stakes get higher in The Aspect-Emperor. But for those who can stomach that, Bakker’s books offer a thought-provoking commentary on faith and the darker applications of it. The series’ world is brutal, and it doesn’t flinch while depicting that. It’s worth it for the discussions it raises.
Skip This If: You’re not interested in fantasy that’s overtly philosophical, or you need a sprinkle of hope even in the darkest stories. The Second Apocalypse wants to work through conversations about power, religion, and free will, but it doesn’t care much about optimistic takeaways. It also features just about every type of violence, and the series’ treatment of female characters is a topic of debate. Such elements won’t be for everyone.
‘The Locked Tomb’ by Tamsyn Muir
A Science Fantasy Series That Repeatedly Reinvents Itself
Read This If: Often pitched as “lesbian necromancers in space,” Gideon the Ninth has all the makings of a dark fantasy tale, and so do its sequels. The Locked Tomb series is more accurately described as science fantasy, as it’s set in space but leans into necromantic magic. The latter is part of what makes it dark; as you can imagine, body horror and death are major aspects of the series. Both are done well throughout the three books, which repeatedly reinvent themselves. The Locked Tomb goes from a murder mystery in Gideon, to a disorienting psychological journey in Harrow, to an apocalyptic tale in Nona. A fourth book is planned, too, which gives anyone picking this up something to look forward to.
Skip This If: Non-linear storytelling has a tendency to lose you. Although Nona the Ninth embraces a more straightforward structure, both Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth are cryptic and often difficult to follow. The payoff is satisfying in both, but until it happens, you may find yourself scratching your head in confusion. Fortunately, the characters and banter keep things interesting, even when you have absolutely no idea what’s going on.
‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’ by Steven Erikson
An Ambitious Dark Fantasy That Rewards Patience
Read This If: Perhaps the most obvious recommendation for dark fantasy readers is Malazan Book of the Fallen — but at 10 books, Steven Erikson’s fantasy series can feel overwhelming. Let this be your reminder to dig in regardless of that. Like The Black Company, Malazan Book of the Fallen is an ambitious undertaking that spans decades and has a lot of moving pieces. It’s set in another brutal empire and tackles the horrors of war, meaning there’s violence and hopelessness to spare. However, Erikson does weave enough humanity into this story to create balance, and he tackles important topics in the process. If that combination of things sounds up your alley, reading these will probably pay off.
Skip This If: Malazan Book of the Fallen is a dark fantasy series that rewards patience. Readers will need to trust that Erikson’s story will make sense and come together by the end, and that’s not something everyone is willing to subscribe to. The series is an investment, and its willingness to toss readers into the deep end and tendency to jump around may alienate some people before they get to the really good stuff.
