J. R. Kendiro – Dark Fantasy Author

Writing Dark Fantasy That Gets Under Your Skin

I write dark fantasy that refuses to look away. My stories explore worlds where survival comes at a cost, where societies are built on uncomfortable truths, and where the line between humanity and monstrosity blurs in ways that feel disturbingly real.

The Ravenous Mother series is my exploration of what happens when human communities must exist within vast, living biological structures. It's dark fantasy rooted in body horror, caste systems, and the lengths people will go to survive—or to change the world they've inherited.

Influences and Approach

My dark fantasy draws from authors who understand that compelling stories need flawed characters in brutal worlds: Joe Abercrombie's moral complexity, Mark Lawrence's unflinching protagonists, Pierce Brown's epic scope, N.K. Jemisin's revolutionary worldbuilding. I write for readers who want their fantasy dark, their stakes real, and their heroes anything but clean.

I believe dark fantasy works best when it's honest about darkness. Not gratuitous, but unflinching. My characters live in a world that will sacrifice them at forty, where their professions are carved into their flesh, where art itself is forbidden. And yet they love, they create, they rebel. That tension between oppression and the stubborn persistence of humanity is what drives every story I write.

Beyond the Page

When I'm not writing, I spend time with my son—whose endless curiosity reminds me why stories matter. I prefer to let my work speak for itself, but I'm always happy to connect with readers who've found their way into the Sac.

If you're looking for dark fantasy that challenges you, that builds worlds you can feel in your bones, and that treats its readers as intelligent adults—welcome. The Mother is waiting.

The Standards

I've done a lot of things in my life. Some I'm proud of, some I'm not. But they all taught me the same thing: wasting time is a mortal sin.

So here's what I promise you:

• No wasted pages. Every scene earns its place or gets cut.
• Consistent worlds. The rules stay the same from page 1 to THE END.
• Emotional honesty. Dark when it's dark. Light when it's light. No fake depth.
• Complete stories. I finish what I start. Always.
• Honest marketing. The cover matches the book. The blurb tells the truth.

I write to leave something behind—starting with my son. These stories need to be worth keeping.

If something doesn't work? Tell me. You give me honest feedback, I give you better stories.

That's the deal.