Fantasy has taken the world by storm with classic books like Lord of the Rings, shows like House of the Dragon, and real life events such as Books, Gowns, and Crowns. So it’s no secret around here that I love fantasy (heck, I’m even writing a fantasy series myself). But I’ve seen a lot of people wondering what the differences between the fantasy subgenres are — specifically fantasy, high fantasy, and dark fantasy.
Cause they’re all fantasy, right? Sort of. Let’s take a look at the differences between these genres.
Though they share some similarities, there are also some key differences between them.
Fantasy is often seen as the more light–hearted and whimsical genre of the three. It often features stories with magical elements and creatures, and is often set in a world that is very different from our own.
High fantasy, on the other hand, is generally more epic in scope and features more complex world–building. It is also often more serious in tone than fantasy.
Dark fantasy, as its name suggests, is the darkest and most horror–influenced of the three genres. It often features gritty, violent stories set in dark, dangerous worlds.
Which fantasy genre is your favorite? And leave your book recommendations in the comments!