Today, we embark on a perilous journey into the world of Grimdark fantasy, where heroes are fools, victories are tragic, and morality is as murky as a tavern’s back alley.
After years of avoiding the genre, I finally took the plunge and read Joe Abercrombie’s Before They Are Hanged—the second book in The First Law trilogy. And what did I discover? A failed quest that somehow became one of the most unexpectedly profound fantasy narratives I’ve encountered.
Why do we need failed quest narratives? How do they console us in a world obsessed with relentless achievement? And what does this mean for epic fantasy, The Hero’s Journey, and even my own book, The Song of the Sirin? Let’s discuss.
Unrelated gift alert: I’m offering a free download of the fantasy map for my Raven Son universe. Interested? Add your email below so I can share it with you!