Match BookDark fantasy
Dark fantasy covers grimdark wars, gothic horror in invented worlds, and quieter stories where magic comes at a cruel price.
Every book here is fantasy that reads as dark or eerie overall.
73 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
A Clash of KingsGeorge R.R. Martinfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
A Dance with DragonsGeorge R.R. Martinfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
A Storm of SwordsGeorge R.R. Martinfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceJ.K. Rowlingfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
ManacledSenLinYufantasy · dark · fast paced · bittersweet ending
One Dark WindowRachel Gilligfantasy · eerie · moderate · cliffhanger ending
The Final EmpireBrandon Sandersonfantasy · dark · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
UprootedNaomi Novikfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Witcher Saga,8 Books Collection Set,the Last WishAndrzej Sapkowskifantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
- A Study in DrowningAva Reidfantasy · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
- A Time of DreadJohn Gwynnefantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
AlchemisedSenLinYufantasy · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
American GodsNeil Gaimanfantasy · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending- Blood SongAnthony Ryanfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
City of StairsRobert Jackson Bennettfantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- Flax-Golden TalesErin Morgensternfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Gardens of the MoonSteven Eriksonfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
Gideon the NinthTamsyn Muirfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
Half a KingJoe Abercrombiefantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
KrakenChina Miévillefantasy · eerie · fast paced · resolved and happy ending- Lake SilenceAnne Bishopfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- MiddlegameSeanan McGuirefantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Prince of ThornsMark Lawrencefantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
SunshineRobin McKinleyfantasy · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Black PrismBrent Weeksfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Blade ItselfJoe Abercrombiefantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
The Bone ClocksDavid Mitchellfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Bone SeasonSamantha Shannonfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Burning GodR. F. Kuangfantasy · dark · fast paced · dark ending
The Dragon RepublicR. F. Kuangfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Fifth SeasonN. K. Jemisinfantasy · dark · fast paced · bittersweet ending
The Forgotten Beasts of EldPatricia A. McKillipfantasy · eerie · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Hundred Thousand KingdomsN. K. Jemisinfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger endingThe Kingdom of GodsN. K. Jemisinfantasy · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous MagicLeigh Bardugofantasy · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Last GraduateNaomi Novikfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Night CircusErin Morgensternfantasy · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
The Obelisk GateN. K. Jemisinfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Poppy WarR. F. Kuangfantasy · dark · fast paced · dark ending
The Starless SeaErin Morgensternfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Way of ShadowsBrent Weeksfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Wolf and the WoodsmanAva Reidfantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- A Treachery of SwansA.B. Poranekfantasy · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
All the Murmuring BonesA.G. Slatterfantasy · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
Black SunRebecca Roanhorsefantasy · dark · fast paced · ambiguous ending- ChimeraRob Thurmanfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
- Dead IronDevon Monkfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
For the WolfHannah Whittenfantasy · eerie · moderate · cliffhanger ending
Half a WarJoe Abercrombiefantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
Half the WorldJoe Abercrombiefantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Angel of Khan el-KhaliliP. Djèlí Clarkfantasy · eerie · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- The Devil You KnowMike Careyfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
The Folding KnifeK. J. Parkerfantasy · dark · moderate · dark ending
The Hero of AgesBrandon Sandersonfantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
The House of Shattered WingsAliette de Bodardfantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Last Days of New ParisChina Miévillefantasy · dark · fast paced · bittersweet ending
The library at Mount CharScott Hawkinsfantasy · eerie · fast paced · resolved and happy ending- The Lost GirlsSarah Painterfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The mirror empireKameron Hurleyfantasy · dark · moderate · dark ending
The Price of SpringDaniel Abrahamfantasy · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Ruin of KingsJenn Lyonsfantasy · dark · moderate · cliffhanger ending
The Sisters GrimmMenna Van Praagfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Traitor Baru CormorantSeth Dickinsonfantasy · dark · moderate · dark ending
The Witch's HeartGenevieve Gornichecfantasy · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- AsunderKerstin Hallfantasy · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Black Water SisterZen Chofantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending- FairydaleVeronica Lancetfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- GreenteethMolly O'Neillfantasy · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
Orphans of ChaosJohn C. Wrightfantasy · eerie · fast paced · cliffhanger ending- Spirit LegacyE.E. Holmesfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Box of DemonsDaniel Whelanfantasy · eerie · moderate · dark ending
The watchmaker of Filigree StreetNatasha Pulleyfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Witches of the Blue WellPaula Brackstonfantasy · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
More collections
- Fantasy books, by how they actually read (343)
- Science fiction books, by mood, pace and tone (158)
- Thrillers, sorted by pace, darkness and ending (213)
- Mystery novels, by mood, pace and tone (125)
- Horror books, by how dark and how fast (114)
- Literary fiction, by mood, pace and weight (78)
- Historical fiction, by mood, pace and ending (69)
- Young adult books, by mood, pace and tone (69)
- Contemporary fiction, by mood, pace and tone (36)
- Narrative nonfiction that reads like a story (127)
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