Grimdark is an interesting term that refers to books that take place in gritty, harsh, destructive worlds where there is a generally dreadful, hopeless sense. Characters tend to be morally gray or even villains and commit evil actions for the sake of evil or good or both. The government, the religion, the culture, the society, etc… tend to have darker notes to them. Grimdark itself comes from the video game series Warhammer and comes from a quote that says “in the grim darkness of the future, there is nothing but war.” As you can see, Grimdark seems pretty self-explanatory. It also happens to be one of my favorite genres of books, so here are ten grimdark books that I 100% recommend you read! Be warned though, grimdark–true to its name–is a very dark subgenre so there are a lot of darker themes involved in most of these books.
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Malware by Zainah Yousef
Yeah, I gotta plug my book in, but it’s technically a grimdark. I actually remember when I was posting about my book on TikTok, many likened it to Warhammer (thank you, Ones Above). Malware is about a hacker and cyberterrorist (so a villain) named Blie Stevens who is a former mercenary. He uncovers a deep conspiracy that he is deeply involved in and he doesn’t even realize it. He finds out about ancient demons, militaristic aliens, occult religions, sacrificial cults, mercenary organizations, secret societies, and the involvement of major global figures in this conspiracy. The book’s general tone is about a very dark future where a war overtakes everything and the series itself is titled The Fallen Age Saga because it’s about the fallen age of humanity. It’s a sci-fantasy series so there’s elements of sci-fi integrated with fantasy.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence has quickly become one of my favorite authors out there and I LOVED Prince of Thorns so much! It was a villain-protagonist book done RIGHT. Prince of Thorns is about Jorg of Ancrath, a rebellious prince that has the goal of becoming a king and later the emperor. Set in a dark world full of evil magic, death around every corner, and a general sense of woeful dread, Prince of Thorns spins a tale of camaraderie and power out of a dark premise. Jorg travels with his band of “brothers” and they cause a lot of problems in the cities they encounter. Prince of Thorns does not shy away from the dark parts of life, but it’s honestly such a good book and Jorg is a really intelligent protagonist that I found enjoyable to read from the POV of.
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
The Poppy War has been a hit TikTok sensation, but seriously, this book is DARK. It’s an amazing entrance to the grimdark genre, and I’m really happy to see that authors are still willing to explore this subgenre, because grimdark is a really fantastic one. The story is about Rin, an orphan who passes the Keju, a test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies. She then gets into the most elite military school, Sinegard. However, she struggles against society for being darker skinned, from a poverty-stricken background, and for being female. Still, Rin has a dark magical power and war is brewing on the horizon. Rin is very much a ruthless, powerful protagonist that is willing to do anything and it is amazing. The plot is fantastic and the magic system is really great. Fantastic story!
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
A Game of Thrones is probably one of the most popular series out there when it comes to dark fantasy and fantasy in general. It’s also become one of the most popular fantasy TV shows out there and the first book marks the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire. A Game of Thrones tells the story of a land where the seasons have been thrown out of balance, with summers and winters lasting forever. The winter is returning to the land, and things seem to be falling apart. Political conflict is everywhere and the lives of the Starks of Winterfell are about to change. The members of the family are cast into positions they do not know and must learn to survive and win the Game of Thrones. There is some debate on whether or not this is a grimdark, but it’s dark enough to be considered such by many.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Blade Itself is one of the most quintessential grimdark books that you can read to introduce yourself to the genre. Abercrombie’s books in general tend to be great for fans of grimdark and dark fantasy. The Blade Itself tells the story of Logen Ninefingers, Captain Jezal dan Luthar, and Inquisitor Glokta. The three are all about to be affected by a wizard named Bayaz who is about to make their lives very difficult. The story’s main characters blur the line between hero and villain and there are a lot of violent moments in this story, but the characters are really engaging and interesting and despite being villainous, they go through a lot of change.
The Black Company by Glenn Cook
The Black Company is a dark fantasy about a group of mercenaries known as The Black Company who will pretty much do whatever they must and earn money along the way. However, there is a prophecy where the White Rose has been reborn to embody good once more and the Black Company must find her. They were previously in service to Syndic of Beryl, but the city is falling from Syndic’s hands, and their new employer named Soulcatcher is sending them on a journey through the Sea of Torments. There’s a lot of really interesting elements in The Black Company and this is definitely a story that blurs the lines of morality. It’s a great read for grimdark fans.
The Lies of Lock Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Lies of Lock Lamora is about an orphan named Locke Lamora on the mysterious island city of Camorr. The city is dark and grim and life for orphans is rough and perilous. Locke becomes a thief under a gifted con artist and soon becomes a leader of a mercenary group known as the Gentleman Bastards. He is an infamous figure and is able to fool the underworld’s most feared ruler. However, there is something dangerous lurking beneath the service: A coup is threatening to destroy everyone and everything and Locke vows to destroy the enemy. If you like stories with heists, gangs, a criminal underworld, and morally gray characters, then this is the story for you! It’s been likened to Ocean’s Eleven in a medieval world, so what could be better than that?
The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Baker
The Darkness That Comes Before is another fantastic fantasy series that has some pretty strong grimdark elements to it. The world building is really strong in this and there’s a lot of really neat philosophies and more in this story. The world is scarred by an apocalyptic past and future and thousands are gathering for a crusade. Two men and two men among those thousands are ensnared by a traveler named Anasurimbor Kellhus, a warrior, philosopher, and sorcerer from lands that everyone believed were dead. If you like books with a bit of introspection and a dark war, then this is perfect for you.
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Gardens of the Moon is about a squad of Bridgeburners led by Sergeant Whiskeyjack in a land called The Malazan Empire, which is plagued by constant warfare, infighting, bloody conflicts, and sorcerers. However, the Empress doesn’t seem to be backing down, and her rule is maintained by her Claw assassins. The Bridgeburners are in the last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, Darujhistan, but the Empress Laseen wants it next. The series itself is very expansive and sometimes a bit confusing, but it’s a very complex and intricate world that’s definitely worth giving a read.
Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell
Kings of Paradise is about Ruka, a disabled man who was labeled a demon at birth for his deformities but was only spared because of his mother’s love for him. He is an outcast who wants vengeance against those who wronged him. There is another character named Kale, a prince forced to serve with the marines and prove himself if he wants a chance in life. Their destinies are about to collide, but only one man can be king. It is an epic low-fantasy, but there’s a lot of great grimdark elements in it as well.
Conclusion
Grimdark is a pretty broad term that can refer to a lot of books, and while there is some debate about whether or not certain stories should be considered grimdark, I find that a book with morally gray/anti-hero or villain protagonists set in a bleak and grim world with lots of war and bloodshed tends to fit the boxes of a grimdark story. I also think that they have some of the best characterization since we are seeing unconventional main characters and their respective journeys. Lots of interesting stories in the grimdark subgenre!
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