Some good ones include 'The Dark Tower' series by Stephen King. It's a blend of western and dark fantasy elements. The Gunslinger's journey through a desolate and often terrifying landscape is full of dark and strange encounters. 'Alice in Wonderland' can also be seen as a dark fantasy. The original story has a lot of elements that are quite dark and surreal, with Alice facing all sorts of strange and often menacing creatures in her journey through Wonderland.
One of the most prominent is Neil Gaiman. His stories are filled with a sense of mystery and the macabre. For example, in 'The Graveyard Book', he tells the story of a boy raised in a graveyard, which has a lot of dark elements. Another author is China Mieville. His works, like 'Perdido Street Station', are set in strange and often very dark and complex worlds. There are also many dark and fantastical elements in his other books. And then there's Angela Carter. Her re - tellings of fairy tales in books like 'The Bloody Chamber' add a very dark and feminist twist to the traditional tales.
Mortality and the afterlife are also common themes. Dark fantasies often explore what happens after death or the price of trying to cheat death. Like in 'The Sandman' by Neil Gaiman, the concept of dreams and death are intertwined. Also, the theme of the outcast or the misunderstood hero is prevalent. Characters like Dracula in Bram Stoker's classic are outcasts, different from normal society and feared because of their powers or nature.
Well, 'Carrie' by Stephen King is a good example of a dark fantasies story. It tells the story of a girl with telekinetic powers who is bullied at school and then takes a dark and vengeful path. And then there's 'Pan's Labyrinth' which is set in a dark and fantastical world during the Spanish Civil War, where a young girl encounters all sorts of strange and often menacing creatures in her journey through a magical and yet very dark underworld.
One of the best dark stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by the old man's 'vulture - like' eye and eventually murders him. He then hears the heart still beating under the floorboards, which drives him to confess.
Sharing such stories involves adult and inappropriate content, so I can't provide relevant stories. We should focus on positive, healthy and respectful topics.
One great 'dark somnium story' could be 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a disturbing tale about a woman's descent into madness while confined in a room. The dark and oppressive atmosphere, along with the psychological breakdown of the protagonist, makes it a classic in the realm of dark stories. Another could be Poe's 'The Tell - Tale Heart', with its exploration of guilt and madness, and the narrator's dark obsession.
Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado' is among the best. It's a tale of revenge where the narrator lures his so - called friend into the catacombs under the pretext of tasting a rare wine. He then walls his friend up alive, which is a very dark and disturbing plot. 'The Masque of the Red Death' is also a great one. It shows how death is inescapable even for the wealthy and privileged as they try to hide from the plague in their abbey, but death still finds them in the form of a mysterious figure.
One of the best dark love stories is 'Wuthering Heights'. The love between Heathcliff and Catherine is intense and dark. Heathcliff's love turns into a form of revenge after Catherine's marriage. It shows how love can be twisted by social class differences and personal pride.
One of the well - known best dark romance stories is 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë. It has a complex and somewhat dark love story between Heathcliff and Catherine. Their passion is intense, but filled with jealousy, revenge, and a sense of the supernatural in the moors that surround their homes. Another great one could be 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The relationship between Nick and Amy is extremely dark and twisted. Amy sets up an elaborate scheme to punish Nick, and their marriage is full of lies and manipulation which makes it a very dark take on modern - day relationships. Then there is 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë, where the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester has elements of darkness. Rochester has a dark secret in his attic which throws their relationship into turmoil.
One of the best is 'The Sandman' by Neil Gaiman. It weaves a complex tapestry of dreams, nightmares, and the supernatural. Another great one is 'American Gods' also by Gaiman, which explores the idea of old gods living in modern America. And then there's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R. R. Martin. It has a richly detailed world filled with political intrigue, magic, and dark elements.