Men Marched Asleep: World War I Dark Fantasy, Supernatural Horror (K. E. Messerly)

Men Marched Asleep is a visceral and cinematic dark fantasy that blends supernatural horror with war drama. Set in an alternate 1930s Europe fractured by rifts in reality, the story follows Taras, a haunted soldier infused with volatile magical energy, as he battles extradimensional monsters known as the sworzen. Alongside a ragtag brotherhood of enhanced survivors-each scarred by brutal experimentation-Taras navigates war-torn trenches, political betrayal, and eldritch horrors spilling into the world.

Messerly's world is rich with dread, deeply human characters, and sharp dialogue that cuts as deep as the creatures it conjures. Part war novel, part cosmic horror, part survival story, this is a tale about loyalty, trauma, and the fragile hope that humanity can survive what it was never meant to face.

If you like grimdark fantasy, morally complex heroes, and a fusion of Lovecraftian horror with WWII aesthetics-this one's for you.