The Pilgrims of the Damned by Steve McHugh – Review
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
These are vampires who make choices about what kind of people they want to be, not mindless predators, and I love that mix of grit, gore, and moral conviction
dark fantasy
Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey – Review
Once Was Willem is dark, strange, and often brutal, but also moving and full of heart. It’s about monsters and men, about power and corruption, about finding family in the…
Julia’s Favourite Self-Published SFF Books: A Giant List (Part 3) – Grimdark Fantasy
... grab your sharpest sword, polish your blackest armor, and let’s head into the shadows…
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff – Review
Jayna
Solid story-telling, intriguing characters and plotline.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
What in a Necromancer’s fever dream did I just read? I’m still not sure but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. If you’ve got a thirst for something dark and…
War for the Rose Throne by Peter McLean – Series Review
A masterclass in grimdark fantasy. Spanning four novels, it delivers a gritty, emotionally charged saga of war, power, loyalty, trauma, and survival.
The Price of Faith by Rob J. Hayes – Review
For those who enjoy gritty, unflinching fantasy, it's precisely what makes this series stand out.
The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley – Review
The inner conflict that comes with that was bleeding of the page, and addictive.
Last Winter Sun by G.R. Matthews – Review
Last Winter Sun by G. R. Matthews is a mix of dystopian novel, magic, orks and other beasts. The blurb says “A-Team meets World of Warcraft” and as someone who…
Drown Deep by Phil Williams – Review
It has been a while since I read the first book, but from memory, this sequel is even bloodier than the first, if only a bit. However, it also had…
Third Semifinalist Review for SPFBO #10
Prepare for people you care about to suffer but always look out for moments of friendship, bravery from the least likely quarter as well as glimmers of hope. A great…
The Dark Feather by Anna Stephens
The Dark Feather by Anna Stephens delivers an epic conclusion to one of the best dark fantasy series I’ve read. This book has ripped out my heart and stomped on…