Reading lists are one way to gather and present many stories in our profile. Think of it like bookshelves you can peruse for your next read. The reading lists in DarkFantasyReads are divided across the different subgenres of Fantasy, as will be discussed later.

Did you know that YOU and your Dark Fantasy story can be featured in them? Read on to learn more!

Here at DarkFantasyReads, we are delighted to explore all corners of Fantasy and the dark side of it. So, browse these descriptions and see if your story or your preference aligns with them!

Stories of far away places, mighty kingdoms, magical creatures, and brave heroes setting on a journey to save the world—the possibilities are endless. Darkness curls from the shadows, threatening the balance of the world in the form of dark magic, creatures of the dark, traitors, or villains rising from the depths.

Popular works that may come to mind are The Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake.

If your story takes place in a fantasy kingdom or has stakes and conflict that touches on dark themes, this reading list is perfect for it.

Stories of wicked witches, wizards, necromancers, and other magical entities exploring the vast landscape of dark magic in all forms and faces. Here, spells and chants rule the lives of many. Everything is possible, but if you are not careful, you might pay the price you are not ready for.

Popular works that may come to mind are Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo and The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud.

If your story has characters that know a lot about the dark workings of magic and a world that hinges on its existence and flourishing, this reading list is perfect for it.

Stories about paranormal creatures of the dark are the trump here. Vampires, Werewolves, the Undead, Angels, Demons, shapeshifters, hybrids, and other twisted creatures in modern settings or in worlds of old—all or some thrown into a deadly game of survival. Themes of Heaven and Hell are also common.

Popular works that may come to mind are The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater.

If your story is centered about any (or all; we're not picky!) of these paranormal creatures in any fantasy setting or world, this reading list is perfect for it.

All's fair in love and darkness. These are stories that feature compelling romance stories at the heart of a darkly fantastical world. The paths to love aren't linear. Treachery, betrayal, the occasional murder—anything can be used to get your happy ending.

Popular works that may come to mind are The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black and Sands of Arawiya series by Hafsah Faizal.

If your story has dark love as one of the prevalent themes, takes place in a fantasy world, and has dark fantasy elements involved, this reading list is the perfect fit.

Stories that take place within, under, or above the surface of the world as we know it—these are tales that will delve into the mysteries of the real world and attempt to provide a fantastical explanation of it. Dark and gritty, we want badass characters seeking to protect their turf, go on a journey through highways and alleys dealing with magical creatures, and survive in a fantasy world right in the shadows of the real.

Popular works that may come to mind are The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

If your story takes place in the middle of modern society or has magic and other fantasy elements accepted as part of it, this reading list is perfect for it.

Magic and science in one spell-binding tale. These stories feature mind bending mish-mash of science fiction and fantasy, all twisted into a darker angle. Magic is science, and science is magic—any perspective works!

Popular media that may come to mind are the TV show, Arcane and Frank Herbert's series, Dune.

If your story has an equal or skewed proportion of science fiction and fantasy elements, this reading list is a perfect fit for it.

Characters going on a journey in your dark fantasy world? Look no more than this reading list. Stories involved here feature epic journeys across all types of shadowy landscapes, modern, old, or in an entirely different world. Explore hidden places and encounter dangerous denizens and creatures—these stories have all the action to keep you reading through the night.

Popular works that may come to mind are Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan and Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.

If your story features journeys, exploration, or fast-paced action in a dark fantasy backdrop, this reading list is perfect for it.

Fairy tales, folklore, mythology—anything can be spun from its original form into something deliciously dark, new, and fresh. These stories feature the familiar threads of the stories we grew up knowing, but each offer a unique twist and a darker perspective.

Popular works that may come to mind are The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim.

If your story takes inspiration from well-known, obscure, or tales and myths from other cultures and civilizations, this reading list is perfect for it.

Stories that take place in an alternate history of both the past and future or those that are modeled after a specific time period but darker and more fantastical—all kinds of history are welcome! In Historical Fantasy, we delight in time travel, dark interpretations of periods through time, and fantastical alterations to the world's timeline as we know it.

Popular works that may come to mind are His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

If your story features a specific time period or is inspired by a specific time period, this reading list is perfect for it.

Magic schools—need we say more? These stories take place in sprawling academies for magic, featuring all kinds of conflict including fitting in, learning magic in record time, and defeating an evil dark lord before lunch time. All in a day's work!

Popular works that may come to mind are the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore.

If your story has a magic school and the characters are directly engaging in it, this reading list is perfect for it.

Any story that takes themes, plots, characters, and settings straight from the myths and folklore as we know it and spins them into a dark tale of magic and wonder. These stories feature mythical creatures or races from all kinds of myths across the world. Better yet, they can be from a pantheon or folklore that you came up with!

Popular works that may come to mind are An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan and Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye.

If your story is inspired by myth and folklore from any country or it features several elements common in myth and folklore like gods and fantasy races, this reading list is perfect for it.

Do you see your story being featured in any of these lists? Wonder no more! These lists are always for submission. We will notify you if a new list will be added, but for now, the previously discussed lists are spots your story can fill.

Please read the following guidelines when it comes to submitting stories:

🔮 You can submit to many lists with the same book as long as it is relevant to the list you are applying for. However, AVOID spamming the same reading list with the same story.

🔮 You are allowed to submit however many stories under your username to various reading lists as long as they are relevant to the list they are being applied to.

🔮 All submissions must be in English.

🔮 All submissions must follow Wattpad's Content Guidelines.

🔮 Pay attention to grammar, prose, paragraph flow, and other technicalities in the narrative. We also take into consideration the characterization, hook, worldbuilding, execution, and scene transitions when reviewing submissions.

🔮 Stories featured in our reading lists are permanent.

🔮 Ongoing stories are welcome, but they need to be updated constantly (once a month, minimum) if they are to stay in their reading lists. If we notice the lack of updates, we reserve the right to remove a story from the feature.

🔮 When submitting, make sure to have at least 10 story parts available. Author notes, character aesthetics, playlists, dedications, etc. do not count.

🔮 We can only accept books that are first books of a continuing series. Books part of a series of standalones are accepted, as long as they do not need knowledge of other books to be enjoyed.

🔮 Since this profile is being run by independent users who all have lives, reviewing and addition of submissions to RLs will not be in consistent periods of time. Please do not rush us. Rest assured that all submissions will be carefully considered.

🔮 There are no payment (in Wattpad terms) needed to submit and be reviewed for our reading lists.

With Wattpad's policies around links, we have to circumvent such safeguards to deliver the submission form to you. It will be available as an external link to this chapter. You can view it in the picture below.

For mobile users, we apologize. External links are a thing for desktop users. Nevertheless, you can find the submission link in the https://solo.to/darkfantasyreads placed under our bio, DarkFantasyReads.

Please fill out the form to the best of your ability. Links that are not from Wattpad or broken links are not going to be entertained. We prefer links to have the form "https://wattpad.com/story/123456789".