The Best Dark Fantasy Audiobooks

Lord Morpheus, better known as the Sandman, has been pulled from the land of dreams and sleep that he holds dominion over, and imprisoned on Earth. By the time he's able to escape the cult that has held him captive for decades, Lord Morpheus must embark upon a quest to snatch back his power and ascend to his rightful place. But these tasks will tax him to his limits, and take him on an epic journey along the way. This Audible exclusive audio adaptation of the legendary graphic novels is produced by Neil Gaiman and narrated by a stellar cast, including Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen, and more. And when you're done listening to The Sandman: Act I, dive right into The Sandman: Act II.

Immanuelle has grown up in a Puritan-like society where the Prophet rules all. Her family lives in shame ever since her mother refused to marry the Prophet, and now that Immanuelle has come of age, she bears the community's scorn. When she finds herself in a forbidden part of the forest one night, she comes across three witches…and her mother's journal. Immanuelle inadvertently sets loose a series of plagues on the land, and she must confront the darkness to find the truth about her mother. Brianna Colette's narration brings the story to life.

Roland of Gilead is the Last Gunslinger, and the last of his kind. Living in an uneasy world where magical relics still exist and peace is hard to find, he walks the land in search of the Dark Tower, a place that's rumored to be the convergence point of all the universes. Along his journey, he encounters many strange and interesting people, and he begins tracking the mysterious Man in Black. The Gunslinger is the first in an epic series from horror master Stephen King, and it takes Roland through many strange lands before his true purpose becomes clear. The Gunslinger is performed by George Guidall, a three-time Audie Award-winning narrator with nearly 2,000 audiobooks under his belt.

Rin is an orphan who shocks everyone, including herself, by acing a test administered to all young people to determine whether or not they'd be a good fit for Sinegard, the military academy in the land. But her time at Sinegard isn't very pleasant. Bullied and abused for being different, Rin soon learns that she possesses a rare and near mythical magical gift, and she begins exploring it in order to protect herself. Which turns out to be a very smart move, because war is on the horizon. Emily Woo Zeller narrates this thrilling fantasy.

Adelina is lucky to survive the blood plague, which swept through her nation and killed so many young people. But she doesn't feel lucky. She's been marked physically by the plague, and when her family casts her out, she becomes embittered. Then she finds her place among the Young Elites, and learns that other survivors of the plague have developed a supernatural power. But when they become hunted, Adelina is tested to her limits—will she become a heroine, or the villain? Carla Corvo and Lannon Killea share the narration of this fantasy, which explores a villain's origin story.

Alina and Mal are orphans conscripted into the army once they come of age. Ravka is split in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of darkness that's nearly impenetrable and harbors monsters. On their first crossing of the Shadow Fold, Mal is nearly killed and Alina saves him with a power she didn't know she possessed. But surviving the Shadow Fold is just the beginning and many people now want Alina's power for themselves. Laura Fortang narrates this Audible exclusive, as well as the three other books in Leigh Bardugo's wildly popular Grisha series. Shadow and Bone is the inspiration for a 2021 Netflix original series of the same name.

Caitlin Davies is the narrator of this dark fantasy about Artemisia, a novice with the Gray Sisters, nuns who cleanse the bodies of the dead to keep them from rising again. When her convent is attacked, Artemisia awakens a strong spirit attached to a saint's relic in order to protect her home—and discovers that this spirit is a revenant: a malevolent being with the power to possess and kill her. But to stop the growing darkness that threatens her land, Artemisia will have to turn to the revenant itself for answers.

Csorwe has always known when she'll die, having foreseen the moment. But at the very last second before her certain death, a mage offers her a way to defy fate. A second chance at life, however, comes at a price: Csorwe must dedicate herself to helping the mage in his plot to reclaim his power. Avita Jay narrates this series starter, capturing Csorwe's transformation from a humble priestess to a formidable spy and assassin.

Tea comes from a family of witches, but when she accidentally raises her brother from the dead, she realizes that she is very different from her relatives. Ostracized from everyone she knows, Tea is taken in by another bone witch and whisked away. As she trains to understand her magic, Tea will have to learn how to be strong in the face of coming darkness. Emily Woo Zeller and Will Damron both narrate.

Ellerie lives in Amity Falls, an isolated town surrounded by woods and cut off from everything else. Ellerie's days are monotonous, until the day that some villagers on a supply expedition disappear. Soon after, creatures from the forest begin to offer villagers small favors but these small favors hide darker intentions that could destroy Amity Falls forever. Rachel Music narrates this sinister and twisty tale.

Rebecca Gibel narrates this story about Cassa, who lives in Eldra, a city ruled by ancient prophecies and recently ravaged by rebellions. Her parents were rebels who died and left her burdened with a complicated legacy. As she navigates a dangerous terrain, Cassa will have to figure out the mystery of the last prophecy in order to save herself, the ones she love, and Eldra itself.

On the edge of the ocean is a place called Elendhaven, cut off from everything and everyone else. A monster stalks the town, in the shape of a man, controlled by a cruel master. But what is this master's plan and what happens when the monster's heart begins to change? Daniel Henning narrates this short, chilling fantasy tale.

The emperor has gained total control by mastering bone magic, but it might not be enough to stay in power. Meanwhile, his daughter Lin has been held hostage in the castle, kept separate from everyone. With nothing left to lose, Lin begins to teach herself bone magic—but where does that leave her once the revolution reaches her doors? Will she have what it takes to save her people? Natalie Naudus, Feodor Chin, and Emily Woo Zeller narrate this compelling tale.

In a magical island kingdom, the royal family welcomes triplets born to every generation, and all three are equal heirs to the throne and the kingdom's magic. Each possesses innate gifts: Katharine is a poisoner; Arsinoe is a naturalist; and Mirabella is an elemental. On the eve of their 16th birthday, a battle to the death begins, and the surviving sister will be crowned queen. And there can only be one queen. Amy Landon is the narrator of this dark and magical series.

Sabriel is the daughter of the necromancer of the Old Kingdom. For reasons unexplained, she was sent south for her schooling and hasn't been back to her homeland since she was a tiny child. But when her father goes missing, Sabriel braves the journey and heads to the Old Kingdom, which has been ravaged by the effects of Free Magic, to find him. And along the way, she just might discover her destiny. The incomparable Tim Curry, a prolific audiobook narrator as well as famed cast member of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, performs the first three books in this gripping series.