Come now, dear reader, and let us venture together into shadowed realms where heroes are scarce and the blood runs rather thicker than honey. If you have wandered through Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy and found yourself quite thoroughly enchanted by its magnificent scoundrels—that delightfully dreadful Glokta, the Bloody-Nine in all his terrible glory—then pray, do not despair. For there exist other dark corners of the literary world where morally questionable fellows await your acquaintance.
What follows is a collection of twelve remarkable tales, each possessing that particular quality which made The First Law so terribly, wonderfully grim.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Here is a tale that understands, as Abercrombie does, that the finest characters are those who would pick your pocket whilst making you laugh. In the fantastical city of Camorr—a place rather like Venice, if Venice were populated by considerably more criminals—young Locke Lamora leads a band of thieves called the Gentleman Bastards.
The friendship between Locke and his partner Jean Tannen possesses that same warmth one finds between Abercrombie’s unlikely companions. The dialogue crackles with wit sharp enough to cut, and beneath all the clever heists beats a surprisingly tender heart. Scott Lynch proves that grimdark need not be joyless—it may be profane and violent, yet also hysterical when circumstances permit.
The Black Company by Glen Cook
One must pay respects to one’s elders, and The Black Company is rather the grandfather of all this grimdark business. Published in 1984, Glen Cook’s mercenary tale changed fantasy fiction quite as dramatically as a certain crocodile changed Captain Hook’s disposition toward clocks.
Here you shall find no noble knights nor righteous causes—only hard-bitten soldiers doing what they must and burying their doubts with their dead. Steven Erikson himself declared that Glen Cook “single-handedly changed the face of fantasy,” and who are we to argue? The interactions between the wizards Goblin and One-Eye provide humor so delicious it might sustain you through the darkest passages.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
If ever there existed a protagonist more wonderfully terrible than Logan Ninefingers in his darker moments, it may well be young Jorg Ancrath. At fourteen years old, this prince leads a band of murderers and dreams of vengeance with an intensity that would make the Bloody-Nine himself raise an eyebrow.
Mark Lawrence has crafted something extraordinary here—a grimdark fantasy wrapped within a post-apocalyptic mystery, set in a broken Europe where medieval brutality has risen from civilization’s ashes. Jorg’s voice, sharp with dark humor and burning with rage, shall echo in your mind long after you close the book.
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
Permit me to introduce Kinch Na Shannack, a thief so deeply in debt to his guild that he has quite literally sold pieces of his future. Christopher Buehlman, known primarily for his horror novels, has brought that sensibility to fantasy with magnificent results.
The voice here is extraordinary—Buehlman was once a comedian, and that wit shines through every blood-soaked page. Robin Hobb herself called it “dazzling,” while others have noted its kinship with The Lies of Locke Lamora in balancing arch comedy with genuine emotional depth. For those who loved how Abercrombie made them laugh whilst depicting terrible things, this book is a treasure.
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
If you have ever wished to walk through a land where the enormous skulls of dead gods litter the earth and Norse mythology runs through everything like blood through veins, then John Gwynne has built precisely the world you seek. The Bloodsworn Saga opens with this magnificent volume, following three distinct characters across a realm haunted by the aftermath of divine warfare.
Gwynne writes battle scenes with the ferocity of a man who truly understands violence—which perhaps explains why he practices Viking reenactment. The brutality here is heartbreaking rather than gratuitous, and the character of Orka has drawn comparisons to Lagertha of Vikings fame.
The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan
Here is a book that defies convention with every page. Ringil Eskiath, our protagonist, is a war hero turned outcast—despised not for his considerable capacity for violence, but for whom he loves. Richard K. Morgan brings the sensibilities that made his science fiction so compelling into fantasy territory.
The trilogy that follows is unflinching in its examination of trauma, prejudice, and the aftermath of war. Ringil’s journey from bitter exile to something rather more dangerous should appeal to anyone who appreciated Abercrombie’s willingness to write complicated, damaged protagonists who remain, despite everything, compelling.
Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
What if, one might wonder, the French Revolution occurred in a world where certain individuals could ingest gunpowder and perform extraordinary feats? Brian McClellan wondered precisely this, and the result is the Powder Mage trilogy—beginning with this explosive debut.
Field Marshal Tamas has overthrown a corrupt king, but a dying sorcerer’s final words suggest terrible consequences approach. The magic system here is wonderfully original, the politics deliciously complicated, and fans of Abercrombie shall find the flawed characters and harsh violence quite familiar. Brandon Sanderson called it innovative and fun; Brent Weeks named it the finest flintlock fantasy he had read.
Low Town by Daniel Polansky
In the grimy streets of a city’s worst quarter, a man known only as the Warden sells drugs to survive. Once he was a soldier, then a detective, and now he is something considerably less respectable. When children begin dying in his territory, however, old habits prove remarkably persistent.
Daniel Polansky has created something delightfully noir here—fantasy filtered through the sensibilities of hardboiled detective fiction. The Warden’s cynical voice, his moral complexity, his capacity for both despicable acts and unexpected decency—these qualities shall remind you of Abercrombie’s finest creations.
Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
Tomas Piety returns from war to discover his criminal empire stolen, his people starving, and his city changed beyond recognition. With his army priest’s collar and his gang of veterans, he sets about reclaiming what was his—and discovers the war at home may be worse than the one he survived.
Publishers Weekly compared this to The Godfather and Wiseguy, and the comparison holds. McLean writes soldiers with the authenticity of experience, and his portrayal of trauma rippling through these characters would feel quite at home in Abercrombie’s world. The voice is distinct, infectious, and utterly compelling.
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
What if, the author seems to have asked, mercenary bands were treated like rock bands? What if aging warriors could reunite for one last tour? The answer is this magnificent novel, wherein Clay Cooper and his legendary companions emerge from retirement for an impossible mission.
The humor here is considerable—this is a book designed to make you laugh. Yet beneath the jokes lies genuine heart, and the bonds between these aging warriors echo the complicated friendships Abercrombie writes so well. When you need grimdark that permits joy alongside its darkness, Kings of the Wyld answers brilliantly.
Heroes Die by Matthew Stover
In a dystopian future, corporations send “Actors” to a parallel fantasy world, broadcasting their adventures as entertainment for the masses. Hari Michaelson is the assassin Caine, and his wife has gone missing on the other side. What follows is brutal, philosophical, and unlike anything else you shall encounter.
Matthew Stover, himself a martial artist, writes action sequences of extraordinary clarity and intensity. The book examines violence as entertainment whilst being, itself, violently entertaining—a neat trick that rewards contemplation. For those who appreciate Abercrombie’s deeper themes beneath the bloodshed, this cult classic delivers magnificently.
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
This standalone tale of a warrior family on the edge of empire proves that grimdark need not sprawl across multiple volumes to leave its mark. On the Kusanagi Peninsula, fighters who can wield ice and raise the sea have protected their homeland for centuries. Now war approaches, and nothing shall remain unchanged.
M.L. Wang won Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off with this novel, and the praise is richly deserved. The character of Misaki—a mother with a violent past forced to take up her sword again—has become one of fantasy’s most beloved heroines. The exploration of family, tradition, and the terrible cost of war resonates long after the final page.
Where to Begin Your Journey
If you crave wit alongside your darkness, begin with The Lies of Locke Lamora or The Blacktongue Thief. Should you desire mythology and brutal beauty, The Shadow of the Gods awaits. For those seeking the roots of grimdark itself, The Black Company remains essential reading.
Whatever path you choose, know that each of these books contains that particular magic Joe Abercrombie conjures so well—the understanding that flawed characters in dark circumstances can illuminate truths about ourselves. The world is not kind, these books suggest, but it is terribly interesting, and occasionally, despite everything, it permits us moments of hope.
Now off you go, dear reader. Adventures in darkness await, and they are, I promise you, quite wonderful.
