Top 5 Grimdark Fantasy Reads This Year: MUST READS!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

My man!! 5.12 in the video was amazing and I absolutely loved your take on that particular complaint of this genre. That was EPIC. Excellent video man and I'll be hopping on 11th Cycle to see what I think about it. Let me know if you have a must read for '24 that maybe we can sync up on.

[@EpicTalez]

😂 I had to get it off my chest. I am down to sync up on as many books as possible with you next year. Now that I am on your discord it should be easier to organize. Thanks for watching!

[@HeyYallListenUp]

Good to hear that Black Company made your list. I read the series in 2021 and enjoyed it.

[@EpicTalez]

It’s now one of my favourites of all time. Thanks for watching!

[@yuaimande2719]

I might try Black Wing but I have not finished Obsidian path. Eleventh Circle Too maybe. You also said something about meaningfulness and consciousness though. I might write it down. The Name Of The Wind The Black Company inspiring Malazan was what caught me. I've not yet finished Malazan too. Sigh... Another work well done, enjoyed this.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. Eleventh Cycle is fun but it starts very slow. I felt that Sigh 😂. One of my biggest fears is that I will not read all the books I want to before I die.

[@TrueStormlore]

Hahahahaha!! I loved the rant in the middle. And many of novels sound like something I might wanna give a shot

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I just had to get that rant off my chest. Hahah.

[@sportbilly2008]

The Black Company is one of my favourite books. I see the similarities between it and the Malazan book of the fallen. Great pick.

[@EpicTalez]

Erikson said it inspired Malazan and it’s not difficult to see. It’s one of my favourite books to read as well. Thanks for watching!

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

I wish I could produce my videos the way you do. Visually stunning!!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I wish I could upload as many videos as you do!

[@someokiedude9549]

Great video man! You have the ability to sniff out books that I hadn't even heard of before. I'll certainly add Blackwing to the list.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! I would recommend Blackwing for sure. It was a surprise to me as well.

[@sulenashrestha1499]

awesome video and thorough analysis, i’m sold!!!!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@DREWSBOOKREVIEWS]

OK all of these grim dark books now on my wishlist, as for name of the wind, I think you loved it more than me lol, i didnt hate it it was ok, but glad you enjoyed it, as usual a epic video

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! Let me know when you ready any of these so that we can talk about it.

[@DREWSBOOKREVIEWS]

@@EpicTalez its gonna be a while lol

[@JoaoSilvaWrites]

Amazing video, man! Loved this list and your editing! From your list, I've only yet to read The Black Company, and I agree with your assessment overall.

[@EpicTalez]

If you ever get to reading any of the other books, let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for watching!

[@DavidDecero]

aw man... the black company has been sitting on my shelf for so long, I NEED to dig into it this year, well, next year (2024). lol

[@EpicTalez]

I would love to know your thoughts after you read it. It's such a classic. Thanks for watching!

[@areena_shrestha]

Not a grimdark fan but this video convinced me !!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching!

[@BookishChas]

Great list man! So glad to see Name of the Wind on here. I’ve heard good things about Eleventh Cycle.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. I know it’s not Grimdark but if I didn’t mention it this whole year after the experience it gave me, it would have been criminal.

[@BookishChas]

@@EpicTalez indeed! I totally agree.

[@sportbilly2008]

Also love the Name of the Wind. Can’t understand how it catches the hate it gets from some people. The prose is fantastic, Kvothe might not like hearing this but some of the verses are almost like poetry. It’s a pity the whole series isn’t finished yet but here’s hoping it gets done, and done with the same quality as the original.

[@EpicTalez]

The entire book is poetry. To experience writing like that is absolutely crazy. Hopefully it gets finished. Thanks for watching!

[@MattonBooks]

Just found your channel, and auto-subbed. 🙂 Yes! Black Company! I’m due for a re-read - I’m old and read it ages ago - probably in 2024. Great list mate!

[@EpicTalez]

😂. Thanks for the sub!

[@victoriaimande18]

Which do you recommend I read first? I am curious about each one for different reasons! Please help!!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. I would say you should start with Name of the Wind.

[@acthulhuspawn]

You're the best! Thanks for giving me more books to check out!

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks man! After you read, let me know what you think.

[@catarinathebookworm]

Okay you sold me on the obsidian path!

[@EpicTalez]

Hahaha. The obsidian path is so good. Highly recommend. Let me know what you think about it after you read it.

[@SoulofPimpC]

What's up nephew?! Just your new favorite uncle checking in. Looking for new good reads.

[@EpicTalez]

I got you. I can vouch for the books on this list. Thanks for watching!

[@workshed556]

Thanks for this video, I agree 100%. Glad I found your channel.

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching! More recommendations coming!

[@Chance.Dillon]

Obsidian path keeps calling my name-at some point I’ll have to get after it. And nice, I’m getting to the black company soon-I’m doing the dread empire right now. I gotta rock Kian Ardelan as well-it’s waiting on my kindle for me

[@EpicTalez]

I am jealous you get to read these books for the first time. With the eleventh cycle, keep reading even if it frustrates you. It eventually get really good. Thanks for watching!

[@CD287-]

Black Wing!! The entire trilogy is solid. Black Company 😎

[@EpicTalez]

One of my favourites of all time!

[@nathancooper22]

Great video. Many book here on my TBR that I am going to have to bump up the list

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. I am already excited for all the books I’ll read next year. Let me know if you ever read any of these. I would love to hear your thoughts.

[@jack.6956]

Bro...the 11th cycle was BRUTAL but I liked it alot

[@EpicTalez]

I loved the Eleventh cycle so much. It didn’t start out well but after the explosion, I fell in love with the story. The way it ended too 🤯 I can’t wait for book 2. Do you have any similar recommendations? Thanks for watching

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Great video man! What are you using to make your picture transitions? They look SOOO good!

[@EpicTalez]

I make the transitions using clips from shutter images. It's not difficult. There are tutorials on KZbin. Thanks for watching! I love watching your videos.

[@audiobookemperor]

Great video! Just got a new sub. Can't wait to see what other videos you've got.

[@EpicTalez]

@@audiobookemperor thanks! I have lots more coming!

[@Loco2xs]

Checking out the Obsidian Path, thanks!

[@EpicTalez]

Nice! Let me know what you think after you are done reading it.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Fab video. Love the meaning out of meaninglessness discussion 😅

[@EpicTalez]

Thanks for watching. The little rant is something I had to get off my chest. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@juliangomez3662]

Obsidian Path trilogy is so badass! I hope you check out Manifest Delusions duology by Fletcher.

[@EpicTalez]

You should check out my book review on Manifest Delusions. Easily one of my favorites of all time. It's a trilogy now. Book 3 is out. Thanks for watching!

[@endter]

If you haven't read The Second Apocalypse series by R. Scott Bakker, then you really need to. After reading that series, I am pretty sure that those books are the only grimdark books. I have read many grimdark books before and after, but none of them even feel grimdark anymore.

[@EpicTalez]

I keep hearing a lot of praise for AE. From Reading the first 3 books, I trust that Bakker delivered. I’ll be reading it this year. thanks for watching!!

[@1230naze]

Thanks didn’t know about these

[@EpicTalez]

@@1230naze Thanks for watching. There’s a lot more content coming.

[@Hexphile]

I heard the magic word, Malazan. Have you tried any of the companion series?

[@EpicTalez]

The companion series? Is that Drizzt? I’ve read everything Drizzt. It’s one of the books that got me into dark fantasy! Thanks for watching!

[@JosephSalvo-gi7bp]

Another great grimdark series is Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence

[@EpicTalez]

@@JosephSalvo-gi7bp That’s the prince of thorns right? I’ve read it. I really liked Jorg. It was like my first ever review 3 years ago. Thanks for watching!

[@bardsandbooks]

Definitely agree with you on Eleventh Cycle. Nothing felt gratuitous and everything serves a clear purpose. I think readers should know if they have trigger warnings or stuff they can do without then it’s up to them to not go into stuff blind and do their research! I saw a KZbin review for this book and in the thumbnail the girl wrote “this is why I don’t trust men” Just wrong on so many levels

[@EpicTalez]

I don’t even know where to start with a review like that. It doesn’t make sense to complain about a book for what it was written to be. Eleventh cycle is a book that I really enjoyed. The character development is what I enjoyed the most about it. Thanks for watching!

[@arthur9531]

Give Prince of Thorns a try

[@EpicTalez]

I've read it. It was one of the gateway Grimdark books that I've read. I want to read more Mark Lawrence TBH. Thanks for watching!

[@patricklapinski1526]

Whats your opinion on the bloodsworn books? Not grimdark but definitely still dark fantasy

[@EpicTalez]

I haven’t gotten to those yet. To be honest, I am a bit tentative because I didn’t like the faithful and the fallen that much but a lot of people tell me I will love it.

[@patricklapinski1526]

@EpicTalez faithful and the fallen definitely isnt top tier, but i think the bloodswoen series really stands out

[@EpicTalez]

@@patricklapinski1526 I'll check it out. I want to read it everytime I see the cover. So dope.

[@patricklapinski1526]

@EpicTalez lmaooo thats got me to pick it up too, the art is fantastic