Aristotle said, “Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.” One of the reasons dark fantasy gets compared to horror is because of the unrelenting darkness and brutality of its worlds. Where it’s not just a matter of IF something terrible will happen but WHEN. But the most terrifying element of dark fantasy isContinue reading “Fear is the Anticipation of Evil”
Category Archives: genre
5 Dark High Fantasy Novels by a Master
It’s no mystery that I enjoy the intricate worlds of high fantasy, and more specifically, dark fantasy where complex magic systems thrive and evil is prevalent within every character- yes, even the hero. When considering complex characters in dark fantasy, one particular author comes to mind: Mark Lawrence. His masterful fantasy novels bring both entertainmentContinue reading “5 Dark High Fantasy Novels by a Master”
What is Dark Fantasy?
Make sure to SAVE this for later on Pinterest! What is Dark Fantasy as a genre? Dark fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy fiction and is becoming increasingly popular within the reader and bookish communities. It is characterized by borderline horror aspects that are dark, gritty, and create a gloomy world and aesthetic. However, itContinue reading “What is Dark Fantasy?”
J.R.R. Tolkien—One of the Most Iconic Creators of All Time
Make sure to save this for later on Pinterest! John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J.R.R. was born on January 3, 1982, in South Africa to English parents. As a boy, he attended King Edward’s School located in Birmingham where he transcended modern and classical languages. In 1911, he studied Old English, Germanic, Classics,Continue reading “J.R.R. Tolkien—One of the Most Iconic Creators of All Time”
Needful Misfortune
The tragedy. The cautionary tale. The prescriptive tale. They’re all synonyms to me. They describe the importance of bad things happening in fiction. Sometimes to good people. Sometimes to bad people. Sometimes karmically due. Sometimes unfortunately raw and undeserved. So it is with everything that happens in Jemisin’s The Fifth Season. I loved this bookContinue reading “Needful Misfortune”
Light + Shadow = Hero
Heroic agency in literature and in life is often discussed as a dual nature: light and shadow. The tension is typically drawn between a creative force and a destructive force. In this construction, a hero is a two-sided coin with a light side and a dark side. There’s even a pop culture meme about aContinue reading “Light + Shadow = Hero”
Revenge Is Not A Side Dish
I don’t know why Revenge plots are my jam. But Revenge plots are my absolute fav, hands down. I don’t even care what the setting is most of the time. Whether it’s a case of generalized vigilantism a la The Punisher or a woman-in-jeopardy thriller when she flips the metaphorical table and goes hunting forContinue reading “Revenge Is Not A Side Dish”
Monster with a Problem
Even monsters have issues from time to time.