I'm searching for Fantasy with a similar setting to these two, so vaguely ww1/2 inspired and perhaps with similar tone and themes.
Note that I wasn't a complete fan of DR, it lacked a little depth and world building for me. But I liked the overall concept
by Takeitisie
1 Comment
If you’re into that early 20th-century, war-torn aesthetic with emotional depth, you might really like *The Absolutist* by John Boyne. It’s not fantasy, but it captures that WWI atmosphere with quiet emotional intensity, similar to *Violet Evergarden*. For a fantasy version with better world-building, check out *The Guns Above* by Robyn Bennis—it’s steampunk military fantasy with a strong female lead, sharp wit, and airships. It’s got that war-front vibe without being too heavy-handed, and the tone strikes a nice balance between action and character.
Also, you might want to look at *The Poppy War* by R.F. Kuang—though it leans much darker and more brutal, the setting is a war-driven fantasy world with real historical inspiration. If you liked the emotional themes in *Violet Evergarden* but wanted more grit than *Divine Rivals*, it might scratch the itch. Just be ready for it to go *way* heavier on violence and trauma.