M.D. Massey's Blog

Is Urban Fantasy Dead?

If you’ve been wandering the dark, neon-lit streets of the book world lately, you might’ve heard whispers that urban fantasy has been declared a dead genre. But is it really? Or is it just shape-shifting into something new? Urban fantasy had its heyday in the late 2000s and early 2010s. We had The Dresden Files, The Mortal Instruments, The Iron Druid Chronicles, and a slew of tough…

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The Best Urban Fantasy TV Shows

Urban fantasy TV shows bring magic, mystery, and supernatural thrills to the small screen, mixing the paranormal with action, drama, and dark humor. If you love stories filled with magic, vampires, werewolves, demons, and flawed heroes, you’ll find something worth watching on this list. Without further ado, here are the top urban fantasy TV shows for fans of the genre to binge-watch.

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What is Considered Urban Fantasy?

When I tell people I’m an urban fantasy author, they’re often confused about what is considered urban fantasy. While most people are familiar with the genre, those who aren’t avid fantasy readers are often unfamiliar with the term. So, let’s break it down. Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that blends magical elements with modern, real-world settings. Imagine a vampire battling a…

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The Top 10 Stand-Alone Fantasy Novels

If you’ve ever been daunted by the commitment of a 12-book epic fantasy series, you’re not alone. Sometimes you just want to dive into a rich, magical world, have an unforgettable adventure, and get closure, all in one go. That’s the magic of stand-alone fantasy novels: one book, one immersive journey, no cliffhangers. Whether you’re new to fantasy or a seasoned reader, this list of top-tier stand…

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Fall 2025 Urban Fantasy Author Update

Hey folks! I just wanted to post a quick urban fantasy author update so you know what I have coming down the pike. Here goes… I’ve been rewatching The Expanse, as it’s been a few years since I finished the series. Watching it all over again is almost like enjoying a brand new series, and once again, I find myself in awe of the way they brought the books to life on screen. IMO, it’s the best…

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Common Urban Fantasy Tropes

My fellow authors and readers, let us once again discuss urban fantasy tropes. Much maligned and often dismissed as hackneyed and tired, their appearance persists in even the most recent popular novels that are topping the charts today. Some might think that using familiar tropes in fantasy fiction is derivative and passé, but in my opinion, tropes define this genre, as well as all popular…

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Coming Soon… Supervillain Ragnarok!

I just wrapped up the manuscript for my third superhero fantasy fiction novel, Supervillain Ragnarok. This is the third and final book in The Druidverse Superhero Fiction Series, and it’s been a wild ride to bring it to life. I’m beyond excited to tell you that it’s now available for preorder on Kindle, with an official release date of August 1, 2025! Writing this trilogy has been a total blast…

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How to Develop a Daily Writing Habit

Once you become a full-time author, it’s likely you’ll receive a fair share of requests for writing advice. Often these come in the form of unsolicited inquiries from strangers who want you to read their manuscripts and provide them with feedback. Needless to say, I have neither the time nor the inclination to provide free developmental editing services to nascent authors, so I typically ignore…

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Battle Druid Drops Friday!

I was going to write a lengthy blog post about my latest novel, Battle Druid, which drops Friday.

However, right now I am so sick of writing I could puke.

So, here are some links where you can find out all about this latest entry in The Sylvan Cycle and the Junkyard Druid saga:

Info page on this site: https://mdmassey.com/books/battle-druid/

Sales page on Amazon: https://geni.us/battledruid

What can I say about this book in brief to make you want to read it?

It’s brimming with magic, Greek and ...

Urban Fantasy Author Update for Fall 2024

Hey folks, it’s time for another urban fantasy author update, so here goes…

What I’ve Been Watching

This being the Halloween season, I’ve been digging up all my seasonal faves. Before the month ends, I’ll have watched 30 Days of Night (the best vampire horror film of all time), Blade (the best vampire action film of all time), Monster House (because you should never grow up completely), Sleepy Hollow, Constantine, The Craft (the original), The Covenant (featuring Steven Strait, Sebastian Stan, &...