Join me in this weekâs Author Diary as we celebrate a significant milestone, delve into current projects, and look forward to an exciting event.
đ 7th Anniversary of the Author Diary Podcast:
This week marks the seventh anniversary of my Author Diary podcast. It’s been a wonderful journey of sharing insights, challenges, and triumphs from my writing life. I’ve enjoyed connecting with all of you, and I’m grateful for your continued support.
đ Current Writing and Reading:
I’ve been making steady progress on “Forged in Blood,” the latest installment in the Guild of Assassins series. Writing this book has been an intricate process, weaving complex characters and dark themes into the narrative fabric. Alongside writing, I’ve been immersed in “Vengeful Spirit” from the Horus Heresy series, a gripping tale that complements the intense and dramatic tone of my own work.
đĽ Reader Interaction:
In this special anniversary episode, I took the opportunity to answer some reader questions.
đ° Prepping for Fantasycon:
Looking ahead, I’m thrilled to be attending Fantasycon next weekend. Iâll be participating in four panels discussing topics ranging from rogues and grimdark to post-apocalyptic fiction and the portrayal of disability beyond the trope of ‘superpower.’ As I prepare for the convention, I’m excited to meet many of you there, share insights, and explore the diverse and dynamic world of fantasy literature.
Stay tuned for updates from Fantasycon and more adventures from the writing desk!
Iâd love to hear your thoughts on podcast milestones, your experiences with fantasy conventions, or any questions you might have about writing and reading. Donât forget to like, share, and subscribe for more weekly insights and updates from my author’s journey!
Explore the grimdark fantasy genre, where moral ambiguity, dark themes, and gritty settings redefine fantasy literature. Discover key books and authors like Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie that make grimdark a compelling choice for modern readers.
Welcome, fantasy aficionados, to the delightful world of grimdark, where rainbows are a myth, unicorns are carnivorous, and happy endings are as rare as a dragonâs polite dinner conversation.
If youâve ever wondered what grimdark is and whether itâs for you, then prepare yourself for a journey through the murkiest swamps of fantasy literature.
Grab your rusty swords, don your tattered cloaks, and letâs dive in!
Grimdark: The Basics
Grimdark is a subgenre of fantasy that revels in the gritty, the grim, and the disturbingly realistic.
Think of it as fantasyâs rebellious teenager, smashing the rose-tinted glasses of high fantasy and replacing them with cracked monocles.
In the world of grimdark, heroes are deeply flawed, morality is a luxury few can afford, and the line between good and evil is blurrier than an ogreâs vision after a night in the tavern.
Where Hope Goes to Die
In grimdark, hope is that quaint little concept you can reminisce about while dodging arrows in a war-torn wasteland.
This genre thrives on the brutal realities of life, where even the most valiant knight has skeletons in their closetâsometimes literally.
Expect betrayal, bloodshed, and a level of moral ambiguity that would make even the most seasoned politician blush.
Characters with More Issues Than a Tabloid
Grimdark characters arenât your typical noble heroes on a quest to save the world.
Theyâre more likely to be anti-heroes, mercenaries, or downright villains.
Picture a protagonist whoâs as charming as a rattlesnake and as trustworthy as a used car salesman.
These characters are scarred, both physically and emotionally, and their backstories are darker than the bottom of a wizardâs cauldron.
Worlds That Make Mordor Look Cosy
The settings in grimdark are about as welcoming as a dragonâs lair.
Expect desolate landscapes, corrupt cities, and societies that make you grateful for your boring nine-to-five job.
Whether itâs a plague-ridden medieval town or a dystopian future, the world-building in grimdark is meticulously detailed and relentlessly bleak.
Itâs the perfect backdrop for the endless parade of suffering and strife that the characters endure.
Plot Twists with a Side of Trauma
If you like your plots predictable and your endings happy, grimdark might not be for you.
In this genre, plot twists are as common as goblins in a cave, and they usually come with a side of existential dread.
Characters you love will die, alliances will shatter, and the closest thing to a victory is surviving another day.
Itâs like a rollercoaster ride where the tracks are falling apart and the operator has a sinister grin.
Dark Humour: The Silver Lining
Despiteâor perhaps because ofâthe darkness, grimdark often comes with a healthy dose of black humour.
When life is constantly trying to kill you, sometimes all you can do is laugh.
Expect witty one-liners, gallows humour, and a general sense that the characters are well aware of their miserable lot in life.
Itâs this humour that provides a twisted sort of relief amidst the carnage.
Notable Grimdark Works
If youâre ready to plunge into the abyss, here are some notable grimdark works to get you started:
“A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin: The poster child for grimdark, where weddings are deadly and power is a game of thrones.
“The First Law Trilogy” by Joe Abercrombie: Featuring morally ambiguous characters and a world where heroes are hard to find.
“The Broken Empire Trilogy” by Mark Lawrence: Following the charmingly ruthless Jorg Ancrath as he carves a bloody path to power.
“The Black Company” by Glen Cook: Chronicling the mercenary company as they navigate a world full of magic and betrayal.
Grimdark is not for the faint of heart.
Itâs a genre that strips away the fantasy veneer to reveal a world as brutal and unforgiving as our own, only with more swords and sorcery.
If youâre tired of the same old tales of chivalry and virtue, give grimdark a try.
Embrace the darkness, relish the moral complexity, and above all, enjoy the rideâno matter how bumpy it gets.
Welcome to the grimdark side; weâve got misery and mayhem in spades.
Dive into the dark, expansive universe of Warhammer 40,000. Explore how this iconic franchise has revolutionised fantasy and sci-fi genres with its grimdark narratives, intricate world-building, and lasting impact on pop culture and entertainment.
In the vast, often unpredictable cosmos of modern fantasy, one franchise looms as large as a Space Marine on steroids: Warhammer 40,000.
Affectionately known as Warhammer 40K to its legion of fans, this tabletop wargame turned multimedia juggernaut has stamped its heavy, power-armoured boot onto the landscape of fantasy and science fiction with the subtlety of an Ork Waaagh!
Let’s navigate through the warp to explore how Warhammer 40K has shaped the universe of modern fantasy.
A Brief Expedition into the 41st Millennium
For those who’ve yet to don their power armour, Warhammer 40K is set in a dystopian future where humanity, under the aegis of the immortal Emperor, battles against alien races and demonic forces from the Warp.
It’s a universe that’s as rich in lore as it is in opportunities to empty your wallet.
At its core, Warhammer 40K is a dark, sprawling epic, a galaxy-spanning opera of war, betrayal, and the occasional act of heroism (usually ending in a glorious death).
More Than Just Tabletop: Spreading its Wings
Warhammer 40K’s influence stretches far beyond the realm of tabletop gaming.
It’s spawned novels, video games, comics, and even a few attempts at film.
Each medium has contributed to the expansion of its grimdark universe, introducing its bleak yet weirdly captivating ethos to a broader audience.
It’s a franchise that’s as multifaceted as a Tzeentchian plot, and just as likely to ensnare you.
The Birth of Grimdark: Setting the Tone
One of Warhammer 40K’s most significant contributions to fantasy and sci-fi is the popularisation of the ‘grimdark‘ genre.
The term itself, originally derived from the game’s tagline, has become synonymous with a setting where hope is as scarce as a Tyranid’s table manners.
Warhammer 40K revels in its over-the-top bleakness, a universe where the light at the end of the tunnel is probably a lasgun barrel.
This tone has influenced a generation of writers and creators, who’ve embraced the darker, more nihilistic aspects of storytelling.
The Lore is the Law: Deep World-Building
Another area where Warhammer 40K excels is in its deep, intricate world-building.
The lore is as dense as a Necron tomb complex, with millennia of history, countless factions, and a pantheon of gods and monsters that could give ancient mythologies a run for their money.
This commitment to crafting a rich, immersive universe has set a high bar for world-building in fantasy and sci-fi, inspiring creators to develop more detailed and lived-in universes.
Influence on Pop Culture and Media
The reach of Warhammer 40K extends into wider pop culture and media.
References to its universe and lexicon pop up with surprising regularity, a testament to its pervasive influence.
From the power armour aesthetic in video games to the echoes of its themes in mainstream sci-fi, the fingerprints of Warhammer 40K are smeared (in blood, no doubt) across many facets of entertainment.
A Titan in the Genre
Warhammer 40,000 has left an indelible mark on the world of fantasy and sci-fi.
It’s a franchise that takes ‘go big or go home’ to interstellar levels, both in its storytelling and its impact.
In a genre often accused of escapism, Warhammer 40K stands as a monument to the power of dark, immersive narratives and expansive world-building.
It reminds us that sometimes, in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war â but also a heck of a story.
Explore Brent Weeks’ transformative impact on fantasy through his novel, ‘The Way of Shadows,’ and the subsequent rise of the grimdark subgenre.
From the sun-kissed lands of Tolkienâs Middle Earth to the frostbitten realms of Martinâs Westeros, we thought weâd seen it all in fantasy.
Ah, bless our naĂŻve little socks. Little did we know, the genre was primed to be knocked squarely on its ethereal arse by an unassuming bloke named Brent Weeks and his seminal novel, âThe Way of Shadows.â
In the dimly-lit world of fantasy, where elves prance about with their pointy ears, dragons spew fire like faulty North Sea gas wells, and wizards wield staffs with the girth of telegraph poles, Weeks cast a dark, smoky shadow of refreshing realism.
âThe Way of Shadows,â published in 2008, introduced us to the enchanting city of Cenaria, a place as pleasant as a wet weekend in Scunthorpe and twice as grimy.
Here, Weeks crafted his protagonist, Azoth, a scamp with the morals of a pickpocket and the fortitude of a stale pork pie.
But the lad had ambition. And thatâs always a good start, right? Well, not quite.
Weeks took Azoth, our lovable rogue, and yanked him through a schooling as a wetboyâa word Weeks insists means âassassin,â but I canât help picturing a soggy tween wielding a knife down by the bus station.
Nevertheless, this was a stark contrast to the usual well-lit halls of wizardry or dashing knight academies of conventional fantasy.
Instead, we delved headfirst into an underworld teeming with grit, grime, and more moral ambiguity than an MP’s expenses claim (I went there).
And there, precisely, lies the crux of Weeksâ influence on fantasy fiction: âThe Way of Shadowsâ sidestepped the well-trodden path of light vs dark, good vs evil, Marmite vs Bovril.
The lines were smudged, the moral compasses skewed, and reader expectations tossed out like a controversial referendum result.
Suddenly, fantasy wasnât about some prophesied lad with the personality of a damp lettuce leaf taking down a dark lord with an affinity for eye makeup.
Instead, it focused on the common man, or, in this case, the common guttersnipe, and his moral journey in a world where the road to power is paved with daggers and dodgy dealings.
Moreover, Weeks was unflinching in his depictions of violence and societal horrors.
It was as if he took George R.R. Martinâs penchant for character decimation and said, âHold my pint, Georgie.â
He wove a tapestry of a world where life was cheaper than a Lidlâs meal deal, and, letâs be honest, was it mesmerising.
Weeksâ gift to fantasy was a murky, grimy realm where the heroes are just as broken as the villains and the outcome is as predictable as a British summer.
With âThe Way of Shadows,â Weeks proved that even in a world overflowing with magic and monsters, the most compelling stories revolve around characters with depth and a sense of humour darker than a bar of Bournville.
Post âThe Way of Shadows,â weâve seen a surge of grimdark fiction, a subgenre thatâs less âunicorns and rainbowsâ, more âcorpses and raincloudsâŚsmashed into the mudâŚwith blood and guts everywhereâŚand screamsâŚlots of screamsâŚand bits of sick.â
A more sinister tone to the fantasy genre seems to have taken root, spreading like unchecked ivy across a trellis.
And for this, we have Brent Weeks to thank (or to send a sternly worded letter, depending on your disposition).
So, Brent Weeks didnât so much change the face of fantasy as grabbed it by the jowls, gave it a good shake, and told it to buck up its ideas.
His influence continues to be felt with every morally ambiguous protagonist, every sinister cityscape, and every grim depiction of reality that creeps into our beloved genre.
For better or worse, âThe Way of Shadowsâ gave fantasy a gritty facelift. And honestly, itâs a look weâre starting to quite fancy.
Ten Essential Assassin Fantasy Books for Fans of Brent Weeks
Here are ten fantastic fantasy novels featuring assassins, published after Brent Weeksâ Night Angel trilogy.
Each of these will plunge you into worlds of shadowy intrigue, where lives can be taken as quickly as a pint at last call:
âThe Emperorâs Edgeâ (The Emperorâs Edge #1) by Lindsay Buroker (2010)
Burokerâs charming and cunning ensemble, led by an infamous assassin, will keep you entertained and hooked from beginning to end.
âHalf a Kingâ (Shattered Sea #1) by Joe Abercrombie (2014)
This series opener introduces us to a gripping world of politics, backstabbing (literal and otherwise), and a royal youth thrust into the midst of it all.
âBladeâs Edgeâ (Chronicles of Gensokai #1) by Virginia McClain (2015)
In a world where magic is forbidden, two young girls must use their secret abilities to survive.
âDarkblade Assassinâ (Hero of Darkness #1) by Andy Peloquin (2018)
The title says it all, really. Peloquinâs moody hero, the Hunter, stalks the grimy streets of Voramis, serving as judge, jury, and executioner.
âNever Dieâ by Rob J. Hayes (2019)
This is an East Asian-inspired fantasy, where a band of âheroesâ is resurrected to serve the whims of a mysterious child. Among them is an infamous assassin, whose skills prove essential to their mission.
âBlood Songâ (Ravenâs Shadow #1) by Anthony Ryan (2011)
In a tale of warfare, intrigue, and dark magic, a young boy, trained to be a killer, rises to power.
âDance of Cloaksâ (Shadowdance #1) by David Dalglish (2013)
Follow the journey of a young heir to a criminal empire, trained in the arts of stealth and murder.
âKings of Paradiseâ (Ash and Sand #1) by Richard Nell (2018)
Dive into a world of shadowy politics, brutal warfare, and a protagonist who knows a thing or two about killing.
âFree the Darknessâ (Kingâs Dark Tidings #1) by Kel Kade (2015)
Follow the story of Rezkin, an assassin with a stringent code of honour, in a tale that blends action and adventure in a fantastic fantasy
“Age of Assassins” (The Wounded Kingdom #1) by RJ Barker (2017)
Barker has certainly outdone himself with this rousing foray into the fantasy genre. “Age of Assassins” is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride of deceit, intrigue, and surprise that gleefully chucks you into the life of our protagonist, Girton Club-Foot.
Now there’s a selection to make an assassin blush!
Just remember to tread lightly as you wander through these pages, as these are worlds where shadows often bite back.
Would you like a free copy of my novel Birth of Assassins? Grab your copy as part of the free Ravenglass Universe starter library.
