Urban Fantasy With Male Lead Characters

This is a list for the urban fantasy fan who likes to read books where the lead character is a male.

**Do not add books that are not urban fantasy and do not have a male lead please! Co-lead books don't count.
1

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3.98 avg rating — 335,464 ratings
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2

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4.09 avg rating — 84,352 ratings
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3

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4.50 avg rating — 110,905 ratings
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4

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4.27 avg rating — 143,667 ratings
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5

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4.41 avg rating — 120,579 ratings
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6

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4.14 avg rating — 157,678 ratings
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7

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3.99 avg rating — 185,633 ratings
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8

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4.44 avg rating — 100,111 ratings
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9

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4.44 avg rating — 104,800 ratings
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10

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4.29 avg rating — 131,880 ratings
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11

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4.11 avg rating — 878,924 ratings
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12

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4.21 avg rating — 51,777 ratings
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13

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4.40 avg rating — 115,904 ratings
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14

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3.94 avg rating — 35,438 ratings
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15

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3.87 avg rating — 119,278 ratings
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16

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4.22 avg rating — 60,342 ratings
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17

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3.77 avg rating — 24,369 ratings
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18

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4.39 avg rating — 114,464 ratings
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19

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4.30 avg rating — 124,394 ratings
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20

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3.64 avg rating — 13,131 ratings
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21

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4.25 avg rating — 94,275 ratings
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22

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4.17 avg rating — 499,235 ratings
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23

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3.89 avg rating — 26,723 ratings
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24

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4.48 avg rating — 95,797 ratings
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25

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4.06 avg rating — 27,921 ratings
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26

by
4.25 avg rating — 47,308 ratings
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27

by
3.81 avg rating — 16,328 ratings
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28

by
4.03 avg rating — 41,509 ratings
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29

by
4.26 avg rating — 52,367 ratings
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30

by
4.14 avg rating — 15,493 ratings
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31

by
3.98 avg rating — 263,558 ratings
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32

by
4.02 avg rating — 5,647 ratings
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33

by
4.04 avg rating — 12,670 ratings
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34

by
4.27 avg rating — 43,037 ratings
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35

by
4.56 avg rating — 81,282 ratings
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36

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3.85 avg rating — 10,079 ratings
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37

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3.73 avg rating — 7,009 ratings
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38

by
4.18 avg rating — 10,478 ratings
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39

by
4.06 avg rating — 92,635 ratings
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40

by
4.25 avg rating — 119,331 ratings
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41

by
4.31 avg rating — 1,609 ratings
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42

by
3.99 avg rating — 6,729 ratings
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43

by
4.05 avg rating — 5,842 ratings
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44

by
4.09 avg rating — 59,834 ratings
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45

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15,425 ratings
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46

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3.61 avg rating — 4,868 ratings
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47

by
4.25 avg rating — 677,161 ratings
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48

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4.15 avg rating — 52,884 ratings
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49

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4.55 avg rating — 1,182 ratings
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50

by
4.14 avg rating — 172,003 ratings
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51

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4.07 avg rating — 20,305 ratings
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52

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4.14 avg rating — 4,806 ratings
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53

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4.26 avg rating — 18,146 ratings
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54

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3.85 avg rating — 159 ratings
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55

by
4.10 avg rating — 5,968 ratings
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56

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4.08 avg rating — 18,037 ratings
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57

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3.76 avg rating — 6,893 ratings
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58

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3.76 avg rating — 7,868 ratings
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59

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4.62 avg rating — 3,449,952 ratings
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60

by
4.06 avg rating — 11,765 ratings
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61

by
3.93 avg rating — 8,337 ratings
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62

by
4.29 avg rating — 36,774 ratings
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63

by
4.28 avg rating — 15,039 ratings
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64

by
4.09 avg rating — 4,767 ratings
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65

by
3.80 avg rating — 12,574 ratings
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66

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3.97 avg rating — 12,001 ratings
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67

by
4.05 avg rating — 10,799 ratings
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68

by
4.21 avg rating — 7,656 ratings
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69

by
4.10 avg rating — 12,679 ratings
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70

by
3.59 avg rating — 4,050 ratings
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71

by
3.92 avg rating — 1,986 ratings
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72

by
3.80 avg rating — 10,145 ratings
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73

by
4.14 avg rating — 10,039 ratings
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74

by
4.13 avg rating — 16,667 ratings
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75

by
3.90 avg rating — 17,344 ratings
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76

by
4.14 avg rating — 4,368 ratings
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77

by
3.77 avg rating — 2,632 ratings
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78

by
3.85 avg rating — 348 ratings
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79

by
4.04 avg rating — 8,908 ratings
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80

by
3.90 avg rating — 5,600 ratings
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81

by
4.01 avg rating — 555,678 ratings
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82

by
4.29 avg rating — 10,667 ratings
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83

by
4.06 avg rating — 9,403 ratings
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84

by
3.79 avg rating — 3,189 ratings
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85

by
3.74 avg rating — 3,419 ratings
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86

by
4.27 avg rating — 16,184 ratings
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87

by
4.10 avg rating — 15,845 ratings
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88

by
3.89 avg rating — 5,597 ratings
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89

by
3.97 avg rating — 42,439 ratings
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90

by
4.27 avg rating — 9,108 ratings
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91

by
3.81 avg rating — 2,011 ratings
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92

by
4.04 avg rating — 214,405 ratings
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93

by
3.54 avg rating — 2,085 ratings
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94

by
4.05 avg rating — 8,419 ratings
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95

by
3.86 avg rating — 12,909 ratings
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96

by
3.94 avg rating — 5,737 ratings
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97

by
4.14 avg rating — 9,377 ratings
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98

by
4.03 avg rating — 16,579 ratings
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99

by
3.94 avg rating — 334,688 ratings
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100

by
3.52 avg rating — 1,446 ratings
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1,018 books · 1,406 voters · list created April 30th, 2010 by Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* (votes) .
395 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Christy 7078 books
2604 friends
Brian 703 books
31 friends
Mike (the Paladin) 4402 books
1583 friends
Bryan457 3585 books
27 friends
Jess 111 books
289 friends
vicki_girl 4870 books
19 friends
Mick 1009 books
19 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)


message 1: by Mick (new)

Mick There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance. (I'm not downing PNR, but lately it's getting pretty hard to find anything without the R!)

I'm going to have to go old-school on this and add some favorites from the past.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* Mick, I'm keeping my eyes open.


message 3: by Jamie (JK) (last edited Oct 01, 2010 10:59AM) (new)

Jamie (JK) I've added another five titles... I'll see what else I can think of.


message 5: by Jamie (JK) (new)

Jamie (JK) Yep, no problem. I'm always looking for an urban fantasy with a male lead so this list is awesome. If I can help other people with the same thing by adding titles, I'll gladly do so.


message 6: by Tasula (new)

Tasula Great list! I added Mick Farren, Naomi Novik, Christopher Moore, George R R Martin, Wm Mark Simmons, Jaida Jones, Mario Acevedo, Kim Newman


message 7: by Xenophon (last edited Dec 12, 2010 12:19PM) (new)

Xenophon Hendrix The Jhereg / Vlad Taltos novels by Steven Brust are fantasy in an urban setting, but that setting is on an imaginary world. Whether you consider them "urban fantasy" or not is a judgment/semantic call. The same can be said for the Garrett books by Glen Cook. I'm going to add them, but if anyone objects, let's open it up to discussion to nail down what people mean.

Edit: or what about the Alchemist trilogy by Dave Duncan? The setting is sixteenth-century (?) Venice.

In other words, what is most important: that it be fantasy in an urban setting or fantasy in a modern American setting?


message 8: by Jamie (JK) (new)

Jamie (JK) Added Hard Day's Knight to the list and highly recommend it!


message 9: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Xenophon wrote: "The Jhereg / Vlad Taltos novels by Steven Brust are fantasy in an urban setting, but that setting is on an imaginary world. Whether you consider them "urban fantasy" or not is a judgment/semantic ..."

Doesn't have to american, does have to be this world, even if it is an alternate history version.


message 10: by Jamie (JK) (new)

Jamie (JK) Added Imperium by Nicholas Olivo. Check it out folks.


message 11: by Dan (last edited Aug 21, 2011 10:41AM) (new)

Dan Added "The Marked Son" by Shea Berkley and Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1) by Justin Gustainis


message 12: by Kathy (new)

Kathy Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance. (I'm not downing PNR, but lately it's getting pretty hard to find anything without the R!)

I..."


Try the Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin. One of the reasons I like it is because it's not based on romance.


message 13: by Xiri (new)

Xiri Sorry, but what on earth does "Snowcrash" do there? It's cyberpunk, a kind of SF, not UF :-s

Good book, but still...

P.S. Added Lukyanenko's "Night Watch" books.


message 14: by Josh (new)

Josh Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance. (I'm not downing PNR, but lately it's getting pretty hard to find anything without the R!)


Totally agreed! I found some more interesting stuff on this list, hopefully the list will continue to grow.


message 15: by J. (last edited Dec 09, 2012 12:36PM) (new)

J. Barneck Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance.

I am working on a book now in this genre--Urban fantasy with a male protagonist.
http://jabrambarneck.com/writing/trin...

I spoke with B. Justin Shier (author of Zero Sight) and got his opinion on self publishing and unless a major publisher comes knocking, I'm likely self publishing through Amazon.

Hopefully you'll see it before Christmas, if not, a month or two later.


message 16: by Jamie (JK) (new)

Jamie (JK) The number of books with female leads on this list is kind of sad. I thought this site was for people who can read?


message 17: by Deborah (new)

Deborah JK wrote: "The number of books with female leads on this list is kind of sad. I thought this site was for people who can read?"

Goodreads librarians can delete any books that don't fit the criteria of the list.


message 18: by Xenophon (last edited Dec 07, 2012 04:21AM) (new)

Xenophon Hendrix If you folks want a librarian to edit the list, it helps a lot if you name titles. List numbers help, too.


message 19: by Garrett (last edited Mar 18, 2013 03:05PM) (new)

Garrett I'm not sure how much the "male" part matters here, so I shan't add these books, but Seanan Mcguire's October Daye series is great,too. Any romance is extremely slow-moving, and doesn't play much of a role at all until the sixth book. The protagonist is female, but I read these just after Tom Clancy and Larry Bond, and didn't feel the least bit emasculated.


message 20: by Bk (new)

Bk I'm looking for some good urban fantasy too..It seems t be harder and harder to find these days, especially with male leads that don't ave some kind of minor ability. I mean i like a good story, but i also like a capable and strong magic user, Like Dresden,Jake Sullivan,the Iron Druid..etc.


message 21: by W. (new)

W. Diego I feel the same way. I really dig good urban fantasy i.e. Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, Larry Correia's "Hard Magic", "Spellbound" and the M.H.I's series, or Richard Kadrey's "Sand Man Slim" books.
I really, really got into Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake Vampire Hunter" books until after book #9, then it was all "chick Flick/porn/soap opera/crap"!!
Having some sexual tension/attraction and even the occasional sex scene is fine, but I really wish the Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thriller authors would take a hint from the above listed authors.
If there are any other authors turning out good books or series of good books like the authors I've listed here, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Give me some names of books and authors, please! I'll return the favor if you have not been turned on to some other great books and writers I've gotten into.
Fair trade,right?
Thanks,
Diego
roughcreator@aol.com


message 22: by Ezi (new)

Ezi Chinny Hmmm, I just realized that I don't like any books with male leads.


message 23: by Matt (new)

Matt W. wrote: "I feel the same way. I really dig good urban fantasy i.e. Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, Larry Correia's "Hard Magic", "Spellbound" and the M.H.I's series, or Richard Kadrey's "Sand Man Slim..."

If those are some of your favorites, as they are some of mine, check out the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne, the Alex Versus series by Benedict Jacka, the Connor Grey series by Mark del Franco, or the Zero Sight series by B. Justin Shier.

Hope one of those series may interest you, happy reading.


message 24: by Milo (new)

Milo Why is Peter V. Brett on here? I'm sorry, but even though his series is awesome, it's not Urban Fantasy.


message 25: by J. (last edited Oct 13, 2013 07:52PM) (new)

J. Barneck J. wrote: "Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance.

I am working on a book now in this genre--Urban fantasy with a male protagonist.
..."


Wow! I can't believe it was over a year ago that I posted this. I totally underestimated the time it would take to get my book out. My official ebook release is tomorrow, October 14th, 2013. The paperback is coming later.


message 26: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Hey! Go check out Alex Hughes' Clean. Totally getting a Dresden vibe off of it, but it looks like it's getting even less recognition than Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces. Bummer.


message 27: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Amanda wrote: "Hey! Go check out Alex Hughes' Clean. Totally getting a Dresden vibe off of it, but it looks like it's getting even less recognition than Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces. Bummer."

I do like this series, but I thought it was science fiction, not urban fantasy. What makes it urban fantasy for you?


message 28: by Amanda (new)

Amanda A telepath who works with the police? It's classic urban fantasy a la detective story.


message 29: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Amanda wrote: "A telepath who works with the police? It's classic urban fantasy a la detective story."

OK, you're right. I guess the world just feels different to me.


message 30: by Amanda (new)

Amanda It feels like Harry Dresden minus some snark and some wizard, plus some mind-reading to me. ;)


message 31: by Paul (new)

Paul Cadena Im looking for a good read thats more like jim butcher but with mind powers. Kinda like star wars but more in this galaxy, couldn't find anything that stuck out at me on this list. If you can think of exactly what I'm talking about please let me know and thanks.


message 32: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Jim Butcher with mind powers - going to reprise my suggestion of Clean by Alex Hughes. :)


message 33: by Paul (new)

Paul Cadena Amanda wrote: "Jim Butcher with mind powers - going to reprise my suggestion of Clean by Alex Hughes. :)" @amanda while i was waiting for a reply i kind of fell in love with the sandman slim series. If Harry Dresden is the badass hero on one end of the spectrum then Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey is the sadistic anti-hero on the other side. Give it a shot if you haven't read it already, you might fall in love after 30 pages. ;)


message 34: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Yep, I've read it. Not in my top 10, but not bad either. :)


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* This is a list for urban fantasy, and I see some epic/period historical fantasy added. Please remove those if you've added them. Thanks!


message 36: by Shawn (new)

Shawn Add me as a friend I have many books I have read and are waiting to read with Male lead characters. I dont think the list on this page has been updated in some time.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* You don't need to be a friend of the list creator to add books. You can add books by clicking on the 'add books to list' tab at the top of the screen.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* I suggest the list creator edits the description to say "with only a male lead" or something similar.

You'd think people would think that already, but I see many instances where they're voting for books that have a female AND male lead, as in Paranormal romances (sigh), so can't delete them as a librarian with that wording being too vague.

I wouldn't delete a book I personally don't consider Urban fantasy, as that is an arguable classification, but it's easy to remove books that have mainly female leads - like the Tanya Huff Blood price, Jaz Park series, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, Tales from the Underworld, etc, but not touching until the description is clearer on restrictions.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* I appreciate the suggestion, Erin. I did restate that in the description.

You would think that it should be pretty clear that the lead character should be a male and the books should be urban fantasy. However Listopia is a big joke on Goodreads since people add any books they want with impunity and list creators cannot remove books unless they are a Librarian. Apparently us list creators will run rampant and delete people's additions out of bitterness instead of just keeping our lists in order. I've had problems with every list I made since I don't have time to track down librarians every time someone adds a non-relevant book because they can't or choose not to read the instructions.

*Not that I'm bitter* :)


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* I understand Danielle, it can be frustrating.

Thanks for adding more specifics so I can remove stuff I know doesn't belong without people complaining.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "I understand Danielle, it can be frustrating.

Thanks for adding more specifics so I can remove stuff I know doesn't belong without people complaining."


I trust you to remove books that aren't Male-Lead UF. :)


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* Removed -
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
Jaz Parks series *and 2 duplicates of that*
Ghost Rider Comic/Graphic Novel


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "
I trust you to remove books that aren't Male-Lead UF. :)

"


Thanks for the vote of confidence :) There's still a lot I see that I wouldn't personally consider Uf....but that's not a genre easy to classify so I will leave those alone and up to you if you have a strong objection.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "Removed -
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
Jaz Parks series *and 2 duplicates of that*
Ghost Rider Comic/Graphic Novel"


I don't have an argument with those. I think Cry Wolf is not quite male-lead and it's probably a little more UF/PNR.


 Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* Can you remove the ones that aren't urban/contemporary? I saw a few of those.


message 46: by Jeana (new)

Jeana Budnick All the books by Terry Goodkind are not UF. They are pure fantasy. Please remove them.


message 47: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "Can you remove the ones that aren't urban/contemporary? I saw a few of those."

I can, but I would prefer if you list specific titles. I am uncomfortable passing judgment on books I haven't read.


message 48: by Mike (new)

Mike Lee Please remove The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1) by Peter V. Brett. While a good book and series in it's own right, it is set in a fantasy world.


message 49: by Amyiw (last edited Sep 10, 2016 05:59PM) (new)

Amyiw ThatEzi wrote: "Hmmm, I just realized that I don't like any books with male leads."
Really? I think they can be better than the female leads as the angst seems to be less. Then again Dresden can really exude angst.

Amanda wrote: "Jim Butcher with mind powers - going to reprise my suggestion of Clean by Alex Hughes. :)"
I agree. I really, really like this series too. I actually like it better than Dresden.


message 50: by Wolfgarr (new)

Wolfgarr couple questions.. Why is EVERY SINGLE Dresdon files book on this list?.......Hate it when people throw up on lists like this by putting every book of a series on it. Only need the first book of the series people.....

Second .. Why is a Harry Potter book in the list?


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