Thank you to everyone who contributed a short story to this competition and to everybody who voted.

Out of the three top picks, u/SwampWarden's 'Those Who Linger' was voted as the winner. It slaps.

This will be the final addition to our very first r/GrimDarkEpicFantasy Short Story Anthology which will be composed of all the winners over the previous year and available online hopefully by the end of 2026. If anybody with some visual skills would like to help us with the cover, I would appreciate it, but if not I will sort it out on my end.

u/SwampWarden (Thomas J Devens) is a very talented and Grimdark as hell author who has been a huge presence in this subreddit since early in its existence. I highly recommend checking out his larger works if you enjoy his short story, especially since this is connected to the larger works.

That's all for now!

Hey everybody! This one has four promotions since the three following the top spot each had the same amount of upvotes. I noticed some consistent downvoting across the promotions this time around, so if any others noticed it, we may have to discuss changing what constitutes getting this spotlight is in future. It could become a vote, for example. Let me know.

Without further ado, here are the top promotions of this month.

1. u/JasperLWalker

https://preview.redd.it/jku6wst5hxbh1.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d57e90e7bc5c1992b56de5bc1956af4f946f8f1e

>Quick Pitch:

>A brutal dictator hunts a God-releasing Artefact to save a dying world, but salvation demands massacre.
A vengeful father vows to rip his throat out or die trying.
A crew of thieves are blackmailed into stealing from the dictator.
The universe has ended before.
This time, it might stay dead.

>Some lovely review snippets:

>★★★★
“I went into The Shattered Line expecting a dive into the grimdark depths, and Jasper L. Walker's debut delivers exactly that: a foul, unrelenting cocktail of heist thrills, vengeful fury, and cosmic horror in a world that's already half-dead and itching to finish the job.” - SoullessEddie

>★★★★★
“I'd recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in grimdark. If you love Joe Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence but wish they occasionally twisted the knife a little deeper emotionally, this is an easy recommendation. Perhaps Jasper Walker is " the man's Anna Smith Spark." I aint gonna call ya 'king,' but with the right drag - you can just be a rival 'queen' my man ;D! All jokes aside the prose isn't quite as lyrical, but that may be exactly what makes it beautiful in its own way. Rawer. Uglier. More grounded. And somehow, because of that, just as haunting.” - Jay Watson

>★★★★★
“An elaborate and ambitious debut that beautifully balances a broad scope, a very well thought out cast of characters and a fast-paced plot that keeps you hooked - a rare combination in the grimdark genre.” - Paul G Zareith

>★★★★★
“An ambitious, blood-soaked dark fantasy debut with notes of Gentleman Bastards, Berserk, and Lovecraft. An all-consuming tome.” - FanFiAddict

>★★★★★
“The Shattered Line combines old school eldritch horror and, in my opinion, borderline sci-fi elements in a richly realised Grimdark world. Elias and the main cast are beautifully characterised, and you get behind them very quickly and want to see them achieve their seemingly impossible goal. Even the antagonist is someone with real depth, who you hate yourself for rooting for at times.” - Donna Morgan

>The Shattered Line Updates!

>As many of you now know, my ambitious debut now has an audiobook coming by the talented Liam Berghan. He’s sent me the prologue & the first two chapters back already and I can say with complete confidence that my readers are in for an absolute treat when this drops. It is leagues better than I dared hope for, professional sounding, and distinct as hell.

>Reviews.
Buy it here.

2. u/AndFinallySheDid

https://preview.redd.it/neiihpnojxbh1.jpg?width=362&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff4891183731db06ce977499084f72d698f18e5d

>Set in a world inspired by Imperial China, Phoenix Rises, Dragon Soars is a dark, character-driven epic fantasy and the beginning of The Four Guardians Trilogy.

>Blurb:

>The Emperor is dead. His widow takes the throne and the Empire learns to fear a woman who knows exactly what she wants.

>For Wang Longwei, the Empire's troubles are nothing but backdrop. Sold by his father at nine years old, he's spent every day since making himself into someone who doesn't need anyone.

>Until he meets Zhou Shufang. She despises him on sight, and he knows she's right to. But then her safety is threatened, and the life he's built begins to crack.

>When a disgraced commander and a hunted shamaness are drawn into their orbit, four strangers find themselves bound by a forbidden magic that promises death and leaves none of them unchanged.

>And all along, the Empress is watching.

>Book 1 contains: morally grey characters, forbidden elemental magic, found family, trauma, slow-burn emotional stakes, moral compromise, and a romance subplot that raises the stakes for Book 2 rather than softening them.

>Book 2, Tiger Cowers, Dragon Falls, releases 1 September 2026 and goes darker: captivity, coercion, survival, loyalty at a cost, and consequences that carry forward from Book 1.

>https://books2read.com/PRDS

3. u/Substantial_Sport755

https://preview.redd.it/jhmuhmiljxbh1.jpg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b51a2b39106ee88506cfd7d8e09736ea0d11168

>Bound in shadow. Sworn to the light.

>After the ancient vampires fell, the Empire discovered their final secret: half bloods born of human and vampire lineage.

>Spared only to conquer the Cursed Frontier, they became the Devos clan, a brotherhood forged by war, blood, and sacrifice.

>Now Norroth, scarred by holy fire and haunted by his past, marches toward the final stronghold. But something buried within it knows what he is.

>To survive, he must choose between the weapon the Empire made and the dark inheritance his clan was forced to forget.

>Count of the Veil is a dark fantasy progression novel of ritual warfare, blood bound power, conquest, and sacrifice.

>https://mybook.to/CostOfCrowns1

>Book 2 releases next week.

4. u/DeepVeinZombosis

https://preview.redd.it/hvi2s0axhxbh1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d86348ed5f9e0907637ae8e45d382f3c41ce8cb7

>Bones Before Fortune

>A decimated mercenary band finds itself the unwilling guardians of the last Empress of the Old Empire- and witness to the return of ancient power to the Torn World.

>*Book 2 is complete, just going through the editing/formatting/art phase. Don't think publishers will touch it, so Ill do it myself again. :P

That's all, folks! I hope you find an engaging new read to enjoy from this list.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Short Story Anthology contest winner vote in the next few days. This will be the final winner of the first year of these contests, marking the beginning of turning it into a real anthology that will be listed online.

UNLEASH HELL!

The only rule is that you can’t be a judge if your story is in the competition (the story by u/JasperLWalker will not be included in the competition for that reason). I’m looking for at least two judges, but I’m open to more if people are interested.

Hey folks! My bad, I forgot to do this again in the midst of life being hectic.

Below are the top promotions of the authors in this community over the last two months. To u/KerryStinnet - you actually got the top spot two months in a row. Not bad at all!

To any readers not yet picking these up, go on! Do it already! They're clearly doing something right.

u/KerryStinnet

https://preview.redd.it/v2m2o6av1d8h1.jpg?width=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1299fd4324295fb33353762e4c1637c152a7ea62

>A Work of Demons.
Book I of the Ashfyre quintet. 245,000 words of epic fantasy and Grimdark. Preorder books 2-3 if you’d like as well.
Find it here:
https://a.co/d/05V05P5d

>I want to thank this community again. In the first four days the book has sold 600+.

u/SwampWarden

https://preview.redd.it/2gwwnhf02d8h1.jpg?width=1250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=604f9a08ce945e3d3d483ab7747f77db94a07c57

>Revolting Peasant Press presents:

>Tales from the Tavern at the Brink of the Abyss issue #1 "A Payday and a Pint" by Thomas J Devens

>What happens when three thieves and a paladin walk into a forest?

>A great chasm has been torn into the land, casting darkness over the village of Castlerot.
A summons has been made, as the village calls for adventurers to come to their aid.
Meala, owner of the Brink of the Abyss Tavern, has taken it upon himself to see profit hope in their misfortune.

>In Belhaven, Digs and his crew find their luck cut short.
But he's always been the sort to know when it's time to move on.
And if he weren't, the mob of folks he robbed, nipping at his heels, make for a firm reminders.
With the less than willing aid of a Paladin of Devitor, they make their journey...
To Castlerot.

>So what is this? The Brink of the Abyss is a new project I've been working on, a handmand zine and audiobook. Each issue will be a short story that expands on the world/main story line. Drawing influence from oldschool TTRPGs and my roots in the DIY punk scene as well as the relentless onslaught of AI garbage. The more that shit encroaches, the more I wanna push analog. It's gritty, it's full of banter, it's a bit ridiculous, it's GRIMSNARK.

>Digitally its a PDF and mp3s. Physical copies are a handmade zine, printed, folded, stapled and all that, and a cassette tape.

>I've done the artwork, the writing, the audio narration, and the assembling myself.

>So check it out if you're interested. It will be releasing on May 22nd

>Digital copies will be available at Revolting Peasant Press on Itch

>Physical copies will be at Thomas J Devens on Ko-Fi

>No pre-orders or anything, they'll be live on those pages May 22nd. Unfortunately due to shipping costs physical copies may be US only.

>Revolting Peasant Press putting some pissed off punk rock in fantasy.
100% finger in the air GRIMSNARK!

u/DeepVeinZombosis

https://preview.redd.it/pxr5r2l62d8h1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dfee597c7d2907a5fb9eaedcc296b5526bfd535a

>BONES BEFORE FORTUNE

>-Setioch, commander of the dying Warfire Brotherhood, has a problem. A psychotic campaign of conquest is rolling over the world, making recruitment impossible and profit rare.

>He seeks respite and time to rebuild in the capitol of the Old Empire of Thaudia, one of the few nations not yet crushed under the fist of Fyrexia and their never ending thirst for domination.

>There truly is no rest for the wicked.

>Along with his few remaining mercenaries, he will become embroiled in the chaos of war as it boils through the cracks- and find himself a reluctant protector along the way.

>To the west, just under the scar in the world known as the tear, something has remembered itself in The Dark- and set in motion the return of centuries-absent powers.

>https://www.amazon.ca/Bones-Before-Fortune-World-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0F2SY6955

u/paulgzareith

https://preview.redd.it/bbrtyvni1d8h1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf4bd04cea8ce99d6ff734aa7c29c59d933020e7

>I have a short nihilistic novella (~100 pages) coming out in July. If you'd be interested in reviewing it ahead of launch, please drop me a line.

>Inquisitors: A Tale of Love and Damnation is a contemplative, character-driven exploration of grief, yearning, aging and love.

>The wars of old against the tide-caller cultists have left Inquisitor Vorain crippled and forlorn. Over the decades of commanding the dark tower, he has found his life fading into obscurity. But that changes when a mysterious presence begins to interfere with his investigation in the shadows of the night.

>Once feared, now forgotten, Vorain has long relinquished his yearnings for affection. But after seeing the gruesome handiwork of an unknown outsider, something warm begins to unexpectedly blossom in his heart once again.

>More details/sample here: https://paulgzareith.ink/books/inqtld/

u/Upbeat_Committee3766

https://preview.redd.it/0wy1pwjh2d8h1.jpg?width=801&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02a2d557accc128aa89338b22c2eb6ab4b6ea244

>The first two books of my Oathbreaker series came out this year! If anyone is interested in a dark fantasy saga about a fallen paladin battling demons and vampires, this might be up your alley. Third book is slated for an August release so there will be a good chunk to read soon. I’m also releasing chapters of the ongoing story weekly online for anyone in a binge mood.

>The series is published in all formats, with an audiobook narrated by Raphael Corkhill. Pre-orders for #3 are already available.

>Link to book 1: https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/129603/penance-of-blood

>Link to book 2: https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/131011/daughter-of-shrikes

Hey Grimdarkers! Our GOATED Mod u/Evening_Bruno has been trying his best to keep on top of these contests but as we all know, life gets in the way (speaking of - I have forgotten to highlight the best self promo's for a couple of months and will make a post shouting some authors out soon). He asked me to get this one posted for you as it is a month late & marks the first full year of the r/GrimdarkEpicFantasy Anthology Contests.

This one is going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to join in (even though us Mods can't win). You all know the drill, details are below.

You have until 28/06/2026 to submit your short story.

Prompt: A Short Story Based On Your Work (published, unpublished, WIP, and living only in your head all count)

Words: 1000 Max.

Stories will be scored across five categories, each out of 5 (max 25). The top 3 stories will be chosen based on highest total score.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Grimdark Vibes – Is it brutal, bleak, and morally grey?
• Prose & Language – Is the writing clear, punchy, and well-crafted?
• Structure & Pacing – Is the story well-built and satisfying to read with a clear start, middle and end?
• Story Impact – Does it leave a mark or make you feel something?
• Originality – Fresh ideas, clever angles, or pure creativity.

Submission Guidelines

Document Format

• Use Google Docs please.
• Use standard manuscript format:
  • Indent new paragraphs (do not use blank lines between paragraphs).
  • Left-align your text.
  • Double-spacing is not required unless you prefer it.

Sharing Settings (Important)

1. Open your Google Doc.
2. Click the "Share" button.
3. Under “General access”, choose “Anyone with the link”.
4. Set role to Viewer (not Editor or Commenter).
5. Do not leave comments or suggestions on the doc — this can reveal your Google profile.
6. Remove your real name or any identifying info from the document name and body.

Submitting Your Entry

• Copy the share link from your Google Doc.
• Post a new top-level comment in the Short Story Prompt Thread (don’t reply to someone else).
• Use the following format at the top of your comment:

Title: [Your Story Title] 

Word Count: [e.g. 1,873] 

Author: [Reddit username or pseudonym or pen name] 

Link: [Paste the link here]

Notes:

• Only one submission per person.
• You may edit your Google Doc until the deadline — after that, we’ll judge the version linked at close of entry.
• If the link doesn’t work or is restricted, your story won’t be considered.

WIP Small Print

By entering this competition, you agree to the following terms:

1. Copyright

• You retain full copyright to your story or artwork. This is your work, and you’re not giving that up.
• You’re simply giving us permission to publish it once in the Grimdark Anthology (both digital and print).

1. Usage Rights

• By submitting, you grant the organisers non-exclusive, one-time publishing rights to include your work in the anthology.
• You’re free to post or publish your work elsewhere before or after the competition. No exclusivity, no strings.
• We will not use your work for any other purpose (commercial or otherwise) without your explicit permission.

1. Anonymity & Attribution

• If you're submitting via Google Docs, please ensure your document contains no real names or identifying info unless you want to be named.
• All stories in the anthology will be credited using your Reddit username or an author / pen name of your choosing (we’ll confirm this before publishing).

1. Non-Profit Project

• This is a community-run, non-profit anthology. If we publish physical copies, they will be sold at cost or with any surplus used to fund future community events.
• No one is making money off your work. This is about showcasing the community and having a bit of creative carnage.

1. Content Standards

• Tag any non-standard content warnings. This is Grimdark: gore, violence, death, and execution are expected and do not need to be flagged. If your story includes content such as sexual violence, child harm, suicide, or extreme psychological torture, please include a brief content warning at the top of your entry.
• All entries must be original and written by you. No AI-generated content, plagiarism, or adaptations of existing copyrighted works.
• We welcome brutal, bleak, and bloody tales — but racism, bigotry, or real-world hate speech will not be tolerated, even under the cloak of fiction.

(Michael asked me to post this for him, he will be answering questions from his own account - Jasper)

I salute thee, r/GrimDarkEpicFantasy heathen-kin [touches bloody blade to ash-smeared forehead].

I'm Michael Michel, and yes, that’s essentially the same name twice, though the last is pronounced like the American “Michelle.” I’ve got a super badass thing happening over on Kickstarter…

I wanted to give people what they wanted. Enter the illustrated ULTIMATE EDITION of The Price of Power. This one is intended to be a family heirloom, so I contacted the GOAT, Jeff Brown, to create a cover of gritty, epic proportions, as well as a sick slipcase, both of which will be embossed in silver foil.

If you want to see the whole campaign in all its glory, go here: The Price of Power Kickstarter

For now, here’s some of the art from the campaign.

https://preview.redd.it/ki5bcz6n894h1.png?width=1697&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd476e88a3c9ad7de555010acdf77c16fac94fca

https://preview.redd.it/bs7nc91p894h1.png?width=1999&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdb98849e7f9e7e422f7b2a3742b81286174c7b4

More badass art by some badass artists:

Full spread by Anderson Magalhaes

Hemgowwa by Leonardo Wyrnist

“Kings Crossing” by Anderson Magalhaes

Now, let’s talk about the story at large.

If you like the idea of blending the massive character cast, epic scope, and political intrigue of A Game of Thrones with the “magic system” of X-Men, where suffering can manifest as a unique power, you’re sure to like these books.

Here’s what you can expect when reading:

• Character-driven.
• Morally grey.
• Gritty violence.
• Fleshed-out side characters.
• Badass heroines and flawed heroes.
• Psychoactive drug horror–who doesn’t love that.
• An undead horse named Scab.

Book one, The Price of Power, has appeared in the top 4 of r/Fantasy's Big List: Top Self-Published Novels and was a FanFiAddict Finalist for Indie Debut of the Year, as well as a SPFBO9 Semi-Finalist. If you want a taste of my writing style, you can check out excerpts from book 1&2 (spoiler-free) at my Author Website.

Art by Christopher Cant - Design by Rachel St. Clair

Quick Hit Facts:

• My background is in counseling and personal development coaching. I've supported upper management at numerous Fortune 500 companies, but also worked in the trenches with youth in schools. This, more than anything, shapes the way I write characters and try to infuse realistic psychology into their motivations and actions.
• Inspirations: George R.R. Martin, Raymond E. Feist, Richard K. Morgan, R. Scott Bakker, Joe Abercrombie, and most recently, Mark Lawrence.
• Favorite TV Shows: Dark, Scavenger's Reign, The Wire.
• I love table tennis. Once upon a time, I even had a rating.
• I had a VERY brief career as an actor. Ew.
• My name was Alex when I was born, but after my dad left the hospital to take care of my brothers, my mom changed it to Michael. She's Italian, which means she does whatever the F she wants.

Things you might want to ask...

• Do I love Warhammer/tabletop games? You bet your ass I do. Mostly fantasy/AoS. Wanna know what armies I played/play?
• How do I author? Why do I author?
• Some clever question no one has thought of.
• Top 10 films? Top 3 video games? Top XYZ Food?

https://preview.redd.it/io34ygj6994h1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4af0ad19c931c4bfa4b7f13c259b255bcbb56fa

NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS. ASK!

BUT KNOW THAT YOU WERE WARNED.

https://preview.redd.it/ln1fi7fx3izg1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b35c4d61d6131fd69caa148d01b4cdc7015c23b

Hey grim people!

I was excited when I woke up to see I had received a message from another Reddit Mod about a potential partnership between our communities. This Mod runs r/Quibble and has a team of dedicated people passionate about providing an alternative platform to the huge corporations forcing AI down author's throats.

The platform is still in its early days but has seen total payouts in the triple figures with their top-performing authors, they redistribute most of their income back to the creators on the platform, and they are working on updates for the app to really kick it into gear (notifications, comments, improved reading interface, fan-art and video upload, author walls, ect).

I think this has a lot of potential if it's given enough eyes and support. It could become a viable way for authors to gain readership and royalties for their work & it could hold your next favourite book with little chance of encountering AI content if you are just looking to read. They have a 30 day free trial of Quibble+ too, so you can see if you like it before you buy it.

If you think this is cool and has potential like I do, go join r/Quibble and have a look at the website www.GoQuibble.com.