Top 10 Anticipated GRIMDARK Series - 2024 TBR

These are the Grimdark Fantasy series I will be prioritizing this year and next! Have you read these authors? Share your thoughts below.
Apologies if the audio quality is too soft...
Please share your most anticipated Grimdark Fantasy books/series/authors below, I'm constantly looking to expand my list!
John Mauro's video on Anna Smith Spark
• Where to start reading...
JCM Berne's Patreon for Grimdwarf Magazine
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#grimdark #epicfantasybooks #booktube #top10

[@jcmberne]

Hey Usman, thanks so much for the shoutout! Took me by surprise! I'm glad you enjoyed the magazine, it was fun to put out. I'll have an edited collection of the Grimdwarf stories available soon.

[@bardsandbooks]

Can’t wait! Keep up the great work and looking forward to the next Hybrid Helix 🤘🏽

[@calebritywriter]

I always love these videos because I always end up adding stuff to my TBR. I'm also looking forward to starting Darkblade! Andy is a cool dude.

[@bardsandbooks]

Awesome, can’t wait to hear what you think! Cheers, Caleb 🤘🏽

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Interesting list. Kagen the Damned is just a fun romp that can go from 0-100 in the blink of an eye, John and Trin absolutely know what they're talking about. I've also seen Andy Peloquin making the rounds with only good things being said. I love the covers of those Michael R. Fletcher books, might need to give them a shot. Something you might be interested in is Lynn Flewelling's Tamir Triad. It's more of a classic fantasy vibe, but with a lot of dark/horror elements to it. The first book's straight up a gothic horror in an epic fantasy setting. Not quite grimdark, but might be something that you'd be interested in.

[@bardsandbooks]

Great to hear! The covers for Obsidian Path are awesome and with the kickstarter announced for book 1, it looks even better! I may just have to get it 😅 Definitely adding Tamir Triad to the list, going to look into it now. Cheers 🤘🏽

[@enkeierick]

I’ve been waiting for another Grimdark video since you released your first one!!!

[@bardsandbooks]

Heck yeah! Long overdue 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@esmayrosalyne]

Brilliant list, you've got some amazing reads ahead of you! Legacy of the Brightwash is one of my all-time faves, hope you enjoy! And Anna Smith Spark is just incredible, I devoured her trilogy. Going to read her standalones asap as well! Also, I really need to get into Andy Peloquin, P.L. Stuart and Zamil Akthar's series as well, they have been calling out to me for so long! Happy (?) reading, haha 🤩

[@bardsandbooks]

Haha thanks Esmay! Looking forward to it all as well as your thoughts on the latter 🤘🏽

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Great video 🙌🏼 Obsidian Path is dark and sorrowful and heartbreaking and I love it. Kagen is awesome. All of Maberry ❤❤❤ He drops so many fun easter eggs from series to series. You'll love Peloquin Darkblade, Queen of Thieves, Dragonblood Assassin all great. Matar also brilliant. Such a cool world and her characters ❤ I have Kings of Paradise and Drown Kingdom in my wishlist. Have you read The Warded Man ? Shattered Soul (Ben Hale) ? Gutter Prayer ? Five Warrior Angels ? Dragons of Terra ? The Gap Cycle, Nophek Gloss, and The Bleed (more scifi). I also adore Rob J. Hayes. My favorite grimdark stand alone is Between Two Fires and he now has a prequel to Black Tongue Thief which is brilliant 😜 Sorry I wrote a book 😬

[@bardsandbooks]

I appreciate all your thoughts, this is a fantastic comment! Definitely going to check out all the ones you’ve recommended as I’ve only read Five Warrior Angels from that list 😅 Cheers 🤘🏽

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

@@bardsandbooks Grimdarkers unite!! 🤪🙌🏼🤓

[@intotheheartwyld]

I have been wanting to dive into Anna Smith Spark as well, I hear nothing but praise for her work and her latest A Woman of the Sword caught my eye for the motherhood aspect. The cover is really eye catching, I hope at some point this year I can get to it.

[@bardsandbooks]

Agreed, very eye-catching. I hope you’re able to find time for it! Would love to hear your thoughts, cheers 🤘🏽

[@StarLitLibrary]

Im glad to have added recommendations to my TBR that I’ve never heard of. I read the first manifest delusions book and have been thinking about when to pick up the next one and see where the plot goes bc the 1st was mostly set up and traveling

[@bardsandbooks]

Glad to have helped! Hopefully the next book gets more interesting, Manifest Delusions seems to be his most popular from what I’ve heard

[@ZOMGfantasy]

Awesome list Usman! Lots of these on my own radar so I'll definitely be looking forward to your thoughts 🤘

[@bardsandbooks]

Thanks for watching, lots of great books coming up 🤘🏽

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Hey my friend! Thank you for some recommendations to take me out of my horror comfort zone. Ash and Sands sounds interesting, love the coming of age trope in books.

[@bardsandbooks]

Cheers, Cliff! Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for the rest of the year and moving forward. Keep an eye out for my dive into horror 🤘🏽

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@bardsandbooks Will do!

[@Will_14582]

Because you asked for suggestions at the end: The Second Apocalypse by R. Scott Bakker is both the best fantasy and the most grim and darkest series I've ever read. I know you are currently reading Malazan so you may want to hold off until you're through that. Malazan was my favorite series before I read Bakker.

[@bardsandbooks]

That series is definitely on my list! I was also thinking to start it after Malazan, great minds! Thanks so much, I can’t wait to dive into it 🤘🏽

[@BookishChas]

Great list Usman! I’m reading Gunmetal Gods next month, and I’m pretty excited.

[@bardsandbooks]

Me too! Just waiting for it to be mailed and then I’m jumping in. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts 🤘🏽

[@kclazer2190]

This is a good list. Got several off of it to add to my TBR. The Lost War Trilogy is great. You should look at Blackwing by Ed McDonald and Priest of Bones by Peter McLean if you have not done so already.

[@bardsandbooks]

Thanks so much! Priest of Bones was recently recommended so I’ll definitely move it up the list. Looking into Blackwing now, cheers 🤘🏽

[@joeystett]

Richard Nell is so underrated I love Ash and Sand, also my favorite narrator does the audiobook (Ralph Lister)

[@bardsandbooks]

That’s so great to hear! I may try out the audio now, cheers 🤘🏽

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I can speak for the following. Mike Shackle's The Last War is fantastic, and in my top 10 fantasy series. And I also read and enjoyed Gunmetal Gods, Kagen the Damned, and Kings of Paradise. I've yet to continue the series for each, but I plan on doing it at some point. I don't know if you have read this series, so my recommendation for another great grimdark series is War for the Rose Throne. Priest of Bones is the first book.

[@bardsandbooks]

That is excellent to hear! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for the recommendation! Priest of Bones has been added to the list, cheers 🤘🏽

[@alanagreen2147]

Wow there goes my tbr pile again 😂 thaaaanks

[@bardsandbooks]

😂 no worries, thanks for watching 🤘🏽

[@TheBeardedBookBeast]

Awesome video! Grimdark is my favorite genre and this is a great list!

[@bardsandbooks]

Thanks so much, great minds 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@TheBeardedBookBeast]

@@bardsandbooks Hahaha yessir! Did you see that kickstarter coming up for Blackstone Heart? Looks like it's going to be an awesome edition!

[@bardsandbooks]

@@TheBeardedBookBeast I did and what timing! It looks so good, I’m not sure I can pass it up

[@TheBeardedBookBeast]

@@bardsandbooks Same here!

[@TheChapterConundrum]

Never have I ever added some books to my want to read list faster 😂 I was excited when I saw this pop up in my sub feed today!! Obsidian Path is on my 5 star predictions list for sure! 😍 Let me know if you want to buddy read it at some point! In terms of another grimdark series I'd recommend, have you already read Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence (starts with Prince of Thorns)? I don't see it marked on your Goodreads so I'm curious!

[@bardsandbooks]

That’s awesome to hear! 😂 I will definitely reach out for buddy reading Obsidian Path! And of course there had to be a special edition kickstarter coming soon for book 1… it looks so good 🫠 Broken Empire is long overdue, I have no excuse for not picking it up yet. I have the first and last book so as soon as I get the second, I’m holding myself to it 😅

[@MoeWanders]

Random comment appreciating The Institute by Stephen King on the shelf. I love that book!

[@bardsandbooks]

Still haven’t read it but it’s one of the first for when I start King. Can’t wait 🤘🏽Cheers

[@TalonBray]

Gunmetal Gods is fantastic

[@bardsandbooks]

I’m so eager to get my hands on it!

[@TalonBray]

@@bardsandbooks have you read the Second Apocalypse series by R. Scott Bakker? Seems like it'd be your favorite of all time

[@bardsandbooks]

@@TalonBray it’s on my list and I have the first 3 books! I’ve been meaning to get to it but probably after Malazan? I’m so hyped for it!