Looking for realistic dark fantasy or grimdark recommendations with a strong plot
Hi.
I’m looking for a story that fits my tastes as much as possible. If anyone knows of a work, or has their own story that matches, I’d appreciate the recommendation.
It should be dark fantasy or grimdark. I don’t mind adult-content tags.
Ideally, it should have a realistic approach. There can be magic, but not everyone should have it, and it shouldn’t be the solution to everything.
It should have an interesting plot. If it mixes in suspense, mystery, political intrigue, psychological drama, or something similar, even better.
I’m not looking for LitRPG. I’m not interested in stories where the plot mainly revolves around the protagonist getting stronger to solve everything, or where everything comes down to fights against increasingly powerful enemies. For me, the plot is what matters most.
I’d prefer it not to have very young protagonists. I have a hard time taking young characters seriously when, without a solid justification, they have the experience of seasoned adults, or are great strategists or generals at unrealistic ages.
If you know anything that comes close to this, I’d really appreciate the recommendation. Self-promotion is fine too, even if the story was AI-assisted, as long as AI wasn’t overused.