Are you tired of regular Horror and looking for some extra flavor? Then it's perhaps time you give Fantasy Horror a?? try, the genre that imbues all things nasty with all things magical �but only to make it all even scarier �an??d sometimes a bit sexier.

Let'??s look at the best Fantasy Horror books you can read to g?et into the genre.

The King in Yellow (Robert W. Chambers)

The King In Yellow is one of the best introductions to the world of horror fantasy that anyone can ask for. It tells not one story, but nine which were highly influential to most other Fantasy and Non-?Fantasy Hor??ror writers that came after.

While not every single story contained in this book fits in the horror genre, most really do, and th?e one that does not will actually feel? like a nice palate cleanser at the end of a very sour road.

Chambers' work predates even that of Lovecraft, so if you want to dive even deeper into the origins of the kind of horror that Lovecraft made popular, this is the way to go.

Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)

Though Mary Shelley's Frankenstein already gets a lot of love for basically starting the Science Fiction genre, it also deserves a lot of love for its competency as a Fantasy ??Horr??or novel.

The fact that there's a popular meme about how the creature is actually called Fra?nkenstein's Monster, and not Frankenstein, indicates that a lot of people only know of both the monster and the mad scientist that created it through ideas diluted throughout other media. If you've ever had any interest in either of these characters, let me remind you that the original book is still the best �and most horrifying �way of getting to know their story.

Dracula (Bram Stoker)

And if you want an equally classic horror tale that replaces Frankenstein's body horror elements with doomed love and sexiness, then you should still give Bram Stoker's Dracula a go.

Th??is is the book that inspired every single vampire tale you know now �good, bad, and shiny alike �as well as the one that tu?rned the horrifying Vlad Tepes into the most iconic villain in the history of fiction. You really cannot leave this one in your backlog if you aspire to become a true old horror connoisseur.

The House of Leaves (Mark Z. Danielewski)

And if you want to go for something with a fresher flavor, you can do no better than Mark Z. Danielewski's The House Of Leaves. Not only does Danielewski hit you with one of the most original tales of horror of all time, he also does it in a way that you've never seen before. Expecting regular prose? Forget about that. Expect to find words scattered around the pages in circles, squares, and even in ways that will almost feel like random at times. Every page of The House Of Leaves reads less like a book and more like a puzzle �one straight out of Hellraiser.

You can gauge the weirdness of this beautiful work of art by seeing the legacy it has been leaving behind, such as, I kid you not, the best DOOM mod ever made.

The Hellbound Heart (Clive Barker)

And now that I've mentioned Clive Barker's puzzles, I cannot go without mentioning The Hellbound Heart. Want a very da?rk love story where all supernatural elements come straight out of hell? Then this is the one for you.

The Hellbound Heart tells the story of a man whose insatiable quest fo??r lust had him messing with powers beyond his comprehension and is now attempting to flee demons by doing things that will turn him into the most monstrous being in this story.

Hellbound Heart is the story that gave birth to the Hellraiser series ??of ??films and pulls even less gut punches than its cinematographic counterpart.

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery (Brom)

Though it feels like an old text that you probably shouldn't be reading, Slewfoot is one of th??e best Fantasy Horror novels to come out in recent times. Do you like the old England setting and are scared of the worst villains of witches' ta??les: the common folk? Then don't sleep on this one.

Brom began his career in the arts as an illustrator for Magic The Gathering, and even though he's just as good of a writer, he was kind enough to include a bunch of his own artwork in his book. Slewfoot can't help but feel like?? a great book that you can only buy in the most premium of formats but for a relatively l??ow price.

The Thief Of Always (Clive Barker)

And if many things can scare adults in a Fantasy Horror landscape, then most things can scare kids. The Thief Of Always features the most innocent and defenseless protagonists as they face off against an entity who, much like the Cenobytes from Hellraiser, promises something really great but delivers ??nothing of the like.??

Mr. Hood, the villain, is actually an immortal being who gets his longevity not out of his genetics or great diet but because he steals t?he youth out of the children he invites into his home. This is one of Clive Barker's least viscerally revolting novels, but don't let that trick you into thinking it's not one of his creepiest.

Necronomicon (H.P. Lovecraft)

Ok, I must admit right away that I am cheating. First off, Howard Phillips Lovecraft didn't write novels. Also, the Necronomicon is a book that shows up in some of his stories (and in the Evil Dead films), not an actual book you can read in real life. The reason why I'm choosing this book that you can get here, in particular, is that it's an amazin?g collection of the best st??ories from the greatest master of horror who's ever lived.

And, in case you're worried about reading something by a very bigoted author, then let me reassure you that he's dead and thus won't get to bathe in all the money he makes from the sales of all of his royalty and copyright-free work. Also, reports say that the older Lovecraft wasn't the same man who'd written such vilely bigoted prose. By the end of his life, Lovecraft had seemingly grown out ?of his bigotry and felt ashamed of his originally narrow v??ision of the world.

Dark Harvest (Norman Partridge)

Dark Harvest tells the story of a town where, every year, people go on a very specific kind of hunt so that the winner of the competition can also win a very specific kind of prize. I'd say that things naturally go awry at some point, but that's not even it. Things go bad, yes, but it's not by accident. It's by design. Is Dark Harvest a critique of tradition or perhaps even of American ideals? Maybe, but the most important part is that it's a story th??at also works on its own.

I don't want to spoil it because this is a rather straightforward story, but Dark Harvest is proof that you?? get a lot out of a s??imple premise.

The Library at Mount Char (Scott Hawkins)

What if God is gone, and some people are looking to take their seat? The Library at Mount Char tries to answer this question by weaving a tale about kn?owledge as power and family. The best thing about this already very solid piece of writing, in my opinion, is how it manages to avoid many religious clichés and does a great job of telling a story about people who want more than they can handle.

This is?? the one for you if you are into dark mystery fantasy that's deeply rooted in messed-up family dynamics.

The post 10 best fantasy horror books of all time appeared first on Destructoid.

There’s no consensus on what defines a dark fantasy book, but readers usually know when they’re rea??ding one. Grim atmospheres, antiheroic protagonists, and a more macabre approach to the supernatural are hallmarks of the dark fantasy genre, coming together to deliver an experience that skews closer to horror than fantasy.

Dark fantasy refuses to conform to anyone's standards, m?eaning the genre’s free to explore a near-bottomless pool of plots, themes, and character arcs. I’m not an expert on the genre, but the ten books I chose for this list are excellent introductions for newcomers who want to experience the shadowy world of dark fantasy for the first time.

10. Interview with a Vampire, by Anne Rice

Interview with a Vampire is one of those books that tells you what it's about on the cover. Louis de Pointe du Lac, a vampire, agrees to be interviewed by a reporter he only ever r?efers to as "the boy," recalling in writing the long, violent life his decision to become a vampire forced him to live.

An?ne Rice takes full advantage of her unique staging device, using what amounts to an overly long interview to weave together an elaborate tale about the horrifying ways time can change a person with no expiration date, all t?old through Louis' elegant yet brutally honest voice.

9. The Shadow of the Torturer, by Gene Wolfe

The Shadow of the Torturer unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where torture ranks surprisingly low on?? the "worst things that can happen to someone" list. We follow Severian, a member of a torturer's guild who's forced into an arduous exile after he takes pity on one of the guild's prisoners.

Mor?ality is a pliable thing in Severian's bleak world, and his journey across sun-baked deserts and grimy city streets forces him to question his loyalty to his guild and the corrupt kingdom it serves. By the end, Severian and the reader wonder if he's the hero or the villain of history's final chapter.

8. The Gunslinger, by Steven King

The Gunslinger is the first volume in Steven King's Dark Tower series and arguably the horror novel's first real crack at epic fantasy. We follow Roland, a gunslinger locked in a seemingly endless showcase with his nemesis, the "Man in Black." Roland travels through a wasteland infested by demons, mutants, and madmen, ??and his fate is forever changed when he encounters Jake Chamber, a boy from Earth,  a land the gunslinger has never heard of.

Later installments in the Dark Tower series are jam-packed with references to Steven King's library of work, but The Gunslinger keeps things simple. The Wild West-inspired world Roland and Jake journey through is as morbid as it is wonderous, and the? tender b??ond that forms between the two will keep you glued to the pages.

7. The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind marks the beginning of Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicles, and it's a strong start. A story within a story, the novel recounts the life of Kvothe, an innkeeper who, unbeknownst to most people in his life, is a powerful magician who earned a mixture of fame and infamy for? slaying a king.

Rothfuss's stellar prose breaths to life an equally impressive dark fantasy world with one of the most unique magic systems ever penned. While we're still waiting for the third a????nd final installment of the series, The Name of the Wind will keep you under?? its ??enthralling spell until you've flipped the last page.

6. A Monster Calls, by Siobhan Dowd and Patrick Ness

Lost books have brought tears to my eyes, but A Monster Calls is one of only a few books that's made me bawl. We follow Conor O'Malley, a thirteen-year-old boy who's visited in the dead of night by a colossal monster. The monster tells Connor three stories that, in ways that don't reveal themselve?s right away, reflect the hardships the boy is facing, preparing him for the impending tragedy he already knows is coming.

Patrick Ness tells the final story from Siobhan Dowd's mind with the same empathic prose he used in his incredible Chaos Walking trilogy. Many readers will relate to Conor's story, and the catharsis his time with the monst??er helps him reach will make all but the hardest-hearted readers' eyes water.

5. Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman

Northern Lights may be for kids, but that doesn't stop it from delving into dark?? territory. We follow Lyra Belacqua as she sets out to find her missing uncle and best friend, both of whom vanishe??d after they spoke out against the theocracy that rules their world.

Phillip Pullman creates an intrigu??ing world where children are born connected to shapeshifting spirits, ships sail through the sky, and an organized religion wields far too much power over the world. That world, and the journey Lyra takes through it, asks difficult questions about religious fundamentalism, the hardships of a??dolescence, and the ways knowledge helps us find ourselves and our way in the world.

4. Dracula, by Bram Stocker

Dracula needs no introduction, but I'll try my best. This seminal gothic horror novel recounts the hapless solicitor Johnathan Harkens' terrifying encounter with Dracula and the c??haos that unfolds when the Transylvanian noble follows him to London, told in letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings.

While it wasn't the first book about vampires, Dracula's titular villain has become the quintessential vampire. The novel's unique exploration an??d deconstruction of sexuality, gender roles, and Victorian values are still heavily discussed in literary circles today.

3. Blood of Elves, by Andrejz Zapkowski

Blood of Elves starts Andrejz Zapkowski's The Witcher saga ??with a bang. We follow Geralt of Rivia as he protects Ciri, the heir to the fallen kingdom? of Cintra, from monsters and agents of the mighty Nilfgardian Empire alike.

Blood of Elves establishes The Witcher's world as a place where the typica??l trappings of epic fantasy have been corrupted almost bey?ond recognition. Trolls and undead roam freely, kings regularly backstab each other to stave off conquest, and elves and dwarves have devolved into radical terrorists drowning in their hatred of humanity.

2. Coraline, by Neil Gaiman

Coraline is a modern fairy tale that understands that fairy tales were never the bright, colorful stories tha??t Disney and other companies portray them as. We follow Coraline as she discovers a secret door in her new house that leads her to a magi??cal realm inhabited by "another" version of her family, where everything's a little too perfect.

Neil Gaiman tells one of the darkest children's fables ever, conveying a healthy mix of wonder and horror through his iconic, down-to-earth prose. If my words aren't enough to convince you that this creepy parable is worth a read, the fact that it's been adapted into a stop-motion animated film, a graphic novel, and two theatrical adaptions might.

1. A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones is so much more than the start of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series; it's the beginning of one? of the most popular media franchises ever made. Ned Stark, the honorable Warden of the No?rth, travels south to King's Landing to serve as his old friend King Robert's second-in-command. In doing so, he set in motion a series of events that plunge the continent of Westeros into a bloody war of succession.

Westeros is home to dragons, blood magic, and the undead, but these fantastical elements are secondary to the compelling political intrigue that drives the story forward. A Game of Thrones has everything a dark fantasy novel needs, and that's why it's? number one on this list.

The post 10 Best Dark Fantasy Books For 2024 (Ranked) appeared first on Destructoid.

Focus features has released the long-awaited teaser trailer for Robert Eggers' reimagining of the vampire classic, Nosferatu. It's absolutely spine-tingling.

Though the teaser threatens a vampiric threat capable of consuming an entire town, the The VVitch and Lighthouse filmmaker is p??romising more atmosphere and harrowing ch??aracter moments than all-out vampire hunting action.

Genre fans will be glad to see that, much like the classic Francis Ford Coppola adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Eggers' Nosferatu seems to blend elements of new and old filmmaking such as CGI and miniature work to come up with ??uniquely unsettling imagery.

But, having come out in 1922, it's completely understandable that most are entering this ride out of love for Eggers' past work, not because they know a thing about Nosferatu itself. Le??t's find out all there is to know ab?out it, shall we?

What is a Nosferatu?

The word Nosferatu has been associated with the specifi??c image of a vampire with an almost goblin-like appearance. "A" Nosferatu is the opposite of the usual image of the suave aristocrat seen in most vampire tales.

In the popular Vampire: The Masquerade board and video games, "t??he" Nosferatu are a clan of vampires that's confined to the sewers as the Masquerade believes there's just no way they could blen?d in with society at large.

"Nos?feratu", h?owever, is just the old Romanian word for "Vampire".

The original Nosferatu told the story of a vampire named Count Orlock but he was meant to be Count Dracula. Filmmaker F.W. Murnay just wanted to adapt the story of Bram Stoker's Dracula and avoid copyright-related repercussions, so the production changed the name, a few story beats, and the character's overall appearance. Eggers is sticking with the name Nosfe?ratu instead of Dracula, seemingly because he loves the classic.

Is Nosferatu a remake?

Though it shares the name with 1922's film, the new Nosferatu is being touted as a reinvention of the classic. This is the second retelling of this sort-of bootlegged story, as Werner Herzog also gave it a shot with Nosferatu the Vampyre back in 1979.

Lily-Rose Depp will star alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Nicholas Hoult, who'll be joined by Eggers regulars Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson. Though we only see glimpses of the titular Nosferatu in the teaser, we know he's played by Bill Skarsgård, whom you might know as Pennywise the clown from It. Nosferatu will open on December 25.

The post Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu finally gets a teaser trailer appeared first on Destructoid.