Discovering Dark Fantasy

Traci Dowe/Kenworth

Jul 22, 2025

I was so certain that what I’d started out writing this last time was indeed Gothic Fantasy. The surprise was on me. So, how do I know I’m right this time? Well the definition of dark fantasy aligns with what I read and write. Therefore, it stands to reason: it’s a dark fantasy. 

Now, I’m not being smug. The truth is, I fought against the dark fantasy definition. Somehow, I thought it was darker than gothic. I’d been told by others that horror was so wrong to write that I actually wanted to move away from the genre.

But the truth is, my stories are darker but they’re also akin to fantasy like J.R.R. Tolkien’s dive into things with Orcs and spiders and such. Like the sweet in my alter ego’s romances, mine are not graphic or gross-outs. They’re more psychological. Moods and shadows fuel me because that’s what my life holds most of the time.

I’m influenced by Edgar Allen Poe just as I’m influenced by Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, and so many more in the horror field. I’m also influenced by Anne McAffree, Marrion Zimmer Bradley, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Victoria Aveyard and more in the Fantasy/dark fantasy field. 

I like being able to blend genres. Deepen or lighten the story, whatever’s called for. To borrow Stephen King’s words, “It’s the tale, not he who tells it.” I’ve faced a lot of pain in life, a lot of mistakes that pulled me up from the bottom and helped me to find the person I am today.

I’m not perfect. I don’t pretend to be. As I’ve said, I made mistakes. Some were those I couldn’t help because of my illness. But now, I strive to do better, to be better than I was in days past. Yes, I carried guilt for my younger days. It took a lot for me to get past that and forgive myself. And let me tell you, nobody’s harder on yourself than you.

Bipolar is something I live with daily. I won’t say it’s an excuse but it brings an understanding to what I’m like, where I’ve been. 

And I suppose, dark fantasy drew off that when it came to my writing. I think all creatives draw off of this or that when it comes to their work. They might find more humor or more seriousness, more love or more edgy work that’s the way things go.

I’ve made peace with myself with dark fantasy now. I might not have gotten all the ribbons and curls I wanted in a genre but that depends on how you look at things. There is a lot of depth to dark fantasy, putting things under the microscope just to see, what if?

I think that’s what draws me to it. The search, the clues. The story can go so many ways but, if I want it to be true to its genre has to examine the details, the fine print. It’s got a lot of mystery to it. And as someone who’s struggled through life, I’m okay with that.

What do you like/despise about dark fantasy? Who are some of your favorite genre authors?

The Seven:

1. Anne R. Allen…with Ruth Harris: https://annerallen.com/2025/07/how-to-drill-inside-your-villains-head/ 
2. Nathan Bransford: https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2025/07/is-crossover-becoming-a-real-thing-this-week-in-books Anthropic Scores a Landmark AI Copyright Win—but Will Face Trial Over Piracy Claims –  Kate Knibbs, Wired – In a huge ruling on A.I. and copyright, a federal judge agreed that using books to train A.I. is fair use, but Anthropic will stand trial over pirating books. Basically, the judge said Anthropic could have used books to train for A.I. if they’d actually paid for them. A mixed result for authors.

Not sure what to think of a YA/Adult crossover book. I’d have to take a look at it. But usually the age groups are kept for a reason i.e. too adult situations.

3. Audrey Driscoll’s blog: https://audreydriscoll.com/2025/07/09/a-review-of-winter-journeys/#respond 

Many reviews here. I love the covers for D. Wallace Peache’s books and several others–Sally Cronins and one about children who turn out to be killers of their classmates stood out. I’m not sure I would read the latter with the upsetting emotions sure to be within. There’s something for everyone here from poetry to NF to crime, literary, etc.

4. Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/2025/07/08/low-fantasy/ Hi, gang. Craig here again. We’re continuing my series dive into the speculative genres. Today we’re going to look at High Fantasy.

High Fantasy remains a popular genre, and it has some requirements.

World Changing Stakes

Geographical Alienation for world building

An Alternate World. (Just trust me here.)

I was originally taught this genre required nobles and royalty, and political drama. This happens a lot, but is not specifically required. There were world changing stakes in The Lord of the Rings, but Hobbits aren’t exactly royalty, and the Shire isn’t exactly a palace. Sure, Aragorn, Boromir, Wormtongue, Galadriel, but those were sideshows.

I’ve read some high fantasy, though not a lot. The authors I read beside Tolkien were Marrion Zimmer Bradley (who once had a newsletter that I subscribed to and offered me advice.), Mercedes Lackey, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey. I do think a lot are about nobles but like Craig said, nowadays, they don’t have to be. Follow your story.

5. Anne Allen…with Ruth Harris: https://annerallen.com/2025/07/bloggers-are-disappearing/ This week I’ve been hit hard by signs that publishing industry bloggers are disappearing into the Substack world of “become a paid subscriber to continue reading this article.”

But it’s also obvious the publishing world still needs us!

How do I know? This week, I’ve been buried in emails from book marketing people. It’s so overwhelming I sometimes feel I’m the only blogger left standing. Some emails are obvious scams, but others look pretty legit. But there are so many, I feel like I’m under attack.

6. There apparently aren’t enough bloggers to go around anymore, so those of us who are left are being hit by everything the scammers and marketers have got. Every minute of every hour. Over and over again.

I’m still here. I didn’t know WP wasn’t sending out the emails to the subscribers anymore. I still get some blogs from you guys. Not a lot but some. It’s how I know you’ve put out a blog post. I have thought of substack but can’t bring myself to commit to it. I’d rather do my own thing. How do you all feel?

7. Entertaining Stories: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2025/07/26/some-interesting-stuff-today/ 
8. Writers in the Storm: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/07/writing-in-the-storm-part-2/?utm_source=newsletter-115&utm_medium=email In writing this blog, I was struck by the title of this group, which is “Writers in the Storm”. In the “about” section of this blog, it states, “Along the way, we’ve discovered that there’s more to life than writing, and sometimes life can be the richest story of all… Every writer must weather the storm within: self doubt, rejection, deadlines and balancing our writing passion with everyday life. Not to mention the storm raging outside — the paradigm shift in the publishing industry.”

Speed bumps on the writing journey.

It is exciting to consider when we are in the ups and downs of the storms of life, our creativity can be an expression of the journey.

• How can we bring “The richest story of all” into our writing? 
• What happens when those ups and downs don’t feel very manageable or we’re in crisis mode and all of a sudden our best intentions go sideways? 
• What do we do when our carefully, meticulously plotted schedule takes a left turn and we find ourselves at the end of a very busy day and yet we haven’t accomplished any of the things we wanted to accomplish? 
• Instead of being tossed around in the storm, what would happen if we could ride the waves and be empowered instead of drowning?

I try and follow the best map for myself at that moment. And continue this until soon, I’m able to do more and then step back into my old stuff.

What I’m learning: About self-editing. We have entered are Editing stage at Novel90, however, I’m still writing. Might have to take it to Fall Novel90 or just finish and edit on my own and then start next book in series. I have finally figured out the middle and I’m loving the changes.

What I’m discovering in life: give yourself Grace. It’s okay to slow down and let things trickle through your fingers.

A Haldos (cursed man/beast) from Maedyn.