In the city of Valestadt, every sin leaves its mark in the form of Bloodrot, a disease that slowly eats away at its host. And Talin Keller is a sinner. She gets her hands dirty so the holy Prophet’s can stay clean. When an assignment puts her on a collision course with a shadowy figure known as “the Warden,” she sees a new future: trade his capture for her freedom. But the closer she gets, the more she finds herself falling for his sharp edges and twisted sense of justice. And as the lines between good and evil begin to blur, Talin finds herself at the center of a conflict that could destroy everything.
As a lifelong fan of fantasy novels, I absolutely love it when authors mix it with other genres. Since fiction in general is often an exercise in “what if?” and fantasy novels always ask what if magic (in any shape or form) were real, there is so much room to explore those questions and to push boundaries. It’s definitely part of what makes this genre so fun. With that said, I want to ask you: what if magic were not only real, but also dark, gritty, and mysterious? In other words, I want to talk about noir fantasy books! A very niche subgenre that not enough people read.
But first, let me tell you a little about noirs. Because the definition is part of what helped me pick the books for this list. Noir as a genre is kind of vague. It is dark, gritty, often disturbing, and very atmospheric. There is moral ambiguity, and almost always, things end up going wrong. In it, endings are bittersweet and our protagonists are flawed antiheroes. The difference between right and wrong is anything but clear. There is also an element of mystery, as noirs are part of crime fiction. Because of that, we often follow some sort of detective. Picture high-contrast black-and-white films with a moody main character holding a cigarette—that’s the noir vibe.
Now that we are all on the same page about what noirs are, let’s explore some noir fantasy books!
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Let’s kick things off with a personal favorite! Set in an alternate Mexico City, Certain Dark Things follows Domingo, a young man who lives on the streets. His life is forever changed when he meets Atl. Not only is she a vampire, she’s also on the run from the rival narco-vampire clan who killed her whole family. After their encounter, Atl recruits Domingo to help her leave the city, and their path will leave plenty of dead bodies in their wake.
Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi
Next, you absolutely want to read Onyebuchi’s Harmattan Season! This novel follows Boubacar, a private eye who just wants to do his job and keep his head down. Then one day, a bleeding woman stumbles through his door, asking for his help, just to disappear. That, coupled with a lot of political turmoil, leads Bouba to a darker path through the city’s darkest corners and its best-kept secrets. And what he finds will undoubtedly get him in trouble—maybe even killed.
Hammers on Bone by Cassandra Khaw
Moving on to a short novella that packs quite a punch! Hammers on Bone tells the story of John Persons, a private investigator who is hired by a ten-year-old kid to murder his stepdad. The man in question, McKinsey, is absolutely despicable. He also happens to be a literal monster. Persons is no stranger to the occult, which makes him the perfect hunter. But he might just have to release his own demon in order to defeat this one.
Grave Beginnings by R.R. Virdi
If you’re looking for a noir fantasy novel that does follow a detective, then Grave Beginnings is for you! This novel follows Detective Vincent Graves. He just woke up inside a dead body, again. And this time, he only has 13 hours to find whoever killed this borrowed body of his. All signs point to a strange supernatural presence, but can he solve the case before the clock winds down? You’ll have to read it to find out!
Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk
Now, for those of you who like a dose of romance with your noir fantasy books, let me introduce you to C.L. Polk’s Even Though I Knew the End. This novella is set in an alternate 1940s Chicago. It follows a detective named Helen, who once sold her soul in order to save her brother’s life. The time for her to go to hell is approaching fast, but then she’s offered a case. If she can find the city’s most notorious serial killer in three days, her client will help her have a future in which she actually grows old with the woman she loves.
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
Last but certainly not least comes Sarah Gailey’s Magic for Liars! This novel follows Ivy Gamble, a PI who was just hired to investigate a murder. One of the faculty members at her estranged sister Tabitha’s school was just killed, and Ivy is tasked with finding out who did it. The case is already difficult in and of itself. But Ivy has no magic, unlike her sister, and as she investigates, she starts to lose herself in the life she could have had.
Want to read more noir stories? We’ve got you covered! From sci-fi noir books to the more classic noir superhero stories—take a dive into our archives to find your next read.
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