Grimdark Magazine

29/07/2024

This is going to be so bloody good.

A cartel enforcer across South-east Asia must escape a world of paranoia and violence to save his family in this cerebral and multi-layered cyberpunk science fiction novel, from the award-winning author of 36 STREETS.

THE ESCHER MAN by T.R. Napper is out September 17, 2024! 🌃

Pre-order now: https://tinyurl.com/ydahv3vk

29/07/2024

House of the Dragon’s first misstep after two exceptionally strong opening episodes.

"The Burning Mill" is the third episode of the second season. Unfortunately, it is also House of the Dragon's first misstep after two exceptionally strong opening episodes.

28/07/2024

Napper’s story—the heart strings he manages to pluck on every page; the anger he makes me feel at the unfairness of that world; the way he makes me think about where our society might be heading—puts him amongst my favourite writers. Do not miss this novella.

Building upon his brutal cyberpunk vision of the future shown in Neon Leviathan and 36 Streets, T.R. Napper’s Ghost of the Neon God is an utterly haunting, lonely, and beautiful novella. I simply cannot put down Napper’s books and short stories, and before I get into this review more, I highly e...

27/07/2024

John R. Fultz is the modern voice for traditional sword and sorcery tales.

https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-immaculate-scoundrels-by-john-r-fultz/

26/07/2024

For the fantasy authors out there struggling to come up with names for the wider cast of characters: I present to you the latest misspelling of my name (Adrian)!

26/07/2024

How awesome does this look!?

Coming Soon: The Book Burner’s Fall - A Raven’s Shadow Novella
(Cover illustration by
Design by )

26/07/2024

Katrina Kwan is no stranger to the literary world, though her name is a new one. She was an accomplished ghostwriter, focusing on romance, before trying her hand at writing for herself. The Last Dragon of the East is a compelling adult fantasy debut, set in a Chinese-inspired world. It features surprisingly little romance, instead drawing the reader into a vivid story of dragons, greed and destiny. It’s been great catching up with Katrina ahead of The Last Dragon of the East‘s release later this year.

The Last Dragon of the East is a compelling adult fantasy debut. We loved our chat with author Katrina Kwan ahead of publication.

26/07/2024

The big question is: WHICH ADB book is he reading …

Doesn't get much better than this!

I'd like to thank Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Mother Nature, Matt the Gardener, coffee, and BBQ for allowing me to have this moment. 

25/07/2024

Big kudos to Wraithmarked Creative for this stance.

If you want to use AI in your writing, cover creation, etc, then go for it champ. But we don’t want to review it or publish it or help publicise it.

We've had 3 Kickstarter projects in the last week reach out to ask us about crossposting their campaign, each of whom was using AI art on the video and/or campaign and/or product.

To be 100% clear: If you use AI art on ANY part of your final project, please DO NOT contact us for collaboration or promotion. We have absolute ZERO interest in working with you, now or in the future.

25/07/2024

Something I am still thinking about after reading, stuck to my brain like a seed burr.

Smothermoss is the debut novel by writer Alisa Alering. I found it an unsettling and profoundly compelling read, although not as dark from a fantasy perspective as I had expected.

24/07/2024

Every single character is traumatised in some way, but they are actively working to cope with their past, and the healing power of company becomes clear.

https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-gilgamesh-by-emily-h-wilson/

23/07/2024

Arthur is a moving, atmospheric, and enthralling experience that culminates The Arthurian Tales in the best possible manner.

22/07/2024

Abigail is a 2024 slasher movie that is full of twists and turns regarding its titular character. It is full of likable characters, an interesting setting for the murders, and a lot of new takes on a very traditional monster archetype.

Abigail is is full of likable characters, an interesting setting for the murders, and a lot of new takes on a very traditional monster archetype.

21/07/2024

Djèlí Clark is one of the voices of our generation of SFF, showcased with a novella that seems light but has been thought-provoking, even months after I initially read it.

P. Djèlí Clark's The Dead Cat Tail Assassins is an interesting and surprising reading experience, showcasing the fun he had writing it.

19/07/2024

The first half of 2024 has proven to be yet another brilliant year for fans of dark and grimdark fantasy and science fiction. Our team has picked their favourite books of 2024 so far.

The best dark fantasy and grimdark SFF of 2024 so far, featuring vampires, dragon slaying, insect societies, and more!

19/07/2024

The Hod King is the third volume in Josiah Bancroft’s masterful Books of Babel tetralogy, combining the best features of the first two books of the series, Senlin Ascends and Arm of the Sphinx, while bringing new emotional depth to this tragic story.

The Hod King is the third volume in Josiah Bancroft’s Books of Babel tetralogy, combining the best features of the first two books.

18/07/2024

If you were to list ‘bad things people could do to one another,’ Navola would probably tick many of them off.

https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-navola-by-paolo-bacigalupi/

17/07/2024

Lake of Darkness is the new hard science fiction novel by Adam Roberts that asks whether an intelligent being could evolve inside the infinite darkness of a black hole.

Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts asks whether an intelligent being could evolve inside the infinite darkness of a black hole.

17/07/2024

I love it when authors and publishers really make a review copy stand out with some awesome packaging and extras. I know it’s not always possible to do so (it is the exception, rather than the rule), but books delivered like this immediately get my attention! Massive thank you to

16/07/2024

The Boys are back and this season is as brilliant, disgusting, and insane as the previous seasons – perhaps more disgusting in places and that is certainly a high bar to reach.

The Boys S4 continues the show’s excellent run. Ripe with political commentary, explosive action, shocking powers, and enough heart to make you give a s**t, this is still one of the best shows on TV.

16/07/2024

Zammar Ahmer pushes boundaries and takes the concept of grey morality to a whole new level in Sundered Moon, the deliciously dark and exquisitely bittersweet finale to The Book of Astea duology.

Zammar Ahmer pushes boundaries in Sundered Moon, the deliciously dark and exquisitely bittersweet finale to The Book of Astea duology.

15/07/2024

How good does this look!?

Pre-order our next SNAFU!
Out on Halloween evening.
The first link below will take you to your regional Amazon store.
https://books2read.com/u/4D9K7A
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9H8NVZ4

15/07/2024

If Gemmell had a small crew of protégés, I think Cameron Johnston has placed himself at their forefront with The Last Shield.

15/07/2024

Do you like the look of the grim, dark future in Warhammer 40k, but don't know where to start reading? Don't worry, champion, we've got you covered. Find out where to start reading Warhammer 40,000 books, here:

Discover the Warhammer 40K universe through amazing books. Read stories covering mass trench warfare, special ops, secret agents & more!

15/07/2024

Elizabeth Helen is the pen name of sister duo, Elizabeth and Helen, authors of a hot new fantasy series inspired by Beauty and the Beast. Fairy tales have traditionally explored the darker aspects of human nature and this is no different, the authors have created a dangerous world with flawed and complex characters who are trapped in cursed situation fully of their own making. We’re hooked already and couldn’t resist the opportunity to talk to the authors in advance of the July publication of the first three books of the series in stunning new hardback editions.

Elizabeth Helen creates a dangerous world with flawed and complex characters who are trapped in cursed situation fully of their own making.

15/07/2024

Neon Leviathan by T. R. Napper has 300 GR reviews in the bag! A gritty cyberpunk short story collection about which Richard K. Morgan (Altered Carbon) said "T. R. Napper’s futures feel at once gritty and vertiginous and close-focus human in the way only the best SF can manage."

14/07/2024

Our team is committed to sharing our love of grimdark fantasy and science fiction in all media—be it books, film, TV or games—in the hopes that you might find a story you love. But, what exactly is grimdark and where does it situate itself relative to other speculative fiction?

What exactly is grimdark fantasy and science fiction? We present a definition of grimdark capturing the inculsivity of the subgenre.

14/07/2024

While I personally preferred the Kafka-inspired absurdities of the first book, I believe fantasy fans will find Arm of the Sphinx more immediately accessible than the labyrinthine Senlin Ascends.

Arm of the Sphinx is Josiah Bancroft’s swashbuckling sequel to Senlin Ascends and the second entry in his Books of Babel tetralogy.

13/07/2024

Lost Souls, the debut novel from indie author Ryan Skeffington, is a dark science fiction thrill ride that leaves plenty of emotional devastation in its wake

Lost Souls, the debut novel from indie author Ryan Skeffington, is a dark science fiction thrill ride with plenty of emotional devastation.