One popular 'dark world novel' is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It presents a dark and Gothic world filled with vampires. Another is '1984' by George Orwell which depicts a dystopian, dark world ruled by totalitarianism. 'The Lord of the Flies' also can be considered in a way, as it shows the dark side of human nature when a group of boys are stranded on an island.
One popular 'dark arts novel' is 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde. It delves into the dark side of vanity and the pursuit of pleasure at all costs. Another is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, which is filled with elements of the dark arts like vampirism. And 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley also has elements of the dark arts as it involves creating life through unorthodox means.
One example could be 'The Art of Fielding'. It has elements that touch on the darker side of the baseball world, like the pressures on players and the complex relationships within a team. It shows how the pursuit of perfection in baseball can lead to some rather dark places for the characters involved.
There are quite a few. 'Misery' by Stephen King is a great one. The relationship between the writer and his deranged fan Annie Wilkes is full of psychological tension. Annie's possessiveness and the writer's struggle for survival in that situation are fascinatingly dark. 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov is also considered part of this genre. It's a controversial exploration of Humbert Humbert's obsession with the young Lolita, which is a complex and disturbing psychological relationship. And 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' shows Tom Ripley's journey of envy, deception and identity theft, all of which are dark psychological elements.
Some Sherlock Holmes - inspired dark humor fanfiction is quite well - known. In these, Holmes might use his deductive skills in a rather unorthodox and darkly comical way. He could solve a case where the criminal's motive is so ridiculously petty but the methods are extremely cruel, and Holmes' dry, dark humor while explaining the case to Watson makes for an interesting read. Also, in 'Star Wars' fanfiction, there could be dark humor in how the Sith Lords interact with each other in a more comical, yet still menacing way.
One popular example is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It vividly depicts life during the Middle Ages. Another is 'Game of Thrones' which, while a fantasy, is set in a fictional world with elements reminiscent of the dark ages, like feudal power struggles and brutal warfare. And 'Uhtred of Bebbanburg' series by Bernard Cornwell also gives a great portrayal of that era in a fictional context.
One popular example is 'Sword Art Online'. In this novel, the characters are transported into a virtual world full of challenges and adventures. Another is 'Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World', where the protagonist Subaru finds himself in a fantasy world and has to deal with various difficulties and mysteries.
One example could be '1984' by George Orwell. It presents a dystopian world where the government has extreme control. Another is 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, which depicts a society highly regulated by technology and genetic engineering. There's also 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury, which shows a world where books are banned to maintain a certain order.
Some popular 'Dark Mage Harry Potter' fanfictions include 'Dark Harry's Ascent'. In this story, Harry is pushed to the edge after a series of betrayals in the wizarding world and decides to explore the dark arts. He becomes a powerful dark mage, using his skills to get revenge and also to reshape the power dynamics in the wizarding world. Another great one is 'Harry Potter and the Dark Magic Rebirth'. Here, Harry finds a way to combine the dark magic with the light magic in a unique way, creating a new form of magic that no one has ever seen before. It makes him a very different kind of hero, or perhaps anti - hero, in the wizarding world.
One popular example could be those where Harry has enhanced magical abilities far beyond what is seen in the original series. For instance, he might be able to control all elements with ease. Another could be fanfictions where he has a 'dark' side that gives him a more menacing and powerful aura, yet still uses his powers for what he believes is right in his own way. There are also ones where he is godlike in the sense that he can manipulate time and space, like being able to travel through different dimensions to gain knowledge or power.
One popular Dark Disney World story is the backstory of the Haunted Mansion. It's filled with spooky tales of ghosts who are trapped there. Another is the idea that in some areas of the park at night, there are strange noises and shadowy figures that might be remnants of old, unfinished stories or concepts.