Picture a British storyteller who swapped a dreary banking job for a Fijian island adventure, only to emerge as a grimdark fantasy maestro—meet Rob J. Hayes! Known for weaving morally complex worlds and unforgettable characters, Hayes has carved a niche in fantasy with works like Never Die and the Ties that Bind series, earning accolades and a devoted fanbase.
Born in Basingstoke, England, Hayes grew up in the era of Star Wars and Transformers, fueling his love for the fantastical. His journey from desk jockey to award-winning author is a tale of grit, imagination, and a touch of wanderlust, making him a standout in the grimdark and science fiction realms.
The Making of Rob J. Hayes
Raised in a small town, Hayes’s early years were steeped in fantasy, from comic books to epic sagas. At fourteen, he penned a wild tale of vampires and superheroes, a sign of the bold creativity to come. After studying zoology at university, he found himself trapped in the monotony of banking. But a three-month stint researching coral reefs on a Fijian island changed everything. Surrounded by turquoise waters, he rediscovered his passion for storytelling, setting the stage for a writing career that would captivate readers worldwide.
Rob J. Hayes’s Unforgettable Stories
Hayes’s bibliography is a thrilling mix of grimdark fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk, marked by intricate worlds and morally gray characters. His debut, The Heresy Within, kicked off the Ties that Bind series, a gritty fantasy western following witch hunters and swordswomen in a treacherous world. Fans of Joe Abercrombie rave about its dark humor and relentless action.
In 2019, Hayes released Never Die, a standalone wuxia-inspired tale set in an Asian-influenced universe. The story of an eight-year-old boy recruiting dead heroes to slay an immortal emperor won the BookNest Award and a Reddit Stabby finalist spot. His Best Laid Plans duology, starting with Where Loyalties Lie, earned the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) crown, blending piratical swashbuckling with cunning betrayals. Hayes also dabbled in sci-fi with Drones, a cyberpunk thriller exploring emotion as a commodity, showcasing his genre-hopping prowess.
His writing style—vivid, character-driven, and unflinchingly brutal—draws readers into worlds where heroes are flawed, and redemption comes at a cost. Whether it’s the underground prison of Along the Razor’s Edge or the high-seas chaos of Where Loyalties Lie, Hayes crafts stories that pulse with intensity and heart.
Why Rob J. Hayes Matters
Rob J. Hayes has redefined grimdark fantasy by blending raw emotion with complex narratives, earning praise as a peer to giants like Mark Lawrence and Steven Erikson. His SPFBO win and critical acclaim for Never Die highlight his knack for pushing boundaries in self-publishing. Fans on platforms like Reddit and Goodreads celebrate his ability to pull them out of reading slumps with bloody, immersive tales. Beyond his books, Hayes’s journey from banker to full-time author inspires aspiring writers to chase their dreams, proving that passion and persistence can conquer any odds.
- Born: Basingstoke, England
- Key Works: The Heresy Within, Never Die, Where Loyalties Lie
- Awards: SPFBO Winner (2018), BookNest Award (2019)
Snag Never Die or dive into the Ties that Bind series to experience Rob J. Hayes’s thrilling grimdark universe. Your next favorite adventure awaits!