Have you fallen for an urban fantasy series and want more? We’re here to help.
These ten book series epitomize things we love about urban fantasy. They may have influenced the subgenre or they’re the ones every urban fantasy fan has read. These are the books that showcase what we love—and expect—from urban fantasies.
1. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton
We have to start here. Laurell K. Hamilton was a huge game changer for urban fantasy. She brought us a police procedural—something that is a trope in its own right—with paranormal and fronted the novel with a strong, determined heroine in Anita Blake. The series is on-going, and there’s fervent fan debate regarding the latter books (mostly after Obsidian Butterfly, the ninth novel), but there is no question that these books, starting with Guilty Pleasures, are an urban fantasy must.
2. The Hollows series by Kim Harrison
For the primo example of open world urban fantasy, look no further than Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series. Witches, vampires, demons and faeries are all out in the open, and how does that change society? Engaging characters and stellar world building will hook you into this one.
3. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher brings the right tone—you can almost picture Harry Dresden, Chicago’s first (and only) wizard private investigator, giving you the side eye—and stakes to this quintessential urban fantasy series. Snark, sidekicks and a healthy dose of supernatural problems make the Dresden Files series a staple.
4. Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill
There are two elements that make Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series a must-read for urban fantasy fans. First, while the series features an open world where everyone knows about vampires, we get to experience it all as though it’s brand new for us. That’s because the main character Merit becomes a vampire in the first book (not a spoiler!), and her journey lets readers experience this world without feeling lost.
Second, Neill has mastered the group dynamic. When it comes to ensemble casts for urban fantasy, there won’t be a character in Merit’s gang you don’t love.
5. Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Looking for strong characters? Patricia Briggs knows how to write them. Her Mercy Thompson series offers mysteries, werewolf pack dynamics and a main character you’ll never want to stop rooting for. The spinoff series are excellent, too.
6. Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
Urban fantasy has always been best as it demonstrated what it means to be “other.” Kelley Armstrong does this beautifully in her Women of the Otherworld series. These books focus on how these supernaturals want nothing more than to be normal, but that isn’t always the answer.
7. October Daye series by Seanan McGuire
The grass isn’t always greener. Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series shows us the cruelty in both the fae and human worlds. The world building is outstanding, and the plot curves will keep you flying through this series.
8. Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
In urban fantasy things should almost always get worse. Ilona Andrews makes things plenty complicated—and utterly engaging—in the Kate Daniels books. Magic is a great asset, except for when it’s down. Which weapons do we use and when? Who has the upper hand? Add in a delightful main character and her fantastic relationship with the Beast Lord, and prepare to be sucked in.
9. Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
You may have heard others call this series a romance. It often gets shelved there in bookstores, but Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series is brilliant urban fantasy. It just happens to include insane sexual tension. Mac is trying find the person who murder her sister. In doing so she gets wrapped up in a mission to keep the fae world from taking over our own. Kind of a big deal. Great characters, super twisty plot.
10. Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn
Not every urban fantasy has to be heavy or gritty. We’re allowed to have fun. Carrie Vaughn gets that. Her Kitty Norville series has great supernatural mysteries with plenty of action and a healthy dose of irreverence. Fun and totally addictive.
Hit the comments with your essential urban fantasy book recs (because you know 10 isn’t enough!) Also, be sure to tell us if you’d like another list like this that showcases new urban fantasy series to read.
Note: This article was originally published at Heroes & Heartbreakers in 2014. Chelsea is still a huge urban fantasy fangirl (and author), and she still considers these ten books required urban fantasy reading. Though, she could probably give us another twenty must-reads.
Also, she’d love to remind you that her second Soul Charmer novel Rogue Souls is coming out on July 9, 2018, and if you pre-order it the price is only $2.99. (All the cool kids pre-order.)
Night Huntress by Jeanne Frost
So so so so good!
I’m dying to read it. It looks very good.
Have read or am reading all but 6 or 9. Also add, Immortals after Dark by Kresley Cole, Feral Warriors by Pamela Palmer, Breed Warriors by Lara Adrian, Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series’s by Nalini Singh.
Guild Hunter is probably one of my favorite series. I just adore Nalini’s characters and world building.
I’m a huge IAD fan (and definitely rec the audiobooks!), but I think of them as paranormal romance.
Guild Hunter – Nalini Singh
The Others – Anne Bishop
Charley Davidson – Darynda Jones
Fire and Ice and Magical Mayhem – KF Breene
Alpha & Omega – Patricia Briggs
Hidden Legacy – Ilona Andrews
Innkeeper Chronicles – Ilona Andrews
Alice Worth – Lisa Edmonds
Psy-Changeling – Nalini Singh (UF & PNR)
I’m loving Alice Worth! I don’t think I’d think I’d put it on a list of genre-defining series since it’s so new, but I’d definitely recommend it.
I would add The Others to the list though.
Actually, anything by Ilona Andrews!
🙂
The Fae Chronicles by Amelia Hutchins!
Iron Druid Series by Kevin Hearne
Jim Butchers Harry Dresden Series
The SPI Files by Lisa Shearin
Shelly Laurenston and her Pride Series
Gini Koch and her Katherine “Kitty” Katt series
Elizabeth Hunter and the Elemental Series
And of course – J.D. Robb’s In Death Series
Thanks for this. Bought the first books for Anita Blake and Kitty Norville; looking for something new to read as I sadly await the conclusion to KD.
Can’t forget Jane Yellowrock series. “Have Stakes will Travel”
The Sookie Stackhouse series is what started my love of Urban Fantasy… Sadly I stopped reading after book 11. But by then I was hooked on the genre.
Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne
Otherworld Series by Yasmine Galenorn
The Wild Hunt Series by Yasmine Galenorn
Bewitching Bedlam Series by Yasmine Galenorn
Fury Series by Yasmine Galenorn
Year One trilogy by Nora Roberts
Lupi series by Eileem Wilkes
If you like the Dresden series by Jim Butcher, try the Alex Versus series by Benedict Jacka.
Highly recommend The Others series by Anne Bishop.
Ghost Walker series by Christine Feehan
The Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter is my favorite.
I’ve read the two first of Dresden Files and I loved them.
In no particular order :-
Jane Yellowrock. – Faith Hunter
Soulwood series. – Faith Hunter
Guild hunter. – Nalini Singh
Black dagger brotherhood. – J.R. Ward
The Others – Anne Bishop
Kate Daniels – Ilona Andrews
The Hollows – Kim Harrison
Night Prince. – Jeaniene Frost
Merry Gentry – Laurel K Hamilton
Gin Blanco – Jennifer Estep.
These are the series I read over and over again.
Mercy, Kate, and Harry, plus Toby and Kitty, and Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld, are all among my favorites! Others I might add include C.E. Murphy’s Joanne Walker (the Walker Papers), Eileen Wilks’s World of the Lupi, and Benedict Jacka’s Alex Verus.
Oh, good grief, I left out Anne Bishop’s The Others, and Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock plus her Soulwood spinoff series.
I also must comment that while Ilona Andrews’s other brilliant series don’t connect w/the KD World, your entry for the Mercy-Thompson-verse could and should mention the Alpha & Omega books by name (series title), too.
I love most of the recommendations I’ve seen in the comments, but was surprised to not see anyone mention Simon R. Green’s “Nightside” series. Really one of the more unique urban fantasy settings I’ve read and enjoyed.
Ugh. My baby Anita-the character that really sparked my reading of all things Urban Fantasy. The series should have ended books ago! I wanted her to go out on top!
some great urban fantasy that i havent seen mentioned (but are in much the same vein as Dresden and the Iron Druid)
Junkyard Druid by MD Massey
Nate Temple series by Shayne Silvers (in addition to the spin off series in same universe Feathers & Fire and Phantom Queen Diaries)