Grimdark Fantasy discussion

I guess the title says it all! What’ve you been enjoying in 2019?
This year I’ve really enjoyed “the Gutter Prayer”, “Jade City” and the “Empire of Salt” series. I’ve been reading a bunch of sci fi as well but my grimdark itch needs some scratching.
There’s some awesome looking stuff on the horizon this year but I’m curious what everyone else is reading!

I really enjoyed The Grey Bastards (Jonathan French), Low Town (Daniel Polansky) and Old Man's Ghosts (Tom Lloyd).

I’ve never heard of Old mans ghost! I’ll def check that out!
Low town is amazing! Similarly I really loved Priest Of Bones

Old Man's Ghost is the second book of the Empire of the Hundred Houses by Tom Lloyd.

Lloyd has got two other even better series, namely:

The Twilight Reign series, which is a huge 5 book epic deeply grimdark tale.

The God Fragments, which is just a great fun grimdark adventure series. It reminds me a bit of Riyria. It has great characters and a lot of action.

Thanks for the awesome recommendations!! That sounds like that’ll keep me busy for a bit!!
Another one I read not too long ago was “the Deathless” by Peter Newman. I got some serious “black company” vibes from it :)

Yeah the Deathless is great! Did you read his first trilogy, The Vagrant? The Deathless is situated in the same world, only much later.

This year the best grimdark I have read include "The Barrow" and a bunch of Mark Lawrence. I especially enjoyed the "Book of the Ancestor" trilogy by him. I am currently reading "The Broken Earth" trilogy by N.K. Jemisin and am really enjoying it. Not sure if it quite makes the Grimdark designation but it is dystopia fantasy and the characters are certainly all flawed. Very dark and very good writing and world building.

Thanks for the thread. I am always looking for my next book.

I actually haven’t read the vagrant series! I remember trying it and finding it hard to get into but I think I need to give it another shot. I really enjoyed “the deathless”.

I haven’t heard of the barrow! Whose that by? :)

I’m always on a hunt for a new read as well and this group has steered me in the right direction for a long while. I’ve got “holy sister” lined up. Pretty excited for that!

Right now I’m reading “the city of brass” by S.A. Chakraborty. Definitely not grimdark but a compelling story in an interesting world nonetheless.

SerpentFeather wrote: "I actually haven’t read the vagrant series! I remember trying it and finding it hard to get into but I think I need to give it another shot. I really enjoyed “the deathless”.

I haven’t heard of th..."

Mark Smylie wrote The Barrow. I would rate it as the best grimdark I have read to date, and a favorite book all around. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I also really liked Mark Lawrence Broken Empire trilogy. Very much a grimdark.

I read a pretty wide variety but lately have also been on a grimdark reading kick.

I'm busy reading The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence, about a third of the way though the final book, Emperor of Thorns. I'm really enjoying it.

Also started the Black Company series by Glen Cook this year and finished the third book, The White Rose, a few weeks ago. Also really enjoying this series and will drive into book 4 as soon as I finish the Broken Empire Trilogy.

Both absolutely excellent series! Glen cook captures the essence of Grimdark like few others. Croaker is one of my favourite narrators!