Dave Reed's Blog, page 5

Unpopular Opinion: The new Dune didn’t suck.

The new Dune didn’t suck like the previous attempts, but it left a lot on the cutting room floor and changed some things that weakened the plot. It was good, but too much was cut and changed for me to think it great. Even though they only got through the first third of the story in part one… But there were some bright spots and good improvements, too.

Still, I get why they moved and changed the things they did for a movie: Sardaukar showing up way too early, Chani’s alternate exchange with Paul before the fight, etc. Kind of. It felt like they weren’t sure they would get to make parts two and three. (I think they’re going to need three.)

That said, they should not have cut Jessica’s question of Gaius Helen Mohiam about Leto from that scene after the test.

Overall, for a screen adaptation, they did fine. But they could’ve done better with Shadout Mapes, Liet Kynes, Paul’s visions didn’t land, building up the legend of Rabban, and the Guild Navigators, just for a couple examples. They just didn’t take the time.

The assault on the Atreides compound didn’t work for me, either—it felt like somebody got that battle confused with the Fremen assault on the Imperial delegation at the end of the book.

The whole duel with Jamis was wrong—and they entirely skipped giving his water to the tribe. I’mma bet that doesn’t show up in part two, either. You’re not Disney. Your audience can handle it, HBO.

I don’t know if they cut or changed in the writing or in post, but they cut and changed for the worst reason: time. The whole story would have been better served as a long form series with 20+ hours in which to breathe. Maybe Hollywood economics caused the problem, but Amazon, Netflix, and Apple have demonstrated a better willingness to take the time to do a story justice. I think HBO is gunshy now about series after they fucked up GoT.

That said, all of the casting was brilliant. They did a better job with Yueh, in my opinion, than the book. The Bene Gesserit weirding way was nicely understated, even though the voice didn’t really work for me as presented. And they made an obvious effort to keep the spirit of Dune, for which I am deeply grateful.

I’m looking forward to part two not sucking also.

“I Bought It Because of the Cover”

You’ve all been there. That trip to the bookstore where you wander the stacks, no definite book in mind, but you know you’re in the mood for something…different. Something that doesn’t pull its punches. Something that will live up to everything it promises. Where the gore is gory and the sex is sexy and the ominous story really does sweep you into such a shadowy world you get the creeps reading it.

That’s what I’m looking for when I’m craving my next read, especially this time of year.

And let’s be honest, we all make up our minds by looking at the cover. The best dark fantasy covers catch your eye and light that curiosity in your belly, make you FEEL something visceral. You can smell the danger wafting out of the pages, and you go home excited to dive into your next adventure, certain it’s not going to be relaxing, but man, it’ll be so good.

Not gonna lie—I bought these fantasy books just because of their sexy covers.

The Last Wish by Adrzej Sapkowski (The Witcher Saga, Book One)

The Witcher covers always make you wonder what fearsome beast or battle Geralt will have to face next. He’s hated as much as he’s revered: Geralt, the supernatural monster-hunter, the antihero who takes on the fights no one else has the guts for. The monsters truly are monstrous in these stories—and they’ve got nothing on the people.

Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep (A Crown of Shards Novel, Book One)

Nothing gets my attention quite like that badass figure with blood dripping down the crown in her hand. I don’t know what her beef is, but I am here for some revenge killings. You had me at “Gladiator meets Game of Thrones.”

Tentacles and Teeth by Ariele Sieling (Land of Szornyek, Book One)

This one is just so fabulously…weird. Why does this woman have to fight her way through tentacled creatures in her city? Oh. Because the apocalypse wasn’t natural disasters or nuclear bombs, it was monsters. Naturally.

Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan (Chronicles of the Warlands, Book One)

Those blue eyes. The hint of romance against the backdrop of epic, fantastical war. You just know that somehow this woman will have to fight with everything she’s got to turn the tables. Use all her skills and cunning to go from hostage to warrior. And I’m always here for a strong female lead clawing her way up!

Free the Darkness by Kel Kade (King’s Dark Tidings, Book One)

I love the spooky, mysterious feel to this one—you can already feel the mysteries and conspiracies he’s wrapped in, the death that nips at his heels. Young warrior raised in a secret fortress bequeathed mysterious weapons? Check. Intent on unmasking the truth and enacting revenge? Check. Has no idea what he’s doing? Check.

I like to think the cover of my new release Raven Queen, Arise grabs you and gives you that thrill. That promise of a tale so dark and gripping you can’t catch your breath. Because if the cover promises sex and gore, a stong female lead and a terrifyingly grim world, let me tell you—it’s no lie.

Raven Queen, Arise by Dave Reed

Justice is dead. Long live Vengeance.

Under the banner of truce during the holy Spring Festa, four Chosen priests of the war god brutalized me, cut my throat, and dumped my naked corpse in a mass grave.

They plan to do the same to my entire clan.

The priests of the Hierarchy believed that was the end of me.

But Death loves me. And he’s giving me a second shot.

There’s a price I’ll need to pay, of course. Later. I have a plan for that, too.

First, I have unfinished business with my murderers. I need to save my family and protect my clan. And I burn for revenge. I’ll kill the four that took my life and threatened those I love.

They won’t die easy.

If you’re craving that next spooky read, check out Raven Queen, available at Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Barnes & Noble Nook just in time for Halloween. I promise: it’s as good as the cover.

Fear is the Anticipation of Evil

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 is that you don’t just fear what the villain will do next—

you fear what the “hero” might do.

Because there are no real heroes in dark fantasy.

Not the self-righteous, prance-in-on-a-pony kind of hero anyway. Who likes those judgmental savior-types anyway? Most people don’t get to live in a world where everything is painted in easy shades of white and black, and you get to always keep your hands clean as freshly fallen dew in a sunlit meadow.

Heroes in dark fantasy are anti-heroes. They may want to do good but are prevented at every turn by the harsh realities of their world (sound familiar?). They may not care about “the greater good” at all—that’s not going to help them survive. They may start morally gray and then get blacker as the book goes on. And evil might prevail in the end.

And there is what’s so truly scary and gripping about dark fantasy. Just like living in the real world, there are no guarantees. No one has informed the protagonist that everything will be okay in the end—and it probably won’t be. There is no guarantee good will triumph over evil, as is promised by vanilla fantasy tales. There’s no guarantee that “good behavior” will gain the protagonist anything at all, because this is not some morality tale with a prescribed ending. There may be some aspects of happiness gained at the end—or the protagonist could die a horrible death.

It’s all up in the air, and anything could happen.

That’s not to say that dark fantasy stories are aimless or random. On the contrary, the best stories pit flawed, broken characters against a messed-up world and make you root for them, no matter what they have to do to survive along the way. You want them to be able to avoid doing terrible things, but you also want them to overcome what they’re up against—and sometimes those two things just don’t go hand. What’s worse, they might just get sucked into doing bad things for the fun of it. And that’s not random, that’s realistic. What dark fantasy is willing to look at and admit that most other genres whitewash: everyone gets corrupted by evil.

That means there’s no predicting what the “hero” might do next. What’s more suspenseful and terrifying than that?

If you like to read heroes who occasionally perpetrate some evil (okay, or maybe a lot), here are some dark fantasy recommendations to keep you on your toes.

1. Chronicles of the Black Company, Glen Cook

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead. Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her… So begins one of the greatest fantasy epics of our age—Glen Cook’s Chronicles of the Black Company.

2. The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie (The First Law)

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

Nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he’s about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.

3. The Darkness That Comes Before, R. Scott Bakker (The Prince of Nothing)

The first book in R. Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series creates a world from whole cloth-its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals. It’s a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus – part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence – from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.

4. Elric of Melnibone, Michael Moorcock (The Elric Saga)

Elric of Melnibone, an albino prince, travels in the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea to the city of Dhoz-Kam, through the Shade Gate to the Pulsing Cavern where the magic swords Stormbringer and Mournblade await him. The youthful Elric is a cynical and melancholy king, heir to a nation whose 100,000-year rule of the world ended less than 500 years hence. More interested in brooding contemplation than holding the throne, Elric is a reluctant ruler, but he also realizes that no other worthy successor exists and the survival of his once-powerful, decadent nation depends on him alone. Elric’s nefarious, brutish cousin Yrkoon has no patience for his physically weak kinsman, and he plots constantly to seize Elric’s throne, usually over his dead body. Elric of Melniboné follows Yrkoon’s scheming, reaching its climax in a battle between Elric and Yrkoon with the demonic runeblades Stormbringer and Mournblade. In this battle, Elric gains control of the soul-stealing Stormbringer, an event that proves pivotal to the Elric saga.

5. The Last Wish, Andrzej Sapkowski (The Witcher)

For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf.

Geralt the Witcher—revered and hated—is a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good… and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

6. Black Sun Rising, C.S. Friedman (The Coldfire Trilogy)

Over a millennium ago, Erna, a seismically active yet beautiful world was settled by colonists from far-distant Earth. But the seemingly habitable planet was fraught with perils no one could have foretold. The colonists found themselves caught in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a terrifying natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, drawing forth a person’s worst nightmare images or most treasured dreams and indiscriminately giving them life.

Twelve centuries after fate first stranded the colonists on Erna, mankind has achieved an uneasy stalemate, and human sorcerers manipulate the fae for their own profit, little realizing that demonic forces which feed upon such efforts are rapidly gaining in strength.

Now, as the hordes of the dark fae multiply, four people—Priest, Adept, Apprentice, and Sorcerer—are about to be drawn inexorably together for a mission which will force them to confront an evil beyond their imagining, in a conflict which will put not only their own lives but the very fate of humankind in jeopardy. Loyalties and ethics are tested (and fail) in this twisted version of the classic hero’s journey.

7.  The Poppy War, R.F. Kuang (The Poppy War)

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school. Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late. 

8. The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan (A Land Fit For Heroes)

A dark lord will rise. Such is the prophecy that dogs Ringil Eskiath—Gil, for short—a washed-up mercenary and onetime war hero whose cynicism is surpassed only by the speed of his sword. Gil is estranged from his aristocratic family due to his sexual orientation, but when his mother enlists his help in freeing a cousin sold into slavery, Gil sets out to track her down. But it soon becomes apparent that more is at stake than the fate of one young woman. Grim sorceries are awakening in the land. Some speak in whispers of the return of the Aldrain, a race of widely feared, cruel yet beautiful demons. Now Gil and two old comrades are all that stand in the way of a prophecy whose fulfillment will drown an entire world in blood. But with heroes like these, the cure is likely to be worse than the disease.

9.  Lord Foul’s Bane, Stephen R. Donaldson (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever)

He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself.

Yet the Land tempted him. He had been sick; now he seemed better than ever before. Through no fault of his own, he had been outcast, unclean, a pariah. Now he was regarded as a reincarnation of the Land’s greatest hero–Berek Halfhand–armed with the mystic power of White Gold. That power alone could protect the Lords of the Land from the ancient evil of Despiser, Lord Foul. Only…Covenant had no idea of how the power could be used!

The rest of the book and series see Thomas grappling with his own morality and what he perceives to be true about the Land — for if it’s all in his imagination, how can anything he does be wrong? This dark and mind-bending work has been hailed for its bold subversion of the fantasy genre, even among its modern successors.

10. Prince of Thorns, Mark Lawrence (Broken Empire)

Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother’s tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse. They say these are violent times, the end of days when the dead roam and monsters haunt the night. All that’s true enough, but there’s something worse out there, in the dark. Much worse.

From being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father’s castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.

Mark Lawrence’s debut novel tells a tale of blood and treachery, magic and brotherhood and paints a compelling and brutal, and sometimes beautiful, picture of an exceptional boy on his journey toward manhood and the throne.

And if you want a fresh voice on the dark fantasy scene, check out my new release, Raven Queen Arise. My anti-heroine Illyria wants only one thing: glorious vengeance. Even if she has to team up with Death himself to get it.

Here’s a taste of what’s inside:

“One of the souls Illyria steals during the story is one of the people dearest to her. She takes it by mistake, not yet understanding her own power. This is a soul she swears she will never consume no matter the cost, no matter what’s at stake. She carries this soul with her until the bitter end. But when everything is truly on the line, will she keep her promise and loyalty?”

Available on Amazon now!

Literary Fantasy Weapons that You Don’t Want to Mess With

Most dark fantasy epics or high fantasy have an assortment of magic systems, languages, and even fighting arts. But what about weapons? What could be better than having a sword that could blast through walls, set fire to enemies, and be destined to only you? Nothing really.

Yet some weapons in dark fiction can be just as hazardous to their masters as fighting dragons or evil sorcerers. Power, in most cases, comes with a steep price.

In fantasy, there are weapons that not only give their owners immense power but also promise an even greater dominance, whether it be to slay others continually or control them to the point of full possession. 

Hearing this SHOULD make anyone wary about swinging around a sword. 

Here are some weapons in fantasy that might be even more formidable than their masters!

Stormbringer – from Michael Moorcock’s fantasy novels

This black runesword was created by the forces of Chaos with black, flesh-like metal. It belongs to the albino emperor Elric of Melniboné. Whenever this sword is drawn, it causes evil deeds staying true to Norse Mythology origins over cursed swords.

The sword might not only be foreboding but the unsettling fact is that the sword seems to scream in battle and is in fact proven to be alive and self-aware. And those that meet their end with it have the unfortunate fate of having their souls leached out of them.

2. Daubendiek, the Great Sword – from The Swordbearer by Glen Cook

After the death of his family, Gathrid takes refuge in a cavern to hide from the hunting Dead Captains. There he discovers an ancient sword called Daubendiek. This weapon is from legend and is said to have been wielded by a tragic hero Turek Aarant.

This blade also has a bloodthirst, promising Gathrid vengeance for his loss. As he begins to enact revenge on his enemies he begins to see the terrible price the sword asks of him.

The sword could be considered vampiric with its tendency of devouring the souls of those it slays, much like the previous weapon, but this sword also allows knowledge of the victim to be transferred into the sword-bearer.

The worst part is that the sword tends to take over the sword-bearer now and then, slashing at anything near enough that it can slice. Turns out being a legendary swordsman isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

3. Dragnipur – from Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

Said to be the Gate of Darkness, also known as the bastard sword with a blade so dark no light could escape, Dragnipur was forged from every metal in the universe after Mother Dark’s abandonment of her own people the Tiste Andii, forcing the Elder God Draconus to preserve Darkness for her people.

This blade not only contains Darkness but must remain in constant motion to elude the hands of Chaos that seeks to destroy it. This constantly moving cart is fed by souls, added to its motion after they are expended.

Dragnipur is much like the previous two, though it doesn’t need a master in order to use its power.

4. Snaga – from Legend in the Drenai series by David Gemmell

Snaga is a battle axe, though labeling it only as such is a severe misnomer. This weapon can and will corrupt those who wield it, transforming them into bloodthirsty killers, even if they initially picked up the axe without the intention of attacking with it. 

The huge issue with Snaga is that inside it houses a demon. Though the wielder may not want to kill endlessly, the demon inside might have other plans. For example, there is a moment when Snaga tries to kill a priest that had offended it, nearly slipping from Druss’s grasp to get at him.

5. Callandor – The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Callandor is a crystal sword that looks like it’s made of glass. Rand al’Thor wields this weapon, allowing it to augment his own power, tapping into all his potential that goes beyond mortal men. This blade is so powerful and foreboding that an entire fortress was built in order to protect it.

Every time he wields it, Rand risks being corrupted. Unlike many weapons like it, this weapon has no buffer and allows the wielder unlimited power, even more than they can handle from the One Power.

Many of these weapons may have a personality or awareness of their own but oftentimes they require action from their bearers. Being cognizant, these weapons become the fighter’s personal obstacle to overcome in order to reach their full potential.

In these tales, demons and other dark forces control not only the land but also the means of defeating them. It is this darkness that I find huge interest and revel in. In order to defeat the monsters, we have to at first understand or use them in one way or another.

Speaking of darkness and gory weapons, Raven Queen, Arise is my new grimdark, high fantasy book with TONS of vengeance, necromancy and more dark magic than you can imagine. Order it here.

Starting an Occult Library

Occult knowledge has been around since the beginning of time, but unknown to the masses and sometimes the topics are avoided altogether. For someone who is interested in beginning to learn about the occult, it may be difficult to decide where to start. Whether you’d like to learn about the phases of the moon and how its gravitational pull affects us as humans, or numerology and the origin of language, there are more than a few books that will hold the answers of which you seek. I’ve compiled some occult book must-haves that range from beginner occultist to the experienced occult researcher.

But don’t blame me for what happens to your mind if you choose to read them.

Astrology’s Origin & Why We Worship Outside Sources

Symbols, Sex, and the Stars by Ernest Busenbark
This book may very well hold the answers to some of humanity’s oldest questions. Busenbark explores the origins of sun and moon worship, and how we as humans began to personify outside forces such as planets, bodies of water, weather, and more. Numerology, astrology, language origins, and the hidden meaning to some commonly used symbols in today’s world are some of the occult topics covered in this masterpiece.

Symbolism in Today’s Age

The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images by TASCHEN
Jam-packed with essays describing the hidden meanings and world wide use of symbols in our world. The Book of Symbols references the psychological, religious, cultural, historical, and artistic aspects of each symbol, giving you the full picture of how much depth and power even the most common symbols truly hold.

The Ultimate Occult Resource

A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult by DK
“Occult dictionary” are two words that come to mind whenever I think about this book. Containing over 300 pages, DK dives deep into the shadows of the unknown history on some of the most taboo topics such as alchemy, rune stones, animal worship, magick, and much, much more! For those that get overwhelmed with books that are too wordy—this book contains many beautifully descriptive pictures and illustrations.

For Those Interested in Darkness

The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish
Some authors shy from topics such as demons and dark magic, but not Cavendish. This book illuminates some of the darker topics and teachings of the occult, helping us understand the knowledge and importance they each hold in the realm of occultism and magic. For those interested in tarot, runes, and the kabbalah—you’ll likely be satisfied with this dark yet enlightening literature.

Harnessing the Power Within You

Llewllyn’s Complete Book of Divination by Richard Webster
Within the last couple of years there’s been an explosion of interest in Divination such as tarot, pendulums, runes, palm reading—and basically any way we as humans can use tools to connect with a source of power and knowledge. This book touches on the many different tools and practices that will help you decide which method may be best for you to try out for yourself. Divination holds the keys to benefiting you in countless ways, and this book will be a first step in walking in your own empowerment.

If you enjoy fantasy fiction with necromancy and occult vibes, make sure to checkout Raven Queen, Arise! Releasing October 1st, 2021

Cults in Dark Fantasy vs. Reality

Cults have been a topic of interest and a popular theme within movies, literature, and television. Throughout history cults have risen and fallen, most recently, notable cults being the Manson family, Children of God, Peoples Temple, Heaven’s Gate, and Order of the Solar Temple. The psychological structure of cults have inspired ideas in many dark fantasy novels. Cults are humane and a very real aspect of our society.

The reason cults have gotten such a bad reputation is because of the blind faith and narcissism that almost certainly have to exist in order for the cult to function. It is common for a cult to have one leader, usually a man, that is charismatic and a lot of the time good looking. These leaders attract their following through the use of extreme ways of thinking and belief systems. These belief systems mix truth with lies, and attract others with empty promises of empowerment, transcendence, and whatever else the leaders claim they will help them achieve. In this article I’ve outlined a few books that contain cult themes and how those themes relate to the real life cults we’ve seen in our own society.

The Girls by Emma Cline
Evie Boyd finds herself drawn to a group of women that seem to be centered around a man named Russell. Like most real-life cult leaders, Russell is charismatic and magnetizing. Themes of group sex acts and out of the ordinary closeness exhibit how an actual cult might behave. Often times the cult leader will use the devotion the members have as a means to manipulate them into sexual acts and unhealthy intimate relationships. In “The Girls” a turning point happens when the group commits murders, much like how Charles Manson and his followers killed five people in 1969. This book mimics The Manson Family by showcasing the trials Russell and his following go through bringing them their infamous reputation thereafter.

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed
This darkly post-apocalyptic novel showcases a society ran by misogyny. Many cults are built on misogyny and the imbalance between men and women. Women are treated as bottom of the food chain and being born a man holds a great deal of importance in Melamed’s community. Actress Rose McGowan claims she belonged to the cult Children of God, and she witnessed the women members devote their lives to serving the men sexually, while the men had multiple wives. The main character of “Gather the Daughters”, Janey, lives a similar life until she decides to seek truth outside of the cults, much like many children born into cults do later in life. In this novel, themes of heinous sexual acts and abuse are in alignment with many real life cults. In the Church of the Most High Priestess, Mary Ellen Tracy, the cult leader, declares her magical gift of purifying anyone that sleeps with her. Because of her wildly inciting claims of spiritual cleansing, she totaled more than 1000 followers who all had sexual relationships with her during the cult’s run.

Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett
This psychological thriller follows Sadie as she’s introduced to “The Kingdom”, a cult on campus. This cult offers here acceptance, a boyfriend, and a chance to leave her area. This novel touches on the manipulation, control, and loss of power followers of cults experience. Sadie was later stripped of her money and communication to her friends and family. In many cults, the leader has an immense influence over what their followers think, feel, and how they act. An example of this is the Jim Jones Massacre. Congressman Leo Ryan began to investigate if some of Jones’ followers were being held against their will. To avoid legal percussion, Jim Jones influenced 918 of his followers to commit suicide in his final ritual, where he then committed suicide via a gunshot wound to the head.

Dark fantasy literature expresses some of the “shadow” aspects of the human psychology and behaviors, and more often than not—inspiration can be pulled from real life examples. With cults having so much influence over today’s entertainment and literature, we can begin to better understand the psychological aspect of how and why they exist in the first place.

Which brings us to the cure—Information & Education—which is the premise of Lisa Cron’s latest nonfiction blockbuster Story Or Die which deconstructs how stories get weaponized…and most importantly how to defend yourself and your loved ones.

Want to experience cultish, brutish, damned deeds Illyria has to deal with in Raven Queen, Arise? Experience all the perks and gorgeous physical book copy options at the Kickstarter – Join the Raven Queen’s Army today!!

Working with a Writing Coach

This content originally appeared on the Authors.ai First Draft Friday channel. You can watch the original interview with Alessandra on YouTube as well.

After getting a writing coach I learned that a lot of writing comes from positive psychology. I don’t have just one writing coach, I have several because I understand that not everyone can match your brain or how your mind works. From each, I am learning different things about myself as a writer.

Everyone remembers the well-known author Nora Roberts saying, “You can’t edit a blank page” Well, I beg to differ. I edit all my novel pages before I even type a word onto a page. Sorry, Nora.

I also love Rachel Aaron but her 2k–10k is demotivating for me. I don’t need to know how much I can write per minute and hour. I need to want to write.

Learn how you work.  

For me, thinking is writing.

But I realize that not everyone thinks or works like I do. So, here is my 7 Tips on working with a writing coach for every writer.

1)  Pick a coach that works for you

Talk to them first in a 15- 30-minute call through zoom, in-person, or Skype. Make sure they are genuine and that you are not simply “renting a friend.”

What I mean by that is to try NOT to find someone who will not push you, and only be there to talk for however long you are paying them, and then be done each week. You deserve better.

Be careful with who you spend your money on and make sure you can work together. Everyone needs something different—any guru who tells you differently is selling something.

My coaches are not book coaches; they are people coaches. Instead of focusing on the craft of writing, writing coaches focus on how you go about writing.

After two years of strengths-based coaching, I get far more written every day/month/year than I ever did before using everyone else’s “magical productivity system.”

2)  Learn how your brain is wired

In CliftonStrengthsfinder terms, I have a #1 Strategic personality. The CliftonStrengths assessment is the core of what my coaches use, but they also use other psychometrics: MBTI aka Meyers-Briggs, DISC, Big Five, Enneagram, etc. The more you (and your coaches) know about you and how your brain is wired really helps in the writing process and creativity.

3)  Write at your own pace

For me, thinking is writing. Napping is writing. Taking a walk with my wife is writing. Lately, I’ve been playing Angry Birds (now that’s free in Apple Arcade) and…you guessed it—that’s writing.

How is it writing? For me, as a high Strategic and high Intellection personality, I think time. My brain tells me that I need to go think some more by making me STUCK. When that happens, I need to go DO SOMETHING (because I’m also a high Activator personality). It’s always something mindless to let my brain wander around in the dark and figure it out intuitively.

What this means is that I’m likely to never be in the book-a-month club. TL;DR version: If I have to write book-a-month fast to be successful, I’ll quit writing. It’s not fun. It’s not the quality I aspire to. The legendary Roni Loren gave a grand talk at RWA19 about “artisanal writing.” That’s what I’m happiest doing—sex and swords and sorcery and all.

I know I can write book-a-month fast, because I’ve done it. I had “book coach” take me through her fast draft methodology to finish an entire book in two weeks: 100,000 words, story and plot complete. I fucking hated every minute of it, and I still hate that book. After I found Story Grid to teach me how to build a story that works, I know what’s wrong with that book—but I’m not going to fix it any time soon.

4)  Take advice carefully

Not everyone works the same way. So how to write books might be valuable, but their entire methods on writing might not make you excited about your writing. For example, many “gurus” suggest being always present on social media, but it just isn’t doable for all of us, because I have a day job just like many others. There is nothing wrong with you, it’s just not how you operate in a creative way.

I’m not allowed on social media most days anyway. I’m a “high P” personality in MBTI terms, which means I’m very data responsive. If I “just check Facebook real quick” then the search party will find me at the bottom of Pinterest or Wikipedia weeks later. Real quick is a lie.

If a guru can’t tell you which personality characteristics make their method successful, then their advice is for shit. Let me say it for the cheap seats: WE ARE ALL NEUROLOGICALLY UNIQUE. THERE ARE NO MAGIC FORMULAS. THERE IS NO ELEVATOR TO THE TOP.

5)  Debunk the myths

The way I came upon the decision to get a writing coach was all because I wanted to take a nap.

At a writing conference I sat in a panel that I wasn’t really invested in and figured I would doze off and rest. But I didn’t get a wink of sleep and found myself stunned on how this author-coach woman spoke about busting through myths known to writers far and wide.

For example, Stephen King says “writers write” if you don’t write 2,000 words every day, you aren’t a real writer. Another myth is that the genre you choose is the one you must remain in until you grow a large enough audience to move on, but both just aren’t always true.

Coaches are there to help you find what really does work for you beyond the professional writers that only know what works for them.  Becca Syme and her team of coaches at the Better-Faster Academy boosted not only my writing career into the right gear, but improved my life and my marriage. For reals. 10/10 recommend. I’m not only a customer, but I drank the Kool-Aid and helped to moderate some of the small group sessions at BFACon21.

6)  Choose your own adventure

For example, you could take a year off to write or move away into a cabin in the woods and focus on nothing but that book like a buddy of mine has done. For myself, I chose to set a goal in January 2020 to keep my day job while also writing.

The way my mind works, I need other projects to focus on and other needs to be met while writing. I’m a high Significance personality and the software job as a professional nerd wrangler for three teams of Amazonians feeds many of my top strengths (as well as providing an income to do the kind of marketing I want to do and the lifestyle my lovely and gracious pirate-queen expects).

For me, in Elizabeth Gilbert terms, writing is a vocation. I’ve done it for free for over a decade now and I’ll keep doing it even if nobody buys my books (hence the need for a day job). Plus, I’m a realist. Since the invention of the printing press, 0.1% of writers have ever been able to live solely on their writing income. Maybe someday I will if my books take off like I want them to, but quitting your day job before you’ve reached the level of success you need to live is unwise.

7) Give back to the community

You need a team while writing to make sure you convey the correct emotion and to see how others write and what the others have done in their own work. We want to be the “chosen writer”, but we need to be realistic and hear from other people in their own takeaways on their writing journeys.

I’ve learned as much about writing by helping other people with their own books as I ever did in a class from a guru or a writing craft book. You will earn more karma giving back AND learn more that will inform your writing by helping others.

I believe I will continue to progress with more coaching for the rest of my career. You can’t expect the same success every time you write a book; every book is a beast of its own nature when I write.

I would also recommend finding different coaches for different things. I meet with at least four different coaches every month, and each one gives me something different and improves my writing practice every time.

If you are curious to learn more about the sorcery of storytelling and the magical craft of writing, you can engage me as a Story Grid Certified Editor. I call myself the Book Shaman. If you are interested in dark-fantasy, sorcery, sex, and sword fights then my antiheroine protagonist might pique your interest. Check out my novel Raven Queen, Arise. You can pre-order your copy on amazon today!

Dark Tidings, writing peeps!

10 Top Dark Fantasy Novels of the Last Decade (Part Two)

In Part One of my dark fantasy faves list, I covered a few of my favorite recent reads in the dark fantasy genre. I enjoy the writing in this genre because the rules are a lot more loose, and delving into topics that speak on a deeper level of society is so refreshing!

In this second part, I list some popular fantasy works that share the same sort of dark storylines. This list continues on the same train of thought. These fantasy novels showcase worlds as complex as the first part and may also spark your interest.

So, let’s continue to speak of demons, magic, societal agendas, and the storylines between the pages of these novels. Novels with deep and darker material.

#affiliatelink

1.   Reins of Power (The Shandian Chronicles Book 1) 

by John Forrester

Akkar, is a scholar of Historian Guild and discovers his mentor has vanished. He is now tasked to lead the guild’s secretive group, hunting relics of power in the ruins under the palace away from sight. He also is to lead a workshop in the production of wands for the Wizards Guild.

But growing suspicions of his mentor’s past, Akkar struggles to defend himself from accusations. While trying to clear his name, the evidence he finds reveals the empire’s line of corruption which forces him to choose between becoming a guild master or righting a wrong that had begun three hundred years before.

With no one else to turn to, he finds his old flame Jesnia who has also been named a traitor. She helps him discover the truth and stay out of the clutches of the authorities. The nobility, guilds, church, and foreign enemies want to gain control over the empire while Akkar finds out about the immortal debt of the dragons which could likely turn things around for him. Akkar is the only one who can seize power with his forbidden magic to right the wrongs of his world.

2.   Chosen (The Warrior Chronicles Book 1) 

by K.F. Breene

Sometimes being the chosen one can also become an immense burden, even if you don’t want it. Chosen by destiny to lead Shadow Warriors out of the Land of Mist and reclaim the freedom which has been stolen… or so it was said.

Sahnti grew during a time of constant threat of war. Since helping her people defeat a raiding party by using her power, she’s been a hunted woman. Her rare abilities and aptitude of fighting Shanti makes her the only hope of salvation for her people. She does not believe in her divinity, and nearly fails at the heavy duties hanging on her shoulders.

Shanti finds herself in the company of misfits as war spreads into the lands she finds herself in. She has no other option but to reveal her powers and send her saviors into danger. Trading in the girl would mean that they would give Xandre, the dark warlord desperate to add to his might, immense power. Can they give up their entire way of life?

3. The Mortal Blade (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 1)

By Christopher Mitchell

Being the outcast—a main theme of dark fantasy that strikes a chord with most of us. Corthie Holdfast comes into a city called the City of the Eternal Siege as a new Champion after being taken from his home. Now he must fight alongside the Blades, a group who dedicate their lives to the defense of the city against the hordes of monstrous Greenhides… or die at the hands of the Gods.

Maddie Jackdaw, a young Blade, has one last chance after being rejected from every defense unit presiding over the city. Left with two options, Maddie must either take on yet another new role or be sent to the Rats, a company of misfits given perilous tasks beyond the Great Walls. Taking the new role would mean that she would have to face her greatest fear in person beneath the walls in a secret hidden lair where a dragon waits.

Four stories combine into one, as the epic tale unfolds for readers seek to understand the internal and external battles of each character and how it all interacts. In a world full of darkness and mistrust towards them, will they ever be able to find their way?

4. The White Tower (The Aldoran Chronicles: Book 1): An Epic Fantasy Adventure 

by Michael Wisehart

Discovering more about yourself to grow as a person is typically a part of life, but what happens when your family’s secret turns out to be something incredible and seriously illegal? Magic is forbidden throughout the Five Kingdoms for thousands of years; the law says those caught casting spells are all sent to the White Tower and never heard from again.

When bounty hunters arrive in Easthaven, Ty’s family reveals the shocking truth about his magical bloodline. And when an Ahvari hires a tribe of Northmen to capture him, Ty finds himself in the middle of a war he didn’t know existed.

Inside the White Tower, Ferrin finds himself obsessed with the scheme of gaining freedom, attempting to escape the tower which is a feat no one has ever really tried before. His only hope is Rae, a healer who keeps prisoners alive during brutal interrogations; but will she risk her own life for freedom?

Ayrion, an ambitious soldier, outranked his fellows and became captain of the guard. But his strength and valor alone aren’t enough to stop the murderous creatures coming for his king. Suddenly the city’s outcasts vanish, making him realize the threat to the city is closer than he realized.

All these stories meet as these characters must find their triumphs. But past all their struggles, they can’t ignore the fact that war is coming.

Can humanity fight back, or will it exterminate them all?

5.   The Black Company (The Chronicles of the Black Company #1) 

by Glen Cook

Moving from the doom and gloom of the last book, we gain a character that has all great expectations placed on her (no pressure).

The Lady stands between humankind and evil, or some would believe that. Others feel she is evil itself. The men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, taking the coin for their work no matter the employer.

But with the new prophecy says the White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her.

So how does Raven Queen compare?

I have loved this genre for years. I took in the stories of fellow dark fantasy writers. I learned what makes an anti-heroic and understandable female lead character. Revenge is a huge motivation of the anti-hero Illyria.

Marred with the marks of her gruesome murder by four Chosen priests, Illyria rises from a mass grave to protect her clan and seek vengeance. At the side of her raven guide and becomes Death’s coworker meanwhile. 

Don’t sit out on this epic dark fantasy tale coming this October. Pre-order your copy on Amazon today!

Why People Read Dark Fantasy

What do you read when you’re tired of all the bright, happy stuff? When you’re tired of everything going as it should for the chosen one, the hero saving the day, and everything rainbows and butterflies and unicorns? What do you read when it’s all just too bright and happy all day, every day? And really nothing at all like real life, not even a little?  

That, my friends, is when you turn your gaze to Dark Fantasy. 

Now, Fantasy can still be Fantasy when it has dark themes. Dark Fantasy is different. It’s an entire subgenre of Fantasy, with its own themes and tropes to be explored and manipulated. Dark Fantasy plunges the reader into a world of darkness, and they sometimes wonder if they’ll ever be able to come back up for breath. (Hint: Of course the reader will. No good author would leave their readers to drown!)

Deep tropical jungles of Southeast Asia in august

But when you’ve had so much brightness and color in your reading that you feel like your eyes could burst, Dark Fantasy leaves room for all the gray you could ever want. Gray morals, gray characters, even gray endings. And there are many more than fifty shades.

The thing about Dark Fantasy is that everything has to make sense. It’s not a feel-good story by any means. And there’s certainly magic and unusual creatures and all that, depending on how low or high fantasy the book is. But besides its dark, “evil” themes, Dark Fantasy tends to be more realistic. At best, people in real life are generally selfish, greedy, and easy to corrupt. Multiply this trait by about two or three, and you have Dark Fantasy. 

Governments are corrupt. Monarchies are absolute. Democracies are overridden by Capitalist ideals. Dictatorships are, well, Dictatorships. Most people don’t have the greater good or even anyone else’s interests at heart. Slavery, rape, pillaging, exploitation, terror, torture, and many more gruesome topics are up for grabs in this subgenre. And that’s just the beginning of this dark adventure.

When you’re tired of characters using magic to just solve their problems and make everyone happy, Dark Fantasy changes that narrative for you.

Dark Fantasy magic is usually either corrupt or useless. All magic is generally considered “evil.” Typically in the wrong hands, it’ll come at a high price. As high as one’s own humanity. Wizards will often go mad with power—or even with just the very thought of it. It can be used for any nefarious purpose one can think of. Torture, control, etc. If it is not corruptive or expensive, it is virtually useless. Perhaps used for small tasks like tying a simple knot or picking up a five-pound object. Or maybe just a talking sword that chats your ear off until you go mad and slit your own throat.

And don’t forget about sentient magic items. Those that will only hate and probably want to destroy their own creators and/or wielders. 

Tired of religion always being the great, wonderful beacon of hope and wonder? In Dark Fantasy, religion doesn’t bring much hope to the characters or story in general. If the overruling religion is not already corrupt, those they worship certainly are. Gods are usually self-absorbed, lazy, and stuck-up. They see the others that worship them as pawns, toys, or less. Disposable. If one is active, it’s usually some sort of evil god. 

Other religious groups could be terrorizing with a great tendency to convert and purge. Think Isabella of Castile and her armies. There is no “nice” religion. No “God is good” religion in Dark Fantasy.

The undead will sometimes play a part in the story. It is fantasy, after all. And it gets boring sleeping in that coffin for eternity. Often, they’ll rise from their graves and terrorize the living. They can go so far as to create their own communities, governments, lifestyles, etc. 

Are you sick of all the other races of creatures being portrayed as so much better than you? In Dark Fantasy, all races are portrayed as equally debase. Elves are aloof, snobby, and uncaring of other races. Dark Elves are, as expected, cruel. Dwarves stick to their mines and don’t trouble themselves with the struggles of others. Humans are corrupt and terrorizing. Halflings and other weak-willed races are enslaved.

There are also monstrous animals and creatures. From Dire Wolves to Dragons (that don’t want to be your friend). Aboleths, Basilisks, Gargoyles, and Krakens, to name a few. And they all want to kill everyone they come across. Especially the main character. 

What about the main character? Do you get tired of the perfect hero that always makes the right choices and saves the day at the end? In Dark Fantasy, you can get a break from all that and get a little taste of a more realistic and relatable main character. There are several different tropes to choose from. Some have confused or mixed-up morals. They might not even care about the people they’re saving. Some are not adequately equipped or skilled enough to save the world. Some might not even be the right choice at all. And sometimes, they even fail. 

The concept Knights. Close up

Endings are sometimes happy. If it works with the story. And even then, the happy endings are not overwhelmingly joyful. A Dark Fantasy ending could be miserable. Awful. Terrible. But it’s an ending.

An ending could be gray. It could be, well, an ending. Not too good. But not too bad. Just an ending. A closure, at best. 

In general, the mood of Dark Fantasy is, well, dark. It will have its ups and downs. But there will be a steady grayness to help cleanse your palette of all that color.

Dark Fantasy isn’t just to take a break from all the bright and happiness, though. It’s a chance to spread your imagination and challenge it. Authors will use this genre to retell existing stories. What if Gaston and The Beast actually had a plan together, but went awry when Belle charmed both of them? What if The Wolf and The Witch were trying to out-do each other, getting more and more corrupted by their own magic? The possibilities are endless!

The focus of Dark Fantasy is directed away from the frills and lace, and towards the actual point of the story. Which is often refreshing to readers and writers alike. The fun is in the different perspective. A shift from the main thoroughfare. A closer look at the actual topics being brought up by the author. 

Dark Fantasy often deals with realistic issues. The nitty-gritty. It goes deeper than the more light-hearted Fantasy. It shows readers the true darkness that resides in us all. 

So take a seat and buckle up, because Dark Fantasy is becoming the more popular book genre of 2021.

If you’re interested in reading Dark Fantasy works, check out my book Raven Queen, Arise on Amazon today! It’s my first dark high fantasy book in the Temple of Vengeance series, a quadrilogy of epic releases featuring the assertive anti-heroine Illyria and containing more swords, sorcery, and sex than the law allows.

Rising from a mass grave with scars from her brutal murder, crossing back into the living world with her trusted raven guide, oh and a partnership with Death himself. You don’t want to miss this exciting, ultra-dark fantasy coming October 2021.

—Dave Reed

Dark Fantasy Story Starters For You

I have an idea problem. I have more ideas than I will ever have time to write: creating novels is a demanding craft, but it’s rewarding in its own right. For me, it’s a vocation, I’ll keep doing it for free even if nobody ever buys my books.

Almost all of my ideas are nasty, brutish, and short—like me. However, I would adore to read them. If I can get someone to write them… This will be a recurring type of post with more ideas in the future. Maybe once a month, I’ll dig into my backlog of ideas I’ve scribbled down from the inspirations the voices in my head share to post them here for you.

Most of my book concepts start with a title, but from time to time they begin with a character. The Muse sings to me in the shower, hums along with my favorite music, and whispers lullabies to me in my sleep. In these four cases, she gave me titles and blurbs.

If you’re a dark fantasy writer, these writing prompts are for you. I give them to you freely without reservation. Write them to your heart’s content. All I ask in return is that you publish them someday soon so I can read them! I never turn down free books.

No Curse of Mine

An eldest son is cursed by a younger brother and his cronies after his father’s death using a bloodline hex based on his father’s bones. The eldest is disinherited at trial when the curse doesn’t kill him as expected but results in his conviction of witchcraft.

The elder brother must learn enough magic from a dying, decrepit old warlock to escape from prison, unmask his younger brother’s magical secrets, and avenge himself upon those who wronged him in this high fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Monster Love

Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay waste to the lives of millions to save the one he loves.

What possible reason could someone have for awakening the dragons of legend? These predators from another world slumber for centuries, bound in slumber by those like me with the ability to sing them to sleep. But when they awaken, the storytellers say that they burn the world to sate their otherworldly hungers. This has not happened in living memory and the world grows fat and green.

While the dragons sleep attended by the cult of singers, the rest of humanity fights over the scraps in the ash heap of this world. A warlord has risen in the west, laid claim to my little patch of dirt, and demanded a tribute of women—including my daughter.

I don’t need an army to get her back.

I have dragons.

Of Men & Matriarchs

Behind every great woman is an army of men to do her bidding.

I love women. I love my wife just as much as all of her other husbands, perhaps more. But I’m convinced it’s time for men like me to rise up and claim our destiny and the freedom that should be our birthright but is denied us.

My problem is simple: How do you convince men who have never known freedom that it is worthy of disrupting our idyllic way of life? The system works as long as we smile, do what we’re told, and keep our youthful good looks. We all know, but never speak of what happens when a woman decides one of her men is too old.

And if my wife finds out the rebellion I’m plotting, she’ll murder me herself.

Break the Game

Every game is rigged. The trick is to be the one doing the rigging.

I had a good hustle going. Bouncing from church casino to church casino, I kept it small and didn’t get greedy enough for the big gambling houses to notice me. It was all wine, women, and song.

Until she came along.

Somehow, I let her tempt me into trying a con that was too big, too fast. Now I’m on the run from assassins hired by the Holy Order of Luck while she’s living the high life with my ill-gotten gains and the captain of the guard.

I’ve only got one chance to win back everything that’s mine. It might be a really long shot, but…

Never tell me the odds.