Recs if you like The Darkness That Comes Before...

Going back to the Dark Ages with all the horror and death they experienced. A comprehensive list including popular selections along with lesser known works to evoke the Olde Age scares.

(I try to update this list all any time I run across new ones!)

fantasy works that focus on language and translation. (Thank you to @strawberrymilk for the LoD rec!)

No fairy-tale endings, no tender interludes, just morally ambiguous anti-heroes clawing their way through betrayal, war, and chaos.

SFF where religion is a major part of the character work, world building, and/or a main driver of the plot.

horror, historical, and fantasy that are all in the medieval gothic genre. also includes books that are heavily inspired but are more scifi/fantasy to get a fully comprehensive vibe

Everyone is adoring the first episodes of Critical Roles newest campaign 4 with DM Brennan Lee Mulligan and our large cast of 13 members. This list is a break down of book recommendations for those apart of the Soldiers Table.

Grimdark is about the dirt, the blood, and the crushing weight of reality in a world where "might is right." The genre takes its name from the tagline of 'Warhammer 40,000': "In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war." Here is a list of 100 essential Grimdark works including standalone novels, series starters, and graphic novels.

I wish we could make communal lists, because this would be a helpful one to be able to ask others to contribute to

List of recommended emotional devastation for those who loved Alchemised

*disclaimer - these are not true Grimdark but pretty grim and dark 😅

Another item of the list of "things I don't like irl that I'm eating up in books" : Military Fantasy

Book characters described or mentioned to have physical scar(s). From harm, injury, battle/ fight, accident, burns, medical procedures, self-inflicted, natural/ in born, etc.

Titles that meet the description are welcomed ❤️