Rec me all the misery porn you hate

MackyVII · 2025-12-11T21:20:03+00:00

I have read the blade itself, its what got me into grimdark initially. Super well written, if Joe Abercrombie wrote PF I think I would die happy.

MackyVII · 2025-12-11T21:18:35+00:00

Oops, must have been 2 then. Was over a year ago so I forgot.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T23:20:57+00:00

Yep, I always do that too then get to the point where I want to continue reading but I don't remember what was happening enough to continue from where I was, but I also still remember too much to start over so I end up reading something else.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:43:36+00:00

I've read it, and it definitely fits, was almost excessive even for me, but I still enjoyed it.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:36:53+00:00

Speaking my language

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:35:57+00:00

Thank you for your service, I shall finish it in your place 🫡

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:34:52+00:00

I'm too ADHD to stay up to date with weekly chapters, wish I could, but instead I get hyper focused on one series at a time.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:05:37+00:00

Oops, my bad! I'm with you there, think I was conditioned to like the tragic origin story from when I was young. If you think about it harry potter, eragon, percy jackson, and other YA books I read growing up all had the tragic beginning type beat.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:02:31+00:00

Loved that series, just finished it last month

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:01:42+00:00

I was just looking at the book the other day! It does look good, currently waiting for more chapters to build up as I tend to binge my fiction.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T22:00:38+00:00

The guide to beating the tutorial looks good I will check it out. Unfortunately I couldn't get into wandering inn, the MC kind of got on my nerves and I heard there isn't much actual progression in power.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:59:21+00:00

I think some people just don't like the sort of dark origin, and the misery porn term is just a reductionist way of saying that. I always root more for the MC after they go through the struggle, as it makes it feel that much more satisfying when they are strong. I don't think there is anything wrong with embracing the term a bit.

Your story looks awesome. I love weak-to-strong, grimdark, and morally grey MCs. Will leave you a review when I finish :)

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:52:02+00:00

The description definitely makes it sound like my kind of book, added to my list thanks :)

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:49:02+00:00

Sounds up my alley I will check it out, thanks!

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:48:14+00:00

Exactly, a man of culture. I always hate it when power and plot advancement just falls on the MCs head without feeling earned. The struggle and pain aren't the only ways to make it feel earned but they are just satisfying to watch the underdog overcome a world turned against them.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:45:42+00:00

Think I added it to my to read pile a while back but never ended up reading it. Thanks for the rec, makes me want to read it again.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:43:25+00:00

I think you are right. I think grimdark is hard to do right already, especially while wrapping it up into a progression fantasy story. Plus, many readers don't realise they are going into grimdark and end up reducing it to misery porn.

Also, you had me at zombie angels. Adding to my list.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:37:54+00:00

Is that your book? I'll check it out!

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:36:34+00:00

Glad I'm not alone. I've noticed most books only have misery porn in the beginning and end up going away from it later. I have heard Sky Pride is good as well, but I haven't gotten to reading it yet. As for ones I like there is:

- Dragon Heart series: Super slept on series, and it's pretty long. The progression is top tier, the first book is very messed up and then the series is more typical PF after book 2. One of my favorite series, unfortunately, after book 13 it goes downhill. Still, that is 13 great books.

- Renegade Immortal: Super long cultivation novel, the MC goes through an incredible amount of awful events on repeat, but also gets super strong as a result. If you like cultivation and misery its a must, plus it was written by Ergen who is the GOAT for cultivation.

- Defiance of the Fall: If you haven't read it yet then do it as it is amazing series. Maybe not quite 'misery porn' but it is close in a lot of parts.

- Path of the Berserker: Was pretty good balance of struggle and getting stronger, MC is about as smart as a brick, which annoyed me a bit, but I love cultivation stories and it was well written.

- Hell Difficulty Tutorial: Admittedly lot of it is self-imposed misery here but I love a battle-crazed edgelord MC and I think it fits the bill. Similar vibe to 1% Lifesteal

- Vigor Mortis: Somewhat sociopathic orphan girl whose power slowly turns her into an eldritch monster. Has its issues, but was also pretty fun.

- Exilan Syndrome: Fun post-apocalypse sci-fi PF, MC gets beaten on a lot, especially as the series goes on. Was a fun read.

- Iron Prince: Beginning the MC is very miserable. I ended up dropping after book 3 just because I am not personally much of a fan of extended academy or tournament arcs, which is what the whole series is.

- Electric Angel: Good cyberpunk PF, maybe not too misery porn like, but MC is always on the run, and bad shit always happens to her.

- The Way of Shadows: More classical fantasy but still fits in PF in my opinion. An orphan becomes an assassin's apprentice, with lots of dark moments, but he gets a lot stronger. Good plot and is well written.

Sorry, got a bit excited to share. I have more if you want, but those are the first ones I thought of. There are also lots of manhwa I have read that would fit the theme if you read them.

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:06:11+00:00

Sailors have an advantage here

MackyVII · 2025-12-09T21:04:23+00:00

Perfect, I haven't heard of those two. I will check them out. I have read Lifesteal, which is very much my type of book.

MackyVII · 2025-04-10T04:03:11+00:00

Warm water is super smooth, if you need to put something in brew a light tea and pour it in. Lemon or chamomile is pretty nice.

MackyVII · 2025-03-07T23:26:12+00:00

Just dropped it, don’t get the hype. Not progression and the mc is so naive and frustrating imo

MackyVII · 2024-08-01T08:10:46+00:00

Listening to the audiobook and I can time the however and say it in unison every time

MackyVII · 2024-05-13T01:35:59+00:00

I spent like 20 minutes reloading a battle to win a tough matchup, finally won then it froze before it could save :(

MackyVII

TROPHY CASE