In darkest fantasy fiction, often there are complex and morally ambiguous characters. For example, in 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, many characters do both good and bad things. The settings are usually gloomy, like the dark and cold world of Westeros in winter. There are also elements of horror, such as the White Walkers. In darkest nonfiction, it may deal with real - life tragedies or the darker side of human nature. For instance, books about war crimes or serial killers.
Well, 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman can be considered in the realm of darkest fantasy fiction. It delves into the dark underbelly of American mythology and the battles between old and new gods. 'The Dark Tower' series by Stephen King is also a great example. It has a desolate and dangerous world full of strange creatures and a quest that is full of peril. And then there's 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. The Area X in the book is a very strange and menacing place, and the story unfolds in a very dark and mysterious way.
In the realm of darkest fantasy fiction, 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' by Lord Dunsany is quite dark. It has an otherworldly and somewhat melancholic feel, with a love story set against a backdrop of a strange and often menacing fairyland. As for nonfiction, 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer can be considered in this category. The story of Christopher McCandless, while a tale of self - discovery, also has elements of a dark journey into the Alaskan wilderness and the ultimately tragic end.
Darkest fantasy fiction often has a more gritty and bleak tone compared to regular fantasy. Regular fantasy might focus more on heroic quests and a more black - and - white view of good and evil. In darkest fantasy, the lines between good and evil are often blurred. For example, in a regular fantasy, the hero might be clearly defined as good and the villain as bad. But in darkest fantasy like 'The First Law' series, characters can be both good and bad at the same time.
There are some websites that offer free fantasy stories. For example, Wattpad has a wide variety of fantasy tales. You can search for 'darkest' - themed ones by using relevant keywords in the search bar. However, the quality may vary. Another option is to check out some free e - book platforms where independent authors might publish their dark fantasy works.
One of the darkest is 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin. It features brutal wars, political intrigue, and morally ambiguous characters. Another is 'The First Law' trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. It shows a gritty and often cruel world filled with anti - heroes. 'The Kingkiller Chronicle' by Patrick Rothfuss also has some dark elements, especially in the backstories of some of the characters and the overall atmosphere of the world.
One classic is 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has elements of darkness such as the all - consuming power of the One Ring and the threat of Sauron. Another is 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin. It's filled with political intrigue, brutal battles, and dark magic. 'The Witcher' series also counts. Geralt, the protagonist, often faces dark and grotesque monsters in a morally grey world.
Well, 'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King is pretty dark. It plays on our fears of death and the unknown, with a spooky cemetery where things that are buried come back...but not in a good way. Then there's 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver. It tells the story of a mother struggling with her son who has committed a heinous act. And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson has some very dark themes including violence against women.
One of the darkest is 'The Hunger Games' series. It depicts a cruel world where children are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol. The violence and the oppressive regime make it quite dark.