Does anyone know of any fantasy novels that are tragedies rather than the hero’s story plot lines?
Does anyone know of any fantasy novels that are tragedies rather than the hero’s story plot lines?
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Is it not the case that the tragedies are for characters within the fantasy? Like Dobby or Smokey Barnable or Snape?
I’m looking more for a total plot tragedy, like Macbeth, where the main character dies, goes insane, or suffers a major loss. I’m trying to find some comparison novels for the trilogy I’m writing. So far, all I’ve really found are modern reads, or urban fantasy. I’m looking for more epic fantasy. Know any?
Joe abercrombie’s first law books are very dark and anti-hero. They aren’t complete tragedies but they definitely don’t have happy endings.
@Casey Thank you for the suggestion!
I second this recommendation
R scott bakker.
I will look into him. Thanks!
The first book in the series is the darkness that comes before. Brace yourself though, It makes works like Abercrombie look like childrens fairytales
Have you read The Way of Shadows by @Brent? It’s not your standard hero and there’s parts where the villain is just freaking evil. I recommend it.
I’ll check it out.
Personally I’ve always wanted to read somethings from the bad guys point of view and watch as all his plans get ruined by some jerk hero.
Soon I Will be Invisible by Austin Grossman
Broken Empire?
Haven’t read it but I get that feeling.
The Black Company?
The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey took quite a brave and interesting perspective on a war.
Also The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy by the same author.
But Vanyel is also the hero… there’s no denying it’s pretty tragic, too, however 🙂 I’ve always felt Amberdrake was one of the ‘little people’, and the war told from the perspective of a camp follower (I’m trying to make it spoiler-free) rather than it always being a front-liner was a clever PoV to approach it from.
Oh, I agree! I loved Amberdrake. I like almost everything Mercedes Lackey writes.
It’s hard to discuss without spoilers… never got discuss fantasy/sci-fi with people much. Wish I could stay and chat. Alas, I must be off to work. Perhaps later?
I still love the old Valdemar stuff. And I really enjoyed Bedlam’s Bard. But the quality has taken a real dive, so I’m re-reading more than looking at any of her new stuff. I still get anything ‘Valdemar’, but that’s more from loyalty…
Hope work is OK. Hope to see you later (I’m on UK time).
The later books all seemed formulaic. Still, they’re a nice, easy read. Kinda… fluffy.
Emily, Mercedes Lackey is a prolific writer.
Try Mary Twomey
I’m in the process of reading through Elise Kova’s The Air Awakens series and it’s by no means a straight hero’s story. Tragedy hits the protagonist near constantly….
Open to opinion and debate but The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark fits the bill for me.
Kim Wilkins. Some of her books are quite dark and have miserable endings!