Edgy YA Fantasy - Any books like this out there?

BlackBriar · Sep 26, 2009

I am looking for any books similar to what I am writing right now. I want to see if it has been done, and if so, how well it was done.

Think Percy Jackson or later Harry Potter mixed with Dresden Files or V for Vendetta.

My wip MT is an edgy (drugs, drinking, violence, possible off-camera sex) YA urban fantasy with a male MC. Someone told me of Tithe and Wake, both of which my story seems different from (it's more revenge, fighting the 'system', yet 'classical' YA adventure). It neither glorifies, nor condemns the 'edginess' in the story. It just is. Also I introduce these elements slowly, without spelling it out a lot of times for the reader.

Anyone know of any YA fantasy books out there that sound similar, that I should read? Especially one with a male MC.

Thanks for any help!

Momento Mori · Sep 27, 2009

CupofDice:
Anyone know of any YA books out there that sound similar, that I should read? Especially one with a male MC.

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan has dark and edgy themes and a male MC (although it's not particularly heavy on violence).

If you're looking for something about revenge, then the best series of books I could point you to are the Mortal Engines quartet by Philip Reeves (beginning with Mortal Engines). It's a revenge driven story and the female MC, Hester Shaw, gets darker and darker as the books go on.

For drugs, the only book I'd recommend without hesitation is Junk by Melvin Burgess (released as Smack in the US). It's an uncompromising view of drug abuse that had some of the UK newspapers running a hate campaign against it.

MM

BlackBriar · Sep 27, 2009

Ahh, I can't believe I forgot about 'Mortal Engines'. Read it ages ago (book is in my room right now), but never sought out the sequel. Yep, it's one of those that mixes YA non-'literary' with high levels of violence.

And "The Demon's Lexicon" looks to be exactly what I am looking for. Will definitely check it out as soon as possible.

Thanks Momento Mori.

Mahesh · Sep 27, 2009

Wizard's first rule by terry goodkind, but htats not really ya but it's edgy...once

Parametric · Sep 27, 2009

Momento Mori said:
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan has dark and edgy themes and a male MC (although it's not particularly heavy on violence).

So much Demon's Lexicon love! Go forth and read for delicious tasty darkness.

(Hiss, Terry Goodkind. Hissssss.)

Mahesh · Sep 27, 2009

lol

dont like terry?

Parametric · Sep 27, 2009

Mahesh said:
lol dont like terry?

I object to the author and his work very strongly. I find the author arrogant, condescending and unpleasant, and the series a derivative Hero's Journey knockoff plagiarising Robert Jordan.

It's weird enough that the author thinks readers should use his series as some kind of inspirational religious text by which to live their lives. Doubly weird that he then has his protagonist, that Christ-like exemplar of righteousness, massacring unarmed peace protesters all over the place.

Plus, apparently people who dislike his work only do so because they "hate life". Damn - he's got me bang to rights.

edit: Okay, that was a rant. My apologies. I'm a huge fantasy fan, and Goodkind's sneering comments about the genre really rile me up.

BlackBriar · Sep 27, 2009

Any Goodkind hate is fine by me.

Thanks once again for Demon's Lexicon.

eyeblink · Sep 27, 2009

Apropos of not a lot, Goodkind's picture in the back of his books says "80s hair metal rhythm guitarist" to me but YMMV.

I haven't read anything by him. I've heard enough from people whose opinions I trust to get the impression that life is short and the pile of novels I'd rather read is huge.

BlackBriar · Sep 29, 2009

Just got Demon's Lexicon yesterday, reading now. Pretty good so far, and Nick's inner monologue's battle with his brother is hilarious. Yea, it's similar to what I was looking for.

BlackBriar · Oct 6, 2009

Wrote a crappy review of it (non-spoiler).

Was definitely a very nice read, and right up my alley. Time to look for similar YA books.

Red.Ink.Rain · Oct 6, 2009

I've heard Tender Morsels kind of falls under the category of edgy YA fantasy.

BlackBriar · Oct 6, 2009

Thanks, but too dark (from quick amazon look) for my tastes.

chocowrites · Oct 6, 2009

What about Wicked Lovely or City of Bones? I don't think they're exactly "edgy" but they're grittier than most fantasy novels. Good reads.

I'm sure I'm missing something but I can't think what...

BlackBriar · Oct 6, 2009

Both look great chocowrites. Especially City of Bones! Thanks!

Rebecca_Rogers · Oct 6, 2009

I know you mentioned Tithe at the beginning, but its sequel, Valiant, is very gritty and edgy.

BlackBriar · Oct 6, 2009

Is it urban fantasy?

Edit: Okay, it's urban. Will check it out when I have time.

Momento Mori · Oct 6, 2009

Each of Tithe, Valiant and Ironside are urban fantasy - Valiant takes place in New York, the other two are (I think) set in a smaller town.

MM

BlackBriar · Oct 6, 2009

Thanks, just hit the amazon review again. Arrggg, so much YA to read

. Doing Hunger Games right now, gotta read the sequel to Mortal Engines (read years ago).

Rebecca_Rogers · Oct 6, 2009

Tithe and Ironside take place in New Jersey, I believe (been a while since I read them).

Red.Ink.Rain · Oct 6, 2009

chocowrites said:
What about Wicked Lovely or City of Bones? I don't think they're exactly "edgy" but they're grittier than most fantasy novels. Good reads.

I'm sure I'm missing something but I can't think what...

OH OH OH! City of Bones is one of my all time FAVORITE books. And it definitely has a gritty feel to it. The author takes her characters places I haven't seen in a lot of other YA fantasy novels.

chocowrites · Oct 6, 2009

I LOVE City of Bones too! Great description and dialogue and pacing and characters.
As a matter of fact, now I want to go re-read it!

I just know I'm missing a great book to recommend. I'll post it if I remember...

ETA: ooh! These two books aren't edgy, but they have a darker feel to them: The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding (19th century England, but with a witch hunter who goes around killing things--no drugs/alcohol though).

And the Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud (this leans more towards middle grade so no drugs/alcohol/etc again, but the MC is out for revenge and summons demons to help him).

Both have male MC's.

Mel A. · Oct 6, 2009

Red.Ink.Rain said:
OH OH OH! City of Bones is one of my all time FAVORITE books. And it definitely has a gritty feel to it. The author takes her characters places I haven't seen in a lot of other YA fantasy novels.

City of Bones rocks. Sequels also awesome. Definitely worth the time to read.

TereLiz · Oct 6, 2009

How 'bout Dust of 100 Dogs? I thought that was pretty edgy, but not too dark. Plus there's pirates and dogs. Can't lose.

inkspatters · Oct 7, 2009

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding (19th century England, but with a witch hunter who goes around killing things--no drugs/alcohol though)

Yeah, it's not quite edgy, imo, but it's an awesome book and it does have that dark feel to it.

As for recs...Well, I don't think it's quite urban fantasy, more magical realism, but Meg Rosoff's Just In Case had some 'edgy' content from what I can remember.

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