Grimdark Fantasy discussion

Time to pick our next read.

Show us the Grimdark!

Let's see...if we're going truly grim, I understand Michael R. Fletcher is the man for the job. I nominate Swarm and Steel. I have not read any of his works, but from the reviews it looks like this is a fairly standalone novel (set in the world of his main series) which might be good for those of us who are already reading 1,000,000 different series :).

Good choice, I have a copy but haven't read it yet.

I could do that.

Pat wrote: "I nominate Blackwing by Ed McDonald. Mark Lawrence and Michael R. Fletcher both reviewed it positively."

I have an unread copy of that too!

The Barrow. Seriously grim, but you may need a ratings policy and disclaimers to read it...

As always, it's my man Paul Kearney - Hawkwood's Voyage (The Monarchies of God #1):

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Igor

Gods of Color. It's a Grimdark journey through self promotion.

Pat wrote: "I nominate Blackwing by Ed McDonald. Mark Lawrence and Michael R. Fletcher both reviewed it positively."

I loved Blackwing - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I can read something else.

I'm down for Blackwing.

C.H. wrote: "Gods of Color. It's a Grimdark journey through self promotion."

*disapproving mod frown*

All right, all right. I'll let the group come to it on their own.

I'll nominate it. I haven't read it and it looks interesting.
Gods of Color

I vote for CH too. Just to be subversive and I happen to want to read it anyway...

Mark wrote: "Let's see...if we're going truly grim, I understand Michael R. Fletcher is the man for the job. I nominate Swarm and Steel. I have not read any of his works, but from the reviews it..."

I vote for this one. I'm in the middle of The Mirror’s Truth and it's awesome!

Ill be closing the nomination thread tomorrow and setting up a poll soon after.

First post for me, I began the Faithful & the fallen series (John Gwynne) around two weeks ago, I thought of quitting around the first 100 pages, it read like a PG LOTOR/YA fantasy ripoff, (typical young hero with a magical pet etc...) I soldiered through & to make a long story short I’m delighted I didn’t. I finished the main series (4 books) in 2 weeks. What started off as stated above, morphed into one of the best fantasy series I have ever read, excellent gory fight sequences, interesting character POVs, both the antagonists & protagonists are given the spotlight, Gwynne leaves it up to the reader to come to their own conclusions about the reasoning behind characters decisions no matter how brutal. Not exactly Abercrombie Grimdark however definitely worth checking out 🤘

I started Malice (first book in the series) over a month ago and am really struggling. Switching to the audio version has helped, but I am finding it dull, over-complicated with lots of names and places and jam-packed full of cliches
‘Ordinary’ blacksmith’s son destined for greatness, lots of large men who are all the best swordfighters in the country, a couple of nasty bullies making things unfair and difficult for our heroes, some mysterious characters with shady backgrounds and unexplained limps waiting for a big reveal...
Worst of all, the women (bar an ancient crone, who is, of course, a healer) are all mothers, sisters, queens or princesses, existing only as attachments to the men. I thought we had left all that behind.
According to the reviews, people love this series, so I know I am missing something, but I am finding it unimaginative, simplistic and sooooo slow, and am more than half-way through.
And what does it have to do with Malice?

So a female character having a brother crosses some imaginary line now? 😂😂😂 I suppose they should be born from an egg with no mothers or fathers so no one can ever make the mistake of calling them daughters? In all seriousness though I loved that series. I do remember a slow start but I remember a lot of great female characters. Some aren’t introduced until later books though so if you can’t get through this one that might not help.

Steve wrote: "The Barrow. Seriously grim, but you may need a ratings policy and disclaimers to read it..."

I have this book! Yeah I heard it's pretty intense. Haven't read it yet.