Hey all, summer is upon is and per usual for me at least that means time for really engrossing summer reading!
I've been desperately looking for a couple years for tips on darker fantasy styled books; think the aesthetic we all know and love of Diablo--dark, mature, with deep elements of horror. I've been looking around lists of 'dark fantasy' books but they're all mostly terrible, Sookie Stackhouse type books (no thanks!).
I'm already reading the book 'Orcs', and have already read the Dark Tower series.
Looking for solid non-urban fantasy; basically as Diablo as one can find. Would be eternally grateful for any suggestions.
I really liked the books about Drizzt Do'Urden the dark elf. The books aimed for a teenage demographic i would say, but i still really enjoyed them, look for the dark elf trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. That's the first 3 books, and there are many more after that. I strongly recommend atleast giving it a try. Might be just what your looking for, im considering reading them again myself.
Thanks for the tip, I've seen those around forever but haven't ever checked them out; the Dragonlance novels turned me me off to any of the DnD books because they're so overly cheesy / aimed at younger audiences.
I enjoyed the Demonata series by Darren Shan. Really great series.
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If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, Crown of Shadows.
Great high fantasy premise with strong elements of the dark. Transforms gradually from fantasy to science fiction. Do not underestimate these books. I'm probably going to reread this soon.
Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath.
Still waiting on the third book. Very dark, bestial.
Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, Angel Fire East.
What I'd deem "light" dark fantasy. No unnecessary violence and sex like in a lot of rubbish out there. Moments of horror. The first book starts out slow but ends strong, and the last has an excellent, very thorough ending. Touches on the urban aesthetic very well.
Thanks Mag, I'll add those to my list of potentials.
I just picked up Game of Thrones today; I know I'm late to the party on it and I've heard it is excellent.
I mentioned it in the OP but 'Orcs' is a surprisingly decent book if anyone else is looking along the same lines; it has some strangely cheesy elements 'protagonist's name is 'Stryke', his warband is called the 'Wolverines', etc.) but it's adult-oriented with gritty, graphic violence, drug use, very politicized themes, sexuality, etc. And it loves up to the promise of turning the typical fantasy perspective around a bit, with the orcs being more 'good' (a relative term, these are definitely anti-heroes to a point) and the humans being 'bad'.
The Deed of Paksenarrion is an epic fantasy saga by the American author Elizabeth Moon. The Deed of Paksenarrion was originally published in three volumes in 1988 and 1989 and as a single trade edition of that name in 1992 by Baen. The three books included are Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold.
The Fionavar Tapestry is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Guy Gavriel Kay, set partly in our own contemporary world, but mostly in the fictional world of Fionavar. It is the story of five University of Toronto senior law and medical students, who are drawn into the 'first world of the Tapestry' by the mage Loren Silvercloak. Once there, each discovers his or her own role and destiny in the framework of an epic conflict. The books are illustrated by Martin Springett.
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I've been desperately looking for a couple years for tips on darker fantasy styled books; think the aesthetic we all know and love of Diablo--dark, mature, with deep elements of horror. I've been looking around lists of 'dark fantasy' books but they're all mostly terrible, Sookie Stackhouse type books (no thanks!).
I'm already reading the book 'Orcs', and have already read the Dark Tower series.
Looking for solid non-urban fantasy; basically as Diablo as one can find. Would be eternally grateful for any suggestions.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
Great high fantasy premise with strong elements of the dark. Transforms gradually from fantasy to science fiction. Do not underestimate these books. I'm probably going to reread this soon.
Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath.
Still waiting on the third book. Very dark, bestial.
Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, Angel Fire East.
What I'd deem "light" dark fantasy. No unnecessary violence and sex like in a lot of rubbish out there. Moments of horror. The first book starts out slow but ends strong, and the last has an excellent, very thorough ending. Touches on the urban aesthetic very well.
I just picked up Game of Thrones today; I know I'm late to the party on it and I've heard it is excellent.
I mentioned it in the OP but 'Orcs' is a surprisingly decent book if anyone else is looking along the same lines; it has some strangely cheesy elements 'protagonist's name is 'Stryke', his warband is called the 'Wolverines', etc.) but it's adult-oriented with gritty, graphic violence, drug use, very politicized themes, sexuality, etc. And it loves up to the promise of turning the typical fantasy perspective around a bit, with the orcs being more 'good' (a relative term, these are definitely anti-heroes to a point) and the humans being 'bad'.
The Deed of Paksinarion
or...
The Fionavar Tapestry