Queen of Grimdark
@annasmithspark.bsky.social
Author of critically acclaimed grimdark epic fantasy, EMPIRES OF DUST, A WOMAN OF THE SWORD, A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES. A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN out now.
Dyslxic, dyspraxic, ASD, PhD.
Dyslxic, dyspraxic, ASD, PhD.
Pinned
A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES and A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN. Out now in stunning sprayed-edged hardback.
#fantasy #epicfantasy #fantasybooks #myth #mythology #folkhorror #grimdark #books
📖📖📖🔥🔥🔥
#fantasy #epicfantasy #fantasybooks #myth #mythology #folkhorror #grimdark #books
📖📖📖🔥🔥🔥
I had wonderful time talking to @alisonbaker01.bsky.social about children's fantasy literature, magic and loss this morning. A really interesting conversation. And now I want to reread all the books we discussed.
And! It happened! And @annasmithspark.bsky.social reminded me about Nina Beachcroft, an author whose books I loved, which were set in Hertfordshire where I grew up.
So! Anna Spark Smith & I have been trying to record an episode of Fantasy Book Swap since Oct. We hope that chakras are aligned, the moon is in the seventh house and there will be no cockerels crowing before dawn and we’ll be discussing Welsh mythology in Alan Garner and Lizzie Huxley Jones.
February 15, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I had wonderful time talking to @alisonbaker01.bsky.social about children's fantasy literature, magic and loss this morning. A really interesting conversation. And now I want to reread all the books we discussed.
Reposted by Queen of Grimdark
I was very impressed by The Apple And The Pearl by Rym Kechacha www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/2/...
The Apple and The Pearl by Rym Kechacha — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank Titan for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher – Titan Published – out now Price – £9.99 paperback £7.99 ebook As dawn br...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
February 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
I was very impressed by The Apple And The Pearl by Rym Kechacha www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/2/...
Men's figure skating... why have I only discovered this now? Several hours of men auditioning to be Marith. I could watch this sport forever.
February 14, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Men's figure skating... why have I only discovered this now? Several hours of men auditioning to be Marith. I could watch this sport forever.
Wrong answers only.
February 5, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Wrong answers only.
A very happy bookday to @rymkechacha.bsky.social whose beautiful, hauntlng novel
about ballet, love and magic is published today by @titanbooks.bsky.social
about ballet, love and magic is published today by @titanbooks.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 5:09 PM
A very happy bookday to @rymkechacha.bsky.social whose beautiful, hauntlng novel
about ballet, love and magic is published today by @titanbooks.bsky.social
about ballet, love and magic is published today by @titanbooks.bsky.social
The winner is Elizabeth Tenny-Domansky. Thank you so much to everyone who entered and wished me a happy birthday.
February 1, 2026 at 11:23 AM
The winner is Elizabeth Tenny-Domansky. Thank you so much to everyone who entered and wished me a happy birthday.
Snowdrops in bloom in the gardens of Anglesey Abbey this morning. Perfect inspiration for my current work in progress.
January 31, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Snowdrops in bloom in the gardens of Anglesey Abbey this morning. Perfect inspiration for my current work in progress.
'If Lewis Caroll’s Alice lived within Little House on the Prairie, infected by Silent Hill, you would experience A Sword of Bronze and Ashes!'
A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES has a lovely profile in Black Gate.
Link in comments below.
A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES has a lovely profile in Black Gate.
Link in comments below.
January 30, 2026 at 2:09 PM
'If Lewis Caroll’s Alice lived within Little House on the Prairie, infected by Silent Hill, you would experience A Sword of Bronze and Ashes!'
A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES has a lovely profile in Black Gate.
Link in comments below.
A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES has a lovely profile in Black Gate.
Link in comments below.
For those in the Bishop's Stortford area, I'm running a three-session creative writing course at Belle's Place (the lovey new shop in The Dells opposite Cafe Thyme) in February to March. Obviously I write fantasy, but it's for anyone who's interested in starting to write in any genre.
January 29, 2026 at 4:55 PM
For those in the Bishop's Stortford area, I'm running a three-session creative writing course at Belle's Place (the lovey new shop in The Dells opposite Cafe Thyme) in February to March. Obviously I write fantasy, but it's for anyone who's interested in starting to write in any genre.
I discuss ... actually I can't even remember, all kinds of things and probably ramble horribly, on the latest Flame Tree Myth and Fiction podcast, recorded at World Fantasy Convention 2025. Link in the first comment below.
January 29, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I discuss ... actually I can't even remember, all kinds of things and probably ramble horribly, on the latest Flame Tree Myth and Fiction podcast, recorded at World Fantasy Convention 2025. Link in the first comment below.
I have official reached my 'difficult to categorise' era!
A superb 'I have no idea whether they liked it or hated it' review from Locus Magazine.
#booksky #books #fantasybooks #mythology #folkhorror #folklore
A superb 'I have no idea whether they liked it or hated it' review from Locus Magazine.
#booksky #books #fantasybooks #mythology #folkhorror #folklore
January 20, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I have official reached my 'difficult to categorise' era!
A superb 'I have no idea whether they liked it or hated it' review from Locus Magazine.
#booksky #books #fantasybooks #mythology #folkhorror #folklore
A superb 'I have no idea whether they liked it or hated it' review from Locus Magazine.
#booksky #books #fantasybooks #mythology #folkhorror #folklore
'This is what I love about Anna Smith Spark’s work - her ability to develop and explore themes in a rich fantasy setting [...] That and her prose, which can be richly descriptive and as delicate as a watercolour, but also bone-jarringly powerful.'
Concatenation on A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky
Concatenation on A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky
January 16, 2026 at 12:02 PM
'This is what I love about Anna Smith Spark’s work - her ability to develop and explore themes in a rich fantasy setting [...] That and her prose, which can be richly descriptive and as delicate as a watercolour, but also bone-jarringly powerful.'
Concatenation on A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky
Concatenation on A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky
'a nexus of literary fiction, mythic storytelling, and a journey for redemption [...] weirdness of Norse folklore full of feasting halls, disguises, impossible combats and magically deceptive appearances'
A wonderful review of A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky 📖🔥🔥🔥
fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/a-sw...
A wonderful review of A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky 📖🔥🔥🔥
fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/a-sw...
A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN by Anna Smith Spark (BOOK REVIEW) | Fantasy-Hive
TO Munro returns to the world of Anna Smith Spark's folkloric fantasy A Sword of Bronze and Ashes in its sequel A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
fantasy-hive.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 11:32 AM
'a nexus of literary fiction, mythic storytelling, and a journey for redemption [...] weirdness of Norse folklore full of feasting halls, disguises, impossible combats and magically deceptive appearances'
A wonderful review of A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky 📖🔥🔥🔥
fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/a-sw...
A wonderful review of A SWORD OF GOLD AND RUIN
#booksky 📖🔥🔥🔥
fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/a-sw...
I very much enjoyed writing my short story in this - a very different take on my current series The Making of This World Ruined.
With stories by Danie Ware, Juliet McKenna, Anna Smith Spark and many others, Fight Like A Girl #2 has been a feature on award short lists this year. Find out why people love it so much:
wizardstowerpress.co...
wizardstowerpress.co...
January 13, 2026 at 10:57 AM
I very much enjoyed writing my short story in this - a very different take on my current series The Making of This World Ruined.
Birthday present haul! Books, bath stuff, chocolates, earrings, more books.
January 12, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Birthday present haul! Books, bath stuff, chocolates, earrings, more books.
It's my #birthday! I'm running a giveaway to celebrate. Copies of A Sword of Bronze and Ashes and A Sword of Gold and Ruin, and the anthologies containing The Making of This World Ruined short stories, Fight Like a Girl 2 and Unbound 2. Share and comment for a chance to #win.
#booksky #books
#booksky #books
January 11, 2026 at 4:28 PM
For those in the Bishop's Stortford area, I'm running a three-session creative writing course at Belle's Place (the lovey new shop in The Dells opposite Cafe Thyme) in February to March. Obviously I write fantasy, but it's for anyone who's interested in starting to write in any genre.
January 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM
For those in the Bishop's Stortford area, I'm running a three-session creative writing course at Belle's Place (the lovey new shop in The Dells opposite Cafe Thyme) in February to March. Obviously I write fantasy, but it's for anyone who's interested in starting to write in any genre.
Reposted by Queen of Grimdark
Next month, @aptshadow.bsky.social and I will be discussing the novel A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by HRH Queen of Grimdark @annasmithspark.bsky.social . I really do recommend reading this ahead of the February episode, my lovelies, so if you have a spare xmas gift token, get thee to a bookshop!
January 9, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Next month, @aptshadow.bsky.social and I will be discussing the novel A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by HRH Queen of Grimdark @annasmithspark.bsky.social . I really do recommend reading this ahead of the February episode, my lovelies, so if you have a spare xmas gift token, get thee to a bookshop!
Okay, I confess. Sometimes I delegate chapters to my cat.
January 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Okay, I confess. Sometimes I delegate chapters to my cat.
I'm so excited about this ... Eastercon in Belfast was brilliant, and now I'm going back to the same hotel as a Guest of Honour for the first Norncon in May. Alongside @aptshadow.bsky.social no less!
Memberships are available at www.norncon.org
Memberships are available at www.norncon.org
January 7, 2026 at 4:40 PM
I'm so excited about this ... Eastercon in Belfast was brilliant, and now I'm going back to the same hotel as a Guest of Honour for the first Norncon in May. Alongside @aptshadow.bsky.social no less!
Memberships are available at www.norncon.org
Memberships are available at www.norncon.org
I have to load Caecilius the First Cat of Grimdark and Nicobobinus his thick brother into crates to take them to the vet this afternoon.
All thoughts and prayers welcome.
All thoughts and prayers welcome.
January 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I have to load Caecilius the First Cat of Grimdark and Nicobobinus his thick brother into crates to take them to the vet this afternoon.
All thoughts and prayers welcome.
All thoughts and prayers welcome.
I'm so pleased to see @hannafordjenny.bsky.social 's beautiful selkie short story 'The Last Dance' on Ellen Datlow's list of Best Horror recommendations for last year. Especially as the story was in a Flame Tree Press anthology, Shadows on the Water.
ellendatlow.com/2026/01/03/f...
ellendatlow.com/2026/01/03/f...
January 6, 2026 at 12:13 PM
I'm so pleased to see @hannafordjenny.bsky.social 's beautiful selkie short story 'The Last Dance' on Ellen Datlow's list of Best Horror recommendations for last year. Especially as the story was in a Flame Tree Press anthology, Shadows on the Water.
ellendatlow.com/2026/01/03/f...
ellendatlow.com/2026/01/03/f...
It snowed! It almost never snows where I live, so to celebrate I'm sharing some descriptions of snow in my books. This one is snow and dragons from A WOMAN OF THE SWORD from @lunapress.bsky.social .
#snow #fantasybooks #fantasy #grimdark #grimdarkfantasy #epicfantasybooks
#snow #fantasybooks #fantasy #grimdark #grimdarkfantasy #epicfantasybooks
January 5, 2026 at 5:59 PM
It snowed! It almost never snows where I live, so to celebrate I'm sharing some descriptions of snow in my books. This one is snow and dragons from A WOMAN OF THE SWORD from @lunapress.bsky.social .
#snow #fantasybooks #fantasy #grimdark #grimdarkfantasy #epicfantasybooks
#snow #fantasybooks #fantasy #grimdark #grimdarkfantasy #epicfantasybooks
It snowed! It almost never snows where I live, so to celebrate I'm sharing some descriptions of snow in my books. Here's snow and celebration in the White Isles from THE TOWER of LIVING AND DYING.
youtu.be/ltb2Tlx1VBM?...
#snow #fantasybooks #booksky #grimdark
youtu.be/ltb2Tlx1VBM?...
#snow #fantasybooks #booksky #grimdark
Snow on the White Isles from THE TOWER OF LIVING AND DYING
YouTube video by Anna Smith Spark
youtu.be
January 5, 2026 at 5:57 PM
It snowed! It almost never snows where I live, so to celebrate I'm sharing some descriptions of snow in my books. Here's snow and celebration in the White Isles from THE TOWER of LIVING AND DYING.
youtu.be/ltb2Tlx1VBM?...
#snow #fantasybooks #booksky #grimdark
youtu.be/ltb2Tlx1VBM?...
#snow #fantasybooks #booksky #grimdark