I read John Ringo when I was younger (early 20's); it has a lot of what you are looking for.
I wouldn't call it high art, but the writing is fairly good.
Absolutely "The Library at Mount Char" by Scott Hawkins
Gritty and gory? Black leopard, Red Wolf
TIL there's a sub here for books.
Terry Goodkind wrote the Sword of Truth series beginning with The Wizard's First rule in 1994, with 17 books in the main series and I believe still ongoing. Not much sex, but it has the brutality down, and is very well written.
Love the series, read it multiple times. It seems to get a lot of hate but I don't get why. I like the story, hate the villains, and can get invested in the characters. Plus it's very adult. My favorites series hands down.
There are two aspects to it, one the books, and second the author. Author isn't very likable, if you read some of his interviews you will understand. His opinion about himself, about fantasy, and general readers (and authors) of fantasy can be a bit annoying. As for the books, they sometimes have very stupid writing.
It has been a long time since I read the series, but one scene that I remember on top of my head, there was a woman (or group of them), who has to escape / pass through the whole army, so they go topless, cause then all the men in army will not be looking at their face and won't recognize them.
There were many other things like that.
First off, that scene isn't so they don't recognize their faces. It's to look like spirits and scare/shock them. They were a small army trying to use crazy tactics, I don't see what's so wrong about that. I've read it multiple times and I don't remember a point where they go topless implying no one would ever look at their face if they were topless.
As for the author, I don't know much about him, but I like the books. And way I think Michael Jackson is a bad person but I can still enjoy his music.
Nothing wrong with liking what others don't. I just responded cause you said you don't get why it gets so much hate. Of course, you don't have to agree with the reasons.
BTW I just gave you a random example from my mind cause I read it a long time ago, maybe over 20 years or so. It's possible I don't remember it from the book but by some mention online. There were many other complaints about his writing though, but since you like it, and I don't even remember most of it, no point arguing over it. 😀
I absolutely understand why people hate it. on lemmy, probably because of themes that could be interpreted as being anti communist. In the real world, because of how it mocks religion quite viciously, and promotes critical thinking.
Also multiple strong female characters who are well written, that really pisses people off.
Lol, the "strong female characters" and critical thinking of The Sword of Truth series. Might as well push Atlas Shrugged because "it's got a female author"
i haven't actually read Atlas Shrugged, probably should considering how often it's referenced in discussions on literature.
It's hard to get through... it's huge, but keeps bludgeoning you with the same cartoonish ideas over and over again until you're just exhausted. Kind of worth reading, just because it does come up in discussions so often, but don't necessarily expect to enjoy it.
It's not as much violent but Weaveworld by Clive Barker is in that dark fantasy vein, very good, very long.
Also dark, kinda cosmic, very good, is Imajica, also by Clive Barker. It's almost 900 pages tho so you've been warned.
Check out James Enge. He wrote a series that I really enjoyed that sounds like just what you are looking for.
Saving this thread because I'm curious
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