This list is all over the place, which would be fine if it were just about fantasy novels in general. However, it needs a sharper focus if people are looking for something truly adjacent to Abercrombie.

First, a major omission: Anthony Ryan. Blood Song is the clear starting point for anyone new to his work.

As Mark rightly pointed out in the comments, Mark Lawrence is missing too. That's another essential name in the grimdark conversation.

Then there's Glen Cook's The Black Company—arguably the blueprint for modern grimdark. His absence here is baffling.

On the other hand, Jade City doesn’t belong. It’s urban fantasy, not grimdark. The same goes for The Poppy War—a great book, but it operates in a different thematic and tonal space than people expect when looking for grimdark fantasy.

Some of the best titles on the list are inexplicably shoved to the bottom: The Blacktongue Thief (which is excellent), The Lies of Locke Lamora (a strong start, though I’ve given up hope on the series being finished), and Shadow of the Gods all deserve top-five placement. Meanwhile, A Game of Thrones—for all its legacy—belongs at the bottom. Martin can't compete with other authors on the list regarding characters or pacing.

For those who made it this far, I’ll offer a wild card: Jack Vance’s The Dying Earth stories. Vance sures even Abercrombie in making readers root for unlikely—and often unlikable—protagonists. His razor-sharp wit and unsettling insights into human nature will stay with you long after the final page. His baroque, ornamental style rivals the best literary stylists—but unlike many of them, Vance never forgets to tell a story.