The last few months I have had a very specific craving for a story. I'd like recommendations that are violent and dark, but not categorically horror. Demonic, cursed, haunted, possessed magic systems are preferable. Themes of fate and inevitable action. Love as an overwhelming motivator, and good with any degree of romance so long as it builds plot.
Orpheus/Eurydice main character dynamic to-hell-and-back vibes; love to see one give up and love to see one give everything to get them back. Complex, determined, desperate characters who are victims of fate. I like when two characters share the same goal with different motivators or beliefs. I like when someone's foundation gets rocked so badly they lose their will. I like when one character knows something devastating (particularly at their own expense) but perseveres for their goal/the other character. I want some suffering.
My all time favorite story is Howl's Moving Castle – in part because of the whimsy and in part because Howl and Sophie are the perfect type of banter. But thematically, I love the determination of Howl to save Sophie. My favorite book of the year has been WR Gingell's Spindle – which is inspired by HMC, but is a smidge darker and deeper yearning.
Big favorites have been Alix E Harlow's Starling House and Leigh Badugo's Ninth House & Hell Bent. I love how dark and gritty they get, how unpleasant circumstance is, the magic system. And I love the character dynamics – the dread, the yearning, the 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' vibes.
I've been in a reading slump lately because I've been into the anime/manga Jujutsu Kaisen. Similarly, I love the violence, the dread, the fate. Love the magic system. Love the determination to save each other above all else (Itadori and Fushiguro.)
Please tell me this exists, otherwise I have to get to writing.
by lettuce_embargo
2 Comments
Gets recommended on here a lot. Dungeon Crawler Carl is way better than it should be. I’ve never read anything like it.
I’m pretty sure you’re describing The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir, first book Harrow the Ninth. Necromancy, every character spurred forth by some form of love (and used as an interrogation of the sorts of things love makes us do) (and counting grief as a kind of love tbh), very obvious Orpheus/Eurydice dynamic between two main characters (and they even get to trade places). Characters who share goals but with Vastly different motivations for it. Definitely some suffering. Give it a look-see, it might be what you’re looking for