Tim
asked:
Just finished this book. Enjoyed it. However... Can anyone suggest novels in the urban fantasy genre that are free of the too-perfect-fantasy-alpha-male? I can enjoy a little romance as much as the next person, but I'd rather see a more realistic representation of my gender as much as the next.
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Justin Price
Iron Druid is pretty light on romance, but a blast to read.
Clouds
I'll second Nikki's calls for Butcher and Aaronovitch - and I'll also shout for Mike Carey's Felix Castor series - a noir inspired urban fantasy about a scouse exorcist working in London, and Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift series - a stream-of-consciousness influenced urban fantasy about a sorcerer who dies and is reincarnated as a demi-god of the telephone wires... (trust me, it works) - also set in London.
Both very much flawed, modern, male leads.
Both very much flawed, modern, male leads.
Nicky
Jim Butcher and Ben Aaronovitch might be good places to start. Mind you, I think Butcher over idealises and under utilises (some of) his female characters, which some people dislike just as much.
Rae Whitefeather
Hmm, perhaps Charles form Alpha and Omega will be more your speed. The series is still placed in this universe, and has a decent amount of romance in it as well.
However, Charles (while not necessarily the Alpha, he is the son of the Marrok, and could take over any pack he wished,) is very clearly flawed. He is seen as ruthless, a killer, and he doesn't always make the right choices in regards to his personal relationships. He isn't evil, though some werewolves would like to disagree.
(He's still really awesome though. Not quite the perfect picture of a real man, as it's still fiction, I like to think he comes close.)
In there are also two other Alphas in that series, that even side-lined, are very obviously flawed.
However, Charles (while not necessarily the Alpha, he is the son of the Marrok, and could take over any pack he wished,) is very clearly flawed. He is seen as ruthless, a killer, and he doesn't always make the right choices in regards to his personal relationships. He isn't evil, though some werewolves would like to disagree.
(He's still really awesome though. Not quite the perfect picture of a real man, as it's still fiction, I like to think he comes close.)
In there are also two other Alphas in that series, that even side-lined, are very obviously flawed.
Evie Jayne
Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series. The hero is beyond awesome and very far from too perfect.
Breyonna
Jane Yellowrock is a great recommendation for people who are looking for this.
Cait
Anything by Charles De Lint.
Michelle Houston
Try Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Bunnycore
I agree with evie, downside ghosts is where it's at ♡ Terrible ♡
P.K. Reeves
I have a book out that doesn't have much romance in it. It's called Heir: the lineage series.
Donne
I just finished one called Shiftless by Aimee Easterling that had a not so neanderthal, macho, he-ma, alpha - just one though (the rest were pretty typical). Although, the story focused on a strong female character (like Mercy Thompson), it didn't have the level of paranormal sizzle factor that I usually like. JMHO
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