5 Ways to Level Up Your Noir Fantasy Novel
We'll tackle external vs. internal motivation, sneaky strategies for world-building, and the importance of visual imagery.
I recently had the pleasure of reading the first 5,000 words of Rocke Stoene: Graveyard Blues by
.Set in the bustling fantasy city of Arlinhame, Rawlin (Rocke) Stoene is an investigator who won't handle mundane cases, only those involving spectral mysteries. He is a spirit talker, able to see and communicate with the dead. Drawing on fantasy elements and dropping hints of noir and wry humor, the tale follows Rocke as he delves into a generations-old mystery that picks at the origins of a deadly blood feud. Sound interesting? Check out
’ page!While reading Rocke Stoene: Graveyard Blues—which was perfectly mysterious, by the way—I jotted down a few bite-sized tips to elevate your noir fantasy, without losing its sharp edges and haunting beauty:
1. Write World-Building That Whispers, Not Shouts
Let’s start with the bones: your setting. World-building in noir fantasy works best when it’s atmospheric and unassuming. The goal isn’t to throw a map and a glossary at your reader on page one—it’s to make them feel like they’ve wandered into a bar they weren’t cool enough to find on their own.
Think of small, purposeful details that tell us we’re not in Kansas anymore. Let your fantasy world bleed in around the edges (think: a caste system mentioned in passing, the name of the kingdom dropped casually, the ravaged remains of a blood feud). The goal is to make the reader curious, not bogged down with details.
2. Put Character Clues in the Fine Print
If your main character is supposed to be perceptive, clever, or deeply observant, show it in action—no neon signs saying “he was good at noticing things.” Let them notice the expensive perfume clinging to someone’s coat, or the nervous way a suspect fidgets with their gloves. Not sure what I mean? Go watch BBC’s Sherlock, and once you’re done crying and need a laugh, put on the TV show Psych.
Also, pay attention to how your characters speak. Maybe your protagonist uses blunt, street-level slang while a higher-born speaks in long, meandering metaphors. Dialogue is one of the fastest ways to show class, culture, and personality. Don’t let everyone sound like they went to the same public school.
And while we’re at it: if your aristocrat is formal with one character but casual with another, ask yourself if that’s intentional. If it’s not, it might be worth tweaking. Language is status.
3. Flesh Out Your Magic System
If your protagonist has a spooky gift—like seeing the dead or sensing spectral danger—please don’t keep it vague. It’s one thing to withhold a few details at the start to keep your readers guessing, but it’s another thing entirely to gloss over the whole process and say your protagonist “felt” danger. What does that actually mean?
Maybe when a curse is nearby, their blood turns cold and syrupy. Maybe they hear lying voices as siren songs. Maybe they can see danger—thin black lines curling off people’s tongues. The more sensory and eerie your system is, the more it’ll stick in a reader’s mind.
4. Get Visual!
I’m not asking for a four-paragraph ode to your protagonist’s trench coat, but I do want to be able to picture them. Especially if their appearance plays into the story.
The same goes for other characters we meet. A few key physical details go a long way in helping readers anchor who’s who, especially in a world with a big cast or complex politics. Think hair color, height, posture, or how someone carries themselves. When you don't describe someone, readers will default to generic stock images. That might be fine in some cases, but if your goal is to create a world that feels fresh and textured—or if someone’s appearance is directly relevant to the plot—you want to make sure your characters don’t all feel like cardboard cutouts
Keep the same mindset when it comes to describing your protagonist’s home or workplace. Especially if we get a glimpse of these spaces early in your novel, take it as a great opportunity to give your reader an inside look into your protagonist’s personality. Do they keep their room overflowing with things in absolute chaos? Or do they keep items sparse, but neat and tidy? Do they keep their curtains drawn or open? What do they hang on the walls? What does their space say about them?
5. Make Motivation Internal and External
“Because the plot needs it” is never a compelling reason for a character’s choices. If your protagonist says yes to a case they know is a bad idea, readers shouldn’t be confused—they should think, Of course they did, and here’s why.
External motivation is what’s on the surface: money, blackmail, a missing person, a chance for fame. It’s what your character might say out loud when asked why they’re taking the job.
Internal motivation is what’s beneath it—often unspoken, even unconscious. Guilt. Grief. Boredom. A quiet need to feel useful. A not-so-quiet need to feel wanted. Internal motivation is what makes decisions feel personal, inevitable, and emotionally grounded.
In noir fantasy, this contradiction is essential. Your protagonist might be smart, jaded, and emotionally unavailable—but that doesn’t mean the reader will just go with any irrational choices they make. Your readers will lose interest in a mystery if they don’t understand why the protagonist is interested.
—
Noir fantasy is one of those genre mashups that, when done right, gives readers the best of both worlds. Magic and grit. Give us a reason to root for your disaster protagonist. Make the magic feel real. And above all—keep it eerie.