If you are a fan of dark magic and are looking for some spellbinding books to dive into, then you are in the right place. Here is a list of the best dark magic books that will transport you to a world of mystery, enchantment, and darkness. 1. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling: This installment of the beloved Harry Potter series delves deeper into the world of dark magic with the introduction of the character Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort.
The best dark fantasy books to read right now
To call a book 'dark fantasy' has had several different meanings over the years. Here, David Green introduces some of best dark fantasy books to read now, whatever your favoured definition.
12/09/2023 2 minutes to readWith a definition that is constantly evolving, dark fantasy is a genre that’s difficult to pin down – and that’s what makes it so exciting.
Dark fantasy’s roots are in gothic horror, and in writers applying these sensibilities to the kind of epic storytelling familiar to fantasy readers. More recently, the field has ripened to include contemporary tales of secret societies and academia. But one thing has remained consistent: an overriding sense of danger and despair.
From supernatural perils to epic battles of good versus evil (with a healthy helping of the grey in between), and from forbidden romances to mysterious cursed artefacts, this is a genre where anything can happen. Which is pretty fantastic. We all need to succumb to the darker side of life sometimes.
If you want to delve into dark fantasy for the first time, or you are already a fan and are looking for more, let me guide you through the eras and different flavours of this changing genre. You never know what might tempt you.
She Who Became The Sun
by Shelley Parker-Chan
Set in an alternate fourteenth-century China, two poverty-stricken children are handed out their fates: one, the family’s youngest brother, is destined for greatness, while the clever and capable daughter is seemingly overlooked by destiny. It all changes, though, when the children find themselves orphaned, and the child destined for greatness succumbs to despair and dies, leaving space for an unforeseen future for the lone survivor.
A story of desire and exploring what lengths a person would go to for survival, Parker-Chan’s dark and brutal tale contains intricate characterisation and is a great example of dark fantasy seen through a historical lens. Its sequel, He Who Drowned The World, is out now.
The Unspoken Name
by A. K. Larkwood
Csorwe knows the exact day she will die, and how. But, at the foretold time of her fated demise, a mysterious and powerful stranger offers her a new destiny: the chance to become a mage’s sword-hand. Turning her back on her home and god, Csorwe descends into a life of murder and intrigue.
An epic sapphic fantasy with compelling world-building, The Unspoken Name is an exploration of identity and fate. The scope and stakes continue to build into an explosive and rip-roaring finale that leads into a spectacular sequel, and both perfectly encapsulate the dark fantasy sub-genre’s darker take on traditional fantasy.
The Atlas Six
by Olivie Blake
Each decade, six uniquely talented magicians are selected to join the ranks of the Alexandrian Society, the caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilisations of antiquity. Enlisted by Atlas Blakely, the new recruits are told a devastating truth: only five will succeed, and one will be eliminated.
A character-focused tale of deliciously dark academia, The Atlas Six, and its sequel, The Atlas Paradox (book three is due for release in 2024), are wonderfully-written stories spanning time and space featuring trauma, adventure and survival. And they're filled with romance, rivalry and betrayal. Blake shows dark fantasy’s flexibility by demonstrating how well dark academia sits within this sub-genre’s dangerous and brooding atmosphere.
The Tiger and the Wolf
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Maniye is a woman of two halves. An outcast, even though her father is the Wolf clan’s chieftain, part of her lineage belongs to the hated Tiger clan, whose queen was her mother. All can shift into the animal form of their clan, but Maniye has a secret: she can take the shape of both wolf and tiger.
Dark fantasy of the epic and classic kind, Tchaikovsky’s tale is one of impending war and ill omens. Tense and immersive, The Tiger and the Wolf won the Robert Holdstock Best Fantasy Novel in 2017, and the story is continued in its two sequels.
5 Dark Magic Books Straight From Hell to Freak You Out!
Since the inception of the conventional definitions of “good vs. evil” and similar morals, humanity has been fairly fascinated with the paranormal. For most of us, we rather look into the good side with angels and benevolent creators and what-not. But there are the select few that are deeply intrigued with the malevolent and wicked. For those of you interested in the darker side of life and death, here are 5 vile, magical books with somewhat evil or otherwise peculiar content and origins. 1. The Necronomicon Image via Disclose.tv H. P. Lovecraft created this …
Since the inception of the conventional definitions of “good vs. evil” and similar morals, humanity has been fairly fascinated with the paranormal. For most of us, we rather look into the good side with angels and benevolent creators and what-not. But there are the select few that are deeply intrigued with the malevolent and wicked. For those of you interested in the darker side of life and death, here are 5 vile, magical books with somewhat evil or otherwise peculiar content and origins.
1. The Necronomicon
Image via Disclose.tv
H. P. Lovecraft created this fictional book through the collections of his stories. Although it is an entirely fictional book, Lovecraft lead many people to believe it was real with his convincing and cryptic writings on it. He even made a backstory for the book in The History of the Necronomicon. Supposedly, the grimoire was made by a man named Abudl Alhazred or more commonly known as the “Mad Arab”. The Necronomicon is said to contain vast amounts of knowledge; possibly even all knowledge. However, it is more commonly known for containing rituals and incantations to summon the all-powerful Outer Gods and Old Ones.
2. The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic
Image via Black Witch Coven
This particular book is believed to have been first published in the fifteenth century, although its author is unknown; be prepared for a lot of unknown authors with these evil books. The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic has never been fully translated in its entirety. The book primarily deals with how to summon various demons and how to deal with them once summoned; whether it be for a deal with it or other things. It also has various methods for necromancy or the study of controlling/bringing back the dead. Nowadays, however, only parts of it have been edited into a modern-day book under a new, more fitting title: Forbidden Rites.
3. The Voynich Manuscript
Image via Smithsonian Magazine
Wilfrid Voynich purchased this very odd book sometime in 1912, and ever since the world has desperately tried to crack its code. The mystery book was only named after the book salesman because no one has been able to decipher the language it is written in. Besides the curious writing, the book includes vast amounts of illustrations. All of the pictures are pretty weird and only raise more questions. To date, no one knows who wrote it or why. Some speculate it may be a medical journal or something similar while others go so far as to say it’s from aliens! The Voynich Manuscript has even been tested by scientists multiple times to see if it is a fake; it is not. So far, we basically only know it was created sometime in the 15th century.
4. The Codex Gigas
Image via Atlas Obscura
The legend of the Codex Gigas is as interesting and curious as it is puzzling. This enormous book is three feet long, twenty inches wide, and 8.7 inches thick; this makes the Codex Gigas the biggest known medieval manuscript. For the most part, the Codex doesn’t contain anything too harmful or malignant. It mostly comprises a history of man and all that may have been known at that time and also includes the entire Latin Bible and various alphabets.
Legend has it, the Codex was made when a monk was sentenced to death for going back on his holy vows. The monk supposedly made a bet with his captors that if he could make the most glorious book they had ever seen in one night, he’d be able to live free. Realizing that this would be impossible, the monk summoned Satan himself and made a pact. The devil wrote the entire book that night for the monk and even drew a picture of himself in it.
The monk showed it to his guards the next day. The legend sounds silly, but there is evidence that supports that the Codex Gigas may have actually been written in one night. When analyzed, it would take one person at least five years to copy all of the Codex’s contents; five years of non-stop writing.
5. The Grand Grimoire or The Red Dragon
Image via Students of Occult History
The Grand Grimoire is said to be one of the most powerful and also one of the evilest books ever written. Also known as The Red Dragon, many speculate as to who actually authored such a dark book. Whoever wrote it must have had extensive knowledge on the work of King Solomon; many grimoires appear to have spells or rituals used by the King himself. This book is distinctively different, in that many rumors surround it. Supposedly, the Vatican is the only place to have the original copy.
The book is said to contain various parts. Of its many dark contents, the book contains various ways of summoning demons and using them for your bidding safely. It even describes specific magical items that are needed to keep the demons at bay, lest the legion take over you. There are also chapters on making bargains with demons, however, the book warns the reader that this will always come at some great cost.
Possibly the most shocking, scary, and otherworldly part of the book is the ritual used to summon Lucifer wherever you are. It is said to give instruction on how to command the King of Hell himself to do whatever you want. However, I hardly believe that anyone would summon up the devil for anything good; which explains why the Vatican may keep it under wraps.
Remember to take each entry with a grain of salt; don’t just assume that these magic books are really magic or actually work. Many grimoires and other magical textbooks were written during the 15th century during a time when grimoires sold like hotcakes because of their superstitious outlooks and beliefs. So, just remember that the next time you try and hex or curse someone, it probably won’t do a thing but waste your time and whatever sacrifice you just used.
Featured Image via Medium
Hello. I am Witch Christina, welcome to my free Magic Library!
Hello. I am Christina and I'm a witch. I spend time contemplating the moon, and practising candle magic, mainly for healing. For this, I write what I am hoping for on a candle splashed with various scented oils and pass my wishes through the candle as it burns. All my friends know I'm a witch, but I don't say it to everyone and I don't walk dressed like a witch through the streets - it would be easy to be teased. I'm also a normal person.
I spend a lot of time reading literature. At the moment I'm read book Grimoires: A History of Magic Books by Owen Davies, which talks about a range of subjects from the history of Jewish traditions to the destruction of old magic books by the Christian church. I am very grateful to one of the visitors of my site, who found this book on the internet and send it to me via email. I am also very grateful to all other people who send me interesting books on magic to add to my collection!
Sharing gives us power over our own lives. No person can control a thing when it is freely available to all. Sharing is a basic human impulse that binds people together. When we share knowledge, skills, experience, and wisdom, it costs us nothing but our time, and often leaves us richer than we were.
I've also started my own site darkbooks.org which I decided to share with other people my most favorite books on magic and occultism. My personal collection of books contains several thousands books, 2100+ of them located on this site (I am constantly adding new ones). These are the best books on magic and esotericism, which I have and I read. They are all in pdf format. Please note, on my site you can download and order on CD only PUBLIC DOMAIN versions of books, although in my home collection is copyrighted books. But for a site I found for each copyrighted book it PUBLIC DOMAIN version, if it were possible. If I did not find PUBLIC DOMAIN version, then, unfortunately, the site contains only a description of the book. I would be very grateful to all those who help me to find PUBLIC DOMAIN versions of books for those books that I could not find, or for any good books on magic, which I do not have. All books can be downloaded free of charge, if you want to get them on CD you can order the entire collection of books on CD for a nominal fee. This site is a non-profit venture. Revenue from CD is only used to help cover costs.
In addition, my site has many videos and articles on witchcraft, black magic, occultism, voodoo magic, esoterica, paganism. I hope it will be useful to anyone interested in magic and witchcraft, and wants to know more about them, beginners and professional wizards and witches. Read articles, download magic books, watch videos, learn the secrets of magic and remember, keep an open mind, just because something has not been revealed to you yet does not mean that your wishes and dreams aren't just moments away. Your beliefs and perseverance are the key to your life' successes - I'm very optimistic that it can help you achieve all of your goals, and overcome all of your obstacles.
If you are having difficulty downloading books, or you are looking for a book that is not on the site (but maybe it is in my home library), please write me a email to and I will try to help, I can send the book by e-mail
Good luck and I hope you enjoy my site! Positive feedback from the community is always appreciated!
Rowling: This installment of the beloved Harry Potter series delves deeper into the world of dark magic with the introduction of the character Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. It explores the origins of Voldemort's rise to power and his quest for immortality. 2.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde: This classic novel tells the story of Dorian Gray, a young man who desires eternal youth and beauty. He makes a Faustian bargain to transfer his sins and aging to a portrait, leading him down a path of moral decay and dark magic. 3. "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice: In this gothic novel, the protagonist Louis recounts his life as a vampire to a reporter. The book explores themes of immortality, dark desires, and the struggle between good and evil. 4. "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman: This series follows Quentin Coldwater, a high school student who discovers a hidden world of magic and enrolls at Brakebills University. The story takes a dark turn as Quentin and his fellow students encounter dangerous creatures, rival magical factions, and the allure of forbidden magic. 5. "The Necronomicon" by H.P. Lovecraft: This fictional grimoire, created by Lovecraft, is often associated with dark magic and forbidden knowledge. It is said to contain texts of ancient rituals, summoning spells, and other arcane knowledge. 6. "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke: Set in an alternative version of England during the early 19th century, this novel follows the resurgence of magic in a society that has long forgotten it. The book explores the dark and mysterious aspects of magic and the consequences of tampering with forbidden spells. 7. "The Black Witch" by Laurie Forest: This young adult fantasy novel follows the journey of Elloren Gardner, a young woman with incredible powers in a world where dark magic is taboo. The book explores themes of prejudice, loyalty, and the struggle between light and dark magic. 8. "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern: This enchanting tale revolves around a mysterious circus that arrives suddenly and leaves just as mysteriously at different locations. Dark magic is intertwined with the immersive storytelling, captivating readers with its atmospheric setting and magical duels. These books offer a truly immersive experience into the world of dark magic. So pick one up, immerse yourself in darkness, and prepare to be bewitched by these compelling tales..
Reviews for "Into the Unknown: The Best Dark Magic Books to Explore the Mysteries of the Dark Arts"
1. John - 2/5 stars - As a fan of dark magic books, I was extremely disappointed with this list. The selection seemed generic and lacked depth. I was hoping for recommendations that would truly immerse me in the world of dark magic and challenge my perceptions, but instead, I found the books to be predictable and unoriginal. It felt as though the list was hastily put together without much thought or consideration for the readers. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this list if you're looking for a truly captivating dark magic reading experience.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was excited to find a list of the best dark magic books, but this one left me incredibly disappointed. The recommendations were all incredibly overrated and lacked substance. The stories felt recycled and lacked the darkness and complexity that I was hoping for. It seemed like the author just picked popular titles instead of genuinely exploring the genre. I would not recommend this list to any true dark magic enthusiasts as it fails to deliver on its promise.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - I found this list of the best dark magic books to be quite underwhelming. The descriptions of the books lacked depth and failed to capture my interest. It felt like the list relied on popular mainstream choices rather than offering lesser-known gems that truly showcase the genre. Additionally, I was disappointed by the lack of variety in terms of writing style and themes within the recommendations. Overall, I believe there are far better lists out there for fans of dark magic looking for truly immersive and original reads.