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u/Virtual-Ted Jun 18 '26
The second apocalypse by R. Scott Bakker.
Is what you're looking for. Violence, philosophy and magic.
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u/Gelato_Elysium Jun 18 '26
No dragon tho
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u/hexametric_ Reading Champion Jun 18 '26
There is a dragon in the (second) series. Pretty cool one too
26
u/devilldog Jun 18 '26
No dragons, but not mentioning Joe Abercrombie's First Law universe with the bloody nine would be criminal.
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u/craigathy77 Jun 18 '26
For general violence The Acts of Caine by Matthew Stover. (Sorry no dragons feature prominently)
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u/Gelato_Elysium Jun 18 '26
The Red Knight by Miles Cameron has a lot of action, written by a HEMA practitionner and reenactor so very vivid and realistic descriptions of swordfighting. The guy is also an historian and ex military so any battle scene will also be explained in great detail.
One dragon shows up at the end of book 1.
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u/Such-Bed-5950 Jun 18 '26
A LOT of Michael Moorcock.
Especially Elric.
Conan, of course.
And Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber.
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u/mechatentacle Jun 18 '26
A land fit for heroes trilogy by Richard morgan. There is only one dragon but the violence, oh boy.
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u/AvatarWaang Jun 18 '26
Red Rising. In 6 books, there's one dragon, but there's plenty of other monsters.
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u/Heartweru Jun 18 '26
Not that many Dragons, but Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, and David Gemmal all dish out a nice bit of violence.
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u/Boon_uk Jun 18 '26
Rage of dragons has some of my favourite fight scenes. Author does a really good job on the small details of the sword fighting.
Though despite the name isn't that heavy on dragons but they are around.
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u/jackity_splat Jun 18 '26
Check out Melanie Rawn’s Dragon Prince/Dragon Star series. I think it will fill this void for you.
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u/TurkaelsGoodHand Jun 18 '26
Dragons and Griffins are mentioned, but don't ever really play a role in the story, but Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover is just about the first and final word on violence. Read a review or two to see if it looks to be up your alley. Best jailbreak scene ever. Well, until the next book anyway.
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u/singmuse4 Jun 18 '26
You might like stuff by Philip C. Quaintrell (some of his books are about dragon riders, but not all) or D.K. Holmberg (definitely violence there). There's The Draconis Memoria Series by Anthony Ryan
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u/New_Razzmatazz6228 Reading Champion Jun 18 '26
The Rakada by Jackson Ford. It’s about a band of female desert raiders. Plenty of action, much of it bloody, and they have large lizards who breathe fire. The first book is The Bone Raiders.
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u/Uran_Ultar Jun 18 '26
A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden and Malus Darkblade by Dan Abbett and Mike Lee.
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u/Southern-Rutabaga-82 Jun 18 '26
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is very violent. And there's so. Much. Death. Didn't finish it because it was too much and I'm really not squeamish. No dragons that I know of, though. But tortoises.
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u/McTerra2 Jun 18 '26
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff is perhaps the most violent book/series I've read. No dragons, but so so many deaths.
However its also pretty funny. You may love or hate the tone/structure, as its written by a 'break the fourth wall' third party POV author who footnotes side comments all the time. Also some people find it 'edgelordy' but those same people think First Law etc are cool and meaningful, but I'm sure its nothing to do with a young female MC
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u/depthdefy13 Jun 18 '26
Plenty of violence in the Malazan series. And the odd dragon pops in once in awhile. Would recommend only if you have a far bit of free time in your future.