Dark urban fantasy / horror?

cherita · Apr 15, 2011

Does anyone have any recommendations for dark YA urban fantasy, paranormal and/or horror?

I'm starting to realize my writing may be darker than I think, and I'd like to compare my WIP to recent things classified as dark or even horror. I'm having the hardest time finding stuff, though. Maybe this isn't as popular as lighter stuff? Help would be appreciated. Thanks!

ceenindee · Apr 15, 2011

Neil Schusterman (sp?) and Neil Gaiman are very good for this kind of thing. I'd recommend any of their stuff.

The Gone series, by Michael Grant, is also pretty dark--even more violent than The Hunger Games, IMO. It's like if Lord of the Flies and X-Men had a baby.

Thirsty by M.T. Anderson is one of the bleakest vampire novels I've read.

Hmm...I'll try to think of others. I find the stuff I write is a little darker than the norm as well, so I'm always on the lookout.

eventidepress · Apr 15, 2011

Bleeding violet, by Dia Reeves. Favorite of last year for me

pixydust · Apr 15, 2011

Gone is pretty sketchy, but Hunger is even more insane.

I really liked those books...

strawberryblondie · Apr 15, 2011

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Niti Newtfinger · Apr 15, 2011

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey.

PollyAnna · Apr 15, 2011

I just read The Enemy by Charlie Higson-- if you like zombie-like thingys, it's a chilling read. And apparently the sequel is good too.

Lnlee · Apr 16, 2011

Tithe by Holly Black (as well as some of her other early novels) and In the Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan come into mind. I'll be sure to come back and add more if I think of any.

Oh, and I second Hunger Games and books by Neal Shusterman (Everlost, Unwind).

cherita · Apr 17, 2011

And my reading list keeps growing... Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm definitely going to check out Gone and how have I not heard of Dia Reeves before? Her books sound like just the thing I'm talking about. Dark and twisted.

On another note, I LOVED the Hunger Games, and while it was violent obviously, I didn't really think it was all that dark. But I've seen a lot of people say that, especially Mockingjay, which to me was almost the least dark of them all (it was the most violent, but I thought it was almost a cartoon sort of violence). Am I just twisted or is my perception skewed because I don't think violence necessarily equals dark? Or am I just defining dark wrong?

Sage · Apr 17, 2011

I thought Mockingjay was pretty dark with regards to the psyches of the characters.

Satori1977 · Apr 17, 2011

Adding some of these to my tbr pile! Thanks. I have read a lot of dark and violent adult books, but not YA. I am in the middle of reading Catching Fire, and the Hunger Games trilogy is probably the darkest YA books I have read.

TrixieLox · Apr 17, 2011

What about Melissa Marr's stuff? Or is that a bit light on the dark? I always think of her when I think 'dark urban fantasy'. The Replacement is a fab example in terms of the dark imagery used. I personally don't see The Hunger Games as dark urban fantasy or horror, but can see why people would think this. I just don't think the writing style screams dark fantasy, ya know?

lenore_x · Apr 17, 2011

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (and its sequels) kept me up at night. :scared:

They're paranormal/historical, gothic basically, but the horror aspects are the scariest straight-up horror I've read in YA.

Eldritch · Apr 17, 2011

Loving this thread. Please keep the titles coming.
Thanks!

Lnlee · Apr 17, 2011

TracyBuchanan said:
What about Melissa Marr's stuff? Or is that a bit light on the dark? I always think of her when I think 'dark urban fantasy'.

I'm sure Ink Exchange would qualify the most as dark urban fantasy. As for the rest of them, I think it really depends on what you mean by 'dark.'

And, yes, A Great and Terrible Beauty as well as the other books in the series (Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing) certainly qualify as dark, I think. I'm not sure if they'd qualify as urban, though--oh wait, apparently historical urban fantasy (since it's set around London and all) does qualify as urban fantasy (-looked it up-).

I'll throw in The Demon's Lexicon series and The Mortal Instruments series into the list. Those certainly are my favorites.

Momento Mori · Apr 18, 2011

For horror check out Darran Shan, Charlie Higson's THE ENEMY and THE DEAD, Simon Holt, Jeremy De Quidt, Sam Enthaven's CRAWLERS and William Hussey's Witchfinder series.

Dark fantasy I'd recommend Steve Feasey's Changeling series, Jon Mayhew's MORTLOCK and THE DEMON COLLECTOR.

MM

crunchyblanket · Apr 18, 2011

Highly recommend Holly Black - 'Tithe', 'Ironside' and 'Valiant' as well as her new series, the Curse Workers

cherita · Apr 18, 2011

TracyBuchanan said:
The Replacement is a fab example in terms of the dark imagery used. I personally don't see The Hunger Games as dark urban fantasy or horror, but can see why people would think this. I just don't think the writing style screams dark fantasy, ya know?

This, exactly! The Replacement is definitely along the lines of what I was thinking, and I found it far darker than The Hunger Games, although there's a lot less violence. Maybe I'm just equating dark with creepy or something. But I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it that way.

And now adding A Great and Terrible Beauty to my reading list, even though I ignore them every time I see them despite loving Libba Bray's writing. In my defense, I always thought they were historical romance based on the covers, which is not my thing.

Also adding MALICE by Chris Wooding to the recommendations for others. I haven't read it but it sounds kind of awesome, about a sinister comic that sucks you in, and the book itself is part comic/graphic novel.

Eldritch · Apr 18, 2011

Oh, wow. I'm reading Malice right now, like I just put it down a minute ago.

So far, I'm really liking it, though I'm only on page 96 of 377. I'm really appreciating the fact that it's well-written.The illustrations and nearly-blank pages (some with only one word on them) are delightfully different.

Rhoda Nightingale · Apr 18, 2011

@cherita: dark =/= violent. You are absolutely right.

On that note, Rachel Caine's The Morganville Vampires series is pretty grisly. In fact I had to step away from it, just for the sheer lack of decent people in the cast of characters. Almost everyone in it is evil or just plain mean.

lenore_x · Apr 18, 2011

cherita said:
And now adding A Great and Terrible Beauty to my reading list, even though I ignore them every time I see them despite loving Libba Bray's writing. In my defense, I always thought they were historical romance based on the covers, which is not my thing.

Oh man, I thought the same thing for the longest time. Stupid cover branding! :tongue

Whatsherface · Apr 19, 2011

lnlee said:
I'm sure Ink Exchange would qualify the most as dark urban fantasy. As for the rest of them, I think it really depends on what you mean by 'dark.'

And, yes, A Great and Terrible Beauty as well as the other books in the series (Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing) certainly qualify as dark, I think. I'm not sure if they'd qualify as urban, though--oh wait, apparently historical urban fantasy (since it's set around London and all) does qualify as urban fantasy (-looked it up-).

I'll throw in The Demon's Lexicon series and The Mortal Instruments series into the list. Those certainly are my favorites.

I read A Great and Terribly Beauty in high school, and every time I'm in a book store my fingers itch if I see the sequels. I'll read them someday! Too poor to buy books right now

Not sure if these books qualify as Urban, so much as dark fantasy, but has anyone ever frequented Garth Nix's Abhorsen series? Now there is a series that I wish I wrote first!

acmcclellan · Apr 19, 2011

If you want to read a classic that has many dark elements, read Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I don't think I've ever read another book that could describe evil better.

Gravity's Rainbow · Apr 19, 2011

The Haunting of Elizabeth Cray

The ending is a little sketchy but the atmosphere is very well done

Lnlee · Apr 20, 2011

Whatsherface;6052596 Not sure if these books qualify as Urban said:
Abhorsen[/I] series? Now there is a series that I wish I wrote first!

OMG I grew up reading the Abhorsen series. There's going to be a new one (Clariel) next year or so, I hear.

Dark urban fantasy / horror?

cherita

ceenindee

eventidepress

pixydust

Mother Flippin' Rhymnosorous

strawberryblondie

Niti Newtfinger

PollyAnna

Keepin' it Real-ish

Lnlee

Reading and writing

cherita

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Satori1977

Listening to the Voices In My Head

TrixieLox

Benefactor Member

lenore_x

Eldritch

Lnlee

Reading and writing

Momento Mori

Tired and Disillusioned

crunchyblanket

the Juggernaut of Imperfection

cherita

Eldritch

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

lenore_x

Whatsherface

Accidentally lost inside my WIP

acmcclellan

Always learning...

Gravity's Rainbow

Lnlee

Reading and writing