Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve loved the fantasy genre for as long as I can remember. From playing Warhammer with my father as a child to first reading The Lord of the Rings, The Magician, and countless other unforgettable novels, I was hooked. The Orc was always my favorite bad guy, with their incredible strength and bloodlust. I have spent many a long hour trying to put myself in the mindset of a being so dark, so brutal, and so lovable. Reading the books on this list, and many more, have helped me develop a foundation in the Orc race that almost makes them real.


I wrote

The Banner of the Broken Orc: The Call of the Darkness Saga Book One

By Aiden L. Turner,

Book cover of The Banner of the Broken Orc: The Call of the Darkness Saga Book One

What is my book about?

Tired of the same old fantasy books, full of romance and people fighting evil with no one actually getting hurt?…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Orcs: The Omnibus

Aiden L. Turner Why did I love this book?

 This was the first book I ever read that had me rooting for the Orc. With their lack of discipline, drug, and alcohol use, and loyalty to their comrades it’s easy to imagine them standing at the bar having a pint. Along with the action, there are some deeper issues delved into, including religious fanaticism and racism. For me personally, this really spoke of how exciting it can be to throw character roles in reverse. 

By Stan Nicholls,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Orcs as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The international bestselling trilogy now repackaged and complete with new material

Combining the acclaimed trilogy of books, BODYGUARD OF LIGHTNING, LEGION OF THUNDER and WARRIORS OF THE TEMPEST, plus a new short story previously only available in a small press anthology, this is the entire story of Stryke and his band of Orcs.

Fantasy's bad guys finally get their own say in this fast-moving, action-packed, tongue-in-cheek tale of Orc valour and human treachery.


Book cover of The Weight of Blood

Aiden L. Turner Why did I love this book?

This book really introduced me to the darker side of fantasy, and in fact, this is more grimdark. While most fantasy books have a good versus evil theme, a lot tend to water down the actions of the evil characters to make them more palatable or more accessible to a wider range of readers. This really describes the evil actions in detail so be warned it is not Harry Potter! I realized when reading this that you can bring horror aspects into fantasy, which makes sense as it’s a genre that’s full of evil, monsters, and people armed with all kinds of brutal weaponry. 

By David Dalglish,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Weight of Blood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Fantasy author David Dalglish begins his series of the half-orc brothers, whose struggles will soon bathe the land of Dezrel in demon fire...Five hundred years ago, brother gods devastated their world with civil war. When they were imprisoned, their conflict ended without a victor. Centuries passed while their followers secretly continued the war, a war that will soon have an end. The gods have found their paragons.

When half-bloods Harruq and Qurrah Tun pledged their lives to the death prophet Velixar, they sought only escape from their squalid beginnings. Instead, they become his greatest disciples, charged with leading his army…


Book cover of The Orc King

Aiden L. Turner Why did I love this book?

For me, this book really brought a deep lore and background to the Orc race. With intrigue and plot aplenty, this story follows an Orc attempting to bring about a strong Orc kingdom with cities and trade, allies, and stability. Not every Orc is ready or wants this change and there is certainly a challenge to bringing about the kingdom. This gives a great depth to the Orc race and is one of my favorites from a great author.

By R. A. Salvatore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Orc King as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The war against the orcs is far from over in this opening installment of a bold new trilogy in the Legend of Drizzt series

The end of winter is near, and it seems the uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom of Many-Arrows will not last long. The orc tribes united under Obould are splintering, with some seeking to establish an alliance with a clan of half ogres-half orcs. Drizzt, too, feels himself torn apart, unsure which of the Companions needs him most: As Catti-brie recovers from a serious injury, Wulfgar…


Book cover of The Grey Bastards

Aiden L. Turner Why did I love this book?

This book really adds a different dimension to the Orc race, starting with their blood. The race of half-orcs have a sort of hierarchy based on whether their mother or father was an orc, and they have different attributes both physically and culturally. The story follows a platoon, or hoof, of hog riding calvary that are basically a motorbike gang as they patrol the lawless lands. The language is foul and the characters crude and rough, but the writing is brilliant and I loved how the author brought the outlaw type to the orc race. 

By Jonathan French,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Grey Bastards as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'AN ADDICTIVELY READABLE - AND UNDENIABLY COOL - FANTASY MASTERWORK' Kirkus

BRING ON THE ORCS . . .

Jackal is proud to be a Grey Bastard, member of a sworn brotherhood of half-orcs. Unloved and unwanted in civilized society, the Bastards eke out a hard life in the desolate no-man's-land called the Lots, protecting frail and noble human civilization from invading bands of vicious full-blooded orcs.

But as Jackal is soon to learn, his pride may be misplaced. Because a dark secret lies at the heart of the Bastards' existence - one that reveals a horrifying truth behind humanity's tenuous…


Book cover of The Lord of the Rings

Aiden L. Turner Why did I love this book?

Well, I couldn’t really recommend books with orcs and leave out the godfather. This book is much more than a great story, it opened up a whole new world where imagination rules and nothing is too incredulous. I can see people finding it a bit hard to get through these days as it is from a by-gone era, but the sheer scope and brilliance of this book means if you haven’t already read it then you should. Maybe you’ve seen the movies and found it a bit hard going, but the strength of the Orc begins here!

By J.R.R. Tolkien,

Why should I read it?

54 authors picked The Lord of the Rings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

From Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of…


Explore my book 😀

The Banner of the Broken Orc: The Call of the Darkness Saga Book One

By Aiden L. Turner,

Book cover of The Banner of the Broken Orc: The Call of the Darkness Saga Book One

What is my book about?

Tired of the same old fantasy books, full of romance and people fighting evil with no one actually getting hurt? Want something gritty, where the bad guys do horrid things, and the good guys aren't much better? Aiden L Turner brings Fast-paced, brutal battle scenes, and a rich plot with defined world building. Guts, gore, and glory!

Book cover of Orcs: The Omnibus
Book cover of The Weight of Blood
Book cover of The Orc King

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By Owen W. Knight,

Book cover of Conditions are Different After Dark

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Why am I passionate about this?

Author Visionary Compassionate Imaginative Conspiracist Apophenia (or apophenic)

Owen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

In 1662, a man is wrongly executed for signing the death warrant of Charles I. Awaiting execution, he asks to speak with a priest, to whom he declares a curse on the village that betrayed him. The priest responds with a counter-curse, leaving just one option to nullify it.

Four centuries later, Faith and James move to the country to start a new life and a family. They discover their village lives under the curse uttered by the hanged man. Could their arrival be connected? They fear their choice of new home is no coincidence. Unexplained events hint at threats…

Conditions are Different After Dark

By Owen W. Knight,

What is this book about?

In 1660, a man is wrongly executed for signing the death warrant of Charles I. While awaiting execution, he asks to speak with a priest, to whom he declares a curse on the village that betrayed him. The priest responds with a counter-curse, leaving just one option to nullify it.
Over four centuries later, Faith and James move to the country to start a new life and a family. They learn that their village lives under the curse uttered by the hanged man. Could their arrival be connected?
Faith and James fear that their choice of a new home is…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in orcs, good and evil, and Hero's journey?

Orcs 20 books
Good And Evil 142 books
Hero's Journey 14 books